Chess with Friends

Walk into the Commons cafeteria at noon and people are eating and having conversations. At the same time, chess matches are being played, as well as other card games in adjacent tables.

Two games of chess are being played next to each other. Shoulder to shoulder, each player offers smiles and conversation to their opponents. A seemingly competitive game of chess on the surface turns out to be a bunch of friends laughing together and playing games.

 One of the two games plays with traditional black-and-white pieces and the other plays with bright blue and yellow pieces, for school spirit of course.

Each move on these chess matches are completely defining; they’re all very careful with their moves. They have a common pursuit in defeating each other, but they’re all here to have fun.

Travis Peterson, the club president, is among the pair of games and he is absolutely having his way with his opponent.

 Peterson has been the student rep for the chess club since February 2018, but the club itself has been in existence since the fall term in 2015.

 He looks up, laughs and smiles with his counterpart.

“It’s okay,” Peterson said with a sincere smile.

Playing chess with your friends is what the club is all about. In fact, at the end of the term the club intends to give away a free chess set for any person who drops by the chess club meeting and plays a game of chess and signs a raffle ticket. Not just any chess set though, but a four-player one!

A four-player chess set is like a traditional one but with an additional three rows of eight cells on all four sides of the chess set. Players can play free-for-all matches or have teams of two and each side of the board has different color pieces.

For more about how to get involved with the chess club at Linn-Benton, contact Travis Peterson via e-mail. The chess club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Commons cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. “The idea was that we were going to give away a regular one, but we thought why give away a regular chess set when you can give away a four-player chess set, so you can play with your friends,” Peterson said.

Why you should consider taking Communication

Have you ever had a hard time arguing your case or effectively getting your point across? Of course you have. Frankly, one time or another, you’ll encounter a struggle to make yourself better spoken. How about a difficulty relating to others or building empathy for somebody? Of course! Relating to somebody that doesn’t have anything in common with you and offering your empathy can be a seemingly impossible task. If you ever wanted to better your skills at things like these, communication is the line of courses you want to consider taking in college. You’re taught exactly how to offer empathy and perceive things without bias, as well as other things when you chose to take communication.

Absolutely anybody can benefit from taking communication courses. More often than not, the instructors that teach communication are a reliable source of support for hardships in your life. In addition, the instructor helps you establish a sense of belonging in their classroom. This isn’t to say that your favorite math teacher won’t listen to your problems, but your communication professor will offer a fruitful method to express your feelings in an appropriate environment.

Communication can go a long way in your romantic relationships. Dr. John Gottman who is a professor emeritus in Psychology is known for his effective relationship analysis through observations. Many of these are published in peer-reviewed pieces of literature for anybody to read.

Gottman’s four horsemen theory underlines four traits that are likely to destroy 90% of romantic relationships; criticism, contempt, stonewalling, and defensiveness are the four traits that likely end any relationship. This simple concept of relationship protection is taught in communication 218, here at LBCC. During the “emotions” unit, students in this class are taught how to effectively express their emotions constructively.

After taking communication in college, you’ll be enchanted with the very skills that employers look for. You will be able to conduct yourself professionally in a job interview. After studying communication, you’ll be able to facilitate healthy relationships with people that are important in your life. These are all gainful reasons to take a communication course in college.

Linn Benton CC's, Phi Theta Kappa holds donation drive for sexual assault awareness month

April is sexual assault awareness month and what better way to show remembrance and support than donate to the victims of these crimes. LBCC provides students and faculty the opportunity to donate goods to victims of rape and domestic violence.

Linn Benton CC honor society Phi Theta Kappa will be holding a donation drive to raise awareness for sexual assault all throughout April. The donations will go to CARDV (Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence) and Center for Hope and Safety.

Alena Santos, head of events for Phi Theta Kappa, says that “PTK will hand these donations to CARDV and Center for Hope and Safety at the beginning of May after the donation is over. The items donated to these two organizations go to either to the victims of domestic violence/abuse/sexual assault or the organizations themselves.”

You can donate by going to the Diversity Achievement Center, or the SLC office where there will be the donation box. Accepted items include toiletries, towels, school and office supplies, used cell phones, bus passes and children and baby items (toys, games, sippy cups and diapers).