Nicole Niskanen never thought she would study science in college. “I used to really struggle with science and had no patience for it,” she said. Yet her mother pushed her, teaching her a valuable lesson. "Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you quit on it,” Niskanen said. Now Niskanen will graduate from Western Oregon University in June with a degree in earth science. No one will likely follow in her footsteps. Western President Rex Fuller announced proposals last month to discontinue the university’s earth science program.
