Trash: one huge mess waits to be picked up
J ennifer S itton
have been given.
Recently, signs have started
popping up throughout the
school that read, NO FOOD
OR DRINK. I've seen them
The wind picks up, blowing
empty, greasy McDonalds bags
down the street. Starbucks
cups can be found under any
Photo by Alex Houston
Trash litters the sidewalks outside WLHS, a clear illustration of the
disrespect some people have for the school. The excessive amount of
garbage has become such a problem that the administration required
teachers to show their students a presentation on how to improve
the situation.
on porches, on tables in the
library and next to computers.
The Monday following spring
break, I walked into school to
see Porch 2A blocked off with
caution tape. According to the
signs posted, the porch was
to be closed during lunch and
all breaks due to increased
amounts of garbage and
vandalism in the area. Really
guys?
The problem is, despite the
efforts of the administration to
try and limit where students
are allowed to congregate,
we simply ignore the signs.
The porch with the caution
tape was filled with students
sitting, talking and eating all
week. I'll admit, I have eaten
lunch on a table that reads
NO FOOD OR DRINK. We
have approximately 1,500
students in this school—there
isn't enough room for all of
us to eat in the cafeteria, nor
do we all want to. This is high
school. We made it through the
table in the school. Crumbs
litter the computer tables and
their accompanying mice are
covered in sticky residue.
We undeniably have
an issue with trash in this
school; we don't clean up
after ourselves. There have
been multiple pleas from the
administration to pick up our
garbage. Threats of closing
down porches and other parts
of the school have been made
if we don't shape up and clean
up.
We live in one of the most
privileged countries in the
world in one of the most
privileged cities in the state.
Glance about you and you will
see hundreds of brand new
computers, fresh textbooks
and flat-screen televisions.
Frankly, I find it embarrassing
that we are so self-centered as
a teenage population that we
can't find the time to pick up
our garbage and respect the
amazing educational tools we
West Linn High School, 5464 West A Street, West Linn, OR 97068
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The Amplifier is published approximately every four weeks by the West
Linn High School Advanced Journalism class. Opinions expressed in
commentaries and editorials represent only those of the writer, and are
not necessarily the opinions of West Linn High School, its administration,
faculty, staff, or student body.
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l
suffocation that was middle
school, and we deserve our
freedom. At least.. .some of us
do.
But there is hope. As I sit
here writing this editorial,
I witnessed something that
brought back my faith in my
fellow high school student. A
young man was returning to
class from using the restroom,
carelessly walking by a row
of computers. Suddenly, the
student made a 180, grabbed
a large wad of paper that
someone had left sitting next to
a computer, and tossed it in the
trash can on the way into his
classroom.
Just think what a difference
it would make if every student
picked up one piece of trash
each day—or even just their
own trash! It seems obvious
to me. Most of you pick up
after yourself at home, and
you need to do so at school
too. Leave this school as good
as or better than you found
it. We are privileged in all of
the amenities we have here
at school. We have amazing
custodians who work hard
every day, but they are not
our personal maid service.
We need to respect them and
respect our school. Everyone
needs to do their part and pick
up after themselves. Some
people do, and some people
don't. Those of you who don't,
and seem to not care, don't
ruin it for those who actually
clean up after themselves.
Think about that the next time
you "accidentally forget" to
grab that plastic wrapper after
lunch.
West Linn Mayor mishaps cast pall;
Galle earns education from degree mill
E mily M c D onald _____________
Disrespect. Dishonesty.
Disappointment in our
mayor and our city. We don’t
know what to believe about
our mayor, Patti Galle. Some
believe she has lied to us.
What we do know about
her just doesn't make sense,
and what we don't know...
we will have to see as more
information emerges.
Throughout our
childhood we are told to
tell the truth. So why won't
Galle speak up? Or has
she? According to several
sources, including the West
Linn Tidings, The Oregonian
and her voter's pamphlet
entry, Galle supposedly has
an education: a bachelor's
degree in English. But it
appears she found it online
at Redding University, paid
the $395 fee, and took the
course.
I visited the site to
investigate. Redding
University promotes the
idea of a fast, cheap and
easy way to make it look like
you have earned a degree.
For most, it may seem like
the most efficient way to
acquire a "degree." Heck,
you can even choose a GPA
to put on your transcript for
an additional $45!
It's not an accredited
college. Galle said she was
afraid people would not
elect someone without a
college degree. She was
hesitant to have information
about this in the pamphlet
because she knew that
people were contemplating
her. In my opinion, an
unaccredited college mostly
means degree mill.
You don't have to have
a college degree to run in
the election, but you must
go through the paperwork
stating that you do not have
one. You will be charged as
a convicted felon, lodged
in jail for up to five years
and heavily fined ($125,000)
if you provide any false
information.
So, technically she does
have a degree, as stated in
the pamphlet. But there's
something else that I found
very peculiar about the
situation. She also said to
have been enrolled at San
Jose City College, earning
a bachelor of arts degree
under her maiden name,
Patricia Bologna. Galle did
Photo courtesy OregonLive.com
West Linn Mayor Patti Galle’s
home and computer are currently
under investigation for extra
information about her education.
Authorities seized her work
computer from her office April 1.
not earn a diploma from this
college.
In an interview with the
Tidings on March 11, Galle
told of a 2004 burglary in her
home of Eureka, Calif, she
stated that she lost all of her
personal records including
her university diploma,
employment documents,
business license and other
small business documents,
state Human Academy
Diploma, law enforcement
certifications including
her badge (apparently she
was chief), birth certificate,
marriage record and other
belongings. These items are
easy to replace, and if they
were important enough
to Galle, she could have
done so. For instance, at
Marylhurst University, it
only costs a measly $25 to
replace your diploma!
Another thing I found
doubtful about this was why
on earth would anyone go
into some random person's
house and steal all of
those things? Papers and
documents like these are
practically useless to anyone,
unless they are your own.
I have a hard time
believing that this ever
happened. I've never been
to Eureka, and I could be
totally wrong, but while
looking at the city on Google
Earth, it seemed rather
harmless, quaint, and not
the horrible, crime-infested
town Galle made it sound
to be. I also know someone
who lived there, and they
said it was a fairly quiet
town. This part of her story
really confuses me.
What is most
disappointing is the way
that this whole situation is
the way in which it reflects
on our city. West Linn is a
wonderful place that has a
very capable community.
This situation makes us
look very unprofessional
and corrupt. It is rather sad
that other communities are
turning their attention to the
city in a negative way. Our
community members can't
help but feel disappointed.
Recently, authorities
took possession of Galle's
work computers, hoping to
recover more information.
In the Oregonian front
page article on April 15, it
stated that investigators
also searched her office and
home, where they found
her Redding University
diploma dated in 1973. The
University was established
just seven years ago,
however, in 2003. She
resigned last Friday.
Personally, based on this
evidence, I think this is
absolutely ridiculous and
what Galle has been saying
is bogus. This went for WAY
too long. Did Galle flat
out lie to us? I believe so.
Goodbye, Galle.