First copy FREE, additional copies 1^
Clackamas Print
hidependent,* student-run newspaper since 1966 available online at Th ec 1 ac k a m asp ri nt. c o m
jjs Community College, Oregon City, OR
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ooting
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v Neet
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lackamas Print
In people were injured
|o killed after a lone
|n opened fired outside
ne nightclub in dowli-
vn Portland on Saturday,
|.24. around 10:30 p.m.
The suspected gunman,
beak-old Erik Salvadore
jala, was found at the scene
tti I self-inflicted gunshot
B to the head.
Bong the victims were
foaeign exchange students,
Backamas High school stu-
it Hid the manager of a
rbylbusiness.
B motive for the attack is
1 aider investigation, but
■Bias been disclosed in the
Hicejeport that, the shoot-
> did not have to do with
Be nationality of the victims,
victims did noth-
^Hpark the shootings.
^Bitness in the investiga-
w reported that lately Ayala
Id been depressed, but that
■gave no inclination to act
|a violent manor.
lA larch of Ayala’s house
link a note that he had
to his roommates in
ch he insinuated thoughts
■mitting suicide, as well
letiling the dispersion of
Rerty.
[he Zone is a 21-and-
ler nightclub located on
itheist 2nd Avenue and
te greet.
In light of the shootings,
skarn is students are tom
tut Ijow safe they would
I about going back to The
ne.
he.
Plgent Nichole Howe
I Is gone to The Zone
S sgiken by the news-
Bat really makes me
|ed." Howe said adding,
Ebstly would not feel
ing there again.”
ent Jacob Best, who
I also gone to The Zone,
Is Bfferently.
■ would still go there,”
1st slid. “It doesn’t make a
^■ncc. something bad is
|ng to happen in all plac-
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009
Volume 42, Issue 10
New light shines for vets
John Hurlburt
I News Editor
Public perception of war in
our nation has always been a
rollercoaster ride full of pas
sionate climbs and devastat
ing drops, depending on the
political climate.. The unfortu
nate side effect of this nausea
inducing ride is that all too
often the needs of veterans are
left by the wayside.
Now however, thanks to a
community pulling together,
Clackamas Community College
is boasting an all new Veterans
Center to help fulfill the needs
of veterans returning to the
civilian world. It’s the first of
its kind in Clackamas County.
Nestled in the back of the
first floor of DeJardin Hall
in a location Veterans Club
President Casey Curry calls,
“surreal, serene and relax
ing,” is the first incarnation of
Clackamas’ Veterans Center.
The area is out of the way
from where most foot traffic
takes place oh campus and is
often very quiet. Both factors
are much needed for veterans
according to Bill Zuelke, dean
of student services.
“They (veterans) need a
quiet place where they can
decompress,” Zuelke said add
ing that research shows that
veterans who are offered plac
es such as this are more likely
to be successful in school and
in readjusting to civilian life in
general.
The benefits of the Veterans
Center are many. Not only can
returning soldiers have a quiet
place to study, but there is a
social aspect to the center; as
well as a myriad of services
that local providers have been
offering to veterans within the
center.
To Jonathan Toral, a
Clackamas student and veteran
who has been to both Iraq and
Kuwait, the center is a neces
sity for the school and for
returning veterans.
Jessica Foster Clackamas Print
Jonathan Toral and a fellow veteran make use of the ser
vices being offered through the community center.
“It’s one of the greatest
ideas I’ve heard of, because I
don’t .know where to go,” Toral
said referring to where to get
services. “I really don’t know
what I am entitled to being a
Marine and a veteran, so it’s
awesome.”
Please see VETS, Page 2
Student opinions torn regarding Obama's 'change'
Kirsten Michael, a student and parent,
says that, “Easily accessible money for
school is important and with cheap daycare
going back to school will be easier.”
The Clackamas Print .
Obama’s plans also include better prepa
ration for high school students by support
As the country celebrates the coming of ing the schools with improved and more
a new president, Clackamas students sat in challenging classes.
the Community Center and watch the parade
Part of Obama’s plan is to improve the
with hope, and in some cases, unease.
dropout rate, which has been as high as one
Throughout President Obama’s politi out of three. The focus towards schools is
cal career, education has been a foremost to be geared towards assisting as opposed
issue for him. According to the Barack to punishing.
Obama official Web site, there are several
The plan also includes programs to aid
key factors to improving America’s educa teachers by paying for their schooling and
tional system. With the current declining rewarding them with higher pay. All of
economy, Obama has continued to place these programs would greatly benefit indi
high importance on the value of education. viduals by giving them the skills needed
One of the keys to turning the economy to be qualified employees, which would
around is to provide people with the tools promote a healthy economy. -
and resources to improve their financial
President Obama’s campaign was lined
situation.
with promises of change in education and
One part of the plan that may affect the economy, but with our nation’s current
students everywhere is a program that will economic situation, the question of “How
offer 100 hours of community service to be much can one man do?” arises.
completed in exchange for $4000 towards
“One man alone cannot turn this econo
tuition and books. For students here at CCC, my around,” said Clackamas student Andrae
that would cover about a year of school.
Nicholson, “but he has good ideas.”
Another change made will be to simplify
Nicholson has seen the repercussions
the application for federal aid to a one ques of the decline hit close to home. After his
tion part of yearly tax filing.
mother lost her job last July, she hasn’t been
Obama also has plans to create programs able to find a new one.
for affordable high quality daycare allowing
“They tell her that she’s overqualified,”
parents to work and attend school. .
said Nicholson.
Kayla Calloway
Laris»» Flgley
— —-
Robert Crawford Clackamas Print
Students and staff gather in the Community Center to watch the inauguration
of President Barack Obama Tuesday Jan. 20.
John Shufelt Clackamas Print
A shirt showing a caricature of Obama was
being sold in the Community Center.
As for Nicholson’s own job situation, he
works part time, like most college students.
And, like most part time workers, there is
always the fear of losing that job.
On the other side of the spectrum, stu
dent Sophie Simmons has not been very
much affected by the economic decline.
“I’ve always been a light spender,” said
Simmons.
Despite all this, Nicholson still has hope
for Obama’s presidency.
“My hopes are high,” said Nicholson,
“but my expectations are not.”
“I don’t expect anything to happen
instantly,” said Nicholson. “We might not
see changes until the end of his term.”
So far, students seem hopeful, but that’s
not always the case. Kenton Benfield, a
student at Clackamas, sees things quite dif
ferently.
“This false sense of hope will be gone by
the year’s end,” said Benfield.
Obama has only just begun his term, and
Americans have no way of knowing how
the future will turn out.
“As awesome as he is, he is just a man
and he will make mistakes,” shid Simmons.
“What matters is how he chooses to come
back from those mistakes.”