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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2008)
2 Clackamas Print N Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 Political forum educates studen with facts to help the crowd understand. He also used humor to get his ideas across, such as an anecdote of an epi F8 The Clackamas Print sode of “The Simpsons.” “All the greatest philosophy is in cartoons,” said Darris, More than 150 students referring to the political sat gathered in front of the Bill ire in the episode featuring Brod Community Center yes Homer’s abduction by aliens terday to listen to four speech just prior to the Clinton-Dole team members and one fac presidential election in 1996. Ki He also stated that the elec ulty member discuss the fac tual sides of the political cam tion is about more than just the presidency, with impor paign* Speech instructor Kerrie tant races in Congress and the Hughes, along with Associated various state legislatures. However, it was obvious Student Government, political science instructor Dean Darris that his greatest goal was to and the Clackamas Speech and get people thinking and ques Debate team hosted a two- tioning politics on their own. “With education and clar hour event dedicated to edu- ity comes knowl eating and moti edge,” said vating students in Darris. the current politi “I turn on Students’opin cal election. The ions were mixed, the T.V. and goal was to help with some show students under get the same ing more enthusi stand both the B. informa asm than others. Republican and grw “I was tired Democratic politi tion, only of watching the cal platforms. with a big presidential “I have been involved in poli- debates because ger crowd tics for the last all they do is slan cheering.” der each other. few years,” said Jay Sabin, one of That’s no real Dave Ross way to debate,” the. Democratic Student said student debaters. “I feel Daniel Birch. that when I’m The overall more involved, attitude of the I’m more motivat event was best ed. (Politicians) speak in languages we don’t summed up by Birch when understand. I wanted to speak he shared his desire to learn in a language we (students) more. “I wish they would actu- understand.” The event began with the ally teach (politics) in the four debaters — two represent classes,” said Birch. “Not ing the Republicans and two only do the homework, but representing the Democrats go. online and do the research. A group of students sits and listens as the debaters discuss which tax plan will aff — explaining both platforms This is your future. of the presidential candidates Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Sabin and Taylor Hamann formed the Democratic panel while Byron Bartlett and Stephanie Bacheoder repre sented the Republican side. The discussion included the current economic crisis, taxes, health care, education and defense spending. However, some students felt that the debate team was just restating the same infor mation in the same manner as the televised debates. “I turn on the T.V. and get the same things, only with a bigger crowd cheering,” said first-term student Dave Ross. Between the debate and the forum, Hughes stated the importance of students researching on their own, voting and feeding into their desire to learn more. In the second portion, Darris led a question and answer session for anyone present. Students fielded questions regarding nonpartisan voting, national debt and campaign LEFT: Speech and Debate Team members, Taylor Hamann and Jay Sabin wait for their turn to speak about Demoa spending. Darris fired back on education. RIGHT: Instructor Dean Darris answers a student’s question on defense spending. Lydia Emily Bashaw MatÔstergren ■ X The Clackamas Print The Clackamàs Print 19600 S. Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 503-657-6958, ext. 2309 Editor in Chief: Lydia Emily Bashaw Copy Editor: Emily Walters Associate News Editor: John Hurlburt A&C Editor: Jess Sheppard Associate Sports Editor: Matt Garrison Photo Editors:-Kavla Berge and John Shufelt Photo Associates: Robert Crawford and Lisa Sellars A d M anager : Meredith James P roduction A ssistants : Ashley Campos, Lindsay Hofer, S taff W riters / P hotographers : Mistymarie Wilks-Salguero Jon Helmkamp, Nick Komafel, and Kelsey Schneider Zach Oldham, Matthew Ostergren, Megan Shaw, and J ournalism A dviser : Melissa Jones D epartment S ecretary : Pat Thompson G oals : The Clackamas Pi to report the news in anh unbiased, professional^ ITie opinions expressed necessarily reflect those d student body, college adi tration, its faculty or W E-mail comments to dw clackamas.edu.
