Lewis & Clark College

The Pioneer Log: Lewis & Clark College’s Student-Run Newspaper

Volume 102, No. 1

Lewis & Clark College Student Newspaper

Pioneer Log Staff

2024-02-02

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Text; Newspaper

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Lewis & Clark College: Pioneer Log / Mossy Log

By EMMA AMBROZIAK
EVER SINCE the COVID-19
pandemic, Portland has struggled
to regain its once-vibrant
downtown life. In August 2023, a study
conducted by the University of Toronto
ranked 66 cities across the United States
by the extent to which their downtown
activity levels have recovered to pre-
pandemic levels. Portland was ranked 61.
This study, along with many others,
has contributed to Portland’s declining
national reputation, as natives and
tourists alike report homelessness, open
drug use and trash as disincentives to go
downtown. The year of 2020 battered
Portland’s image, and although it has
been described as “a city in decline,”
there are many efforts underway to
support local businesses and revitalize
its economy and culture.
This process’s most recent and
visible development was the temporary
Portland Winter Ice Rink downtown,
near Morrison Bridge. The ice rink
opened in mid-December and closed on
Jan. 28. It stood along with a “Winter
Village” that housed a marketplace,
heating lamps, picnic benches, Christmas
trees and food carts.
An exciting upcoming project to
look forward to is the development of
a new skatepark in Old Town, on the
west side of the Willamette River near
the Steele Bridge. Though this concept
began in the early 2000s, the effort has
gained traction and financial support
in recent years as city planners and
community leaders identified urban recreation as a vital ingredient for a
fully-recovered downtown. This spring
will bring about conversations between
Portland Parks and Recreation and
project partners regarding feasible
designs and property acquisition.
Portland Vibrant Communities
Commissioner Dan Ryan, who has
served on the City Council since
2020, emphasized the importance of
citywide recreation.
“When we have more places to play,
there is a better quality of life for our
city. Transforming part of Old Town into
a citywide recreation destination will be
a tremendous asset for our businesses,
neighbors, and visitors from all over,”
Ryan said in a news release.
Food, in addition to recreation, plays
an essential role in a city’s quality of life.
The most recent program aimed
at restoring Portland’s vibrancy, and
perhaps one of the most alluring ones,
has to do with mobilizing food trucks.
Food carts play a vital role in
Portland’s economy and culture. They
are scattered across the Portland metro
area as colorful reminders of the city’s
diverse food scene. However, these
small businesses face barriers to selling
their products downtown. Portland
city code 14A.50.040 prevents the sale
of merchandise and services on public
grounds — specifically, within 250 feet
of public park grounds, library grounds
or other open businesses selling
similar items. Therefore, food truck
owners must either pay high prices for
licenses on urban properties or seek a
spot elsewhere.This, coupled with the ever-rising
taxes in Multnomah County, incentivizes
businesses to seek property elsewhere,
thus leaving the downtown area and
further reducing urban activity.
However, the Portland Bureau of
Transportation (PBOT) began a pilot
program that seeks to provide more
opportunities for local businesses to
expand operations onto the street
which has been expanded to involve
food carts. The goal is to allow greater
freedom of movement and additional
vendor rights.
On Jan. 17, Portland City Council
voted unanimously to waive city code
14A.50.040 for this pilot program
through 2025 and, if successful, into
2026. Emergency ordinance 191591 went
into effect immediately. The Council’s
findings are outlined on portland.gov.
Section 1.4 of the Council’s findings
describes the essence of the ordinance:
“That PBOT’s pilot program would
allow permitted food trucks to vend
onto the sidewalk from parking lanes
immediately adjacent to the sidewalk,
and that written consent of the property
owners immediately adjacent to the
permit operating area will be required.”
This vote means that food truck
owners who are approved through the
program will be able to park next to
sidewalks downtown — a development
that will hopefully attract foot traffic
and commercial activity.
The biggest — and only — concern
surrounding the change was that urban
residents and local businesses might
lose valuable parking spaces. However, Right of Way and Permitting Division
Manager of PBOT David McEldowny
noted in a council meeting that there
may only be one food cart per activation.
“So that’s two parking spaces off
any one blockface within several blocks
of each other. So as far as taking up
existing parking, this won’t have a big
impact there,” McEldowny said.
This program is aimed at workers
returning to downtown Portland who
have had limited dining options since
the pandemic. City planners are hopeful
that, in the coming months, Portland’s
food trucks will revive the city’s food
scene and thus boost downtown
commerce and recreation.In the next two years, Portlanders
can expect to see more mobile food
trucks, an increase in the variety of food
downtown and greater food accessibility
in public parks and spaces. Food trucks
will play a key role in bringing people
and businesses back into the city.
Although Portland has struggled
to recuperate entirely from the
pandemic’s toll, it is still very much
alive. Local government offices and
businesses alike are continually
working to revitalize Portland’s city
center and restore its tarnished
reputation. It is certainly not a city
in decline, and has a bright future of
restoration and innovation to come.Vol. 102 No. 1 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 www.piolog.com
Hello again!
The Mossy Pod will be back for the
Spring semester! Isaac Babus will
be hosting the podcast. Give a warm
welcome.OPINION
Healthy eating propaganda
Signs posted in the Bon depicting calorie
counts and healthy alternatives spark
discourse.
PAGE 4FEATURES
Achievable resolutions
Though trends come and go, New Year
resolutions are a consistent theme
across the years.
PAGE 6ARTS
Sit down with a local artist
Zoe Steele ’25 opens up about their
artistic inspiration, Etsy creations
and tattoo aspirations.
PAGE 8SPORTS
Talk with Swim and Crew
Swim and Crew gear up for the spring
season with competition on the mind and
reflections on the off-season .
PAGE 11
By FIONA EILERS
ON JAN. 17, Lewis & Clark
students received a survey
regarding the Pioneer mascot.
The survey, which will remain open
until Feb. 7, asked for feedback and
opinions on the school’s name, mascot
and community values.
This past fall, President Robin
Holmes-Sullivan formed the Mascot
Steering Committee to engage the
community in conversation and collect
feedback for a recommendation to
the President on whether or not to
keep the mascot. The committee
consists of students, faculty and staff.
One of the members of the committee
is Lori Friedman, the vice president
of communications.
“A steering committee was put
together so that there’s input from more
than one perspective, but a number of
different perspectives to kind of try to
chart the way forward,” Friedman said.
A part of that path forward involves
hearing from the LC community
directly. Dr. Janet Bixby is a member
of the Mascot Steering Committee and
the director of Community Dialogues,
an initiative aimed towards fostering
healthy dialogical practices on campus.
Before the survey was sent out,
dialogues on the Pioneer mascot were held in October and November of 2023.
Bixby provided the Committee’s
reasoning behind sending out
the survey.
“We’re looking (for)
a number of different
ways to get feedback.
There’s been
feedback
that’s been
more casual
that people
have given
to staff
around
campus,
but this
was a
way to
get as
much
data,
as many
people’s input,
in one fell
swoop,” Bixby
said.
Bixby
spoke about how the
Community Dialogues
have played a role in the
committee’s approach.
“The one with the athletes, the
students that were there understood that ‘pioneers’ is a controversial term
in itself, and expressed a want for
change in the mascot. But I
think that they thought the
community dialogues
were more problem
solving rather
than just getting
your opinions
out,” she said.
Community
Dialogues
Practitioners
are trained
by Essential
Partners to
facilitate
dialogue
between
people with
differing
opinions.
The
Community
Dialogues are
intended as a
space for open
discussion rather
than for finding a
solution to the topic.
Abby Yamashita ’27
is a softball player and a
certified Community Dialogues
facilitator, as well as an attendee of two separate dialogues focused
on the Pioneer mascot. Yamashita
spoke of her experience in an
athlete-only dialogue.
“For me that was really challenging
because I just don’t know. That’s not
my role. So I was just letting them
problem-solve as they wished. But
it was really interesting to hear the
things that group came up with,”
Yamashita said.
Yamashita then contrasted this
experience with her second dialogue,
which was between three older
alumni and one current student.
“(The student) had perspectives
that were very much of the younger
generation and not feeling very tied
to the Pioneer name, and some of
these older men were just like, ‘I just
don’t get it,’” she said.
Yamashita provided her own
observations on what may cause
differing opinions on the mascot.
“My opinion is that how many
years removed you are from LC really
changes your perspective. Because I
think the newer generations obviously
understand why this is harmful
terminology, and why there’s a need
to change it. The older generations
just don’t see it,” she said.
“PARTICIPANTS “continued on page 3.
New PBOT pilot program hopes to revitalize downtown
Waiving city codes allows food trucks to easily set-up in urban areas, boost economy after COVIDContinuing Community Dialogues discussions, college asks for students’ opinions in survey on “pioneers”
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOGJ FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
Food trucks are common around Portland, being a staple of the city’s culture.Mascot Steering Committee addresses debate
By AVA FRISON
AS OF FALL 2023, Lewis & Clark
has a new Living Learning
Community (LLC) called
Aspiring Educators, run out of Copeland
Hall. The goal of this LLC is to connect
students interested in going into education
with real-life experience through a
partnership with the LC Graduate School’s
Teacher Education program.
LLCs are programs launched within
specific dorms, where students of similar
interests can live together and cultivate
shared interests. Aspiring Educators is
the ninth LLC on campus.
“Our mission is to cultivate high
quality opportunities for co-curricular
learning in the residence halls,” the
Campus Living website states.
The main facet of the LLC is getting
hands-on experience in the classroom,
as the College of Arts and Sciences
does not offer an education major for
undergraduate students.
The Aspiring Educators website lists
the opportunities for personal, academic
and occupational development.
“Gain hands-on classroom experience
in K-12 schools or other educational settings, visit local school districts, learn
about different areas of the teaching
profession, connect with others at
LC interested in exploring careers in
education, attend exclusive events
and activities to support your growth
as a future educator, and engage in
networking opportunities with the
Teacher Education faculty, staff, and
students on the graduate campus,” the
website states.
Grace Billings ’24 is the Resident
Advisor (RA) for the LLC. She says they
currently have 16 members: eight in-
house, meaning they live in the Copeland
dorm, and eight out-of-house members,
meaning they live elsewhere.
“Starting an entirely new
community has its challenges, but we
have almost tripled our membership
since the beginning of the school year!’”
she said in a November article from
the LC Newsroom titled, “Aspiring
Educators Connect in New Living-
Learning Community.”
Because the LLC is connected to
the Teacher Pathway Program within
the graduate school, students can
earn a bachelor’s and a master’s at the
same time. “The new LLC connects to the
institution’s Teacher Pathways Program,
established more than a decade ago,
which helps students earn a B.A. and a
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in five
years,” the Newsroom article said.
Secondary Social Studies Content
Coordinator and Instructor, Carissa
Zall, helped develop the new LLC, and,
according to the Newsroom article,
thinks this program helps students gain
insight into the teaching profession.
“(Zall) says that building
connections at the undergraduate
level will help make the transition to
graduate school and teaching much
smoother and more meaningful,” the
Newsroom article stated.
Billings has expressed much
excitement at the creation of the new LLC.
“Having a space this year where
individuals who have a passion for
supporting the next generation can get
together and talk about education or life
in general, has really just been such a
fun experience and I cannot wait to see
where the LLC goes,” she said.
Billings intends to become a teacher
and decided to join the LLC as an RA in
order to help her on her journey. “I was an RA last year, and when I
heard that they would be launching a
new Aspiring Educators LLC, I
knew I wanted to be a part of
it. After I graduate, I plan on
attending Lewis & Clark’s
Graduate School for
Education and
Counseling
where I plan
to earn my
Masters in
Education
and become a
Kindergarten
teacher.
Because
I already
love all
things education,
I was super
passionate
about joining
and starting
to build this
LLC from the ground up,” she said.
In order to spread the word about
the new LLC, all those involved are
working hard to attract students and
grow membership. “The Aspiring Educators LLC will be
sponsoring activities throughout the
academic year, including movie
nights, educational events,
special guest speakers,
group talks, and hands
on experience in K-12
schools,” said the
newsroom
article.
In
addition,
Billings
encourages
students to
apply as out-
of-house
members
for the LLC.
“If you are
interested
in joining
the Aspiring
Educators
LLC, you
can register to be an Out-of-House
member on the Campus Living
webpage,” said Billings. “All are
welcome to events, so feel free to
swing by!”By ROSALIE ZUCKERMANN
ON FRIDAY, Jan. 26, Blaise
Harrison ’25 hosted a
livestream of Defense for
Children International - Palestine
(DCIP) v. Biden, the federal lawsuit
brought against President Biden,
the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense by the Center
for Constitutional Rights (CCR)
in November of 2023. The CCR
represents groups including Defense
for Children International and Al-
Haq, a Palestinian human rights
organization. The CCR’s website
encouraged people worldwide to hold
watch events for the hearing, which
included a pre-hearing briefing as
well as testimony from plaintiffs and
an expert witness.
The briefing began at 7:30 a.m.
and the hearing began at 9:00 a.m.
It had been scheduled to end around
12:30 p.m. but it lasted until 2:00 p.m. Harrison reserved Albany 218
for anyone to drop in to watch the
six and a half hour livestream. Over
the course of the hearing, about ten
students filtered in.
“The event is intended to heighten
awareness and spark conversation on
our campus about what is happening
in Palestine right now. The livestream
will also be about Israel and the
United States’ parts in it,” an email
from Harrison stated. “There will be
community guidelines posted and
event-goers will be asked to follow
them so the space and people within
are respected.”
Harrison sent out this email
on Thursday, Jan. 25 to many
departments, asking people to forward
it so that the information could be
spread quickly. Given the short notice,
they were pleasantly surprised to see
so many students attend.
“I decided to do it on Monday or
Tuesday of this week, which is already a quick turnaround in terms of
scheduling everything … The fact that
I was only able to confirm the room
the day before definitely lowered my
expectations,” Harrison said. “We
had ten people show up throughout
the whole thing, so that’s far above
my expectations.”
Harrison has made it an ongoing
goal to cultivate spaces for community
and conversation on campus. They
described what inspired them to
organize an event for this livestream.
“I saw online that there was a
call for a Global Strike from January
21 to 28 by Bisan (Owda), who is a
Palestinian journalist in Palestine
right now. Then I saw action lists
online of what you can do. (With) the
Global Strike the main thing is being
noticeably absent from the economy.
If you can’t … what you can do is to be
educating, be visible in public space,”
they said.
They described the need that they
have noticed for an unaffiliated space
to hold discussions about the war.
“I’ve seen leaflets and posters in
JR Howard scattered around since
the first or second day of school
this past week. I wanted there to be
discussion about what’s happening
right now. I’m feeling like there’s no
space for community, like a non-club
associated, non-specific (space),”
Harrison said. “(A livestream) was the
simplest thing I could do that would
educate, call attention.”
The livestream watch event was a
welcoming, unstructured gathering
where students had the opportunity
to discuss openly and ask questions
during breaks in the hearing.
“Two people ended up staying to the
end, and we had a great conversation,
like, ‘What were they saying at this
point?’ because we didn’t really
understand the legal stuff. Then I had
some question prompts that people
answered,” they said.
Harrison encouraged people to
be open to learning and expanding
their viewpoints.
“The intent … is not to have a
pro-Palestine or pro-Israel event.
This is supposed to be educational
and a conversation space for
people to reflect,” they said. “So
the question prompts that I had…
were more around, ‘What have you
learned (about) how the legal system
in America works? What are your
reflections? What are your emotions
based on this?’”
Harrison gave a breakdown of
what went on over the course of
the livestream itself. They first
explained what occurred during the
pre-hearing briefing.“They had scholars and first person
perspectives, a variety of different
voices that were talking about what
this case meant. That was easier to
follow and also emotionally impactful,
something to keep in one’s mind as an
activist being like, ‘Oh, here is a facet
of what’s happening that I haven’t
seen before,’” they said.
The CCR website described
the briefing as a time for lawyers,
advocates and organizers to share
analysis. Plaintiffs invoked the
Genocide Convention, which the
United Nations adopted in 1948 and
the United States signed in 1988.
Harrison described the arguments
and the order of events that followed
throughout the hearing.
“I think the main two arguments
that the … Palestinian side was
bringing up were that the US failed,
under US law and the Genocide
Convention, to prevent genocide,”
Harrison said. “The other argument
was that US officials are complicit in
genocide (under international law).
Then there were testimonials, which
(were) extremely emotional. Then
the closing. The last testimonial, was
from an excellent expert testimonial
from a professor.”
During the livestream, there were
ten testimonials given: nine from
Gazans and one from Professor Barry
Tratchenberg, a historian of modern
Jewry and the Nazi Holocaust. I was able
to stay to see three of the testimonials.
All three witnesses I saw were
asked questions by a plaintiff lawyer.
Many pertained to their experiences
with displacement, deaths of family
members, destruction of homes and
ability to communicate with loved
ones in danger.
Omar Al Najjar, the first I saw, is a
doctor who testified over Zoom from a
hospital in southern Gaza. Dr. Al Najjar
explained that the hospital where he
now works is the fourth location to
which he has been displaced.
Next was Ahmed Abofoul, an
international lawyer born and
raised in Gaza. He now lives in the
Netherlands and works at Al-Haq.
“The current situation in Gaza
is like nothing we’ve seen before. I
was born and raised in Gaza, I lived
through, or rather survived, three
wars, and I’ve never seen anything like
this. We’ve never imagined anything
like this,” Abofoul said.
He told the court that on his
father’s side, he has lost over 16
family members — 15 of them in
one airstrike. On his mother’s
side, he has lost over 22. Due to
communication blackouts, he has
been unable to reach some members of his family and is unsure whether
they are still alive.
“One of the hardest things I have
to deal with is to hear my family figure
out how to manage with one liter of
water,” Abofoul said. “I feel guilty
when I drink water. Add that to the
survivor’s guilt.”
Abofoul spoke to the widespread
destruction that has permanently
changed the places he once knew.
“The Gaza that we know no longer
exists. Everything that I know no
longer exists, from my kindergarten to
my elementary school to my university.
Every place I have memories in has
been destroyed,” he said. “Gaza is one
of the oldest cities in the world and the
Gaza archive has been destroyed.”
He also discussed how his work has
changed since the Israel-Palestine war
broke out. He explained that most of
Al-Haq’s core legal and research work
has been suspended “because of the
level of violations they’re facing,” as
Abofoul put it.
Lastly, I saw Laila Elhaddad, an
author and mother of four who lives
in Clarksville, Maryland whose entire
extended family lives in Gaza.
Elhaddad works as a writer
documenting Gaza’s culinary heritage.
When asked why she decided to
participate in the case brought against
Biden, she shared her thoughts from an
American and Palestinian perspective.
“Israeli forces have killed —
massacred — numerous members
of my family with active US support.
I felt it was my duty as an American
whose taxes had been responsible for
the deaths of my family,” she said. “As
a Palestinian-American, it has made
me feel completely invisible to hear
our president actively support this.”
During her testimony, Elhaddad
recounted a fond memory of walking
in a park in Gaza City with her family,
eating peanuts, drinking tea and
watching the sunset. She then shared
that the entire area was destroyed on
the second day of the attacks.
“It has been devastating and
overwhelming and it has really left
me with a profound feeling of not just
sorrow and sadness but helplessness
and injustice,” Elhaddad said.
These testimonies were extremely
impactful. The event that Harrison
organized was an important initiative
in our community that encouraged
discussion and dialogue.
Case updates are not yet available
on the uscourts.gov website, at the
time of writing this article, on Jan. 27.
However, videos of the Zoom hearing
can be found under the Defense for
Children International - Palestine v.
Biden page. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
NEWS 2
Student coordinates livestream watch event
Blaise Harrison ’25 emphasizes importance of unaffiliated spaces to discuss Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Aspiring Educators LLC nearly triples in membership
Lewis and Clark’s Teacher Pathway Program offers academic, occupational, personal developmentJ FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
Poster advertises livestream of Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden.
Courtesy of Campus LivingNEWS 3FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Responses will direct
decision by President
Continued from Page 1.
Students who support changing
the mascot contend that the Pioneer
mascot glorifies colonialism, especially
compounded with the school’s name.
Some have expressed concern that it
alienates BIPOC at LC, particularly
Indigenous students.
At the end of the dialogues,
participants had the option to complete
a survey. Yamashita spoke of how
facilitators also play a role in passing on
community feedback.
“The community dialogues are
in charge of getting people talking.
We’re reporting it back to (Bixby) and
Claire (Dainkh, Community Dialogues
Program Manager), they’re reporting it
to President Sullivan. I feel like I can see
that trail. The survey is going to be the
big push towards change, it’s really going
to be that dataset that they can work off
of to make change,” Yamashita said.
Ryan Jurischk ’27, another
Community Dialogues facilitator, hosted
three dialogues. One was an alumni-only
dialogue on the Pioneer mascot.
“I think the most interesting one was
the alumni dialogue. It was a wide group
of people. I think the youngest was 26
and the oldest was 60,” Jurischk said.
“It was a lot of different perspectives,
and it was really interesting to see how
their reasoning behind (whether or not)
to change the mascot was an evolution.
Like, ‘I didn’t think it was a problem
back then, but we see now that there’s
a lot of issues behind the mascot,’ and
that’s why they wanted to change it.”
Jurischk spoke about how the three
dialogues they participated in created
a space for conversation and sharing
thoughts. “I feel like everyone was
really open-minded when it came to the
conversation. They were there for a reason,
they wanted to know why people thought
the way that they did,” Jurischk said.Though participants had different
opinions, Jurischk felt that the dialogues
helped foster open-mindedness.
“In two of my dialogues, we had
separation about the topic. At the
end of it nobody changed their mind
about their views, and that wasn’t the
point of the dialogue. But I definitely
think they were more open-minded
when it came to the other side of the
question,” she said.
Friedman offered a timeline for
the Mascot Steering Committee’s
recommendation to President Robin
Holmes-Sullivan.
“The Steering Committee expects to
give a recommendation to the President
by late Spring. We do hope to share as
much as we can with the community in
terms of the data that comes out of the
survey, but we don’t have a particular
date at this time,” she said.
When asked about how the
LC community can keep track of
the survey’s progress, Friedman
highlighted several avenues for
communication.
“(Students can keep track) by
checking the website, there will be
further communication via email and
social media,” Friedman said.
Bixby affirmed the Mascot Steering
Committee’s commitment to open
communication with the LC community.
“As we take steps, we will be sending
out new information,” she said.
Friedman encouraged students,
faculty and alumni to reach out to the
Committee and provide their thoughts
on the mascot. There are around 60
members of Community Dialogues,
consisting of students and faculty from
all three campuses.
The Committee can be reached
through their email, mascot@lclark.
edu. In an email, Friedman provided
a comment encouraging the LC
community to participate in the survey.By CAROLINE DREW
STUDENTS WHO filed the 2024-
25 Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) this winter
likely noticed a variety of changes.
After a three-month delay, the form for
students featured a newly streamlined
experience for students and their fellow
contributors. This overhaul is the result
of two recently-passed laws — The
Fostering Undergraduate Talent by
Unlocking Resources for Education
Act (FUTURE Act) and the FAFSA
Simplification Act. According to the
Federal Student Aid website, these acts
aim to make the financial aid process
more accessible for students. What do
these changes mean for students and
their families?
The FAFSA Simplification Act, true
to its name, dramatically cut back on
the number of questions included in the
FAFSA form — from over 100 to under
50 for most students. These questions
are supplemented by requiring
working students and parents or other
contributors to consent to IRS tax data
retrieval, if applicable. The look and
flow of the FAFSA have been updated in
an effort to simplify the online process.
The language surrounding adults
assisting students with their college
finances has also shifted. Rather than only
parents, the FAFSA now invites spouses,
biological or adoptive parents and step-
parents to assist college students in
applying for financial aid as contributors.
Other relatives and legal guardians are
still not considered contributors.
Being identified as a FAFSA
contributor does not require an adult
to provide financial support to the
student, but allows them to participate
in the aid application. Contributors do
not need to provide a social security
number, allowing for more aid options
for immigrant and international students. The form is also available in
new additional languages to further
increase accessibility for multinational
students. If a student has multiple
separate contributors, as is the
case for students with divorced or
separated parents, the FAFSA will only
require financial information from
the contributor who predominantly
supported the student financially in
the past year.
As financial aid decisions for next
year have not yet been released, it is
unclear how these changes around
contributors and family financial
information will impact aid for students.
The Federal Student Aid website states
that the Student Aid Index has replaced
the Expected Family Contribution
calculation in the new form. This index
reports a number — though not a dollar
amount — that schools will use to
determine aid eligibility.
According to USA Today, this index
will no longer consider how many
household members are currently
enrolled in higher education. The value
of familial assets like small businesses
and family farms must also be reported
in the new FAFSA. Defining these
lines around contributors and the
information they are required to provide
will certainly clarify the financial aid
application process but may impact
students differently depending on
their circumstances.
In an effort to provide more
federal aid to students, the FUTURE
Act extends Federal Pell Grants.
FAFSA’s Student Aid Index, federal
poverty guidelines and other
demographic information will
determine Pell Grant eligibility.
Students who file the FAFSA will
automatically be considered for
these grants. The U.S. Department of
Education reports that “610,000 new
students will be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant this coming school year
and 1.5 million students will qualify
for the maximum award amount.” In
the 2023-24 school year, that amount
was $7,395. The maximum award
amount for the 2024-25 school year
is yet to be announced.
The Student Aid Report has been
replaced by the FAFSA Submission
Summary, which is not an aid offer
but a detailed estimation of federal
financial aid for which a student is
eligible. This report includes the
Student Aid Index and can be sent to
up to twenty selected schools. Schools
can use this information to determine
financial aid packages.
Due to the delay in the FAFSA
2024-25 release, students are expected
to receive aid information later than
usual this year. This delay may result
in more rushed college decisions for
incoming students, especially those
relying heavily on financial aid, and
last-minute juggling for already-
enrolled students.
“The delays will have the highest
impact on students from the lowest
income backgrounds,” USA Today
concludes. “Once these aid packages
are released to students, we can expect
to learn more about how new Pell
Grants, contributor regulations and aid
index calculations impact the financial
accessibility of college for students.”
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
Spring Activities Fair kick-starts new semester involvement
Event highlights clubs such as Tea, Harm Reduction, that hope to increase membership, spread word
By EMMA FORD
THE OFFICE of Student
Engagement hosted its 2024
Spring Activities Fair last Friday,
Jan. 26, from 3:00-5:00 p.m., inviting
the Lewis & Clark community to engage
with student clubs and organizations at
the kickoff of the new semester.
Taking place inside Stamm Dining
Hall, music played and brightly decorated
booths encouraged students to take time
at the end of their busy week to come
check out what the campus has to offer.
In their continued efforts to maintain
student engagement during the second
half of the academic year, the Office
of Student Engagement organized the
event to give clubs the chance to reach
prospective members they might have
missed in the fall.
Event attendance was good — all
available booths were signed up for,
although some clubs that had reserved a
slot ended up being no-shows.
Unlike the fall version of the event,
the Spring Activities Fair had a limited
number of available tables for student
organizations. In contrast to Fall’s Student
Engagement Extravaganza (SEE) Fair,
which takes place outside on the academic
quad, the indoor setting places constraints
on participation. Reservations were made
available on the LC website, and priority
was given to any groups formed in the Fall
2023 semester who were unable to attend
the Fall SEE Fair.
The LC Harm Reduction Community
Outreach Club was one such group
that was formed after the SEE Fair.
A member of the club, Sarah Smith
’25 found the opportunity and
support from the Office of Student
Engagement invaluable.
“It’s a good opportunity to catch up on
things you didn’t get to do last year,” Smith
said. “You get free resources, you can take
whatever you want and we have QR codes
for the email list and Instagram.”The Spring Fair is a great way
to spread the word about a club’s
purpose and events.
“We just want people to know that
we’re here and we have these resources
for students,” Smith said. “I think it’s
been an area that’s been lacking …
really we just want you to know that we
exist and they can reach out to us if they
need support or resources.”
Director of Student Engagement
and Special Events Tamara Ko also
commented on the importance of the fair
for new clubs.
“They get a chance to be visible,”
Ko said. “And so I think it continues to
maintain a good marketing opportunity.”
As a marketing opportunity, clubs
have a lot of personal discretion
in how they approach the event.
Decorated tables and giveaways,
including pamphlets, candy and
small trinkets enticed students to
visit booths and talk to the club
representatives tabling.
Organizations focused around
activities brought them in to engage attendees, such as the Gaming
Society, which set up the board
game Hibachi as an example of what
prospective members could have the
chance to get involved with.
The interpersonal aspect was
cited by many attendees and tabling
club representatives as one of the
most positive parts of the Spring
Activities Fair. Interacting face-
to-face with different members of
the community bred positive and
unexpected connections.
“I’d say the best part is meeting
different people,” President of the
Christian Fellowship Will Powell, ’24
said. “I think it’s cool to meet people
who I think aren’t interested in our
club. (And then) they actually are and
they’re from different backgrounds
or have different stories.”
As the Spring semester swings
into gear following its icy start,
student groups look forward to
refreshed interest and participation,
thanks in no small part to the Spring
Activities Fair.
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOGJ FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
The tea club attracted attention by offering drinks for passersby to taste at their table.Clubs of all varieties gathered in Stamm Dining Hall to meet potential members.
FAFSA revamp streamlines
application, causes delaysFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
OPINION 4
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed in the Opinion section are NOT those of The Mossy Log and are held by the authors.The bookstore is an accessible spot to order stationary, textbooks and other materials.New Bon messaging overlooks individualized nutritional needs, affects most vulnerable populationsCalorie-conscious signage prompts controversy
Student employee clarifies bookstore misconceptions
CORRINA CHAN/THE MOSSY LOGA few students place the new signs face down in protest of the misguided message.By OLIVIA FENDRICH
IMAGINE ME, fresh-faced and nubile,
walking into the Bon last Monday on
a mission to eat well. I am a proud
young woman with a voracious appetite,
so a dinner surrounded by my friends is
always a welcome relief from the stress
of school.
Now imagine my utter dismay at
seeing the new signs adorning the Bon:
“Small Changes Add Up. Balance and
portions count,” one reads. “Swap Beef
Burger on White Bun (370 cal) (for)
Black Bean Burger on Whole Wheat Bun
(340 cal + 5g Fiber & Phytonutrients),”
says another.
It was not that these signs offended
me or that they were placed with any ill
intent; healthy eating is not an inherently
harmful practice to encourage, especially within the context of undergraduate
programming at LC. Furthermore,
these signs are from the Bon Appétit
catering organization, which cannot
account for the limitations of our
humble dining service.
The unintended consequences of
these seemingly harmless signs have
me questioning their impact on our
community. Last Monday, the Bon felt
different — an unwelcome intrusion into
the simple pleasure of communal dining.
The intentions behind these signs are
commendable. Encouraging students to
make healthier choices and promoting
awareness about nutrition can be
seen as positive. After all: knowledge
is power, especially when it comes to
making informed decisions about our
diet. However, good intentions do
not always translate seamlessly into
positive outcomes.
The practical reality of the Bon’s
offerings, or lack thereof, is where these
signs’ messages begin to unravel. It is
easy to suggest swapping white bread
for a whole wheat alternative, but what
if the Bon does not consistently offer
the latter? The limited availability of
certain items turns these well-meaning
recommendations into a source of
frustration for students seeking to follow
the suggested changes.
Advocates might suggest that
promoting alternative options, even
if not always available, is a positive
step. However, the key lies in
recognizing the limitations of the Bon
and ensuring that recommendations
align with the practical realities of
its offerings. Moreover, the scientific landscape surrounding nutrition is
intricate and diverse.
Our bodies are not one-size-fits-all
entities and a nuanced understanding
of individual nutritional needs is crucial.
While the signs advocate for a reduction
in calorie intake, they fail to consider
the varied nutritional requirements of a
diverse student body. Scientific evidence
supports the idea that rigid calorie
counting and restrictive eating may
not be universally beneficial and can
contribute to unhealthy relationships
with food (as was demonstrated by
Levinson et al., 2017).
According to Johns Hopkins
Medicine, the most common age of the
onset of an eating disorder is between
12-25. With this in mind, the Bon must
consider that it serves the age group
most vulnerable to eating disorders. The
allure of restrictive eating practices can
be especially enticing in an environment
where societal pressures often converge
with personal insecurities. The
unintentional consequence of these
signs is the potential exacerbation
of unhealthy eating habits and the
fostering of an environment that may
contribute to the development of eating
disorders among vulnerable individuals.
It is crucial to recognize that stress and
trauma can manifest in various ways,
and for some, controlling their food
intake becomes a coping mechanism.
This is not an issue isolated to the realm
of nutrition; it intertwines with mental
and emotional health. Racial minorities
and LGBTQ+ individuals, who may
already grapple with unique stressors, are
particularly vulnerable, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.
The unintentional message conveyed by
these signs can inadvertently exacerbate
these challenges for these groups.
The inadvertent consequences of
the calorie restriction signs in the Bon
extend beyond a mere suggestion to
make healthier choices. They touch on the
complex dynamics of individual dietary
needs, mental health and the vulnerability
of certain groups on campus. As a
community, we must collectively consider
the impact of seemingly innocuous
messages on the welfare of our peers.
The road to promoting a healthier
campus environment involves a
more nuanced approach — one that
acknowledges the diverse nutritional
needs of our student body’s student
bodies, respects the limitations of our
dining services and fosters a supportive atmosphere that prioritizes well-being
over rigid dietary guidelines.
It is time for us to engage in a
meaningful dialogue about how we
can encourage healthier habits without
inadvertently contributing to the
challenges some students already face.
As of Monday, Jan. 29, the Bon has
removed these signs from the buffet
area. However, their impact calls into
question the ways in which we promote
healthy eating without encouraging
problematic behaviors.
This stint serves as a learning
opportunity. It is up to us to break the
cycles of disordered eating entrenched
in our society and work towards
equitable healthy eating education that
is rooted in awareness.
We only have one dining hall, it
might as well serve us with cognizance.
By EMMA AMBROZIAK
STUDENTS AND professors
alike rely on the Lewis & Clark
Bookstore to supply the textbooks
and novels that supplement our liberal
arts curriculum. The first week of
classes always has been, and always
will be, a scramble to gather all the
necessary materials before falling
behind on tightly scheduled syllabi.
I frequently overhear less than
favorable comments made about
the bookstore, and sometimes its
employees, too. As one of seven student
bookstore employees, I hope to explain
the mayhem, clarify misconceptions
about the bookstore and thus enlighten
my peers and professors to the other
end of the experience.
I will address frequent questions,
agree with certain complaints and, most
importantly, explain to you all why
everyone does not get their books on
time, in hopes of bringing about more
awareness, patience and sympathy for
our staff.
First and foremost, we are associated
with Barnes & Noble, not LC. That
means that Flex Points do not work at
the bookstore, but Barnes & Noble gift
cards do. I agree that it would be nice
if Flex Points counted towards snacks,
but they unfortunately do not. Spread
the word.
Also, I am sorry about textbook
prices. Unfortunately, this is the United
States and education is expensive. The
campus is isolated, and this is often
the most accessible way for students
to get books. I assure you, we all
feel awful ringing you up, and we all
understand the pain. We all wish we
could have daddy’s platinum credit card
to ring up $700 worth of bright orange
merchandise, brand new textbooks and
dozens of snacks.
If I could change the prices for
those of you who are struggling to
make ends meet, I would. Truly. Like
many of you, we are students (not just
retail workers!) trudging through the
financial woes and heavy loads of an
undergraduate education.
A side note: If you are waiting at the
register and you see that someone is already on their way to assist you, please
do not ring the bell at them repeatedly.
The bell is for when we are working in
another part of the store and have not
seen you yet. It is humiliating to have
to walk up to a customer to help them
while they ring a tiny little bell at you as
if you were their personal servant. This
point is geared towards students who
have not worked retail jobs.
If you are kind and patient with
me, then I will be more than willing
to help you. If you are demanding,
imperious and impatient with me, the
second you walk through the gate, then
no, I do not feel obligated or inclined
to waste my precious time on you or
your disrespectful treatment of retail
workers. This really goes for all areas of
my life.
If you ask me how my day is, I
will answer honestly. That does not
mean that I am ill-tempered or rude,
it just means that I am answering
authentically and truthfully. I respect
you enough not to lie to you.
Normalize getting rid of alarmingly
high-pitched customer service voices
and start acting like ourselves. It makes
for a much more interesting and rich
life. If you are having an awful, horrid
day and want to bang your head against
a wall, tear all your hair out and scream
into the void, I am not going to judge
you for that. Maybe we can briefly
connect over our shared feelings.
I have a few thoughts on how
students and professors respond to the
chaos of the bookstore at the beginning
and end of each semester. If you do
not mind, I would like to enlighten you
all and put your complaints to rest. I
would like to point out a few factors that
impact our store’s readiness during the
first week.
During the start of the semester,
I often encounter negative rhetoric
surrounding bookstore employees,
delayed orders, long lines, missing
textbooks, late fees, infinite amounts
of emails and high prices. The latter
two complaints, I can understand and
sympathize with. The rest, I must defend.
While will I generally find my
interactions with students, staff and
parents to be pleasant and uneventful, I sometimes find myself in situations
where I am treated without respect
and blamed for situations beyond my
control. I absolutely understand the
frustration and anxiety that comes with
not being able to get the books you need
for the first week of class, but I would
like to point out a few factors that
impact our timeliness.
We cannot prepare orders on time
if professors and students do not place
their requests and orders on time.
Naturally, the bookstore is busiest
the first week of the semester and the
last when students pick up and return
their books. During both of these weeks,
the bookstore employees work overtime
to make sure that the orders are taken
care of before everyone leaves for break.
During finals, bookstore employees
work extra hours to accommodate the
chaos of returning books, despite their
own academic responsibilities.
During breaks, there are even fewer
student employees and, coincidentally,
more work to be done as we transition
from one semester to the next. This
past winter break, there were three
students and one manager dealing with
all the books for the undergraduate and
graduate schools.
Between the two campuses, there
are more than 3,500 students and,
therefore, many more thousands
of books to manage. That is an overwhelming and tedious amount of
work for a small staff, especially when
half are gone during break and much
of the load falls on a mere four human
beings. We worked overtime to lift
hundreds of books every day so that,
when the semester began, we would
be as well-prepared as possible to have
existing orders ready for pick up.
When there were four snow days
in a row due to hazardous conditions,
bookstore employees on and off campus
still braved the weather to come in,
prepare for the first day of classes
and make the start of the semester as
smooth as possible for LC students.
Our ability to request, receive,
unbox, organize, shelve, pick, package
and deliver books to students in a
timely manner depends on a few
factors: early communication from
professors regarding their courses’
required materials, students’ initiative
in placing their orders before the start
of the semester and how well-staffed we
are at the time, in that order.
From the time we become aware of
a book needed for a course, it can take
up to two or three weeks to receive
the shipment, which means we cannot
fulfill orders for those texts until the
semester is well underfoot.
Additionally, our orders are being
completed on a first-come first-serve
basis. If you order your books in advance, a week or two before classes start, then
you will have your books ready for the
first day. If you put off ordering books
until after classes have started, then
you have to take responsibility for the
fact that you delayed your order until
the busiest week of the semester, and
understand that you will probably not
have all your books for the first week or
so of class.
It is an avoidable problem on your
end; often, the required books will show
up on the website before you receive
your syllabi. Even when they do not, that
is not the fault of bookstore employees.
It is frustrating to get your books
late, but it is even more frustrating to
deal with impatient parents, entitled
students and unreasonable requests
from people who expect an order they
placed thirty minutes ago to be ready
for pickup.
My personal favorites are the pissed
off students who yell at us because they
cannot pull up order numbers or bar
codes from the orders their parents
placed and paid for.
Lastly, I know that finals are chaotic
and it can be difficult to return books on
time. You already get a month-long grace
period beyond the due date in December
to return the books and get refunded, so
there is no need to complain about the
late fees or deadlines.
Why you put it off for this long is
beyond me. Why you complain about
the problem you created for yourself
baffles me too. Just appreciate the
long grace period and realize that late
returns detract from our ability to
prepare orders for this semester, and
that your delays result in our delays.
This is my plea to the LC community,
particularly to its students: Perhaps
complain a little less about delays at the
bookstore and reflect a little more on
the volume of orders our limited staff
deals with at the beginning and end of
every semester.
Lifting thousands of books is not
necessarily fun, and does not feel great
on the back, but we are doing our best
to work through all of it. Retail workers
are human beings, not machines, and
we appreciate patience and empathy as
we navigate a stressful time of the year. OLIVIA FENDRICH/THE MOSSY LOG
Through beginning of year madness, workers encourage customers to practice patience, empathy, respect
OLIVIA FENDRICH/THE MOSSY LOG
Health bulletins appear in Fields Dining. By KEVIN MATISHEK
NO QUESTION asked at a liberal
arts college is less interesting
than, “What grade did you get?”
The whole objective of a small liberal
arts institution is to avoid the inherent
bureaucracy of a larger school, so as to
best engage in real, vulnerable learning.
To cede an inch of emphasis over to
grades in our daily consciousness is to
wave a white flag facing the educational
institutions who wish to make us
tired and uninterested. Lewis & Clark
depicting a similar situation, often
finds its students obsessing over the
grade rubrics rather than the learning
essense of assignments. The grade point average (GPA) and
the letter grade are not articles which
convey actual learning or understanding.
They merely exist in order to quantify
success in a course for the convenience
of registrars, allowing them to assign a
number (or a letter) to students rather
than take the time to assess these skills
orally. Although the letter grade and the
GPA are both convenient and necessary
for processing large numbers of students
and conveying academic success quickly
and conveniently, they do not exist for
the benefit of learning. It instead works
in the benefit of admission committees
who can choose whether or not to accept
you based on a single value: an academic
credit score, if you will. It is the stated objective of a liberal
arts college to always prioritize
learning, and at institutions where
grades are easily and instantly
accessible, the presence of these
grades can distract from that goal.
Students obsess over their grades,
and treat their schoolwork as a game
meant to be played and won as rather
than ideas meant to be analyzed and
discussed.
Beyond that, it distracts the
professor, who now has to deal with
an army of students asking why they
did not receive a perfect score on
their latest assignment. One of the
objectives of a liberal arts education
is to provide space for nuance and
subjectivity. The inherent drawback
is that one may not be instantly
provided with unsubjective quantified
progress. This leads to students
running behind a letter grade instead
of focusing on education throughout
the semester.
Grades in a collegiate setting are
only relevant as insurance policy
for the jobs and programs which
follow after. Their inappropriately
quantitative nature goes against the
values of our college and reduces the
miracle of education. It is our job as
students to assist as much as we can
in the task of personal bookkeeping,
so that professors can dedicate
themselves to our teaching.
Keep our schools emphasis on
the content of our classes as they are
happening, not on their appearance
after we graduate. We all played that
game in high school and managed
to get into this college. Now it is our
time to actually learn.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
OPINION 5
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed in the Opinion section are NOT those of The Mossy Log and are held by the authors.By JESSIE SHAW
THIS SEMESTER, classes started
a week later than planned
as Lewis & Clark faculty and
students got a big surprise: ice storms
and frigid temperatures. Although LC
emailed all the students and faculty
addressing the winter weather’s
negative impacts on travel and class,
many students had returned to
campus a day or two prior, only to be
let down when classes were canceled.
In my case, I had to wake up early
for my 10:25 a.m. flight from San Diego
to Portland on the day before my classes
were initially scheduled to commence.
Once I arrived on campus, it was as if
I had walked into a winter wonderland:
the grounds were coated in icy snow
and the icicles on the trees glittered
like diamonds. On the downside, as I
expected, the outside temperature was
at its height at 25 degrees Fahrenheit,
later dropping to 17 degrees in the
middle of the night. While I was
initially excited to experience the frigid
temperatures, I was not well prepared
for them as I had just returned from
mild San Diego.
Once I received the email about
the cancelation of the first classes, my
appreciation of the snow halted, as I
began to feel let down. I had woken up
at 6:30 a.m. for my flight to Portland,
landing half-past noon so I could have
the time to unpack and pick up my
books. To catch the early flight, my
goodbyes with my parents and my pets
were brisk, just to have all activities
canceled when I arrived, making the end
of my winter break feel anticlimactic. As soon as it became apparent that
all classes would be postponed due to
weather, I wished that LC could have
canceled the first week of classes before
we came back and let us stay home for
an extra week. While the snow-coated
campus was exciting, we faced potential
power outages and panic-bought food
during the occasional runs to Fred Meyer
in case it became too dangerous for the
Bon to operate. Thus, I began to greatly
miss being back home, sleeping in till
11 a.m. with my cat purring and dozing
alongside me. After a month living my
luxurious life at home, I returned to an
uncomfortable bed and subpar Bon food,
now with the additional drawback of
every activity on campus being canceled.
Despite the gloomy and boring
ambiance on campus, I treated my
boredom with admiring the winter
wonderland. I marveled the glittering
ice-covered trees and the thick ice
blanketing the reflecting pool that
allowed me to walk and glide across
the frozen pool without worrying about
falling through. Until the last bits of
snow covered the inclines, I enjoyed
sledding down them with a cardboard
mat. These bits of amusement and
admiration prevented me from catching
cabin fever, making being trapped on
campus more bearable than the time
during NSO week.
Overall, I think the school should
have decided to extend winter break
by a week, as the winter weather made
it imminent for classes to be canceled.
While I enjoyed the ice and snow, it
would have been better if I stayed home,
as I wouldn’t have gotten bored or
worried about potential power outages.Closure should have
extended winter breakSnow week brings exciting
activities at cost of comfort
By KAI MERMIS-CAVA
THE SNOW that plagued Portland
was both a blessing and a
curse upon the Lewis & Clark’s
campuses. Though the administration
fought as hard as they could, their best
attempts were not enough to keep
classes from being canceled during the
entirety of the first week. Some teachers
canceled their classes entirely, while
some resorted to Zoom meetings, which
were unwelcomingly reminiscent of the
COVID-19 era of school.
During the first day of snow,
wandering around the campus was
absolutely fantastic. The reflecting pool
was completely frozen over, making
for a beautiful sight and a thrilling walk
across, and snowy hills set up the perfect
landscape for sledding. Due to the fact
that I value my life, I did not participate
in said activities, but it was a wonderful time spent laughing at my friends who
were taking turns narrowly dodging a bee
hive and crashing into blackberry bushes.
The campus was truly transformed
into a winter wonderland with the
snowfall, though you had to ignore all of
the fallen trees in order to see it this way.
Everything was covered by the snow and,
for a while, it seemed like it might have
been out of a fairytale.
Then the freezing rain came and
everything changed. The snow was still
beautiful, but now, you could not step
foot on it without slipping. Venturing
outside of your dorm became an extreme
sport, and god forbid you attempted the
perilous trek to the cafeteria. Absolutely
everything was completely covered in ice.
Of course, I immediately tried to get
breakfast the morning after the freezing
rain. A trip from Platt to Fowler, which
normally would have taken five minutes
at most, took twenty minutes. The majority of which was spent
trapped on the tiny hill leading down
from Platt’s front door. Though I did not
fall, I came very close, and I had to receive
assistance from a lovely stranger who was
kind enough to come save me and help me
down the last five feet of the hill.
Returning to Platt was surprisingly
easier than leaving. There were multiple
brushes with the ground, and more than
a few creatively worded curses before I
found myself safely inside. The following
day, there was quite a lot of screaming, as
my larger friend group decided to risk the
trip to the cafeteria alongside me.
Overall, the adventure, while risky,
terrifying and mildly dangerous, was well
worth it. While I would have preferred
to keep campus the way it was the very
first day, with soft snow that one could
actually walk on without risking multiple
broken bones, the following days were
not quite that bad. This was assuming you
had enough food stocked up in your dorm
room, or you were willing to brave the ice
and make your way to the Bon.
For some, the unexpected break was
lonely, but others took it as a chance
to gather their friend groups and do
nothing but spend their days binge
watching television shows and movies
while trying to stay warm. The occasional
flickering of the lights and power added
to the atmosphere.
The low temperatures were also an
interesting experience, reaching the lowest
range so far in the 2023-24 school year.
For the first time, I had to wear earmuffs!
While I enjoyed the chance to pull out
some of my warmer clothing, many of my
friends did not share in my enjoyment.
Still, I found it exciting, and am growing
steadily more and more disappointed
with the warming temperatures.
The snow was a fun experience,
especially for anyone who has not been
around snow much in their life, or simply
anyone who is not from Portland. Would
I ask for something like it again? Likely
not. Would I be overly upset if it made a
reappearance? I do not think so.
Emphasis on grades diminishes
liberal arts values, erodes learning
TANVI SHUKLA/THE MOSSY LOGELLA DUNN/THE MOSSY LOGELI KESSLER/THE MOSSY LOG
ELI KESSLER/THE MOSSY LOGFrom frozen pools to perilous treks on icy hills, students share thrilling experiences.
Continous snowstorms block campus pathways, delays beginning of semester.
Portland experinces abnormal appearance of thick black ice this winter season.
By ELLA DUNN
LEWIS & CLARK experienced a
storm two weeks ago that left the
walkways on campus extremely
icy and precarious, with many roads
surrounding campus impassable. Due
to the weather and the danger it would
put the off-campus staff and students
in, classes were delayed day by day and
students were forced to find ways to
entertain themselves while anticipating
the next email inevitably canceling on-
campus activities and affairs.
Though the ice has mercifully
thawed and classes have finally begun
as usual, winter is far from over. Should
the storm weather and subsequent
closures return, what is left to do with
so much free time?
In addition to being an amateur
journalist, I am a self-proclaimed
“hobby collector,” and all of my
favorite hobbies can all be enjoyed
from the comfort of my dorm room
while wearing pajamas. Whatever you
might be interested in, there is a way to indulge in it even while it is hazardous
to venture outdoors, where the slippery
paths on campus pose a threat to your
well-being (and the uninjured state of
your tailbone).

Crochet
The first suggestion I have for an
activity is crochet. Most importantly,
it is an inexpensive hobby to get into;
one hook and one skein of yarn will
cost you under $10 (or free to borrow
at the Platteau)! Learning to crochet is
a lot easier than it seems, and endless
YouTube tutorials and Pinterest
inspiration will get you started without
a hitch. Crochet not only has a fun and
soothing production process but also
allows you to create a useful result!
Being very goal-oriented, as opposed
to process-oriented, my favorite part
is the completion of the final product.
Many people also enjoy the
relaxation that comes with the
repetition of “yarning over.” In my
time crocheting, I have crafted many
clothing items, gifts for friends and
family and various plushies, most of
which have been successes and all
great practice. My favorite crochet
piece so far has been a drawstring bag
I made for a friend, which she adores
and uses constantly. Whatever it is that
you end up getting out of the process,
it is a skill that is very versatile in its
applications and can make you feel
productive even while you are sitting
cozily at home.
Reading
There is nothing better than curling
up with a good book and a warm drink.
Reading, and I mean for pleasure, not
homework, is a wonderful activity
to stretch your imaginative muscles
and be whisked away from your
dorm room into another world. It is
an especially valuable activity when
school is canceled and you are utterly
bored of your own life; books make it possible to visit others’ at the turn of
a page.
My personal favorite authors (who
I make sure to recommend to anybody
who is looking for their next read) are
Haruki Murakami for a more serious,
science-fiction story, and Marissa
Meyer if I want a good young adult
read to get lost in. My favorites from
the two of them are Hard-Boiled
Wonderland and The End of the World
by Murakami (long-winded title, I
know), and the Lunar Chronicles series
from Meyer. I have read many books
in my time on Earth, and I truly do
feel that reading can not only make a
person more imaginative and creative
but is simply a calming, enjoyable
activity, which makes it perfect for a
laid-back night in.
Journaling
Writing in a journal is something
I just picked up again this semester,
and so far it has been extremely
cathartic. Journaling is a great way to
vent emotions, set goals, or just ramble
away to a non-judgmental audience. I
love putting all my thoughts on a page
in front of me, and even more than
that, I love looking back on
it later in life. Writing
entries is a great way
to track your progress
toward your goals,
and reading them is
an easy way to see
your development
as a person.
A blank journal
allows for writing,
but also creative
additions such
as art, stickers
and any form
of collaging
you please.
I love pressing flowers and
taping important magazine or article
clippings in mine. However you like to do it, journaling allows for a great
deal of introspection and is a fantastic
way to pass the time when outdoor
exploration is not an option.
Cooking (or learning to)
One of the most
valuable skills a
person can learn is to
cook. Whether it is
for yourself on a day
you would rather
not brave the
Bon, or for your
roommates who
feel the same
way, it is a skill
that can be
enjoyed and
shared. Over
the course
of the week
in, I spent a lot of time on
the internet, an unlimited source
of information and experience. I have tried plenty of recipes from the
web, most of which have been great
additions to my meal rotation.
My go-to easy meal is pasta (of any
variety) with either marinara or pesto
sauce. To spruce things up, throw some
raw veggies into the pasta water for the
last few minutes of boiling. This is an
easy way to multitask an extra food
group into your meal, which is cheap
if you buy vegetables frozen or free if
you snag some from the Bon. Pasta is
delicious every time, in my very biased
opinion. If you are enjoying a night in
and are almost hungry enough to risk
the walk, I would suggest first checking
what YouTube — and your fridge — has
to offer.
If we experience more weather
complications this semester, or if you
are just a person who, like me, prefers
enjoying life from the comfort of the
indoors, I hope I have provided a few
options to help you have a cozy, fun
time inside.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
FEATURES 6
Reading and crochet make for a snug day.Realistic goal-setting guidance promotes progress toward achievement without negativity, pressureGo-getter shares New Year’s resolution advice
By ROSALIE ZUCKERMANN
LONG DEBATED has been the
subject of making resolutions as
a way to welcome in a new year.
While some believe it is a worthwhile
moment of reflection as well as
motivation to enact your goals, others
think it is a futile, quickly abandoned
and often self-deprecating attempt to
improve our lives. Everyone thinks and
works differently, so it is impossible for
one strategy to unilaterally benefit all
who use it. This is why our traditional
notions of New Year’s resolutions could
use some expansion.
Make it specific
Some of the most common New
Year’s resolutions involve exercising
more, eating more healthily, reducing
screen time, saving money and
spending more time with loved ones.
What these all have in common is
lack of quantifiability. How does one
gauge what “more” or “less” is when
there is no benchmark to hit? This
ambiguity often leads to dissatisfaction
and a lack of feeling accomplished, or
disillusionment that causes people to
abandon their efforts altogether.
I have certainly made my fair share
of idealistically ambiguous resolutions
in the past, just to forget about them
entirely in a matter of months (or
weeks). This year, I had the goal of
doing more creative writing. Instead of
leaving that as the resolution, I decided
I will write one poem every day. I keep
a tab in my notes app titled “Daily
Poems,” and each night before I fall
asleep I type one out in bed.
I have found this to be much more
gratifying than the constant pressure
that comes with vague resolutions:
“I’m not writing enough” or “Why am
I so unproductive?” I scroll through
what I have made so far and feel proud
to see such a quickly accumulating
catalog of my year. Granted, it is a month into 2024 and who knows
where I will be by December, but
doing one intentional small thing,
one day at a time is a good start.
I put out a question on Instagram to
learn what others people’s resolutions
were. I saw lots of this same specific
goal-setting. A couple people dedicated
themselves to read a precise number of
books this year. Another vowed to stay
off their phone for one hour before
bedtime. Yet another, similar to mine,
decided to draw something every day.
These are easily trackable goals that
hone in on one important area of life
adding structure but not pressure.
Make it enjoyable and achievable
It can be harder to maintain a
resolution when it entails something you do not enjoy doing but feel that you
should, or that it is “good for you.” We
are much more motivated to continue
working toward a goal when the steps
necessary to achieve it are something
we take pleasure in.
My roommate, for example, made
her resolution to watch as many movies
as possible that people are shocked she
has not seen, such as “The Godfather” or
“Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse.” As
someone who has not seen Star Wars or
almost any Marvel movies (do not come
for me), I get it. The process of acquiring
expertise in popular movie culture is not
an onerous task she has to dread, but a
relaxing one she can look forward to.
There are also ways to make a not
inherently fun task into a less daunting
one. Creating incremental goals with associated rewards is one way to keep
yourself motivated to stick with your
resolution. If you want to be more
responsible with your finances, you
could set a spending goal for each month
and if you hit it, celebrate with a friend.
Breaking down broad tasks allows us
to feel a little sense of victory each time
we succeed, creating more of a positive
association with that activity. I mean,
who does not love clipping coupons?
You could also try to find small things
you enjoy within the larger tasks you
have been dreading. Want an exercise
regimen but can never seem to stick
with it? Find some work out clothes that
you feel cute in and get into a show or
podcast you are only allowed to watch
or listen to at the gym. Resolutions
can live or die in this silver-lining, and turning a chore into a hobby, while
difficult, can be worthwhile.
Another strategy is, as Forbes
recommends, making a “don’t do”
list. This changes the emphasis from
pushing yourself to showing restraint,
which for some can be a lot easier while
still making a meaningful change.
“Do not get a speeding ticket” might
be much more helpful than a simple,
“Drive more safely.”
Give yourself grace
Many people tend to feel bad about
themselves around New Year’s as they
go through things that they perceive
as wrong with them or their life — I
know I have. Reframing our idea of
resolutions from fixing to growing,
improving to exploring, can open up a
world of possibilities.
One student told me that one of their
resolutions was to “move (their) body out
of joy and passion and not obligation.”
This is a beautiful reimagining of a
more traditional resolution around
exercise. It strips the activity of negative
associations that it may take on and
encourages celebration of anything that
feels good in the moment.
This shows how a resolution does
not always have to be a concrete goal,
it can be a mindset to carry with you
throughout the year. Being flexible
is key to finding satisfaction in one’s
accomplishments. Nothing ever turns
out exactly how we expect, and letting
ourselves adapt our resolutions as the
year progresses is important.
No matter how you do resolutions, if
you do them at all, I hope you find 2024
to be a rejuvenating and fulfilling year.
A resolution can be a goal, a hope, even
just a small tick on a bucket list. I have
a friend whose resolution is simply to
learn to do a single pull up. New Year’s
does not have to be about restructuring
your whole life; it can be about ending
the year with the absolutely killer pride
that you, yes you, can do a pull up.
Homey activities improve morale from comfort of dorm
ELLA DUNN/THE MOSSY LOGEngaging pastimes make icy months bearable, encourage personal development, promote skill-building
ROSALIE ZUCKERMANN/THE MOSSY LOG
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
A warm cup of tea on a freezing day is enough to thaw even the coldest of hearts.
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOGBy TANVI SHUKLA
AH, WINTER , the season that
turns us all into reluctant
hibernating bears, layering up
until we resemble sentient snowmen.
Amidst the icy winds and frosty
sidewalks, there is one question that
echoes through the frozen corridors
of our minds: What on Earth are we
going to cook while we wait out this
polar vortex?
Face it, answering this question
depends on one’s cooking prowess
and the sheer will to whip up a meal.
Being a broke college student on a
budget, I found refuge in crafting easy
yet delicious, comforting meals in my
dorm. I saw this snowy weather as a
welcomed opportunity to create some
amazing dishes from back home,
complete with my creative takes on
delicious dorm-friendly recipes.
One of my top dishes during this
chilly escapade was a regional delight
called Namkeen Chawal. Complicated
name, simple execution. Imagine
a warm hug of spices throwing you
headfirst into the nostalgia of winters
in India. Follow this easy recipe to get
a taste.Ingredients:
2 tbsp oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 green chili, chopped
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 cup veggies (your choice)
2 teaspoons turmeric powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tbsp dried mango powder
1/2 tablespoon garam masala
1 1/2 cups basmati rice, washed
Salt, to taste
3 cups of water
In simpler terms, it is a rice-based
preparation that involves tossing
tomatoes, onions, veggies and a medley
of spices into a pot. First add some oil
to a pot and once heated add in your
chopped onion, green chilies, ginger
garlic paste, veggies and tomatoes
along with the spices listed above. As
the aroma of spices like turmeric, chili
powder, dried mango powder, and
garam masala fills the room and the
mixture starts leaving the oil, add your
rice and your water.
You can also adjust the spice levels
at this point by increasing or decreasing
the amount of chili you put in. Now, kick back and wait for the magic to
happen. Once the rice is cooked to
perfection, you have got yourself a bowl
of happiness. This ultimate comfort
dish became my go-to during 76% of
my winter break on campus — quick,
easy and a dopamine booster.
Now, as much as I adore cooking,
there are times when I do not even
want to lift a finger, let alone chop
onions and tomatoes. Enter the realm
of laziness, where, like any normal
human, I opt for a simple, quick bowl
of ramen that has the power to heal the
inner soul. Korean ramen, Japanese
ramen or Maggie (the Indian version
of ramen) — all these super-quick
noodles come together to provide the
satisfaction you need when your phone
is blowing up thirteen times a day with
snowstorm warnings.
In the grand culinary adventure
of surviving the freezing winters on a
college budget, creativity, simplicity
and a dash of humor were the secret
ingredients. So, fellow cooks, let us
toast to surviving winter with the
warmth of spices and the simplicity
of a ramen bowl. These culinary
triumphs can make a long winter a tad
more palatable.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
FEATURES 7
Student concocts conveniently cozy creations
Delicious dorm kitchen cuisine features cheap, casual ingredients even the least capable cooks can create
By KEVIN MATISCHECK
IN THE SPACE around a busy
intersection and across the
street from a tobacco shop lies
a quintessentially American scene.
The lights of parked cars shine
on nocturnal customers gorging
themselves on burgers and fries as
they laugh about their day in their
stuffed leather booths. But there is a
twist: Those burgers are vegan!
Vertical Diner is a vegan
restaurant chain started in Salt
Lake City (originally as a booth at a
farmer’s market) which has recently
expanded to Portland with a new
location on SW Barbur, down the
street from Fred Meyer. They have
a wide selection of gluten-free and
vegan foods including mock reubens,
mock chicken sandwiches, mock
cheese steaks and of course, mock
burgers (paired with non-mock fries).
With all these options and more, it is
a fantastic place to bring your friends
if you have the intention of turning
them vegan.
The diner is walking distance
from Fred Meyer, but the sidewalk
disappears for part of the journey.
You might consider driving or renting a Zipcar, or else you face the risk of
being run over walking down the
shoulder of Pacific Highway.
Aside from the harrowing
pedestrian experience, the diner itself
is quite ambient, and an archetypal
image of 50’s Americana, complete
with the long hallway design, booths
along the window and a line of bar
stools facing the kitchen.
It has all the smoky history and
Googie design language you would
hope for in a diner, but with an
earthy color palette and faux-wood
furnishing which makes it ooze
Pacific Northwest. There are several
four-person booths (fear not, larger
groups; you can pull up a chair), two
big party booths and a “Gold Room”
for private events. If you are in the
mood for a Pulp Fiction-style vegan
experience, you will be able to find a
seat wherever you please.
Although the food is definitely
quality, hipster places mean hipster
prices. A burger there is going to
cost you 16 bucks, but it is vegan
and named the “Tony Hawk Burger”
so I guess it is worth it. Alongside
its burgers, Vertical Diner also
features a southwestern flair, serving
tacos, smothered burritos and “The Mountain,” a breakfast plate piled
high with potatoes, tofu scramble,
peppers and guacamole. Also,
breakfast is served all day, a cause
for celebration for all you vegan
pancakes for dinner fans.
The quality of the food comes
through as everything, including the
meat substitute, is made in house.
Although vegans may not mind the
difference in taste, I can attest that
the fake meat tastes scarily similar
to its animal counterpart. If I did not
know I was in a vegan diner, I may
have never noticed.
The verdict: If you are looking for a
diner vibe with the ethics of veganism
but want more than your standard
American fare, then Vertical Diner is
the place to be. It features good food,
kind staff, a vintage atmosphere and
the perfect backdrop to take diner
pics for Instagram.
Unfortunately, there are no
direct pedestrian routes from the Pio
stop to the diner, so unless you and
your friends are feeling especially
adventurous or dedicated to the
environment, make sure you drive.
You are eating vegan food, after all.
You have already done your part for
the Earth. Vertical diner serves up vibrant vegan breakfast
Restaurant valiantly revitalizes American classics, dishes up veggie plates in vintage Portland venue
Spicy ramen featuring Shukla’s homemade soybean potstickers, a winter’s delight. TANVI SHUKLA/THE MOSSY LOG
Googie sign reads Vertical Diner and the Gold Room, plenty of seating for a gathering.J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
Bar bulletin boasts this week’s specials, including Tacos Al Pastor and chai milkshakes.J FRANK/THE MOSSY LOG
Toast paired with strawberry jam and butter, home style potatoes and a well spiced tofu scramble make for a delicious morning.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
ARTS 8
By ELLA DUNN
PORTLAND IS known for its
ability to attract a wide variety
of artists, whether they work in writing, painting, drawing, music
or film. I recently had the pleasure of
speaking with Zoe Steele ’25, a local
artist. Steele is an aspiring tattoo
artist who sells their designs on Etsy and on campus at art fairs in the
form of prints, original illustrations
and stickers.
“I have always loved art. My
art teachers in elementary school,
middle school and high school were
always my favorites,” Steele said. “I
have always been drawing. I didn’t
realize that wasn’t normal. I have two
huge bins of sketchbooks from when
I was a kid.”
Steele eventually went on to work
at a tattoo parlor near their home.
They worked at the front desk of
the shop, and because of this, the
majority of their job was personal
interaction with patrons.
“I’d always loved working with
people and art, and then I started
working at a tattoo studio and was
like, ‘Wait, this is perfect,’” Steele
said. “Before that, I didn’t know what
direction I wanted to go with it; I
knew I wanted to do art as a career
but I didn’t know how.”
Steele works with a wide variety
of mediums in their art. Their
preference towards one medium
or another tends to change with
what is on their mind, often swayed
by the courses they are taking at
that time.
“Over the last semester, I was in
ceramics, which is not something
I had done before. Now that I’m
back in 2-D art classes, they
ask you to do specific types of art.
There is a shift in the type of art
that I’m thinking about constantly,
so I wouldn’t be surprised if that
has an effect on the type of
things that I’m making in my
free time,” Steele said.Art can be a difficult product to
sell, considering the time it takes to
create and how heavily it relies on the
interests of others. While they enjoy
the idea of making art for a living,
doing so as a college student can be a
difficult endeavor.
“(Art) definitely isn't enough to
support me right now,” Steele said.
“Especially as I'm also studying, I
can't work full time on making stuff
outside of school.”
Nonetheless, a college campus
does have the benefit of a reliable
community, with Lewis & Clark's
tending towards the especially artsy
and supportive types.
“Every time there's an art fair on
the campus, usually at the Coop, I
sell art there and it usually is pretty
good sales. I usually sell prints
and stickers of my work or original
pieces that are usually smaller,
so they're not crazy expensive. I
would be more than happy to sell
(my large oil paintings) to people,
but I don't think it's likely that
that would happen on a college
campus,” Steele said.
In addition to in-person sales,
Steele sells tattoo designs on Etsy.
They sell the right to use the design to
only one patron, making it an original
design for the buyer.
Steele has continued to gain
experience in selling both in person
and online. They also stressed
the importance of a social media
presence as an artist, as well as
making pieces consumers will be
interested in purchasing.
“When someone comes up to me
at an art sale and they say, ‘I can't buy anything right now, but I'm
really interested in your stuff,’ I can
refer them to (my social media),”
Steele said. "I think maybe even having
a business card in the future
would be good for me. Also making
things that (take) a little bit less time,
less effort, less detail. Something
that you would be willing to part
with for not a huge amount
of money.”
Steele was not always sure of
what they wanted to do with their
passion for creation, but, fortunately
for consumers of their beautiful
work, are now majoring in art
here at LC and are making plans to
utilize their skills after they graduate.
“My goal after this is to do tattoo
trade school and then start working
around here. I want to be a tattoo
artist but I also am really passionate
about fine art and studio art.
I’d like to do both, I’d like to
continue being at local art shows and
art fairs and also being a tattoo
artist,” Steele said.
For Steele, the interpersonal
relations that come with being
an artist are a crucial part of
their experience.
“I like doing art that has a
focus on … aspects of my own
personality and identity, but also
my interactions with other people
and other people's interactions
with their environments … I think
everyone is beautiful,” Steele said.
“Part of why I love tattooing so
much is because it has to
work with people's physical
bodies. It's so dependent on
people's individuality.” Zoe Steele ’25 speaks on career building in art
COURTESY OF ZOE STEELE
By KAI MERMIS-CAVA
MEAN GIRLS is a modern
cult classic. The original
2004 movie grew into a
franchise, first with its lesser-known
and less popular sequel Mean Girls
2, eventually followed by the wildly
successful theater adaptation, the
Mean Girls musical in 2017. Most
recently, the stage adaptation returned
to the screen when the Mean Girls
movie musical was released on
Jan 12, 2024.
Mean Girls is a cultural
phenomenon that has shaped the
past two decades of pop culture.
The comedy in the original movie
has been referenced in media for
years afterward and even plays a
relatively large role in modern media.
Several TikTok trends originated
from the Mean Girls franchise,
including the audio from the original
film, “I’m always on your left. And
right now you’re getting on my last
nerve. Switch,” and a lyric from the
Broadway musical song “Sexy,” “This
is modern feminism talking / I expect
to run the world in shoes I cannot
walk in.”
Paramount Pictures announced
a musical film adaptation of the
Broadway show in January 2020,
making it almost exactly four years
later when Mean Girls 2024 opened
in theaters. The film is currently
still playing in theaters. While I
would recommend the new musical
to anyone who enjoyed the original
movie, fans of the Broadway show
may want to wait before getting their
hopes up.
The star-studded cast of Mean
Girls 2024 was spectacular. Angourie
Rice (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
stars as the main character, Cady
Heron, supported by Auliʻi Cravalho
(Moana) as Janis Sarkisian and
Christopher Briney (The Summer I
Turned Pretty) as Cady’s love interest,
Aaron Samuels. Of course, Mean Girls would be incomplete without The
Plastics, the trio of mean girls who
run North Shore High School. The
fantastic choice was made to bring
back Reneé Rapp as Regina George,
the posse's queen bee, who played the
same role in the Broadway production
of Mean Girls.
Despite the amazing cast of Mean
Girls 2024, the instrumentals of the
songs fail to reach the standards set by
the 2017 stage production. The actors
are heavily autotuned, especially
noticeable in "Sexy," sung by Avantika
Vandanapu. The instrumentals of
the songs have been changed from
powerful Broadway show tunes to
catchy pop songs better suited for the
radio than the stage.
Most notably, “Stupid With Love”
and “Revenge Party” have received
a lot of criticism online. The former
follows Cady as she struggles with
her feelings for Aaron, alongside her
past failings with love and the way
she turned to math to cope with it. In
the Broadway production, this song is
lively, energetic and mildly unhinged
as Cady swoons over Aaron. With
iconic lines such as, “I am filled with
calculust,” Cady is clearly a teenage
girl who is excited about her first
real crush.
However, in the film version, the
song resembles something more like
a slow love ballad. Where Broadway’s
Cady is nearly jumping around the
stage while she sings, the movie
variant simply stands in place and
sings softly, which fans have been
unhappy with.
A similar issue is present in
“Revenge Party.” In the stage
production, Cady’s vocals are loud and
confident, soaring upwards with every
note. She is demanding and energetic,
and often resorts to stomping around
the stage during the song. While the
movie tries to hit the same feeling of
the scene, it does not quite make it,
struggling with the energy required
for the song. Once again, it becomes a softer ballad instead of a rambunctious
song about a girl sabotaging her
romantic rival.
Another musical change was the
cutting of the song “Meet the Plastics.”
Though Regina sings a section
from her part of the song, the other
Plastics’ verses are removed, cutting
one of the most iconic songs from the
film. Regina’s section was excellent,
but it left something to be desired
that the complete number would
have delivered.
Despite the disappointment with
some of the songs, one new piece of
music has the internet losing their
mind over (myself included). The
song “Not My Fault” plays during the
film’s credits and is by Reneé Rapp
and Megan Thee Stallion. It features
the notable line sung by Reneé Rapp,
“Can a gay girl get an amen?”, a nod to
Rapp’s interpretation of Regina George,
who she described to Teen Vogue as
“very gay.”
Another complaint from fans was
the change in Regina’s Halloween
costume from a bunny suit in the stage
show to an angel in the film. Personally,
I adore the change. It is fitting for
Regina’s character, who is meant to be
a devil in disguise, especially in a scene
where she seduces Aaron in front of
Cady during the song “Someone Gets
Hurt,” during which she is wearing
the costume.
Besides the fitting metaphor,
another reason for the change could be
due to widespread rumors that Reneé
Rapp was made to wear a skirt over
the bunny costume during the stage
performance. Allegedly, this is because
the producers decided she was not thin
enough for the original costume. The
change could have been made as a way
to get away from the appalling rumor.
In another costume letdown, Janis
was given a change in aesthetic from
the original movie and stage show in
the new film. Instead of her signature
grunge alternative look, she was shifted
to a more bohemian style. While it does look good on its own, when compared to
past iterations of the design, it falls short
of the iconic spiky hair and eyeliner
now associated with the character.
Even so, Auliʻi Cravalho stepped into
this role flawlessly. Her vocals were
incredible, and she portrayed Janis
in a way that pays homage both to
the original film and the Broadway
rendition. Despite various complaints
circulating online, it was a very fun watch. There were a fair share of
cringe-worthy moments, but the sheer
charm of the film and its cast were
enough to make up for it. Does it live
up to the musical? Not quite. Is it better
than Mean Girls 2? Obviously.
For anyone who enjoys the Mean
Girls franchise, and has not set
their expectations too high, the movie
is one they should definitely find
entertaining and enjoyable.
COURTESY OF MEAN GIRLS
Movie poster features sultry closeup of main villain, Reneé Rapp, as Regina George. Student creates, sells entrancing designs on campus, Etsy with aspirations of becoming tattooist
Musical Mean Girls movie changes songs, costumes
Broadway actress, lead of The Plastics, breathes new life into iconic blonde antagonist on silver screenFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
ARTS 9
PDX Pop Now! presses play
on Portland local artistsNew theater screens
eclectic films, events
GALLERY OFFERINGS
Industry One Gallery:
Let it Be Known
Open Mon - Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
415 SW 10th Ave, Portland OR
Portland Art Museum:
Africa Fashion
Nov. 18 - Feb. 18
Open Wed. - Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.THIS WEEKEND
2 - Music: Emo Night
8 p.m. @ Polaris Hall
2 - Art: First Friday Art Walk
6 p.m. @ SE Bush Street
3 - Theatre: Miz Kitty’s Parlour
Vaudeville Novelty Show
7 p.m. @ Mission Theater4 - Film: Inside Man
7 p.m. @ Clinton Street Theater
Celebrating Black Film History
4 - Music: Portland Folk Festival
1 p.m. @ Crystal Ballroom
18 Artists, 2 Floors, 1 Super
Show!
4 - Music: Quickly Quickly & Jonny’s
Day Out
7 p.m. @ Polaris HallAND BEYOND
5 - Literature: Visiting Writers Series:
Ama Codjoe
6 p.m. @ Frank Manor House
6 - Film: Quilombo
7 p.m. @ Clinton Street Theater
Celebrating Black Film History
6 - Art: Art for Social Change Meeting
12 p.m. @ Zoom8 - Film: Top of the Heap
7 p.m. @ Clinton Street Theater
Celebrating Black Film History
8 - Theatre: Shakespearean Sonnets
in Song
12 p.m. @ Lincoln Recital Hall
8 - Art: Art Therapy Open Studio
3 p.m. @ Graduate Campus
9 - Music: Anti-Valentine’s Concert
7:30 p.m. @ Evans Auditorium Upcoming Events - FebruaryBy ROBERT MANGER
LOCATED ON Division Street
in the southwest of Portland,
the Tomorrow Theater hosts
to creative endeavors and venues,
including independent film viewings
of budding local artists. According to
their web page, the Tomorrow Theater
“embrace(s) cinematic storytelling
in all its forms and that means any
media art, storytelling, or creatively
undefinable cultural happening that
feels cinematic and these days, that’s
certainly a longer list than just film.”
With offerings spanning a diverse
array of eclectic events 24 nights a
month. While general screenings are
free to attend, others require a fair
sum of cold, hard cash. For Portland
Art Museum frequenters, a discount
applies, so it may be worthwhile to
get that pass you have been dreaming
of. Fortunately, the proceeds are
directed at paying artists and creators
a fair, liveable wage in return for their
entertainment and talent. On each
of these 24 nights, one can expect
two separate events in a vaudevillian
approach, meaning that if one is a
film, a separate art medium will be
displayed that relates to storytelling
in shape or form.
The Tomorrow is but one wing
of the Portland Art Museum Center
for an Untold Tomorrow (PAM
CUT), an organization dedicated to
showcasing the works of artists that
do not fit a singular mold. Aside from
the Tomorrow Theater, PAM CUT
provides programming, funding,
continued education and global
recognition for cinematic artists
in the Portland Art Museum as well as
numerous other galleries.
“The Portland, Oregon based
organization focuses on pioneering, multi-faceted artists changing for
whom, by whom and how cinematic
stories are told,” their mission
statement reads.
Tomorrow Theater’s spacious,
cushiony seats with orange and
purple coloring raise the bar for movie
theater comfort and bring a retro feel
to the otherwise modern architecture.
Additionally, the intimate ambiance
makes it great for two (Valentine’s
Day is coming up, you know). More
importantly, the theater is largely
accessible to those with disabilities,
with accommodations including
wheelchair seating, assistive listening
devices and closed captioning for the
hearing impaired.
The Tomorrow is proudly
featuring a multitude of films by
Black artists based in Portland
throughout February in recognition
of Black History Month, alongside
other classic films and newly released
independent films, a portion of
which have a queer focus. If none of
that jazzes you up, they are always
accepting programming input. So, if
you have a story to tell via an artistic
medium, or would like to share one
that resonates strongly with you, let
them know! You can easily submit
a suggestion form under the “Got
an Idea?” tab on their website,
tomorrowtheater.org.
While the Tomorrow Theater
alone is certainly worth the trek,
the Clinton Theater and its weekly
showing of the cult classic Rocky
Horror Picture Show is only a hop and
a skip away. Surrounded by a myriad
of restaurants (including really good
bagels), small businesses, galleries
and nightlife opportunities, there is all
the more reason to support some local
artists and enjoy an intimate viewing
experience that screams Portland.By J FRANK
PORTLAND’S MUSIC scene is
as unique as its residents. So
many artists and groups are
born (and fade from existence) every
year that, upon arriving in Portland,
whether a wide-eyed freshman in the
big city for the first time, like me, or
a jaded navigator of subculture, the
rainbow of sounds on display can
be overwhelming.
While the Portland scene is
undoubtedly vibrant and welcoming, it
can be difficult to parse without a leg
up. There is the tried and true method
of falling down an Instagram rabbit
hole, feverishly scrolling through
chains of following lists and trying to
build a mental network of local artists.
I have discovered many great bands
just by going to DIY shows with lineups
full of names I have never heard of.
Even so, it can be hard enough to
distinguish the genuinely good house
shows from those that are little more
than an excuse for college students
to get blackout drunk and vomit on
someone else’s lawn, let alone to know
what you are missing out on. What
better way to find your new favorite
underground artist than to blindly hear
a song and fall in love?
A compilation of each year’s best
songs out of Portland, submitted directly
by the artists and voted on by real,
everyday music enthusiasts without any
agenda or financial stake, sounds almost
too good to be true in today’s corporate
and algorithm-driven landscape.
Head over to pdxpopnow.com, and
this is exactly what you will find.
Sixty songs are available to listen for
free on Bandcamp, and even better,
this compilation was assembled
completely organically.
Musical artists submit their own
songs for consideration, and the
listening committee then divides up to
listen to and vote on the hundreds of
submissions, narrowing them down to
the most critically rated songs from each
genre. The compilation is a true display
of the year’s best music, according
to listeners.
One of the most interesting
features of the compilation is that
songs are not distinguished by genre.
I recommend hitting play on the first
song and listening straight through, with permission to skip a song if it
does not grab you. You will be treated
to a fun cross section of every genre
and mix or subversion therein that
the Portland scene has to provide.
It feels like a friend made a mixtape
of their favorite music for you. Just
as you can learn a lot about a person
through their music taste, I felt closer
to the Portland community while
listening to this compilation. Here are
some of my recommendations to get
you started.
If you are alone at night and
feeling melancholy, look no further
than the soulful “I Would Go Home”
by South Tabor for a Portland folk
song complete with a harmonica
solo and beautifully raw vocals.
“Couldn’t Talk Right” by Small
Town Sci-Fi is a solid, if derivative,
Pavement-esque garage rock song
celebrating the typical indie plight of
awkwardness with catchy rhymes and
punchy hooks.
If you want to discover local
rappers, check out these two:
“usual,lee” by OfF.Brand is a really
playful song with cheeky lyrics
for anyone who is just vibing their
own way, brought together by great
production and sax for a smooth as
butter listen. On the other hand, in
“Biketown,” MLTZR & Dusty Fox offer
a contemporary critique of Portland
culture with intelligently crafted
lyrics that flow seamlessly through its
two-minute duration.
With a delightfully energetic
groove that does not take itself
too seriously and refuses to be
pinned down, “Cucumber Vodka”
showcases Johnny Franco’s quirky
sound which has quickly become
a Portland favorite. If you enjoy
the soft-loud-soft sound and some
good ol’ noise, check out “Placeless”
by How Strange It Is for layered
guitar riffs, top-notch vocals — and
chimes! In a similar vein, but with even
more noise and a classic punk sound,
“Cherry” by Saint Remy showcases
some extremely tight drum fills and
tasteful feedback.
This handful barely scratches
the surface of the great music to be
discovered in the 2023 compilation. I
highly recommend giving it a full listen
for yourself, or even scrolling through
and randomly clicking on some titles that stick out. Even if the music is not
your cup of tea, the next time someone
brings up that up-and-coming artist
at a party, you can sound super
smart and cool.
If you are a musician thinking, “Boy,
I wish my song could be discovered and
reviewed in a prestigious publication
like The Mossy Log, too!’” then good
news: Song submissions for the 2024
compilation are open until March
12, via an online form at pdxpopnow.
com. Alternatively, if you want to help
choose the tracklist for the 2024
compilation, community members can
apply to join the listening committee
by filling out a short online form. No
experience or knowledge is required,
just passion for local music and
willingness to dedicate your time.
Who came up with all this anyway,
you ask? PDX Pop Now! began in 1998
as a listserv full of people passionate
about growing and promoting the
Portland music scene. In the early
years of the internet, a group of
forward-thinking music lovers
harnessed its power to connect and
share information.
Before long, they began to produce
a yearly music festival to showcase
the energy of the scene and the
artists that they promoted. The first
festival was in 2004, and in 2007 PDX
Pop Now! registered as a nonprofit
organization to ensure longevity
of their mission. The organization
remains completely volunteer run.
Board members’ resumes boast their
genuine passion for the Portland
creative community, listing bands,
shows and festivals, recording studios,
radio and visual arts.
“As an all-volunteer organization
committed to being accessible,
current, and local, we provide and
support live performances and
recorded materials. We aspire to
advance a sustainable community
which values inclusivity and a
high caliber of artistry to enable
a creative dialogue between artist
and audience,” the PDX Pop Now!
website states.
In service of this mission, PDX
Pop Now! also partners with the
Portland Radio Project to host a
show at 99.1 FM Mondays 7-8 p.m.
which broadcasts local music and
artist interviews.
Adorned in neon lights, the front door beckons audiences with a futuristic gleam.ROBERT MANGER/THE MOSSY LOG
“Placeless”
By How Strange It IsSuggested listening from PDX Pop Now! 2023
“Cucumber Vodka”
By Johnny Franco
“Biketown”
By MLTZR & Dusty Fox
“usual,lee”
By OfF.Brand
“Cherry”
By Saint Remy
“Couldn’t Talk Right”
By Small Town Sci-Fi
“I Would Go Home”
By South TaborFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
SPORTS 10
By LILLIAN SMALL
SPORTING events are touchstones
of creating spirit and school pride
on many campuses, including
Lewis & Clark’s. But it is not just the
athletes or the game itself that create
the experience of attending an event.
From the workers that sell you a ticket,
to the janitorial team that maintains the
facility, it takes a range o f people coming
together to make the magic happen.
One of these elements that turn
basketball and football games into a full
event is the pep band. They rile up the
crowd when our team scores a point,
provide entertainment during breaks
and set the tone for both the audience
and players with their upbeat repertoire.
According to the founder and
manager of the club, Peter Steck ’24,
LC has had several pep bands emerge
and dissolve over the years. Steck
cites encouragement from the music
department and the football program
as his inspiration for starting up the
club again. Currently, the club receives
funding from the athletic department,
music department and Office of the Vice
President of Student Life.
As manager of the pep band, Steck
describes himself as the “put-together
person” in charge of securing the right
instruments and uniforms, allocating
the budget and other administrative
tasks. Currently, the club is in the
process of building a full board so all
the responsibilities do not fall on just
one person.
Victor Young ’27 serves as the
current conductor of the pep band. His
responsibilities include choosing the
music repertoire, running rehearsals
and directing the band on game days. Young was a part of his high school’s
marching band as a drum major, and
he says the shift from being a member
to directing has been an interesting
challenge.
“(In high school) my director
basically just told me what to play
and when to play,” said Young. “Now,
technically speaking, I get to decide both.
It’s a little bit confusing sometimes.”
One of the most imperative elements
of conducting the pep band is keeping
track of time. Choosing songs based on
length and when to play them comes
down to more of a science than an art.
“A lot of people think it’s really easy
just to start playing at a point,” said
Young.
From adhering to the game’s breaks
and plays to the creativity of curating
songs that fit the perfect time frame, the
job is far from easy.
The pep band rehearses two times a
week in J.R.Howard Hall, running over
their songs for the next game. If you have
lurked in the corridors of Howard on a
Monday, Wednesday or Friday evening,
your study session might have been
accompanied by the spritely sounds of a
flute, or a crooning slide of a trombone
playing Pink Panther.
When asked about future ambitions,
both Steck and Young emphasized their
hopes of growing the band.
“I want to get more players. Our
listing of players right now is supposed
to be 40 and only about 10 showed up.
Pep band is really small, so I’m hoping
that as we keep playing games it’s gonna
get bigger and become a much bigger
club,” said Steck.
Steck also touched on the joy that
pep band brings to sports games, both to
the athletes and spectators.
“I think (pep band) adds some fun to an activity that is sitting in a seat,
watching people do things. It’s kind of
fun to hear a band playing for your team.
I would hope that it also boosts the
players’ spirits a little bit too, because it’s
like you’ve got people who are actively
cheering and playing something for you.
I feel like it’s a morale boost,” said Steck.
Young echoed these sentiments,
adding how much he feels the band
contributes to the games.
“It adds a lot of spirit, people get
really excited for us. I’ve gotten so
many comments from parents, family
members, professors, and students
saying they really liked what we were
doing. They really wanted us to be at
more things,” Young said.
Pep band is a unique group on
campus, neither a club nor a faculty
instructed ensemble. At the intersection
of two seemingly antithetical
communities — athletics and music —
lies a group that fosters playfulness,
enthusiasm and spirit with their fanfare. Pep band adds school spirit to athletic events
Student-directed wind, brass ensemble enhances ambience, hopes to grow membership, play at more games
ACROSS
1. Abbreviation for Mundus Group,
Inc.
5. One father, to a baby
10. A beaver’s fortress
13. A trendy bowl, often topped with
banana and oats 14. “Rapper” of 1-800-273-8255
15. “Sabor _ __,” song by Eydie
Gormé or Luis Miguel
16. “ checked my phone and saw
you__,” The Lonely Island lyric
17. Red-headed princess who is dumb
as rocks (a fork is not a brush!)
18. A device used for catching things
or keeping things out
19. Do not light a candle or smoke out the window in front of these people
21. English Breakfast or Earl Grey, en
español
22. What you might do to a friend
after a long day
23. Medical drama series starring
George Clooney
25. Zedong, founder of the People’s
Republic of China
26. Less sophisticated way of saying Wellington on a stick (the Bon’s
specialty)
30. Where the action happens, in
Temple
34. This iron Minecraft block might
fashion a decent suit of armor
35. DO NOT bring up Israel/Palestine
with this major
37. Too much of this injectable and
your face may be emotionless
38. Type of madness that put Lewis
and Clark College at the top of the list
40. A compound formed by the union
of nitric or azotic acid with a base
43. “God’s __,” song by Champagne
Papi aka Drake
44. Laugh out loud (XD)
45. Republic of Korea Fiber Optics,
for short
47. Like cheese and wine, it gets
better with this
49. Unimpressed
52. Good Game
53. How one might describe the
pungent smell of marijuana
57. Holmes-Sullivan, President of LC
58. Olivia Rodrigo’s award winning
debut album (overrated tbh)
60. “Now watch me whip, now
watch me __ __”
61. Purple yam originating from the
Philippines
62. If Dern, star of Big Little Lies, were to
release an Apple product
64. Superior alternative milk type
65. What man’s is not according to
Michael Dapaah
66. This type of piercing is an LC right of
passage (bisexual men beware)
67. How a shivering person might
decline
DOWN
1. Jacobs, designer of self titled brand
and Louis Vuitton from 1997-2014
2. The organization that declared LC
D3 (booo)
3. You will be condemned for this
misspelling
4. Character in Peanuts
5. “__ I am a woman, friendless,
hopeless” - Shakespeare
6. __ or para7. Fool, to a Brit
8. What a clown might suggest as a
prank with dessert in hand
9. Tear this, and you are out for the
season, champ!
10. __ Carvey, Garth in “Wayne’s
World”
11. Concluding word to a prayer
12. A protective glove worn by
baseball players
20. Funny _ __, comedy website
founded by Will Ferrell and Adam
Mckay
22. Mr.__, hit television show
starring Rami Malek
24. “L to the _ _, dude be the _ _”
lyric sung by Kendall in Succession
26. Every LC freshman must take
words and numbers as a part of this
curriculum
27. Kosansky, Professor of SOAN
28. Rival Portland school (where the
dweebs go)
29. Essential tool to row a boat
31. Abbreviation used to shorten APA
in-text citations
32. Prefix meaning movement
33. A type of jump in figure skating
36. How a southerner might say girl
37. Water pipe used for smoking
39. Persian Language
41. A master in the art of marijuana
43. Main character of “Kung Fu
Panda”
46. The Portmanteau, “Kenough,” is
the combination of __ _ and enough
48. Early decision, for short
49. An exclamation of exasperation
50. Wolf, en español
51. What Laney Boggs is referred to in
“She’s All That”
52. Type of arthritis in the foot
54. Straight away
55. Central Asian flatbread
56. High-fat diet
58. Sticky liquid that runs through
trees
59. An animal with horns, or a type of
truck
63. The, en français
Check your answers at piolog.com
Feeling puzzled? Destress with captivating crossword
Instead of scrolling Instagram Reels, try solving this tantalizing crucigram for optimal procrastination
COURTESY OF KIARA Y. GONZÁLEZ
Saxophonists rehearse in J.R. Howard classroom in preparation for the next game.The band is a fun musical opportunity.COURTESY OF KIARA Y. GONZÁLEZ
OLIVIA LARIOS/THE MOSSY LOG
By OLIVIA LARIOSFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
SPORTS 11
Water sports prepare for spring competition
Swim, Crew Teams ramp up training in anticipation of upcoming meets, regattas, athletes add thoughts
By EMMA FORD
FOR MANY OF Lewis & Clark’s
athletes, the beginning of a new
semester means the return to
competition season. After taking winter
break off, the Crew and Swim Teams are
already back in the swing of training in
preparation to start off the semester on
the right foot.
The competition season for the
LC Men’s and Women’s Swim Teams
straddles winter break, beginning in
the Fall semester and continuing after
returning from the holidays.
“The spring is when our season
comes to a close,” said Elise Barton ’26,
captain of the Women’s Swim Team.
“So the first few weeks of the semester
are more focused on resting well and
preparing to swim fast at our final meet.”
With the first half of their season
over, LC swimmers come into the Spring
with a renewed focus on their sport and
targeting specific areas for growth from
the previous semester. Having such a
limited time left in the pool encourages
focusing on individual events.
“The second part of the season
feels a lot more end goal-oriented, as
we really start to focus in on the three
individual events we’ll be swimming
next weekend,” said Micah Rysavy ’25.
“Every day in the pool counts, and we
were definitely hit pretty hard by the
week off due to snow.”
The LC Swim Team is not the only
team with competition on the brain.
The LC Crew Team’s season extends
throughout the academic year with
a Fall pre-season ramping up with
events starting in early March. Pre-
competition, their training has started to
pick up in earnest.
“I honestly think our practice
schedule is (mostly) the same as Fall off
season,” said Anna Dreher ’26. “We now have more consistent Saturday practices,
and the vibe of the team and the training
schedule is much more focused and
intense.”
There may be events in the Fall,
but as a Spring sport, rowing sees
much of their competitive focus pulled
to the end of the school year, focusing
their off-season motivation more on
official events.
While athletes have no competitions
to motivate them in the off season, they
can hardly be called idle. Consistency
and preparation are important
for maintaining and improving
performance, which coaches prioritize
for their teams.
“During the off season, Caitlin
(the swim coach) works hard to
give us plenty of alternative training
opportunities,” said Rysavy. “We’ll have
swimmers stopping by the lap swim
hours at the pool, but most of the off-season training happens at the triathlon
and water polo clubs.”
Athletes often have organized
practices when not in the midst of
competition, and are encouraged to
work on their own. Building on skills is
important because letting momentum
die out can be harmful to athletic growth.
That is not to say, however, that
athletes never get time off.
“We also prioritize rest during this
time,” said Barton. “And many of us
find that a break from swimming can be
beneficial to grow our passion for it.”
Taking care of themselves and
finding time for other activities keeps
engagement with one’s sport strong. And
as for athletes who want to keep moving
without doing the same workouts over
and over, there is always something new
to try.
“During the off season, we stay active
by participating in either (the) triathlon club or water polo club, or both!” said
Barton. “This keeps us in the water
and playing the sport that we love at
least a couple times a week.”
Finding novel ways to exercise
one’s skills broadens an athlete’s
toolkit, and sometimes sparks new
passions when an individual tries
something new. This can happen even
when it might not have been their
idea.
With respect to these alternative
training methods, some teams have
unfortunately been forced to take
such measures. The crew team, for
example, has been doing dry land
training after an incident with their
dock on the Willamette River due to
heavy currents after the ice melt.
“Part of the dock broke off and
floated downstream, and the other
part flipped over but stayed attached
to the walk out ramp,” said Dreher. “Basically this just sucks and means
we have to wait longer to train on the
water.”
While construction of a new 138 foot
dock is underway, crew team members
are keeping active on dry land and
gearing up for competition. Off-season
alternatives have proven invaluable to
keep team members moving.
Indeed, LC athletes have been taking
advantage of time in the off season to get
ready for competition in the Spring.
“I feel that we have been working
really hard this season to compete well,
so I’m excited to see everyone close off
the season with a bang next weekend!”
said Barton. “I hope we can all come
together as a team and do our best to
support each other.”
Hopes are high among the LC
athletic community coming into second
semester, and hard work is set to pay off
in Spring 2024.
Student shares exercise resources, tips for indoor days
Video tutorials for yoga, Zumba, Pilates, barre provide resources for keeping active inside one’s dorm
By ROSALIE ZUCKERMANN
THE WINTER months stretch
long here in Portland, and
with depleted hours of sun and
frequent rain, it can be difficult to
find ways to stay active. Much of our
days as students are spent sitting:
classes, homework, meetings, jobs,
endless bus rides to Fred Meyer. And
while snowboarding and downhill
skiing are wonderful wintry sporting
opportunities, they are not the most
time-efficient or accessible. But fear not,
for there are plenty of ways to integrate
exercise into your day without even
leaving your dorm, albeit less satisfying
for thrillseekers.
Video guides can provide much-
needed structure to a home workout
— and it’s not all Jane Fonda out
there. A yoga series that I got into over
quarantine is Lindsey Samper’s, a yoga
instructor based in Austin, Texas whose
videos can be accessed on Youtube and
Amazon Prime. I enjoy that she has
faster-paced flows, which up your heart
rate in addition to being relaxing. There
is also a significant variety of focuses,
with some episodes for core work,
others for hip opening and even back
pain relief.
Yoga mats, however, can be
expensive and difficult to find storage space for in a dorm room. Instead of
using one, I turn my area rug over and
do yoga on the tacky plastic underside so
my hands and feet do not slide around.
You can also wear socks with gripping
rubber on the bottom to prevent falling
while in positions like downward dog.
In addition to yoga, Zumba, Pilates
and barre are also great exercise video
options to explore, all of which can be
found on YouTube and most streaming
services. Both Zumba and Pilates are
offered at Lewis & Clark as physical
education classes, but if you would
rather work off your own schedule
than have the time commitment of
another class, the breadth of videos
for these is massive.
Barre uses movements derived from
ballet. Reminiscing my ballet days, I
often do barre exercises without a video.
I find standing and reading while doing
tendus and dégagés is a fun way to keep
my body mildly occupied while I knock
out some homework. Barre videos
sometimes require the use of a waist-
level piece of furniture to hold onto,
which most chair backs are perfect for.
Barre exercises can be especially helpful
for improving posture and alignment.
If you have Kaiser Permanente
health insurance, you have free access
to ClassPass, “an on-demand audio and
video library, which includes a wide variety of workouts and meditations
ranging from 5 to 75 minutes,”
according to the Kaiser website. United
Healthcare and Medicare also have
fitness opportunities available through
a program called Renew Active, found
with a little digging on their websites.
However, these are geared more
toward in person gym memberships
and classes.
If too much screen time is already
making your eyes melt, there are
creative alternatives to exercise videos.
There are lots of simple workout
routines to start your morning with or
pepper in throughout your day, such as
the five-five-five-30. This signifies five push-ups, five squats, five lunges and
a 30 second plank. Quick and easy-to-
remember sets like this can make for
energizing breaks during long study
sessions.
Another option, if you do not
mind getting a few stares from your
hallmates, is going up and down the
stairs in your residence hall. Doing
this while listening to music, a podcast
or an audiobook is a good alternative
to taking a walk when the weather
prevents you from going outdoors.
Maybe try making it interactive, and
recruit your roommate into a rousing
game of balloon volleyball. Turning
on some music and kicking off an impromptu dance party is another great
go-to. Jump ropes and hula hoops are
cheap and can be easily stowed under a
bed — and both offer a playful way to
build strength and stamina.
I will not profess myself to be any
kind of athletic expert. But as a lover
of the outdoors, it can be hard to deal
with restlessness when being inside
and stationary so much of the day.
Of course, our lovely Pamplin gym is
always there, but sometimes it is more
convenient (and less intimidating) to
stay home. So no matter how you do
it, a little movement can make your
winter days feel significantly more
well-rounded.
CHARLIE BASTUNSKIY/THE MOSSY LOGCOURTESY OF LEWIS & CLARK
News Editors
Emma Ambroziak
Ava FrisonArts Editors
Caroline Drew
Corryn Pettingill
Sports Editors
Lillian Small
Will TrunzoOpinion Editors
Corrina Chan
Tanvi ShuklaFeatures Editors
Leila Diaz
Olivia Fendrich
The Backdoor Editor
Emma Ford
Faculty Advisor
Molly RobinsonCopy Chief
Maya Mazor-Hoofien
Head of Broadcasting
Isaac BabusVisuals Editor
J FrankEditor-in-Chief
Amelia DoyleManaging Editor
Rosalie Zuckermann
Business Manager
Lauren EvansOutreach Coordinator
Summer Dae BinderWeb Manager
Claire Bakke
Photographers & Illustrators Staff Writers
Ella Dunn*
Fiona Eilers*
Olivia Larios*
Robert Manger*Charlie Bastunskiy
Ella Dunn*
Eli KesslerKevin Matishek*
Kai Mermis-Cava
Jessie Shaw*
A student athlete swims laps to practice and refine strokes for a successful season. The Crew Team takes a boat out on the water to apply the strength they have built.
ELLA DUNN/THE MOSSY LOG
Walking up and down stairs is one way to get active inside your residence hall.Robert Manger*
Andrew Olmsted
Kiara Y. GonzálezFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
12A slippery sliding good time!
Crazed RA snaps, attacks terrified residents
All work and no play makes Hartzfeld RA a dull girl during intense isolation period in icy conditions
By LEILA DIAZ
STANDING TALL on Palatine
Hill, in all its bricked-up glory
is Hartzfeld Hall. Built in 1970,
Hartzfeld “Hartzie” Hall, has served as
a gathering place for the rich and out-
of-touch elites of Lewis & Clark College.
The luxurious suite-style rooms serve
as spacious settings to host opulent kick
backs, affluent mixers, costly parties
and splendid student celebrations.
However, all of this luxury hides
a dark history, starting during
construction. Hartzfeld was built
atop the mass grave of students who
contracted scurvy from only eating Jello
salad in the dining hall.
In the early years of Hartzfeld’s
operation, a disco queen climbed onto
the fireplace and boogied her heart
out, literally. According to ancient
anonymous forums (circa 1998), her
heart actually fell out. No records of this
student’s identity exist, but rumor has
it that the heart was burned without a
permit in the Hartzie C fireplace.
Most notably, in 1977, Portland saw
historic levels of snowfall. The school
shut down, the dining hall closed and
the institution left residents on their
own during the week of Thanksgiving. Travel on and off campus was not
possible, and since it was the holiday
season, all staff were away from
campus. All staff that is, except for
student staff.
Resident Advisors (RAs)
were expected to remain on
campus, and take care of
their residents. They were
also told to watch the
boiler room in Hartzfeld
A which serves no real
purpose in our plot.
One of the RA’s,
one Steffen Kingsly
’78, after being locked
in Hartzfeld C for four
days, finally snapped.
Trekking out of his
room, he made his way
to his hall’s storage
closet, where he found
an ax for chopping
firewood like the hot
gay lumberjack he was.
It was then that
he went into all of
his residents’ rooms
and murdered them
all in cold blood. Everyone had been
distracted by the ripped, sleeveless
flannel he had been sporting.After these killings, the old Campus
Living director was sacked, and another
one came into power, who tried to soothe
over the incident by reducing the
room and boarding cost for all
residents still alive by 30%.
Hartzie remained
peaceful since until this
semester. The week school
was supposed to start,
a horrendous cold front
swept into Portland,
dumping snow and icing
over the roads. RAs were
told that campus was shut
down on the final day of RA
training, and all staff was told
that nobody was allowed to
leave campus after 6 p.m.
that fateful Friday, trapping
them in the cold.
Those cold souls who
remained on campus reported
seeing Mara Staab ’25, the
Hartzfeld RA, writing an email to
her halls which invited them to
“Come play with us, residents”.
Nobody thought anything of this
because she was known to be a weird,
unsettling little freak.
Residents who had arrived back
from Winter Break texted among themselves about seeing Staab
standing outside their door, her head
turned down, looking at them through
her eyebrows.
“Yea, it’s really fucking weird,” one
resident wrote via Whatsapp group
message. “Like gawd, who the fuck are
you? Jack Nicholson?”
With each passing day classes were
canceled, Staab was found sitting in the
staff office, typing away furiously on
her laptop. Angrily snapping at all who
approached her, Staab insisted she not
be disturbed.
“All work and no play makes Mara
a dull girl,” she wrote over and over
and over, printing out the repetitive
pages along with images of axes and
bloodstains for door decs.
On the third day of classes being
canceled, it happened. Staab had
managed to locate the famous 1977 ax
tucked away in the depths of the Joffice
(Junk Office), after trying to locate some
kitchen supplies. Feeling the spirits
of Hartzie overtake her, she made her
way back to her dorm, ax in hand.
She first targeted the residents who
made her job harder: the weed smokers
and the kitchen thieves. She axed
into residents door’s one by one in an
attempt to strike them down. Pushing her face through the axed out door she
screamed “HERE’S THE RA” to alert
her residents of her presence.
Unfortunately for Staab, most of
the dorm doors had been replaced
post-1977 massacre, and were much
harder to hack through than she
expected. Residents barricaded
themselves behind dorm furniture and
hid contraband in preparation to call
Campus Safety.
When she finally managed to hack
a significant chunk out of a door, two
residents were behind it. One, Wendy
Darling ’24, pushed the other, Danny
Boy ’26, out of the window and urged
him to flee, brandishing a small kitchen
knife towards Staab.
Upon receiving a small knick with
the blade, Staab ran off to pursue the
fleeing Boy. Chasing him towards the
Manor House lawn, Staab slipped and
slid on ice before finally wiping out and
landing hard on her tailbone. Giving up,
she lay down and accepted her death,
the fury of Hartzie leaving her body.
Campus Safety found her frozen
body the next morning. No official
statement has been made yet regarding
housing discounts, though leaked
internal documents show they will not
be adjusted for inflation.
By WILL TRUNZO
THE RECENT snowstorm on
campus brought significant
challenges for many students.
Many found travel difficult, or
struggled with the limited offerings
at the Bon, or merely went stir crazy
in tiny dorm rooms. The few non-
Californian residents of campus
simply continued as normal.
Some students, however, faced
more uniquely unhinged struggles.
These are the tales of the misfortune
of two such individuals.
Brie Carufel ’26 was one
unfortunate soul who fell victim to
Campus Safety’s newest method of
patrol. Carufel was sitting in her
dorm one night, the prospects for
diversion looking bleak.
“I had finally made it back
from the Bon with my dinner,”
said Carufel, “I had been so bored
all day, and I was really looking
forward to finally smoking a joint
before I ate.”
She figured that with the ice,
there was no way Campus Safety
could get their cars all the way up
to the Forest dorms. Which, while
true, grossly underestimated the
dedication of the officers on duty
that cold night.
“I had just lit up when I saw out of
the corner of my eye a figure coming
out of the dark,” said Carufel. “It
was moving significantly faster
than anyone should have been able
to on that ice.”
In an instant, she realized what
she was seeing — a Campus Safety
officer, skating full speed at her,
wearing what appeared to be a
stolen Elsa costume from Disney on
Ice. She tried to duck back inside,
but found herself flailing on a patch
of ice instead.
“He jumped like four feet in the
air and executed a perfect triple
axle before kicking the joint out
of my hand!” Carufel said. “It was
straight out of a figure skating
competition.”
The officer proceeded to write
up an SRR referral for the stunned
Carufel, before disappearing back into
the night at an equally improbable
speed, saying nothing about their
hitherto unknown ice skating abilities
throughout the entire interaction.
Carufel was tragically a victim
of a new Campus Safety unit known
as Assembled Skating Surveillance (ASS). Instead of allowing the
student body to run wild, Campo’s
officers have unleashed their ice
skating expertise on campus. Agents
of campus law enforcement are
donning specialized skating clothes
and expanding patrols along the
Manor House lawn and backside of
Copeland (formerly an unpatrolled
wasteland, even without the ice).
Campo Officer Penn Guine
has received particular praise for
his skating ability, with superior
officers noting his grace and
passionate performance.
As the icy conditions continued
through the week, more and more
students ran into Campus Safety’s
cold-weather measures.
Hahn Myaz ’24 was helping one
of his friends move into their dorm
when the roads iced over. Stuck on
campus with nothing to do, he and
his dorm-dwelling friends decided
to find a good spot to smoke, as they
too were under the unfortunate
impression that Campus Safety
would be unable to reach them.
They decided on the reflecting
pool area, thinking the ice would
keep them safe from consequences
otherwise heaped on those smoking
in such an easily-bustable spot.
Little did they know, it was not
Campus Safety they needed to fear,
but rather who Campus Safety had
contracted for the week.
As these schmucks would soon
come to find out, the administration
had elected to hire National Hockey
League superstar and four-time
Stanley Cup winner Wayne Gretzky to
patrol campus until the ice subsided.
Myaz had barely gotten out
his bong before he turned to see the Great One barreling down
the reflecting pool at him. Frozen
in fear, he had no time to run
as Gretzky’s famed left handed
slap shot ripped at him at over a
hundred miles an hour, leaving him
standing in shock, clutching the
neck of a tragically shattered bong.
“I was so stunned by what was
happening that I had no time to
react,” said Myaz. “It all happened
so fast.”
He barely had time to process
what had just happened before
Gretzky body slammed him,
sending Myaz flying across the ice.
Head spinning, he struggled to his
feet to see Gretzky autograph his
SRR referral with a flourish, before
returning to his hiding spot behind
a tree.
We reached out to Gretzky’s
publicist, who was unavailable
for comment. In retrospect, we
probably should have expected
that; we can no longer afford to pay
a dedicated Outreach Coordinator
due to our funding being redirected
to compensate Mr. Gretzky for his
time. Auctioning off autographed
SRR referrals has been proposed as
an avenue to recoup the significant
financial hit.
These are but two of the many
unfortunate stories of those unlucky
enough to have been caught by
Campus Safety’s new skate patrol.
If you or someone you know has
been busted by these latest tactics,
please contact the Pre-Law club
to find out if you may be eligible
to receive compensation for your
struggles. A class action lawsuit is
being filed as soon as someone gets
around to it. Just smoke inside with
a towel against your door and do
better next time.Assembled Skating Surveillance
unit forms to bust frozen smokers“Fuck it - Spring 2024
canceled,” says admin
By MAYA MAZOR-HOOFIEN
THIS MONTH, stormy conditions
led to much of greater Portland
experiencing shutdowns due to
icy roads and paths. The ice has melted,
but temperatures have since stubbornly
remained in the mid- to high 40s.
Out of an abundance of caution and
concern for the ability of Californian
faculty, staff and students to safely
fend off Seasonal Affective Disorder, all
three campuses will be closed for the
Spring 2024 semester.
Reactions to the news throughout
campus have been mixed. Many people
expressed disappointment at the
closure, though a few were thrilled at
the opportunity for a spring hammock
hibernation. Seeing as The Mossy Log,
regardless of weather, continues to skate
on thin ice with the administration,
we took the hint and will focus on the
myriad positive comments we collected.
For students, concerns were
less about the weather and more
surrounding breakdowns of carefully
curated idiosyncrasies the extreme
conditions exposed. The Student
Counseling Center has been inundated
with requests for emergency help, but
has no appointments available until
Fall of 2027 anyway.
“On day three
confined to my
overflow triple,
my faculties were
compromised. I
accidentally let
slip that I love
Ed Sheeran, even
though I swore
my artist of the
year was Elliot
Smith,” confessed
a freshman with
faded purple hair.
“It’s not safe for me
here.”
Other students
see the closure as
a welcome escape
from somewhat
frosty neighbors.
At this point, we
wish to remind
our readers that
Campus Living has
no legal liability
for your poor
dating choices and
their inevitable
consequences.
“Honestly, I’m pretty glad about the
closure,” said one sophomore student who wished to remain anonymous.
“During the snowstorm, I ran into
my goth ex-girlfriend and did NOT
recognize her without the eyeliner.
I asked her out, which was super
awkward because when I broke up with
her I said I just wanted to be single for
a while. A few months without running
into her would probably be good.”
And yet more students are
anticipating using the unexpected time
off to cover otherwise difficult financial
situations. Which is totally not the
Office of Financial Aid’s fault. How
about that new FAFSA, am I right?
“I burnt all my textbooks for warmth
and I don’t want to pay the rental
replacement fee,” said a junior theater
major with a dance focus. “I already sold
one kidney to buy Pleasers for SOAN
343: Comparative Perspectives in Pole
Dancing, and it’s literally a GE. I’ll just
go on the lam.”
Some students feel that they have
exhausted their potential for meaningful
growth, but missed the deadline to
request a leave of absence and were too
nervous to ask the Registrar’s Office
for an exception, as they were recently
licensed to concealed carry.
“I can’t think of any more rhymes
for Palestine, so there goes my sticker
making business.
Not to mention
my thesis,” one
RHMS major
noted.
Students are
not the only group
looking for silver
linings in their
snowstorm clouds
— a significant
faction of the
faculty expressed
their support for
some remedial
time off to enjoy
the subsidized
housing and
excellent health
benefits that
all staff receive,
indiscriminately.
“Things have
been pretty dicey
for a while,” said a
particularly pissed
off department
chair. “We’re going
to take a break
now, during which
you should
refresh your memory about how it is
you act in a classroom.”
ANDREW OLMSTED/THE MOSSY LOG
EMMA FORD/THE MOSSY LOGEMMA FORD/THE MOSSY LOG
MAYA MAZOR-HOOFIEN/THE MOSSY LOG