Gardner, President involved CCOSAC serves as uniform voice Oregon has 13 communi­ ty colleges spread out across the map from Treasure Valley, less than 100 miles from Boise, Idaho, to Clatsop County Community in Astoria. CCOSAC, the Communi­ ty Colleges of Oregon Student Associations and Commis­ sions, was formed to create a uniform voice for the 13 schools, whose concerns and citizenry are as varied as the state. Brian Gardner is a student at Clackamas Community Col­ lege. This year, he is also the chairperson for CCOSAC, which “was formed to create a network of communications between the colleges,” Gard­ ner said. This is Gardner’s second year with the organization. Last year, as a student at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, he was first introduced to CCOSAC by that college’s student body president. “Last year, I was a representative for Central Oregon. I enjoyed it and when Spring term came around, I ran for chairperson,” he said. What Gardner had en­ joyed so much was the pressure thrust upon the organization, and its apparently successful battles with the state government. Due to the depressed economy in Oregon, Governor Victor Atiyeh called for a special ses­ sion of the state legislature in January, 1982. At that time, it was thought that the legislature would vote in drastic cuts to the community college system. CCOSAC became involv­ ed in the lobbying side of politics during the special ses­ sion. Each of the 13 colleges contributed money and man­ power to an effort that included a rally of more than 300 students from around the state and lobbying efforts with Roger Bassett, the organization’s of­ ficial lobbyist. Clackamas Community College was no exception. Two students, Karen Prouty and Dick Edwards, volunteered for the lobbying effort, a job that forced them to spend more than four weeks in Salem and away from their classes and the Associated Student Govern­ ment, to which they both belonged. The cost to their grades and ASG respon­ sibilities was sufficient to make both Prouty and Edwards drop out of student government after the special session was over. That session did not create the massive budget cuts that the two-year schools feared, thanks in part to the efforts of CCOSAC. “The special ses­ sion was our proving ground,” Gardner said. “It was there that people really began to take us seriously.” The 1981-82 CCOSAC was a well, organized and profi­ cient group, according to many of its members, including Paul Nastari, who was a member of the ASG here last year. Nastari is the current student govern­ ment president He also feels that the special session of con­ gress was the crucible that helped forge CCOSAC into a top notch organization. “A lot of people around the state are beginning to respect CCOSAC and the things we do,” Nastari said. “Last year, some people felt that we were stronger than the Oregon Student Lobby, which is for the four-year schools.” Oregon’s economy is still shakey, so CCOSAC is again prepared to fight for the budgets of its member schools. This year, a Political Involve­ ment Commission (PIC) has been formed, specifically to work with the legislature. The PIC is chaired by Scott Seibert, a student from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg and six other students, including Walter McAllister from Clackamas. The PIC also includes two ex/officio, or non-voting, members, Gardner and Bill Hawthorn, a liaison officer bet­ ween CCOSAC and the Oregon Community College Association. The PIC was also created to prove that CCOSAC was not a flash in the political pan in January, 1982. “I feel we must prove ourselves this year,” Gardner said. Brian Gardner, CCOSAC chairperson Staff photo by Jehni Weber Citizens’ phone calls fail to stop speaker ed to be affiliated with the county’s chapter of the Despite mixed community American Neo-Nazi move­ views, Swami Krishna Deva, ment, Wynia said. The caller mayor of Rajneeshpuram, was wanted to speak and hand out allowed to come on campus to literature. answer questions about the “I read him the campus somewhat unknown religion. policy (in which he did not Bob Wynia, assistant to qualify to speak),” Wynia said, the dean of instructional ser­ “and he said ‘that’s fine.’ It was vices at the College, was the not a threat to me (which contact person between the rumors speculated) but a threat College and the Ra­ to come speak.” jneeshpuram. Wynia worked The campus policy pro­ with Deva six years ago. vides that any legal entity has Another Rajneesh the right to come and speak follower that Wynia had work­ their point of view at the Col­ ed with before contacted the lege. Wynia does not have the assistant dean to organize the power to deny a request. campus event. Wynia said the Board of Wynia said that the other Education would have the final Rajneeshee asked if they could decision. possibly set up a room where Wynia expected some the mayor of the city could disagreement with the com­ answer questions. The mayor munity because of the public’s was going to be in the area curiosity of the religion and because he was doing business their skepticism of why Deva in Salem. was on campus. “We make room available He felt the crowd possess­ to any city representative from ed that skeptical and curious at­ any city government in the mosphere, but he was impress­ state of Oregon,” Wynia said. ed by the students’ behavior. “It is campus policy and the law “The students conducted of the country to provide peo­ themselves very admirably,” ple with First Amendment Wynia said. “They asked in­ rights.” tellectual and probing ques­ The College received tions. Exactly what I about 300 phone calls from expected.” community members concern­ In the future Wynia felt ed about Deva’s appearance at that any group that met the the College. “Most of the qualifications of the campus callers didn’t want him to policy would be allowed to speak,” Wynia said. speak their point of view. One specific phone call (Please see related story on came from a person who claim­ page one) By Doug Vaughan Baker, Nastari lead delegation of senators through state capitol Debbie Baker, student ac­ tivities director, and Paul Nastari, Associated Student Government President led a delegation of four student senators to Salem to tour the capital and meet with state legislators last week. ASG Senators Kristi Scott, Sharon Bliguez, Jeff Smith and John Sagoe were oriented in Salem by Roger Bassett, ex­ ecutive secretary of the Oregon Community Colleges Associa-. tion (OCCA) in his office. Bassett explained that OCCA is a lobbyist organization that has an annual budget of $140,000, funded by the dues of the 13 community colleges and two community education pro­ grams in Oregon. Colleges voluntarily join this organization which lobbies at the capital for their common interest. Bassett’s intern, John Skinner, led the group to tour the capitol building and meet with State legislators. Senator Ruth McFarland introduced the group to a com­ mittee hearing on public works funding by the state. Represen­ tative Glen Whallon also talked to the delegation about his 2Z I C lackamas M. W. F. - 9-6 T. T. - 9-12 SAT. AVAIL. C hiropractic C linic 16080 S.E. 82nd DRIVE CLACKAMAS TREATING: LOCATED IN THE GREENHOUSE SQUARE ACROSS FROM THE CLACKAMAS FRED MEYERS. Sports Injuries, Workers Comp., Auto Accidents, Nutrition and Preventive Care. STUDENT DISCOUNT 24 HOUR Page 4 ~ 657-6190 EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE strong support for voting by mail. The student government later observed five bills passed in the 50 minute session before the meeting was adjourned for the afternoon. Rep. Darlene Hooley was the last legislator the group met. Hooley’s husband John Hooley, is the College’s assis­ tant dean of social sciences. When asked whether her hus­ band’s job had any influence on her being very pro­ community college, Hooley said, “I hate to admit this but I think it does, either consciously or unconsciously.” Hooley also told the group that her activeness in com­ munity colleges started long before she was a legislator. She started when she was a high school teacher in a small town where good students would not go to college because they could not lease their homes. Hooley also commented on the state subsidy for com­ munity colleges, which amounts to 48 percent of the schools budgets. Hooley was doubtful that it would pull through. “There’s just no money,” she said. Of The Print Clackamas Community College