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
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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.
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•[Personal study and travel
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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.