Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 2003)
F eature 6 • T he C lackamas P rint N ovember 26, 2003 Garrettson builds a future through CWE Karen Hill F eature E ditor ulty, contracted this lean-to for the horticulture department at Student Vocational Village Alternative High School. In a ti me when mediocre homework assignments and half-hearted attempts to excel are a common occurrence among overworked college students, a job well done is not easily overlooked. Jordan Garrettson is one of the ever decreasing number of students who are willing to do a job—and do it well. Garrettson, a second-year student at Clackamas, is enrolled in a Building Construction Cooperative Work Experience program (CWE), which gives him the chance to practice his tal ents and skills, earn college credit and assist in the preparation of a career in building and construction. CWE recently presented Garrettson with the opportunity to build a lean-to for the Student Vocational Village Alternative High School, located on 82nd Ave. near Madison High School. The lean-to, referred to by the high school as an “outdoor classroom,” was built for the purpose of having a cov ered shelter for the horticulture students to grow and study plants. A plan to build a raised, movable, three-walled structure with a roof, which could be easily disassembled, was presented to Garrettson. A student from the school's workshop class had done a rough sketch of the plans as a guide. “They had the idea,” said Garrettson, “I took it, improved on it and ran with it.” The students and faculty of the Student Vocation Village were invited to assist in the construction of the lean- to, which took roughly 40 hours to complete. Between four and 15 stu dents worked with him on the project, said Garrettson. “It was hard to find jobs for every body!” he said. Education Coordinator and Program Advisor Sue Metcalfe arranged the project for Garrettson. She found out about the need of the Student Vocational Village and recalled the needed work experience for Garrettson. “And I just put the needs together,” Metcalfe said. Through this, Garrettson was able to do a ‘service learning project,’ said Metcalfe, which means providing serv ice for another organization. “I enjoyed seeing the connective ness Clackamas was able to share with other schools,” she said. “I thought [Garrettson] did a really good job,” said Metcalfe. “You can't put just anyone in that situation and have them do that well.” Garrettson plans to get a degree in Building Construction and Program Management, in which he would over see projects and ensure smooth opera tions. Currently, he's enrolled in a 12- CARRETTSON credit Project Management class which meets once a week. This is the first installment in a course that will contin ue throughout the year. “[Building construction] has been my passion for a long time,” said Garrettson. “(It's] something I've always loved to do.” His list of completed projects proves his point. Garrettson has built numerous decks and fences, remodeled basements and hung sheetrock. He hopes to get a job as a builder someday. For now, Garrettson said, ‘Tm just focusing on the present” Student wheels her way through college Campus accessibility rates high at Clackamas Cory Price good compared to Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) and Portland State University (PSU). We all face challenges going to “[Clackamas] is much better than college, but students in wheelchairs Mt. Hood. They have really steep have even more obstacles to endure. ramps at [MHCC]. Ramps here are Clackamas student Deana an easier grade,"Butler said. PSU is Butler is in a wheelchair due to a inconvenient for wheelchairs, too. four-wheeling “They i only one way to get accident four around for wheel years ago in Coos chairs. Here [at “We're stereo Bay. Her quad CCC] there are many went over an 18- typed as stupid ways to get around." foot wind shear, The only ramp at and mentally ill Clackamas throwing her over that is the handlebars. when we're really steep is in Butler was rushed Barlow Hall. not.” to Portland's However, this doesn't Emmanuel hospi pose much of a prob Student Deana Butter, tal in a Life Flight lem for Butler; she helicopter. on the misconception of doesn't have classes “It was loud and in that area of cam people in wheelchairs it was orange, that's pus. Butler's class all I remember of schedule keeps her in it/’ said Butler. McLouglin Hall, Clairmont, Streeter Butler spent three days in ICU. and the library. Overall, she had just over a month of These buildings are equipped healing time before going home, per with automatic doors or light-weight manently paralyzed from the hips doors. down. Butler struggles, however, with What does Butler think about the the speed or lack thereof, regarding handicap accessibility of the college? the automatic doors. Her overall rating of the college is “Automatic doors are so slow!” Co E ditor -I n -C hief Butler said. “Clairmont has the slowest door. I sit outside, waiting for the door to open, saying to myself, ‘Um, o.k — When!’” Another minor issue on campus is the bathrooms. Some stall doors open the wrong way, while other stalls are too small for a wheelchair. “Bathrooms might have a bar but aren't big enough to get a wheelchair into,” Butler said. “Bathrooms are disabled-accessi ble, but not wheelchair-accessi ble.” Butler also expressed her frustra tion with stereotypes. “People who can walk on two legs are called able-bodied people, when someone who is in a wheel chair is referred to as disabled,” Butler said. “We're stereotyped as stupid and mentally ill, when we're not. People say we're never going to accomplish anything in life.” Currently Butler is going through the criminal justice pro gram at Clackamas in hopes of becoming an assistant detective. She is earning A's and B's in all her classes. I took the opportunity to spend the day in a wheelchair and experi ence a portion of what Butler does In the spotlight: Nie Delzell Delzell also maintains a long distance relationship with The Cyndee Mady Print's former sports editor Elena Boryska, who is currently pursuing Co E ditor - in -C hief Journalism at Washington State Sports enthusiast Nic Delzell University, in Pullman, Wash. has advanced from staff writer to “My lovely girlfriend is the best Sports Editor for The Clackamas thing in the world. She's com Print in just three shortXerms. pletely changed my life—taught “If they had a me to be a good ghetto sports- boy,” said announcing -job. I'd Delzell. “I think “ If they had a get it,” Delzell said. about taking the ghetto sports- “I'm still trying to six-hour drive master the English and just getting announcing language.” out of here every, job, I'd get it. Wtyen he's not every, every, checking out the x every, every I'm still trying sports action on cam day.” to master the pus, Delzell likes to “Every time Nic play basketball and visits he makes English lan keep up on his three me forget how guage. ” favorite professional boring Pullman sports: baseball, bas is,” - said ketball and football. Boryska, “He What does Delzell always seems to Nic Delzell consider to be his make everything Sports Editor greatest talent? better.” “Making people With two more laugh. I have a keen ability io do years of community college and it even when I'm not trying,” he career explorations still ahead, said. “If there were still Court Delzell is just taking life one day Jester jobs-I'd apply.” at a time. Profile by DELZELL Deana Butler, an ASG office assistant, stamps posters with approval for scuba instructor Harry Klein. everyday. I didn't fully realize the daily struggle that one has to endure while in a wheelchair. Those auto matic doors do not open fast enough at all and trying to open a regular door is a juggling act in itself. When a wheelchair restricts a per son, people often have the audacity to stare at the wheelchair unashamedly. “For me, I would rather have someone ask me flat out what is wrong,” said Butler. “And it's nice when someone does offer assistance. It's a nice reprieve from the daily grind.” AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IS JUST THE BEGINNING How far you go is entirely up to you. At DeVry^^^^jRu*6' University, our goal is to give you the skills, education and confidence you need to live up to your career potential. * 1 • We offer Bachelor’s Degree programs on your ‘-® terms. 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