Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1979)
With college funding Iranian students face problems By Kelly Laughlin Of The Print The banks are now closed in Iran, as are most businesess, both as protest to the new civilian government, and as the wish of newly returned religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Current turmoil in the distant mid-east country has. reached home for three foreign ex change students attending the College this year. One is Massoud Bahrani, who was graduated from Rex Putnam High School last year. A freshman at the College, Massoud lives with his uncle who is part owner of a restaurant in Portland. Massoud depends on his father for college money. Massoud’s father returned to Iran after assuring Massoud’s safe arrival here two years ago. For the fall and winter terms, Massoud received substantial tuition from his homeland, but is not certain what will happen in the spring. One thing is cer tain however, Massoud’s father was recently accepted as a U.S. citizen, and Massoud will be staying here as a permanent resident in the district. He will no longer need a student visa, :entral ride swap board for and may receive a slight kick- ikamas Community back in tuition fees. In-district community college ge promises to be in effect ihursday outside of the students at Clackamas pay a ¡office, in the Community standard $125 in tuition per quarter, while Massoud and other foreign students have compassing all in district been paying $440 per term, of the college, and some the cost charged to all out-of rfthe district, the system district students. It is possible that Massoud include cards for people ¡need rides and people may be able to begin looking for work soon. His citizenship tan give rides. is in a transition period. With e central bopk swap, his father recently being accep :h will be in effect at the ted as a U.S. citizen, the result e location, is still in the is a very unique and shaky ping stages” according to situation. ¡President Mike McCarty. For those Iranian students with no immediate probability of citizenship, however, finding work means overcoming many feed a ride? obstacles. Permission to seek employment by a foreign student has to be approved hy the immigration committee af ter the student’s immediate needs are cleared by a coun selor. According to Vince Fit zgerald, foreign student advisor at CCC, the individual should only seek work as a full-time student. Usually, the minimum for full-time schooling is 12 credit hours. Work can only be looked for in time of crisis, and the job should not interfere with studies. Employment should only last as long as the crisis continues, Fitzgerald ex plained. Massoud has not yet found it necessary to begin seeking em ployment. He is relatively secure living with his uncle, and contended that the current turmoil in his homeland doesn’t severely affect his schoolwork or lifestyle. For others, however, the problems in Iran have touched them more deeply. Kamal Balighi, an engineering student at the College, came here originally from Miami College and Por tland State University a year and a half ago. Kamal tran sferred to study and stay close to friends in the area. With the onslaught' of problems in his country, and the resulting lack of funds about three months ago, Kamal began to wait and worry. Now, Kamal says he spends between three and four hours in front of the television and radio daily. Excluding his time attending the college, a majority of his time has been spent looking for work. Though Kamal originally preferred a job that would best fit his interests, he is now willing to do nearly anything for money. After three months, finding work for Kamal has become a thankless task. “I don’t know why they just keep saying, ‘fill out an application, and we’ll call you later.’ ” After 10 to 12 applications, “No one has called,” he said, and repeated, “No one.” Basic alienation, Kamal agreed, has been another problem that has affected him. “I don’t know why they don’t give me work, especially because I need a job so badly. They are very friendly to me, but I can’t understand why they, don’t give me work. That’s what I really want.” Kamal said that if he does not find work soon, he will have to return to his country. Ebrahiam Jahangiri, a married, 26-year-old student at CCC, is also from Miami College, and a friend of Kamal’s. Ebrahiam previously enjoyed 18 hours of schooling at PSU, but. had to drop some classes and come to CCC because of a lack of money. Ebrahiam has yet to begin looking for work, and, like Kamal, is having a hard time diverting attention from the current difficulties in Iran. Both Ebrahiam and Kamal cannot study, and at the very least find it hard to concentrate on their studies. Their families are in Iran as are their consciences. Breaking the current barrier of finances and worry will depend on what happens here as well as in their homeland, they agreed. Students get help choosing a career Choosing a career can often be a trying experience for the college student. It is a decision that can affect us for a lifetime. Making the right career choice is almost as important as chosing the right marriage par tner, and many students at the College are finding it difficult to find a major because of this fact. So what is the answer? It may be found in a new class being offere'd . for oc cupationally undecided studen ts, entitled Industrial Orien tation. “The class is designed for students interested in getting into a trade, and for anyone who hasn’t made a definite decision on a career yet,” said Larry Noonan, class coor dinator. The class features a com plete overview of nine different occupational fields, including drafting, machine shop, welding, electronics, audio visual and video, agriculture horticulture, industrial hydraulics, auto mechanics and auto body refinishing. Students will be working with mostly “hands on” operations, according to Noonan. The class is being offered noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Wed nesday, and Friday, and will be held at the same time next term. Grading is pass/no-pass with a ten-credit variable. Another plus is that there are no assignments or tests. Atten dance and participation is all that is required to pass the course. Noonan pointed out that ■ the class is open to women. At present there are seven male and two female students enrolled. “I see a definite need for this type of thing at the College,” said Noonan. “Many people who, come here are undecided on a career.” For more information on the class, contact Noonan at 656- 2631, ext. 355, 8 a.m. to noon daily. epression ibject r se minar cus on Women’s next par will be a joint venture the Men’s Resource Cen- M'Everyone’s Acquain- I: Depression.” It will be B5 in Randall 101, from 7 Ro9:3Op.m. x Toast L " of the Coast be workshop is designed to participants a better un ending of the dynamics Ending depression as well providing a framework ugh which to deal more ef- *ly with depression. The |ctor, Jerry Juve, is a latric social worker from cLoughlin Mental Health May.Feb. 7,1979 Big Mouth from Mickey's Malt Liquor ©1978 G. HEILEMAN BREWING CO., INC., LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN AND OTHER CITIES Page 3