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Navigating the Noise: Trust, Bias, and the News I Follow

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I spend a lot of time thinking about people, stories, culture, and the way information moves between all of them. That is probably why anthropology and journalism make so much sense together for me. Both are, in different ways, about paying attention: to people, to systems, to what is being said, and sometimes to what is being left out. I did not exactly plan on ending up at Linn-Benton Community College. I more or less landed here, and I got incredibly lucky that where I landed happened to put me so close to a college that has given me so many opportunities. I am studying anthropology and journalism, with additional interests in sociology and political science. Eventually, I would love to work in human rights or investigative journalism, particularly work connected to NGOs, international organizations, or even the United Nations. A lot of my interests overlap around the same basic idea: I want to understand people, cultures, systems, and the stories we tell about all of them. That is...
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LB Behind the Scenes: Automotive Costs Soar as Faculty Question Tuition Model

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Photo by Savannah West Faculty say a 21% differential tuition surcharge is raising costs across career and technical education and lab-heavy programs, raising questions about transparency and affordability. Students enrolled in Linn-Benton Community College’s career and technical education and lab-based programs often pay significantly more per credit than peers in transfer-focused degree pathways, a cost structure some faculty say is becoming increasingly difficult for students to navigate as total program costs continue to rise. At the center of the debate is differential tuition, a 21% surcharge applied to many CTE and lab-heavy courses. The charge is meant to help account for the higher cost of running hands-on programs that require specialized facilities, equipment, and supplies. But faculty members in some high-cost programs say the model raises questions about affordability and transparency. Rising costs raise concerns about accessibility Mike LeBlanc, faculty department chair...
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LB Behind the Scenes: Inside the Suit — Life as LB’s Rocky the Roadrunner

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Photo courtesy of Rocky the Roadrunner Behind the feathers and foam is a performer who builds personality without speaking a word. To most students at Linn-Benton Community College, Rocky the Roadrunner is simply a familiar part of campus life, appearing at games, events, and celebrations across the community. Behind the costume, however, mascot performance involves far more than waving, dancing, or hyping up a crowd. It is a full-body language of improvisation, timing, endurance, and reading a room without ever saying a single word. The student behind Rocky did not exactly plan to end up in a mascot suit. Their first real experience came from a search for something meaningful, a spark that emerged through a Special Olympics Oregon event. What makes Rocky work is not a script or routine but a kind of controlled chaos inspired by cartoon logic, where every prank, interaction, or joke is built in real time and often backfires in some way. Photo courtesy of Rocky. Over time, the role beca...
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Postcard - Cappadocia, Türkiye: Between Sky and Stone

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Untitled #1 Ramzi Belaidi on Unsplash Untitled By Gruescu Ovidiu on Unsplash Before sunrise in Göreme, shuttle vans thread through the quiet village roads, gathering travelers in the dark. Within an hour, hot air balloons will begin to rise. In Cappadocia, Türkiye, each day begins suspended between earth and sky. Cappadocia is a region shaped by geology and centuries of human adaptation. Over several days, Cappadocia reveals itself in layers, from hot air balloon flights over Göreme to river-cut valleys like Ihlara and the cave monasteries scattered across the region. Beneath the surface, underground cities such as Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı reveal how generations adapted to the region’s unique terrain and changing political conditions, as described by GoTürkiye . Beyond the main towns, quieter villages and remote valleys offer a slower, less-visited version of the region. Göreme, Nevşehir, By Igor Sporynin on Unsplash Most mornings in Göreme begin early. Arou nd 3:30 or 4 a.m., h...
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Between Plates and Sake: A Night at Sada Sushi & Izakaya

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  Sushi bar view from table, Sada Sushi & Izakaya  By: Savannah West Tucked along the Willamette River in downtown Corvallis inside the Water Street Market complex, Sada Sushi & Izakaya is more than a place to eat. It is an experience shaped by decades of expertise and a level of detail you notice from the first bite. Entrance of Sada Sushi & Izakaya By: S. West The approach is part of the charm. After entering the market, visitors pass a painted mural of a pioneer storefront and an unexpected red British phone booth before descending a short staircase. Beyond a traditional noren curtain, diners enter a warm, intimate izakaya that feels tucked away from the busy streets outside. YouTuber Billie Furuichi echoes this feeling when she describes the restaurant as “just like going to Japan” and “such a cute little place.” Fish tanks line the space, including a tall cylindrical one beside our table, adding a calm, almost meditative presence. At the center of it all is S...
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