www.clarkwatch.com
Posted on March 30th, 2005 by Reformed Pope into the Uncategorized categoryHere is the post emailed to me from our friend Anonymous.
I started a new semester this week at Clark College in Vancouver WA. I work full time, go to school, and still somehow manage to have a life. I like school, I really do or else I wouldn’t be doing it, but I really dislike Clark.
I’ve been to several schools now, and I think I’mstarting to understand what makes one school bad, and another good.
Here’s what I’ve found at Clark: The teachers are better than those at Portland CC. Sometimes I think I’ve learned more from one class at Clark than a full semester at PCC.
The campus is nice. It’s large enough to have all the things you need in a college, good labs, student center where you can get a latte etc. but not so large that you can’t get around. And hey, free parking!
The problem with Clark is with its administration. The bureaucracy alone is bad enough to make a government worker cringe. I could bore you for hours with tales of getting the run-around, insane paper work, and illogical, inflexible rules.
One example: last year school was canceled the first week due to snow. Because I needed the instructor to add me to the class, I turned in the normal “late registration” form with my instructor’s signature.
However, my paperwork was submitted two weeks past the first day of classes. I also had to fill out a form with a statement as to why I was registering two weeks late (”because you guys canceled the first week of classes!”).
These forms all had to be submitted to the Dean, along with a form for him to sign. Later, the forms then had to be picked up from the Dean’s office and re-submitted to the registration office. The lady that got the paperwork called and told me “You submitted it the wrong office, it’s supposed to go to “X” office.” So, I went back, picked up the paper work, took it to another counter, where the EXACT SAME LADY received the forms. The look in her eyes dared me to protest.
I finally received confirmation of enrollment the day before my final!
Believe me when I say I have never had a semester without some sort of bureaucratic problem.
At first I thought I was really unlucky. Or maybe I was just incompetent, always trying to do the wrong thing at the wrong time.
However, as I started to connect with other students I found that the majority of people I talked to secretly felt the same way I did. Even the instructors sometimes mention what a hard time they have navigating the myriad of rules and regulations that is Clark College.
Why does this matter to me? Sure it’s frustrating dealing with stuff like this, but it’s a part of life right? Of course. However, my point is that Clarkâs administrative office, in effect, actively discourages people from pursuing a higher education. Rather than being a source of encouragement and going out of their way to help you achieve your goals and become a better person, the stringent rules and silly legalistic edicts make it harder to get through school. In fact, had I spent my Freshman year there, I think I would have been too discouraged to continue on with my education.
And for those that want to bash me about speaking out: you may say “you’re giving the school a bad name” or “you need to take these issues up with the administrators”. The fact is, the current administration either doesn’t
A) think that there is anything wrong with their policies or
B) have any motivation to change.
I could stand at a counter and rail on the administrator, or beg and plead for a 15 minute meeting with the Dean, but we all know how far that would get me.
Rather, change has to come from outside pressure, and how will that happen without our speaking out?
I challenge you to find a place in history where sitting back and accepting the status quo affected a positive change.
Thank God for the ability to have open Frank discussions. Without it we’d probably still be in the crusades.
Finally, perhaps the biggest question is this: Why is it OK to talk about a school like this, but never a church? If you were to read this again and substitute CBC every time I wrote Clark, would you accuse me of being bitter, or bringing shame to God? Do you believe me if I say I like the individuals at school, but not the system they work under? Is it not the same if I say the same about CBC, or am I again bitter? Personally, I find this separation illogical and the advocates of this position either naive, or promoting a hidden agenda. Anyway, that’s my two cents. I guess now I’ll sit back and wait for someone to accuse me of heresy for comparing the “house of God” to a secular college.
RSS feed for posts
March 31st, 2005 at 1:46 pm
That is about 2000 words too long.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
March 31st, 2005 at 1:55 pm
I think they’re going for truth here, not wit. And I think I’m going to Mount Hood CC instead of Clark this fall.
March 31st, 2005 at 1:59 pm
Here is the post emailed to me from our friend Anonymous.
That’s alright, you can say it’s from me.
-Never Anonymous
March 31st, 2005 at 2:01 pm
Anonymous said…
That is about 2000 words too long.
This is true. People often feel the need to comment on my length.
March 31st, 2005 at 4:52 pm
The reason you can talk about a school that way and not CBC is that CBC is church. CBC claims to carry God’s annointing and thus God’s authority. So to say anything negative about the church or it’s leadership is to say it about God. Or at least about God’s choice in who he chooses to put in
leadership.
April 2nd, 2005 at 11:09 am
So, that would make the church infallible right?
Does anyone really think that the church is perfect? Because thats what they would have you believe, but I don’t think that’s Biblical.
April 2nd, 2005 at 4:01 pm
Wow. There’s God… and then there’s church. Please don’t confuse the two.
I saw some poor soul on TV saying that now that the Pope is dead, she doesn’t know where to look to hear the voice of God. Well, how about listen to God?
Church is only supposed to point us to God, not be a substitute for Christ. C’mon people, don’t get the two mixed up.
April 2nd, 2005 at 6:10 pm
As a PCC Student, I’ve got to represent…
While I can’t contradict you on any general PCC experience I’ve got to say that, as a student in Graphic Design my experience has been nothing but great.
My advisor an the whole GD department has bent over backwards when I needed help, the instructors are all top notch, and I’ve gotten great value for my money.
Even the PCC administration has been good to me, except for just one bump in that road…but my advisor advocated for me and got that obstacle out of the way.
For what it’s worth, good luck in your own experience.
April 3rd, 2005 at 10:34 am
Thanks Samuel. The only classes I took there were general ed classes, and mostly at the 82nd ave and Killingsworth campuses. Enough said about that. The administration, however, was always VERY helpful to me . I would almost rather go back and deal with some of those “gheto” teachers and a helpful school, rather than stay at Clark and keep getting screwed.
April 3rd, 2005 at 10:46 am
So to say anything negative about the church or it’s leadership is to say it about God. Or at least about God’s choice in who he chooses to put in leadership.
Huh. Then I guess God screwed up.
Sirius-ly though. I’ve been to many churches. Some where the pastor and staff were humble people and an issue of infallibility would be laughed at. “We all sin, that is our nature.”
Then there are the churches that have so much pride that infallibility is almost a mantra. My opinion is that those churches tend to be the most fouled(sic) of all.
So when did CBC become Catholic?
April 4th, 2005 at 12:38 am
“CBC claims to carry God’s annointing and thus God’s authority” - Anonymous
Not that I really have to break down this poor guy/girl’s comment, but please, I can’t believe anyone is buying this stuff. CBC can claim it is a member of the Godhead, hell, it can claim to be the second coming of Christ, but it doesn’t make it at all true. When CBC sells it’s congregation a fund raising program based on a promise to reduce the deficit and then fails to follow through with it, it deserves to be criticized. When they scrap the Word of God for a handful of PF’s “good” ideas, it deserves to be criticized. When right wing, political morality takes the place of the gospel and the message of Christ, it deserves to be criticized. I have to believe that if the Apostle Paul were alive today, he would be forced to write CBC one of his letters.
April 4th, 2005 at 12:53 am
By the way, God didn’t choose CBC leadership. The leaders at CBC are there because of their willingness to kiss butt and climb the socio-religious ladder that leads to the foot of Damazio’s mahogony desk. It doesn’t hurt that the recent additions to the eldership all happen to be wealthy business owners, hmmmmmmm…coincidence? As a voting member of CBC I can tell you that an alarming number of people did not vote for Tim Nashiff to be set in as an elder at CBC, yet somehow PF, in an effort to not lose a valuable booster, greased the wheels of democracy and welcomed him into the Strategic Leadership Fold, despite the wishes of the people. Is that messed up, or what?!
April 7th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
The thing is I know some people who tried to change the results of the vote, because of a personal vendetta. Is this a good reason to vote or not vote for leadership?
April 9th, 2005 at 4:26 pm
Doe$ Tim Na$hiff po$$e$$ the qualification$ of an elder? I argue, yes he does!
April 18th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
wtf mate?
October 3rd, 2005 at 7:56 pm
Great blog, keep up the good work. Glad to see sites like this.
Here is another good site I said I would pass along.
Domain Sale
Thanks
October 5th, 2005 at 11:13 am
your blog is so good, why are you hosting it here omn Blogger?!?! u shoiuld register web domain right away
October 7th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
I am going to set up a blog for my own site low cost web hosting tomorrow! I have a lot to of information to share. The link to read should be
live soon. If you have an interest in low cost web hosting I would love to hear what you think of my site
October 9th, 2005 at 10:31 pm
Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a **WEB HOSTING** site/. It pretty much covers WEB HOSTING related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time
October 10th, 2005 at 9:03 am
Hey, you have a great blog here!
I have a cheapest hosting web site. It pretty much covers ##WEB HOSTING## related stuff.
We have business and personal web hosting packages. No setup fees. Low cost domain registration, SSL certificates, merchant accounts and web design.
Come and check it out if you get time.
October 10th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
Being new to the whole internet thing, I was fortunate enough to find a site where domain name registration was pretty simple. I’ve read a few horror stories about how some domain services limit the control you have over the domain you buy, but Netclientpro really helped me with domain name registration
October 11th, 2005 at 10:14 am
Hey, you have a great blog here!
I’m definitely going to be checking back on your blog.
I have a reliable web site hosting site. It pretty much covers ##WEB HOSTING## related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time.
October 16th, 2005 at 9:59 am
Hello, just visited your blog, it’s informative. I have a website about **Plasma and LCD TV review**, please visit and hope that it’s useful for you to choose your flat-panel TV.
October 19th, 2005 at 8:45 am
I discuss this topic daily myself. I also have a website that talks about best web site hosting related things. Go check it out if you get a chance.
October 21st, 2005 at 9:58 am
Yo, This blog is pretty neat. You should check out mine sometime. It pretty much covers based email marketing rule related stuff.
October 22nd, 2005 at 4:21 pm
I enjoyed reading your blog. There is a lot of useful information about based business business from home home opportunity work in it. We offer Turnkey Websites and Reliable Hosting. We also provide a blogging service that will help your site get indexed fast and keep the search engines visiting your site. Click here for more information about based business business from home home opportunity work.
Thank you
TWP Admin
October 22nd, 2005 at 6:17 pm
7 Must Have Scripts to Look for When Shopping for linux web hosting E-commerce Hosting By: Michael Turner When shopping for e-commerce linux web hosting there are a lot of things you need to keep and mind. When you know what to…
October 24th, 2005 at 1:53 am
Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a low cost web hosting site/blog. It pretty much covers low cost web hosting related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time
October 25th, 2005 at 6:29 pm
Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a business web hosting site/blog. It pretty much covers business web hosting related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time
October 27th, 2005 at 12:33 am
Just visited your blog, it’s great. I have a hosting personal site web
website which is informative and you can find info of different hosting personal site web
, hope that it will be useful.
October 29th, 2005 at 6:39 pm
Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a bulk email marketing services site/blog. It pretty much covers bulk email marketing services related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time
October 30th, 2005 at 12:02 am
I read your blog about linux web hosting.
Thanks. My blog isn’t ready yet, but I have
a site about linux web hosting.
I love to give info. too so come on by.
October 31st, 2005 at 11:57 pm
I discuss this topic daily myself. I also have a website that talks about make money with your motor home related things. Go check it out if you get a chance.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:22 am
Hi thanks for your blog, I liked it! I also have a blog/site about Plasma Television that covers Plasma Television related stuff. Please feel free to visit.
November 22nd, 2005 at 10:50 am
Hello,
Just thought I would check out your blog.
I am new to blogging. I hope you don’t mind me posting to your blog. If you are interested in checking out my blog and making a post that would be great.
I have a business hosting services small web site/blog. It pretty much covers ##WEB HOSTING## related stuff.
Thanks,
Ed
December 29th, 2005 at 2:49 pm
Hi thanks for your blog, I liked it! I also have a blog/site about free plasma television
that covers free plasma television
related stuff. Please feel free to visit.