FEATURE
October 17; 1990
THE CLACKAMAS
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Page 3
Hicks gathers memories in college archives
Photo by Darby Perori*
Karen Hicks, former Clackamas librarian, has been the campus
archivist since 1975.
by Nolan Kidwell
Staff writer
Adam sits with his face bur
ied in his hands. “What am I going
to do?” he cries out in anguish.
His term paper on the history of
CCC is to be completed promptly
at noon tomorrow, and he has not
even begun jotting down simple
notes. Then a ray of hope hits him;
he raises his head. He races for the
library to gather statistics and
information. However, he finds
very little there. Adam is doomed
to failure.
Karen Hicks, the school archi
vist, could have helped him.
Hicks, 49, started as the col
lege’s first librarian in 1967.
However, in 1975, she decided to
give up the position for her chil
dren. Doctor Hakanson, former
president of CCC, offered her a
position as the campus archivist.
Hicks accepted the position,
and now works one day a week
collecting records, items, photos,
and other things of historical
value to the college.
“I’m kind of a history buff,”
said Hicks.
Some of the more unique
memorabilia that she has reaped
include: A 4x4 inch aerial shot of
the college in its very early stages;
Microfilm of all of the board
minutes; and tapes of all of the
board meetings which concerned
the elimination of the CCC foot
ball program. She collects some
of everything.
“You can’t imagine what
kind of interesting little tidbits
that I find,” exclaimed Hicks. She
goes through all of the depart
ment office records and finds
documents and files that are no
longer needed but possess his
torical significance.
She related the story of an
alumni football player, who had
gone on to graduate from a state
university, and came to her look
ing for a picture of his old team.
Hicks was able to go back and find
thè old negative for him.
Included in the collection of
data which she continues to
gather are copies of almost every
issue of the school’s newspaper
back to when it first started.
Hicks is married and has two
children. One of her kids is start
ing his senior year in high school,
and the other is entering the sixth
grade. Hicks also works part-time
as a librarian at Carus elementary
school.
She also taught as a librarian at
all levels of education, from kin
dergarten to college. She even
brought a slide show from the
college archives on the history of
Clackamas County to show to a
group of fourth graders at Carus.
“I did teach English briefly,”
Hicks added to her list of creden
tials.
However, along with her lim
ited availability, her office is also
difficult to find. As she said, “You
have to know how to get there.”
She is currently located in the
telephone switch room. She is
glad to announce that she has
been promised a spot in the new
library when it is completed.
Hicks is available on Tues
days for students who seek infor
mation about the college.
"Hunter11 leaves viewer disappointed
Research works.
American Heart
Association^^
by Nolan Kidwell
Staff Writer
“You are by far the ugliest
bitch I have ever seen,” was one of
the many dramatic lines used by
Clint Eastwood, as director John
Wilson, in his latest movie
“White Hunter, Black Heart”
In fact, this movie was filled
with moving racial controversy,
action, incredible acting and even
a good story line. Still, it was seri
ously lacking in one point
1 was completely disap
pointed in the ending. I felt
cheated and angry. There was a
note of poetic justice some where
in the spot where the movie was
left hanging, but I wanted a little
bit more than mild irony.
The entire plot was summed
up perfectly in its opening lines
which were quoted from Pete
Verill. “John Wilson-a violent
man, given to violent action.
. Some ascribed his wild and troub
led life to his personal mania for
self destruction. These generali
zations always seem in accurate to
me. That’s why I had to write all
this about John—a brilliant,
screw-you-all-type filmmaker
who continually violated all the
unwritten- mws or motion picture
business, yet had the magic, al
most divine ability to always land
on his feet.”
The story itself took place
deep in Africa at the location of
yet another movie, “The African
Queen.” Nd one ever came out
and said which movie they were
on location to create, but the
clues were very obvious, from the
ride down the Congo in a boat
identical to the “African Queen,”
to the appearance of Hepburn
and Bogart under different
names.
However, there is little focus
on the movie they are making.
The heart of the movie is domi
nated by Wilson’s mania to shoot
an elephant. He becomes so
caught up in the shooting of an
elephant, that he soon gives very
Photo courtwy of Warner Brothers
Clint Eastwood Is director John Wilson, posing in front of a bull
elephant in "White Hunter, Black Heart, a Malpaso/Rastar
production for Warner Bros, release.
little notice to his real purpose in
Africa. If not for his close friend
Pete Verill, and his hated produc
ers, he may have given the film up
completely.
This film is a “must see” for
those who enjoy dramatic action.
Ifyouare looking foramovie with
a happy ending, consider Fanta
sia.
Those who are ready for a
typical Eastwood “shoot em’ up”
film should be warned that he is
not “Dirty Harry” in this story.
Unlike his usual films, Eastwood
portrays a “who cares” character.
He $hows perfectly that Wilson
felt he was “God." This is also
even stated numerous times
throughout the feature.
The effects and cinematogra
phy also rivaled the outstanding
acting. Visual effects took no
back seat to the emotional plot
Watch for scenes with brilliant
African sunsets; you won’t be dis
appointed.
As Wilson pointed out, “It is
not only wrong to shoot an ele
phant, it is a sin.”