Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1985)
I Opinion Common Sense, key to protest By Dave Holmes Copy Editor I’m a socially conscious individual. Or, at least, I like to think so. I feel fairly well-informed as to what’s go ing on in the world and, like all good social ly conscious individuals, I try to put some action behind my beliefs. Take South Africa, for instance. I mean, personally, I would NEVER perform at Sun City. But aren’t some of today’s “socially conscious” activities hanging on the fringe of accep tability? Some can even be seen in the abyss of irrational thought and self-defeat. About two weeks ago a group of students at a local college (it’s initials are R-E-E-D) decided they had had their fill of their col lege’s “support” of apartheid. (Support, to them, apparently means any other position than developing plans to overthrow South African President Botha’s administration.) Anyway, they probably spent a good two or three solid minutes in preparation and then stormed the college president’s office, sat down, and protested the treatment of blacks in South Africa. And what was my reaction to this? I felt, and still feel, that that particular course of action was pointless. It accomplished nothing except bring an already well- publicized issue to the public’s attention. Attention in and of itself is fine, though it couid have been accomplished in a more suitable fashion, such as demonstrating “outside” the president’s office, or in front of the building, perhaps. This brings us to a Very Important Question: Where’s the line in active protest or participation between constructive and destructive activity? For those who aren’t into the protest scene, let me enumerate three things pro testers aim for: 1) To bring a problem to the public or establishment’s attention. 2) To inform the public/establishment about the problem. 3) To convince the public/establish ment to solve the problem. These aims are probably best achieved when the protesters basically keep themselves within the social norms of the people they are trying to reach. Let’s face it. While staging a take-over of the College President John Keyser’s office sounds adventurous, and perhaps even romantic, it would be self-defeating. Who is going to listen seriously to a pack of militant college kids chanting slogans and boiling hot dogs in President Keyser’s Mr. Coffee machine? More militant types? Perhaps, but the people who count won’t listen. I can hear them now...“Just a bunch of stupid kids screaming about something Feedback Letters to the Year's plans detailed Fellow Students: Fall term is moving by ex tremely fast, but at the same time it has been very en joyable. I will be writing let ters to The Print in the hopes that it will give you a little more information about your Associated Student Govern ment, information on what we’ve done and what we are currently doing. ASG has sponsored two dances this term, the “Welcome Dance” and the “Halloween Dance.” Both went off better than expected, there was a strong turn out and those who attended had a good time. ‘Alcohol Awareness Week”, which coincided with “National Alcohol Awareness Week” was a first for Clackamas Community Col- P?ge 2 lege. The week of events covered a variety of subjects and still tied in with the theme. Several students and staff members stated they had learned new information about alcohol and it’s effects. For many, the information reinforced previous thoughts. Special thanks to all who helped make ‘‘Alcohol Awareness Week” a success. At this time several clubs are being organized: Ski Club, Bowling Club, Phi Beta Lambda, Spanish Club and the International Club. Students interested in joining these clubs or forming a new club are encouraged to do so. ASG will be glad to answer questions about clubs. I want to encourage students to use our “ASG Sug gestion Boxes” located around campus. This is one way you they they can’t grasp anyway. Turn the channel, would you, Mildred?” More than likely our protesters DID have a handle on the subject, and the effort generally went to waste. The key words in productive protest would seem to be credibility and respectability. Don’t get me wrong. I am not against ac tive protest. I’ve marched to city hall more than once myself. What I don’t advocate is hasty, violent, or just plain stupid methods of protest. It’s great to be zealous about cer tain things, but pelting officers of the law with rocks or blowing up abortion clinics is not the answer. One answer that sounds appealing is something that our own ASG is doing. The idea to host a benefit dance/concert to help the earthquake relief effort in Mexico City is brilliant and should be applauded. I hope that it comes off with great success, and that means that a lot of people have to show up. Get the hint? Meanwhile, there’s still strife in South Africa, hard times for the homeless, and new resentment in what some call “the six northern counties” and others call Northern Ireland. Plenty of things for eager, and hopefully caring, individuals to protest. But don’t waste honest concern in potentially damaging action. can express your thoughts, comments or ideas and they will be looked into. Students are also welcome to personally make suggestions at the Students Activities Office. We have an “Open Door” policy to all students who have sug gestions or concerns. ASG regular business meetings are held every Thurs day in CC 101 from 12-1 p.m. This is a public meeting where all major decisions are made. All students and staff members are welcome to at tend. Tuesday, Nov. 19 the Red Cross and ASG are sponsoring a blood drive. Our goal is 80 units of blood. We have signed up donors in advance, but walk-in donors are welcome. This event is worthy of your time! I plan on giving my pint and I hope to see you there. Editor The Print gladly accepts any letters to the editor. All letters are subject to editing, and should not be libelous, obscence or false. Letters must be typed and double spaced. It must be signed by author, and accompanied by an address and phone number. Drop them by trailer B. THE PRINT aims to be a fair and impartial journalistic medium covering the campus community as thoroughly as possible. Opinions expressed in THE PRINT do not necessarily reflect those of the College administra tion, faculty, Associated Student Government or other members of THE PRINT staff. THE PRINT is a weekly publication distributed each Wednesday except for finals week. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Ave., Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Office: Trailer B; telephone 657-8400, ext. 309 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Fritz Wenzel ARTS EDITOR: Thad Kreisher SPORTS EDITOR: Julie Miller PHOTO EDITOR: Dan Wheeler COPY EDITOR: David Holmes ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kelley Stuart REPORTERS: Amy Doane, Jeff Schoessler, Darlene Durisch, Toni Madsen, Loretta Carter, Erik Conrad, Mark Empey, David Holmes Kathy Jones PHOTOGRAPHERS: Juan Callahan, George Waller, Keith Moore TYPESETTER: Jacque de Waal ADVISOR: Dana Spielmann . Clackamas Community College