Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1996)
________________ X The Clackamas Print Wednesday, Februray X* Opinion tier to the editor - Editorial Rights and Responsibilities In regards to the events of The Quotes: the last few months, a few things In the Jan. 10, 1996 need to be made clear. At a Jan. Board Meeting John 10 faculty meeting, a quote was Garvison paraphrased made by a faculty member in ref Miss (Linda) Vogt as erence to grading a student based saying: “If anyone has a upon actions made outside of student in class, then they should be graded k class. First of all, the comment down because of com Was inappropriate, and should ments.” The actual quote was not have been made. A faculty made by a male faculty member should not say, even in member as yet un a joking manner, that a student’s named. It was: “Ya, grade should be based upon con maybe a student’s grade duct outside of class. should be based on the Secondly, a mistake was number of factual error s made by the Faculty Association in e-mail.” The comment by voting to not disclose infor was followed by laugh mation about the controversial ter. Joe Uris cautioned statement. This only served to against censorship or the restriction of free worsen the matter by fueling ru speech, on the tape after mors that the Faculty Associa hearing it. tion had “something to hide.” Although the Faculty Associa tion has claimed that they have, “no interest in punishing students for their expression of ideas,” the statement was made and then kept within the closed confines of the private faculty meeting. If they felt the issue was to be treated in a lighthearted manner, they should have treated it as such and answered inquiries in a com plete and timely manner. The initial concern about the inappropriate faculty comment was raised by a student, John Garvison, shortly after he was in formed of the action. He did have a legitimate concern and was correct in attempting to bring it to the attention of others around him. Unfortunately, the method by which he did so resulted in some additional concerns. At a Board of Education meeting, Garvison falsely accused faculty member Linda Vogt of making the original statement. The statement originally attributed to her was not the actual statement made. Currently, the person who made the controversial comment has not come forward to answer the numerous questions raised by those involved. Because of the misinformation, rumor spreading and accusations generated by this hot topic, it is somewhat under standable that the faculty member in question has not come for ward into the “mob” of students, faculty and Associated Student Government members. However, now that the statement is known, the students have a right to know what the intentions and reasons are for the initial statement. To resolve this situation, an explana tion is necessary. As we at The Print continue in our learning process of news gathering, we have observed through several experiences that it is important to be responsible for ones own actions. Because of the freedom of speech, people should be able to say what they feel needs to be said, without censorship from others. With that right, though, comes a responsibility to maintain accuracy. The Clackamas Print Staff Editor-in-Chief: Chad Patteson (Ext. 2576) Managing Editor: Amy K. Hanson (Ext. 2576) Feature Editor: Jon Roberts (Ext. 2578) Sports Editor: Jesse Sowa (Ext. 2578) Photography Editor: Josh Kehler (Ext. 2578) Copy Editor: Vicki Welch (Ext. 2578) Opinion Editor: Brendon Neal (Ext. 2309) Business Manager: Cori Kargel (Ext. 2578) Assistant Opinion Editor: Ryan Humphris (Ext. 2309) Assistant Feature Editor: Brad Zimmerman (Ext. 2309) News Editor: Pamela Sirianni (Ext. 2309) Assistant Photo Editor: Lora Wahrgren (Ext. 2309) Cartoonist: Joel Gunderson ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Staff Writers/Photographers: Eric Eatherton, Megan Eriedow, Paul Ulmen, Andrew Beck, Laney Fouse, DamonFouts, Tarato Nimz, Karin Redston, Joel Shempert Secretary: Joanne Gale (ExL 2309) Advisor : Linda Vogt (Ext. 2310) The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the student body, college administration, its faculty or The Clackamas Print's advertisers. Products and services adver tised in The Clackamas Print are not necessarily endorsed by anyone associ ated with The Clackamas Print. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publica tion distributed every Wednesday except for finals week. The advertising rate is $4.50 per column inch. All signed letters to the editor will be considered for publication and must be submitted by 1 p.m: the Friday prior'to publication. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon, 97045; Barlow 104; (503) 657-6958, ext. 2309. E-mail: cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us Student makes apologies to Vogt Editor’s Note: John Garvison re quested that this letter be printed verbatim with typographical er rors included. To the Editor: “In our system, state-operated schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School official do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students in school as well as out of school are ‘persons’ under the Constitu tion.”— Justice Abe Fortas, Tinker v. DesMoines(1969) First of all let me begin by apolo gizing to Ms. Vogt for incorrectly attributing the comments that were made to her. I applaud her for wanting to let the tape be made public, which it rightfully should be. If she did not make those com ments and she vehemently denied making them, then by her denial that proves that they were made by someone other than her. I un derstand the faculties reasons for not wanting to let these comments see the light of day, so why don’t they just cut down the full tape and just release what was said about students taking responsibil ity for their speech. I will take full responsibility for what I have said but why doesn’t the instructor who said these com ments take responsibility for what he or she said? Also in response to the slander that I have been subject too, why haven’t paid members of this col lege take responsibility for what they have said? This is not about me. The only reason that I have signed my name to everything is because ‘The Print’ suggested that I was afraid to face the people that I was questioning about wrongdoings. That could not be more far from the truth. I have been to board meetings, I have had a personal meeting with John Keyser so I do not understand where ‘The Print’ gets their information. Where were they when I was at the board meetings? Where were they when I first posed this question to them last winter term? I was not the only one who complained about situations here at the college that were done completely inappropri ately. If the paper is truly a students newspaper then maybe it should go out and ask the students who have questions and concerns about this college what their views are. I admit there are a few of you at ‘The Print’ that take the re sponsibility of being the watch dog of administration seriously. That is the job of the press, to get the true story and not the old com pany line. In response to the person who implied that I am just here to get a diploma and leave, you could not be more further from the truth. I work forty-hours a week for our illustrious state government and I also am taking a full load of credits. So I find it very hard to see where someone who is not out there like the rest of us trying to make life better for themselves being the one casting stones. If you want to preach trust and ap preciation between all of us then that is a two-way street not a one way as some at this college would leave you to believe. As for my criticisms of the col lege, last time I looked the col lege was run by public funds which everyone of us who is a tax payer contributes to. As a great instructor I once had said, “It is our duty to watch over our gov ernment diligently and make sure that our money is spent the way that we not only voted for but how he have approved of.” The board members are elected officials they work for us the taxpayers, not the other way around. If you truly believe in free speech, which a college is supposed to then what I say should not bother you. You have the right to say what you want to as does every student at this college without fear of reprisal for political,religious, or other views. Did the college forget this somewhere? Again I apologize for incorrectly attributing the comments that’ were made to Ms. Vogt. Still a concerned student and tax payer John Michael Garvison Letter to the editor Department shows appreciation Dear Editor: The Publications Com mittee of the English De partment, Tom Richards, David Mount, Diane Averill, and Kate Gray, would like to express our great respect for the pro fessionalism of Linda Vogt and Jan Anderson. We offer our highest praise for their experi ence as academics and instructors, we appreci ate their dedication and devotion to students, and we commend their integ rity. Sincerely, English Department Publications Committee Letter to the Editor: Positive feedback Two things. First, I strongly support the concept of a free and diverse press. Only in a wide open marketplace of ideas will rea son prevail. And so I encour age the recent effort by some students to create an alterna tive publication, “The Under ground.” I have two misgivings, how ever. While it takes courage to shout in opposition, it takes just the opposite to do so from behind a veil. I find it trou bling, then, that the produc ers of “The Underground” re main anonymous. Also, as the writers of “The Underground” acknowledged in their first is sue, the easiest path for the al ternative press is to tear down the established media, in this case “The Print.” Far more, difficult, but more useful, is to recognize and appreciate the benefits of both and, in the case of a student newspaper, to acknowledge the honest efforts of hardworking staff members who are simulta neously trying to learn a craft and produce an entertaining and responsible newspaper. That does not preclude the real opportunity for “The Un derground” to build aware ness of legitimate issues on campus. I just hope it doesn’t become rooted in being little more than a hidden perch from which to throw toma toes. Which brings me to the more important point, which is to applaud some recent out standing efforts by members of The Print staff. I’m think ing in particular of Pamela Sirianni’s terrific account of Edward Albee’s visit to cam pus. With two workshops, a news conference and the pub lic lecture, there was a lot to report. When the news is both voluminous and important, the temptation is to simply empty the notebook into the computer. Pamela resisted this temptation and did a great job of boiling Albee’s visit down to his essential messages. And she did so with remarkable accuracy and clarity. In fact, the Feb. 14 issue was filled with entertaining and newsy stuff. The flood Coverage, mixing liberal use of photos with stories and even cartoons, was terrific. The Valentine’s Day page was fun and well-done, especially Amy Hanson’s personal take on love. And Laney Fouse showed off some clever writ ing in “Changing Image of the Cowboy.” To The Print: Keep up the great work. To The Underground: Chal lenge the establishment, but do it with class. Dan McCue
