Photo Courtesy of Ft. Lewis

His story could be that of any student walking the halls at Clark – a graduate of Hudson’s Bay High School, a family living in Vancouver, friends who love him and goals for the future.

He likes to snowboard on Mt. Hood, he roots for the Dallas Cowboys, and he plays Xbox Live.

That is, he did.

Ian Walz, 25, graduated from Clark in 2007 and was killed Oct. 27 by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Only seven days earlier he had logged on to his MySpace account for the last time.  The account – one last connection to Walz – provides insight into the life of a young man.

“I’m currently being deployed to Afghanistan July 15th for one year. I know it’s going to suck, but it’s something I want to do,” Walz wrote on his MySpace profile.

Pfc. Walz, whose given name is Christopher, joined the Army in September 2008.

“I’m on the front lines in the action killing. I voluntary chose this job because my long-term goal is to become a police officer after the Army, and I believe if you choose to be in the Army you should be on the front lines anyway,” Walz wrote.

After the Army, college and working in law enforcement Walz envisioned a career change.

“Eventually, I want to retire from law enforcement and teach history and political science,” Walz wrote.

But those plans were cut short.

Walz was one of eight soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

Walz, those killed alongside him and other recent war casualties returned to the U.S. Oct. 28 and were solemnly greeted by President Obama at Dover Air Force Base.

President Barack Obama attends a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., Oct. 29, 2009, for the dignified transfer of 18 U.S. personnel who died in Afghanistan. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Since being deployed, Walz was recently home on leave, and had only been back in Afghanistan for a short time.

He is remembered by those who knew him and those who didn’t.

“There aren’t many people who loved me back in this world, but you did. I love you Ian,” Nathan Knuelle wrote on Walz’s MySpace profile.

Before shipping out to Afghanistan, Walz had been a long-time produce worker for Winco Foods.

“Ian was a dedicated worker here in the produce department,” Winco manager Mark Groves said. “He got along with all the guys and they were real close.”

The news of Walz’s death hit his former colleagues hard.

“His co-workers were pretty upset when they found out the news,” Groves said.

Winco lowered its flags to half-mast to honor Walz and is also displaying photos and memories of him in the Hazel Dell store.

At Clark, Walz’s death so close to Veterans Day spurs a different perspective for students on this year’s holiday.
“It brings it closer to home, this person gave their life for our protection,” ASCC Vice President Hana Lim said. “I feel honored that such a brave soldier is a Clark alumni.”

Students also recognized the life cut short.

“Somebody who went for their education and then went to serve our country… It’s sad he didn’t get to live the rest of his life,” student Camerson Chileote said.

Perhaps the surest sign of this are the plans left unrealized.

“After the Army, I plan on traveling the world,” Walz wrote.  “Not sure where or when. But, I want to do it before I go back to college.”

(Photo Credit: Jordan Frasier) A flag on Clark’s CTC campus is at half-mast in honor of former Clark student Ian Walz, who was killed in Afghanistan. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire directed flags be lowered in his honor on Nov. 5.

Gov. Chris Gregoire instructed flags flown at half-mast throughout Washington on Nov. 5 in honor of Walz.  A memorial service for Walz was held by Fort Lewis on Tuesday and was attended by Vice President Biden.

Local memorials will include a closed casket viewing from 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Gardens and a ceremony on Saturday at the Portland Air National Guard Base to be held at 11 a.m.  Both are open to the public.

It is the 11th leading cause of death to Americans, and the fourth for those under the age of 65, Tell said.

One of the main reasons that Tell believes those tendencies are that large for the military and veterans is because of their purpose.

When plans change due to injury, action of commanding officers, or returning home and finding they don’t have the same responsibility, appreciation or importance as before, their purpose becomes fogged.

“They go from having a clear purpose to a big void,” Tell said.

Prevention that can be done through non-professionals was a key point during Tell’s lecture.

One way is familiarizing individuals of the Operation S.A.V.E. program. It is considered the CPR of suicide, Tell said.

The signs for suicidal thoughts or tendencies provided include threatening to hurt or kill oneself, talking or writing about death, rage or anger, seeking revenge, recklessness, dramatic changes in mood, and increased substance abuse.

He also gave tips on how and when to ask. One should ask in response to something at the appropriate time, don’t ask as if expecting a ‘no’, remaining calm, and listen. By doing so an open conversation is created allowing validation of what the veteran is saying.

Encouraging treatment is the biggest step for a veteran needing help, Tell said. Anyone could help with this step.

“It can be very powerful when someone that they respect, someone that they trust, someone they think that actually has some common sense asks you [them] to do to it,” Tell said.

Along with describing the Operation S.A.V.E program, Tell listed four myths about suicide and explained them.

The first one he considered the biggest. The fear is asking someone if they are thinking of committing suicide would give them an idea to do so. This myth came from the idea that suicide is a taboo subject, Tell said.

He debunked this by giving the example of the Air Force. After seeing that suicide was a major concern, they implemented a program including monthly discussions on the subject. Because of this they saw a 30 percent decrease in suicides.

The second myth that some veterans will openly talk about it while others just do it. He said that before committing suicide, the person usually tells someone, though not giving specific details. It would be like they are saying goodbye.

“There is some evidence that veterans are more likely than other people are not tell anyone and do it,” Tell said.

The third myth is if someone wants to die there is nothing anyone can do about it.

“That’s probably true if they are 100 percent decided about it,” Tell said.

The desire to take their life varies. Those that are close to 100 percent have decided and may lie to others so that their plan continues, Tell said. However, if someone intervenes nine times out of 10 they have saved the person’s life.

The final myth that Tell discussed was someone won’t commit suicide because of their family, plans for vacation, verbal or written agreements, etc.

This is not true because once the decision is made their mind has “tunnel vision”, Tell said. When they have made the decision to commit suicide, the mind doesn’t think logically and comes up with reasons to follow through.

“Really the last thing they think about is following through with a promise made,” Tell said.

In order to combat this, the VA created the Safety Planning Program to help veterans.

Clinical social work psychotherapist for the Department of Veteran Affairs Joe Bertagnolli is who Tell refers to as “face of suicide prevention.”

Before the VA began implementing this plan, the patient made a promise with the psychologist they wouldn’t hurt themselves. It was not affective, Bertagnolli said.

Alpha Sigma Phi, Clark’s branch of Phi Theta Kappa society, will be putting together Thanksgiving baskets for students in need this holiday season.

This is the tenth year that ASP will organize and implement this plan.

Baskets contain a 10-12 lb turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, ingredients for green bean casserole, rolls and a pumpkin pie. These baskets are estimated to feed about six to eight people and cost $35 each.

Professor and adviser Deena Bisig of ASP, says that last year they gave out 150 baskets.

This year their goal is 200.

Bisig says that there are two different ways people can help. First, people are encouraged to help out monetarily – any donation large or small makes a difference. Second, ASP needs people to nominate currently enrolled students who might need a basket – students may also self-nominate.

To nominate a student, the public must provide the students name and phone number. This can be done through e-mail to Vice President of Service of Alpha Sigma Phi Rebecca Zeff at vpservice@clarkptk.com.

“Not only does this program provide a way for the community to support those who need it,” Zeff says, “But many of the people who receive a basket are touched, and give back to the community in turn.”

Students can donate starting now through Nov. 23. Donations can be brought to Bisig’s office at Hanna Hall 113 or mail stop in Foster Hall 222.

Each basket is purchased with private donations from private individuals – not government money.

“This project is supported by the graciousness of the Clark College faculty, staff and students,” Bisig says.

Loren Boyd is the current president of ASP. She is also the president of Phi Theta Kappa for the greater North West region including Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana, Canada and Alaska.

She says that she first became acquainted with ASP through the thanksgiving basket project three years ago.

Boyd says that during her first quarter at Clark she received a call letting her know that she had been nominated to receive a basket.

“I was blown away by this call, and as I let the person know that I would love to receive this basket I started to cry,” Boyd says. “I am a single mom of two children and at that time I was on the verge of being evicted from my apartment.”

Boyd says that she was questioning her decision to go back to school because of all the sacrifices that she and her children had to make. Boyd was near eviction and was feeling the pressures of being a full time student, parent and provider – especially with rent due, finals coming up and the expectations of the holidays.

“That call gave me the ray of hope that I needed to continue on my mission for an education and a better life for my family,” Boyd says about receiving a Thanksgiving basket. “After receiving the basket I was determined to find out more about Phi Theta Kappa and get involved.”

Bisig says that many students find themselves in the same position as Boyd did three years ago. Many students struggle through the holiday season and could use just a little help and a little hope.

“Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate the blessings we have in life,” Bisig says. “My blessing this holiday is the ability to coordinate this opportunity to feed our Clark College students, just in time for that last week of classes and finals.”

Patrick Akers
Staff Reporter

Three actors stand on an excessively pink stage. One is dressed in neon-purple spandex, pretending to be an ice cream cone. The other two break-out into brash, cartoonish yelling. Welcome to “Looking for Olivia.”

Written by former student, Steve Coker and directed by Dan Anderson, “Looking for Olivia” premiered at Clark Thursday. The first production of the ’09-10 season, at two and a half hours long it suffered from poor writing and exaggerated acting.

The plot is something we can almost all relate to – impressing our parents. When Olivia is locked out of her apartment she is taken in by Henry. Henry soon finds himself pretending to be her husband so Olivia can prove to her rich parents that she is self-reliant.

Like a snowball rolling downhill, the play starts out slow but eventually picks up the pace. The first half-hour is painfully sluggish. Once the title-character, Olivia, enters the story things get kicked up notch.

You get drawn into her character and want to further understand her situation.

The pace really picks up, however, in the second half when the parents arrive earlier than expected. They pulled the play out of a tornado of eccentricity and gave it a much more realistic vibe.

John Gentle and Marcella Laasch did a splendid job, playing believable, well-rounded characters. The two had great chemistry and played off each other nicely.

Almost all the characters were built off clichés.

Henry (JJ Harris) is our straight-man protagonist. Henry was a one-tone character. This was due to his acting abilities and the way the character was written. In a lot of scenes I felt like I was watching an actor rather than a character.

His girlfriend Tia (Kaylen Rich) is the naggy girlfriend. Rich did a good job of being annoying, almost too good of a job.

His friend David (Brandon Daniel) is the lovable loser. He played his character a little over-the-top but was entertaining, nonetheless.

Amanda Martin-Tully, who in the interest of full disclosure is a former staff member of The Independent, did a good job of playing the off-kilter girl-next-door, Olivia.

Producer and director, Anderson, decided to set it in the year of 1987. From the clothes, to the jokes, to even the music during intermission – it’s like watching a live episode of “Saved by the Bell.” Just take ten of your favorite comedies from the 80s, throw them in a blender, add a pinch of mediocrity, and you get “Looking for Olivia.”

Towards the end, “Looking for Olivia” was just looking for a way to close the curtains. As the plot resolved, it danced around the idea of closing for the last half-hour. Coming to an abrupt stop, it randomly pulls the plug and is over.

Running two and a half hours, including a fifteen minute intermission, it is really long for a romantic comedy. The first half-hour could have been easily reduced to five minutes.

The problem here is the writing. With recurring jokes and dialogue, it all seemed very repetitive. The actors can only do so much with what they’re given.

In the end “Looking for Olivia” simply feels outdated – been there, done that. I now realize that I never wanted to find Olivia.

“Looking for Olivia” is playing from Nov. 13-14, 20-21, at the Decker Theatre in the Frost Arts Center.

Looking to gain momentum heading into the playoffs, the Clark men’s soccer team was able to wrap up their regular season with a 3-2 victory over Southwestern Oregon CC on Nov. 4.

Freshman mid-fielder Caleb Escobedo scored his first hat trick of the year, including a penalty kick in the 85 minute that would prove to be the game winner.

“We definitely wanted to enter the post-season on a good note,” Head coach Binium Afenegus said.

As time wound down in what looked to be a scoreless first half, forward Mark Agurrie handed Southwestern Oregon a gift goal with a soft shot that went right through Clark goalkeeper Carlos Mendoza’s hands.

Mendoza appeared to lose the shot in the sun, but the goal counted nonetheless.

“That was just some bad luck there,” Afenegus said.

Escobedo scored Clark’s first goal on a header in minute 67 after receiving a great pass from Abraham Johnson to tie the match at one. Escobedo tacked on another goal for the Penguins less than 10 minutes later after being awarded and converting a penalty shot in the 74 minute to give Clark a 2-1 lead.

The lead would not last long however. Southwestern Oregon forward Aaron Kinnes scored on a beautiful shot over Carlos Mendoza’s out-stretched arms to knot the match up at two.

“That was just a perfect shot,” Mendoza said. “Nothing I could really do there.”

Clark would respond in the 85 minute, when Escobedo was awarded his second penalty kick of the match, and converted to score his first hat-trick of the year, giving Clark the lead for good.

Emotions began to run high during the final minutes after two opposing players got into a shoving match that grew to several players getting involved. Seven yellow cards were ultimately issued during the match.

The win gives Clark 11 victories on the year and they have already solidified their spot in the NWAACC playoffs to begin on Nov. 11.

The women’s volleyball team lost a closely contested match against Highline community college on Friday.

“We need to win this match and the next one to get a spot in the playoffs,” Head coach Mike Lee said before the match.

This loss puts Clark in fourth place in the NWAACC western standings with a record of 5-6- a record that would give them a playoff berth in the southern division.

The match opened on a strident note. Clark players ran drills while Highline looked on.

Sophomore Alyssa Hernandez set up a ball and Jessica Scovell spiked it into the other court while “Let the bodies hit the floor” played out over the overhead speakers.

The last home match of the season was greeted with a special ceremony before the start. Each of the Sophomores on the team was lauded with a short speech from Lee and a bouquet. The festivities soon ended, though and the contest began. Hernandez prepared to serve the first ball. “Let’s go Clark, whoop them…” a supporter called out from the stands.

The first period started ominously, however. The first serve was hit out of bounds and Highline’s crack shooters fired volleys through Clark’s mid-court defense. One ball sent Freshman Alivia Fields flipping end over end in her effort to catch it. Highline built up a four point lead early. As they gained momentum, they came together with a deep vocalized “whoooom!” after points scored.

The penguins settled down and made back some of the gap off of a series of serves by Fields. Highline maintained a significant lead for the rest of the first game. Trailing by six points, Clark’s April Dobrinski served a ball hard into Highline’s court. It was saved by Jennifer Mooth, who dominated the match for the Thunderbirds with 24 recorded kills.

The ball was passed forward by Davina Fuiava and shot into Clark’s court by Ashley Nguyen. Sophomore Penguin Nicole Gross saved the ball and put it back over the net, and again Mooth and Fuiava combined to send it back, this time for good. The match sustained many long battles back and forth across the net, as Clark struggled to penetrate the coordinated and efficient Highline defense.

Although the Clark women cut Highline’s lead to two, the Thunderbirds were still able to clinch the first game on a pass from Mooth to Fuiava.

While the first game was wrapping up, the audience was treated to a performance by Oswald, Clark’s mascot, along with Sophomore men’s basketball player Louis Barnum. They combined to cheer on the Clark players and fuel the crowd in the increasingly dense bleachers.

As their antics became more distracting through the course of the match, Highline coach Chris Littleman became aggravated, complaining to the referee “You’ve got to tell them to stop this,” and shaking his head so hard that his backwards baseball cap shook. “Nothing like school spirit,” Barnum said during a break.

The second game started, like the first, with Highline taking an early lead, but this time Clark wasn’t lagging behind. Dobrinski connected with Freshman Shayla Dahl to tie it up, and soon after Clark took it’s first lead of the match. Dobrinski was an effective defender for Clark. The tallest player on the team, she also plays basketball in the winter.

The matched rose in intensity as it wore on. Each team had the playoffs on the line, and players were taking hard dives for balls, shooting them so hard that they hit the rafters and the roof several times during the match. Fields, Hernandez and Freshman Penguin Leina Buchanan combined for the score to win Clark the second match.

The third period opened with a reversal of fortunes, with Clark taking the lead out of the gate and keeping it throughout the match. The Penguins’ front line really came alive for the third match. Hernandez, Buchanan and Scovell combined for several excellent saves and blocks, stymieing Highline’s offensive rhythm.

Justine Tabor showed her skills in the third match, making several difficult saves and slamming the ball into Highline’s court. Clark developed a seven point lead, which was whittled down but not erased as the match came to a conclusion. The crowd reached a fever pitch as the referee made a close out of bounds call on Clark, but the Penguins recovered in the next play to win the third match 25-22.

The Penguins entered the fourth game looking to end the match, but they could not maintain their positive momentum, and Highline’s efficient defensive maneuvers continued to frustrate them. Although Sophomore Tracie Garrison, one of the stars of Clark’s offense throughout the season, continued to produce kills and Hernandez and Fields continued to make difficult saves and set up shots, Clark’s offensive production dropped significantly during the fourth period, and Highline picked up the slack. The Thunderbirds were able to win the fourth game 25-17, and tie up the match at two games each.

Highline drew first blood in the final match, but Clark was not far behind. As the crowd reached a fever pitch, so too did the players. Tabor dove and then slid across the polished floor, sprawling out to return a shot by Highline, and Clark took the lead at 5-4. As the clock struck nine, every strike of the ball was answered by a wall of sound from the crowded bleachers. Clark extended their lead, but the Highline players didn’t lose their composure. Thunderbird Nguyen shot the ball past Tabor, who slapped the court with her hands as she got to her feet. The score was then tied at 12-12. All of the players seemed keyed completely into the match at this point. Fields side-stepped a fast ball without flinching or looking behind her, letting it sail out of bounds without comment, but that one point lead disappeared the next play.

The match ended without a bang. With the score at 13-14, a Thunderbird sent a volley flying down into Clark’s court, and that was it. The crowd, which had gone from exuberance to anxiety in the last minutes of the match, went silent. The Thunderbirds came together for a team cheer. This win clinches their spot in the NWAACC playoffs. The Penguins play Pierce College on Wednesday. At stake is a neutral record and fourth place in the western division. Students can cheer them on at Pierce’s home court in Lakewood Washington.

Staff Reporter

Clark College is a little “greener” after opening its new satellite campus at Columbia Tech Center.   The building, which opened this fall, provides students with an environment-friendly learning facility.

Clark project manager Jim Watkins tried to remain within budget but also accommodated the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. LEED set a list of construction requirements for the building to be considered green.

Tood Construction Co., the contract company hired for the campus, put CTC on pace for gold certification within the LEED program, with the original goal being silver. Only the platinum rating is higher than gold.

LEED silver certification was required in the construction of CTC because the campus is built on a “brown field”. A “brown field” is the designation given when all vegetation is stripped from a construction site.   During the construction process Todd Construction Co. diverted 97 percent of construction waste away from landfills and used local material to cut transportation costs. Over 33 percent of materials used for construction were recycled products. Internally, low-volatile organic compounds were used such as carpet glues, lubricants, and low toxin-rate paint – creating a healthier breathing environment. Wood products used to construct CTC were free of urea-formaldehyde and obtained from regionally harvested manufacturers.

The CTC Campus was built with the expectation of saving Clark College $20,000 per year on energy. The design includes a multi-story trombe wall (black mass solar wall) that pre-heats the building’s intake air with passive solar energy. The front of the building has large fin-like structures protruding from the windows. These brushed-aluminum panels are angled to obstruct sunlight. This process reduces heat absorption into the building and draws more natural lighting.   Renewable energy is a staple at CTC.

Capital project grants heavily funded the $28 million CTC project. State grants for green projects funded the wind turbines on CTC’s roof, along with many other environment conscience projects.

The micro-wind turbines are used as a learning as well as alternate energy resource. Students will be monitoring this source to gain understanding of alternative power.

Light fixtures in the classroom are designed to gauge the amount of light entering the room and respond with appropriately needed artificial light, Watkins explained. Classroom lighting turns itself off when no motion is detected in the room.

Externally, parking lot light poles were positioned to minimize light pollution. They remain at 50 percent brightness to conserve energy. If motion is sensed after hours, the lights will emit full brightness as a security measure.   Through use of low-flow fixtures, CTC will use 45 percent less water than Clark’s main campus. Bathrooms are equipped with touch-less sinks, toilets, soap dispensers and electronic hand-dryers to reduce waste and the spread of illness.

CTC was built with long-life materials that will last at least fifty years without replacement.  The structure should also withstand seismic tremors of reasonable magnitude. CTC’s infrastructure is ready for expansion when that becomes necessary.These measures will cut cost of maintenance and repair, ultimately saving Clark money, Watkins said.

Staff Reporter

The currently abandoned Star Building is an ideal place for a SWAT team to run training exercises. The regional SWAT team is made up of people from the Vancouver Police, Battle Ground Police, and Clark County Sheriffs.

The Star Building is located north of T- Building on Clark’s main campus. The SWAT team used the building two or three times in the past. Clark County Sheriffs Deputy Scott Holmes said that the building works because it is available and not in use.

Holmes said the old desks, tables and other equipment throughout the building helps to simulate a real incident.

Each training session lasts about 10 hours.

The sessions are structured by a few officers who have training specifically in the specialty covered that day, such as how to work with the video equipment.

“Every person usually has a specialty” Holmes said.

After these training sessions participants are able to show documentation that they completed training.

At the start of the day, a robot with a mannequin head rolled around the floor knocking into people, interrupting cookies and coffee.

“Just like kids, we like to have fun too,” Holmes laughed.

The group then broke off into smaller groups and went to practice with different pieces of equipment.

One group stayed in the main area to cover hardware, such as balls with cameras in them.

They later discussed whether or not the problem with pieces falling off the equipment was due to a design flaw or a need for more training.

Down the hall a group practiced with the different types of cameras. This included a camera that is flat and can slide under a door, which can be used to see if a suspect is in a room without having to open the door.

They also used a camera on wheels that can climb stairs, which can check out houses to see where a suspect may be hiding.

The lights were turned off on the lower floor.  The group practiced with thermal imaging devices and MBG cameras. The thermal imaging devices are able to pick up the heat signatures even if a person has moved from the spot. A SWAT team can see where the suspect has been with this device.

MBG cameras are like night vision scopes but are clearer and don’t leave a glowing effect on the user’s eyes. To practice the group paired up and one person hid, using either the thermal or the MBG. They went into the room and tried to find them.

After practicing with the equipment, the team ran training exercises for with the drug-sniffing dogs.

Due to the unique set up of the Star Building, SWAT team members are able to get a real world feel while training.

Colton Woods

Staff Reporter

Penguins dominate final two sets after falling behind.

A late offensive surge, coupled with several late errors from Centralia gave the women’s volleyball team a 3-2 win over the Trailblazers on Oct. 26.

Sophomore setter Alyssa Hernandez paced Clark’s offense with 42 assists, while freshman hitter Justine Tabor led the team with 17 kills. Sophomore Tracie Garrison added 14 kills and 12 digs.

“This was a good win for us,” Clark Head Coach Mike Lee said. “We battled hard for this one.”

After winning the first set 25-18, the Penguins dropped set number to 22-25 thanks in large part to stellar defensive play from Centralia hitters Hilary Luhn and Jonicka McMillan.

McMillan in particular stepped up for the Trailblazers after sophomore hitter Danette Kahle, who had originally started, left the match during the second set after an apparent leg injury.

Things didn’t get much better for the Penguins in the third set. Centralia jumped out to an early 8-3 lead and would eventually win the set 25-20.

“They were making the plays there in those two sets,” Coach Lee said.

However things turned around quickly for Clark. They jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead to begin the fourth set en route to a 25-13 win, tying the match at two sets a piece.

Centralia made things a little easier for the Penguins during that fourth set thanks to eight team errors while only recording eight kills as a whole.

Strong offensive performances from Tracie Garrison and Justine Tabor proved too much for Centralia by the end of the night.

Clark’s hard-hitting duo combined for 31 kills in the match, while the Clark team as a whole recorded only six errors during the final two sets combined.

The win keeps Clark in fourth place in the west division of the NWAACC and keeps them in control of their own destiny in terms of making the playoffs.

The top four teams in each division will compete in the NWAACC championships to be held Nov. 19-21 at Mt. Hood Community College.

Students can see the Penguins play in a key division match against Highline Community College on Friday at 7 p.m. at the O’Connell Center.