Opinion
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
May 24,1989
Page 3
Maturity is students duty Words evolve for reasons
There are certain things that come with
being a college student Responsibility and
maturity both easily qualify as some of
those things. You could say it’s a college
student’s responsibility to be mature. I’m
bringing this up because last week some­
thing really incredible happened to me.
I believe it was Monday when a guy,
whom I remember from grade school, came
up to me, called me by name and insulted
me. It wasn’t a necessarily strong nor harsh
remark. I wasn’t particularly hurt by this
remark.
What I don’t understand is what pos­
sessed this person, whose name I can’t
remember, to do this? I never talked to this
person, but somehow he felt the need to
throw out an insult. I.
Then, the answer came to me. Matur­
ity. More accurately, a lack of maturity.
Wouldn’t you expect something more from
a 20 to 21-year-old?
Let’s look at the facts. I’ve never spo­
ken to him. He’s never spoken to me. I
haven’t seen him in about 8-10years. I can’t
remember his name, however, he can^ap-
parently remember mine.
Need I say more about maturity?
that they would put the vote off until next
Tuesday. How long is this really going to
take.
And now it’s time for another episode
of "As the Valdez Spills." Believe it or not,
the cleanup efforts in Alaska have come to
a (temporary?) halt.
Meanwhile, the state of Alaska is charg­
ing former Valdez Captain Joseph Hazel­
wood on three counts of second degree
criminal mischief.
The questions remain: Will we ever
see a clean Alaska coast? Will we ever see
a repaired Exxon Valdez? Will this mess
ever end?
This week’s GE Award (Genuine
Excellence) goes to Assistant Dean of the
Industrial Division Kit Youngren, who wins
the Cheers’ Norm Peterson look-a-like
contest
Words come into use in our language
for many reasons. Take the word lynch,
meaning to hang someone without proper
trial. Captain William Lynch, was a mem­
ber of a vigilance committee in Pennsylva­
nia, Virginia in 1780 when- the lawless
practice of lynching was practiced under
his auspices.
Then there was gerrymander, derived
from Elbridge Geny, Vice president of the
United States from 1813-1814, who redis­
tricted Essex County, Massachusetts, to
obtain a majority in as many districts as
possible. Gerry + salamander (the shape
of Essex County) = gerrymander.
These word-coinages have a ghoulish,
macabre connotation, evoking mob-like
insanity images such as described in “Les
Miserable” or sleazy, dirty-tricks machina-
. tions in the world of politics which seems
to spawn several examples in almost every
Administration of our fair Government.
Not one has been without such a blemish in
, the 200 years of our existence as a Repub­
lic.
In recent years, a plethora of phrases
and expressions have erupted in the wake
of events and happenings of one nature or
the other. .Many are derived from the street
crimes headlining the news. We now have
“crack-houses” and “pot-heads”, and
“mainliners.”
The word I have in mind is a positive
one. A word to use whenever an image of
The Laugh Clinic*
Joseph Patrick Lee
all the best is to be conjured. A short
succinct expression like “Have a nice day”
to put a verbal pat on the back of a friend or
even a stranger, for that matter. It costs
nothing, and the dividends pour in from all
directions.
The other day this word came to me
while I was talking to my good and dear
friend, Lila. Lila is petite, pretty, intelli­
gent, brightly intellectual, articulate. She
is wonderful to enjoy a walk with, have a
meal with, seriously discuss important is­
sues with, laugh and be joyful with. In a
word, an ideal companion.
In keeping with custom, “Lila” should
be part of the word and immediately bring
to mind all those aforementioned attrib­
utes.
So now, whenever I wish to describe,
quickly a person who measures up to my
Lila, I describe the person, event, the weather,
the day in general, and a myriad of other
phenomena as “Delilaful.” You may have
to meet my Lila to agree with my notion of
the meaning of “delilaful” but I am sure
you would agree with me.
I suggest you look among your inven­
tory of friends and acquaintances and expe­
riences, you’ll find a use for this wonderful
adjective.
It beats the hell out of “lynch” and
“gerrymander” and those other “cruddy,”
“scuzzy” “toe-jammy” words, doesn’t it?
It’s about time that the Clackamas
President’s Council voted on the campus
smoking issue. The President’s Council is a
group of administrators, including College
President John Keyser, Assistant to the
President David Dickson, and Acting Dean
DfCollege Services and Planning Gary Dir-
fim.
The smoking issue was scheduled for a
zote in the May 16 council meeting. At
yesterday’s meeting, the council decided
Student Opinions
How do you feel International Week went?
I didn’t participate due to.
classes.
- Dale Coleman
I thought International Week
went very well.
- Dena Swartort
I thought International Week
went very well. The food and ac­
tivities were great
- Kelly Rearch
Photos and quotes compiled by Jillian Porter
I really enjoyed the food and
activities, but it seemed a little
disorganized from thestandpoint
of one’s being able to attend-
conflicting with classes, etc. It’s
too bad we couldn’t just shut down
classes for a couple of hours so
everyone could attend!
- Ellissa McGarry