The Advocate Venture magazine is currently recruiting Mt. Hood students interested in being a part of the creative team for this year’s edition. Venture is an annual magazine produced by students, for students.
Winter Term is dedicated to producing content for the magazine, and Spring Term is dedicated to production and publication of our work. Any student interested in getting involved is welcome to join – no experience is necessary.
We are currently looking for writers, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, editors, and more. If you think you would enjoy the creative collaboration progress, Venture staff encourages you to join our weekly meetings!
Venture staff meet weekly in The Advocate newsroom, Room 1369, from noon to 1 p.m.
On Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan. 24-25, our
group will be tabling the MHCC Club Fair in the Student Union. Stop by to say hello and learn more about Venture magazine!
Arts + Entertainment Editor
Rory Myers
Design Editor
Matana McIntire
News Editor Hiring – apply today!
Opinion Editor Hiring – apply today!
Sports Editor Hiring – apply today!
Photo Editor Hiring – apply today!
Video Editor Hiring – apply today!
Staff Contributors
Ashaura Espinoza
Monique Moisoiu
Arianna Perez-Garcia
Martin Kay
Kyle Long
Isabela Durighello
Social Media Managers
Karuna Rai
Arianna Perez-Garcia
COVER PHOTO BY
Photo Team Martell Meacham
Video Team Jackson Hamelund
Graphic Design Team Bryan Rodriguez
Ad Sales Hiring – apply today!
ADVOCATE-ONLINE.NET
Distribution Specialist Hiring – apply today!
Advisers
Howard Buck
Dan Ernst
The Advocate
Wintertime is here again, and while many of us know November and December to be full of joy and cheer from the holiday spirit, we are all inevitably faced with what happens after the glistening affairs are over, the final wrapping paper is crumpled and tossed aside, the twinkling lights are taken down and stored away for next year’s illumination.
Everything after the holidays can seem a bit duller, and if this sounds all too familiar, just know that you are not alone. Many of us feel a weighing emotion after Christmas and New Year’s Day arrive and pass. We have set too many unrealistic resolutions and just can’t seem to wrap our heads around the fact a whole another year has zoomed by. Or, we may being feeling a little bit low, even a bit sad.
Then there’s seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of mild-to-moderate depression that descends in the fall or winter months (with corresponding lack of daylight) and fades in spring. Believe it or not, many of us experience this SAD or seasonal depression and don’t even realize it. Studies show that SAD can cause:
· Lower energy
· Increase in sadness
· Sleeping more
· Loss of interest in activities
· Craving carbohydrates
Seasonal depression can get the best of us, especially when returning to school after a long winter break and trying to get back on track with the grind. So, here at the Advocate we have thought of some ways to combat the blues and get back to feeling like you. Some new activities you might want to try are:
~ Exercising more regularly or hiking (especially in our beautiful Columbia Gorge)
~ Reading a new book (reading can transport you to a whole new world and is a great escape)
~ Take a hot bath (grab some bubbles and your favorite drink and sink into the warmth)
~ Use a light box to catch some rays (UV rays have been shown to boost serotonin) Try to make the best of the winter (look out for fun new seasonal activities)
~ Take your vitamins! (Vitamin D is essential, and we lose a lot during the winter)
Many of these activities can help fight seasonal depression and help enlighten your life. The most important thing to do is to stay aware of your emotional and mental health and to stay as happy and healthy as possible. Remember, springtime is on its way!
Worth noting, at the end of the day if none of these practices seem to help, try connecting with some of our MHCC resources. Contact MHCC at basicneeds@mhcc.edu for more information on mental or physical health assistance, social services, and other help from community support groups or agencies.
During the pandemic, I had the same thought as everyone else: I should get a dog.
It was the beginning of 2021 and I had just been laid off. I was living in isolation with a healthy severance package and plenty of time on my hands, so I started researching dogs. I’d been following dog trainers online for years and I knew I wanted a big dog that would encourage me to walk and be outside. I found a reputable breeder for the dog breed of my dreams, and luck was on my side – there was a puppy that would be available as soon as August.
A fun road trip later, and I had my sweet girl, Salem.
It’s been two years of lessons since I’ve started this journey. My dog Salem is a purebred Dalmatian - she was bred for temperament and companionship. While we’re still working on high arousal and impulse control, she is a very sweet dog to hang with. No dog is perfect and active dogs will always require work.
But here’s the thing: people don’t know anything about dogs. Since owning Salem, I’ve realized that there is a difference between dog people and people who own dogs. Additionally, I can tell exactly what kind of person you are based on how you act around my dog.
While I am always working on training with my dog, I will never be able to “control” her. She is an individual with complex social and emotional needs. This means that she will always need to be acknowledged and included, especially when you’re in her home. But people don’t often consider this for dogs, and when I advocate for her needs, people have very little basis for understanding.
Many dog trainers today will attest to the fact that people don’t understand dog body language, even some long-time dog owners. Additionally, many people don’t understand dog etiquette, especially when it comes to leashing and dog-to-
dog introductions.
Dogs are a lot of work, and what I’ve learned is that some people don’t have the patience to put in that work. And that’s okay, I can respect that and work around it.
I just wish that people understood and had more compassion for their needs. There are times when Salem’s excited nature is pushed away and ignored and reprimanded, and it’s hard to get people to accept her as she is.
I love my dog’s excited personality. I love that she is so happy to meet every new person, often showing them more affection than she shows me. I just wish other people saw that for what it is, instead of a behavior correction they don’t want to deal with.
For information on how understanding your dog can benefit your bond with your pet and their health, visit this site!
Hosted at MHCC on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum is a traveling exhibit that shares Black history through memorabilia and artifacts, plus lectures to further inform audiences on topics and social issues such as racism, Black culture, and hip-hop music.
This museum has been to MHCC campus in previous years.
Dr. Khalid el-Hakim is founder of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. He was a social studies teacher in Detroit, Michigan. Visiting Mt. Hood (which has hosted the museum in previous years) along with tables displaying carefully preserved artifacts and memorabilia of Black history, elHakim spoke with students in the Student Union on Tuesday.
Beginning with the transAtlantic slave trade, and progressing
to hip-hop culture today, he gave a lecture on the connection hip-hop music has had throughout history, political, social movements, and art. He explained the stories behind how certain artifacts made it to the
museum, as well as the way hiphop music has made statements on injustices occurring nationally and globally.
Dr. el-Hakim brought up personal experiences, like the first
time he went to the American South and saw racist figurines being sold at gas stations and still being mass-produced. He also described his involvement in the music and entertainment world, as he was
managing music groups that were performing with hip-hop artists we know today, such as Eminem.
There could have been many stories to be told with each artifact on the table – stories of suffering from slavery and segregation as well as power, freedom, and creativity through music from DJ Grandmaster Flash, A Tribe Called Quest and Ms. Lauryn Hill.
As it happens, hip-hop music will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. There is much to celebrate because hiphop music has brought immense contributions, expanding to other music genres and influencing many Black artists.
Learn more about the Black History 101 Mobile Museum at: https://www. blackhistorymobilemuseum.com/
The work of David Strohl, Mount Hood Community College’s very own photography instructor and Integrated Media advisor, is currently on exhibit in the Visual Arts Gallery. His display captures what is beyond the edge of the woods and looks into the depths of the forest.
I was able to interview Strohl on his most recent public gallery, asking what he had to say on the unique exhibition.
Q: What is the genre of the exhibit?
A: The genre is “forgotten about.”
Q: What inspired you to do this exhibition?
A: I live in the woods. I photograph what is it front of me, I study. It is a fascinating subject (in) that I am constantly trying to make sense of the chaos visually.
Q: What is the goal of your work?
A: A mini-escape; walled views of isolation and mystery.
Q: How has your style changed over time?
A: It is constantly evolving, (shaped) by who and what is around us.
Q: What time of day was the best to capture these images?
A: Honestly, anytime. A lot of these pictures were taken by my house. And as a father and a busy teacher and artist, there are a lot of times I would be running out of the house just grabbing the gear saying, ‘Sorry, babe, the light is just perfect right now and I got to go!’
Q: Do you plan on selling your artwork anywhere else but here?
A: Sell for corporate art (hotels, restaurants, offices)
Q: What is your favorite piece? Why?
A: They all work together; you will get it once you go experience the gallery.
Q: What camera are you shooting with?
A: Canon 5D Mark 4
Q: What is your artistic process when it came to creating this series of photos?
A: Look, more than actively make. Think about it. Think again. Only take five or six photos total, each time I shoot. Processing light... Look at light a lot. Heavily manipulate the photos on computer so it would look more cinematic.
In summary, after personally experiencing the gallery at Mt.
Hood, I would have to concur with Strohl’s statement: It really is hard to pick a favorite, because his images do all visually go together –they are a beautiful collaboration of light, detail, texture, and color.
Exquisitve and mesmerizing, these photographs definitely take your breath away and keep you staring much longer than intended. Their soft-stroked, manipulated beauty has the same artistic draw as a Claude Monét painting, absolutely worth the visit to the Visual Art Gallery.
To learn more about Strohl and his gallery, visit his website: https:// www.davidstrohlphotography.com/ about
I LIVE IN THE WOODS. I PHOTOGRAPH WHAT IS IT FRONT OF ME, I STUDY. IT IS A FASCINATING SUBJECT (IN) THAT I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CHAOS VISUALLY.
-David Strohl
Released in December for the holiday season, “Violent Night” pits David Harbour, as Santa, against a dangerous band of mercenaries with code names such as Candy Cane, Gingerbread, Krampus, and Mr. Scrooge – played by John Leguizamo – who have invaded the family compound of Gertrude Lightstone.
This movie mixes the comedic violence of “Die Hard” and the child endangerment of “Home Alone” with generous sprinkles of Christmas spirit from movies that include “Elf,” “The Santa Claus,” and “Miracle On 34th Street”. Harbour plays a bitter, disillusioned version of Captain Presents, who is fed up with the greed and entitlement of the kids who make it to his “Nice List,” groaning as he delivers video games and money, and stopping for several drinks along his route. (Note: spoilers follow, here.)
Santa stops at the Lightstone Mansion to indulge in some homemade cookies left by Trudy, the youngest and most innocent of the Lightstones, as well as some of Gertrude’s alcohol. While he is relaxing, the catering staff executes the security team and reveal themselves as mercenaries who intend to break into a vault and steal $3 million. Santa’s reindeer flee the scene when bullets start flying, and he is forced to defend himself.
Trudy quickly becomes Santa’s little helper using a walkietalkie, similar to the way Reginald VelJohnson communicated with Bruce Willis while he was taking out thugs in Nakatomi Plaza. She comes equipped with some impressive skills of her own, having watched Kevin McCallister defend his family
Isabela Durighello
The Advocate
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it seems house plants and their popularity have been climbing to the top of the trend ladder. If you haven’t already hopped onto this trend, there is a good reason it had such a heavy takeaway with the majority of people. Growing plants indoors not only gives us a fun new hobby but also there are so many added benefits to bringing nature inside.
Caring for house plants brings a lot of benefit not only to yourself, but to your environment, as well. Here I am going to give you some suggestions on good beginner house plants to start with, if you have never grown before. You don’t have to be a plant mom to grow these or even have a green thumb; most of these plants are going to be strong and resilient (and so harder to kill).
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), is a great one to start with. Not only is it beautiful with its light green, long, hanging, cascading leaves that resemble – you guessed it, spider legs – it is a very easy plant to keep alive! Requiring bright, indirect light and being a plant that “thrives on neglect,” it is a hard one to go wrong with. What’s more, it will return favor by improving the air in
home from intruders just the day before. She has all the catchphrases down and sets up vicious booby traps.
Harbour plays a version of Santa based on a Viking warrior who says witty tough guy things and sustains some serious injuries as he fights off the intruders. Right away, he’s dealt a deep stab wound in his lower abdomen. Sterilizing a sewing needle with a Santa candle, while biting down on a wooden Santa ornament, he stitches himself up with tinsel, then applies
wrapping paper gauzes and a ribbon with a bow before drinking a little more and taking a nap.
Trudy and Santa do a great job of adding real emotional content into a movie that would otherwise be mostly blunt violence and holiday puns. The rest of the Lightstones appear to be irredeemably selfish compared to Trudy, but eventually come together in a way that makes their horrible behavior seem superficial and somehow less important.
Santa kills about 20 mercenaries before finishing their leader, Mr. Scrooge, in a scene that could be considered excessive in a “Mortal Kombat” game, but a member of the group survives and ambushes him, causing him fatal injuries. Trudy encourages her family not to give up hope, and the film’s writers might have let him die in this version of the story. But her mom tells her that she believes this is really Santa Claus, and the rest of the family follows suit, creating just enough Christmas magic to revive Santa. His reindeer return after the chaos has subsided and so he heads out to complete his primary mission.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who believes Die Hard is a Christmas movie – but I would probably wait a while before I watch it with my kids. It is in truth more than just an action movie, yet the heartwarming moments that make you believe in the spirit of Christmas come in scenes where characters are either drunk or soaked in blood, which is not everyone’s preference.
Leguizamo is more fun to watch as a goofy support character than as lead villain, but his humor and extensive martial arts background make him an entertaining foil. Harbour’s character is not much different from his recent roles in “Stranger Things” or “Black Widow,” both showing strength, humility, and tenderness, in an oddly shaped and comforting package. I personally enjoyed both those roles and am not offended by seeing a third version of the same thing.
Ultimately, Violent Santa may not have the same lasting popularity as the movies it is modeled after, but I definitely enjoyed it.
your environment: Spider plants are known to be very helpful when it comes to filtering out harmful chemicals in the air.
Another great house plant for beginners is lavender (genus Lavandula). We all know her; we all love her: Good, old lavender, the best, classy smell that is oh-so-relaxing and intoxicating. It is relatively easy to grow and also easy to transport between indoors and outdoors. It can thrive outside like the weed it is during the summer and in the colder months, just bring a little shrub inside and the aromatics alone are sure to keep a piece of that summer spirit alive during the dreary months. Lavender’s essential oils are amazing for relaxing and are soothing aromatics; it can be also be used for teas, as a mild, sleepytime sedative.
Among other plants with creepy names but cute leaves is the snake plant! This (Sansevieria trifasciata) is a cute, upright plant that has hues of dark green and generally has a yellow stripe down the middle, giving it a fun jungle vibe. These plants are so cute that they are easily the most common to be seen in the fake foliage aisle. However, buying the plastic snake plant is super unnecessary given just how low-maintenance the real ones are.
Some of the benefits of the snake plant include helping purify and cleanse indoor air.
It may help enhance the “energy” of a space, according to feng shui, and it is not a picky roommate, either. It will survive in light or dark rooms, whether dry or damp. It often thrives in bathrooms because of humidity and low light, but just make sure it dries out between waterings and there is no way this plant will stop slithering.
The last plant I am going to recommend is another familiar one, and my personal alltime favorite: rosemary!! Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a shrub-like plant with a very strong aroma and a lot of added benefits. Not only is it one of my all-time personal flavor profiles when it comes to cooking, it has a lot of medicinal effects. The essential oil of rosemary is commonly used, per folk medicine, as an antidepressant and to improve memory and reduce anxiety.
Topically rosemary has also been known to be used for healing small skin infections with its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. And rosemary tea may help reduce irritability and anxiety, as well as help improve focus, so try making a cup next time you are struggling with studying
for a big exam. Just like lavender, this plant can thrive either indoors or out. I know I always have some growing on the windowsill, and in the garden.
There are so many house plants out there and a lot of them are easier to care for than we might think. Most of the time the problem is that our houseplants are dying from being over-loved (too much water), so just don’t overthink it: Talk to your plants, do the research and just have fun. Happy planting!
Mt. Hood students are now able to apply for the MHCC Foundation scholarships for the 2023-24 school year. There are over $800,000 in awards for students and one application will auto-match them to 150+ opportunities. The primary application period is open now, through March 31. Students can email Shelley McFarland with any questions at shelley. mcfarland@mhcc.edu.
Students may also visit www.mhcc.edu/scholarships to review who can apply, how to apply, and learn more about the MHCC Foundation Scholarships.
The MHCC Office of Public Safety is partnering with Title IX and the Associated Students of MHCC (ASMHCC) for a discussion of “Stalking Awareness in a Digital World.” Communities that understand and recognize stalking can support victims and survivors, raise awareness, and help stop it.
The Mt. Hood campus community is invited to attend the presentation on this topic from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in the Town & Gown Room (AC 2057).
The event is also available via Zoom at the following link: https://mhcc.zoom.us/j/93359694429#su
SHIFT SCHEDULES:
We offer flexible employment shifts, with weekly meeting requirements for Monday at 12 p.m./noon (30 min.) and Tuesday at 12 p.m./noon (1 hour), plus 1-4 hours (dependent on your staff position) each Thursday for print and web production work.
The Advocate is a fully independent student publication that is funded by your student fees and our own advertising sales. We report on issues that impact the student body online at advocate-online. net and in print around campus.
Any MHCC student can work at the Advocate — no experience necessary!
Working with our team is a great opportunity to build your creative portfolio and learn about working in journalism, advertising, and media.
HOW YOU’RE PAID:
For students who qualify for Work Study, wages start at $18 an hour. For students who qualify for tuition waivers, payment is dependent on how many credits you’re enrolled for. To find out what you qualify for, email studentemployment@mhcc.edu
Come to our weekly staff meetings, Monday and Tuesday, in Room 1369, in the Integrated Media building (13). See how we plan our content and learn how you can contribute.
Advertising Manager
Description: Manage advertising content for the Advocate. Communicate with advertisers, including invoicing, providing proof of publication, and placing orders. Contact local businesses and campus departments to sell advertising. Work with the graphic design team to create ads.
Staff Writer
Description: Work with editorial team to identify stories and print content, and to produce content for the Advocate. Looking for sports writers with an interest in MHCC, local and national sports; news writers with an interest in reporting on MHCC and local news; arts and entertainment writers with an interest in movies, TV, theatre, music, fine art, and more; and opinion writers with an interest in columns, op-eds, and more.
Staff Designer/Artist
Description: Lay out digital and print pages and create illustrations, artwork, and graphics to accompany written content published in the Advocate. Must be available Thursdays to assist Design Editor during print and web production.
Experience with the Adobe creative cloud, specifically InDesign and Illustrator, preferred — Adobe software will be provided to Design Staff.
Staff Photographer and Videographer
Description: Photograph and/or capture video of Mt. Hood campus and off-campus events as assigned. Work with editorial team to identify subjects and produce/edit digital content for the Advocate. Familiarity with photo/video equipment and basic editing skills required. Adobe editing software will be provided to photo/video staff.
Description: Section Editors are responsible for managing written content for their section. They work with staff writers to source content ideas, assign weekly stories, and coordinate visual content to accompany their section with the design and photo/video teams. All section editors must work together to make editorial decisions regarding the Advocate, and are expected at weekly meetings and Thursday productions.
Opinion Section covers opinion columns, editorials, and more.
News section covers MHCC administration reporting, local news, and more. Sports section covers MHCC athletics, local sports, and more.
