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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2006)
Clackamas Print Feature 5 Wednesday, May 17, 2006 peech team wins bronze ye medals overall national tournament / :-i ClACKAMAf It i QMS’ Continued from PAUL, Page 2 ' Speech 41*“" Photos by Lara Hedbor Clackamas Print igan Koler Oickamas Print ie forensic speech team is to Clackamas after win- silver and bronze in the Phi Pi National Tournament in as City, Kansas. 'hi Rho Pi was established 21 and past winners include Brokaw, Oprah Winfrey lim Belushi,” said Speech hDr. Kelly Brennan. “It is al because it only includes [ear colleges.” ve students, Callie weile, Laura O’Neill, Nguyen, Devin Graham irin Brennan, attended the ament. Three of the five its managed .to medal at vent. They brought back silver and four bronze Is. Clackamas also gained nze medal for its overall veinent as a school, lackamas has not yet a gold medal, but we will stop trying,” explained nan. lere were 11 different PAUL: meth problem hits hard events to compete in and each student was required to com pete in at least three. There are also four cate gories for students to choose from: interpretive (reciting poetry and prose), platform (informative), limited prepara tion and debate. “The debates this year included topics like Iraq, Social Security, FEMA ... mostly national topics,” said Brennan. Brennan said one of his favorite topics debated was whether or not the Democrats will take over the White House in the next presidential elec tion. He says he enjoys see ing students debate because it shows they are able to articu late what is going on in current events on an adult level. “It is unfortunate that we BRENNAN don’t have the funds to send is very pleased with what many students,” explained Clackamas has accomplished Brennan. “We used to send and is looking forward to next about 16 students to the tour fall. Clackamas received silver nament, but now we can only in the 2006 statewide tourna afford to send eight.” ment. The competition season is A complete list of all win over for the year, but Brennan ners at the Phi Rho Pi tour nament can be found at http://phirhopi.org, and a story on the speech team can be found on Clackamas News Online at http ://www2. clackamas. edu. Anyone can contact Brennan at (503) 657-6958, ext. 2726, and at kellyb@clackamas.edu. PUT A FOUNDATION UNDER YOUR DREAMS M —. . — ■ We Provide Training & Support for These Exciting Careers Medical Transcriptionist | work from home Court Reporter | $64,500 average income In i A Paralegal | $42,000 median income Correctional Officer | high demand C ollege of L egal A rts Financial aid available for those who qualify 503-223-5100 CollegeofLegalArts.com Paul has been target ing the streets near the “Felony Flats” area of Clackamas (Southeast Foster Road to the north, and 52nd and 82nd ave nues on the west and east). Much of the prob lem with meth revolves around drug houses and dealers contributing to urban decay around Clackamas Town Center, according to Paul. “I’ve worked at the street level to ‘deal’ with drug dealing,” said Paul. Meth use is gradually being curtailed, accord ing to Paul, because it is getting more difficult to obtain. Paul attributes this to Oregon’s law requiring grocery stores and pharmacies to keep meth’s main ingredient, ephedrine, behind the counter. Meth use amongst 8th and 11th graders has sur passed marijuana accord ing to Paul. He also noted that meth has been popular, but differences between meth and pre scription drugs are often blurred by the black mar ket. “Street meth is more powerful, to the second degree,” said Paul. “It’s super-meth.” Paul has seen the impact meth can have on households first-hand while on ride alongs with Clackamas County sher iffs. “[You] wade through garbage, uneaten food, bath tubs filled with human waste, and then you see a child’s blanket and clothes,” said Paul. One of the worst con sequences of meth use is the affect on children. “[We] also have chil dren who are sexually abused,” said Paul “Meth produces more dopamine than all other drugs.” Meth users “become hyper-sexual.” Foster homes are scarce, and when a child is removed from a family affected by meth, juve niles tend to be placed in unused portions of jails. Paul sees this as a prob lem. “There aren’t enough foster homes to take these kids. You’ll see a push by the state and media outlets in June to get more foster homes,” said Paul. Eventually, a habitual abuser will need meth to feel normal, said Paul. The effects include neu rological damage. “Meth produces a spike in brainwaves,” said Paul. “The crash produces deep, deep spikes,” he added. Generally, meth con tributes to workplace and identity theft - it’s non violent and low-risk said Paul.
