Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2009)
4 Clackamas Print Arts Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Culture '' ,s-. Bare feet make an Nick Kornafel Feature Editor As the weather gets warmer, students shed more clothing in an attempt to stay cool. Jeans become shorts, sleeves shrink and shoes, in some cases, disap pear altogether. At first glance one might think, “Has the economy and the unemployment rate gotten so bad, that everyone was forced to pawn their shoes for gas, food or World of Warcraft money?” No, it’s a lifestyle choice. They are called “barefooters.” It is a term used for any individual who will ingly chooses to not wear foot wear when conditions permit (because nobody does this in the winter, except for Hobbits). There is even a website called, Society for Barefoot Living, at www.barefoot- ers.com. There are many reasons why someone would choose to go barefoot, besides the fact that fresh grass and cool cement feels amazing on the soles of one’s feet. According to Wikipedia, Neopagan reconstructionists consider it an ideal way to stay in touch with the elements. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Monks chose not to wear footwear as a way to avoid killing insects and small animals and even some Christian churches practice going barefoot as a form of pilgrimage. - But, for the non-spiritual types there are still many health benefits for going barefoot. According to an article pub lished in Women’s Sports & Fitness, “The skin on the soles of your feet resists abrasions and blistering and that going barefoot is beneficial to the mus culoskeletal structure of your feet and ankles ... Kicking off your shoes can help prevent a host of foot injuries: bun ions, heel spurs, and bone deformities.” The article also states that shoes prevent the foot from moving fluidly and that over time the foot can become passive and unable to support itself. But, those who do decide to go bare foot should be warned of the dangers. The obvious ones being sharp objects, poisonous plants or insects and any thing a person could stub a toe on. And, WebMD states that anyone with diabetes should never go barefoot, lest they harm the circulation in their feet lead ing to possible amputation. So in short, there are many pros and cons to not wearing shoes. For those who wish to air out their feet and still protect their soles, sandals are a good middle ground. Not to m e n - tion, they can be periodical ly removed when the ground looks presenting. Just make sure to tread carefully bare footers. Larissa Hammond takes a moment to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather by kicking shoes and getting some Native Mythology homework done. Midnight welding class puts spark in latenight educatio ed, even going as far as to say he would be willing to teach two nights a week. Williams. believes stu dents are interested in the late night class because it allows them-to go straight from their afternoon/evening class into another class and a full eight hours. . Abigail Neat The welding department 11 Arts & Culture Editor chair, Paul Warner said, “At this time, because of the In the current economy, unemployment rate, students many people are losing their are coming back for college jobs and going back to school. certification to make them So much so, that students are selves more marketable to willing to risk employers. accidentally set They will ting their pants have skills 7/’s differ on fire. that someone Don’t worry, who just has ent. You don ’ t these incidences a welding think it would are rare and stu certification dents like John be super fun wouldn’t Leuesque are have.” and it is. It ’ s around to pat out The pro the flames. addicting.” grams suc The weld cess is ing department largely due at Clackamas is to close Dave Williams seeing growth relationships Welding Instructor in enrollment that the col and has been lege has accommodat with nearby ing the increase industry in demand. The partners and welding classes were full and donations from steel mills. even had waiting lists as the Warner said that at the department searched for a moment students are unable way to meet demand. to find jobs, but when jobs The department decided to release they will be ready to experiment with a unique time go to work. for a class. The class runs “Large companies such from 10 p.m. to 1:50 a.m. as Zidell Marine, Ironworks on Mondays and'Wednesdays. and US Barge have upcoming The class, WLD-110-05, is projects that use predominate taught by part-time faculty ly welders,” Warner said. member John Phelps, and runs The college offers certi March 30 through June 13. fication programs, in» addi Full-time welding instruc tion to the federally recog tor Dave Williams believes nized industry, certificates. the graveyard welding class The college has certification could be a four-night class in programs which can be com the fall. pleted in one or two years,\or “If enrollment stays up, it’s a certificate can be received a possibility,” Williams 'Stat through the industry in as In order to meet student needs, CCC is offering midnight welding classes Welder Vince Priest operates a gas metal arc-welder as he works toward certifl tion to earn more in his chosen profession. little as six months. Leuesque is a graduating student, who has returned to finish the program and work as an assistant to Williams. Leuesque will have his degree next term, but said that if the economy doesn’t get bet ter, he will still be going to school. Leuesque believes getting college certification is important because it enables you to sell yourself better to employers. “People should come out and try it. You never know you might like it,” Leusque said. “The more people the better. I4 would be nice to see more people, more ladies.” Williams even went as far as to say, “Sometimes women pick up on it faster.” “It’s different. You don’t think it would be super fun, and it is. It’s addicting,” Williams added. According to Williams and Leuseque, they do not see many women in the program. There is, however, a women’s welding class. The class is fund Oregon Tradeswomen and is on Friday after The class has 25 studen runs from March 21 unti 20. The college is alsoj to start a welding ce tion class for Immi and Refugee Com Organization that recertify up to 20 wj according to Warner. B funding the program i port of immigrants am gees getting recertified
