C lackamàs P rint
November 19, 2003 ♦ Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR ♦ Volume 37, Issue 4
Giving tree benefits students' kids
out, come down [to the Community
Center] and grab a tag and help out
Co E ditor - in -C hief
in any way.”
Helping out is what this project
The Giving Tree is taking a
stand to help children of students on is all about. Applications have
been out for a week now and the
campus.
<
ASG has sponsored the project Dec. 1 deadline is approaching fast.
for over 10 years. Last year the list Those students wishing to have
of children in need of help exceed their children included on the
ed 100 names. ASG also received a Giving Tree need to stop by ASG
$500 donation from an anonymous for an application.
“The application
source to help in
isn’t very long and it
purchasing gifts.
doesn’t ask you what
The Giving Tree
“The biggest
your income is, so
went
up
last
obstacle is hop there are no guide
Monday.
It will
lines—just fill out
ing that all
hold the informa
the form and some
tion of children in
those orna
one will make your
need of Christmas
children an orna
ments will be
presents. Adorned
ment,” said Richards.
with lights and tin
taken off.”
Richards created
sel, the tree resides
most of the orna
just outside the
Nichole Richards
ments herself. She
cafeteria in the
Giving Tree
has just one worry
Community Center.
Coordinator
about the program.
Information
for
“The
biggest
each child, such as
gender, age and clothing size, is obstacle is hoping that all those
represented on an ornament and the [ornaments] will be taken off and
presents purchased for the kids can toys or clothes will be bought for
be delivered unwrapped to the ASG them,” said Richards.
Any
ornaments
that
go
office, which is located across the
unclaimed will not be forgotten,
hall from the tree, by Dec. 8.
“I have a three-year-old myself, though. ASG will appropriate the
so I couldn’t imagine how hard it funds to purchase toys or clothes for
would be if I didn’t have money or those that remain unclaimed.
have parents and grandparents to get
The general sentiment in ASG is
her Christmas gifts,” said Nichole about spreading joy and helping one
Richards, who is the Childcare offi another this Christmas.
Chris
cer for ASG and also the coordinator Oestman, who assisted Richards
the Giving Tree this year.
Monday in putting up the tree, is
“It’s cool that there are resources excited to see this project do well.
for kids to be able to get presents.
“[I want] to help spread the joy
This is a way for us to help them that anybody else can offer their
out,” Richards said. “If you can help services to families that can’t afford
Cory Price
CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint
ASG officer Chris Oestman helps Nichole Richards, coordinator of the Giving Tree,
hang ornaments on the tree outside the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to pick up
an ornament and help their fellow classmates and their children this Christmas.
presents,” said Oestman.
Others in ASG also have high
hopes for the success of the Giving
Tree and encourage students to help
their classmates.
“People should help out with the
Giving Tree because they are help
ing fellow students and their chil
dren,” said Marlies Bemey, ASG
president. “There really are people
out there in our college community
that are hurting. [The Giving Tree]
is an excellent way for people to
come up anonymously (or not) and
help. Illis is a true need; people are
trying to attend college and support a
family at the same time.”
Bemey encourages students in
need of this help to còme in and
sign up, saying that people are not
going to judge someone because
they need help.
“It makes me feel good to know
that I am helping,” said Bemey.
The Clackamas Print is assist
ing in this effort by choosing one
boy and one girl from the Giving
Tree to help make their Christmas
special. We challenge each student,
faculty member and club to step up
and do your part to help this holiday
season.
Cast of 'Uncle Vanya' adds humor to Russian tale
of unrequited love, sacrifice, bitterness and insanity
Karlin Johnson
T he C lackamas P rint
Mix two parts vodka, four parts
unrequited love, five parts bitterness
and one part claimed insanity and
the outcome is this year's fall theatre
production.
Hard work has paid off for mem
bers of Clackamas' Communications
and Theatre Department. The cast,
crew and many others finally got to
show their skills on Nov. 13, the
opening night of "Uncle Vanya," a
CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint
Marina (Bekah Finch) and Mikhail Astrov (Michael Gerber)
discuss the habits of Alexandr in ‘Uncle Vanya,’ direct
ed by David Smith-English.
classic tale of love and sacrifice writ
ten by Russian playwright Anton
Chekhov.
Theatre Department Head David
Smith-English directs the four-act
play, which involves a cast of nine
talented actors and actresses as well
as a large crew.
The story is set in a country estate
in the year 1911.
Alexandr
Serebyakov, a retired professor,
played by Tom Cavanaugh, has
returned to the estate which
belonged to his late wife. Returning
with him is his new and muqh'
younger wife Yelena, played by
Jayne Stevens.
Daphne Starling plays tfie mother 5
of Alexandr’s deceasedAvife, wjjgjhai.
been living on theesiate in Alexandr’s
absence. Alsoofi the estate is fhe late
Mrs. Serebyakov’s brother Vanya,
played by Bob Alstfian. V^ya- has
been sending,the proceeds'of the
estate’s farm^wjtheW^rfessoL for
many years, while keeping for him
self only a small salary.
Alexandr'S.. young' daughter
Sonya, played by Annie Rimmer, is
close in age to her. new stepmother
and has also been living on the estate.
Ilya Telegin, also known as
Waffles, is played by Matt Morrison.
He is Alexandr’s right-hand man and
Sonya's grandfather. Marina, played
by Bekah Finch, is a kind old nurse
on the estate and Yefir, played by
Matt Strong, is a workman.
Rounding out this strange mix of
characters is Mikhail Astrov, a doctor
played by this year's Artist in
Residence Michael Gerber.
The first sign of trouble among
the estate's inhabitants is when young
Yelena's beauty catches the attention
of Vanya and Mikhail. Both men feel
that she is wasting her life with her
old and ailing husband. Sonya soon
turns this love triangle into a square
by admitting her affection for the
doctor, Mikhail, which has been
smouldering for years.
Love tangles get twisted tighter,
dysfunction ensues and alcohol is
abused as the story continues. An
unexpected rpurder.attempt adds new
dimensiopto the plot.
Tlje'actors in this production
mpké the dialogue. Comedy that
rtíay nothave beén priginajly written
into the script i s brought jbut by the
actors’ ele ver ti ming, expressions
and tone of voice. ..Tfie actors por-
tray their characters in a way that
brings Out iporé of a modern-day
humor to the older style of writing
and language.
.Each character in this play is
,.iricredibly convincing. For example,
Finch physically changes the way
she stands and speaks, giving the
compelling impression of being a
frail old woman. Alsman, who at
first appears painfully dry with his
emotions, later transfixes the audi
ence in mesmerizing fits of rage.
The final product of 'Uncle
Vanya' is definitely worth seeing.
The story, direction, acting, set and
technical workings all come together
in a show that anyone can appreciate,
especially for those that enjoy a dra
matic performance that is chock-full
of love, hate and silliness.
Further performances are sched
uled Nov. 20-22 at 7 p.m. as well as
a matinee on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2:30
p.m. in the McLoughlin Hall
Theatre. Admission is $8 general
admission and $5 for seniors and
students with ID. For reservations,
call ext. 2356.
UNCLE VANYA
SONYA
Winter term registration is now open for returning students