From posters to polling links: SLC election season is here

 Students at Linn-Benton Community College can now cast their votes in the Student Leadership Council elections.​

Voting opened Feb. 2, and will remain open until noon Friday, Feb. 13. Students will vote electronically through a secure system provided by ElectionRunner; an email sent to students contains a unique voter ID and voter key to prevent duplicate or unauthorized voting.  

Three candidates are running for president: Jaxon Lee, Lia Schmeck, and Rebecca Thomas. The vice president race involves Vayne Lim, Jaymie Poujade, and Ross Zinck. (See profiles of the candidates on LBCommuter.com.)

The Student Leadership Council serves as the governing body of the Associated Students of Linn-Benton Community College, acting as a liaison between students and the college administration. All students enrolled in credit courses during an academic term are automatically members of ASLBCC and are represented by the council.

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The SLC advocates for students' interests by participating in college committees, managing student fees, organizing campus events, and supporting student success initiatives.  The council also provides leadership training and ensures students have a voice in collegewide decision-making.

Jaxon Lee and Ross Zinck shared that it's important to accurately represent the student body and stay true to the values of the SLC. 

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Students who serve on the SLC receive a range of benefits, including leadership and professional development opportunities. Members participate in leadership retreats, workshops, and training sessions focused on governance and college policies. They also gain experience in public speaking, budgeting, and teamwork.

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In addition, SLC members may receive talent grants that provide tuition support based on enrollment, up to 12 credits per term. Participation can also strengthen resumes and transfer applications while offering networking opportunities with college administrators and staff.

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Candidates have been campaigning through posters, daily conversations with students, and prepared statements included in official election materials. Candidate information is available online through LBCC’s election materials page: https://lbccmonitors.my.canva.site/2026-slc-election.

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“The candidates were trying to organize a meet-and-greet style event, but I have not heard that it was finalized or if a date and time were set,” said Rob Camp, administrative advisor of the SLC.

Election results are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Alongside the elections, applications for additional SLC positions are now open. Applications close Feb. 20, with interviews beginning the following week. The college aims to fill the remaining council positions by the end of the winter term.

Interested in applying? Here’s a link to the form: https://forms.gle/7DGTaWXryBLicfMx9

Bob's Burgers: The Comfort Food of Animated TV

Bob's Burgers has become one of the top adult animation series on Hulu (BubbleBlabber). Created by Loren Bouchard, it's primary Network being Fox, and streaming on Hulu. The show has been running for around 15 years, starting in 2011, and has since released a movie in 2022, as well as the 16th season on Hulu, set to be released in September 2025. The episodic format is easy to follow as the Belcher family: Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts), along with their children Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal)--run their struggling seaside burger restaurant.

I have picked the most recent episode (S16 E10-Heist Things are Heist), the episode aired on Hulu December 28, 2025. Bob's Burgers has since entered a mid-season break. In this episode, Bob has won the "Best Dive on the Mainland award, and the family is asked to cater the award ceremony. All is well until Bob finds out he has to pay $200 to actually receive a physical award. Along with an outfit mishap from Linda. The kids decide to cause some mischief, and they plan to steal the "Best of the Bay" award for their father. They team up with a recurring character, Vincent (a supposed jewel thief) who convinces them to devise a strategic plan, which by the end of the episode is successful (no spoilers). 

The show exhibits a distinct hand-drawn 2D animation style featuring simple oval-shaped characters in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. The Belchers’ outfits are everyday casual, the world is vaguely East Coast-inspired, and the design is intentionally simple yet expressive. The consistent animation style contributes to the show’s comfort-factor appeal. One of the most impressive aspects of Bob’s Burgers--especially by Season 16--is its strong sense of continuity(Reddit). By "remembering the past", the show builds a world that feels lived-in, where events matter, and characters evolve. At the same time, the show often experiments with dream sequences, musical montages, and genre parodies (like "story time" episodes), showing that consistency does not mean stagnation.

Bob's Burgers is notable for their inclusion of fan art in S8 E1, Brunchsquatch. In this episode, different scenes were animated by fans and independent artists. The character designs shift constantly--from rough sketches to elaborate, colorful reinterpretations--while the voice acting and script remain consistent.

Unlike many animated sitcoms that focus on exaggerated wealth (Family Guy) or cultural satire (The Simpsons), Bob’s Burgers centers on a struggling, small-business, working-class family. The Belchers own a modest burger restaurant that rarely turns large profits. They worry about rent. They reuse costumes. They repair broken equipment instead of replacing it. What stands out is the dignity in their portrayal. Bob is not incompetent; he is passionate about quality and craft. Linda is not “trashy”; she is enthusiastic and deeply supportive. The show presents working-class life without humiliation or cruelty. Financial strain is a recurring theme, but it is treated realistically--not as a punchline. This makes the Belchers feel closer to real American families than the hyper-satirical depictions in some other animated series. 

One of the most quietly groundbreaking aspects of Bob’s Burgers is how naturally it incorporates diversity. Unlike many sitcoms that highlight difference as a source of conflict or punchlines, Bob’s Burgers treats diversity as ordinary--part of the fabric of everyday life in its seaside town. Though mostly inclusive, the show has sparked discussion about its humor--including moments some find insensitive--and how it portrays quirky or neurodivergent characters (CommonSenseMedia). 

The primary audience is adults and teens (13+), skewing toward viewers who enjoy animated sitcoms and family comedy. Advertisements I noticed while watching were: Liberty Mutual Insurance, McDonald's, Weight Watchers, America's Best (eyewear), Apartments.com, and a promo for The Masked Singer and Fear Factor--which appeals to a youthful demographic. 

Upon further investigation, the social platform Bob's Burgers interacts with is apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter through clips, art, and episode promos. Reddit threads reflect active engagement and debates often. The fan base is passionate. I personally re-watch the show every couple of months because of its comfort-show kind of vibe. 

What surprised me most was how Bob's Burgers has evolved, from a show with edgier, darker humor to a beloved sitcom with whimsical comedy. Its legacy will not be built on shock or spectacle, but on heart. And that may be why, long after its final episode airs, audiences will continue returning to the small seaside restaurant where the burgers are creative, the rent is overdue, and the family at the counter always sticks together.