Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1996)
4 The Clackamas Print Wednesday, April 17,1996 A&E Public Safety officers discourage guns on campus Paul Ulmen Staff Writer Mention guns on campus and someone will shockingly ask, “Are there guns on campus?” Since most people feel uncomfort able around guns, is it a problem here? According to Chief of Public Safety Jim Wiseman, it is an oc casional problem that happens here every couple of weeks. “It’s an ongoing problem that hasn’t gotten to the point where it is serious yet.” Wiseman mentioned seven guns and five knives were taken from people last year. The guns taken were either revolvers or smaller conceal able pistols. The count doesn’t in clude 12 to 15 rifles or shotguns students bring on campus that are hanging in rifle racks in pickup -Tom cabs. Even though there are signs at both entrances to the campus strictly prohibiting firearms of any kind on campus, including bb. or pellet guns, some students are either ignoring the signs or don’t see them. People’s attitudes toward guns have changed over the last several years. “It’s our society and culture and where we are now—an ex plosion of young people into handguns. We have more guns loose with criminals than before,” says Wiseman. He feels that it isn’t just a problem in colleges and high schools, but is creeping into junior highs as well. “One of the great strengths in this country is this is a free and open society, which can also sometimes be a weakness,” Wiseman added. So why would anyone bring a firearm on campus? There are several reasons. One is conve nience. “When we find people with rifles and shotguns in rifle racks in vehicles, it’s usually someone going hunting after class,” Wiseman pointed out. Once Public Safety becomes aware of it, they deal with it right away. A Public Safety officer checks to make sure first of all, it isn’t loaded, and if it’s a rifle, that the action is left open. The officer then requests that as a courtesy to other students who may feel un easy about it, that the weapon be left at home and not returned to campus. Even though all Public Safety officers are commissioned as The walker apparently was a gun broker and had a license to carry a concealed weapon. He not only had one concealed pistol but three: a . 38, a 9mm and a .45 automatic. He said he didn’t feel com fortable without them. Officer Steigleder told him he didn’t feel comfortable having him armed and on campus, then asked him to leave and not bring the weap ons back. Even though signs at both en trances to the college say no skate boarding, drugs, alcohol or fire arms, Steigleder feels “no fire arms” should be at the top of the sign and in larger letters. Even students may feel a need to be protected from other stu dents whom they fear, and might carry a small conceal able pistol. Steigleder, Public Safety Officer Some automatic pistols are small enough to con Deputy Sheriffs and have the ceal in a bookbag or stuffed into power and authority to make an a waistband with a sweater or arrest, most students, once con coat pulled over it. Or it could be carried in a fronted, cooperate. “Our main purpose is to gain fanny pack with a specially-de voluntary compliance to any prob signed holster in it. “These (fanny lem that could be a challenge to packs) are mainly designed for public peace and harmony,” com law enforcement, but are also for general sale,” Wiseman said. mented Wiseman. “I have yet to find anyone Women can conceal them in their who won’t cooperate With us,” purse if they feel vulnerable with said Public Safety Officer Tom the increase in crime. Instructors could possibly carry one because Steigleder. “They forget it only takes a of fear of rowdy students. “They can whip it open (the second to smash a window and take it,” said Wiseman. Plus, any fanny pack) having a dispute with stolen weapon stands a good someone to scare them cause they chance of ending up in the hands are bigger than you are. So you crack off a round and hit some of criminals. Another reason someone one who is just standing around,” may want to carry a firearm is said Wiseman. It may be brought to the at they feel a need to be protected. Steigleder, who has been with tention of Public Safety as another Public Safety for two and a half student or staff member may see years, tells how he stopped a male it (the pistol) as their coat or walker on the campus foot paths sweater rises up, exposing it, or the bulge may be obvious. One around 9 a.m. on a weekend. “They forget it only takes a second to smash a window and take it [the gun]. Plus, any stolen weapon stands a good chance of ending up in the hands of criminals.” JITTER’S 1 Espresso, Italian Sottas, anit More!! Regular Hours g Aion, thru Fri» ~ 7s 30 <&om.o io 1 pom.a Encore Hours g .Mon, Aru TKurSo ~ 4fs30 poim.o to 9s30 pom.a “99 When You Dine!!” 44 oz. pop for $.99 with the purchase of a sandwich or entree at the CCC Cafeteria. Limited time only!! Don’t miss Mocha Mondays: All 8oz. mochas are $1.25, ^^2oz^mo^s_are $1.50, and^46oz^mvcha^cnr$1.75^J student may brag about it to an other student or someone may see it in a locker room as the student changes clothes. Once Public Safety is made aware of the con cealed weapon, it is immediately confiscated. Wiseman also pointed out that the confiscated weapon may have been used in a crime. In this case, the person is arrested and the weapon turned over to Multnomah County Sheriffs’ Of fice as evidence. A third reason is age. It’s not just young people who decide to carry them. “(We have) had people in their 50’s and 60’s with it [a gun] in their possession. Older people can be afraid of younger people and the way they dress, their cul ture and the way they talk. When you don’t understand something, you’re afraid of it,” mentioned Wiseman. A fourth reason is that some one may have committed a crime in the area, and could possibly be hiding in the woods on cam pus. Steigleder tells how a reserve deputy from the Oregon City Po lice Department had his home broken into and his uniform, deputy belt and a .357 stolen. Later, the Oregon City Police ran into the robbers at the Berryhill Shopping Center, but let them go before they knew they had been involved in the burglary. Public Safety then got a tip the robbers may have been living in the woods on campus. Steigleder and Bob Black searched ELC and found a door to the Art Center open. They searched the building room-by- room and the surrounding area. “That’s one spooky place to be at night, in the garden area...it took about two hours. Bad thing was they could see you before you saw them,” said Steigleder. No one was found.________________ CLUB CALENDAR Help Everyone’s Environ ment Live (HEEL), the new envi ronmental club, now meets every Weds., from 11 to 11:50 a.m., in P124. For more information, call ext. 2247. This week only: HEEL members meet in P102, Chrysalis Come CEL EBRATE women writing! Join other women writers every Wednes day at 12 p.m. in Bl 14. No matter how you write, you are ready to read. ?’s, call Kate Gray at ext. 2371. CCC Environmental Com mittee meetings are every Weds., from 11 to 11:30 a.m., in P102. Everyone is invited to participate in focus groups: Helping the ELC, Bottle Bill Expansion, Recycling on Campus, AmeriCorp Projects and Environmental Week. For more in formation, call Ken Eshelman at ext. 2245. The FCA Retreat is coming! The retreat will include softball, ten nis and a barbecue. Cost is $5. The retreat will be April 27th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For "more info, call Kathy Woods ext.2418. Phi Theta Kappa exec meet ings 12 noon, M204, Tuesdays, 4/. 16, 4/23?, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21,5/ 28. ?’s, call Kate Gray ext. 2371 or Rosemary at 257-7765. All PTK members welcome. G AL AB: Treat yourself to a support- group for Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals. Meetings are Thurs days at 4 p.m. at Starbuck’s in the Oregon City Fred Meyer’s ; and Fri- : days, 12 p.m. in P104. ?’s call ext 2371. All interested writers, poets, playwrights, readers Come to Bl 13, each Tue. from 12:30 - 1:30. We will also have off-campus meet ings from 5:15 to 7 p.m. each Fri in the old Oregon City library between 6th and 7th St. in Oregon City. We go to readings, plays & literary events in Portland. Bring your work or yourself and join us in a support ive relaxed environment. Allen Widerburg, ext. 2359. Friends of Trees is having their last planting of the year and they need you to help! The planting is from Sunday, Apr. 21, from 12 to 4 p.m. To sign up, please contact Brinda Feam, Student Activities of fice (CC140), or call ext. 2247 by Friday, 4/19. Signature Canvassers Wanted co help place important issues on the November ballot • Protect victims1 rights • Improve quality of health care Non-profit organization pays per signature plus bonuses Call toll free 1-800-566-9583 LOSE 20 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS! Famous U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team Diet During the non-snow off season the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team members used the ‘Ski Team" diet to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. That's right - 20 pounds in 14 days! The basis of the diet is chemical food action and was devised by a famous Colorado physician especially for the U.S. Ski Team. Normal energy is maintained (very important!) while reducing. You keep "full" - no starvation - because the diet is designed that way. It’s a diet that is easy to follow whether you work, travel or stay at home. 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