Opinion _____________ L
WEdNEsdAy, FEbßUARy 2, 2000
TI he ClAckAMAs P rìnt
Students* Voices...
Alarming attitude in ASG about spending
The attitude around this in
stitution concerning the recent
controversy on ASG spending
seems to be an alarming ‘let it
go’ response. “Don’t you
guys have anything better to
do” and so on. Let’s get to the
root of the matter and stop be
ing sidetracked by allegations
and conspiracies. Most of us
have to pay for one third our
tuition at this college. The tax
payers in this community have
to pay for the other two-thirds.
In case this is unclear let me
be more direct: These are our
families that are working to pay
for this college, which in
cludes all ASG spending.
It is a widely know fact that
ASG members do not pay tu
ition, that exception is sup
posed to be in exchange for
representation of the student
body and the community.
Therefore, ASG and adminis
tration should do all possible
to serve and protect the com
munity, as well as the students
at this college, lest they are in
violation of the contract they
hold in the community. If any
members of the community or
of the college desire to see for
themselves any information re
garding tax-money, then they
have that legal right without in
terrogation or harassment.
Myself and a number of other
students have requested infor
mation relating to ASG spend
ing and have either been ha
rassed or denied access out
right.
Why?
All the
‘troublemaking’ we have done
is asked for itemized receipts
for a few expenditures that we
felt may have needed more ex
planation. Look them up for
yourself and maybe you would
understand. This is not the
college’s money, or ASG’s money,
but our families' money. If you
took fifty dollars from my family
with the agreement to use that
money for a good cause, am I a
‘troublemaker’ for inquiring where
the money went?
Mapy students and members of
the Administration seem to con
fuse this issue with the contro
versy about Student President
Jennifer Rankin in the fall. The
issues are connected but should
not be taken as the same. Jennifer
made a brave attempt to have ASG
held accountable and she was
kicked out, and now ASG will still
not be held accountable for the
money. To get a comparatively
small amount of money to help
with childcare for my 2-year-old
daughter I have to account for
every penny with diligence. Is
ASG above this level of account
ability?
The community is paying for
the majority of our education so
we as students owe the commu
nity the best return for their faith
in us. Staying quiet and ignoring
the law does not constitute a fair
exchange.
Luke Precourt
Student
Freedom of Speech: How far are we free to speak?
If Dr. Epstein’s purpose was to thing we want?
The First Amendment states that,
stir people up, he couldn’t have done
a better job than he has in the last “Congress shall make no
few weeks. This local controversy law...abridging the freedom of
speech, or the press,” While this is
follows on the heels of a similar na
tional one involving Atlanta Braves open to interpretation, the general
consensus is that we have the right
pitcher, John Rocker. In a recent is
to express our
sue of Sports Illus
selves without
trated, Rocker made
having to fear
several inflamma
Congress shall
legal recourse,
tory remarks. In re
make
within reason.
sponse, a national
Legal prece
backlash of criti
dents have es
cism erupted. Much
of
tablished some
like what is happen
limitations. We
ing now at CCC,
speech,
can’t engage in
many individuals
P™*'
Bili of Rights
slander or libel,
have come forward
we can’t harass
to condemn John
1st Amendment
or
threaten
Rocker for his preju-
people, we can’t
diced remarks.
yell “I’ve got a
When confronted
gun” in the airport, and even Dr.
with the aftermath of his, and Dr.
Epstein’s, remarks I have to wonder, Epstein says, “You can’t yell fire in
a crowded theatre.” But Dr. Epstein
do we have the right to say any
no
law...abridging
the freedom
or the
never said he hated homosexuals,
or advocated physical violence
against them.
What about the things we say
that don’t directly affect anyone?
Should these things be regulated?
How do we decide what is accept
able or unacceptable? What is of
fensive to me might not be to any
one else. When we propose to
avoid anything that is offensive to
anyone, we quickly sink into a mo
rass of political correctness. Profan
ity is offensive to many people, yet
we don’t try to regulate it. Robyn E.
Blumner in the January 4,1998, edi
tion of the St. Petersburg Times
says,” ...you can’t have it both
ways. Either you embrace a free so
ciety and tolerate objectionable
song lyrics, bomb recipes, racially
offensive remarks and nude photos,
or you enact laws against offensive
materials and invite the routine ar
rest of writers, artists, photogra
phers, philosophers, musicians, sci
entists and professors.” I think the
next step, after regulating what a per
son says, is regulating what they
think. Do we even want a world
where everyone thinks or says the
same things? While were holding
candlelight vigils for tolerance of a
person’s way of life, can’t we have
one for tolerance of their way of
thinking?
Does Dr. Epstein’s position as a
college professor change the issue?
Well he didn’t renounce his right tp
the First Amendment when he took
his job. Besides, part of what we
learn at college is how to analyze
what we are taught, and make our
own decisions about it. To imply
that Dr. Epstein has the power to
influence people so strongly with a
single statement flatters him, and in
sults those who would be influ
enced.
I feel this issue has become yet
another platform to debate the mo
rality of homosexuality. Voices on
both sides make reasonable points,
but in the end we all have our own
opinions. I’m not defending Dr.
Epstein’s opinion; I have my own. I
am defending his right to express it
however, regardless of his position.
A landmark First Amendment
case, Cohen v. California,
questioned the right of the de
fendant to wear a jacket say
ing “F___ the Draft.” Supreme
Court Justice John M. Harlan
said, during, the. case, .“ The
First Amendment exists pre
cisely to protect the most of
fensive and controversial
speech from government sup
pression. The best way to
counter obnoxious speech is
with more speech. Persuasion,
not coercion, is the solution.”
Steve Nielsen
Student
Letters to the Editor...
Advertise in
Ihr
Headline misrepresents views Education on the value of life
My letter regarding Dr. Donald
Epstein’s classroom behavior was re
cently printed in The Clackamas
Print under the headline, “Epstein in
the same company with Hitler.” I
would like to make it clear that I did
not write that headline, nor does it
express my point of view. I would not
say that ANY Jewish person was “in
the same company with Hitler.”
I do stand firmly behind my state
ment in the letter that, “Dr. Epstein
placed himself in horrific company
when he said that gays are ‘better off
dead.’ It’s stränge and unsettling to
realize that this Jewish man and Adolph
Hitler would have shared a belief in
common.”
I thank the Print for its evenhanded
reporting on the comments of this in
structor and for the attention it has fo
cused on the matter.
Patricia K. Lichen
Student
To Shelbi Wescott, feature editor,
I was particularly moved by the
article you wrote about Brian(Trapp
Tribute in last week's Print). While
I had seen him over the years around
the campus I didn’t have the privi
lege of getting to know him. Your
thoughtful article brought him to life
for me. I want to thank you for your
efforts to cement in my mind how
much we all will miss him and his
special nature. Too often the dis
abled are marginalized (especially
those with mental challenges). You
have helped to educate us all as to
the valueof all human beings.
I think you have the talent to
build on. Human interest stories
demand a unique sensitivity and
you appear to have that quality.
Thanks again.
David Campbell
Counselor
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