Volume 53, Issue 14 JANUARY 25, 2019 advocate-online.net
Community colleges in budget tugof-war PAGE 2
'Bird Box' a bust? PAGE 6
Saints coach centers on players PAGE 8
NEW PATH TO BETTER ACCESS PAGE 4
Counselor guides students to evolve PAGE 5
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OPINION | EDITORIAL
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS MORE FUNDING Just before December, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released her recommended budget plan for the 2019-21 state spending cycle. The proposal would effectively reduce funding for community colleges by 4.7 percent, compared to 2017-19 spending. We think the governor’s reliance on “revenue reform” (translation: roughly $2 billion in new taxes, adding more money to spend) puts Oregon’s community colleges at a disadvantage, and urge legislators to think of how community colleges play a vital role in Oregon’s workforce, communities, and overall future. If the $23.6 billion budget proposal is approved, Mt. Hood could be forced to increase tuition rates by $18-$23 per credit over the next two years, MHCC President Lisa Skari said at the college’s annual legislative breakfast this month. In a followup interview, Skari said that when combined, the 17 community colleges in Oregon would effectively have to increase tuition by an average 17 percent, varying due to the financial situation for each. “Most colleges have had fund balances – or what I (would) call savings accounts – but because of the years of reduced funding, they’ve had to spend down their savings accounts. So many... don’t have sizable reserves” they once did, Skari said. This large a tuition increase would be a massive hit to students. Oftentimes community college is a student’s only option, due to a variety of circumstances. The cost of higher education is significantly higher than ever. If a student can barely afford to attend MHCC now, think of what another tuition hike will do to already troublesome
enrollment trends. Skari shared that Mt. Hood enrollment this school year has dropped by 7 percent, with a tuition (revenue) shortfall of about $1.5 million, which follows a tuition increase of $7 per credit (a 6.3 percent increase) approved last spring. “That was a big push for (Board of Education members) and they didn’t like it,” Skari noted. “So looking at their appetite for not liking big increases, if they continue with that, then we will need to make (program) cuts.” Mt. Hood will also have to cover roughly $1.5 million in additional PERS Graphic by Eli Rankin / the Advocate (employee retirement system) liability, proposal, essentially saying Oregon adding to its budget troubles. must address an affordability crisis WIDER IMPACT in housing, healthcare, child care, It isn’t just students who would and education because costs have suffer, though. outpaced many Oregonians’ ability Fewer people attending higher to thrive. education would result in a lessShe added, “We must finally educated, less prosperous workforce fix our underfunded education in Oregon. Of late, MHCC’s highest system.” Her recommendation: Add enrollments have been in CTE a $2 billion “education investment (Career and Technical Education) package” funded by new corporate programs, many of which are and other taxes a Democratic required to prepare students for supermajority in Salem this year specific jobs in the workforce. By appears ready to approve. not providing resources to fund Wrote Brown, the package the institutions that provide job would “transform opportunities skills to those who need it most, the for our state and her people ... governor is effectively hurting the This is emblematic of the broad future of Oregon’s economy. agreement among Oregonians that Brown made some key points we must address the long-term at the start of her written budget structural obstacles to improving
our education system.” Summing things up, she added, “My values of accountability and promoting opportunity for all Oregonians, particularly rural residents, communities of color, and low-income communities, are the lens through which this budget was crafted.” Maybe Brown’s lens needs to be cleaned. Community colleges serve those very people for which this budget was crafted, if her explanations are to be believed. We understand there is a Democratic supermajority and that it is likely that legislation can, and will, pass in order to increase revenue for the state. We understand K-12 schools need extra support, especially to deal with Oregon’s
low high school graduation rates, compared to the U.S. overall. But it’s just as important to consider that, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers state expenditure reports, since 2010 higher education funding has been severely cut back in Oregon. TOUGH DECISIONS Higher education was taking up 7.1 percent of state funding in 2010. In 2015, the funding level went down to 1.1 percent. That’s a significant decrease. While in 2018 the percent raised to 3.5 percent, with this proposed budget, higher education would receive 3 percent in 2019-21. With the proposed investment package, new tuition increases for community colleges would be capped at 3.5 percent, Brown noted. But that’s still more burden put on students. Based on our discussions with Skari, Mt. Hood next year will either need a tuition increase or make program cuts, in any case. She said the Board of Education will need to make this decision by mid-March. The Legislature has through the end of June to debate and adopt a state budget – meaning community colleges must make tough decisions in the face of financial uncertainty. We urge state legislators to think of higher educational institutions that serve communities that need them most: Think of community colleges.
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OPINION | NEWS
JANUARY 25, 2019
SENATE SHOULD END SHUTDOWN
NEWS BRIEFS with Megan Phelps
STALKING AWARENESS On Wednesday, Jan. 30, MHCC’s Public Safety, Title IX team, and Associated Student Government will host the forum, “Stalking: Learn to Know It, Name It, Stop It!” from noon to 1 p.m. in the Student Union. Refreshments will be provided.
Omar Saradi the advocate
What does Mitch McConnell have in common with a TSA worker at an airport? Besides being involved with the federal government shutdown, nothing else. I mean that literally, because if there is one thing I’ve noticed during this shutdown debacle, it’s that the class divide is stronger than it has ever been. Why is it that government institutions are taking their sweet time with this shutdown, while every minute and hour that goes by is a missed opportunity for a federal worker to get paid? Let’s take a moment and realize that congressional politicians themselves won’t have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck; senators such as McConnell haven’t had to worry about a financial struggle for years, and to these people, time isn’t money. I’m not a federal employee but, I’m a person who understands how important money is when you’re in a financial dry spell. It’s hard, but I’m lucky enough to be young, without kids, or a family to support. Keep in mind these workers are essentially working for free. The people who are affected are working jobs that a politician wouldn’t even consider doing.
Graphic by Angeles Ramirez / the Advocate
All of this cultivates a situation where nobody knows what they’re supposed to do. I think we should always (in a perfect world) have faith in the politicians who represent us, but right now partisanship is so extreme that our leaders would rather choose party over people. There have been situations like this in the past, such as the shutdown over Obamacare, but the resolution of that battle showed us that there is at least a separation of powers to show Congress the way out. The current relationship between Senate leaders and the executive branch is unhealthy because they’re too close: McConnell, the senate majority leader, said he won’t sign off on a budget bill that the president doesn’t approve of. This is bad because his job is to simply accept/ modify the bill the House passed, against the president’s wishes, to end the shutdown. This shutdown is continuing while I type this, and while McConnell is pondering the future of the Republican party and the senate as a whole, 800,000 federal workers will have gone without pay for over a month and that’s not even counting the thousands
more dependents that they are supporting. (Note: This is a cashflow problem, as federal workers will be paid retroactively for time lost, but only when the shutdown ends.) There are other worries, such as those people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (i.e., food stamps), and the store owners where they are most often redeemed, if the shutdown extends much into February. Which means that people who are being helped by government programs potentially join the federal workers as a group marginalized in this shutdown. We haven’t seen anything like this in politics, in terms of the lack of leadership and accountability, but what pains me most, for the sake of my fellow citizens, is the timing. This shutdown started before an already stressful holiday season, and the continuation only makes it harder. To simply say that workers aren’t getting paid isn’t stressing it enough: The workers are working, while politicians don’t work, and only one group can end this shutdown.
On the cover: News Editor Cassie Wilson making her way to athletics on the MHCC main campus.
E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030
The American Red Cross will be on campus on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 28-29, for blood drive events hosted by the ASG. They will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union. Drop-ins are welcome and snacks will be provided to donors.
RAIN GARDEN WORK PARTY On Friday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Sandy River Watershed Council will host a Rain Garden Weeding Party and Tour, starting in Parking Lot E at MHCC. Snacks, gloves, and tools will be provided. A tour will be provided at the end of the work party.
FREE TAX PREPARATION The AARP Foundation will be offering free tax preparation to MHCC students and community members on Saturdays from Feb. 2 to March 16, and again on April 6 and 13. Services will take place on the Maywood Park campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 223 each Saturday, with walk-ins welcome. Other taxassistance sites are available in the Gresham area, but are likely by appointment only. More information can be found on cashoregon.org/free-tax-sites/frequentlyasked-questions.
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Maysee Thao is a first-year photography student in Mt. Hood’s Integrated Media program, and part of the Advocate’s photo team. She hopes to soon start a side business shooting portraits, weddings, and events, and then work mainly as a real estate photographer. Her favorite hobbies are going on adventures and traveling, to enjoy the outdoors and nature.
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NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS AT MHCC Cassie Wilson the advocate
In discussions about inclusion, people with disabilities are often forgotten, despite accessibility being something that affects people of all minority groups. Think about the last time you saw someone address the various forms of discrimination: They probably listed things such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ageism, classism – but did you see the word ableism? Ableism is discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, nearly 1 in 5 people have a disability. But, despite the landmark, federal Americans with Disabilities Act being signed in 1990, there is still a lot of work to be done nationwide and even right here at Mt. Hood Community College. That’s why MHCC’s Accessible Education Services (AES) director, Dave Pontious, has put together an accessibility task force, inspired by a disabled student who needed automatic doors to be installed for increased access to the Visual Arts Theatre and Gallery at the Gresham campus. The student wanted to work with AES and the Associated Student Government to raise money for the power doors. But Pontious said he’d much rather find funding within the Facilities department budget than have the student exert valuable time and energy on something the college itself should handle. The situation motivated Pontious to gather a group of passionate people from around campus to identify, and prioritize, accessibility issues that need fixing. NEW AND IMPROVED The 2018-19 school year began with Accessible Education Services getting a new name. Deciding the former Disability Services Office just wasn’t inclusive enough, Mt. Hood became the fifth of 17 community colleges in Oregon to make the change. “Whether it’s a visual disability or a hidden disability, we just feel like (the name) is more inclusive. I’m happy to be ahead of the curve,” said Pontious. AES serves people with disabilities such as physical, vision, hearing, mental health, learning, and attention-related issues. It PA G E 4
Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate
TOP LEFT: The Studio Theatre doesn’t have an automatic door for those who need access. RIGHT AND BOTTOM LEFT: Many ramps and pathways on campus are not ADA-vcompliant due to their steep inclines. The pathway to the gym is a notable example.
also recognizes those students with other health impacts –people who may not identify as disabled but who experience concussions, broken bones, cancer, or anything else health-related that interferes with their learning experience. There is a new syllabi statement about AES with more inclusive language about the accommodation process. Accommodations offered to eligible students include extended time on tests, a private room for tests, and permission to record lectures, but overall, they vary based on the needs of the individual. There are more new things that AES does now. Rachel Falk is a new faculty counselor on campus, with a history of working with people with disabilities, so she can help provide more specific career counseling for disabled students, based on their capabilities and interests. One more vital thing being offered now is financial help with disability assessments, which are crucial. “There are students out there who have struggled in school in the past before they came to Mt. Hood, and they know something
is going on, but they don’t know what it is,” explained Pontious. “We are now working on providing financial assistance to help people get assessments done.” Having professional documentation is almost always a requirement to get accommodations at school and in the workplace. And getting an assessment done would mean students would understand more about themselves and be able to better advocate for their needs in continuing their education and in finding employment. It’s also important to note that AES doesn’t serve students just on the Gresham campus, but is also responsible for accommodations at the Maywood Park and Bruning Center satellite campuses. In addition, AES oversees accessibility for all public or student events, whether they take place in the College Theatre, the stadium, the aquatic center, or anywhere else on campus. MAKING A PLAN Many issues are on the minds of the accessibility task force; the most widespread is a lack of automatic doors. Other issues include ramps that are not ADA-
compliant because they’re too steep; inadequate lighting on campus; lack of available maps that show accessible pathways; lack of accessible restrooms; and gaining entrance to the College Theatre – a real hassle, to say the least. In December, Pontious led a presentation about ableism at the Winter staff/faculty in-service event. He showed those who joined him what it’s like for a wheelchair user to enter the College Theatre, from buying a ticket to actually getting to the accessible seating. Disabled folks would start at the Theatre entrance, then go all the way to the elevator by the Library, go down to the Main Level, enter through the Studio Theatre (which doesn’t have an automatic door), and wind back through a hallway to get to the College Theatre seating. “From a psycho-social aspect of disability and from culture, if you look at history, we can’t continue to send messages to individuals that you get to come in the back door, which is exactly what is happening with the College Theatre,” said Pontious. With the help of the new task force, “By the end of this year, I’m
totally confident that I’m going to present a prioritization plan for what we need to tackle on projects across campus,” Pontious said. “It’s going to be awesome.” Looking at impact will be key for this plan. The stadium serves the wider Gresham community, but its bleachers aren’t accessible. Testing Services is one of the first places a new student visits when coming to MHCC, but lacks an automatic door. Pontious said he is looking at prioritizing improvements “through the lens of the task force (in that) ‘yes, I need every classroom accessible, but if I have a choice, I’m going to pick the higherimpact issues.’ ” “If we could start thinking about (accessibility) and talking more about it, then people start picking up and noticing it when they’re doing activities in their daily lives,” said Pontious. The accessibility task force has a lot of work ahead, but as Pontious said, “We are rich in opportunity.” Have any thoughts or questions about accessibility at MHCC? Email Accessible Education Services, at AES@mhcc.edu.
NEWS
JANUARY 25, 2019
NEW COUNSELOR BRINGS WHAT SHE LOVES TO MHCC Jennifer Salazar the advocate
Counselors play an essential role in everyone’s life, especially in the lives of students who need guidance with their career planning and/ or personal issues. The Mt. Hood Community College counselors work very hard to provide assistance for all students on campus, and have had the opportunity to welcome a new faculty member to their team this Winter Term: Rachel Falk. Falk will have a major role in providing career, personal, and crisis counseling to students within, and beyond, Accessible Education Services (formerly Disability Services). She will also be teaching at some point this term, most likely in the Human Development department. Although she knows she is taking on loads of work, she says it’s work she loves and enjoys doing. Falk started her hiring process to work at Mt. Hood in September.
Photo provided by Rachel Falk
She says one of the reasons for her interest in MHCC was the wide diversity the campus has. Before coming here, she worked at Clark College, in Vancouver, Washington,
in the Career Service department, and before that she was at Portland Community College, in the Workforce Development and Career Counseling departments.
It may come as a surprise to some that Falk is actually from New York City. Starting at the age of 12 and continuing into her 20s, Falk’s biggest focus was theatre. She received a bachelor’s degree in theatre, but later realized it was hard to make a living out of theatre and did real estate for about a decade. After that, she helped her husband start an advertising agency for several more years. Even though Falk took on many jobs, she says this is how she discovered what she loved doing the most: meeting people (and learning their different backgrounds) and helping them make important transitions in life. This is something she likes talking to students about, she says: That it’s okay to take on different jobs, because at the end you can take all your favorite pieces of your past jobs and figure out what you enjoy the most. After discovering her new career interest, she moved to Oregon and
earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health and rehabilitation counseling, specializing in mental health counseling to work with people with disabilities, at Portland State University. Falk is really excited to start working with students at Mt. Hood, and says one of her goals is to “meet with as many students as possible.” She says she will try her best to be present at different school events to connect with students, so that students don’t always have to go find her. She would like students to know that they may contact her through email or make an appointment at the Career Planning and Counseling Department. Students can also schedule an appointment through the Advising Center. Falk’s office is located in AC2162, in the Advising Department in the Student Services center. Advising hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m. weekdays (opening at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays).
NEW DEGREE COMING SOON MHCC has a new transfer degree in the works to help students get where they need to go Chloe Collins the advocate
If you are pursuing an Associate of Arts for Oregon Transfer degree, or know someone who is, this article is for you. Two months ago, the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at MHCC, Sara Rivara, proposed a new degree for students to pursue at the college, which would act as an alternative to the AAOT. After much discussion and collaboration, Rivara, along with other faculty members and the Instructional Services office, decided that a new, Mt. Hoodspecific degree would be the best, immediate solution to the issues students are facing when they transfer to a four-year university. One specific challenge is that “the AAOT does not account for the [foreign] language requirement that almost all universities have for students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree,” according to Christy Weigel-McCaw, MHCC’s
articulation and transfer coordinator. Students also find that although the AAOT helps students meet most freshman and sophomore credit requirements, it does not guarantee that a student will be considered a junior when they transfer to a university.
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The new degree has been approved by MHCC administrators and the MHCC District board; it must still win approval by Mount Hood’s accreditation body. Pending that final approval, the degree would be available beginning this Summer Term.
THE DEGREE WAS CREATED BY LOOKING AT THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS OF MANY OREGON UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, TO DESIGN A DEGREE BETTER SUITED FOR TRANSFER.”
These are a couple of the issues that a new Associate of Science in Liberal Arts degree would account for. The degree was created by looking at the current requirements of many Oregon universities, as well as bachelor’s degree requirements, to design a degree better suited for transfer.
Students currently pursuing an AAOT can change their plan to the new AS in Liberal Arts degree. Weigel advises caution for students on a financial aid maximum time-frame appeal. Regardless, if you have any questions or are considering the change, consult with an academic adviser.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
THE MOVIE BEHIND THE MEME 4 out of 5 stars
Kurt Larson the advocate
The biggest meme of 2018 (and 2019, so far)? The Bird Box challenge. For the past month it’s been taking the internet by storm, and has fast become one of the most
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popular – and potentially dangerous – memes to go mainstream. And it’s only January. So what’s the deal? Purportedly one of the biggest films of 2018 if Netflix is to be believed, “Bird Box” is the latest attempt from the streaming giant to try and rock the system. Bird Box is a horror/thriller directed by Susanne Bier, starring an A-list cast of Hollywood pros such as John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson, Tom Hollander and, of course, Sandra Bullock, playing the lead. Machine Gun Kelly even makes a pointless appearance in this movie. Bullock plays a pregnant, middle-aged woman, Malorie Hayes, with severe commitment issues. While out on a routine doctor’s appointment with her sister, the two begin noticing other people committing mass suicide in public, in broad daylight, for seemingly no reason. Unbeknownst to them, this is the beginning of the apocalypse: a worldending event caused
by some invisible force. Those who catch a glimpse of these apparently invisible monsters find themselves unable to look away and eventually, turning homicidally and suicidally insane. After Bullock escapes to a nearby house with a group of pedestrians, she and the others hunker down to wait out the storm. Unfortunately, that proves more difficult with a baby on the way. The crew figure out they can navigate the outside world by wearing blindfolds at all times, thus spawning the now infamous slew of Bird Box challenge memes. But does this movie live up to the hype? The short answer is a simple “No.” While 45 million people may have tuned into Netflix to watch this film, which would make this movie the highest-grossing film released last year (even topping “Black Panther”), it’s a good thing it wasn’t released in theaters, because it would’ve died in the first two weeks. This is just another run-of-themill horror movie, no better or worse than any Blumhouse horror flick released in the past few years. Speaking of Blumhouse, the budget for this movie is certainly low enough to be a Jason Blum
venture. In fact, half of this movie could’ve been shot in the woods around the MHCC campus. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the limited budget more than shows, as there’s only about five locations in the whole film, the majority of them inside suburban homes and dense, green forests. It’s as if the writers purposefully crafted a story specifically to cost the least amount of money possible. Isn’t it convenient that the big scary movie monster is invisible and is never actually revealed? Guess that means you only have to spend your special effects budget on pitiful amounts of CGI blood and a couple car crashes. The rest of the film’s writing is nothing abominable, but it’s not Shakespeare, either. There’s a hint of a really interesting story going on somewhere in the background, but unfortunately those intriguing concepts are hidden behind stale character interactions, pointless conflict, and flat character development. The main flaw however, is the immense lack of tension, which is obviously pretty critical in a horror/ thriller. While the cast members might be pros, the material they were given was just too minimal, and it all ends up feeling like they
slept-walked through most of this movie. The exception is Bullock, who attempts to carry the whole film on her shoulders, but unfortunately can’t quite handle it all. Inevitably, the viewer just doesn’t care about what happens to any of the characters, because the characters don’t seem to care much, either. Also, whoever was in charge of editing this movie needs to learn a thing or two about pacing. The story takes place over a five-year period, but constantly flashes back to the beginning of the incident, leaving no great mysteries to be solved at the end of the film and removing any decent sense of story progression. With all that being said, Bird Box isn’t a horrible movie – just painfully average. There are a few fun scenes scattered throughout, and the primary concept of the film is intriguing enough to keep you watching till the end. Bullock does a fine job, as to be expected, and some of the side characters are fairly entertaining to watch at times. But, overall, I’d say you’re better off watching people drive blindfolded on YouTube while they attempt the Bird Box challenge. 2/5 stars.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JANUARY 25, 2019
CLUBS ON CAMPUS Sadie Klein
THEATRE CLUB
must be a part of the Nursing This student-led club program. However, students meets every other Thursday and community members are AMERICAN SIGN for an hour in the Studio welcome to sit in on meetings LANGUAGE (ASL) Theatre. Anyone is welcome and get advice on ways to Anyone is welcome. The to join. Its next show is apply for the program. This purpose of this club is to QUOTE FROM scheduled for March 15 and club does volunteer work promote education on sign STORY For WILLand fundraising. For more 16, called “Cabaret.” language. No experience is info, email SNA@mhcc.edu. GOvisit IN THIS more information, the IF required to join; it is a safe Facebook page at YA“Thespian WANT.” place to learn and practice. DENTAL HYGIENE Empire MHCC.” Meetings are on Tuesday(s), CLUB Jan. 29, Feb. 26, and March This is a support system MENTAL HEALTH 12, from 3 to 4:30 pm., and on for those enrolled in the CLUB (MHSSAC) Wednesday(s), Jan. 30, Feb. The application deadline program, and helps guide 13, Feb. 27 and March 13, from for this club is on April 12. students who want to join 4 to 5:30 pm, all in AC 1001. Discussions and courses the program. For more around mental health issues information, see: mhcc.edu/ CONSERVATION are hosted. Located in the LRadmissions. CLUB 1700 Building in the Health Meets on the first and third Professions department; AND MORE... Wednesday of each month in For more information one-hour meetings are held AC 1152 (Council Chamber) twice a month. Can help on any of the clubs listed from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Student MHCC students link with above and others not listed, Union. Anyone can join. This such as the Black Student professional resources. club also works with the Union, the American Society Sustainability Committee. IMAGE MAKERS of Safety Engineers, the This club comes together to This is the cosmetology Brain Club, the Clay Club, promote ways to conserve club. This club has weekly the Conservation Club, the the environment. meetings, with the purpose Film Photography Club, the of gathering to come up with Chess Club, the Fisheries NORTHWEST ideas on how to advertise the Club, the Gender & Sexuality COLLEGIATE cosmetology program and Alliance, the International MINISTRIES salon, fundraisers, and new Student Association Club, This is a Christian club that ideas for the salon. Must be the Japanese Club, and the meets from 11 a.m. until 2 a part of the cosmetology Veterans Association, please p.m. Wednesdays at the Jazz program to be a part of the contact the ASG Student Orgs Cafe in AC 2059. Free pizza is club. & Clubs Representative at: given to anyone who attends. asgdsoc@mhcc.edu. Bible study is held after lunch. STUDENT NURSES This club does community ASSOCIATION service and volunteering. It Meets one Tuesday per also is seen as a good way month. To have an active to meet new people and get role in the club, members connected. the advocate
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A&E BRIEFS The Music Man This term, the MHCC Theatre Department will feature a production of “The Music Man,” written by playwright Meredith Wilson. The musical follows the story of Harold Hill, who orchestrates (no pun intended) a scheme to make money by convincing a small midwestern town to form a band and buy their uniforms from him. Unfortunately for Hill, he falls in love before he can make his clean escape. Show times will be Feb. 22 and 23 and March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and on February 24 and March 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets in advance for Mt. Hood students, seniors, and staff are $10, $13 at the door. General admission in advance will be $12 and increase to $16 at the door.
Fireplace Gallery The Fireplace Gallery, inside the Student Union, will display the photography of Karalee Kuchar from her collection, “Equanimity in the Basement of Time.” The display will remain up through Jan. 31. The gallery is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alumni Ceramics Mt. Hood will be celebrating alumni who continued in their art careers to produce amazing pieces. The Visual Arts Gallery will display the pieces of these former Saints from Feb. 4 through Feb. 28. The Gallery will host an artists’ reception from 11:30 a.m.
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SPORTS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
COACH, HUSBAND, BEYOND
One man’s mission to impact and inspire youth
Jonathan Zacarias the advocate
The Saints women’s basketball team is having a great season so far, sitting at 5-2 in South Region play and 14-6 overall, through Wednesday’s game. As they enter the second half of the season, though, every game will grow more crucial in the pursuit of clinching a spot to the NWAC playoffs as Mt. Hood, Chemeketa, Umpqua, and even Clackamas are all fighting for those second, third, and fourth spots in the South. The South is being led by a dominant Lane team. Just two years ago, making the playoffs wasn’t even a consideration for the women’s team. The 2016-17 lady Saints finished the season with a 2-14 conference record, and 7-21 overall. The last time the Saints had gone to the playoffs was in the 200910 season, where they went 10-4 in the South, and 19-10 overall. But since the arrival of Head Coach Jeremy Vandenboer, things have been looking different – much different. In his first year as head coach of the women’s basketball team in the 2017-18 season, Vandenboer led the Saints to their first playoff appearance in eight years. Mt. Hood had a record of 9-7 in the South and 1214 overall, good for fourth place in their division. It’s clear so far that Vandenboer has made a positive impact for the women’s basketball program at MHCC, so the Advocate grabbed him to talk about his current success and achievements. Upon arriving at Mt. Hood in the fall of 2016 to join Mt. Hood’s men’s and women’s basketball staff as an assistant, Vandenboer was bringing 15 years of coaching experience to the table. It began during his ju-
Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate
Coach Vandenboer setting up a late 3-point shot against Clackamas Community College on Jan. 2. Saints went on to win the game, 70-69.
nior year of college when he started coaching at the local high school and he hasn’t stopped since. He would graduate from Walla Walla University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He then went to Montana to teach at a small private school for nine years, and was
“Working with kids, you know. Helping make a difference in their lives,” he said. “Using the sport as a tool to teach life skills.” Along the way, Vandenboer coached high school boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and volleyball until 2013. After nine years and his earn-
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...YOU DON’T REMEMBER THE WINS AND LOSSES TOO MUCH BUT YOU REMEMBER THE RELATIONSHIPS...” -JEREMY VANDENBOER
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH Vandenboer high-fives Kassidy Ellett after a good hustle play in the first half.
the athletic director there, as well. He also ended up meeting his wife, Genevieve, who is from Eugene, out there. What made him want to coach the game, in the first place? We asked Vandenboer.
ing a master’s degree in education administration, the couple moved to Seattle where he got a job as an athletic director and vice principal for two years. In those two years he coached the Auburn Adventist boys’ high school basketball team to its
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first-ever state playoff appearances. The next move, to Oregon, was made after Vandenboer’s wife began working for Nike and the opportunity to coach college basketball presented itself. In 2015-2016, he served as an assistant coach to the men’s basketball team at Corban University in Salem. He met Saints
en the head coach position for the women’s team. We asked Vandenboer how has he handled all the moves, and different teams he has coached over 18 years. “I don’t think it’s much about where you coach but why you coach and that’s something I’ve learned along my career,” he said. “When you first get into it, you want to prove that you’re good, and coaches are competitive. But I think at the end of the day you start realizing that you don’t remember the wins and the losses too much but you remember the relationships that you have, the experiences that you have with these kids and how you impacted their lives.” With any profession, there comes challenges and obstacles, we asked Vandenboer about his. “I think the biggest challenge is time. It’s a lifestyle and a commitment – (to) not just something you do, but something your entire family is involved in, as well,” he said. “The more you can be involved in their lives, the more of a difference you can make.”
men’s Head Coach John Hawley while out on the recruiting trail, and the two discussed Mt. Hood. After some thought, and with Genevieve getting a promotion to work with Nike in Portland’s MLK Boulevard store location, he called up coach Hawley. And after one year assisting Hawley for both men’s and women’s basketball, he was giv-
JAN. 30 AT CLACKAMAS
FEB. 2 AT SWOCC
FEB. 6 AT MHCC
MHCC Saints vs. Clackamas Cougars
MHCC Saints vs. SWOCC Lakers
MHCC Saints vs. Chemeketa Storm
Women at 5:30 p.m. Men at 7:30 p.m.
Women at 2 p.m. Men at 4 p.m.
Women at 5:30 p.m. Men at 7:30 p.m.