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