Letters
2________
Opinion
WedNEsdAy, ApRiL 5, 2000
All signed letters to the editor should be 500 words or less and will be
considered for publication if submitted by 1 p.m. the Friday prior to
publication. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing. We reserve the
right to not publish any letter.
Render yourself responsible for your rights
"Freedom to teach and freedom
to learn are inseparable facets of aca
demic freedom," (according to the
student handbook). Throughout
the year many unfortunate incidents
in a long string of controversies
have brought into question the right
to teach and the right to learn; this
the pleasure or displeasure (de
pending on what side your on), of
taking one of Darris’ classes, I do
find the entire situation unaccept
able.
We are supposed to be free to
learn, to gain knowledge, but even
now as you read
this you may
discover our
rights are few
and far be
tween.
For
SalenaDe La Cruz
everyone
Opinion Editor
who has ever
thought of
term is no different. Dean Darris has leaving the country to pursue dif
left to defend his doctorate.
ferent avenues of learning, I caution
Darris’ right to learn has ques you, explore a little deeper; know if
tioned his right to teach. He went to the college or university you are at
school at Berne University in the tending is a recognized institution.
West Indies, in the Caribbean, for
Not long ago women weren’t al
his Ph.D. Though I’ve never had lowed to go to school. We are in
Make a
statement,
be heard...
different times, but much the same
situation. Why are there stipulations
on our freedoms? We need to be
responsible for how, what and where
we learn, that’s why. That is where
the Darris situation comes into play.
He believed he had earned his doctor
ate at an accredited institution; he was
told it was acceptable. He should not
be held responsible for the accredita
tion of his doctorate when he was led
to believe it was up to standard.
To Dean Darris and students ev
erywhere: band together; fight for
your rights~your right to learn, to
teach, but most importantly to be
free.
Let your voice be heard—con
tact your local state department,
start a petition, get some reaction
out of your actions.
Questions or comments contact
me, cccprint(a),clackamas. cc. or. us
or call extension 2309.
Letters to the Editor...
Instructor helps to develop ’free thinkers’
To whom it may concern,
I am writing on the behalf of Professor
Dean Darris, Ph. D. of the Political Science
Department at Clackamas Community
College. I have had the privilege of attend
ing lectures of Professor Darris for my sec
ond term. I am writing in support of the
education I have received from Professor
Darris. I have had the experience of differ
ent universities in the field of political sci
ence, and without a doubt—most enjoyed
the education and discussion in Professor
Darris’ classroom. He is vastly knowledge
able in his field, always provoking new and
independent thought by the students attend
ing. An overcrowded classroom always
impresses me, for it is the mark of a truly
respected professor. Professor Darris’ class
room is bursting at the seams with students.
I feel that he is the reason CCC has so many
students wanting to understand the political
arena and be better citizens who contribute
to their communities. He provided in-depth
understanding into all areas of government,
economics, philosophy and international
relations. He is a catalyst to better aware
ness about democracy and the society that
we’ll all play a large role within. Professor
Darris promotes what Thomas Jefferson, a
founding father, recognizes as every citizen’s
most valuable role: awareness and faith in
self-government. Without instruction by
inspiring educators such as Professor Darris
to develop “free thinkers” and the sharing
of diverse perspectives and ideals, we as a
young society and future government will
never know how to come to the fair-shar
ing decisions that include all of the popula
tion, “we the people.” Please take into
strenuous consideration that many students
attend CCC and take Political Science be
cause of the education provided by Profes
sor Darris.
Stacey Steinwandel
Student
Education system destroyed with loss of teacher
What is wrong with today’s educa
tional system? How about too many
teachers who no longer care about the
subject they are teaching? What hap
pens when an individual comes along
who has the rare qualities of compas
sion for students and passion for sub
jects they teach? What if this same
individual also has the ability to ig
nite the flame of the desire for knowl
edge in students? According to what
I’ve seen in my time at this particu
lar learning institution, they try to
eliminate this individual; fight every
move this individual makes on behalf
of the student body. For those of you
who do not know of whom I am
speaking, this letter is about Dean
Darris. I am a student who has been
to several institutions of “higher
learning.” Dean Darris is the only
instructor I have found whose knowl
edge and passion for his subjects have
created in me and others a burning
desire to know more and better our
selves as citizens of this great nation.
Dean Darris is a great asset to this
school, a sparkling diamond in a sea
of mediocrity. To lose him would be
an immeasurable loss to this school
and a great disservice to the student
body. Students, unite and speak out
against this injustice.
Kristina Wilson
Business Transfer
Speak Out!
cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us.
— The ClAckAMAs P rint ------------
Where are the loyalties where instructors are concerned?
I am frustrated at the string of
events occurring at Clackamas re
cently. We attend a college, com
munity or not, it is still a college.
When I arrived here I was under the
impression that the conduct by stu
dents and faculty would be in accor
dance with those of an institution
of higher learning. Recently, they
have not been.
Dr. Epstein and Dr. Darris have
both been harassed by everyone at
this college. First, Dr. Epstein was
accused of saying some harsh things
and everyone was appalled at his
statements, but shortly after when
The Print ran a story to tell what
had occurred, people were again
outraged that they had not said it
right. This college came out of that
incident looking like no matter
what was said, if it was in the least
bit controversial or rocked the pro
verbial boat it was bad. Since when
are conflicting opinions a bad thing
in a so-called institution of higher
learning.
This week the harassment of Dr.
Darris also came to a head with an
other teacher at this college who is
liked and respected by many of the
students deciding it was best for him
to leave something he loves doing.
If this has you in an uproar, stop
and ask yourself, FIRST- where were
you when Dr. Epstein was being
shown the door and SECOND-
where is this college's loyalties when
the best they can do is say they sup
port their teachers after they con
tinually allow harassment (cordial
condolences at best)? The sad thing
about this whole incident is that the
students who got to have them as
instructors are not losing, we ben
efited from them already, the real
have, this is one part in a string of
ongoing incidents. First Dr. Epstein was
harassed enough that he could not go on.
Now Dr. Darris is being by means of
harassment made to take a year long
sabbatical. I as a student am tired of the
administration taking on and forcing out
the instructors that care about my.
education. I know of other instructors
that are part time that are great
instructors that are continually misused
until they find somewhere else to teach. I
would like to know why the
administration is doing this. It seems that
if someone speaks his or her mind and it
is not of the status quo that person is by
some means removed. This also is not
limited to instructors. Jennifer Rankin
was thrown out. The administration
circumvented the system to summarily
remove her from the position of
president of the ASG. I am reminded of
the lecture that Dr. Darris gave today. He
talked about the early colonists and their
will to live under a form of government
that was not oppressive and represented
them as free and equal citizens. We must
break off the yokes of our oppression.
We must take our education seriously.
Because if we do not, people like the
administrators of this college will make all
of your decisions for you.
Matthew Coleman
Political Science major
'Why would a teacher...take a leave from his teaching position?'
To all those involved with and
responsible for Clackamas
Community College, have we not
been told about the importance of
learning history? Have we not been
told that if we don’t learn from
history that history is bound to
repeat itself? Does Socrates ring a
bell? If so, then Dr. Dean Darris’
PH. D should also ring a bell. What
is going on at Clackamas Commun
ity College? Why would a teacher
who is respected so highly by
students of Clackamas Community
College need to take leave from his
teaching position to defend his
position with the administration of
our college? Does the administ
ration have any idea what they have
done? I personally, as a student of
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Matt Steketee
Undecided major
People who speak beyond status quo are removed from positions
Today I received a very disheartening
piece of information. Dr. Dean Darris
informed my class that he would no
longer be teaching our class, and he would
be taking a leave for a period of one year.
At first I was overcome with shock. For
those of you that do not know Dr. Dean
Darris, he taught political science and
philosophy. Taught in my previous
sentence was an understatement Dr.
Darris has helped me and other students
to realize our potential. He has also
taught me the importance of an education
and using that education to think critically
about the world around me. As I think
about this institution I am frustrated. Not
only is this college and myself losing one
of the greatest professors it has and will
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loss is to this school who got lucky
getting such an inspiring instructor
and now will be less of an institu
tion without him.
For what it's worth, and even
though I am not going to be thought
highly of after this letter, I will not
be harassing you or snooping in
your files. I will, however, get my
education and then educate others
on what has happened here, through
rallies and other forms of public re
lations so that the students here and
in this community will not let an
other teacher be harassed into help
ing dumb down CCC any further.
Those are the non-violent, diplo
matic, intelligent ways that Dean
Darris taught as the backbone of be
ing a citizen. Thank you Dr. Darris.
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Linda Vogt (x2310)
this college, a tax payer, a parent and a
responsible citizen will do everything it
takes to see it that the truth be known
to all. For all those who are feeling the
loss of Dr. Darris as severely as I am,
you are not alone.
Julie Smith
Political Science/Criminal Justice ma
jor
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