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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1997)
7 Feature T he CI ac I< amas P rint Tufts to retire after 27 years of teaching JUSTIN BLACKLEDGE Staff'Writer Dr. Marlene Tufts will soon retire from Clackamas after 27 years as an instructor of psychology. Dr. Tufts’ focus has always been the functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Along with this, she said she also finds the methods and philosophy of science to be par ticularly enthrallihg. First educated at Sacramento State College, she attained a Mas ters degree in the Social Sciences. She finished her doctoral work while at Clackamas in 1986, and was awarded her Doctorate in physiologi cal psychology through the Univer sity of Hawaii at Manoa. “If you apply the principles of sci ence to your life it helps you under stand things and make decisions,” said Dr. Tufts. She feels psychology has been a very good major. It offers a firm foundation for many important issues and questions concerning the nature of human beings. In this field, study of the brain is paramount, and a psychologist who doesn’t under stand its functioning is in trouble. “Psychology is enriched if you un derstand all the underlying sciences: biology, physics, chemistry... these are all interconnected,” Tufts said. She believes that study of behav ior and cognition provides a way to establish a set of values. Originally interested in political science and student as well,” Tufts said. Over the time she has been at English, she chose psychology be cause it is an open-minded area that Clackamas, Dr. Tufts has worked to be a good teacher who keeps up with also respects evidence. Tufts has also taught human sexu change. “There is hardly anything ality for several years. She com that I, teach now that I present the mented that the values people hold way I used to,” she said. Dr. Tufts said she has enjoyed the regarding sexual conduct have changed dramatically in the last few friendly atmosphere at the college and looks upon her work as not be decades. “The sexual revolution is definitely ing simply a job. She also has ad over,” Tufts commented. She has vice for how to be a successful stu taught that sex should be ap dent. “You have to test your beliefsX proached playfully rather than as a means to prove something to your Look for disconfirming evidence. Reject wishful fulfillment. Change partner. “It’s a course that attendance is your beliefs if the evidence shows high in,” Tufts remarked with a smile. you are wrong,” Tufts said. She believes that no one should ' She is very pleased that the adminis tration of Clackamas has never in feel embarrassed about asking what terfered in the way she teaches her could be considered a ‘dumb’ ques tion. classes. Dr. Tufts said she will probably Dr. Tufts has seen some radical Changes in the field of psychiatry continue to teach part-time during and the social climate in America certain seasons. She looks forward over the years she has been teach to bird watching in the spring, and ing. She commented on the challenge enjoys gardening as well. As far as retirement plans, she will in keeping aware of the constant ad vances in her study. When she be soon explore the Amazon and all its gan teaching in Clairmont Hall, she beauty. Her goal will remain to chal found many of her students were lenge her mind, after having worked veterans from the recent war in Viet as a professor. “I feel I’ve been very lucky to have nam. Over time, Dr, Tufts feels she taught at Clackamas, and have loved has learned to be less formal. “The younger generation, despite being a part of the college,” Tufts changes in appearance, are basically said. "I've felt like I've been part of a big all likable people. Being a teacher, es pecially at this level, keeps you a family." PHOTOGRAPHER / Clackamas Print Marlene Tufts comes to the end other long tenure as a psychology instructor. She has witness much change in America in her 27-year stay. She will continue to teach part time, but will now have more time for bird watching and gardening. Her colleague John Orrelle, at right, is also retiring, but chose not to be interviewed. Richards closes the book on 28 years at Clackamas JUSTIN BLACKLEDGE Staff Writer Thomas Richards, head of the En glish department and instructor at Clackamas since 1969, is retiring. The primary focus of Richards’ study is English literature and lan guage. He had initially pursued a career in law, yet found it too confin ing. “I like the breadth of thought in English. It offers an opportunity to be expansive,” he said. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Portland. He later transferred to Loyola University in Boston to acquire his master’s. He began teaching at the junior college level soop thereafter. Richards served as co-chairman with Vince Fitzgerald of the faculty advisors when that group was be gun 13 years ago. He has been re sponsible for construction of the En- glish department’s schedules, bud PHOTOGRAPHER I Clackamas Print Department Chair Tom Richards has given his all to make English at Clackamas a special experience. gets, and human affairs. It has been Richards job to find committed staff and see to it that all the staff in his department are treated equitably. He has found it difficult in the past to find enough classes to give to all the qualified people who approach him. Other concerns have been adequate classroom space, and keeping on top of technology. “The technology is only as good as the people who use it,” Richardi remarked, adding that he feels Clackamas has provided excellent access to the tools of tomorrow. “There is a faculty autonomy that allows us to have a say in the activi ties of this institution,” Richards said. Richards feels very fortunate to have been a part of Clackamas. He stated the main strengths of our col lege as being its attention to support, respect, and involvement. Further more, he described himself as fortu nate to have been involved with an open administration for the last 12 years that conducts itself with respect rather than suspicion. “English is adaptable and diverse. It’s not too proud to borrow words,” said Richards of the lure of the lan guage. Some of his favored authors include Kurt Vonnegut, Steven Ambrose, and Clackamas’ own Craig Lesley. Lesley stressed the fact that be tween the part time and full time in structors, Clackamas sports one of the finest English departments to be found anywhere. A glance at the ac creditation report would show that Clackamas is a “model community college.” When asked about what is impor tant for all students to remember, Richards said, “You don’t get some thing for nothing. Education is a mat ter of hard work and effort. You are basically going to get out what you put in.” As Richards dealt with his own hard work, he said that sharing an office with Mike Kepler has led to many amusing situations. “He has really helped put things in theft proper perspective over the years.” Richards expressed a concern re garding the lack of student interest in the written word. He cites the di versions such as television and video games as possible causes for the loss of respect for the language. “When students here are exposed to the richness of the language, sometimes unfortunately for the first time in their lives, I find that very re warding.” He pointed out that oppor tunities are readily available for stu dents to succeed if they are able to balance the social issues in their lives appropriately. In retirement, Richards looks for ward to traveling Europe with his wife. Having visited England and Ireland three years ago, he plans to return and add Italy to the journey. He smiled as he remarked how refreshing it will be to read for relaxation, rather than ana lyzing the text as an English teacher becomes accustomed to. Over his years of teaching he has found that “being in touch with stu dents on a day to day basis keeps your mind young. You are always being challenged.” After being part of the college for so long, he will find it odd not to be faculty. He has not stopped being in volved in the college, however. Richards still plans to be on the Foundation Board. Tom Richards • 28 years at Clackamas. • Head of English Department • Masters in English from , Loyola Univer sity •Looks forward to traveling in Europe. r • Plans fo be on Clackamas' Foundation Board Wednesday, November ,19. 1997
