The Clackamas Print
Wednesday, October 16,1996
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EDITORIAL
Laney Fouse
Editor-in-Chief
Have you seen the latest Vot
ers’ Pamphlet? It’s that blue and
white, official-looking booklet la
beled “Volume 1 of 2” and titled
Measures.
The Secretary of State’s of
fice had to produce two pam
phlets due to the large number of
measures in this year’s General
Election. The second volume
should be in the mail sometime
this week. It will include a list of
the candidates and their state
ments (can’t wait). Also included
will be political party statements
(yahoo), polling places, voting in
structions and other miscella
neous voting aids. Voting aids?
All right! Maybe they’re provid
ing a cart in order for voters to
tote those two pamphlets to the
voting booth.
Okay, here’s a little history
lesson. Did you know Oregon
was one of first states (since
1903) to provide for the printing,
and distribution of this kind of
publication? That’s okay, neither
did I.
So the big question here is just
how many of you have read
through the pamphlet? Raise
your hands. That’s what I
thought. I know there are plenty
of more interesting things to do
with your time - like reading your
economics or psychology books.
Let me tell you this. Some of
these measures are going to have
a profound impact on your life,
especially Measure 47. Perhaps
not today. Please trust me when I
say that one today has an un
canny way of becoming tomor
row. And a whole bunch of
tomorrows add up to your future.
Just what does this mean to
you as a community college stu
dent? Perhaps to a few the cuts
won’t mean much. However, to
most students, it could make a dif
ference in getting a much sought
after degree.
If you’re a traditional college
student (traditional being defined
as just out of high school, still
living at home), paying less prop
erty tax might come as a relief to
your parents. But just wait until
they get their first look at the col
lege schedule with the higher tu
ition payments. Zap! That’s it.
Go get a job kid. You’ll be lucky
to get a one flipping burgers at
the local fast food chain. You’ll
be in competition with all those
high school students you
thumbed your nose at during
graduation.
As an average student, no
one’s offered you a big Ducks
scholarship. Of course, there’s
always those government loans.
You know the ones. They don’t
seem like much when you’re go
ing to school But, boy, do they
add up fast. Just wait until you
get their bill shortly after gradua
tion.
Now you’re thinking, “Gee,
maybe I should have went out for
school sports like my best friend.
Their tuition is waived because
they’re on the college team.” But
wait, your high school didn’t have
school sports. Remember your
parents voted for Measure 5.
School sports and extracurricular
activities were the first to go. But
don’t blame your folks. They
were just trying to keep their
heads above water like most work
ing-class Americans.
For students who are nontra-
ditional (nontraditional meaning
not just out of high school, mar
ried or single, with or without chil
dren), Measure 47’s impact is a
“Catch 22.” If the student is a
property owner, the lowered tax
rate may seem like a gift. But if
that same student is going to col
lege full-time, unemployed or
working part-time, the savings
seen in their property tax bill will
eventually show up as additional
costs of getting a college degree.
Where else did you think the
money’s going to come from ex
cept your wallet? It doesn’t re
ally matter whose pocket because
eventually society as a whole will
pay—either in higher tuition costs
or in the cost of building more pris
ons.
In the eight years I’ve been
an Oregon resident, I have seen a
tremendous growth in new jobs.
Most of these new jobs require a
college education. Most of these
jobs pay well, especially in the
high tech industry.
If Oregonians don’t have the
required education then who’s
going to get the best jobs? Most
likely someone from out-of-state.
Educated workers are this state’s
most valuable resource. Besides,
how many people do you know
who prefer to work for minimum
wage?
Voting is the strongest voice
we have in governing our lives.
Yes, despite what you may think
or have heard, your one little vote
does count. Don’t let someone
else make the decision for you.
And if you don’t vote, you don’t
get to whine.
Get out and “Rock the Vote!”
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Clackamas Print Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Laney Fouse (Ext. 2576)
Managing Editor: Brad Zimmerman (Ext. 2576)
Feature Editor: Karin Redston (Ext. 2578)
A&E Editor: Jon Roberts (Ext. 2309)
Sports Editor: Brendon Neal (Ext. 2578)
Copy Editor: Cindy Hines Kurfman (Ext. 2309)
Photo Editor: Joel Coreson (Ext. 2578)
Business Manager: Erin Bennett (Ext, 2578)
Staff Writers: Andrew Beck, Dan Clark, Tracy Clay,
Kim Harney, Shauna McGehee, Mairin Moore,
Christina Mueller, Joel Shempert, John Thorburn
♦ ♦♦
Secretary: JoAnne Gale (Ext. 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
advertised in The Clackamas Print are not necessarily endorsed by anyone
associated with The Clackamas Print. The Clackamas Print is a weekly
publication 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
Editorial/Opinion
«
Measure 47: Oh, sure, it
mightslook goSd on paper
Ray Overfield
. sure 5 and remember: since pas-
Staff Writer
^*^ge of 5 tuition has increased 80
“Everybody says it’s wrong percent. Passage of 47 threatens
and everybod^can’t be wrong.” td^jroduce tuition increases,
John Lee Hooker . c||ss/section closings, packed
Unless you have been in the classes, fewer instructors, reduced
dreamy grip of opium or have been services and increased competi
locked in the black recesses of a tion for financial aid.
coma, the hullabaloo that swirls
Don’t feel this is a selfish is
about you has caught your atten sue that just hurts you. Every
tion.
grade from K-12 relies on property
Measure 47—and make no mis tax money.
take about it — if passed, will have
Students are not the only
startling effects on
voice to decry Measure
every student who
47. Knowledgeable
plans to attend or
people answerable for
who currently at
the well-being of
tends Clackamas.
Oregon’s public school
Measure 47 has
system are openly con
the usual Ballot
demning this measure.
Measure boilerplate
Governor
John
but, behind all the wording, 47 aims Kitzhaber, Superintendent Jack
to do one thing: roll back property Bierwirth, Portland School Board
taxes and cap their grpwth. These Chairwoman Donna Jordan, Chan
property taxes are a healthy source cellor Joe Cox, Clackamas Presi
of funding for the college. The dent John Keyser, and the
Clackamas Board of Directors es Legislature’s revenue specialist all
timates the 97-98 fiscal impact on publicly oppose this measure as
the college to be a loss of hurtful and ill-conceived.
$2,313,947, or 29 percent reduction
Measure 47 should be called"
in revenues. Statewide, commu the Casey Jones Measure: trouble
nity colleges stand to lose ahead, trouble behind. The trouble
$24,393,585.
behind was Measure 5 derailing
What does this mean to the school funding. You don’t need
Clackamas student? It means to be a trackwalker to see Mea
Measure 47 will worsen the bur sure 47 is big trouble ahead. VOTE
densome effects started by Mea- NO ON BALLOT MEASURE 47.
NEWS BRIEFS
Phi Theta Kappa
plans fall schedule
Phi Theta Kappa will spon
sor Debate Watch tonight in the
Gregory Forum. The debate be
tween Bill Clinton and Bob Dole
will air at 6 p.m. with an open
discussion to follow. Instructor
Dean Darris will serve as mod
erator. Doors will open at 5:30
p.m.
The Phi Theta Kappa honor
society will be holding two new
member orientation informa
tional meetings this month. The
meetings are scheduled for
Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30 to
6:30 p.m in the Skylight Dining
Room and Monday, Oct 28 from
12 to 1 p.m. (Location for the Oct.
28 meeting is still being decided).
PTK will be holding its first
annual fall garage sale on Fri
day, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and Saturday, Nov. 9. from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. in the Community Cen
ter. Donations are being ac
cepted.
Contact Dave Arter at ext.
2210 for more information.
Zoo Boo looking
for volunteers
The Washington Park Zoo’s
annual “Zoo Boo” Halloween
festivities will be from Oct. 18 to
Oct. 31. The theme this year
centers around Hollywood stu
dios and “B Movie” classics.
The zoo is looking for more vol
unteer participation. Anyone
who can volunteer from 5 to
10:30 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday or 5 to 11:30 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday is urged to
contact the zoo and sign up.
People are needed to help with
the “Haunted Hive”, game
booths and security. A sign up
sheet is located in the ASG of
fice in the Community Center. Or,
you can call 226-1561, ext. 654for
more information.
University
representative
to visit campus
A representative from the
University of Montana will be on
campus Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 11
a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Community
Center Mall.
If you have questions about
transferring to the University pf
Montana or any of the programs
offered stop by and see Janet
Stugelmeyer or contact the Coun
seling Center at Ext. 2268.
Cuts and caps
continued from page 1
losses will increase to $553 mil
lion in 1999 with projected in
creases each year afterwards. <
The overall estimate of the
financial impactas based on a
few assumptions. Assessed
property values will continue to
increase. Voters will not approve
tax levies. The 1997-98 tax roll
will include new construction.
And if not approved by voters,
existing bond levies will be ex
empt from Measure 47.
Although the measure cuts
and limits the total tax on a prop
erty, it doesn’t specify how the
cuts will be apportioned to each
tax district.
In the example given by the
Legislative Revenue Office, a
property valued at $100,000 is
assessed $ 1300 in tax for 1995-
96. If that same property grows
by 15 percent to $ 115,000 this
would increase school taxes by
15 percent under the current law.
The school rate is fixed under
Measure 5. Because levies grow
slower than values, nonschool
taxes grow slower also. New
properties help pay some of this
tax. The net effect is an increase
in the total tax of $ 158 over the
two-
year period.
Under the limits for Measure
47, the 1997-98 tax would be ten
percent less than 1995-96. This
means the property would be
taxed $ 130 less than the 1995-96
tax and $288less in 1997-98.
According to a report from
the Legislative Revenue Office,
“Property tax is mostly used for
education and public safety and
is the mail local source of educa
tion and public safety.” The re
port further states it is difficult
to cut property taxes and pri ori-
tize education and public safety
without state help.
“The passage of ballot Mea
sure 47 will severely impact the
students of Clackamas. Its im
pact on students’ ability to re
ceive a decent education will be
vast,” said ASG President Mike
Caudle.
Make a difference!
The Classified and Faculty Associa
tion need help getting information out
on the impact of Measure 47one
evening this month and/or walk on
Saturday, Oct. 19 or 26 to drop vot
ing literature at district resident
homes. Please call ext. 2311 or2490
for more information and to sign up.
LPNs:
Earn a bonus, benefits
for part-time work
Join the Army Reserve as a qualified LPN and earn over
$8,000 annually in pay and education benefits — all for part-time
work. Even better, you’ll receive a $5,000 bonus and an accelerated
promotion.
Think about it Then think about us. Then call:
1-800-235-ARMY ext 321
BE ALL YOU CAN BE?
ARJMRT RESERVE