Logging Foundation Topples Scholarship Program

[proud2BlibKansan]

PHILOMATH, OR - For more than 40 years, the Clemens Foundation has offered college scholarships to graduating seniors of Philomath High School. But anti-logging sentiments and other manifestations of radical environmentalism and political correctness have invaded the school, causing foundation board chief Steve Lowther to drastically alter the scholarship program. If Lowther and the board stick to their decision, Philomath High School students will no longer be eligible for the scholarships, and other students will be able to apply.

Lowther is the nephew of former lumber baron Rex Clemens, who founded the small private charity in 1959 to help educate the offspring of timber industry workers. Most Philomath residents now work at white collar jobs in neighboring Corvallis, and many oppose logging. Philomath has just one sawmill compared to six in Rex Clemens' day.

"I really believe with all my heart that if Rex knew what was going on today, he would put his money somewhere else," Lowther told the Associated Press last fall when he announced the scholarship cuts. Lowther asserted that some teachers and administrators use their positions to promote radical politics in the classroom. He and other board members also object to the immodest dress and body piercing now popular among many students, and to the school's gay/lesbian club.

"We are not going to use timber dollars to send the professors' kids, the physicians' kids, the teachers' kids to school, because they are the ones helping to shut down the timber industry with donations to Greenpeace," Lowther stated. "They support those people who are killing us."

Lowther plans to use the found-ation's money to help homeschoolers, Christian school students, and students from timber, agriculture, mining, and ranching backgrounds, which was the original intent of the Clemens family.

more . . . http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2003/jan03/logging-foundation.shtml

[AlCzervik]

1. if you haven't seen this yet it is worth watching.

http://www.clearcutmovie.com/

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I am watching it right now

This guy from the foundation is a dipshit. He's knocking the school counselor now and calling it "MY" school. Like he owns it!

[AlCzervik]

6. prepare to be angry, i was pissed watching that but it was really well done.

[MissB]

2. Well, that was a few years ago.

:) That article was from 2003.

[MissB]

3. I had to look around for an update:

Apparently the new requirements for the scholarship include having a timber background in your family and you can't attend Oregon State University, which is really just around the corner. Philomath is nearly a suburb of Corvallis, home of OSU.

Apparently the board doesn't like the sustainability movement at OSU.

[LeftyMom]

7. My Dad used to be a logger, and I'm not attending OSU. Can I get a check?

:rofl:

I promise I won't give it to those sellouts at Greenpeace.

[MissB]

8. I do know a couple that live in Philomath.

Their kids are approaching college age, but I'm thinking they're going to send their kids to OSU. They're very environmental/artsy/progressive/liberal.

I wouldn't move to Philomath even with the scholarship. :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. No date on that article - sorry

I still think it is a relevant issue.