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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1999)
2 pinion Wednesday, May 19, 1999 ASG Constitution should be changed to promote democracy TI he ClAckAMAS P rìnt L ike - QOT POJbJibJúr A CEffìET&ftf. fi LOT OF PBOPL^ fltdb hJoBoby's LiSr&JirJÇ * Wrntojr A Eewwír HEAP-T- uJe CfiftJOT YëcL. A little-known clause in the Constitution of the Associated Students of Clackamas Community College reared its ugly head this week. Many students didn’t realize that, during the Associ ated Student Government elections, it was not possible to con test the results of the election. The clause in the con- I— d ¡TO D ¡ A I stitution reads, “An elec- L_ U I I O lx I A L tions committee shall be HEAR- o r v J b cMhbr ßaover) (OlFff established to conduct a hearing upon submission of a written complaint... [A] challenge of the voting process must be filed prior to the beginning of the tallying process” (Section IX - Elections Challenge Process). In other words, a written challenge to the election must be submitted to the ASG before the ballot is counted. Originally, this was to keep people from contesting the elec tion simply because they disliked the results. Currently, though, the ASG counts the votes immediately after the polls have closed, so there is no opportunity to contest the election. This year, the ASG advertised that the elections would run until 8 p.m. so that night students could vote. On Tuesday, the ASG closed the ballot boxes early; around 6 p.m. “We’d been open for about 45 minutes prior to closing down on Tuesday; only two or three people came up to vote,” said Let me preface this by saying transcript was Friday, May 7. midterm, I should be allowed to ASG Vice President Bryan Fuentez. that I don’t have any problems My instructor handed midterm drop the class without repercus Unfortunately, several night students claimed that they came with the grades I get. I deserve grades back on Monday, May 10. sions, and take, the class at a later down to vote during a break in their class. They each stated whatever I’ve worked for and re Oops. date. whom they would have voted for, and they were angry that they ceived. Most of the classes I take Unfortunately, the college were prevented from voting. But I’d still like a way seems to disagree with me. While their votes wouldn’t have been enough to change the out if I totally flub up. Instead of changing the with e in a results of the election, these students were deprived of their Unfortunately, when drawal deadlines, why can’t we right to be involved in the democratic process. And who knows— the midterm came back change the dates that teachers eríect were there more students affected than those who complained? in one of my classes, I give midterms? It’s currently the This raises a question. Should the voting policy be changed? discovered that I didn’t teacher’s free choice as to when, KARLKATZKE It is the opinion of The Print that any policy that prevents stu have a way out. or if, they give midterms. Many Associate Editor dents from taking part in a democratic process is fatally flawed. The «college has other colleges and universities The fact that the ASG didn’t stick to its word is also part of the deadlines for with have established midterm weeks, problem. drawing from a class. Your last don’ or at least a deadline for mid The ASG must change this policy as soon as practicable. Al chance to withdraw and get your have a lot terms. low students to contest elections that they believe are flawed as money back was the end of the of tests or Why can’t Clackamas have part of the democratic experience, or students will lose faith in second week in the term. other such a system, and why can’t we Your last chance to get out of measure democratic processes. set the dates for midterm evalua a class without a ‘W’ on your ments of tions early enough that students learning would still be able to withdraw before the midterm. There’s no afterwards? way to find out if I’m actually This system would require mini learning the material in the mal effort on the part of the in s® class, or if I’m just taking up structors, teachers, and depart space and the subject is flying ments at Clackamas, and would over my head. allow students to save them Since I had no evaluation be selves from a possibly damaging fore the midterm, and I didn’t find grade. Why hasn’t it been insti out that I was totally missing the tuted already? »5 point of the class until after the Exams should be returned before students are trapped To B Woßld P æil .a1'1" WB kamas . P rint IW7 News Editor: Associate Editors: Robert Schoenberg (x2576) May17-July 12 Karl Katzke Shelbi Wescott Mandi Linstrom Feature Editor: Jeremy Stall wood A & E Editor: Cartoonists: Angie Daschel No A0Âîntpien^Nëeded—Adyiising Sessióí^Av Israel Gunderson DJCole Sports Editor: John Thorbum Staff Photographers: Advertising Manager: Resister byiInPersc Joel P. Shempert NO FEE FOR PHONE Community Cente.i7?<ì^^®^in Sarah Welch Toni McMichael Melissa Leone Kristina Brooks (x2578) Copy Editor: Photo Editor: Timothy A. Bell Design Editor: Megan Oldenstadt Secretary: JoAnne Gale Advisor: Staff: Salena De La Cruz James Khosravi Chamaine Larson Maria Raymond Susan Abe Stef Smith Sandy Frazier Linda Vogt (x2310) 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 advertisers. Products and services advertised in The Clackamas Print are not neccesarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The advertising rate is $4.75 per column inch. All signed letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be considered for publication if submitted by 1 pm the Friday prior to publication. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distributed every Wednesday except during Finals week. The Clackamas Print Copyright 1999. L
