F eature
8 • T he C lackamas P rint
A pril 14, 200
Erdman hopes for bright future in
Dean of Campus
Services accepts
position at Shasta CC
Cyndee Mady
Co E ditor -I n -C hief
After having served Clackamas
Community
College
since
December of 2001, Dean of
Campus Services Al Erdman has
recently accepted a position in
Redding, Calif., as Vice President of
Finance and Administration at
Shasta Community College.
Erdman’s
leadership
at
Clackamas has been instrumental in
the construction of - the six new
buildings here on campus.
“My role was to direct the project
and make sure it reflected campus
needs [from the standpoints of staff,
students and faculty] and to make
sure as much as possible the build
ings came in on time—at of under
budget,” said Erdman.
Shasta CC approached Erdman
with plans for a similar undertaking,
seeking someone with extensive
knowledge in construction. After.a
short interview process, the position
was offered to Erdman and he.
accepted.
“At CCC—literally within 10 or
11 months—we designed, bid and
broke ground on five buildings,
which is nothing short of a major
miracle. At Shasta, they want to build
seven new buildings over five years,”
said Erdman. “It is an opportunity
to move to another institution that is
doing a lot of construction ... I
enjoy the construction end of my
job probably more than anything
else I da”
Erdman’s construction back
ground dates back to childhood.
“When I was growing up, my
folks used to buy and redevelop
houses; this was in the mid-seventies
when you could buy a house for
$10,000,” he said. “They would
completely gut it, remodel it—then
Al Erman’s daughter, 6, Emma examines a gift presented to
her father at his send-off party Friday at Jimmy O’s Pizzeria.
The gift? An umbrella fit for California—filled with holes.
rent it out. I was fortunate to be able
to work with my dad and learn how
to do a lot of these things. It seems
like I’m always building something.”
As a single father, Erdman is
responsible for the welfare of his six-
year-old daughter, Emma, and feels
she will adjust quickly to their new
home.
“I took her down [to Redding]...
and showed her there is a
McDonald’s, there is a Chuck E,
Cheese, so life doesn’t end just
because we’re moving,” Erdman
said.
What will Erdman miss most
about Clackamas?
‘fl’ll miss the people; this is a fab
ulous place to be,” he said. : “I’t
happy with what I’m doing, but it
with mixed emotions.”
Erdman admires the administd
tion’s focus on students at CCC, staf
ing that every meeting he attend
centers on the welfare of students.
“It amazes me ... there are a lo
of colleges that talk the talk, bu
there are not a lot of colleges on
there, who really walk the walk,’
Erdman said. “.[CCC’s] dedication ti
students is an incredible statemen
and I see that similar dedication a
Shasta. I hope I can [be a part ol
continuing that dedication there.”
CCC President Joe Johnso
appreciates the value of Erdman
contributions to Clackamas.
“His legacy will always b
[remembered]—all these beautifi
new buildings as you look aroun
the campus ... He’ll be able to cart
the experience he’s had here right t
Shasta College, hit the deck runnin
and do as good a job for them as h
did for us,” said Johnson.
A going-away party was he!
Friday at Jimmy O’s Pizzeria whci
Erdman expressed these partin
words:
“Without a doubt this is the be:
place I’ve ever worked.”
Erdman will assume his no
position at Shasta Communit
College on April 30.
Students hit the road for spring break Canada-style
Trip to Vancouver,
B.C. filled with
(mis)adventure
Angela Gerhart
T he C lackamas P rint
There is a wonderful vacation
destination to be found just about
six hours north of Portland on the
1-5 freeway—in fact, it’s a com
pletely different country, and sever
al Clackamas students discovered
its vacationing merits when they
loaded up their Blazer and headed
up to Vancouver, Canada, during
spring break.
These students had never been
to Canada and were amazed at the
difference between U.S. and
Canadian standpoints on certain
issues, despite their proximity.
“They hate our government
and really oppose the war,” said
Student Nikki Miller, adding that
she was glad they didn’t have any
pro-war stickers on their car. Aside
from despising the U.S. govern
ment, though, Miller said the
Canadians they befriended were
memorable times, though, were at Vancouver for a total of five days,
very helpful. •
One of the highlights of the the pubs-—which had been part of spending the first part at one hotel,
trip for student Josh Swift was hav their reason for visiting Canada in then moving to another hotel
ing lunch at the top of the the first place. Although at 19 the downtown.
“For anyone who wants to stay
Harbour Centre Tower. The area students are minors in Oregon,
where they ate made a 360-degree they arc of legal age to drink in in Vancouver, make sure you get
Canada.
reservations at the right Ramada;
rotation every hour.
“I bought my first bottle of there is mote than one. |For| the
“The view was amazing, though
we all felt a little sick after a while,” rum, legally,” said student John first three nights, we were com-
pletely surrounded • by Chinese
Hiestand.
said Swift.
The group stayed in speaking people,” said Miller.
The students: did a lot
As for the driving portion of
of ■ sightseeing,
too.
the trip, the students
Walking downtown, they
said it wasn’t that
were bombarded by
bad, though cus
drug
dealers,
toms was a little
which isn’t an
scary, espe
unusual occur
cially when
rence for that
the agent
part of town.
thought
They
also
they had
visited
contra-
Stanley Park.
band in
The students
the spare
said their favorite
tire.
tourist attraction
The
was
Granville
students
Island,
which
I returned
reminded them
home with
of
Portland’s
lots of pictures
Saturday Market.
Hiestand, Gerhart, “Canada Zach,” Swift, Miller
and memories.
The
most
The funniest segment of th
whole trip, they said, had to be th
ride home, down the Washingto
portion of the 1-5 freeway. The
were pulled over for speeding bi
didn’t get a ticket. Then, their rig!
side windshield wiper broke of
flying into the traffic during
downpour. To add to their frusta
tion, they stopped in Tacoma :
Hooters to cat and weren’t >hap|
with the way they were treated.
“If you’re not a 40-ycar-oli
nasty old man tipping the girls, yo
won’t get any service,” said Niki
Miller.
Just when they thought thins
couldn’t get worse, the studen
returned to the car, at about 4:2
p.m., to find that it would bare
fun. Knowing that most dealc
ships would close soon, Hiestati
took charge and headed straight t
a Chevy dealership where tl
group was Subjected to a th re
hour wait to get a valve rcplaced-
using Daddy’s credit card.
Even with the few mishaps, tl
students arc planning a return tr
to Canada during the summcr-
hopefully with a different car.
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