Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2000)
Letters______________ 2________ Opinion WedNEsdAy, M ay 10, 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 arc subject to editing. We reserve the right to not publish any letter. Academic freedom has taught balance of rights SALENA DE LA CRUZ Editor *in-Chief: John Thorbum (x2447) Managing Editor: Megan Oldenstadt Design Editor: Timothy A. Bell Feature Editor: Shelbi Wescott A & E Editor: Angie Daschel Copy Editor: Sandy Lupo Associate News Editor: Diana Scrivner Sports Editor: Mandy Good Opinion Editor: Salena De La Cruz Business Manager: Karl Katzke (x2578) Cartoonist: Joel Gunderson Chris Lundgren Staff: Mike Pollock Erin Bernard Steve Nielsen Tam Oliver Toni McMichael Jason Lingel Maggie Jirasek Matt Shempert Secretary: JoAnne Gale Advisor: Linda Vogt (x2310) Goals: The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, pro fessional 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 necessarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distributed every Wednesday except during Finals week. The Clackamas Print Copy right 2000: Advertising: The advertising rate is $4.75 per column inch. 19600 S. M o I a II a A ve . O regon Ciïy, O reçon 97045 (505) 657-6958 ext 2509 cccp Ri NT@clAckAMAS.CC. OR. US Opinion Editor hat lessons have we learned in our fight for academic freedom for stu dents and instructors? Yesterday, students and faculty packed into Gregory Fo rum to try to answer these questions. The hope was to see how we have ad vanced since the fight for academic freedom began. It began in January, in a classroom, where the Ho locaust was discussed. The words echoed off the walls as students took in the statement, “you are better off dead than being homosexual.” The ‘politi cally incorrect’ instructor’s comments sparked campus debate about both students’ and faculty rights. The issues progressed with argu ments, letters, media cov erage, and sides clashing. A vigil for tolerance was held. Academic freedom versus prejudiced opin ion? The instructor took an early re tirement. Passion hindered? Freedom subdued? The campus divided and the questions remained unanswered. The debate continued when a piece of artwork was considered outra geous, a little out of the norm. It was considered anti-Catholic; anti-mean ing against; which raises questions that if the artist has a Catholic back- ground should he have the right to question that religion as he ex periences it. We as students, com munity members and faculty saw fit to question that artwork, but as I see it what they were question ing was our own interpretation— get your minds out of the gutter, people. Therefore, what have we learned this year as questions about academic freedom continue being raised? I think we’ve learned a lot, but I think what we’ve learned we’ve always known and just never thought about. We learned in structors have a certain power. We’ve learned that saying the wrong thing in class can, maybe, make that power dangerous. We have learned there is a balance that needs to be found; a balance which does not separate students from fac ulty. Another lesson, perhaps the most important, is that each of us has responsibility to ourselves--re- sponsibility to know what each of us deems acceptable in our own eyes. Words are rights, freedoms. Art is a form of expression, of freedom. Being outrageous is acceptable to some, but out of the question to others. Do not try to change others' emttious about proverbs or ifleas. Talk’about your differ- ences,”tftgu& anctraise questions. You may not tferighfc t||ey may not be right, but at least it is out in the open. The only way for us to move for ward is to learn from our mistakes and continue to question academic freedom because then and only then can we have a balance. “Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable fac ets of academic free dom,” according to the Student Hand book. Therein lies the answer. We had it all along. We must be balanced in our arguments by being free to learn and free to teach. We can all accept that the reason we are all diverse is because we don’t agree. We may not agree, but we can learn more from each other by discussing it, in this case academic freedom. Then and only then can we compromise and come up with solutions to make Clacka mas a better place to learn and teach. So speak out, you have the right. Now you know that you can also question and argue your point. 'My integrity is all I have* This letter is in reference to a piece that appeared last week in Letters to the Editor... After work I sat down to read the paper and was shocked to see my name listed at the bottom of one of the letters. The reason I was shocked, was because I did not write the letter, nor was I shown this letter or even told about the letter. This issue has been addressed and has been recognized as a mistake by the party who chose to use my name without my permission. I need to say that my integrity is all I really have and my name is a symbol of that integrity. I do not use words lightly nor do I sign my name to those words without sincere consideration. Julie Smith Student 'Vote for Bryan Fuentez' If you know what I have stood for this entire year then you know that you can trust my judgment. Elections are just around the corner and there are some respectable can didates that are running for ASG president and vice-president. I have some knowledge of all the candidates. From everything I know I have de cided to endorse Bryan Fuentez for ASG president. I have known Bryan for some years and I believe he is the best candidate for the job. He also has knowledge of the responsibili ties of president because last year he was the vice president. Bryan is a great leader and will look out for your needs. If you trust anything I said and did for you this year then help me out this once. I know he is the right person for the job. Vote Bryan Fuentez for ASG president on May 1 land 12. I know I will. James Gould ASG President Speak Out Where it I Matters! Write to The Clackamas Print, 500 words or less on disk and bring it to B104 or e-mail it to cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us «sii_ ist_ ■____ O
