CSAW sponsors 4th Hunger Awareness Week

by Jovanna Schussel

The 4th annual hunger awareness week just wrapped up at Lewis and Clark College. Throughout the week, there were numerous and varying opportunities for students to get a glimpse of life as a homeless person in Portland and to get a better understanding of the hunger that surrounds us.

With signs up throughout campus with the catch phrase "Are You Hungry?", many students invested time to find out more. Running November 18-21, there was an exhibit of art by students of p:ear, a nonprofit youth program, panel discussions by community members, and a hunger banquet Thursday, Nov. 21, as a culmination of the week's events.

Officially titled, "A Call to Action: Individual Responsibility, Accountability, and Action," the week kicked off Sunday afternoon, with an off-campus venture exploring "Poverty in Oregon & the Prospects for a New Social Justice."

The art exhibition opened Monday and ran through Thursday. Also on Monday, there was an opening night panel discussion, headed by representatives for organizations around Portland who provide services to the hungry and homeless of our city.

On Tuesday night, there was another panel, this time headed by actual members of the homeless community. This gave students the opportunity to see a different side of homelessness; not as the nameless, nationwide epidemic, but as the story of struggles of the individual person.

Wednesday's discussion was "How Poverty Effects Children and Schools," which gave yet another angle on the problems that face the community.

"We are in a bubble," said senior Lara Law. "We don’t have any idea what it’s like to be out on the streets."

The Hunger Banquet was held last night, bringing a week of educational awareness to a close. As the participants entered, each was given a card that was to be their income for the meal to come. These income cards were an accurate representation of actual Portland incomes. Depending of the income that you had, you were treated to anything from a four-course meal to a bowl of rice that you had to eat with your hands, while sitting on the floor.

The art exhibit, which ran all week in Stamm, was showing the artwork of homeless youth who are associated with the p:ear program.

This program, according to their mission statement, "builds positive relationships with homeless youth through education, art, and recreation to affirm personal worth and achieve meaningful and healthier lifestyles."

At p:ear, homeless youths form 15 to 22-yeaers-old are provided with resources to complete their GEDs, explore artistic avenues, and receive financial aid for education. They also take outdoor trips, play sports, and maintain a garden.

The art that was displayed in Stamm was for sale, with prices ranging from around $20 up to $100. At p:ear gallery, located at 809 SW Alder, one can see more examples of the art produced by these talented young people.

Photography, ceramics, collages, and painting are just some of the mediums explored by arts in the p:ear gallery. Paintings are done on metal, glass, fabric, and a whole rage of other material. Topics for the painting range from mythology to abstract art and social commentary.

The week of awareness was sponsored by the Center for Service and Work.

French professor wins national award

by Erin Haick

French professor Nicole Aas-Rouxparis has been named 2002 Oregon Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Aas-Rouxparis was selected from among 12 nominees from nine institutions in Oregon.

"I want my students to be creative with language and learning. I think there is a creative urge in every student and I like to help that come out," said Aas-Rouxparis in an interview.

The Carnegie program was established in 1982. The last LC winner of the award was History professor Stephen Dow Beckham in 1992.

Aas-Rouxparis (OZ-rooks-puh-REE) is a native of Algeria, and came to the US in 1962 after Algeria gained independence from France. She earned a Ph.D in Romance languages from the University of Oregon in 1984. Her research focuses on 20th-century French and Francophone literature, emphasizing minority voices in the French-speaking world.

"As a legacy, I want people to remember that I introduced students to areas of the world where they could learn about themselves through other cultures," said Aas-Rouxparis. "I want people to remember that I am someone who is passionate about cultural identity and strive make sure that minority voices around the world are heard. As a legacy, I want my students to become better people for having learned about other peoples, other cultures and other issues. It pleases me to see their sense of discovery."

"Nicole teaches with passion, animation and knowledge," says Sara Sluszka, a junior French studies major. "Her support and high expectations will be influential after graduation in my work with the Peace Corps."

CASE and the Carnegie Foundation awarded four national and state winners in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Aas-Rouxparis was one of 422 faculty members nominated by colleges and universities throughout the country

Aas-Rouxparis has taught at LC since before 1989 as an adjunct, and then permanently as an assistant professor of French. She became full professor in 2001. "Students are dear to my heart," she said. "You try to teach them so much from day one and later find out that they have, in fact, learned!"

In 1991, she received the Burlington Northern Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award.

Aas-Rouxparis has been active in national and international scholarly circles in her field, holding positions on the executive board of the American Council for Québec Studies, the International Council of Francophone Studies, the American Association of Teachers of French and Women in French.

CASE established the Professors of the Year program in 1981 and administers it in cooperation with the Carnegie Foundation and other higher education associations. The Council is the largest international association of educational institutions, including more than 3,000 colleges, universities, and independent schools in 49 countries.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded in 1905 as the only advanced study center for teachers in the world and the third oldest foundation in the nation.

Dean of the College Curtis Johnson said, "The CASE award is a most impressive award, and it is given quite deservingly to a truly outstanding and gifted teacher. Year in and year out Nicole is ranked by our students among our very finest teachers, and that is saying something special a College with so many outstanding teachers. I am delighted for her and very pleased for the College."

MLK Day returns to Lewis & Clark

by Maggie Oyler

This year, Lewis & Clark College will celebrate Martin Luther King’s Day for the first time since 1992, when the college switched from terms to semesters.

The idea to recognize the holiday began with BSU (Black Student Union) in spring of 2002. Nichole Alexander, the organization's president, led the battle until its actualization on November 5th. The campaign began with an intense petitioning scheme. Students tabled in front of Field's Dining Hall for days requesting other students to fill out petitions.

The petititioning gathered 369 signatures, roughly 1/3 of the student population last year. Next, the members of the BSU met with Shane Ostermeier, Director of Student Activities, and Ray Warren, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Ethnic Student Services, before approaching the Curriculum Committee.

With Ostermeier and Warren behind her, Alexander made a presentation to the Curriculum Committee. The original objective was to receive an entire day off of school.

"We had quite a long discussion in regards to the matter and asked the students to come back this year," said professor Richard Peck, who was a member of the committee last year, and this year is its chair.

This year the committee discussed the matter and agreed to a half day of classes and a half-day celebration. Since Martin Luther King’s Day is the first day of spring semester classes, the committee was worried that students simply would not come back on time.

For any large decisions, the faculty is required to vote on the matter. The next step was receiving a passing vote from the faculty.

"Everyone was for the celebration," Peck said, "but at what level? Many faculty wanted the full day off." Once again, Alexander was asked to come back to the next meeting.

On Nov 5th the faculty passed a modified version of the proposal.

"It was such an awesome feeling," Alexander stated.

This year students will attend a half-day of classes. Classes will be roughly thirty minutes long, and will include a brief introduction to the class. The afternoon will be a celebration of Martin Luther King.

Planned activities include a speaker and two discussion groups. A chapel service will be held in the evening. Mark Duntley, Dean of the Chapel, is planning the service along with members of BSU. A gospel choir from New Beginnings Church will be present. There will also be African American dance and a candle light vigil in remembrance of King.

In 2004, students will receive an entire day off of school. The faculty will review the day and decide whether to change their decision.