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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2005)
• ÚlACKAMASPríjlt April20, 2005 Commentar Cell phones, cars don’t mix Shannon Armstead Commentary Editor Cell phones have become a part of the average person’s existence. They are the quintessential connection to our business and social lives, yet collisions are bound to happen when people put their concentra tion on their social connection device while driving. Some cell phone-distracted drivers are worse than others, yet they are all distracted and therefore dangerous. You have prob ably been stuck behind, cut off, or, god for bid, hit, by one of those swerving, chatting drivers, or, you have been one of them. A little chat on the cell phone might seem harmless, but save it till you have stopped. A quick chat is all it takes to take your vehicle, or somebody else’s, for a ride no one wants to go on. Unfortunately many have had to learn the hard way that cell phones equal distraction. Melissa Borgaard of Portland took one of those dreaded rides when she was talking on her cell while driving over the Morrison Bridge recently. In “moment one” Borgaard was chatting on her cell phone and in “moment two” her vehicle was pummeling toward the Willamette River. Luckily, Melissa survived her accident, but many more don’t. An article in LiveScience noted that drivers distracted by cell phones cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries a year in the United States. That means that seven people are killed every day because of the distraction caused by cell phones. The study also confirms that using a cell phone while driving slows your reaction time. A 20-year-old on a cell phone has the reaction time of a 70-year-old, according to the study. While using a cell phone, drivers most often look but don’t actually “see” because they are concentrating on their conversation instead. Previous studies have found that cell phone users are less adept at driving than a drunk driver with a blood- alcohol level of about .08 percent. Statistics like these have caused most countries to ban cell phone use while driv ing. While 11 states and the District of Columbia have laws restricting cell phones while driving, America overall is one of the few countries that allows cell phone use while driving. Europe charges fines for the use of the communication devices while driving. It is easy for a person to assume that they are never going to fall victim to a serious accident because of a cell phone j chat but let’s face it: you take a risk not only for yourself, but for other drivers when you use your cell phone while driving. Don’t take my word for it; talk to the relatives of people like Gregory Davis, Leona Greif, Marcia Nathans, Richard McKeefery, or two-year- old Morgan Pena. Each died at the hands of a driver who was chatting on the phone. Supermodel Niki Taylor could added to the list of people who was critically injured by __ an accident involv- ing a cell phone. Last moments of class should pass in peace Ben Maras The Clackamas Print At approximately three minutes before the end of every class, it starts like grass rustling on the savannah. The gentle sounds of students shuf fling their papers, unzipping back packs, clicking their pens closed—all poised for the instructor to fire the starting pistol. “OK, next time in class ... ” he begins, but no one can really be quite sure what comes after this, because a deafening roar drowns out all sound within a 50-foot radius of the class room. It is a jumble books slamming and binders being thrown into book bags, while cigarettes are ripped from their cardboard carriers and thrust into the lips of waiting tobacco junkies yearning for the sweet taste of arsenic and tar. Before the second hand has reached the 12, instructors are left talking to themselves and gathering their things to prepare for their next class. Of all the things I thought I left behind in high school, I didn’t Expect this strange phenomenon to rear its ugly head in an institution of post-sec ondary education. This practice is not only mind-numbingly bothersome to the rest of us students, and extremely rude to the instructors who are teach ing you, but corrosive to one’s own character. Why? Because everyone thinks you’re an idiot when you come into class the next day (after rushing out,, of f t^LACKAMASp^^ 19600 S. Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 (503) 657-6958 ex. 2309 The C lackamas Print is a weekly student publication and is distributed every Wednesday except s finals week. course) and can’t figure out why you punishment for being late. Or having didn’t know there was homework. only one bus to catch to get home. But A favorite anecdote to sum this up in college? happened just the other week in a class There are a few excuses, yes. which shall remain nameless. It went Acceptable excuses include: having something like this: a bus to catch (this only really flies Instructor: “OK, next class we’ll during night classes though; there be ...” is adequate time in day classes to (Rustling deafening roar begins.) get from class to bus with time to Student: (While turn spare), or some sort of ing around to leave, turns emergency which must back to student at desk be attended to (a real next to him or her) “Do emergency). What in we have any homework Half a minute isn’t for next class?” really going to save you the name Funny, those of us any time, and almost of all who actually listen have nothing can be that found this amazing cor things important. Remember, relation between having this isn’t high school. holy is so homework due next class, We’re all paying for important and the instructor saying these classes after all; that there will be home why not get all the time that 30 work due next class. you’re paying for? seconds Who would have Ultimately, though, I- thought? will ruin -nor the rest of my kind— Now I must ask myself, really care if you choose it? and every Clackamas stu to run out and not hear dent: What in the name that there will be a test of all things holy could the next class, but please be so important that 30 show respect for your seconds will ruin it? instructor and keep quiet Avoiding the rush to get for another 25 seconds. to your car or the cafeteria? Taking If you do however feel the explicit that nice soothing drag of stimulant- need to rush out of class like you’ve riddeta smoke? Sprinting downstairs to found yourself in a shoal of candiru make out with your significant other fish, please keep quiet if the instruc (that’s a whole other rant there)? I’ve tor is still talking, and don’t ask yet to hear a convincing excuse for questions of the person next to you doing this every day. which the instructor is in the middle It made at least a little bit of sense of answering ... if you’re going to do in high school, with a very limited something arbitrary and annoying, at time to get in between classes, anil least don’t make yourself look like disembowelment being an acceptable an idiot too. E ditor - in -C hief : Isaiah Creel C opy E ditor : James Tombe N ews E ditor : Ben Maras C ommentary E ditor : Shannon Armstead . F eature E ditor : Karlin Johnson S ports E ditor : Mike McCormack A&E E ditor : Hilliary Ferguson P hoto E ditor : Jeff Sorensen A d M anager .- Bei» Holm D esign E ditor : Michaele Cooper S taff W riters : Frank Jordan, Joe Piazzisi, Jadon Triplett, Katie Wilson, Laura Cameron, Christa Danielson, Mike Guidice, Kyle Slate, Elizabeth Tobey, Norma Martinez, Joanne Bergstrom, CJ Ciamarello, Sam Krause, Jimi McDonald, Jenna Johnk P roduction A ssistants : Jesse Arguello, Joanne Bergstrom, When it comes right down to it, phone call probably is not so import^ it can’t wait until you arrive at your tion or can find a place to stop. If you phone call is so important that you ha do it, make it snappy and uninvolved please stay out of my lane. Letters to the Editor More than one way t change your brakes Hello. I am writing in concern of th article on page 3 titled “How to change yoi own brakes.” First off, the way that Joe explained hoi to do it was only one style of brakes. Ther are many types of brake styles that requit completely different steps in order to chang disc brakes. Disc brakes are the only styl he talked about and only one style of them« that. There are also drum brakes. I am jut saying that a writer should know all of tb frets before he writes. I believe there should be a recall on thi article and you should have a few student like us from the automotive department fi write the article the way it should be. Nic Armstrong CCC Student We want to hear from you! Write us letters to the editor. Please keep them under 200 words and sign them. They may be e-mailed to cccprint@clackamas.edu or can be dropped off at RR135. Norma Martinez, Jadon Triplett, Randy Thrall P hotographers : Brie Daykin, Angela Gerhart, Stephen Hayes D epartment A dvisor : Linda Vogt D epartment A ssistant : Pat Lichen G oals : The C lackamas Print aim to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the sh dent body college administration its faculty or The Print. E-mail comments to chiefed@dackama5 edu.
