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
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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.