Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1977)
'Summer of the Budget' afflicts C0| By Happie Thacker Of The Print This summer was the "Summer of The Budget Election" for most of the faculty, staff, administration and students at Clacka mas Community College. After the failure of the first two budget elections in May and June, the decision about whether or not the school would open for classes fall term hinged on the success of the Aug. 9 budget election, thus putting enormous pressure on all those involved. A publicity campaign was initiated by the board, administration and students in order to get voter approval for CCC. Board members were encouraged to ar range speaking engagements throughout the school district at least once a week, press conferences were held, mailings were sent out by students and staff informing the pub lic about the college, telephone calls were made to urge people to vote and door-to- door canvassing was done by CCC students and students at other community colleges in the area. The results of this mass publicity cam paign are by now apparent. The budget passed overwhelmingly, by a better than two-to-one margin and the college will run another year-- until the next budget election, at least. "One thing we learned is that we must communicate closely and continuously with all the residents of the district," said Dr. Howard Fryett, Assistant to the college presi dent, "I think when people realized our plight they responded positively." "We shouldn't wait until the third elec tion to work as hard as we did," said Tonya Tucker, assistant to the Associated Student Government (ASG) President, Mike McCarty. "We should do it the first time around and make people aware of what's going on." Another thing that became apparent was the need for alternate funding for the college. "These (budget elections) take time and money," said Fryett, "and as an institution we need stability." "I think we should not let this opportun ity pass of having the community interested in the college," said Dr. John Hakanson, president of CCC. "I've had people tell me that they're tired of seeing us expend so much time and energy on budget elections every year. We now have a real opportunity to pass either one or the other (alternative funding measures)." One of these alternatives to the present system is a tax base, which is a fixed amount that can be increased by 6% every year with out going to the voters. "I personally prefer a tax base," said Fryett, "the major problem with that is that it becomes obsolete, especially with a growing institution and inflation." The only other alternative is a rate based serial levy. This means that the school would have the option to ask voters to approve the tax rate base for two to three years and would only have elections when there was need for a new rate base. The drawback with the serial levy is that it is a brand new concept, according to Fryett, and will take a great deal of public educa tion as to what it means. "An advantage is that it only lasts three years and can go back to the people for a revised amount," said Fryett. "Right now, within the next 60 to 90 days the board must make a decision about what they're going to propose to the voter's" said Hakanson. "We want a lot of student input on the subject, either to me, the stu dent body president, the paper or to the board members. Par» 7 "They act as if it were a drive-incaj® "I want to get alot of ideas and thoughts and feelings from the community because either alternative will be a vast improve ment over what we now have." Community involvement is very impor tant to college funding, said Hakanson, especially after the results of the last budget election. According to a computer analysis of the CCC election the budget was not passed by students like one might expect, since they are the most directly affected by the college's continued operation or lack of it. On the contrary, the budget was passed by voters over the age of 65, including many 80 and 90-year-olds. According to the computer there were more ballots cast by persons over 65 than by all of the under-30 group put together. "I think it's most unfortunate that young people aren't aware of the connection be tween their vote and the quality and even the continuation of CCC," said Hakanson. "The reason we lost the first two budget elections is apathy," said Mike McCarty, Associated Student Body president, "no body's involved or concerned. kind of like a hamburger stand, wheM come in, get what you want, anJleaB don't get involved until there I I® situation," said McCarty. "People have to stand up and get in® because everything that goes on Mg affects them," he said. According to Hakanson, the reasH the high turnout among older voters® they realize the benefits the college® to the community, especially to thebH community. Anybody owning a business benefit»® money brought in by the college, he®- These people (the students and faculH consumers and spend most of their mo® in the college district. "Seventy-five to eighty per cent I® money goes for personal services, espe® salaries, and ninety-five per cent of ourst®, lives in the district. They are buying® ies, clothes, etc." "The college also means a higher® of education in the county in general, 1® means people are better qualified fori® jobs that pay more money so they cans® more." ASG seeks involvementl Getting people involved will be the goal of to change this by giving each senatorjs® the Associated Student Government at Clack amas Community College this year, according to Mike McCarty, ASG president. "I don't know how to overcome it (apathy) as a whole," he said, "but we will be making cific job to do. Senators will each be assigned a partit® department where they will go once awe® more contacts with students and faculty and seeking more publicity for our programs." In the past, said McCarty, there were 20 ASG senators with nothing to do but come to They will also meet with administrator® meetings and participate in them. He hopes to meet with faculty and students to® out what they are doing and hear compla® discuss specific problems. McCarty also intended to give some ® tors entertainment assignments. They«® help set up and promote activities and® information and feedback from student® "Since we're older (McCarty is 26® some of the senators are in their 4O's),l® McCarty, "we are aware of the costsol® gramming exhibits and activities and pie® schedule fewer things, but to have those® of better quality." His main concern, however, is to mi® ASG more responsible and inspire mores® dents to get involved. "Unless there is a crisis situation ora n® issue no one votes or even cares," McC® He feels that if students get involved!® what is going on at school this might® on into the community and create moreaw and interested citizens. McCarty is also planning more elaboi activities for CCC, such as starting» aid program for students. He worked! other community colleges last veaijind cussing a program that would coststuda $5 for legal insurance. This would enti them to legal help in all civil matterssuch divorce and landlord/tenantdisputes.jtwoi not cover criminal charges or suits agaii the school, he said. "The biggest problem seems to begetti the students to pay the $5," McCarty sa "But this seems a small price to pay for le insurance." The ASG president also would liketoj a campus-wide video system installed at C( Mike McCarty •.. overcoming apathy This network would show messages, ad* tise events and help people locate oneanotl in emergencies, he said. Clackamas Community Cdtaj