Candidates express views for ASG elections
By Shelley Ball
Of The Print
Associated Student Government
candidates John Sagoe, Don Porter
and Tim Sytsma squared off in the
political boxing ring April 14. Three
editors of The Print asked the can
didates questions while being taped for
Clackamas Community College’s Stu-,,
dent Information Network (SIN).
Print Editor In Chief J. Dana
Haynes, News Editor Doug Vaughan
and Rick Obritschkewitsch (former
editor in chief of The Print) asked the
office-seekers a total of nine questions,
which they answered in an impromptu
manner.
The tape was designed for College
students to view, and was shown on
campus Friday. Current ASG President
Paul Nastari introduced the candidates
and reporters, after which the nominees
made their opening statements.
Vice presidential candidate Tim
Sytsma spoke first by saying he could
bring much experience to the ASG. He
cited his knowledge as a first-year
criminal justice student and his involve
ment with the College’s Marketing Task
Force. “I consider myself a ‘people’ per
son; I enjoy working with people,”
Sytsma said.
Goals for Sytsma include suppor
ting the president (Porter is his running
mate) and “see that the bookstore is
looked into.”
Porter’s goal for ASG president is
to “provide a service to the students.”
Having served as ASG president in
1979-80, Porter said he would like to
“relive that experience. That had to
have been the most positive year of my
life,” he said.
“The students here are the most
powerful force. Together we could get a
lot accomplished,” Porter added.
Presidential candidate Sagoe, who
has been involved in ASG’s activities
this year as a senator, said “I would real
ly like to see these things improved.”
Sagoe’s running mate, vice presidential
candidate Linda Cox was not able to
participate due to illness. Sagoe
answered questions for both of them.
He said he would not make any
promises at this time, but Sagoe assures
all students that “If Linda (Cox) and I
are elected we will do the best to serve
you.”
Page 4
The first question, directed toward
Porter and Sagoe, dealt with whether or
not the bookstore needs improving, and
if so what solutions would be employed.
Porter said “the bookstore is currently
violating students’ rights,” through over
pricing.
Although he s.aid he might not be
able to change the prices, Porter said he
would like to form a committee to look
into the bookstore . He also said he had
a student book rental program on the
drawing board.
“I’ve heard the 99 ways that it won’t
work; but I’m only concerned with the
one way it will work-and that’s my
way,” Porter said.
“I’m sure we would like to see
books sold at a dollar apiece,” Sagoe
answered. “But we should consider the
consequences—they (the bookstore per
sonnel) are running a business,” he ad
ded.
Sagoe also said that students do
have an alternative to the bookstore
through the book exchange program,
which he thinks is “a tremendous pro
gram.” Sagoe explained how he was
able to buy a bopk he needed for $4
through the exchange program, as op
posed to the $12 he would have had to
pay for the same book, used, at the
bookstore.
“I see that (book exchange pro
gram) as a good thing, and Linda (Cox)
and I plan to keep it going. It’s a good
way to fight back at the bookstore and
its prices,” Sagoe said.
The second question, also directed
toward Sagoe and Porter, asked how
they would keep the lines of com
munication open between the students
and the ASG. Porter said he would “try
to figure out ways to communicate with
students” through the Today bulletin,
The Print and SIN.
Porter proposed better utilization of
SIN in order to “do away with posters”
and other types of “low grade publicity
on campus.” He also proposed pur
chasing a small reader board for the
Community Center, and asking The
Print to donate space in the paper for
the ASG to report what is going on at
the College.
Sagoe said he and Cox plan to
donate their lunch hour every other
week by being available in the Com-
Both ASG presidential candidates
John Sagoe and Don Porter (lower
prior to the Lip Sync Contest.
Photos by Duane Hiersche
munity Center Mall to talk to students.
Sending out a newsletter from the ex
ecutive office of the ASG, encouraging
students to use the suggestion box and
“activating” the grievance committee to
better look into student’s problems were
other methods Sagoe mentioned.
Question three asked Sytsma if the
ASG adds to the education of students,
to which he said “I think the ASG, if
properly run, does add to the students.
A lot can be done through utilization of
the ASG.”
Sytsma added, “You’ll always
have to deal with apathy—for those you
can only try.”
Sytsma was also asked to explain
why he should be elected. Sytsma
restated his experience, and said “I’m
capable and experienced enough to
handle the job well. I stand on my
record.”
Since Cox was absent, Sagoe
answered for her by saying “As a
mother of three, she is a potential
leader.” Sagoe also described Cox as
“the backbone behind the Spanish
club,” of which she is currently presi
dent.
What vice president nominees see
as the function of the ASG marked the
fifth question. Sytsma said “The func
tion is outlined in the constitution—to
support and represent the students.” He
also stressed the importance of students
voting in the elections. “If this discussion
has any bearing, it’s to (get the students
to) vote,” he said.
Presidential candidates answered
question six, which concerned their dif
fering viewpoints on the type of rela
tionship the ASG and The Print should
have with each other.
During the time Porter served on
the ASG, there was great tension bet
ween it and The Print. Today Porter
says The Print is doing its job, but he
also said “I don’t expect to have too
many friends at The Print. I’m a doer,
not a sayer.”
Sagoe, who has written for The
Print, said “The media is a tremendous
tool we have on campus; I wish we
would have more students read the
paper.”
Sagoe said he thought the ASG
and The Print should each be an in
dependent body, but that the ASG
should also be open to criticism from
The Print. “The two should not have
any conflicts,” he said.
Presidential nominees also
answered question seven, which asked
if the current ASG fits the needs of
students. Porter said, “I don’t feel their
needs are being covered.” He also said
he didn’t know how the students felt,
however, because of the lack of student
involvement.
Sagoe said “I think the ASG has
done a tremendous job this year, but
there is room for improvement.
Somewhere along the line the message
(between ASG and students) is not get
ting across.” He proposed more ac
tivities and student polls in. order to find
out what they want.
Question eight asked Sytsma if he
could work with Sagoe, who is not his
running mate. Sytsma said that he did
not know Sagoe very well, but what he
had heard about him was “honorable.”
“At this point I can’t say—only time will
tell,” he answered.
The ninth and final question was
given to the presidential candidates,
which asked them to state if they
thought the current ASG’s decision to
remain neutral on national politics, such
as the nuclear war issue, was an ap
propriate one. Sagoe said the ASG’s
first priority is to serve the students.
“What help is it (taking a stand) going to
be to the students? It’s not a pressing
need,” he stated.
Porter agreed with Sagoe. “The
ASG has no business getting involved in
national situations,” he said. Porter ex
plained that his previous administration
did support the issue of the hostages in
Iran, but he felt the ASG should stay out
of national politics.
“I feel it’s important that the stu
dent body here comes first over national
issues,” Porter added.
Reader’s Note: Due to audio pro
blems a retaping was required. Some of
the quotes or information above may
not be found on the final tape, as they
were recorded during the first taping.
Clackamas Community College