4
Feature
WedNEsdAy, N ovemòer 29, 2000
The CI ac I camas P r ¡ i
ASG advisor says goodbye after 30 years of teaching
1
MAGGIE JIRASEK
my lows, but I can say over the years,
it has been a very enjoyable experi
ence,” confirmed Bemey. “It’s all about
Norm Bemey, advisor of the Asso learning and education; it’s not always
ciated Student Government (ASG), going to be smooth in life.”
During his career at Clackamas,
who also works with high school re
cruitment, is saying goodbye after 30 Bemey has experienced many memo
rable moments. One of them came in
years ofteaching at Clackamas.
1997,when students awarded him with
Bemey, who was bom in Oregon
City, has dedicated his life to working a little trophy toremind him of all the
with students, even though teaching contributions he made to the college.
“I really appreciated it It wasn’t that
was not one of his top career choices.
“I didn’t really plan to be in educa much what was written on there, it was
the effort the students made to put it
tion. I thought about teaching, but I
wasn’t sure whether I was going to do together andjust thanking me for some
it or not. The opportunity came up to of the things I supported them on,”
work as a coach when I got out of col- Bemey said. “Any time that the stu
legc at the age of 23.1 took the chance, dents gave me some recognition for
and I really enjoyed it. That’s what got what they felt I contributed, I really felt
me hooked on working with students,” good about it”
Being awarded
Bemey explained.
¡Oregon Wrestling
After finishing
—
Coach of the Year in
his bachelor’s de
I'm really going
1976,1977,1979,1980
gree in social sci
ence and his
to miss having the and 1983, as well as
receiving the Na
master’s degree in
students around,
tional Advisor of the
guidance and coun
: Year Award in Wash
seling at Ea^em Or
they kept me go
ington D.C. at the
egon
College,
ing.
Bemey worked at a
Norm Berney American Student
small high school in
ASG advisor Association of Com-
munity Colleges
eastern Oregon as
(ASACC) conference
athletic director and
in 1999, has highlighted Bemey's ca
social science instructor, l ie then came
to Clackamas in 1971 to coach wres reer. Bemey has already made plans
tling, track and cross country, was for his upcoming retirement, includ
hired as a classified employee the fol ing spending more time with his wife,
lowing year and then became part of his 16 year old son and his 17 year old
the faculty in 1974 as guidance coun daughter, after retirement.
selor. In 1992, after participating in an
“I have a lot of things to do and I
exchange program to England, Bemey also have two teenagers at home that
took the job of advising ASG.
I’m working with. First, I have to get
“After my exchange to England in things organized, clean out my office,
1991,1 came back to the counseling for example,” Bemey said.
department and worked with high
Leaving Clackamas, Bemey has
school recruitment forayear. Then the come to realize that retiring has its posi
advising job came up, and I thought it tive as well as negative aspects.
would be kind of fun to give it a try,”
“I don’t feel good about leaving. A
explained Bemey.
lot ofpeople can’t wait for the day they
Bemey has always enjoyed work can get out of here. To me, it’s just a
ing with students, and he recalls his situation where I can do just as well
and even better financially being re
time at Clackamas as enjoyable.
“It has been a lot offiin, and I really tired, plus I have more time formy fam
enjoyed working with the students. As ily,” stated Bemey. “I’m really going to
in any job, there are good and bad ex miss having the students around. I can
periences. 1 had my highs as well as honestly say, I liked going to work
J
Feature Co-Editor
I M
4'
MIKE POLLOCK I Clackamas PriJ
Norm Berney, advisor of the Associated Student Government (ASG) and coach and instructor at
Clackamas since 1971, reflects back on his career. Berney is to retire at the end of winter term.
every day, and the students kept me
going.”
No official retirement date has been
named so far, but Berney is planning
to work as a full-time employee until
the end ofwinter term and then finish
ing up the year on a part-time basis.
“I have to make a transition now
because I won’t be seeing the students
on a regular basis anymore. Maybe I
will try to do some volunteer activities,
try coach ing again,” Berney said.
Perhaps Bemey will find more time
to spend with his watch business,
which isa family business out of Swit
zerland. More likely he intends to de
vote himself to the activities his chil
dren are in as well as see more of the
local things.
Before leaving, Bemey has one
piece of advice for all new incoming
instructors.
“The key thing, in anything you do
in life, is that when you get up in the
morning you want to go. to your job
StaffWriter
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Beginning Mon. Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m.
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college here and our key goal should
always be the students and how we
can serve them.”
Two Clackamas students
to release hip-hop CD
MICHAEL CHOE
Coming Soon
and enjoy it Then, when you leave at
the aid of tiie day, you feel satisfied
and you know that you have accom
plished something,” Bemey explained.
“I really believe in the college and!
believe in our students. We have a fi nJ
“Live from Felony Flats Vol. 1,”
a hip-hop CD recorded by two
Clackamas students, Jon
Pettricciani and Jake Riley, is to
be released in early spring 2001 ;
Within the past four years,
Pettricciani and Riley spent most
of their leisure time recording
hip-hop tracks at their studio
called the “flatlands,” located in
South East Portland.
“Four years of hard work, but
it will be worth it when the money
starts rolling in,” said Riley.
Various artists, including
“Ozone, I-Mobb, Revelations ,
Bitch Huntin’ Season and Leba
nese G’s,” contributed to this
compilation where many local
acts come together.
The production team consists
of “Maestro, Parmesan, and Tag
King Fresh.” After releasing the
album, each artist on the compi
lation plans to release his own
• solo CD within the next year. The
concept is not a new one. One of
hip-hop’s most notorious
groups, the “Wu-Tang Clan,”]
started very similarly. Usingl
funds accrued from the group's!
LP, their solo LPs were launched!
later.
The key to their music is stay-
ing. true to the essence of hip-]
hop while also having fun.]
Avoiding the usual “pop cul-l
1
ture” influence in their sound is
a feat the artists aré very proud
of.
“We’re proud to hot be on the!
radio,” said Pettricciani.
The CD should warrant seme
airplay. It shows how much fun
the artists had recording their
songs.
“Lifesavers” another local group
that just signed with a major indepen
dent label, “Soulsides of San Fran
cisco,” represents some key artists in-
cluding“Blackalicious, Dj Shadow and
Latyrx.” According to Pettriciani, the
“Lifesavers” are good, but not as good
as they are.
Students should reserve their copy
before production, so they can claim
they knew the artists before they were
famous! This is a CD just waiting to
popoffinamajorway.