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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2008)
feature Clackamas Print Wednesday, March 5, 2008 3 Club guy’ helps the campus nd hopes for life in Hollywood le native enjoys position tudent government while lying for transfer degree rnondo Borboa Clackainas Print i college community is often a hodge- ■f of various extreme hobbies and ; activities. People frequently get er to I share their general political air their thoughts on life and religion ,;n, strangely enough, discuss their of origin. of these interests fall under the pur- >f Student Senator Javier Montero. It ntero’s job to help students develop deas and submit them through the ubK)cess. e know people are interested in dif- I stuff,” he said, “so we help them it the necessary paperwork, find an ;r anBmake it official.” /ery But going personality and a love traction with new people are critical ■ents for this student government Friendly and engaging, Montero o problem answering questions or ing time with students to get them all communications major, his interests torn art and film to stage and screen, opes eventually to move down to ]vood,|Calif., and work in the film industry. On-campus groups range from religious Christian organizations such as the Latter- day Saints Student Association (LDSSA), to the political Clackamas Community College Republicans, to alternative interests including the Gay Straight Alliance. There are also academic groups, like the Horticulture Club, and honor societies such as the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). As the appointed “club guy” for the student government, Montero is the liai son between student-run organizations, the campus hierarchy and any special needs or equipment they might request. Already this year, he has helped students kick off two new special interest clubs: the REAL club, a Hispanic-interest group; and the Veterans Club, a military veterans association. Club liaison is a job Montero fell into last year almost by accident. While taking a French class with friend and fellow senator Nancy Baltazar, he was encouraged to join the Student Senate by Baltazar instead of just hanging out between classes. “I looked around a bit, filled out an application and submitted it to the student government,” he explained. “I said I’d be willing to take any position, and they assigned me as the club liaison. Fortunately, it worked out really well.” Originally hailing from Chile, Montero was 14 years old when his family came to the United States for his brother’s wedding. The family later decided to stay perma nently. Mistymane Wilks-Salguero Clackamas Print Student Senator Javier Montero works the concession stand during a home basketball game for the Associated Student Government. Now 21, Montero is a scholarship student studying for a transfer degree. He hopes to eventually attend a higher university. “I love working with people,” he said. This is fortunate for him because his scholarship is devoted to service toward the community and volunteer work. “When I first started my community service, the organizers usually asked me what prison I had come from,” he said with a laugh. ‘1 guess most people don’t think of ‘community service’ the same way I thought of it.” Students interested in joining a campus club can see the full organization list by visiting the college Web page and looking under the “current students” tab and then “student clubs.” To become involved in student government, call 503-657-6958, ext 2245. Veterans: VA to assist with meetings Continued from VETERANS, Page 1 ■lot all learning occurs in the classroom. We know that ;nd so do you. You may be able to earn up to one year swardwour bachelor's degree for your college level sarning from: In addition to being the veterans service coor dinator and a financial aid assistant, Maggard has also volunteered as the Veterans Club adviser. Although all service members are told about their G.I. Bill benefits before their discharge, the military does not explain the details of how to access their educational benefits. That is where the school’s own Veterans Affairs (VA) office and people like Maggard come in. “We are trying to work out a system of getting the veterans into my office when they initially reg ister as students,” Maggard said. “Once here, we can get them financial aid, scholarships, grants and many other benefits they are entitled to.” According to rough statistics supplied by the Clackamas Veterans Affairs office, approximately one third of all veterans attending the college are vocational rehabilitation students. These are the people who have suffered extreme physical trauma and must now learn to live and work with a dis ability. The Veterans Club’s focus is more than simply educational assistance. The group is concerned just as much with veterans’ mental and emotional health, offering aid and fellowship from others who have been through similar experiences. “We have been talking to the local chapter of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and the Clackamas County VA office,” Cooper said, “and they are all onboard with helping us out.” The local VFW has promised its help in the form of fundraising, proposing making its meeting hall available for use by the club. The county VA office has made similar pledges, guaranteeing all the assistance it can provide. “Even current students, who have been attend ing Clackamas for a year or longer, are eligible to receive their benefits retroactively,” Maggard said. “So we hope to reach out to people who might have fallen between the cracks.” The club’s first organizational meeting will be March 5 for the election of officers and to set the group’s agenda for the year. For more information, call Jonathan Cooper at 503-312-8338 or Sharon Maggard at 503-657- 6958, ext. 2554. •ICommunity and volunteer service •jOn-the-job and corporate training •[Personal study and travel *RIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT INFORMATION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 6:30-8:00 P.M. OOM 200, BP JOHN ADMINISTRATION BLDG. ALL 503.699.6260 TO REGISTER. FREE. AARYLHURST UNIVERSITY orthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredited emotional Assembly for Collegiate Business Education accredited 600 PACIFIC HIGHWAY (HWY. 43) ARYLHURST, OREGON - ONE MILE SOUTH OF LAKE OSWEGO cademic excellence since 1893. www.marylhurst.edu )0.634.9982 Kyle Steele Clackamas Print One of the Veterans Club flyers posted on campus, inviting anyone to come to meetings, the first of which will be today at 1 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge in the Community Center.
