F eature
4 • T he C lackamas P rint
N ovember 5, 2003
Former student finds niche in teaching
Karlin Johnson
T he C lackamas P rint
Former student Michael Gerber
has returned to lend a hand in the the
atre arts program as Clackamas’
Artist in Residence.
Theatre Department Head David
Smith-English asked Gerber to come
to the college this year after he
received his bachelor’s degree in
Theatre Arts from Western Oregon
University
In his time at Clackamas, Gerber
was very involved with the theatre
department.
His contributions
ranged from performing in main
stage productions to directing one-
act plays.
“David [Smith-English] and I
worked with each other quite exten
sively [when I was here] and he and
I stayed in touch and remained
friends,” said Gerber. “He thought it
would be fun for me to come here
and get experience.”
Smith-English enjoys what the
Artist in Residence program gives to
the college.
“It brings a richness to the pro
gram from experience we wouldn’t
get otherwise,” he said.
Gerber says the knowledge that
he will get from helping teach at the
college will be priceless. He wishes
to become a teacher himself one day.
“I definitely want to teach drama
at a college level,” said Gerber. “I
would maybe want to direct or act on
a professional stage, but my main
interest is teaching drama.”
ates with students as well.
The aspiring drama teacher and / “He is the kind of person who
actor has been working with the the attracts and inspires other students,”
atre department since the beginning notes Smith-English.
of the term, mainly aiding Smith-
Gerber is looking forward to sev
English in teaching.
eral things this schpol year, such as
Aside from assisting with the the performances.
Acting 1 class, Gerber is performing
The one-act plays will be per
in the fall main stage play, “Uncle formed Dec. 2-4, and “Uncle Vanya”
Vanya.” Not only is he acting him will be performed Nov. 13-16 and
self, but he is helping guide his fel Nov. 20-23.
low actors. He is also assisting with
‘“Uncle Vanya’ will be fantastic,
the coordination of the one-act plays and we are doing the ‘Odd Couple’
by giving the student directors input next term,” said Gerber.
and being involved.in the technical
Gerber is most excited, however,
side of the acts.
about seeing the students he is work
Living out a little of his fantasy, ing with develop.
Gerber is teaching his own Comedy
“It’s watching each person blos
Improvisation class this term, which som and bloom into something big
he will continue to teach throughout ger and better and knowing that I
the year.
might have played a part in that,” he
“What isn’t fun? The whole job, said.
this is my dream job,” said Gerber. “I
Outside of the college, Gerber has
work with people here, and can been applying to different schools
watch them do what they do best.”
where he hopes to earn his Master’s
Gerber has obviously found his Degree in directing.
niche in teaching. Rather than
He is also writing plays, includ
instructing students on how to do ing a one-act he describes as “The
things a different way, Gerber Practice meets the Dating Game.”
helps students expand on their own Gerber would like to direct his one-
ideas.
act at Clackamas.’
“It’s great. He’s like an
Smith-English could not be hap
advanced advance student!” said pier with what Gerber has brought to
student Holly Lewis. “He allows the department.
you to explore by giving you
“He has such leadership in the
guidelines, and not being overbear department. In the main stage pro
ing or judgemental. He’s just cool duction, he’s a strong anchor,” said
about it.”
Smith-English, “He brings new ener
Smith-English has seen this gy, new insight and a new perspec
strong relationship that Gerber cre- tive to what we do.”
CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint
Michael Gerber acts beside student Kelsey Bales, rehearsing
for “Big Mistake,” a one-act directed by Bekah Finch.
Fear of water hasn't stopped
Misley from diving in head first
Jessica Le Claire
T he C lackamas P rint
INTERNET PHOTO
Total eclipse of moon,
visible to naked eye
Jadon Triplett
C ontributing writer
Anyone looking up into the sky
on the evening of Nov. 8 will see a
sight to behold, the second lunar
eclipse of the year.
Imagine, the moon is blood red
in the sky. It is 1200 BC, and you,
a citizen of the Sheng Dynasty in
ancient China, are out tonight and
have no other light to rely on. but
that of the sky. Looking up at that
moon, what would you think the
sky was trying to tell you?
We know now that this sight in
the sky is a lunar eclipse. Not just
any eclipse, but a total lunar
eclipse.
“No enthusiastic sky watcher
ever misses a total eclipse of the
moon. And the spectacle is often
more beautiful and interesting than
one would think,” writes night sky
columnist Joe Rao of Space.com.
A lunar eclipse occurs when
Earth is between the full moon and
the sun, and the moon passes into
the planet’s shadow.
A total eclipse is different from
other eclipses because it passes
directly into Earth’s umbral shad
ow, and our atmosphere reflects
onto the moon and can produce a
variety of colors, such as yellow,
orange, brown or red.
The other two types of lunar
eclipses are the penumbral eclipse,
which are extremely difficult to see
even with the aid of a telescope
because the shadow is so dark; and
the partial eclipse, which is easy to
see with the naked eye because the
moon is only partially orbiting in
the earth’s shadow.
Anyone should be able to see
the beginning of eclipse, weather
permitting.
For those with more interest in
the eclipse, OMSI will be holding
a “star party” in their east parking
lot at the time of the moon’s rise,
and they will have experts and
enthusiasts on hand. They will
also have equipment (telescopes,
binoculars etc.) on hand to make
viewing easier.
The lunar eclipse will take
place Saturday, Nov 8, around 5
p.m.
Those in the Pacific
Northwest will only be able to see
the beginning of the lunar eclipse,
but according to enthusiasts, it is
still a sight to behold.
The moon will rise at 4:46 p.m.
PST, the total eclipse will peak at
5:16 p.m. and the total eclipse will
end at 5:30 p.m., though a partial
eclipse will still be visible until
7:04 p.m.
For more information regarding
this phenomenon,
check out
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/plane-
tarium/starparties.cfm.
Life Science Instructor Bob
Misley is known by many other
titles, such as a taxonomist, botanist
or biologist, but rarely do people
know him as Bob Misley, the scuba
diver.
Misley has dove in many areas
including Alaska, Canada, Hawaii,
Caribbean, Belize, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands, Grand Camions,
Florida Keyes and Galapagos.
“I’ve always been active in out
door activities,” said Misley. “I was
looking for a new sport that would
allow me to pursue both my biology
background and my love for travel.”
Misley found scuba diving not
only a way to incorporate biology
and travel but also a way to confront
his fear of water.
“I wouldn’t call myself a chick
en,” said Misley. “I have no death
wish. I got into scuba diving with the
idea to be able to float weightless. I
like to say [scuba diving] is the clos
est I will ever get to either being an
astronaut or an angel.”
Misley is a recreational diver,
which means that he doesn’t dive
more than 120 feet deep in water.
One does not have to dive deep in
water in order to stumble upon scary
experiences. Misley had a close
encounter while diving on a wreck in
British Columbia.'
“I take a lot of underwater pic-
“[Scuba diving]
is the closest I'll
get to being an
astronaut or an
angel.”
Bob Misley
Life Science Instructor
tures and was focused in on my pho
tography. I apparently had not
checked my gauges for awhile,” said
Misley.
“When I checked my
gauges, I was close to being in a bad
situation. I was out of air by the time
I reached the surface.”
Checking equipment is very
necessary in the sport of scuba div
ing. According to Misley, he has
learned from his near-death experi
ence and will not ever forget it.
“Every time I go into the water,
you could say there is a little bit of
anxiety,” said Misley. “Trust your
knowledge, trust your training, trust
your equipment and especially trust
your buddy. Once you are in the
•water, you think to yourself, ‘Relax
and breathe,’ because you are enter
ing a truly alien environment.”
Once everything is in check,
Misley can focus on the one part of
scuba diving he loves most: under
water photography.
“To me, being able to capture
photographic images that show and
reflect some of what, we see when
we are underwater is very interest
ing, very challenging, very hard
and artistically rewarding,” said
Misley.
Someday Misley hopes to dive
in the Say Shell Islands, which is
the only other place that giant tor
toises live besides Galapagos.
“The Say Shells are on the other
side of the world from Galapagos,”
said Misley. “To a biologist that is
really interesting.”
Misley is currently a volunteer
diver at the Newport Aquarium.
“I am happy to be a teacher,”
said Misley. “I’m happy to have
scuba diving be another activity
that allows me to travel, to bring
back information, to further enrich
and enhance my teaching and my
classroom experiences.”
Life science Instructor Bob Misley is a volunteer scuba diver at Newport Aquarium.