Letters________ .
Opinion
2002
Keep the children safe
n the darkest of nights and of us don’t want to face is that
the brightest of days, some of these kids will never
nearly 2,000 children disap come home,
pear, according to 2001 reports some
from National Crime Information voices will
Center.
They were
snatched
away by
strangers
or just run
SalenaDeLaCruz
ning away
Opinion Editor
from who
they were,
but lost within our world none never be heard and some prayers
will seem unanswered. If a child
theless.
Many will remember the story is a runaway, I hope for them to
of Polly Klaas in California, ab call home just to say, “Yes, I’m
ducted from what she and her alright,” just to ease the minds
parents believed to be a safe ha of his or her loved ones. If they
ven, her home; or perhaps the feel lost in the world with no
family abduction of nine-year- money and want to go home,
old Michael Thomas Carey in Greyhound Bus has a program
April 2001 from Albany, Ore. that will allow runaways to get a
Then there’s the sad truth of run free one-way ticket home.
aways such as 17-year-old
Yet, there is still one avenue
Danielle Coryer from Medford, that could be taken. Though this
last seen in June 2001. One of isn’t pleasing, it’s something I
the most recent of cases involved wish nevertheless: For the voices
Ashley Pond of Oregon City, last that can no longer cry out be
seen Jan. 9, when she left the cause they are at home, because
apartment she shares with her they have gone back to God. I
mother and two sisters for her weep for them and their families;
bus stop a half-mile away. Ta even though some have been
some this may be new informa gone for many years, the fami
tion, to others a new ache to add lies still hope and pray for their
to the nation’s already crumbling safe return. Now, all I wish for
heart. However, on a lighter note, them is closure. I’m quite sure
2001 saw a 4.1 percent drop from there are shallow, unmarked
2000 in missing person’s reports. graves throughout the world with
What astonishes me is that bodies, but no names. I wish and
more than 840,000 people disap pray in these saddest of circum
peared last year, and I still see stances that the bodies are
children ages five and up walk found and families are notified so
ing the streets unsupervised. I they can finally say good-bye
am not by any means saying that and I love you for the last time.
I plea to everyone that if you
we need to keep children under
lock and key to protect them. I see a missing person’s poster,
am saying vigilance where chil take one minute out of your busy
dren are concerned is necessary. schedule to see if you’ve seen
Safety is definitely in larger num that person. You may have seen
bers. Make sure yourself, an that person and never thought
other adult or a friend accompa about it.
Take a moment now and reflect.
nies your child. Tell your kids
Wouldn’t you want there to be
not to talk to strangers. Tell them
that if they are approached by a help if someone you love disap
suspicious person, to scream as pears?
long and as loud as it takes for
Questions or comments:
them to feel safe.
The hard reality of what many cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us.
All signed letters to the editor should be 500 words or less and wij
considered for publication if submitted by 1 pm the Friday prio
publication. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing. We reserve
right to not publish any letter.
"An Unamerican Soldier”
I
Say It Loud
&
Proud!
' ! ^C1 ac I<AMAS
FViNT
WATCH WHAT YOU DO.
Letter to the Editor ...
’What has happened to Clackamas' switchboard?'
To the Editor,
What has happened to
Clackamas’ switchboard, and
why?
This morning (Tuesday, Jan. 29)
I called for the current school de-
lay/closure information. In the
past, that crucial information would
have been the first words a caller
would hear. Instead, I listened to
a wordy message about how the
switchboard was closed (as any
one would know at 5:30 in the
morning—the staff aren’t THAT
dedicated!) and was finally given
another extension to access for the
desired information.
Of even greater concern is the
fact that the caller must wait
through this entire message before
being given any instructions
about how to contact campus se
curity. If I WERE in need of cam
pus security, by the time the infor
mation was presented I’d already
be robbed, raped, or dead! Per
haps this reflects a cost-cutting
budget policy designed to avoid
having to pay any “employee over-
time” since they wouldn’t be
needed any more at all.
There has been a great deal of
time and effort expended by C(
staff to identify and improve “ci
tomer service” opportunities
their respective areas. The switc
board is the public’s first conta
with Clackamas’, and as su<
should present helpful, efficie
example of our college’s welcoi
ing attitude. In my opinion, 11
current switchboard informatii
system design has taken a gia
leap backward in this respect.
Elissa McGarry
Secretary/T.A.
Tri-City Alternative Program
Harmony Site
WEHE WATCHING TOP
Business Manager:
Editor-in-Chief:
Nick Barron (x2578)
Maggie Ji rase k (x2447)
Opinion Editor/Production Coordinator
Salena De La Cruz
Copy Editor:
Allison Gerfin
Sports Editor:
Elena Boryska
Webmaster:
Luke Mahan
Staff:
Jeff Heilman
Bryan Davidson
Jennifer Kane
Jesse Gurzynski
Erinn Lerten
Elisabeth Meyer
Willie Hendrix
News Editor:
Frank Jordan
Photo Editor:
Mike Pollock
Secretary:
19600 S.
City. O hqon 9704$
(905) 657-6956 ext 2509
M o I a II a A ve .
O kçon
C C C P * i N T @ C 1A C k A M A $ . C C . O * . U S
JoAnne Gale
A & E Editor:
Daisy Bain
Adviser:
Patty Mamula (x2310)
The Clackamas Print aims to report the news
in an honest, unbiased, professional manner
The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Prii
do not necessarily reflect those of the studed
body, college administration, its faculty, or 7%
Clackamas Print advertisers. Products and ser
vices advertised in The Clackamas Print ait
not neccesarily endorsed by anyone associate!
with The Clackamas Print. The advertising
rate is $4.75 per column inch. The Clackamai
Print is a weekly publication and is distributee
every Wednesday except during Finals week.
The Clackamas Print Copyright 2001.