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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