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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1978)
Students give high marks to wilderness experience By MARY FORAN Of the Emerald HEP students have overwhelm ingly decided that a week-long Outward Bound wilderness ad venture moved the University’s High School Equivalency Pro gram in a positive direction. Evaluation forms asking ques tions such as, “To what extent did the Outward Bound experience increase your self-confidence or develop in you a strong commit ment to finish the HEP program?,” were returned this week with posi tive comments and criticisms to Jim Romero, director of HEP and advocate of the value of the Out ward Bound orientation week. The three-month HEP program provides GED preparation in five academic areas for students from seasonal farm workers back ground and is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Outward Bound School courses begin with intensive instruction in basic wilderness skills and pro ceeds to bigger challenges such as rock climbing and peak as cents. “A true Outward Bound experi ence is a very gruelling, 24-day experience,” says Romero. “We tried to get them to modify the program and challenge our stu dents in a five-day period.” Rom ero says he didn’t think it would go as far as rappelling off cliffs, though he’s glad it did. “Nobody was ready for it,” says Loren Arey one of the students who made it to the top of the Mid dle Sister. “We were warned the night before. Next time they should make sure everybody is equipped and let them know ahead of time.” Then Arey added, ‘‘They ought to emphasize that it’s going to be a blast.” Romero says that the idea of a HEP orientation in the wilderness was a risk. “If we had told them too much, we might have scared them away.” Romero says that none of the staff had been on Outward Bound before. “Now that we have the evaluations and experience, we'll know what to tell them next time,” he said. Some of the students had to hike in tennis shoes, Romero exp lained. “They didn’t have hiking boots and we couldn’t afford any more.” Romero says that they bought $400 worth of wool caps and pants, though most of the equipment and food was supplied by the Outward Bound program. ‘‘There was a lot of complain ing,” says Romero. “They bitched and moaned that it was too hard, that they couldn’t see the relation ship of the experience with HEP. But it was neat to see their reac tions when they got to the top.” Romero says that ‘Now when they want to quit the program I can say to them, ‘You’re not a quitter. . . .You climbed that mountain one step at a time and you made it.” Romero says one reason he wanted to expose HEP students to Outward Bound was to give them confidence. ‘‘Students didn’t have a goal in mind. They didn't realize their own potential,” Romero says, adding that the wilderness experience has given students self confidence. “It’s already had a fantastic impact on getting us through the first week,” he says. Arey says that he wouldn’t trade the wilderness rock-climbing ex perience for anything else. I learned I could trust myself more ... I could hang on with my fingernails if I had to. " Arey led his group out of the mountains using the map and compass skills taught by Outward Bound instruc tors. John Messersmith of Tulelake, Calif., says that Outward Bound taught him “if I pushed myself, I could go farther.” He added, “It gave me confidence in myself It showed me that I can reach the goal I'm going for. If you put your mind to something you can do it.” Arey says that the leadership experience made him realize that he could do more than just listen in class discussions. “I have more confidence in myself,” he says, adding that he’d like to go to the University after he’s gotten his general education diploma. “I’ve dreamed of it all my life,” he says. “I’d like to invent some thing ... like a car that runs on non-polluting stuff.” Arey and Messersmith would like to see a repeat HEP trip. "In fact we should have more pro grams like that. It brings people together, makes them suffer and see life as it is.” But the trip didn't excite all fol lowers. “You had to be dirty a whole week without taking a bath or washing your hair,” says Jennie Tapia of Gilroy, Calif. “I don’t see what that has to do with school. And I got a cold from it. .. the only thing I liked was playing in the snow and coming back home.” Bernadette Bell of Fort Hall, Idaho, says her pack was too heavy and she wasn’t used to walking. “I didn’t think I could make it up some cliffs, but I made it,” she says. "I felt good just because I made it.” Persons interested in tutoring HEP students in basic academic skills can get credit through the ESCAPE program, says Romero. For more information contact ES CAPE, third floor EMU, or Rom ero, 270 Emerald Hall. Filing process opens for student positions Filing opens today for 13 ASUO positions, including spots on the Incidental Fee Committee and the Student University Affairs Board, says ASUO elections board member Nancy Dubuar. All seven IFC positions are open in the upcoming election on Nov. 1-2. IFC members disburse almost $1.5 million in student inci dental fees at the University, and serve one-year terms. Six of the 18 posts on the SU AB are available this year. SUAB members represent students from all academic areas, and act as a liaison between the students and the faculty. SUAB positions run for two years. The six SUAB positions open this year are: Positions No. 3 and No. 4, Business and Economics; No. 7, P.E., Recreation, Health and Dance; No. 10, Architecture and Allied Arts; No. 11, Fine and Applied Arts, Art History and Art Education; and No. 17, Unde clared. Those interested in filing had better act fast, Dubuar says. The filing deadline for all positions is Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. Those filing must present their student identification cards and certificates of registra tion at the ASUO offices in Suite 4 of the EMU. All candidates must submit a statement for the ASUO voter’s guide by Oct. 17. No statements will be accepted after that date, Dubuar says. CHINA BLUE RESTAURANT Beef with Broccoli Tender marinated beef sliced, sauteed with broccoli and delicious special Chinese oyster sauce $4.15 China Blue Houre 879 E. 13th Ave. 343-2832 Mon.-Thurs. 11 to 10 Fri. 11 to 11 Sat. 5 to 11 Sun. 5 to 10 Photo by Dennis Hickok Jim Romero, director of HEP, is an advocate of the Outward Bound wilderness adventure. Evaluation forms, returned to Romero by HEP students who went on the trek, have been filled with positive com ments. Tom Fagan Democratic Candidate for State Representative Dist. 41 Will speak today at 12 Noon In the EMU (room to be posted) Discussion will be on ballot measures #6 and #11 Sponsored by ASUO State Affairs II I SERVICE DEPARTMENT dfanniim llktors, Int ■"SSBSSSiT* STUDENTS AND FACULTY Now you can get a 10% discount on all service and repairs on any Datsun, British Leyland, or Peugeot automobile with your U of O I.D. card * FACTORY-TRAIN SERVICE TECHNICIANS * COMPETITIVE PRICING * ALL REPAIRS GUARANTEED 90 DAYS OR 4,000 MILES WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST * FACTORY PARTS HANNUM DATSUN R & H AUTO IMPORTS 2060 CENTENNIAL BLVD. 686-2211 OPEN PEOPLE HOURS 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday "OUR REPUTATION RIDES IN EVERY CAR WE SERVICE" offer expires 12-31-78
