Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1981)
fXtiyeh visits campus, views new facilities Governor Victor Atiyeh Biscussed many facets of his B»Ie as Governor and Views ■»ward the changes taking ■lace in the U.S. Government Buring a student press con- fe. ?nce held last Wednesday at ■e College;. Atiyeh’s government Background began when he Bas a member of the Oregon legislature in 1959. It was Biere that he came into contact ■ith the new, developing ■hool of higher education; the ■immunity colleges. | Since the legislature pass- id the community colleges ■lancing bill, Atiyeh has visited all thirteen community colleges in the state, ending with ■lackamas Community.' In regards to the tuition Bkes which are taking place in Bost state colleges, Atiyeh Hated increased tuition to the Her-growing costs of housing, Hhools, and “everything in ■neral.” I “We are trying to stop in- Htion,” he said. “One way to Hip students and businesses, H>uld be for them to join and H>rk together, like on die job Hining.” I When asked about the ■»sure of Estacada School Htrict and possible interven- tion, Atiyeh said, “There is a limit to the authority of the state legislature. Oregon Superintendent of Schools Hrne Duncan has arranged for a special emergency elec tron that will take place in Bcember.” I The governor explained that Estacada’s problem is a matter of ‘who is in control/ I “Can you have local con trol to the extent that it can clqse the school?” Atiyeh quer- ried. “I don’t Jthink the school will close, but there is no way we can force a school to stay open and force tax payers to pay for it. “Some people think that if you stimulate the economy to create jobsj then the economy will improve,” Atiyeh said. “All of our original wealth comes from manufacturing and 85 percent of all jobs in the U.S. are provided by small business. There is absolutely no incentive to the small businessman to work hard. The more he or she makes, the higher the taxes,” Atiyeh claimed. “Government has been a disincentive for anyone wanting to get ahead.” ting to get ahead.” Atiyeh then compared the nation’s money deficit to a per son who has been hooked on dope and is suffering from withdrawls. He said, “We keep saying to ourselves, all we need is one more fix to help get us through this little crisis, and it never ends.” Atiyeh said that it’s begin ning to end with the President’s economic theories. “The presi dent has reduced the interest rates, they are definitely down now,” Atiyeh stated. “The nation forgets so easily,” he added, referring to the Carter administration,“In flation was up 20 percent and the interest rates were 22 per cent. We have to change what we’re doing. The Reagan policies will be the way to fix that,”Jig stated. One student journalist ask ed the Governor why he is a member of the Republican par ty/ “I find the Republican party’s philosophy fits mine and I’m uneasy with the Democrat’s policies,” Atiyeh said. “Oregonians are fiscally conservative,” he said. “They want common sense out of their government and don’t want their money wasted.” Atiyeh explained the dif ference between both parties in terms of “for” and “against” the people. “Republicans are less willing to provide for govern ment and more willing to .pro vide for the people,” he said. Interest rates have been the main cause of the fall in Oregon’s timber industry, ac cording to Atiyeh. While his of fice doesn’t have much power to get this industry back on its feet, Atiyeh said there is a “timber strategy panel” which he has been appointed to figure out some alternatives for the in dustry. The Governor mentioned the “campaign rhetoric” of Don Clark, a candidate for gover nor. Clark had stated that Atiyeh was in agreement with “Reaganomics,” and that he was doing little for the state in these times of recession. “It’s that kind, of view that has us in trouble. One thing he hasn’t said, is what he’d do about it,” Atiyeh replied. “There have been several accomplishments in Oregon’s government for which Atiyeh is proud. “One important goal was to have a more effective government,” he remarked. “The Oregon tax dollar is well spent, and there is no waste in the dollar,” Atiyeh boasted. “The department heads are hard working.” A second accomplishment for Atiyeh was the reduction of the human resource budget by $400 million dollars. “We have a reformed government now and this is more effective,” he said. In the area of human in terest, the governor was asked if there was a conflict of interest when he posed for the milk television commercial. “No,” he said. “Milk is a- product that Oregon sells na tionally.” Atiyeh said he was mainly promoting Oregon, not milk. The Oregon Dairy Association offered to pay Atiyeh for appearing in the ad, but Atiyeh refused to be paid. When the Association per sisted, Atiyeh asked for a dif ferent form- of payment. The dairy association put on ah ice . cream feed at Fairview Hospital. SAM CROSBY, ASG president greets Gov. Vic Atiyeh last Wednesday. Story by Kristi Blackman Photos by Duffy Coffman Wednesday Nov 2«5 ioei CHUCK SCOTT, SCIENCE department chairperson shows Gov. Atiyeh and College President John Hakanson (right) the Pauling Science Center.