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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2005)
\eature ^^LA'CKAMASPf^fif May 11, 2005 — —7- -------------------- I-------- ------- 1 «9 'ollege and high school udents raise awareness lout gay discrimination p theater perforance, tessom from Laramie ” Karlin Johnson feature Editor I As a stand against social injustice, Leral local college and high school ■dents have come together to pro Ice a shortened version of the play, |he Laramie Project,” which they III be performing at Oregon City th School this Friday, May 13. I ‘The LaiamieProject”comes from ■true story of Matthew Sheppard, a ly University of Wyoming student Lt was tied to a fence and brutally laten by two of his peers, later lead- Lto his death. In 1998 the Tectonic ■eater Project went to Matthew’s line town of Laramie, Wyoming, Id conducted over 200 interviews Mi the people living in the town, le play is basically a compilation of ■actual interviews. •‘After the last election I was Igry at myself for not being more Lived, and really disappointed Ith the people of Oregon [for voting Is on Measure 36],” said Danielle Lott, the play’s director, “and I was ling to find a way where I could Ike a statement” ■Scott, a former librarian at ladstone HS who has directed plays Ire, brought her idea to one other ■son, and soon many came to her Iking to be a part of the production. Le cast includes four students from Ire at Clackamas as well as students Lin the University of Oregon, Lewis Id Clark College and Gladstone Igh School. I “It just seemed like a social jus te issue that I could get involved Ith,” said Clackamas student Shad lowney. “It’s something that I could I; it’s one of the outlets that I could ■The extremely passionate group Is decided to call themselves the leak for H.O.P.E. theater proj- lt, H.O.P.E. standing for Healing, Ipeniiess, Peace and Equality. I The original three-hour script was Photos by Karlin Johnson Clackamas Print ABOVE: At a recent rehearsal for “Lessons from Laramie,” a play based on “The Laramie Project,” student actors rehearse a scene about a medical update. RIGHT: Gladstone High School student Misty Downey and Clackamas student Elise Olsen rehearse a scene as two of Matthew Sheppard’s peers. shortened to about an hour perfor mance, so that it could be performed in schools and other various ven ues more conveniently. The group also added personal testimonies and a series of myths and facts about homosexuals to the end of their per formance, and decided to call then- version of the play “Lessons from Laramie.” “[ find [that acting is] a good medium to make a difference,” said Gladstone student David Havens. “I feel that there needs to be a difference in the way social justice works, as in the discrimination of people, whether it be homosexuals or racially or ethni cally or religious.” The cast hopes that people will come to see the production and leave with changed hearts. “I hope that people will see that there’s a group of people that real ly care strongly about an issue like this,” said Gladstone student Misty Downey. Some cast members hope that audience members will come into this and change just as they did. “I’m hoping that other people that have the same views that I did, that maybe were raised in church and taught that God hates gays, are going to'see that that’s not the case,” said Olsen. “That’s a big thing for me, for people that thought the same way that I did—that they weren’t homopho bic—to realize after they’ve seen this that they are.” For some the intent is much sim pler. “P think we are] just promoting tolerance at worst and acceptance at best,” said Shad Downey. Since the script is based on inter views with real people, the characters range from conservative Christians, to Matthew’s peers, to his family mem bers, leaving the show very open for audiences to relate to. “I think that [Matthew’s story is] really sad, but it’s something that everyone can connect to,” said Gladstone student Misty Downey. “Some people may think that it’s all about supporting gays and stuff, but it’s about supporting people. It’s something that can effect a lot of people’s lives no matter what you think.” Members of the cast have also been able to connect to the play, including Clackamas student Elise Olsen, who was able to relate to a character in the play that evolves by the end, becoming accepting of homosexuals. “When we read it for the first time, I really connected to Jedediah Shultz,” said Olsen. “That’s exactly who I was, like his whole transforma tion; that was exactly what I said to Danielle, ‘I don’t hate gay people, I just don’t agree with it,’—everything that [the character] says. [Then how he is] at the end of the play, that’s how I feel now.” Though the cast has not yet had their first performance, they have already experienced what they had hoped to through the changes in themselves. “I think that we’ve already hit some things that I’m pretty happy about,” said Scott. “A lot of [cast members’] views have changed on this. After that I think that if one per son changed their mind then we did something good.” The performance this Friday will be at 7:30 pom. and admission is free. Aside from this first performance, the group is working on getting a show booked at the University of Oregon on May 21, and is also work ing with Clackamas’ Rainbow Club to get a show booked here on cam pus. “Things happen in your life when you really need them,” said Scott. ‘1 have seen some really good sides of people and seen people committed to something where they don’t get any thing. They aren’t getting paid; they aren’t getting praise; they just think it’s realty important, and so at the end of the day when I’m finished with ‘Laramie’ [practice], I think human ity is good—-and that’s realty a good place for me to be.” ove of nature the basis behind Instructor Bown’s teaching Laura Cameron The Clackamas Print Max Porter Contributed photo iology Instructor Jennifer Bown is a favorite among students, Ping her incredible passion for biology to draw them in. Anyone involved in the Science department at Clackamas probably knows Biology Instructor Jennifer Bown. She is a favorite among her students, and it’s easy to see why. This Spring Break, those who went on toe annual Death Valley trip got to experience firsthand her enthusiasm, her love of biology, her great sense of humor, and her seem ingly endless supply of energy— when students dragged themselves out of their tents at 5:30 in toe morn ing, they were usually greeted by Bown’s excited, “Come on, guys! We’ve got lots to do today!” Of course, Bown is prob ably used to toe routine of Death Valley by now; she has helped lead Clackamas’ trip since 1994, and led similar trips from Reno for four years before that Her love of biol ogy dates back much further than that, however. “My whole life I’ve loved ani mals,” she explained. “Every vaca tion as a child, we had to hit the zoo or toe aquarium. It’s been a passion.” That passion is quite evident in her teaching. It’s not very often that one finds teachers who are so excit ed by their own material, but those who have had such teachers know just her students. “Jen is really enthusiastic and that they are often toe finest kind; loves what she does,” observed one gets swept up in their enthusi Geology instructor and fellow Death asm without really realizing it. Down in Death Valley, Bown Valley leader Sarah Hoover. “She’s great with working with students was toe one scrambling up the hill and helping them understand the side to see toe rattlesnake, leading subject. As a colleague, too, she’s late-night scorpion hunts with UV always there to point you in the right lamps and telling stories of eating chuckwallas and swimming with direction.” Bown’s also more than just pup fish. Back in toe classroom, she a teacher; an avid skier, she also fills her curriculum with real-world enjoys windsurfing, rock climbing, experiences and stories. and bird watching—plus a little “People need to be able to con nect to toe material in their own gardening, when she can find the way,” she said. “Of course, being time. She also loves to just sit and talk, trading stories, gossip and bad high-energy and motivated helps, jokes. She has a very warm, open too!” It may surprise some to know personality, which adds a great deal that Bown didn’t start out planning to toe connections between her and her students. to be a teacher. “She is life-enriching; a friend “Originally, I thought I’d be a among teachers,” sard student field biologist,” she said. “But then I sort of fell into teaching in graduate Angela Martindale. Indeed, whether she’s chasing school, and I really enjoyed it.” lizards, identifying birds, lectur So what happened to doing field ing on desert plants or just sitting work? around toe campfire and having a “Oh, I still enjoy field work, laugh, Jennifer Bown is a real and and with field classes you get to do both,” she said. “Now I think if unique treasure. She inspires both students and staff, and brings life to I’d been a field biologist, I’d have gone crazy! I like people too much a subject that a friend once described to spend a year in toe forest I’m a as “nothing but stuffed hunting tro phies and too much Latin.” people person.” “She’s toe best teacher I’ve ever This is also obvious to anyone who knows Bown, and she’s made had,” student Francine Dodson stat ed firmly. “Ever.” an impression on more people than
