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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1998)
TI h E ClAckAMAS P rînt Opinion Letters to the Self-love: the heart of conflict editor address important issues JOEL P. SHEMPERT Feature Editor Dear Christina Mueller & Brad Zimmerman: While reading The Clackamas Print published Wednes day January 21,1998,1 came across the article titled “DC trip just part of Boenisch’s busy schedule." I was hurt when the article classified the Associated Student Government of Clackamas Community College as Jacob Boenisch’s Group. We are not his “group.” We are the Associated Student Government of Clackamas Community College. Point said. We all work together as a team and strive for a continu ous team effort in all we do. I understand Boenisch has taken a lot under his wing, but he does have help from the other team players. One person cannot be credited for what approximately 20 other individuals have helped make hap pen. Sincerely, Cindy Kraxberger Assistant to the Chief of Staff Associated Student Government Clackamas Community College Dear Editor- I am writing in question of what is the priorities of run ning and printing this newspaper? What I mean is this: In the Jan. 28th edition, there were two articles that caught my attention most significally . The first being the issue of an increase in tuition for the next school year starting in the ’98 summer term. And the other being the centerfold where a portion of the student body is questioned upon the relavence and concern for the Clinton/Lewinsky sex scan dal. Now, as a student I am personally more concerned with the increase of tuition being set in place in a few months, not the whole sex scandal allegations and what not. Yet it seems that this paper has different views in this matter. Why is it that the tuition article only received 1/3 of a page when the sex scandal received a full center page layout. Has the national media and popular hype over run the importance and significance in raising our tuition? As a student who values her education and understands money is vital for continuing any education, I believe the tuition increase story should have received a full page layout, not something which has not direct correlation to the student body on campus. I am questioning the focus of this paper! Is it on direct student issues, or the things the media continues to broad cast as important to America and Americans. I believe that the tuition increase is going to affect stu dents much more than the present knowledge of this scan dal. Have the students become a back burner of the center page when a much more known issue is hampering at the national media. My suggestion to the print staff is to focus on what is really going to affect students in terms of their finances and education, not just the popular opinion. For what do we really learn by reading and listening to popular opinion when there are only a few facts behind the issue. In the future, please pay more attention to student issues in the centerfold, than continuing the propaganda the mass media portrays as important to the American people. Signed with question and disgust: Emily Main, not Martin! 1 “How can you sit there and let him say that to you? I re spect you, Joel; I would never say that to you. Do you mean to tell me that you have less respect for yourself than I do?” I have been involved in a tense and volatile situation in a class of mine for the last few weeks, and a rude remark di rected at me had sparked the ire of the classmate before me. Concurrent with my college cri sis, I’ve also been having problems at my job. Our new manager, though cheerful and courteous in person, seems to have businessqf singled me out as a problem case to be dis ciplined and possibly terminated, two sticking up years ’ experience and versatile job skills for myself is notwithstanding. She has created an at nothing mosphere in which I no longer feel com more than fortable working. sen I mention these two difficulties because experiencing them simultaneously interest—a has prompted me to ponder conflict, and polite term how to resolve it, in everyday life. for that I must confess that my track good old record in this area has not been good. My fashioned temper can flare in a heartbeat and bitter feelings can smolder a long time. My fam vice called ily could readily verify my inability to fol selfishness. low the Biblical injunction: “be at peace with all men.” Joel P. Now, in the cases mentioned Shempert above, the basic issue would seem to boil Feature down to “standing up for my rights.” Af Editor ter all, what right had my comrade to ad dress me so rudely, over a simple mistake? And what right has my manager, who’s hardly even worked with me, to judge me so unfairly? But just what are my “rights?”^The right to be liked by everyone? The right to a reasonable boss? The right to a sunny day? It seems that either my rights are a bit harder to pin down than I originally assumed, or else the rights of any one that has ever lived have been seriously compromised. Conventional wisdom maintains that I have a “right to hap piness,” and the Founding Fathers of this country at least ac- knowledged my right to its pursuit. It follows, then, that I must do whatever I believe will bring me satisfaction, and that includes standing up for my rights. But dare I? Conventional wisdom chimes in again, ask ing, if I don’t stick up for myself, who will? I have a num ber of friends who do stand up for me, in instances when I would be unlikely to say anything for myself. I hope that I would do the same for them. And I wonder what would happen if we were all to start minding our own interests instead. “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” asks the disciple James. “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” This business of sticking up for myself is nothing more than self-interest—a polite term for that good old fashioned vice called selfishness. Looking out for my happiness sooner or later deprives others of theirs, whereas tending to the good of those around me is reciprocal. That is, in a populace where each man looks to his brother’s welfare, the good of all is upheld, but when each looks to himself, some must necessarily be trampled. The psalmist David warns, “In your anger do not sin.” It is a fact of life that you will encounter those who irritate, exasperate, and even infuriate you. You can’t avoid this; you can only control how you deal with these people. The selfish course is the destructive one; it seeks a reso lution favorable to its own desires, and someone will likely get hurt. Jesus Christ presents a far more challenging alternative: “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic., let him have your cloak as Well.” This is a hard saying, but there is beauty in the truth that an ounce of giving love will achieve far more than buckets of selfish hate. And love is precisely what is on Christ’s mind. “I tell you, love your enemies,” He continues, “and pray for those who persecute you.. .if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” The true test of our character comes in our treatment of those who mistreat us. This is precisely, why I cannot, if I am to call my self Chris tian, stand up for my “rights.” I serve a Man who in all ways set his own rights aside out of love. Can I do any less? I issue this challenge to myself and those who would hear: selfish ness must be deposed so that love might reign in its stead. There will always be those who look out for “number one.” But I show you a more excellent way. Connections: stronger than ever CHRISTINA MUELLER Co-Editor-in-Chief Women have been struggling for centuries to achieve equality in our society. Now that they have begun to over come that barrier, the world has much to offer them. The problems may seem to have been resolved but there are still a few who believe that women can benefit from sup porting each other. Groups such as "Connections: Women Creating Community" help women build their confidence in life by allowing them to share their past experiences with each other, as well as creating new ones. "Connections," formerly Focus on Women, started at Clackamas in the 1970s. “The 70s were a time when W/w Jlai Sts /Uhmttia^tS women were starting to organize classes All Staff & Full-Time Students are Eligible to Join. and events, just for women, as a way of supporting each other,” explained Linda Dividend Bearing ^Checking; No Vogt, Connections coordinator for the Minimum Balance, Monthly Ftee or Pier 96-97 and 97-98 school years. Check Charge, i^&MjQheck Card. Vogt has been involved in the program since she was hired as a jour Free Notary, Free Travelers Checks & nalism instructor in 1987. In her 11 Free 24-hour PC & Telephone Access years she has seen the program evolve OF from a support group to a 90s collec Money Markets, Certificates, IRAs, tion of workshops and retreats. VISA’S, LoansfeLin^'bf Credit. "It isn’t so much about having a strong feminist presence or creating Oregon City Milwaukie women’s support groups like it was in . 270 WarnorMUne Rd. 4400 SE International Way the seventies. Really, it’s just what the Oregon City, OR 97045 Milwaukie, OR 97222 title says: it’s community, creating op 656-0671 Join Today 653-7788 portunities for women to come together, __ either to learn something or experience Clackamas Federal Credit Union ’ ■ > ; y - something, or do something they wouldn’t do otherwise,” Vogt explained. The group has done things from taking trips to Europe to hiking, rock climbing and camping. "Some of these activities have been around for almost 10 years,” Vogt said. This year the program has a new name, a new logo and a whole new series of workshops. The Women’s Weekend Retreat will not happen this year for the first time in eight years. Vogt said, "The enrollments been low and there's a need for something different." Another event in transition is the European tour. Three past trips were quite successful, with a full group of 49 traveling. This year the event will still happen, but rather than planning their own tours the group of 10 will have to connect with other tourists to see the sites. There are still openings for this summer’s trip to Italy and the Greek Is lands. Recently retired counseling department chair Bernie Nolan is coordinating the trip. There are a wide variety of new things that the group is putting on to replace the activities that fall out through the years. Such as the series of "I Can” workshops taught by women instructors where women will learn things such as how to change their cars oil, do basic plumbing work, and operate a chainsaw. "It will be 10 or 12 women and we’ll all come together and it will be like, 'Okay we’re all scared of the chainsaw but we’re going to do this,'” Vogt said. Activities in the works include a Portland Power game. No matter what kinds of workshops or activities come and go, one thing holds true: the mission of Connections is to provide activities and experiences for women in a sup portive environment. "We all believe in that, and we know there’s value in it, so we keep doing it," Vogt concluded. Wednesday, February 11, 1998 ’ f
