The studentsare the story

It is late and the house is quiet. I have just finished grading the “final” final exam and I am terrifically tired and supremely satisfied. I am an instructor at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus in the department of Human Development and Family Sciences. As the term draws to a close, I bask in the glorious delight of spending time with students who want to make a difference for good in the world. They consistently raise their gaze beyond themselves to see the needs of others — especially those whose needs are easily overlooked and often underserved.

This past term, I had the privilege of spending time with about 30 students in one course, as we grappled with the terrible tragedies of family violence and neglect in our community and around the world. We grieved with each other and we deepened our commitments to informed advocacy and prevention initiatives. In another course, 45 students immersed themselves in issues of families and poverty. In addition to serious study and invigorating classroom discussions, they each rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for 20 hours of community service learning projects during the quarter. They were resolved to do more than just read about the issues from the detached distance of a classroom.

I also spent time with 21 human service interns who bring competence and conviction and courage to their community work. Nine of them served in social service agencies for a total of 90 hours per student over the term. The other 12 interns each devoted 270 hours over the 10-week period to meaningful work and professional development. In settings like CASA in Prineville, the Brown Education Center in Redmond and the Central Oregon Vet Center in Bend, they blended theory, action and research with real-world application.

I am profoundly grateful for these students who are preparing themselves academically and experientially for lives of service to others. And I am thankful they have chosen OSU-Cascades as their laboratory for learning and the launching point for their careers. These are exciting days filled with robust community discussions about important decisions related to OSU-Cascades. Whenever I am asked, “What’s the story with OSU-Cascades ?” I think I will simply say, “The students are the story.”

Dennis Lynn

Bend

Miller is best prepared

For 30 years I have represented Central Oregon small businesses and individuals in commercial and real estate matters. From my years at court, I believe Randy Miller is the best prepared of the three candidates to replace retiring Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haslinger, who humbly served our community for many years with distinction.

Miller’s strong background as a civil trial lawyer will complement our solid Deschutes County bench. Miller is the rare judicial candidate with extensive civil trial experience. Our whole community benefits from a judge who can issue dependable decisions on commercial disputes and land matters. Miller brings us that skill.

Miller understands the court’s important role as our area grows and diversifies. His record in the military, law enforcement and community service shows we can depend on his experience, his intelligence and his heart. Please vote Miller for Judge.

Greg Hendrix

Bend

Bend neglectsstreet maintenance

I read with unbelievability the two recent articles in The Bulletin regarding street maintenance (or lack thereof). How could the city of Bend neglect such an important part of the city’s infrastructure as street maintenance to the point that it will require $80 million to repair?

Perhaps, we should have delayed construction of all the roundabouts in recent years. What kind of street manager would accept an annual budget of $2 million, knowing that $18 million is required? None of the excuses of heavy vehicles, studded tires or sunlight could be a surprise to anyone.

I don’t know what the tax revenues from gasoline sales are, but one might suspect they may have been diverted to other projects.

Brace yourselves, citizens, for a plea for additional taxes to fix the streets or you’ll just have drive around the potholes. Remember the jail expansion? We need additional funding or we’ll have to release prisoners prematurely to avoid over crowding. Obviously, the city of Redmond is better at planning since it avoided this situation.

Marion Brenneman

Bend