Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1995)
FEATURES The Clackamas Print Page 5 Wednesday, May 10,1995 CCC forensics gets top rating in Oregon community colleges by Brendon Neal Staff Writer The forensics club struggled this year to a first-place rating in Oregon for community colleges. Speech has been advised by Randy Baker and Amanda Feller since the winter of 1994. The club consists of only six people this term. Nate Smith is the president of the club this year. Baker says because Feller has been a volun teer assistant this school year, they have had to keep the number of students low. This is because they both feel each member needs to be able to get help when they need it, and much more than six or seven members would lessen the time available to help indi- viduals. Of the six team members, four have only been a part of the club for one term. Baker says this is because all but one of the stu dents that were a part of the club last school year graduated or transferred from Clackamas. Clackamas held a tourna ment last Friday and Saturday. It was an invitational and didn’t af fect the school standings. Frank Kessler received second place for dramatic reading, and third in novice informative speaking. Cory Glenn earned third place in novice impromptu speaking, and a second-place award for novice extemporaneous speaking. Despite the lack of experi ence, thé team got first in Oregon Eady enthralls audience by Christi Snavely Your Water” were presented in Opinion Editor prose form and based on his Cornelius Eady stood before father’s influence on the family. us in the overflowing, stuffy “It wasn’t intentional, but this boardroom of the Community really ended up being a book for Center April 26. His brilliant sons,” said Eady after the presen smile was instantly inviting and tation. warm. The poems give a clear, “I’m always pleased to con somewhat frustrated, sometimes tribute to the advancement of comical but always loving portrait your grades. I’m a college pro of his father. fessor as well, so I know all about Eady explained to the audi extra credit,” said Eady address ence that his father had died three ing the par years ago, and ticipants who the works in his were in atten book were dance due to I went over my memories of based on his fi mandatory the last year of my father’s nal year with reasons. life, and if certain moments his father, Eady is came up, something big and He told us that on tour pro lyrical, then I kept it...I lines of com moting his munication new book, wanted to see that my were not al “You Don’t father’s life had poetry in it. ways static- Miss Your free; his - Cornelius Eady Water,” which father’s “real is now avail men don’t cry” able in CCC’s book store. The generation and Eady’s need to graded and the non-graded all express emotion caused a bit of seemed to be in agreement on the tension. success of Eady’s reading. This father-son conflict is Eady began the hour with one we have all heard before. excerpts from his book, “Victims However, Eady’s poetic devices of the Latest Dance Craze,” which lend a magic to a tale that leaves was awarded the Lamont prize. the participants feeling almost un That was because most attendants comfortable after learning too of the past readings in the tour much. Eady’s ability to share his had expressed specific interest in family with us and cause such re those works. actions is what gives his work cre Eady’s relaxed personality is dence. equally evident in his poetry. His “I went over my memories of selections from “Victims...” in the last year of my father’s life, volved dancing, as the title indi and if certain moments came up, cates. Dancing in the form of free something big and lyrical, then I dom, of fun, of fear or confusion kept it...I wanted to see that my or as release. His images conjure father’s life had poetry in it,” said up real images of his characters Eady when asked what inspired in our minds. We can see Johnny his latest book about his father’s lacing up his red shoes, prepar life and death. ing to trip the light fantastic. Eady teaches and directs the At times the “dance” that Poetry Center at the State Univer Eady refers to is a metaphor of the sity of New York at Stoney Brook, more outrageous acts in our life NY. that allow us to be free, and give When he was a student, he some perspective of the world remembered extending his own around us. imagination regarding his future Eady uses song titles and lyr in many different areas. He re ics of the past to effectively give called the excitement of all the the audience (both those who re possibilities of what could hap member and those who don’t) the pen. By working with college sense of bittersweet emotion that students on a daily basis, he is able results from reminiscing. His se to encourage them to realize what lections from “You Don’t Miss they can accomplish. ---------------------- D regionals for community colleges. Feller says ranking is different for speaking circuits. This is because many schools are involved in any competition. Instead, they have a competition to decide state standings. This year it was held at Lane CC. Nationals were held in San Francisco, and who goes to nationals is mainly decided by individual coaches. This year Baker and Feller decided not to send anyone because only one person in the group had any ex perience, so it wouldn’t be worth sending one person when costs are considered. “From that (speech competi tions) are the most educational experience that is available to stu dents. “[It] not only forces them to work and learn skills, but they have to internalize it because it’s about communication,” com mented Baker about the speech experience. Photo byJosh Kehler The forensics club worked hard this year to produce a successful team. All but one of the current members will be returning to the club next year. They expect six to eight members next year. The club is now finished with competitive competition. How ever, they plan to participate in other events to sharpen their skills. Among their planned activi ties is going to high schools and doing performances to get stu dents interested in public speak ing. The club will also be meet ing informally over the summer to keep the students ready and fo cused.
