Hip Hop: a Voice to Those Who Need It

Hip Hop group, N.W.A. poses in a green room before a show. (Source: billboard.com)

“What do you mean you like Hip-Hop? Even with what It promotes?” This is the most common generalization about this genre by far. Ask anyone who enjoys Hip-Hop.

"Hip-hop is the single greatest revolution in the U.S. pop charts by far," said Armand M. Leroi in an interview with the LA Times. Leroi is a professor of evolutionary developmental biology at Imperial College London.

There are people who are so quick to close the entire genre into a box with descriptions such as “misogynistic” and “supportive of drug culture”. Like every other genre of music, there is a culture that surrounds it, why is hip-hop so quick to be demonized?

In it’s short 30 years of existence, it has moved in waves from the streets of south-central Los Angeles to New York, and eventually, to the entire world. Think about it, that is a LOT of listeners.

Hopefully, a majority of you have some knowledge on the background of Hip Hop and how it became. You know, block parties in the 70’s, free styling over percussive beats and yadda-yadda. The purpose here isn’t to give you the full run-down on Hip Hop history, however we’re talking about a genre that formed with the mentality of bringing attention to the violent and unstable conditions of inner-city youth. (Shout out to the work of N.W.A. and others of their time for that).

Blending music with social commentary, sounds scary and offensive right? Now, I get it, you probably listened to a lot of Tyga or something and thought “where has REAL hip hop gone?” The point is, it didn’t go anywhere, you just aren’t listening.

"It's really cool how much music can bring people together, especially Hip-Hop. It's almost like once you're immersed in that culture, you become one with a community." says Hip-Hop fan Madison Killian. "I'm not African-American, I can't relate to what the artists are saying but I's really beautiful and empowering to listen from the outside."

Today we’re seeing more and more well-known Hip Hop artists bringing attention to social issues, and whether you agree or not, people are listening. Macklemore, just for example, raps about the destructive nature of prescription drugs, Joey Bada$$ sheds light on police brutality.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar photographed by Ari Marcopoulos

One of the best examples of social activism in Hip Hop today can be granted to Kendrick Lamar. Your homework following this article is to go sit down and listen to “to Pimp A Butterfly”. Start to finish. Oh, and read the lyrics. One particular track, “Alright”, has become a power song for the Black Lives Matter movement.

What we associate “We Shall Overcome” to in terms of historical context, is hopefully what this song will be to our generation’s children, and their children as well. “if God’s got us then we gon’ be alright” has become a statement of unity and hope for people of color in this day an age where we are seeing an epidemic of violence towards their community.

“The beauty of musical protest is it’s not confined to any single genre. Today, Kendrick Lamar is continuing the tradition.” writes John Haltiwanger in an article for Elite Daily.

Enjoy Hip Hop or don’t, we all have music preference but please recognize that it is more than “drug promotion and misogyny”. Hip Hop is a culture, and it’s contributions to social progress should be respected.

At a Glance: 

Notable Hip-Hop artist/groups to listen to include N.W.A., Wu-Tang Clan, Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco and many more.

Upcoming Hip-Hop shows:

• Casey Veggies @ the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater on Sept. 1 in Ridgefield, Wash.
• Curren$y @ the Hawthorne Theatre on Jun. 25 in Portland, Ore.
• Ghost face Killah @ the Crystal Ballroom on Jul. 26 in Portland, Ore. 

A Battle You Can't See: What it Feels Like To Have an Anxiety Disorder

Source: lifehack.com

I was eight or nine when I had my first panic attack. I remember staring down at the paper of what seemed like an endless amount of math problems. Students around me were chugging away with ease yet for me, the room was closing in.

Breathing was hard and I became sensitive to every sound and every light, my heart was pounding and I had never felt my thoughts race that quickly.

Growing up, this became a pattern. Oftentimes onset by school, I would get that oh-so-familiar feeling of dread. Was I just stupid? Or lazy? I couldn’t tell you the amount of times I sat across from a teacher and tried to explain why I couldn’t complete my work.

After years of defeat and anguish, I was finally diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. G.A.D. is not your run-of-the-mill sense of stress you get when you walk into a classroom to take a test you didn’t study for. It’s loss of senses, it’s the feeling that you cannot speak or breathe. It’s absolute torture.

It’s a cruel voice in your head that tells you to worry about everything. It makes you question yourself and your worth more often than you can catch a breath. It makes you worry that everyone hates you even though you go out of your way to be generous and kind. It makes you sit, staring at an assignment for hours and not being able muster the strength to start it because all you hear is “you’re stupid, and worthless, there’s no point in trying.” All you want, so desperately, is for that voice be quiet.

Oregon State University student Yasmine Rifai was diagnosed with G.A.D. when she was 19-years-old. “The inside of my head is never quiet. I am constantly worrying about things that I know I shouldn't be worrying about. Objectively, I know how I should be thinking. I reason with situations and see a plausible outcome. But anxiety is a mental block that you can't get around.” she says.

When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you become scared to speak up. Everyone is so quick to tell you just to “calm down and think positive.” Tell me, if it was that simple, don’t you think we would have done that years ago?

How do we think positive about something that hasn’t even happened? The creeping sensation that something is wrong is impossible to escape because it digs a hole of despair, and throws you to the very bottom.

All we ask for is support. We need to know that our friends and family care about making us feel better, and care about the nature of our condition. The best thing you could possibly do for us is to just listen, and learn.

“Know that sometimes you'll be the trigger for the attack. Don't take it personal. And please, for the sake of humanity, don't tell us that we're overreacting, that we need to calm down, or that worrying isn't going to make anything any better.” writes Bridgette Borden, student writer for the Odyssey.

For those of you who battle the voices in your head daily, just know you are not alone. You are more than your anxiety and the dents it put in your self esteem. You are brave, and strong and facing the day may seem daunting but you have every right to be proud of yourself.

At a Glance:

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms such as extreme dread or panic over problems that either haven't occurred or seem virtually small, it might be a good idea to educate yourself further. Additionally, if you/someone you know experienced shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, sensitivity to lights/sounds and/or overwhelming mental fog, seek out help from a psychiatrist as soon as you can. Anxiety symptoms can sometimes be connected to other, more severe mental illnesses.

http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/ask-and-learn/resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Two (Of the Many) Faces of Corvallis' Punk Scene

(Left to right) Indiana Laub and fellow group founder, Caitlin Garets aim to bring attention to the growing music scene in Corvallis, Ore.

You may have been walking up Monroe Avenue on any given night of the week and heard the loud music emitting from a tiny coffee shop. Interzone Coffee in Corvallis, Ore. is one of the handful of spaces that makes up Corvallis D.I.Y.

Friends Caitlin Garets and Indiana Laub are the two main faces of this growing community that aims to provide an all-inclusive environment for punk rock lovers in Corvallis.

Garets, a Corvallis native, has been involved with D.I.Y. Punk since she was in high school. Growing up in that area and in the local music scene has made her one with the music community.

The two met when Laub moved to Corvallis a mere two years ago from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Corvallis after her partner made a tour stop there with his band, who by a strike of fate played a show with Garet’s band, Angries.

Over the course of a few months, Laub got more involved with booking shows in Corvallis. “A lot of shows I booked here ended up being bands that I had booked in Santa Barbara” she said. After a few years, the community began to expand, thus creating Corvallis D.I.Y.

Laub chats with fellow Corvallis D.I.Y. member during a group meeting at her house in Corvallis. 

They host meetings every month to come up with new ideas for shows, 

events and other methods of community outreach.

The pair have made great efforts to begin reaching out to a new demographic as a method of making their community more known via social media. As of recent, they created a Facebook group that allows anyone to join in, and contribute to discussions. Currently, there are 302 active members.

They both agreed that this was the most effective way to not only bring everyone together, but to reach a new demographic of college students.

Both Garets and Laub have not only networked Corvallis D.I.Y., but they both play music as well. To them, music was what birthed their friendship, and the rest of their community as well.

Garets plays with household dog, Ruth, during the meeting.

“It’s a different kind of relationship.” said Garets. “The strongest friendships I have were built from music.” She has been playing with her current band, Angries, for 10 years now and considers them her family.

Laub found her sense of community through making music as well and has expressed her difficulty connecting with others on a surface level. “It’s just what I do”, she said, “since I was 13 years old. When I started booking shows, It was the only way I knew how to meet people after moving up here.”

To the two of them, punk culture and music is what drives them to make everyone feel welcomed. They expressed that people who enjoy this environment went on some kind of journey to find it. Whether it be from a political standpoint, or simply a sense of common values.

“That’s what sets D.I.Y. apart from other genres”, Garets said, “nobody is in it for the fame or the money.” D.I.Y., or “do-it-yourself” represents a subculture of music that strays away from being competitive and out for the glory.

Vocalist Ryan Mangione of punk band Vacant Life out of Seattle, Wash., has expressed a similar thought. “Bands in D.I.Y. support each other, and care about each other, not about who can sell the most records.”

Garets and Laub exchange a laugh and look at the stickers
 on one of the many guitars in the living room

Unfortunately, both Garets and Laub know what it’s like to not have their community taken seriously. “You can tell that some bands that come through want to use it as a crutch.” said Garets. Their goal is simple- to provide a supportive and encouraging environment for musicians of all walks.

“Anyone who legitimately gives a shit is welcomed to join in” Laub said. Earlier that day during a group meeting they expressed that “[you] simply gotta’ show up.” To this group of passionate individuals, the most important thing you can do is be active and show that you care.

While Garets and Laub are the two most visibly active members, they do not want to be known as being in charge. To them, nobody is really in charge, it is a community effort to bring attention to an overlooked local scene.

Laub’s advice to others is “there are always going to be people that don’t take it seriously, you just need to ignore it and put yourselves out there.”

The event page can be found on FaceBook as well as their website, and is definitely worth a trip to one of the local shows. 

Collection of cassette tapes adorn the wall of Laub's living room.

(All photos by Dylan Conner)

At a Glance:

• Indiana Laub was born in Santa Barbara, Ca. and moved to Corvallis, Ore. with her partner to pursue music in a growing local scene. 
• Caitlin Garets was born and raised in Corvallis, Ore. and met Indiana through music, where they both aim to expand their small, yet growing, community. 

You can listen to a compilation of the Corvallis D.I.Y. bands at https://corvallisdiy.bandcamp.com/releases

Additionally, you can view the page and see upcoming events at http://corvallisdiy.org or http://facebook.com/corvallisdiy

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More Campus Shots!

Two students study in the shade in the Linn Benton Community College courtyard. The courtyard is a common place for students to unwind and study while also getting some fresh air. Not only does it provide an excellent study space, but campus events such as the Diversity Fair are held there as well!

Oregon State University junior, Celeste Donnelly enjoys the shade while relaxing in between classes. "Spring term is my favorite" Donnelly said, "besides allergies of course, but hanging out outside is always so nice this time of year because it's not too hot yet."

OSU student Liam Moran (right) and a friend (left) "photobomb" MUPC president, Sarah Sutton (middle) as she watches over the intramural fields behind Reser Stadium. The two were members of her I.M. soccer team this year as well as fellow volunteers for MUPC, which is a student body organization dedicated to facilitating concerts and events, such as Dam Jam, on campus.

Campus Photos

 Occasionally around the Linn Benton Community College campus, Diana Edwards and Anna Skinner, can be seen handing out free Biblical literature to curious students. Edwards and Skinner are both Jehovah's Witnesses. "It makes us happy when students stop by!" said Edwards, "even if they just come by and take a quick glance."

Student body member Celine Swanson-Harris exchanges a laugh with fellow student Savannah Winters. The two were taking a break from what seemed like a busy day at the office. 

The L.B.C.C. library is a relaxing place for students to sit and study, or even just to unwind. Many students take advantage of the times during the library in which midterms or finals aren't going on to catch a quiet area to work.

Hometown Photos: A Weekend in Corvallis

Barista at Tried & True Coffee located in downtown Corvallis, Ore. serves a customer a cupcake as students study in the back of the store. Tried & True is one of Corvallis' most popular coffee shops, and they are known for their unique espresso blends.

Vegetarian coffee shop and cafe, Interzone, is a popular venue for bands to play while stopping in Corvallis on tour. Portland band, Run Forever, played a show on Friday, May 21. These shows are usually free to the public, and provide an all-inclusive environment for local music lovers.

Local punk group called Corvallis D.I.Y. organizes these shows almost weekly. "This is how we make friends" says founder Caitlyn Gerrets. "We just love to expand our community." Anyone is welcomed to come to monthly meetings, where the group discussed new ideas to branch out among the community, especially to college students.

After a long morning of rain, a rainbow spreads across the sky on Saturday, May 22. Springtime in the Willamette Valley is always a gamble when it comes to weather, but students welcomed the sunshine with open arms.

Student, Olivia Hernon, jumps for joy at a local barbecue. Hernon and her friends attended the barbecue prior to heading over to Oregon State University for their end of the year concert, Dam Jam. "I'm so excited to see T-Pain!" she exclaimed.

The crowd goes wild for rapper T-Pain as he takes the stage. Dam Jam took place on Saturday, May 22 outside of Oregon State's historic Memorial Union. After long months of deliberation, the student body voted him as their end of the year performance.

Heroin Assisted Treatment: Fighting Fire With Fire

Doctor from a clinic in British Columbia prepares to administer a dose to a patient. Source: Macleans.ca

Within the last year, three students from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Wash. have died from heroin overdoses. Unfortunately, those three were added to the ever growing list of opiate-related deaths.

One of whom was 19-year-old Amber Roberts. Roberts was a bright, bubbly individual who was well liked by all of her peers. However she fell victim to a plague that, in the last six decades, has reared it’s ugly head.

“When I’ve worked with clients who have come close to death due to their opiate usage, it’s almost the same story every time. They either did too much and overdosed, or they couldn’t get their fix and the withdrawals almost 'did them under” says Maria Gonzales, a retired substance abuse counselor from Eugene, Ore.

Gonzales is one of the growing amount of people who believe that a potential solution is right at our door. “Why keep sending addicts to jail? Why keep cycling them into custody, instead of doing something to save them?” she added.

Every day, over 1000 people are admitted to an emergency facility due to misuse of opiates. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Since 2001, the amount of opiate related deaths have increased x6 according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Due to such a frightening increase in deaths, a possible solution has been brought to the table. That possible solution is Heroin Assisted Treatment or “H.A.T.”

H.A.T. was first discovered in the United Kingdom around the 1920’s as a method to combat opiate addiction. Due to legality issues, the practice began to decline a mere 10 years later. However after a resurgence of the treatment in the 80’s, the Netherlands and Switzerland adopted the practice and began to see great results.

H.A.T. is a clinic-based treatment plan developed around using the actual drug or synthetics to wean off safely. Not only that, but it aims to reduce withdrawal related deaths by providing small, controlled amounts.

These doses are administered by doctors who use sterilized needles and operate out of legal clinics to make sure they have access to the drug without needing to resort to street dealers to avoid withdrawal.

There are many risks associated with using street heroin. One of which is the lack of sterile needles. With sharing needles comes extremely high risk of Hepatitis and HIV/Aids.

These treatment centers aim to eliminate that risk. Additionally, in the event that someone were to overdose or go into a state of withdrawal, they would be under care and supervision.

Patient in B.C. Canada makes a visit to receive her treatment. “I was recently admitted to Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. All the staff were so friendly and calm around me, and in my anxious panic-induced state they really helped me feel more at ease.” Source: Macleans.Ca

"I've seen people with opioid-use disorders go through inpatient treatment without medications time and time and time again, without ever being offered alternatives," says Michael Botticelli, who is the director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House. "If one treatment failed for you, we'd say, let's look at other possible treatment options."

These alternative treatments have been shown to work. In studies done by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, it has been shown that 40% of patients moved from these clinics to abstinence-based programs. Currently, there are 23 H.A.T. clinics operating in Switzerland.

H.A.T. could prove to be extremely beneficial to large cities in which opiate use runs rampant. With rampant opiate use, comes death as well. “Something needs to be done, especially here” says Gonzales.

“We live in a place where people use on the street. They will buy from anyone they can find, just to avoid dying. In a lot of cases you either die from the withdrawal or die from the overdose, you can’t win. It’s an endless cycle and something like this could possibly stop it in it’s tracks.” she added.

A friend of Roberts, Mackenzie Ripley, says “I definitely believe doctor monitored help would be great- It needs to be regulated and not an illegal, awful, taboo thing.” Ripley was also a friend and classmate to another student at L.W.H.S. who passed away last month.

Amber’s father, Michael Roberts, was also quick to speak on the matter. “If regulated and performed by doctors, I would support this concept 100%.” he says. “My belief is that everyone is different, so what may work for someone, may not for someone else. So with drug addiction/alcoholism you need to find what works for you.”

In the wake of his daughter’s tragic death, Roberts has gone out of his way to educate the community, especially parents, about the risks of opiate addiction. He has called for community meetings to educate others about this rapidly growing problem. “I was hurt, I was sad, but I was like ‘seriously, this stuff needs to stop.” Roberts says in an interview with King 5 News about how he felt when he found out Amber had passed.

According to King County Police Department, in the Eastside of King County Wash., there were more than 50 heroin-related deaths between 2012-2015.

In the meantime, Robert’s wish is to bring attention to the issue, he is one of many that strongly believes that this epidemic is brushed under the rug far too often. While a permanent solution may be far in the future, the most important thing any community can have is hope.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/more-cities/father-shares-story-to-save-lives/183993971

http://www.drugpolicy.org

http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/news/2012/1

http://www.providencehealthcare.org/news/20131023/heroin-assisted-treatment-and-politics-based-medicine

At a Glance:

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, these resources may be helpful for you.

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/
• SAMHSA 24/7 hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Additionally, a fundraiser called "Amber's Hope" was created by Michael Roberts to bring awareness to the growing problem.

https://www.gofundme.com/548989ta

Bernie Sanders Rally in Salem, Ore.

A woman at the Bernie Sanders rally sells these homemade pins for $5 each to supporters waiting in line. The Sanders rally took place in Salem, Ore., on May 9 at the Salem Armory.

Iraq Veteran Doug Fetz shows his support for Sanders. Fetz explained how he supports Sanders' plan to better the medical treatment for combat vets.

As the crowd eagerly awaits Bernie Sanders' arrival, two supporters tied an American flag and a Mexican Flag together as a sign of unity. These two supporters demonstrated their disdain with Donald Trump's views about Mexico, and wanted to show their support for Sanders' policies regarding immigrants.

Turnover, Sorority Noise and Milk Teeth at the Analog Theater in Portland, Ore.

Virginia rock band, Turnover took the stage at their tour stop at the Analog Theater in Portland Ore. on Thursday, March 23. The band released their latest demo titled "Humblest Pleasures" on February 13.

Guitarist, Adam Ackerman, falls to the ground during a guitar solo. Ackerman is a member of Sorority Noise out of Hartford, Con. "This tour has been nothing but a good time" he says, "Portland is a cool city."

The Analog Theater is located in Portland's Pearl District and doubles as a lounge, as well as a venue upstairs. Show schedules as well as restaurant menu and prices can be found on their website www.analogpdx.com.

Intramural Soccer at Oregon State University

A player from the Gorillas Intramural team takes a break after warming up to wait for the rest of his OSU teammates. This is the last game of the season for the Gorillas, and they are hoping to go out with a win. The last game took place on Wednesday, May 18, at the IM fields behind Reser Stadium. 


Oregon State University student Liam Moran warms up before the game, Moran has played every Wednesday game of the season.



OSU student Phoebe Chin tosses the ball back into the game. The Gorillas ended up losing the game but they didn't lose their spirit! They left the field all smiles and laughs, having enjoyed their time together as a team.