By Oliver Scripter
Staff writer
Car Bash outside the Wacheno Welcome Center. Photos By Jordan Fichtman
During the final stretch of the school year before Memorial Day, students on the campus of Clackamas Community College were lined up to take out any built up frustrations. With a hammer in hand, these angry students swung into a helpless car, breaking it down with every thunk, and with every thunk of the hammer the crowd cheered.
This was part of the annual Veterans Club Car Bash on the afternoon of May 20th outside the Wacheno Welcome Center.
“We’re doing this for mental health,” said William Piffner, club member and volunteer for the event. The event was primarily to promote mental health.“It’s just a way to vent aggression in a healthy way.”
“You guys get all these students and staff members that get overwhelmed with things changing with colleges and classes and everything going on. It’s a great time to relieve a lot of those frustrations,” said Quentin Boicurt, president of the Veterans Club.
Portrait of Quentin Boicourt.
Boicourt said, “My big motivation has always been bringing community to the club so that way veterans can get out of their comfort zone and try to reach out more than just themselves, because veterans tend to really get isolated.”
Aubrie Balkwell, chair of the Veterans Services Center and liaison of the Veteran Club, was the main organizer for the event according to Boicourt.
“She did a wonderful job planning this and putting it together, and this isn’t really possible without her,” said Boicurt.
Portrait of Aubrie Balkwell being interviewed.
Balkwell also takes many ideas from students.
“This is a student centered event. So [it’s] their ideas, and I just kind of advise them to help make things come to fruition,” said Balkwell.
Besides mental health awareness, the purpose of the event is to be a fundraiser, according to Balkwell. “This is a fundraiser to help them pay for those lunches and to pay for outings that they do with each other.”
“I’m a believer in like you work hard, you play hard. So we do a lot of cool events as well,” said Boicourt, “So, if you’re a club member, you get to go do fun things like paintball. We did a rafting trip, we have a plan to do the next level, and the only thing I ask is that you do a volunteer event at least once a term, if you’re a member,”
Student winds up for a bash
Balkwell disclosed the origin of the car, stating that it was an old campus services car from the 2010’s donated from the CCC automotive department.
“They get rid of all the fluids and all the dangerous things that come with it,” said Balkwell. “Unceremoniously, we are given it, and we thank it for its service that has provided here at Clackamas Community College.”
Matthew Thompson, Vice President of the club further commented on the process of preparing the car.
“They strip it down, they take all the fluids out, and then they do a little test run to see how long the engine lasts once the fluids are out, which it lasted 10 and a half minutes before it blew up,” said Thompson.
“So, we just call in a tow company. They make a deal with us that they’ll take all the scrap for it, and they come and pick it up for free, and it’s awesome.”
“It’s been fantastic,” said Boicourt on how the event is going. “I think this is one of our biggest events that we put on.”