Theme: Political Science
Bill Lunch Oral History Interviews
Two life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen.
March 2015
Bill Lunch (b. 1949) was a member of the OSU Political Science department from 1984
to his retirement in 2011, serving as chair of the department for his final eight
years on faculty. For the majority of his time at Oregon State, Lunch also worked
as a political commentator for Oregon Public Broadcasting, filing reports and offering
his opinions on regional political affairs, and regularly appearing on both radio
and television. Over two interviews, Lunch describes the ways in which this dual
career evolved and flourished over the course of nearly three decades at Oregon State.
He also offers his opinions on numerous individuals who have made a major impact on
the university, and shares his perspective on the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber,
which took place just one month before these interviews.
Taylor Sarman Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
November 16, 2015
Taylor Sarman (class of 2016) is a native of Union, Oregon, a small, rural community
located in the northeastern corner of the state. Interested in politics from an early
age, Sarman became active in student government as soon as he began high school, while
also engaging with the Oregon chapter of Future Business Leaders of America as a state
officer. In 2011, his senior year of high school, Sarman was elected as national
president of FBLA. After enrolling at OSU in 2012, Sarman held a number of positions
within the Associated Students of Oregon State University, culminating with his election
as student body president at the end of his sophomore year. Sarman was also the first
student to serve on OSU's newly created Board of Trustees. His interview traces his
life-long involvement in politics and public service, with particular attention paid
to his work with FBLA, his year as ASOSU President, and his experiences as a member
of the Board of Trustees.
Warner Strausbaugh Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
May 12, 2014
Warner Strausbaugh (class of 2014) served as Editor-in-Chief of the OSU Daily Barometer student newspaper for the 2013-2014 academic year. A Political Science major, Strausbaugh
spent four years on the Barometer staff and worked there in a number of capacities, including stints as a reporter
for multiple OSU sports beats as well as Sports Editor, Managing Editor and, finally,
Editor-in-Chief. His interview sheds light on the culture of the Barometer newsroom and the life of a student journalist. He also shares his opinions on student
attitudes and OSU's campus culture as it stood in 2014.