Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2009)
^Culture Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Clackamas Print 3 tiers to the editor: Homeless people and election )B| Editors: In response to “Homeless” May 13,2009. Editors: Had Lydia Bashaw’s article on “Homeless find ref- I personally have never seen homeless people on H Clackamas.” I find it very discomforting that we the CCC campus, but of course that doesn’t mean I read your article on the Associated Stu ¡Homeless people living in the same area that stu- they don’t exist. dent Government’s Hand stal l walk or jog through. In my opinion, we Though living on a public capipus may give a H ha\ e been notified about this sooner! ¿Hjn't blame them for wanting to stay here, but our small amount of comfort to these people, I believe they should be allowed to stay conditionally. jJHis isn ’t a hotel. As a community, it’s our job to set To the average person, many “homeless” people ^Be kind of safe house for them; it would keep them ^■streets and our campus safe. push themselves into thè public eye through beg place. ging on highways all day. do not believe I would have voted if I were ■ If they can stand that long, they should be able to get some sort of job. h the matter and that some of them are disabled. )^By Grahn I understand that some people have no choice in I believe if a homeless person living on campus is not H responding to the article “Homeless find ref loat Clackamas,” from the May 13,2009, edition of election. I was one of those students who was not aware that this election had taken Furthermore, I aware that an election was taking place. This is mainly due to the begging or being disruptive, they should be free to fact that I do not know come and go as they please. what the candidates, once elected, will do ^^Clackamas Print. Emerald Baldwin for the campus. ^Bntil reading this article, I had never questioned student However, I would be willing to cast a ¡■safety of this campus. Don’t get me wrong, I am ^Bitive towards the homeless and on one hand am ■l that some have found safety here. However, it vote and encourage others to do so if I d^Bommon knowledge that homelessness is often a Hilt of drug use and other crime. This worries me. were better informed of the benefits casting Hs much as I’d like to have complete faith in human- a vote would make. I eHl ha\ e to question what might be stopping these ^Bants from harming myself or another student for encourage students who take their candi ^Htle money or food? I’m sure hunger could drive dacy seriously to in form other students Hie to desperation, so in my opinion die homeless ^Bld not be given much trust. why they would make good leaders. This can ^Bowever, I certainly hope that there is something be achieved by. set CCC can do to help these people. Perhaps do- ■g food that is slightly past the sell-by date or un- ^Bied lost clothing? Maybe if we take care of them, ting up a booth dur ing high-student traffic times and speaking out to students. Another ^Bssue of possible violence or crime can be handled ^Bre it begins. possibility would be for candidates to speak ■mi Forquer with teachers and ask them to get involved by handing out flyers ■ident ■responding to “ASG elections show low student Iment at Clackamas,” by John Hurlburt I was in- at the end of class with informative pieces de tailing why elections ■ on how small the turnout for the ASG election are important. No one candidate received more than 55 votes. |e this might be a big deal, but to me it is not. I Maurisa Bernardo both Alyssa and Bailee personally. Both of the student lend more time at CCC then any student taking 24 lor any instructor teaching five classes day. They an excellent job as president and vice president. e Belmont Editors: I write to you regarding the article dealing with the homeless at CCC in the May 13 Print I feel that news stories today focus on the negative side of life. This article on the homeless is responding to the May 13 article about “the homeless” pus. I think that it is wrong for us to take away the of those individuals who are without homes by tum- m into an impersonal “thing;” we group them as “the less” instead of recognizing that they are unique individ- o are without homes. Who knows? Under different ces, it could be you, me or your little cousin who hing for a meal, or a place to lay their heads. With the t economy, many people are turned onto the streets not users or criminals. think it is sad that these people are without homes and to use our campus. If you’re worried to give them mon-. use you think they will use it to buy drugs or alcohol, pem a bag ofgroceries! If you can’t afford to do that, you [atbare minimum, provide a kind smile. ifer Rodrigues, student just another example. To me homeless people on the CCC campus is a frightening aspect, due to the unpredictability of Portland’s homeless population. Most homeless have reached rock bottom and will do anything to fillfill basic needs. This doesn’t mean that I don’t feel pity or sadness when seeing and hearing these individual’s stories. What I feel is really needed for these people is help, not an article showing the lackofhu- manity people have for each other. Why write an article when you could simply ask the person if they needed directions or assistance to the nearest homeless shelter? What real ly hits home with the article is that you see parts of yourself in these people. This story reflects the idea of giving up, when life kicks you down just drown in self pity. Kelly Fitzgerald student Anyone is welcome to respond to any content published in The Clackamas Print. Anony mous letters will not be printed. Send letters by e-mail to chiefed@clackamas.edu or deliver them to Roger Rook 135. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
