Vannett to be released from jail, all charges dropped

After almost 2 months in jail, Joesph Vannett will leave the Kitsap County jail today a free man.

Vannett, a former Olympic College student leader, is still banned from campus pending a meeting with campus security to discuss his behavior.

Any student who sees Vannett on campus should immediately call 911 and contact the Safety and Security Office at (360) 475-7800.

According to Vice President of Student Services Dr. Rick MacLennan and the Kitsap County Jail, all charges have been dropped by the county.
Initially the charges had been lowered from felony to gross misdemeanor, but the motion to release Vannett on that basis was denied last Friday said MacLennan. This is why initial reports that he was being released were wrong.
Now, according to the county jail, all charges have been dropped by the county who, according to MacLennan, has had the full authority to do so since Vannett's arrest.
We will keep everyone posted on any updates for this story.

Vannett not released from jail

Former Olympic College student leader Joseph Vannett was not released as originally reported Friday.
In an e-mail sent out Monday morning, Vice President of Student Services Dr. Richard MacLennan said Vannett was still in custody according to the prosecutor's office.
He is currently on the Kitsap County Jail roster with July 28 at 9 a.m. as his next scheduled court appearance.
Vannett was arrested may 21 for threats to bomb and harassment.
The Olympian will update this story as more information comes available, so please check back here or on our Web site at www.ocolympian.com.

Joseph Vannett to be released from Jail

Former Olympic College student leader Joseph Vannett will be released from jail Friday at 6 p.m. In an e-mail sent out just before 4 p.m., Vice President of Student Services Dr. Richard MacLennan said the college had received notice from the Kitsap County Prosecutor's office that Vannett would be released. Vannett was arrested may 21 for threats to bomb and harassment. Vannett is prohibited from coming to any OC campus, and any students who see him violating this should notify campus security immediately at (360) 475-7800.

Anyone out there?

The current climate for community college newspapers is dreary at best. When the pros are starting to bow out and buckle under the ever-increasing economic pressures, the CC newspapers can only hope to stay afloat as long as possible.

We are fortunate here. Our reporters are receiving better and better training. Our advertising department has been doing a phenomenal job bringing in clients to advertise to key demographics. In short, our program is growing.

While this is cause for celebration among the staff, I am still disturbed at one thing that The Olympian is still struggling with. Communication with our readers MUST be improved and that may include actions taken from our end. However, we extend to you the opportunity to talk to us and let us know what it is we can do better. What can we cover that will make the product more relevant, enjoyable and interesting?

Our primary goal is to provide all three campuses with accurate, fair and relevant news and feature coverage. Olympic College is a very important part of Bremerton and the greater surrounding area. With new degree programs in development, new construction going on all around and so many students to feature, we have a lot to offer you.

We know there is more...

Also, many of our readers and those in the community have told us that our web site should be made more user friendly. A new web site is in the works and although I cannot provide an estimated time for its launch, I hope for it to be in time for the Fall quarter.

Feel free to send a letter to the editor (you can find the way to do that on our web page @ www.ocolympian.com ). Feel free to call the newspaper office (360) 475-7690 or even drop by. We can be found in Tec-101

Our readers are why we do what we do. Let us know how we can better serve you.

Thank you all,

-Chris Carter
Managing Editor
The Olympian

Hey you guys!

I just got out of Olympic College's Board of Trustees Meeting and I wanted to say something.
As students we sometimes hold positions around campus. In these positions we sometimes are required, or feel the need, to address people who hold some type of authority here at OC. It is important to remember that our positional authority held among students does not levitate us above those to whom we speak.
I just witnessed both the departing and incoming ASOC presidents address the board of trustees as "you guys."
Come on now, have a little respect. They are not your drinking buddies. In this reporter's opinion "you guys" is not an appropriate way to address them.
But, to each his own.

Until next time,
Alex Vincent
Editor