Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2008)
sature Clackamas Print Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 3 lack Student Union struggles to find voice at Clackamas, 1,813 of whom are full-time. According to once-popular Black the last enrollment manage ment report of the college, entudnion has taken in 2006, at that time a tried after a year mere 13.2 percent of students were racial minorities — mean a half absence but ing that an estimated 4,080 has'lo overcome individuals were of a racial icles to become the minority - and 239 were tak ing a full-time course load. it once was These numbers are split in Hurlburt Print Monday, Feb. 12, the 008 meeting of the Black it Union was held on \s, Only to be canceled 'inures after its start due c oflattendance. ! Black Student Union is w to Clackamas by any , but it has been defunct proximately a year and ,iy Davis, a counselor at liege, has been trying to : the club. His efforts, /s, have been met with enthusiasm from stu- t, considering the recent ag cancellation, is there h enthusiasm to enable SU to once again hold ,? I stated in the winter term catalog, in 2006-2007, > students were enrolled between Asians and Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics. The percentage of African American students, in par ticular, is uncertain because, the college demographics have changed since the 2006 enrollment report; - The number of black stu dents at Clackamas has risen in the past few years, said Kristin Christophersen, the former adviser of the Black Student Union. In the near future, the school will likely experience an increase in stu dents who are of an ethnic minority, making an absence of interest in the BSU more disheartening. Apathy toward campus diversity is not a recent devel opment; in fact, it led to the initial decline of the Black Student Union almost two years ago. According to Christophersen, the club was set in motion during ROFESSIONAL STUDIES the 2003-2004 school year, and the first president was Brendon Campbell. With the direction of Christophersen and Counselor Guadalupe Martinez, Campbell led the group with a charisma that has been unmatched since he left Clackamas. “He was the first presi dent of the organization and really the impetus for creat ing the Black Student Union,” Martinez said. “He really ral lied the troops.” Under Campbell’s leader ship, the BSU made a list of both long- and short-term goals, including raising funds for a scholarship, networking with other colleges’ BSUs and having a soul-food cookout. The cookout took place while Campbell was still pres ident, but many of the club’s additional ambitions were eventually forgotten. Davis aspires for the Black Student Union to become a place where African American students can experience a connection with those around them. He hopes that it will help “break away from the ignorance” that surrounds certain cultures. Davis’ job in the BSU is simply to advise. Once the group gets rolling again, its members will determine its role within the school and community. The Black Student Union Kayla Berge Clackamas Print - Black Student Union Adviser Tony Davis posts information on the diversity board in the Community Center. will have its next two meet ings Feb. 25 and 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Community Center’s Fireside Lounge. The club is not exclusive to black students; anyone who is interested in the celebration of black culture is welcome to attend. Counselins Center offers assistance Nick Romaici [ The Clackamas Print Having a difficult time with registration, mid terms or life in general? Since the college opened in 1966, it has offered students psychiatric help by way of its counselors, who can be found in the Community Center. Counselor and Co-chair Guadalupe Martinez assists students with dilemmas ranging from money issues to mental health problems. “They aren’t referred to as patients,” Martinez said. “They’re students seeking help.” Stress and relationship issues rank among the most common problems for which individuals seek guidance. Although Martinez is a well-rounded coun selor, she specializes in multicultural counseling. Foreign students who have trouble fitting into American culture may come to her for support. Martinez has found that the highest number of students visit her and other counselors in the wintertime due to seasonal stress. Finals week is also a particularly emotionally-taxing period. Clackamas has five full-time counselors, some of whom are by-appointment and, there fore, meet students at designated times. Others are on-call, for individuals who are having a crisis situation and need to speak with someone right away. Students who have sought counseling at the college don’t seem to be disappointed by the help they have received. Josh Sanchez consulted Counselor Casey Sims about his struggles to manage stress and, with Sims’ encouragement, was eventually able to determine what classes he should take. “It was extremely helpful and motivating,” Sanchez said. “I would definitely recommend it for any student.” ONVENIENCE FOR THE /ORKING ADULT 3S BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP 3A COMMUNICATION STUDIES iA ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION JS REAL ESTATE STUDIES pring Term Starts March 31st -LASSES SCHEDULED EVENINGS, WEEKENDS AND ONLINE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS ■MALL, SEMINAR-STYLE CLASSES î meet with an advisor, call 503.699.6268 < e-mail studentinfo@marylhurst.edu. ARYLHURST UNIVERSITY thwesf Commission on Colleges and Universities accredited motional Assembly for Collegiate Business Education accredited >00 PACIFIC HIGHWAY (HWY. 43) RYLHURST, OREGON - ONE MILE SOUTH OF LAKE OSWEGO »demie excellence since 1893. 0.634.9982 www.marylhurst.edu Mistymarie Wilks-Salguero Clackamas Print A student receives advice from Paul Creighton, left, in the Advising Center, located in the Community Center. The’college has provided counseling since its opening in 1966.
