4
Clackamas Print
The secrets
of campus
lovers
. John Hurlburt
11 The Clackamas Print
In the wake of Valentine’s Day, peo
ple may still have the image embedded
in their minds of two individuals trying
to inhale each other’s souls through their
mouths.
The scene is likely familiar to those
who have stepped foot in public: a cou
ple passionately clinging to one another
while passersby are forced to either wit
ness the display or find a new interest in
the way they tie their shoes.
At what point does a show of affec
tion become an annoyance?
In the eyes of student Michaela
Carlson, it’s when holding hands or a
quick hug and a kiss develop into more
than just that
“I wish people would keep their per
sonal relationships a bit more personal,”
Carlson said. “Any place where there is
a lot of student traffic, in my opinion,
would not be an appropriate place for
people to be making out.”
Some free expressions of fond
ness appall Alexander Costa. His most
memorable observation of such a sight
involves a pregnant woman smoking a
cigarette and embracing her partner, just
outside the cafeteria.
“Kissing is fine in public,” Costa said,
“but using tongue and sexual gestures I
find unclassy and sort of disgusting.”
Many wish not to see unrestricted
exhibits of liking and love, and at the
same time, those who are kissing often
do not wish to be watched.
One exception is student Brandon
Buss, who doesn’t mind an audience but
prefers a quieter place.
‘It’s a natural thing,” Buss said.
Buss’ opinion is that as long as people
are not making a scene or getting in
anyone’s way, their conduct shouldn’t
matter.
Cassie Wellington doesn’t care
whether or not couples make out provid
ing that it is not out in the open.
“After a certain point... it becomes
a get-a-room type of thing,” Wellington
said.
Although getting a room on campus
isn ’t an option, a few areas are out of the
view of the general populace.
For example, near the Environmental
Learning Center, northeast of Clairmont
Hall, a network of paths runs through a
lightly forested region in a circle around
a pond.
Student Stephen Ragsdale believes
the spot is a suitable place for a romantic
B
moment alone
“Anywhere outside should be OK,”
he added
However, there is one notable down
side to the paths - they are fairly primi
tive, and much of the ground is typically
muddy, so it would be wise to put on an
inexpensive pair of shoes before taking
to the trails.
Another perhaps-appropriate location
for somewhat intimate relations is the
forest just east of the Pauling Center.
Although there is not a lot of cover,
some spaces in between the trees provide
opportunities to lie back and relax.
According to Buss, one problem with
the site is the lack of seats.
“The ground’s just too hard,” he
said.
. For individuals who are uncomfort
able watching others polish their part
ner’s teeth, the good news is that open
public displays of affection on campus
do not appear to be the norm
Costa says that he only sees people
making out about once a month at the,
college. Carlson confirms this; thank
fully, she doesn’t observe the scenario
very often.
So, to anyone feeling the desire
to engorge someone else’s face, just
remember todo so courteously and keep
innocent bystanders in mind.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008
Feati
Instructor talks fair ne
ous basic rights that married a medical emergency and they were annulled;
couples have.
rights concerning a deceased never happened in
The law “gives us cer partner.
sense.”
tain legal benefits through
As far as the
“You really want to have
which we had to pay a lot families and people to be partnership goes, fot
of money to try to get even protected under the law and it was all about obta
part of those on
our own, by doing
wills and power
of attorneys and
all kinds of stuff,”
Burnell said.
11 Feature Editor
The
court’s
opinion was a big
On Feb. 4 gay couples success for gay
lined up in front of Oregon rights advocates.
domestic
courthouses, awaiting their The
chance to sign up for the partnership bill
originally
opportunity that would allow was
them to receive some of the signed by Gov.
rights that many heterosexu Ted Kulongoski
on May 9, 2007,
al couples take for granted.
The
legalization
of to be effective
domestic partnerships in at the beginning
Oregon passed through a of 2008, but a
federal judge Friday, Feb. 1, court challenge
the
taking effect the following postponed
outcome of the
Monday.
Clackamas’ own Carol legislation until
when
Burnell, an English instruc recently,
tor at the college for the past the judge ruled in
four years and the adviser of the favor of the Carol Burnell recounts her string of attempts to gain marri
equality rights for her and her partner.
the Gay Straight Alliance, state.
“Not only did
decided along with her part
ner to wait until Valentine’s we win on the
paper that would pi
merits of the case; we really be safe,” Burnell said.
Day to register.
This isn’t the first time family with a lit
“We joke about getting won new rights,” said Jeana
domesticated,” Burnell said. Frazzini, executive director that Burnell has attempted of mind. She com
The couple has been of Basic Rights Oregon, to to get fair representation commitment and thi
together for six and a half The Oregonian after the rul for her family by means of ny that she and he
Oregon law. In 2005, when held five years a
years, and had a formal ing Feb.1.
Some of the privileges that Multnomah County was important than ai
ceremony with friends and
family five years ago. Even gay couples can now enjoy briefly offering gay mar afterward.
“ ... Actually b<
though, in their eyes, they through the bill, known as riage, they signed up.
“We got our $60 check ried to someone, thi
have been married since the Oregon Family Fairness
that time, Oregon law did Act, are property rights, the back in the mail,” Burnell private, personal th
not recognize them as such. ability to make decisions for said. “They were basically opinion, and the otl
This left them without vari- one’s partner in the case of canceled. I don’t even think the legal part,” Bui
Burnell and her
partnerfinally recieve
rights that only hetero
sexual couples have
enjoyed
, Kyle Steele
Welcoming a new United States citii
Kenton Benfield
wrong.
Additionally, Ljucevic has
a unique backstory.
He and his family traveled
from former Yugoslavia -
now Bosnia and Herzegovina
— to the United States Feb. 7,
2002.
“Since that time, I am here
in Portland with my family,”
he said.
Upon arriving in the
States, Ljucevic worked to
expand his knowledge of the
English language and began
the naturalization process to
become a United States citi
Getting to this point was
not easy.
“We were a little bit under
depression,” Ljucevic said.
It seems that “behind the
“It is not really easy com
scenes” is all the rage - bands
ing from another continent,
offer backstage passes, DVD
another war. Every day you
movies have “making of’
are not sure what is going
commentary and news junk
on; the (United States) gov
ies want insider information
ernment could change the
on politics and the latest gos
requirements (for registra
tion) ... or change some
sip.
Engineering Team Leader
thing. We came here legal
Hilmo Ljucevic is familiar
ly ... all of this had scary
with the unseen operations
moments.”
One fear was that the
of the college. His job is one
government would delay the
that, when done right, no
registration process to
becoming a citizen,
which would have
made it more difficult
for Ljucevic to find
work. Citizenship is a
requirement for many
jobs, and this resulted
in him initially miss
ing out on opportuni
ties for which he was
otherwise eligible.
He was finally able
to get a position here
at Clackamas.
Ljucevic was origi
nally hired as a high
voltage integrated cir
cuit control technician.
Among other things,
Kenton Benfield Clackamas Print
this qualifies him for
Hilmo Ljucevic monitors the school’s temperature control for each
maintenance work and
building. The system allows him to adjust it from anywhere.
to control much of the
campus utility infra
structure, including
\
water, power, gas consump
one likely notices and, thus, zen.
is taken for granted, but it is
He was sworn in as a citi tion for the heating boilers
significant in that it would zen after scoring an impres and temperature control.
Upon receiving his citi
most definitely be a topic of sive 100 percent on his citi
zenship, Ljucevic was asked
discussion if something went zenship exam Jan. 9.
The Clackamas Print
to define his I
goals. He joked tl
the mayor of Portia
not be so bad, refit
new sense of op
that was now open
He has since beei
ed to engineering ti
or head control eng
One example of
day task Ljucevic n
form is the operatit
temperature contro
for the college.
From within L
office, or anywhet
world, the entire cat
be monitored by a
computer system th
constantly-updated
tion about the tempi
every room. Mosto
tern is automated I
chart of his desi|
ever, custom alterat
be implemented in
through the Web int
In one instance,
jokingly implied
would have been
connect through thi
and alter some settii
staying in Europe
The changes woi|
occurred almost ins
Oregon.
It is so flexible
anyone on campus C
request to adjust the
ature of any room, I
need only contact
and request the chai
The next time t
doesn’t notice the
ture of a room on ca
or she can thank Lju
a job well-done.