4 Feature
Clackamas Prin
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Bookstore lovin’
The Clackamas
Bookstore director sets
the record straight
Derek Erikson
The Clackamas Print
Laura Cameron
The Clackamas Print
Most students do not see the
Clackamas Bookstore as a pleas
ant place. Its image is tarnished as
a reminder of the massive amounts
of money every student must shell
out for books each term.
David Holcomb, the director
of the Bookstore, would like to
change that.
“We’re on your side,” Holcomb
said.
Holcomb, who is also in charge
of the mail room and oversees
Clackamas’ contract with its food
vendor, has been the director of
the Bookstore since June 2001.
He says that running a bookstore
is unlike other retail jobs.
“Selling textbooks is unique
because someone else chooses
what we sell,” says Holcomb.
“Then we have to go out and find
the books. Obviously, we try to
find as many used books as pos
sible.”
While many students might
greet that with skepticism,
Holcomb does understand the
financial burden books put on
students.
“I’m getting my MBA at anoth
er college,” Holcomb explains. “I
don’t get a discount for work
ing in a bookstore, so I know
exactly how expensive textbooks
can be.”
The Clackamas Bookstore has
several programs in place to help
students out. One they began just
this term is a five percent discount
on all new books. They are also
one of the first 30 bookstores
in the country to start a digi
tal book program, and they have
an arrangement with Snap-On
Racing to get automotive students
the tools they need at a discount.
“We’re trying to show we have
SMYRC brings hope
to LGBTQ teenagers
Adam J. Manley Clackamas Print
The teenage years are
supposed to be the best
years of one’s life, but for
many young kids, it can be
a time of intense confu
sion, depression and pain.
Coming-of-age for these
teenagers means learning
that they have a differ
ent sexual orientation than
what is considered “the
norm.”
Fortunately, there is an
organization to help kids
through troubled times.
SMYRC,
the
Sexual
Minority Youth Resource
Center, is available to offer
kids healthy alternatives
instead of destroying them
selves.
For those under 23 that
are confused or nervous
about their new found sex
uality, there is free coun
seling available.
SMYRC offers “assess
ment, individual treatment,
groups, couples and fam
ily therapy” all at ho cost,
according to their web
site. Other than counseling
they offer “skill building”
groups such as art, writing,
tutoring, etc.
SMYRC also has social
periods where youths can
interact with other LGBTQ
(lesbian, gay, bisexual,
Bookstore employee Ted Walker helps a customer with his
purchase in the Clackamas Bookstore, located in McLoughlin.
empathy,” Holcomb said. “We are
open to try anything it takes to
keep prices reasonable.”
While coordinating orders,
shipping and stocking is diffi
cult, Holcomb and the rest of the
bookstore staff pride themselves
on keeping that difficulty from
reaching the students.
“Ideally, no one ever knows
how hard it is to get the books on
transsexual, and questions
teens over a game of po(
or while watching a movi
There is also a full kitchf
and a library; occasional!
they have live shows and pe
formances.
The organization offer
chances to volunteer or inter
as well. Some of these volui
teers are a part of “Bridge 1]
a group that travels around t
schools and teaches a worl
shop about the issues faced!
lesbians and gays in moder
America.
Workshops outline some)
the proper terminology a
how to use it. It explains rl
difference between common!
confused terms, such as "tran
gender” and “transsexual.”
The ultimate goal of tl
workshops is to create i
atmosphere that allows peop
to open up and simply |
themselves.
SMYRC also works to ke
battered youth out of pro
titution, which is a comm
problem amongst LGB1
teens that have been throi
out of their homes because,
the intolerance of their guan
ians.
People interested in hel
ing out with SMYRC can vo
unteer, donate money or
item off of the organization
wish list, or just spread i
message of tolerance.
For more information,?
the SMYRC website at http
www. smyrc. org.
the shelves,” he says. “We want
our customers to have a seamless
process in getting their books.”
Despite the financial stigma
attached to the store, Holcomb
enjoys his work.
“Our purpose is to help people
get an education,” Holcomb said.
“Being able to see that happen
... well, it makes me feel really
good.”
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