The Advocate, Issue 14, January 21, 2011

Volume 46, Issue 14

January 21, 2011

The Technology Issue:

F a c e b o o k The story behind MHCC's

The top 4 reasons to get a smartphone

iPhone App Pages 6-7 2

The deadline for free money is closing in

5

MHCC athlete combats off-court challenges

9-10

A look at the leads of the "Rocky Horror Show" at MHCC

2 OPINION Editors-in-Chief

Jen ashenberner & Jordan tichenor

Sports Editor Jon Fuccillo

Advertising Manager Copy Editor David Guida

Living Arts Editor David Gambill

Assistant Living Arts Editor Anevay Torrez

Photo Editor

Devin Courtright

Opinion Editor L. John King

Reporters Jill-Marie Gavin Chanel Hill Riley Hinds Laura Knudson Yuca Kosugi Mike Mata Jess Peterman Kylie Rogers

THE ADVOCATE

JANUARY 21, 2011

Editorial

The FAFSA deadline on Feb. 1 is just days away

With the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline quickly approaching, students should get off their rumps and go online and file ASAP. If they don’t, they run the risk of missing out on a variety of opportunities to receive free money.

Yes, we said FREE. Scholarships run out of funds very quickly and when you consider how enrollment in college has jumped due to the high level of unemployment, those funds will evaporate even faster.

The FAFSA application is available at www.fafsa.gov as well as in the MHCC Student Services lobby. If you are worried about filing your tax return

Jessica Winters

By Jill-Marie Gavin The Advocate

Adviser

Bob Watkins

Assistant Adviser Dan Ernst

E-mail advocatt@mhcc.edu 503-491-7250 (Main) 503-491-7413 (Office) 503-591-6064 (Fax) www.advocate-online.net

Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030

Submissions

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication.

All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission.

Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600.

The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board.

The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length.

Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc. edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print.

Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

MHCC’s Financial Aid Office is sponsoring a Financial Aid Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library, Room 3333 on the Gresham campus.

Just bring in your 2009 IRS tax returns, 2010 end-of-year pay stubs, current value of assets, Social Security number, driver’s license and alien registration card (if applicable).

The Advocate strongly encourages anyone who needs money for school to apply for federal aid and as many scholarships as they are qualified for. So again why are we using our editorial space for this reminder? Because FAFSA + student applying (may) = FREE MONEY And we’ve got your back!

The signs, it seems they are a-changin'

Shelby Schwartz John Tkebuchava

first, don’t wait. The FAFSA allows you to submit an application with a tax return estimation since it is due Feb. 1 and the tax deadline has been extended to April 18.

Not getting scholarships isn’t the only risk students are taking and they could get less federal grant money as well, forcing them to take out student loans to cover the cost of furthering their education.

Except for those who are excited to pay their loan balance plus the interest after they graduated, we don’t think anyone prefers loaned money over free money.

If students need assistance completing their application,

Astrologists are frantically tending to their followers while Zodiac enthusiasts everywhere suffer an identity crisis. Controversy fumes about the validity of a change in zodiac signs.

Livescience.com says the sun and the earth are not in the same alignment as they were when the zodiac was established. For those who believe horoscopes, supposedly the set of characteristics that have been accepted as personal identifiers have changed.

According to sidereal astrology, each sign should be bumped back about a month. The sidereal zodiac is more commonly used in the east and is fixed to the constellations.

CNN reports that most westerners use the tropical zodiac, which is fixed to the seasons.

I’ve always loved to check my horoscope in Cosmo and then

Google my astrological compatibility with my new crush. Beyond that, I’ve relied on my Zodiac for nothing more than encouragement. Occasionally I’ve discovered an eerie correlation between my horoscope and my life but I think that’s inevitable considering I frequent a publication that demographically targets my age and gender group.

The idea that someone can stare into the beyond and give good news or offer important insight is alluring. I love the fun side of astrology. I love that I can pick up a magazine and find out that “true love is right around the corner” or that “money is coming my way.” Even if

Correction - Incorrect information supplied to The Advocate was printed in the Jan. 14 issue. In the article titled “Twelvehour mediated negotiations give no results,” Randy Stedman, the labor relations consultant hired by the board to bargain the contract for the administration, said, “The maximum the faculty offered was $350,084 over the life of the contract, and probably less.” In a Friday email, Stedman corrected himself

they’re not true, I appreciate the temporary sense of excitement or relief horoscopes can bring.

To me, astrology is much like playing dress up. It’s fun to pretend to be royalty living a lavish palace life and to harbor secret hope that “happily ever” will come true. But I won’t map out my entire life founded on a shot in the dark.

The way I see it, regardless of which zodiac you believe, your sign does not define who you are. Just because some astrologists have changed what sign is attached to your birthday doesn’t mean that you should be scared your personality is going to suddenly shift or that you should cater to what Google says your new expected strengths and weakness are.

You are who you are based on genetic predisposal and the environment you’ve grown up in. The exposure of old information is not going to make anyone wake up a stranger.

I plan to continue associating myself with the lovelife tips and lucky numbers of the sign I’ve always been associated with.

I recommend everyone do the same and not worry about a thing, because in the end it’s all going to be in good fun anyway.

stating, “The effect of the one-year freeze carried forward through all three years of a three-year contract would amount to $754,510 based upon Association’s proposal. The Association’s insurance proposal would amount to $109,620 for the 2 1/2 years remaining, for a total of $864,130.”

The faculty association stated their proposal had a savings of $900,000.

SPORTS

JANUARY 21, 2011

3

"Mentally, we weren't prepared. That's why it turned out as ugly as it did."

Larry Davis, Saints womens head basketball coach

Photos by jon fuccillo/the advocate

Above: Sophomore guard Charlie Neilan drives on Cougars defender sophomore guard Melair Holterhoff Wednesday night in Oregon City. Right: Freshman guard Maria Nolan dives for a loose ball during the second half of the Saints 105-71 loss to Clackamas.

Saints fall hard 105-71 in lair of Clackamas Cougars

By Jon Fuccillo The Advocate

No one walked away with free chulupas Wednesday but the Cougars of Clackamas Community College managed to score 105 points in a home victory over the Saints.

The fifth-ranked NWAACC Cougars (13-2, 3-1) put on a clinic in the first meeting of the season between the two rivals. By the half they had already scored 60 points against the seven-player rotation of the Saints (6-10, 2-2).

Cougars head coach and athletic director Jim Martineau felt for the Saints and their problems dealing with injuries.

“We took advantage of that,” Martineau said. “We’re deeper than they are at this point in the season.

“We’ve all been where head coach (Larry) Davis is at (dealing with injuries).

I have a lot of respect for him in the program.”

The Saints trailed 60-34 at the half and never were able to put themselves in a position to hang with the Cougars.

“We didn’t show up,” Davis said Thursday morning. “Mentally, we weren’t prepared. That’s why it turned out as ugly as it did. That’s credit to Clackamas.

The Cougars shot 10 percent better from the field than the Saints and attempted 13 more shots. The Cougars shot 55 percent (38-of-69) compared to the Saints 45 percent (25-of-56).

On behalf of his team, Davis made an apology to the Cougars for such a noncompetitive game.

“I feel bad for Jim (Martineau) and Clackamas for not giving them a better game,” Davis said. “It could have been a lot uglier but they stopped pressuring us. Just wish we could have played a better game last night.”

On a good note, Davis was impressed with the performance of sophomore

Saints women's basketball team Next game: Saturday, Saints @ Chemeketa - 4 p.m.

guard Charlie Neilan. She ended the game with 22 points and six rebounds.

“Charlie played one heck of a game,” Davis said. “She was ready for the game and she gave it her all. We can’t win games with one player, though.”

Freshman guard Emily Burch added 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in the losing effort.

The Cougars were led on offense by four players who finished the contest in double figures. Freshmen guards Sam McCloud and MaKesha Bizon scored 23 and 22 points, respectively.

The Cougars full-court press in the early going got the worst of the Saints offense and caused a lot of headaches for Davis and company.

“They pressed us. It wasn’t anything we didn’t know,” Davis said. “We didn’t play to the best of our ability. This one hurts.”

Although the score would say otherwise, the Saints never gave up with bench chants and team support from start to finish.

“I told my team you can learn something from them (Saints),” Martineau said. “They were getting their butts kicked and never gave up. That’s not an easy thing to deal with.”

On Saturday, the Saints travel to Salem to play in a 4 p.m. game against the Chemeketa Community College Storm (8-7, 1-3).

“They’re playing a little up and down,” Davis said of the Storm. “I don’t know much about them.”

Wednesday night's box score Saints: 86 Cougars: 80

Cougars: 105 Saints: 71 Saints Haley Chovich Teri Gilbert Charlie Neilan Jackie Cannon Gina Bianchi Maria Nolan Emily Burch

Totals

Min FG, M-A FT, M-A 32:03 3-6 3-6 22:42 2-5 4-6 38:29 9-17 2-3 26:25 1-9 5-8 22:45 6-10 0-1 21:43 4-10 0-0 35:53 1-3 0-0

200

25-56

16-26

A Pts 0 9 0 8 1 22 1 7 3 14 3 8 1 17

11

71

Cougars Linday Kanalz Sam McCloud MaKesha Bizon H. Cunningham Johnnelle Kapua Melair Holterhoff Shayla Ball Miranda Martine Tiara Fuller Caitlin Porter

Min FG, M-A FT, M-A 14:41 1-4 2-3 25:58 9-14 2-2 19:32 8-10 0-0 16:15 2-4 4-4 25:50 3-6 0-0 22:15 1-2 0-0 28:03 7-12 2-2 26:11 7-12 2-2 10:21 1-4 0-0 10:54 0-1 2-6

A Pts 1 4 3 23 1 22 2 9 4 8 2 3 4 16 5 15 0 3 1 2

Totals

200

22

38-69

15-20

105

For more Mt. Hood women’s basketball game coverage and information visit:

www.advocate-online.net

4 SPORTS

JANUARY 21, 2011

Photos by jon fuccillo/the advocate

Left: Freshman guard Delroy Gibbs drives the lane for a layup and splits two Cougar defenders. He was fouled and made the free throw to complete the three-point play. Above: Freshman guard Otho Lesure takes Cougars center Max Jacobsen baseline.

Saints top Cougars and end 3-game conference skid

By Jon Fuccillo The Advocate

Freshman guard Otho Lesure had his way Wednesday night against Clackamas Community College in Oregon City in what the team was calling a must-win game to avoid a four-game skid in Southern Region action.

Lesure caught fire in the second half where he scored 21 of his 23 points to help the Saints solidify a big road victory.

Win or lose coming into the game with the Cougars, head coach Geoff Gibor said it was going to be a wake-up call for his struggling Saints who had failed to win a league game in three tries.

That wake-up call happened to be the Saints first victory in Oregon City over the Cougars since 2006.

Gibor was all smiles once the sound of the buzzer finally went off to end regulation and to walk away with an 86-80 victory.

“We were extremely hungry coming into this game,” Gibor said. “Since tip-off, we wanted this one. Rivalry games always mean a lot more. They played with some serious heart and were diving all over the place on the court (after loose balls).”

More than anything, the second-year head coach

was excited to see his guys (8-7, 1-3) come together and win as a team.

“They had fun,” Gibor said. “You saw a lot of smiles on their faces, a lot of unity out there.

Freshman guards and roommates Lesure and Delroy Gibbs were a two-man wrecking crew in the second half – draining three-pointers, driving the line for easy buckets off the glass and getting to the free throw line during panic time.

The two guards combined for 40 points on 12of-20 shooting from the field. Lesure 23 and Gibbs added 17 points, including 4-of-6 from the three.

“They were huge,” Gibor said of Lesure and Gibbs. “They played with a lot of confidence and swagger tonight.”

Saints assistant coach and former player Steffen Harvey added, “They could be two of the best guards in the Southern Region.”

Sophomore forward Rei Jensen added to the excitement with 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while freshman guard Coletun Tarr scored 11 points in limited action.

Unfortunately, the Saints defense allowed the Cougars (11-4, 3-1) to score 31 points in the final 5:36 in regulation. Up until that point, the Saints

led by 21 points 70-49. But the Cougars wouldn’t go away easily and started chipping away.

With 34.2 left on the clock, Cougars freshman Travis Robbins, after air-balling his previous shot from behind the arc, redeemed himself by hitting a three-pointer to make it 80-73. But they were never to close the gap closer than the final score.

The Saints held freshman center Max Jacobsen to 12 points and seven rebounds. On the season he is averaging 21.4 points (fifth overall in NWAACCs) and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Gibor said part of the game plan was to make Jacobsen use his offside and make him go right instead of letting him pick them a part with his good left side.

“We wanted to make things difficult for him,” he said.

The Saints shot 50 percent from the field (30-of60) but struggled from the free throw line, shooting 62 percent (18-of-29).

On Saturday the Saints travel to the capital to face Salem’s Chemeketa Community College Storm (8-7, 3-1) in a 6 p.m. game. The Storm has the number two scoring player (23.6) in the NWAACC – sophomore guard Tyrone Phillips.

Wednesday night's box score Cougars: 80

Saints: 86 Saints Jake Rickert Marcus Moore Coletun Tarr Otho Lesure Delroy Gibbs Robby Rivers Alan Yates Gerron Powell Rei Jensen Spencer Clayton

Min FG, M-A FT, M-A 4:31 0-1 0-0 37:48 1-5 2-5 18:48 3-6 3-6 27:56 6-10 10-11 31:07 6-10 1-2 1:14 0-1 0-0 8:31 3-6 0-1 15:43 4-7 0-0 29:10 5-7 2-4 25:1 2-8 1-2

A 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 2 1

Pts 0 5 11 23 17 0 6 8 12 4

Cougars Josh Lokeno Kirby Hawkins Travis Robbins Nate Kleinholtz Derrick Hayes Jordan Barber Brandon Troxel Alex Loul Max Jacobsen

Min FG, M-A FT, M-A 7:59 0-0 0-2 28:03 5-17 8-9 36:38 4-12 0-0 20:08 0-1 0-0 30:00 6-11 2-2 7:21 1-3 0-0 19:38 5-8 5-8 27:21 4-8 2-2 34:36 4-9 4-5

A 0 2 5 0 0 0 1 1 3

Pts 0 19 9 15 14 2 16 10 12

Totals

200

9

86

Totals

200

12

80

30-60

18-29

28-66

21-28

For more Mt. Hood men’s basketball game coverage and information visit:

www.advocate-online.net

SPORTS 5

JANUARY 21, 2011

Change in course benefits athlete's family as well as MHCC fortunes talented he was, so we were very excited to have him, “ Gibor said.

After attending a few open gyms in the n the basketball court, 6' 8” MHCC sophomore Rei Jensen’s sheer size summer, Jensen joined the Saints team in is intimidating. It isn't until you the fall. He said he has found comfort uncatch him post-game, sitting on the bench der coach Gibor. “I don’t think I would ever coyly introducing him self that he becomes go back to Mirmar,” said Jensen who left on a “hardship” which means he can play an less so. extra year of colThe 2009 Linlege basketball but coln High graduwill have to fill out ate began playing a hardship form. basketball at age “I’m very happy 5 and it topped his here with this list of priorities team and coaches. until last year.

They’ve really ac"I used to think cepted me and it’s basketball was the perfect situamy whole life, but tion for me.” there's so much With his famore to it," Jenther’s health sen said. headed in a posiThe “more” he’s tive direction and referring to is his receiving monthly family and, more radiation treatspecifically, his faments, Jensen said ther Sig, who was he gets nothing but diagnosed with Photo By Jon Fuccillo/The Advocate prostate cancer Sophomore Rei Jensen and head coach Geoff Gibor high-five during support from him.

“He supports me. during Jensen’s Wednesday’s game vs. Clackamas Community College.

He wants me to go junior year of high school. After graduating from Lincoln, Rei as far as I can,” said Jensen, who hopes to was offered a full-ride basketball scholar- play basketball overseas after college. With ship to Mirmar Community College in San time, Gibor sees this as a possibility.

“Rei’s definitely got the ability to play Diego. With his family's support he set off to San Diego. But all that came to a halt when overseas. He just needs to mature his game Rei learned that his father's cancer had tak- some more and learn when to push his intensity to the next level,” Gibor said. en a turn for the worse.

Jensen’s statistics may not be impressive, "I'd been talking to him for a while and we thought it was best for my family, as well and he’s not the player driving the lane, as my basketball, to leave," said Jensen who dunking on the opposing team or shouting maintains a close relationship with his fa- at the refs for a bad call. Jensen is reserved in his demeanor, a hard worker, and like ther. "It was an easy choice."

So after playing only six games at Mir- the story of the tortoise and the hare, he’s mar, Jensen left his team and scholarship steadily inching his way toward success at in December 2009 to move back home to his own pace.

“Most of the nights he’s not going to blow Portland with his family. It was during the Christmas break that former MHCC assis- up the stat sheet,” assistant coach and fortant basketball coach Jeremiah Dalton and mer Saint Steffen Harvey said of Jensen’s head coach Geoff Gibor, who knew of Jen- all-around game. “He’s just a really, really sen from his basketball days at Lincoln, sat smart player. He’s a quarterback out there. down with him and his dad to discuss play- He does all of the little things. At 6’8’’ he’s an extra passer out there. He means a lot to ing for Mt. Hood.

“We knew what he could do, and how this team.”

By: Chanel Hill The Advocate

O

Photo by Jon Fuccillo/The Advocate

Rei Jensen shoots free throws at a recent home game vs. Lane Community College.

get to know Saints forward rei jensen WHO: Rei Jensen, sophomore forward for the Saints SIZE: 6-8, 200 pounds HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Lincoln High in 2009 where he played under coach David Adelman where he says, "I learned how to play a really intense game of basketbell," said Jensen.

INTERESTING FACT: His senior year at Lincoln he was a 6A State 2008-09 Honorable Mention, and 6A Portland Interscholastic League 2008-2009 First Team All-Conference.

“I used to think basketball was my whole lifebut there’s so much more to it.”

- Rei Jensen

66NNEWS EWS

JANUARY 21, 2011 JANUARY 21, 2011

'Techie' Trifecta From phones that are smart to reunions on the Internet, technology is evolving on a daily basis. Take a look at three technological advances are impacting MHCC right now.

4 reasons to get a Smartphone

By Kiley Rogers The Advocate

The supreme being when it comes to today’s cell phones is the smartphone, which manages everyday aspects of our lives from simple communication to paying for our cup of coffee.

From iPhones, Blackberrys, and Droids to the Evo and the G2, there is a common thread among smartphones.

Despite being sold by dif-

ferent carriers and run by either iOS, RIM, android, Microsoft or Google systems, they all have the ability to manage our communication needs through texting, calling, web and e-mail on top of running several different applications.

Several reasons exist for one to invest into the lavishly extended capabilities that smartphones offer. Here are the top reasons to consider.

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1

The smartphone belongs in an elite class of cellphones and as such delivers an air of status to the smartphone owner, with fast processing capabilities and extended memory compared to your average flip phone.

Smartphone owners carry the potential to make the common cellphone user feel inferior about their piece of equipment that can’t handle the majority of what smartphones are capable of doing.

2

Then there’s the pote access to the Internet. it be if you could check page every other minut to seize the opportunity one of your friends off-g a nearly instantaneou would never need to kn cret to your constant I was the dandy electron under a blur of multitas

NEWS EWS 7 7 N

JANUARY 21, 2011 JANUARY 21, 2011

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3

The smartphone persona has an aura of efficiency. It condenses several electronics into one. Camera? Check. MP3 player?

Covered. Forgot to write the conclusion to last night’s essay? Easily done before class. You’ve potentially had three bulky electronics replaced with one. The cameras available on smartphones are at least 3.2 megapixels. As for MP3s, if you’re willing to devote the memory space to it, then say goodbye to your current MP3 player.

As for the essay, Microsoft Office is available to create, edit and write documents – for a price, of course.

4

With the smartphone, the GPS system is right there in your pocket ready to provide directions when you find you’ve wandered into some part of town that you have no familiarity with. Plus, if you’re sneaky, you can play the directionally-gifted role in your group of friends. Many carriers offer turn-byturn navigation as an option either in addition to or with your current plan.

8 NEWS

JANUARY 21, 2011

Photos by Devin Courtright/the advocate

Left: Clockwise from left, Rob Sepich, Zach Nicholas and Gaby Guerro practice in preparation for an upcoming tournament. Guerro takes her turn at debating, Sepich plays her opponent and Nicholas acts as the judge for the practice round.

Above: The practice debate ends with opponents Sepich and Guerro shaking hands.

Nationals are looming and forensics looks to win it all

By John Tkebuchava The Advocate

Confidence is the one word the Mt. Hood Community College Forensics team not only discusses but embodies through their attitude.

The team is made up of eight students, including Jeff Lewis, a sophomore who’s the longest standing member and jokingly nicknamed the “grandpa” of the group. The other team members are Zach Nicholas (sophomore), Kevin Craig (sophomore), Dalton Heilman (freshman) nicknamed the “trophy hoarder,” Gaby Guerrero (freshman and newest recruit), Ryan Rhodes, Rob Sepich and Jordan Bradford.

For them, confidence was not so much a strength to be attained but rather a necessity for success.

“You have to have confidence,” said Sepich. “The more confident you are, the better it sells.”

Nicholas had a similar, if not more blunt, perspective: “We want to win every single tournament.”

Not to be confused with pure cockiness, the team’s high standards and confidence do not come unwarranted.

Forensics has rolled through nearly every competition, never once placing below second as a team, not to mention all the other accolades the team has gathered in the individual competitions.

Walking into one of the Forensics team’s twice-aweek, three-hour practice sessions, you’re met with its serious-faced members all parading a professional demeanor, but when the gloves come off, so does the stern intensity.

Jokes fly and laughter break the silence. “We’re pretty tight,” said Guerrero of the team’s friendliness.

Those who just moments ago had debated in competitive zeal were now laughing at one another instead of tearing each other down.

With that, you can see the determination of the team’s desire to succeed. Whether it was at nationals or in a classroom against fellow teammates, the competitive spirit to win followed.

“We’re always competing with each other,” said Sepich.

In the lead of forensics is Shannon Valdivia, who said she couldn’t be happier with the team, “Oh, I’m very, very pleased. We’ve now added Gaby (Guerrero), and I think she’s going to be a great addition to the team.”

Although nationals is not until March 23, the team feels it’s not too early to prepare. “They’ve all decided they’re going to kick it up a notch with nationals coming up,” said Valdivia.

“They plan on meeting outside of class to practice

for nationals,” she said, a testament to their determination.

This year’s national competition is particularly significant in that it will be hosted here at MHCC, the first community college to host the tournament in its 100-year history. The event runs March 23 through March 26.

For any students interested in joining the forensics team, Valdivia said, “It’s open to anyone who’s interested in the program.

“The hard thing for a lot of folks is it takes a lot of time. It’s hard for folks to find the time to do it.

I think that those who participate in the program benefit. They’re going to get skill sets that are important no matter where they go,” said Valdivia.

As for the team members’ futures beyond MHCC, most have decided they will be transferring by next year, although several agreed they would continue competitive debate wherever they go.

In the meantime, forensics has their eyes set on head-hunting. “We like beating big teams with big names,” said Sepich.

And when March 23 arrives, the goal is clearly stated by Nicholas: “We want to win nationals,” With the way things have been going, that might not be too high an ambition.

Japanese host families needed; deadline is today

By Anevay Torrez The Advocate

Today is the deadline for applying to be a host family for Japanese exchange students who will be arriving at MHCC Feb. 19.

The deadline was extended to today as the MHCC Study Abroad Program encountered a shortage of temporary housing for the Japanese students. There will be 16 Japanese students ranging in age from 18 to 21. and they will stay here for three weeks.

Only eight applications were turned in as of earlier this week so the Japanese exchange program is in desperate need of host families; the host families do not have to be MHCC faculty, staff, or students.

“Learn Japanese in Kyoto!” is the study abroad program at MHCC that gives students a chance to visit Japan for the summer and learn the language and culture. Then during the winter, a group of students from the Ryukoku University come to MHCC to take customized English as Foreign Language class and immerse themselves in American culture.

Yoko Sato, a part-time MHCC Japanese instructor, said, “Some MHCC students attend the EFL classes during the mornings and help as English conversation partners for the Japanese students. Some of the helper students also go out for shopping, skiing and rock climbing with the Ryukoku students.”

Many of the MHCC students who helped with the Japanese students trav-

eled to Japan during the summer to attend Ryukoku University.

“These programs provide great opportunities for developing friendships and understanding beyond the differences of our individual cultures,” Sato said.

The Japanese exchange program is looking for households with more than one person who can speak English, to take in a visiting student from Japan who will be attending class at MHCC. The families who host the Japanese students from Ryukoku will be given a stipend to help with additional household expenses for the students. Host families are to provide breakfast and dinner and ensure that students have transportation to and from MHCC. An individual bedroom is preferred, but a shared bathroom is acceptable.

The hope is that the Japanese students will enhance their knowledge of American culture by staying with a host family, attending class at MHCC and also by taking three field trips to the surrounding area.

“One family lives in Vancouver, Wash., and needs transportation from MHCC to home,” said Sato. “If any student is commuting from Vancouver to MHCC, I would like to know.”

“For every winter program, I recruit host families. Many of them are MHCC staff or faculty who I feel are very responsible and dependable,” said Sato.

MHCC students who want to assist the Japanese students need to attend a Jan. 28 orientation meeting in Room AC2399 from 6:30—8 p.m.

For more information, or to request an application form, please contact Yoko Sato, MHCC part-time Japanese instructor, by today at yoko.sato@mhcc.edu.

LIVING ARTS 9

JANUARY 21, 2011

This is the first of a three-week series leading to the musical production of the "Rocky Horror Show" in the College Theater.

The

Rocky Horror Show

Photos by Devin Courtright/The Advocate Elizabeth Sanchez rehearses the part of Janet for the “Rocky Horror Show” in the College Theater Wednesday.

Actress vocalizes in first lead role

By Yuca Kosugi

D

The Advocate

espite her petite frame, it’s hard not to notice Elizabeth Sanchez waiting patiently in the middle of the stage as choreographer Clara Hillier works with the group dancing and singing around her.

“I’ve never played the lead role – ever,” said the 20-year-old with wide eyes, lined with pale, glittery blue eyeliner which made her astonished expression pop even more.

She has never danced or acted, she said, other than a few chorus parts in middle school plays.

Sanchez is playing the role of Janet in the upcoming MHCC Theater production “Rocky Horror Show,” the cult classic by Richard O’Brien.

Sanchez moved to Gresham from Albuquerque, N.M., with her girlfriend Mariah Ortiz in December 2009 because of the MHCC Funeral Services Program, which is offered in only a handful of colleges throughout the nation.

“She dropped everything to come with me,” said Sanchez.

“Liz set it all up for us,” recalled Ortiz, a 22-year-old nursing major who is also a custodian at the college. Sanchez booked the flight, made a list of apartments to look at, and set up other arrangements for a weekend a month before they moved, Ortiz said.

They agreed it was a good move.

“We love the rain,” said Sanchez and Ortiz, each echoing the other in separate interviews.

Although they moved here for Sanchez, things didn’t pan out they way she wanted at first, said Ortiz. Sanchez was unable to get into the limited entry funeral services program last year, and is currently listed under general studies.

Then last term, the two took the technical theater class where sets and props are created for productions when Sanchez found out about auditions to plays.

Sanchez is no stranger to being on stage. Although she hasn’t been in a play since middle school, she was in choir in middle school and for a year in high school. Her sister Jennifer, 29, performs on Broadway and is her idol.

Both her parents and another sister Junelle, 27, play the guitar.

She sang “Imagine” by John Lennon at her high school graduation, said Ortiz. That was the only time Ortiz saw Sanchez performing to an audience.

“She sings all the time,” said Ortiz, laughing.

Things were a bit grim, said Sanchez, when taking daunting classes like medical terminology. She wanted something more.

“I was like, let’s go for it,” said Sanchez. She had never even heard of “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, so she rented the movie and watched it to learn the songs for the audition.

At the audition, she wrote a checkmark next to Janet, the lead role, because she’s never been the lead before.

Despite her initial confidence, she looked under the chorus list when the casting was posted. Sanchez didn’t find her name under that category, so she turned to Ortiz who was with her and told her that she didn’t make it. Ortiz comforted her as she scanned the list herself.

“Look, you’re Janet,” Ortiz told Sanchez when she spotted her name elsewhere.

“I cried,” said Sanchez. “I was so happy.”

“Rocky Horror Show” director Jennifer Hunter said, “She had the physicality and the singing for Janet.”

Sanchez said she doesn’t relate to the character at all. “She’s too innocent,” she said.

One thing about Sanchez, said Ortiz, is that when she is determined, she consistently works hard. Since being picked for the lead role, Sanchez has been singing and practicing for the play at their apartment.

“I’m really excited for the play,” said Sanchez.

The show starts Feb. 17 and has eight shows through Feb. 27. Tickets will go on sale in the box office at the College Theater or online at www.mhcc.edu/

Janet

10 LIVING ARTS

JANUARY 21, 2011

The Rocky Horror Show Show dates and times: February 17,18,19 February 19 February 24,25,26

7:30 p.m. midnight 7:30 p.m.

Shows are held in the College Theater

Admission: $12 students $15 adults

Photo by Devin Courtright/The Advocate

Coleton Sticka dancing during a “Rocky Horror Show” rehearsal Wednesday in the College Theater.

Theater major shows no fear in challenging role

By Jessica Peterman

C

The Advocate

oleton Sticka is proving to be a flexible actor in MHCC’s upcoming production of the “Rocky Horror Show” by playing Brad, a character whom he calls “the epitome of the person I hate.”

Sticka has been involved in theater since his freshman year of high school where he was coaxed into auditioning for the school play. He ended up having a good time and so traded his involvement with football for theater.

Now a theater major at MHCC, Sticka plans to transfer and ultimately graduate with a masters in fine arts and lighting design. With that, he hopes to become a college instructor for venue lighting.

Every year, MHCC offers a lighting design class and a tech theater class on lighting. Sticka’s favorite part of putting on a show is building the sets and doing the lighting.

Most actors in theater either get nervous or get an adrenaline rush before a show. Asked about his pre-show jitters, Sticka said, “I don’t really get adrenaline rushes from performing anymore. I pretty much black out and my body and mind takes over.”

Asked about the “Rocky Horror Show,” he said, “Love the show. It shows that life isn’t as straightforward as it seems and things are always going to get weird.”

His favorite show he’s been a part of was MHCC’s production of “Godspell” last year, but he likes being a part of “Rocky Horror Show” even more.

“The cast chemistry is amazing,” he said. “Jan (the director) is like our best friend.”

Sticka’s character Brad and his fiancé Janet are stranded in the pouring rain with a broken-down vehicle. Brad, trying to be the hero, finds a mysterious mansion and asks to use a phone. Strange events take place, and, let’s just say, he never does make that phone call.

Sticka thought about a likeness he might share with his character but said, “We are complete opposites. He is the epitome of the person I hate. We share some characteristics, but Brad is so conservative and Republican and I’m really not that way.” If Sticka had been in this situation, he said he would’ve “found a different house with a phone.”

To give readers some incentive to come see the show, he said, “I hope the audience gets a new perspective. I hope people learn not to categorize people into groups and learn to accept one another for who they are, not what they are.

“Don’t be scared to come and enjoy the show. We just want to have a good time. I hope everyone who comes has an enjoyable experience and aren’t frightened off from our theater program,” he said with a smirk.

First performance of “Rocky Horror Show” will be Feb. 17. Tickets go on sale Jan. 21 online or at the box office, which is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $12 for students and $15 for general admission.

BRAD

C a l e n d a r Monday, January 24

Hamlet 2010 by Gildevin Jagudajev. Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave.,Portland 12:30 p.m. Free

Tuesday, January 25

Fuse Theatre Ensemble presents a performance/ installation exploring human communication in the age of the smartphone 3430 SE Belmont St., Portland 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 26

Survivors and Thrivers Well Arts Institute presents stories, nonfiction and poetry by elders.

Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 27

"Butters," Julie Rall’s reverse paintings on Plexiglas. 520 NW Davis St., 2nd floor, Portland Closes Jan. 29.

Friday, January 28

Women's basketball game vs. Umpqua 5:30 p.m.

Men's basketball game vs. Umpqua 7:30 p.m.

LIVING ARTS 11

JANUARY 21, 2011

SAB hosts free bowling night

CD review: All in all, 'The Fall' is impressive

By Mike Mata

By Jordan Tichenor

The Student Activities Board will hold a free bowling night at Mt. Hood Lanes Wednesday from 9 p.m. to midnight.

MHCC students with a valid student ID may attend the bowling night with one non-MHCC guest. The event will feature prizes and free drinks, though purchases or possession of alcoholic beverages and/or illegal drugs will not be allowed as this is a school-sanctioned event.

“We’ve done it for the last two years,” said SAB adviser Meadow McWhorter.

SAB Receptions Coordinator Jeannise Nichols, who planned the bowling night, said, “I remembered the bowling night last year and it was a success. I decided to do it again since it was such a success last year.”

Raffle tickets for prizes will be handed out at the door and there will also be a grand prize given out later in the night.

Other bowling nights may be scheduled, though they have yet to be decided upon by SAB. Other events on the SAB calendar will include Love Week for the week of Feb. 7 and Homecoming Week starting Feb. 14.

McWhorter said bowling night is “something different and the majority of students enjoy it.

It’s nice to get the college students to interact off campus.”

“Gorillaz” have arguably been Damon Albarn’s biggest success. Behind the guise of four animated personalities, he has been able to stretch creativity further than perhaps anyone thought, and no one can see a endpoint in sight.

“The Fall” is no exception.

Released just nine months after “Plastic Beach,” “The Fall” is just as experimental and well constructed and weird and catchy as anything the Gorillaz have ever made. It is even more impressive an achievement considering it was made on Albarn’s iPad over the course of a month during the “Plastic Beach” tour, and was released as a free download to the Gorillaz fan club.

It’s clear Albarn had no fear going into this album.

Trying to create an album in less than a month, on tour, with an iPad, is a tall order. Simple beats go a long way, with tracks often lacking lyrics and instead focusing on electronic and instrumental harmonies to make the album feel significantly more stripped down than is normal for Gorillaz. Songs such as “Detroit,” “Hillbilly Man” and “Shytown” are not only easy to listen to, but are surprisingly well crafted and thoughtful. Other songs break out of this mold, such as the dreamy “Amarillo,” which sounds much bigger than the iPad used to compose it.

The Advocate

The Advocate

At the same time, songs such as “Seattle Yodel,” “The Snake in Dallas” and “The Joplin Spider” sound more like failed experiments in electro and dubstep, which is likely exactly what they are. All things considered, this is not so bad as these are the only songs that seem severely out of place on this album.

Guest performers, the excess of which nearly suffocated “Plastic Beach,” are noticeably absent from this release, which might be why the album feels smaller, more focused and just a little more personal than the majority of Gorillaz previous body of work.

And it is clearly more personal. This isn’t a big release. It’s a tour album. It tells a specific story about a specific stretch of time in a specific area.

It’s very focused this way, and works well as a cohesive album.

It’s understated, but that’s just fine because it was never meant to be anything big.

All in all, “The Fall” is a very good album. It is well rounded, and doesn’t try and do more than what it set out to do. It a small album that’s easy to pick up and listen to. While no date has been set for the physical release of the album, according to NME it will be released early this year. Until then, the album can be listened to in its entirety for free at thefall.gorillaz.com

Ra Ra Riot ready to bring high emotion to PDX

By Jon Fuccillo The Advocate

Join the leaders in

AVIATION, TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS and MORE! Undergraduate and graduate programs Learn in a NEARby CLASSROOM or from yOUR hOME! Continuously seeking adjunct faculty

worldwide.erau.edu/lead 800.522.6787

If you enjoy the fun, upbeat, new wave sound of Brooklyn’s indie sensation Vampire Weekend, there is a treat in store for you this Wednesday.

Vampire Weekend’s close Williamsburg compadres, Ra Ra Riot, are set to headline at a Southeast Portland venue, the Hawthorne Theater.

This is their first visit to the city since September when they performed at the Wonder Ballroom as part of MusicfestNW, Portland’s smaller version of Austin’s South by Southwest.

Why mention Vampire Weekend in the middle of a Ra Ra Riot preview?

Because the two sound a lot alike and have close ties to one another. They’ve also remained close friends for years in the Big Apple. Many might not know that Ra Ra Riot started the same year

(2006) as their big brother band Vampire Weekend. One just happened to catch all of the breaks in the world, while the other is still forming its identity on the big stage.

To observe Ra Ra Riot on stage is to observe an actual “riot” unfolding. Lead singer Wes Miles amazes every time with his dramatic stage presence, which leaves you thinking: Is he happy? Pissed off?

Or a mixture of both? Miles exudes a special stage presence that keeps the crowd weirdly entertained and on its toes for a beautiful set.

The story that isn’t explained during the show is that original band member and drummer John Ryan Pike is believed to have drowned in 2007. This might give you an idea of how emotional their sets can be and where their hearts and minds are.

The five Syracuse graduates have the ability to hit a wide spectrum of popular in-

die rock while having their own flare through the beautiful sounds from violinist Rebecca Zeller and cellist Alexandra Lawn. It doesn’t hurt that the two females in the band are not only gifted musically but also were blessed with nice genes.

If you like catchy, fun music that you can sing to and enjoy subtle dance episodes throughout the night where you catch yourself randomly swaying to and fro (mainly head and hips), then this is a show for you.

The No. 1 thing that is guaranteed: Nothing! You can expect an explosive show full of emotional beauty with a big splash of excitement. It’s one of those shows you leave trying to figure out for months — and that’s a good thing.

The opening acts consist of Givers and Pepper Rabbit.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Hawthorne Theatre 1507 SE 39th Ave., Portland 503.233.7100

12 THE FLIPSIDE 7 Day

Saturday Mostly Cloudy 48o F

Sunday Partly Cloudy 50o F

Monday Partly Cloudy 58o F

THE ADVOCATE

JANUARY 21, 2011 Tuesday Partly Cloudy 59o F

Wednesday Thursday Friday Partly Cloudy 50o F

Mostly Cloudy 49o F

Showers 51o F

Forecast gathered from www.weather.com

Public Safety: Students on Patrol program

By John Tkebuchava The Advocate

Student patrol volunteers are being deployed by MHCC Public Safety to “ensure a safe place for all of us,” said Gale Blessing, director of public safety.

The program, called “Students on Patrol Campus Watch Program,” is a system Blessing said the college started looking at in the summer.

Looking at the models used at other schools, MHCC officials felt that this was an added value to Photo By Devin Courtright/ The Advocate security.

Melanie Snider, part-time criminal justice major, directs a student towards Melanie Snider, one of the the library from the front parking lot. student volunteers who became aware of the program through educating and reporting violators of the tofliers, joined because she saw the need for bacco-free policy, as well as other public sermore security on campus and volunteer- vice tasks that include providing directions ing on the student patrol was a “good way to visitors and escorting individuals during to gets some volunteer time in,” and also the evenings at the campus. simply “for the love of public safety and the Students who enter the program must campus,” she said. also pass criminal background checks and Students who wish to be a part of the selected applicants must also attend orienstudent patrols must commit at least four tation and training sessions. hours a week for one term and can volunteer Blessing said the program runs 24 hours up to a maximum of 20 hours a week. a day when the campus is open, with at “We work around the student academic least two students on shift at a time. schedule,” said Blessing. “Most (students) For students interested in volunteering work days or evenings.” in the student patrol program, there are apDuties for the volunteers include patrols plications available in the Public Safety ofin parking lots to assist in crime prevention, fices.

ASG to host blood drive in the College Center The Associated Student Government will host a blood drive open to students and staff Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the College Center. Identification is required for students to give blood.

According to Dulce Maria Larrea, ASG senator of business and social sciences, students should drink lots of water before they give blood and should not eat after hours before giving blood.

According to Larrea, if donors feel dizzy after giving blood they should sit down and breathe deeply.

Jazz band concert cancelled

The MHCC Jazz Band concert scheduled for Saturday in the College Theater has been cancelled.

The concert was intended to be a combined effort with the vocal jazz band Genesis and a guest artist.

Band director Susie Jones said, “Other events have come up to take the place of the concert.

“We have our students very busy with other activities and didn’t feel we could add one more to their plate,” said Jones.

Confounded by the FAFSA? Read the article about Financial Aid Day on www.advocateonline.net then come to the event Saturday, Jan. 22, in Room AC333 and learn all about how to pay for school.

All students are welcome.

Ready to transfer?

Interested in the creative arts?

ART

mar ylhurst.edu/art

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INTERIOR DESIGN mar ylhurst.edu/id

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CREATIVE WRITING mar ylhurst.edu/english

FILM

mar ylhurst.edu/culturalstudies Join us for an information session:

Saturday, February 26 at 9 a.m.

Marylhurst campus BP John Administration Bldg., rm. 200 WARNERPACIFIC.EDU

Register for this free event at studentinfo@marylhurst.edu or 503.699.6268.

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