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Clackamas Print
K (l e p e n d e n t, . s t u d e n t -
Las Community College, Oregon City, OR
r n n newspaper since 1966
__
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009
bama’s era begins
Volume 42, Issue 9
Grant cut
leaves students
staggering
I Lydia Emily Bashaw
II Editor-In-Chief
J
Contrilbuted by Obama Campaign
■dent Barack Obama was inaugurated into his role as the 44th President, in front of a purportedly record
iking .crowd on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in Washington DC. In his speech Obama expressed the need for Americans
tome together to fix the problems that have been created by everyone in the nation.
bonomie hardships freeze new hirings
“All of those positions are needed ... but you can’t hire back
every position you want in this budget climate,” Briare said.
Briare agrees with Truesdell that the silver lining to this
dark storm cloud is that this is a time to take into inventory
hr sur\ iving the media dubbed “Artic Blast” students are what is needed and how staff and faculty can be best utilized.
King back to college and facing a new cold front - a The wish is still that the cloud will soon pass
inB'aculty freeze.
“Every position there has a history. They’re all important in
»sage sent out to staff and faculty campus wide on different ways,” Briare commented, “They represent courses
)08, College President
being taught. . . It’s tough because
lesdell announced that
the full time faculty contribute much
; in the college’s fund-
more than just teaching classes.”
iool will stop processing
It is without a doubt that students
pplications to fill open
will be affected by the freeze as
nd the applications that
well as the departments. One of the
l being processed will
disadvantages Briare confirmed is
at under a more careful
going to be class sizes.
“Some of the class sizes have
increased,” he affirmed, also say
some positions will like-
ing, “(but) one of the advantages of
I, it is my hope that the
community colleges is smaller class
ty will stay open for the
” Truesdell stated.
sizes.”
' Even though the current budget
situation may look bleak, Briare
believes that there is hope to be
had;
“Clackamas has a history of
facing budget difficulties kind of
square,” he said, “We have a history
get shortfall of $450,000
•of pulling together in this.”
s due to statewide cuts
The emergency freeze in hiring
he governor as a result
teachers is just one way in which
lomic recession that the
the school will be trying to account
icing.
for gaps in the budget created by the
> money that we relied
recent economic climate.
Ito balance the current year’s
Among other options that are
Jet,” [Truesdell added in her
being pursued are an increase in
il.
tuition and using fees built up
peKning of the cessation
among the school’s departments to
iring couldn’t be at a more
cover the gaps.
punai time for Clackamas
Truesdell openly welcomes stu
to enrollment numbers that are
dents to voice their opinions on how
riiBasing, going from a total
Photo illustration by Kayla Berge and Lisa Sellars Clackamas Print
the school should cope with the
pilment headcount of 25,209
budget shortfall. To be heard you
le K15-2006 school year to
can leave her a voicemail at 503-657-6958 ext. 2405 or e-mail
108 in the course of 2007-2008.
budgetideas@clackamas.edu.
a result more students will be
If you would like to pose questions or share ideas with
■dingnewer classes.
Truesdell she would be willing to discuss them at the next fire
Recording to Truesdell, because
side chat on Feb. 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge
!is just a freeze in taking on new
located in the Community Center.
joyees and not a layoff, the
The Clackamas Print will be accepting letters to the editor
ity of instructors at Clackamas will not suffer as a result.
Dur goal will be to review the positions in light of quality, as to what you think the school should do as well. Letters can
^Ksdell adding that this is a time to, “Re-evaluate the be e-mailed to chiefed@clackamas.edu.
it positions for those currently hired.”
hllKiare, dean of arts, humanities and social sciences,
¡felt the impact of the recent cuts as his department has
Jo put some of the courses it previously offered, as well
ihn Hurlburt
Ls «¡for
I
Student Nate Cornell has taken
classes at Clackamas five times in the
last four years, and was enrolled for a
sixth term at the end of December, but
when the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission (OSAC) suspended its
Oregon Opportunity Grant program on
Nov. 30, Nate was left unable to pay his
tuition bill.
“I was all ready for the term,” said
Cornell. “But then the state told me that
they didn’t have any funds to help me
out. Now I’m just not sure how to afford
my classes and living.”
The Clackamas Financial Aid
Department sent letters out to students
on Dec. 8, with the news that OSAC had
suspended any awards for the remainder
of the current school year.
At press time, OSAC had not returned
calls on the number of students who were
affected by the program’s suspension.
Clackamas’ Financial Aid Department
also said that they didn’t know how
many students lost out on the grant for
winter and spring terms. Yet, according
to the OSAC Web site, 16 percent of the
grant’s funds went to Clackamas, with
over 60 percent going to Oregon com
munity colleges in 2006-2007.
For. those who had their financial aid
files completed before Nov. 26, they
will still receive the grant. However, as
of Nov. 23, no new Opportunity grants
would be handed out by-OSAC.
“Every student had their disburse
ment,” said Fayne Griffiths of Student
Financial Services, “if they had their
completed files.”
Community college students that are
eligible would have received up to $1,470
from the Opportunity Grant program.
The big question amongst students
is what, to do without the money. The
commission announced that it will be
minimizing award amounts for the next
two terms, with a $40 decrease in winter
and an $80 decrease in the spring. OSAC
hopes the extra money will be able to
support some of the students who missed
out.
“I’m hoping that something good hap
pens before spring term,” said Cornell.
“I really need to be at school, and I won’t
be able to afford things if this is the way
it plays out.”
Volleyball player Liz Johnson also
lost out on her grant for this term. Liz
Johnson travels more than an hour to
campus. Without the grant she is feeling
the pressure of the money she has not
going far enough. Any leftover school
funds were going to help her with medi
cal bills and the cost of gas.
“The only money I had left from last
term was about $100,” said Liz Johnson.
“I guess I’m trying to scrape by.”
According to Executive Director of
OSAC, Dennis Johnson, when the state’s
revenue started to go down, so did the
amount of money available for students.
“All things are down right now,” said
Dennis Johnson. “When the economy
tanked- a whole lot of money went away
and we had to stop all awards after the 30
(of November). Of course this happens
when we most need education.”
For now all that can be done is wait,
with the Oregon Legislature just start
ing its budget discussion. Students with
questions should speak to the Financial
Aid Department in Roger Rook.
“I kinda feel hung out to dry,” said
Liz Johnson. “But then T realize there are
sorer people out there.”