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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2008)
Clackamas Print Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 Presidential candidates leave colle issues out of election discussi Despite many debates, presidential candidates still have not touched on financial issues for college students ■ Lydia Emily Bashaw I Editor in Cheif With a presidential election less than three weeks away, Americans keep asking the same question to the candi dates, “What are you saying?” Even more notable is the number of college students that are wondering what candidates will do for them. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have both failed in the eyes of college students when it comes to connecting the issues. “The biggest problem student's have right now is that no one is speaking out on our issues,” said Ashley Camden, first year student at Clackamas. “We want someone to talk about college affordability, the future of jobs and what it means to be a youth in America. Unfortunately, the only candidate who has even mentioned it is Obama, and financial aid, create programs even then the discussion is to help younger students pre pare for college, expand Pell lacking,” Camden continued. In the two debates so far Grants for low-income fami between the candidates - the lies and eliminate expensive first on Sept. 25 in Oxford, bank subsidies. However, Miss, and the second on Oct. the most 7 - there was applicable little to no piece of conversation Obama ’ s “We want some about what plan is the one to talk about each candidate Community is going to do College college afford for students. Partnership ability, thefuture Nevertheless, Program, though the which of jobs and what mainstream would help it means to be a discussions to strength youth in America. en commu have not nity colleg included stu Unfortunately, the es through dent issues, only candidate who there has been grants, cre ating new some conver has even mentioned sation directed associates it is Obama, and. programs at students. even then the dis and reward In a cam ing colleges. paign speech cussion is lacking.” McCain’s on Nov. 7, Web site 2007, Obama also outlines claimed that Ashley Camden his plans he wanted to freshman for what he make college wants to do affordable for for students. everyone. “That’s the best investment Some of his goals are to pre we can make in our future,” pare colleges and universities said Obama. for the 21st Century, increase Obama’s campaign Web tax benefits for those attend site, at barackobama.com, ing college, simplify the pro continued this cess for financial aid, improve statement by the. grant money going to providing a research programs at universi j delatled ■ plan ties and-? fix the student lend of the chang ing programs. When McCain’s es he would press office was contacted to make to help expand on these ideas, no one students. was available for comment. One of Despite the information these is the available, the economy has American taken the forefront. Without Opportunity detailed discussion about their Tax Credit, issues, students are still not which would convinced. give an imme “It is not that I do not diate $4,000 believe that they support col refund credit lege students,” said Joshua to anyone Ragin, another Clackamas stu paying tuition. dent. “It is thé fact that nei This refund ther candidate has put down would cover a clear cut path of how they two-thirds of are going to help us. We are the cost of not middle class Americans; most public most of us have not even got colleges and ten the chance to become part universities. of a class. We are not in the Obama’s military, so veterans’ benefits other goals are do not touch most of us. We to simplify the are just left out. No one is application talking about how we are the. process for ones who have to keep this country running after (the candi dates) are dead and gone.” After three debates, Americans are still seek ing answers to questions no one cares to fol low up on. Following the two presi dential debates, CNN reported online that 55 percent of view ers were still left with unan swered ques tions. However, on CNN’s forum many voters said that it was clear that Obama won the first two debates, but that fact did not clinch their vote.. “I am not 100 percent in either direction,” said OBAMA Kerry Calistero, a registered Republican and Clackamas student. “I think that the last debate will really help me clinch my decision. I am sure there are many other students in the same place as I am.” The current campaign has turned to the economy, the war in Iraq and healthcare. With the largest number of new voters to date, some are won dering when the issues will be directed at them. Yet, most agree that, either way, the best choice is still to vote. “Everyone needs to régis- ter, and everyone their ballot turm Henry Truey, a v MyDebates.com, interview. “It doesn’t i you agree with; i is getting your and telling peopl think the best dei America. People said, ‘If you don can’t bitch.’ What have said is, ‘I vote, you can’t s whether America ceeds.’” The next presidenza will be held Oct. 151 It will be aired on al broadcast static Ballots must be drop no later than 8 p.m. o day, Nov. 4. Postmark count. GREEN: grant fuels sustainable courses and campus chani Continued from GREEN, Page 1 “We’re always refreshing content, why not do it with something good?” Truesdell said. Vice President of College The Clackamas Print The Clackamas Print 19600 S. Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 503-657-^958, ext. 2309 Services Courtney Wilton hopes that the grant money and these courses will help “reach out to the students whether it is in the short term or the long term.” Wilton also hopes that the new sustainable courses will help attract new students to the school and increase enroll ment. The. grant proposal was the brainchild of five dedicated staff members, who Truesdell estimated put in about 60 hoilrs Editor in Chief: Lydia Emily Bashaw Copy Editor: Smily Walters Associate News Editor: John Hurlburt A&C Editor: Jess Sheppard Associate Sports Editor: Matt Garrison Photo Editors: Kaj^a Berge and John Shufelt Photo Associates : Robert Crawford and Lisa Sellers of work from starting with brainstorming sessions to actu ally sending in the letter. Mike Mattson, Bill Briare, Theresa Tuffli, Hoyt and Truesdell worked throughout the sum mer in order to get the grant A d M anager : Meredith James P roduction A ssistants : Ashley Campos, Lindsay Hofer, S taff W riters / and Kelsey Schneider P hotographers : Dale Balbi, Jon Helmkamp, Zach Oldham, J ournalism A dviser : Matthew Ostergren, Megan Melissa Jones Shaw, and Mistymarie Wilks-Salguero D epartment S ecretary : Pat Thompson finished by its deal The grant is » ally reoccurring, money must be use 30, 2009, the date expires. G oals : The Clackamas Pii to report the news in an he unbiased, professiona I mai The opinions expressed doi necessarily reflect those of I student body college a dmii tration, its faculty or The Pt E-mail comments to chiefa clackamas.edu.
