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Smoking on campus becoming increasingly rampant
February 3, 2012
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Snoopy sings his way off comic strips and onto MHCC stage
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Men’s backetball swings back from loss Volume 47, Issue 15
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www.Advocate-Online.net
Taylur Dewolf headline goes here MHCC student Taylur Dewolf passed away last Friday, after getting in a snowboarding accident at Mt. Hood Skibowl
“I went from shock to just tremendous sadness obviously for the family,” said Sussman. Dually enrolled in a high school as well as MHCC as a part of the Estacada Web Academy and Early College program, Dewolf’s devotion to education was not her only strong point according to Sussman, “She was very mature and capable for her age.” “She was extremely positive and she was very intelligent. I would describe her as someone who was liked by everybody,” he said. Sussman also said that on the Saturday after Dewolf’s death, the college center was opened as a place for students to drop in for counseling and over 25 students came that day. In memory of Dewolf, All of ASG attended a basketball game and were invited to the court to participate in a moment of silence. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the family,” said Sussman. Recalling back to the night that she went missing, Miller said, “We usually pray before we go up, for protection and guidance.”
by John Tkebuchava The Advocate
MHCC students and faculty have spent the week in shock as they come to terms with the death of Taylur Dewolf, 17, who died in a snowboarding accident at Mt. Hood Skibowl. As well as being a student at MHCC, Dewolf also served as the senate administrative assistant. As a part of the counseling and recuperating process in the light of her death, all meetings and events that were to be held this week by ASG, SAB, and other MHCC groups, have been postponed until next week. Though her passing has been met with tears and grief, her fellow students and friends say they will always remember her as a supreme optimist that had nothing but care for her fellow students, family and friends. “Her pure soul always shined through everything she did. Everything about her was just so beautiful,” said William Miller, the director of diversity and a friend of Taylur who was went snowboarding with her the night that she passed. “We met in writing class last year. I didn’t know she was younger. She acted so mature. She was really bright and dedicated and motivated. She knew where she wanted to go,” said Jackie Altamirano, the ASG president. “We’ve all been dealing with it in our own way,” she said. “Her love for god was so deep. The fact that we prayed before we went down, is just so crazy,” said Miller. “She left a little piece of her light with everybody,” he said. “She would always try to make me smile. We’ve been saying she’s been an angel in disguise this whole time,” said Erica Fuller, the Director of Stu-
See Dewolf on page 3
In memory of... Photos contributed by William Miller
Above and right: Taylur Dewolf, an MHCC student, died last Friday in a snowboarding accident.
dent Organizations & Clubs. When asked how they had been dealing with the loss, Altamirano said, “We’ve all been dealing with it in our own way.” “It’s an emotional rollercoaster. It comes and goes. You’re laughing then your balling. You don’t know what to do next,” said Miller. David Sussman, who is the manager
of the college center service and often works with student government, said he had first heard about it last Friday evening. “I got a call from a staff member saying that she was missing and that the ski patrol on site was initiating the search,” he said. It was later that night he found out that she had passed away.
Black History Month Black History Month teaser
Learn about Black History in Oregon as well as the various black history month events on page
Mt. Hood Community College
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Gresham, Oregon
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February 3, 2012
Editorial
Campus law prohibiting smoking is poorly enforced, worth reconsideration Did you know that Mt. Hood Community College is a “smoke-free” campus? The Advocate knows there are smokers among our readers, but do they even know that this is a smoke free campus? Although this detail may be a surprise to some, the no-smoking policy has been in affect since Jan. 2, 2010, after the MHCC District board voted to ban smoking on campus on May 13, 2009. By now, students must have noticed that with each day smoking has become more common on campus and smokers get bolder with each passing week, even with this “smoke-free” campus policy. Of course, this is a free country and The Advocate more than supports students right to choose to smoke or not smoke. But perhaps the fact that rules and enforcement are a second thought means that some changes in policy are in order. It’s completely understandable that some students may not want to be subjected to cigarette smoke. Secondhand smoke is a proven killer, and just the smell of cigarette smoke might be too much for some. With the current state of things, it may be in MHCC’s interest to try to create a new policy that serves both smokers and non-smokers, or try reverting to some previous smoking policy that the campus has had. Assign some designated areas for smoking, so smokers, rather than
being banned from smoking all together, can have a place that they can go to and take a smoke break. Students will be more likely to follow the rules in this case, as they won’t be told to take their smoking off campus altogether, but rather must travel a little ways to indulge in their habits. Already we have seen that smokers, in attempts to evade detection from school officials, congregate to specific areas on campus where they smoke with their fellow smokers, so this idea becomes much more realistic. But we also believe that if there are changes in the policy, it is important they be enforced. Public safety cares enough to ticket cars when they are without permits; why not protect all of us from irritable and dangerous cigarette smoke? According to Lead Public Safety Officer Wayne Feagle, 14 citations and four warnings have been issued since the beginning of fall term. If there are simply not enough public safety officers available to enforce such policies, maybe new hirings or more resources are in order or maybe make enforcing the smoking policy not as much as a second thought that is today. Lastly, this is not meant as an attack on the conduct and effectiveness of public safety. Their job is not an easy one, Illustration by Yuca Kosugi and we appreciate the protection and other services that they provide. But maybe it’s time to walk the walk or make that walk more manageable.
Outside perspective gives Vista potential but lacks options by Jeff Hannig The Advocate
It was my first visit to the Vista Dining Center and I wasn’t even going to eat. All I was there for was to be judgmental. The turnstiles at the entrance of Vista didn’t say much about the food; however, they did make me feel like I was entering a cafeteria. While the freshly steamed trays, plastic fruit and narrow hallway that lead to the ordering station all indicated a pleasant atmosphere, the quality of the cafeteria’s food remained to be seen. I was surprised to see the first cook taking orders and building wraps that I’d otherwise see at a Chipotle or Taco Del Mar. And so in less than a minute, Vista had impressed me. Or had it? After further inspection, I discovered that Vista was indeed a typical cafeteria. Beyond the wrap station, there was a grill sizzling away with chicken breasts, hamburger patties and buns being toasted. Parallel to a pizza bar was a trusty condi-
ment staging area. Without trying any of the food, I was forced to judge everything by appearances. The cash registers, coolers full of salads, vegetables, and trays with hot and greasy French fries all said cafeteria, so I started to wonder if a cafeteria is such a bad thing? I mean, what was I expecting? Should there be a soft serve yogurt bar, or a salad bar with mushrooms and sliced beets? I decided I couldn’t do this alone, so I started to get up in everyone’s business. I fired off questions as they came to me. Asked if she was satisfied with the cafeteria’s menu, Crystal White said she couldn’t think of how it could get any better. She added there could be a bigger variety. A lack of vegetarian options was a popular complaint. Hannah Hobbs, a psychology major, politely explained that when there was meat in the soup, she ate French fries. Adrienne McKay, a business major, was more assertive and specific with how she felt: The menu lacks gluten and dairy free options and the cheese on the salad should be served on the side just like the dressing. Should there be more cultural dishes represented on the menu? Sandra C., a worker at Vista, explained that the Vista periodically has teriyaki chicken and that the chicken enchiladas are great, and she doesn’t think there’s a lack of variety in the menu.
the advocate
As for the question I kept asking myself — would I eat at Vista on the regular? — the answer is yes, I would if I had to, but I suspect it would not be up to my incredibly high fast food standards. If I’m going to eat a greasy burger and fries, I’ll get a Steakhouse burger combo from Carl’s Jr, a big cheeseburger on sourdough bread from Jack in the Box or a McDouble and a four-piece chicken nugget meal from McDonald’s. I try not to eat fast food, but I do — about three times a week — and I’ll be damned if I use one of those get out of jail free cards on cafeteria food. Not to sound like a complete food snob, but if the Vista wants my business, then they better come with some pesto pasta with roasted pine nuts, a Thai-peanut-crunch salad, or a chicken salad in a cantaloupe half. They are never going to get my business with faster fast food. I will always drive to Popeye’s, Jack in the Box or Albertsons and buy some apples before eating at the Vista. But I have a car, I break out easily and I am pretty much a food snob — or at least I watch the Food Network a lot. The bigger question remains, should the cafeteria at MHCC be less like a cafeteria? I think the Vista is a cafeteria in a community college and that if you walk through those turnstiles with that in mind, you shan’t be let down. Let us know what you think on Facebook, by sending a letter to the editor, or on our twitter @mhccadvocate.
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Three support staff members recognized for outstanding work Award recipients were suprised on the job by adminstrative staff by Jeff Hannig The Advocate
Instructional Administrative Assistant Paula Wilson was awarded the first of three 2012 Outstanding Support Staff awards Friday, Jan. 27. The OSS selection committee was overwhelmed with nominations that praised her for her relationship with the students, faculty and staff, according to a Jan. 26 MHCC press release. Wilson works at the Bruning Center as an administrative assistant. She helps students with everything from making coffee and popcorn to class work. Wilson is a registered nurse and a teacher. Many students expressed their appreciation for Wilson when they wrote that they looked to Wilson for encouragement, guidance and support. “It’s good to get to know the students and be able to watch them advance,” said Wilson. With the help of Wilson’s colleague Chrissy Bloome, President Hay surprised Wilson with flowers, balloons and the award last Friday afternoon. Wilson celebrated with her family over dinner that night. Eric Manarang, lead custodian at the Gresham campus,
was also awarded the 2012 Outstanding Support Staff Award last Friday. Manarang was selected for the OSS based on nominations from co-workers that cited his natural leadership skills, character and communication skills as reasons for recognition. According to the Jan. 26 press release “Eric stories are told all over campus.” Mangarang said he was completely shocked, overwhelmed and speechless when he was urged to give a speech. “All I could think to say was thank you,” said Mangarang. Mangarang thanked his bosses “for providing a solid foundation for him and his coworkers. They’re great mentors. We are successful because they’ve provided excellent examples.” Mangarang also expressed his appreciation for his coworkers and the students of MHCC. “This (OSS award) doesn’t just belong to me. It should go to the whole team, I couldn’t do this by myself,” he said. “Our main function (the custodial staff) is to serve the students. We are constantly trying to provide better service,” said Mangarang.
Workforce Development Specialist Arnita Tucker-McFarland was presented with the third award Thursday morning at WorkSource Portand Metro East. Pam Benjamin, Confidential Executive Assistant to the President, wrote in an email, “She visits these workers during all shifts, and provides workshops on the job site. She even provides a translator if necessary. Arnita has developed a series of motivational workshops called “Keep it Fresh. These are monthly workshops with a variety of topics to help job seekers stay engaged, motivated, and teaches them to develop their networking skills.” Tucker-McFarland said, “I was truly surprised. It’s an honor to be recognized by such an awesome group of people. Anyone at this office is deserving of the award. I would’ve been happy if anyone got it. Everyone here is so skilled and talented. I’m very grateful and honored.” Tucker-McFarland, Wilson and Manarang were awarded $500 checks from the MHCC Foundation. Award recipients will be recognized at the Feb. 8 board meeting.
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“It’s good to get to know the students and be able to watch them advance.” -Paula Wilson Administrative Assistant
“I was truly surprised. It’s an honor to be recognized by such an awesome group of people. ” -Arnita Tucker-McFarland Workforce Development Specialist
Student’s death shocks campus
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Dewolf: Continued from page 1
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“This (OSS award) doesn’t just belong to me. It should go to the whole team, I couldn’t do this by myself.”
“We forgot to pray the first run and so we decided to pray at the top of the second run. Taylur led in prayer. We went down the hill and Taylur flew past us and I saw her go over the hill and that was the last time I saw her.” After waiting 10-15 minutes, Miller and Mariah Feliciano (also an ASG member) began to search nearby for any signs of Dewolf. When they could not find her, they contacted the ski patrol, who began their search. After the patrol had been searching for some time, Miller and Feliciano contacted Dewolf’s parents, who immediately rushed to the scene. After several hours, Dewolf’s body was found around 11 p.m. by a sheriff’s deputy. “I heard her dad say they found her. Mariah and I were kind of excited because we tried to remain optimistic even though we knew something was obviously wrong,” said Miller. But when the deputy approached Miller and Dewolf’s parents with the news, Miller
said the deputy’s eyes were tearing up so he knew something was wrong. “He said that they had found Taylur and that she had died. I couldn’t talk at all. I was shaking and in shock,” said Miller. “Before I left the mountain, I turned around and I yelled, ‘Love you, Taylur!’” As Miller recollected all that happened that night, he remembered another event that had occurred the week before. “Taylur told her life group last week when there was a question that was posed that said, ‘If you died, would you be ready to meet Christ?’ Everyone was silent and Taylur goes, ‘I would.’ “Taylur climbed that mountain and met God.” A tribute written to Taylur has been posted on an ASG blog, which can be viewed at sencomhis.blog.com. There will be a memorial service in honor of Dewolf at 1 p.m. today at the Sandy Assembly of God, 39800 Highway 26, Sandy.
“Taylur climbed that mountain and met God.” -William Miller ASG Director of Diversity
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February 3, 2012
d e k o Sm t u O
MHCC’s no smoking on campus policy is flaunted by students while Public Safety and ASG look for solutions
by Jill-Marie Gavin The Advocate
Despite a 2010 policy prohibiting smoking at MHCC, students can be seen all over campus lighting up. May 13 of 2009 the MHCC Board voted unanimously to ban smoking on campus, the policy was set in place Jan. 2, 2010. Director of Safety and Security Gale Blessing said, “At this point our focus is to remind folks of our policy.” Blessing said that in order of importance the public safety department is concerned with medical emergencies, crime in progress, and then student complaints. Blessing also said the opportunity to remind offenders of the rule, often works. The Public Safety procedure for first time violators is to issue a written warning citation, second time violators receive a $15 citation and third time violators are to receive “disciplinary action.” Lead Public Safety Officer Wayne Feagle said, “Smoking on campus is an isolated problem, and one particular challenge is by the time we reach a reported area where students are smoking the people are gone.” Feagle also said of the area between the Trimet bus stop and the Public Safety office, “Many students think that area is off campus. To get people to stop smoking there we would have to have some standing out there all day.” He said, “We repeatedly go out there due to student complaint.” Since the beginning of fall term, 14 citations and four warnings have been issued, said Feagle. Blessing said, “We focus on education more than issuing warnings, and we don’t track the warnings. It works really effectively.” Blessing also said right now Public Safety has seven full time officers, five part time officers, and 13 campus watch student volunteers. Our student volunteers don’t issue citations,” she said, “They are to educate smokers on the policy and report it to the Public Safety office. We encourage them to avoid confrontational situations, which is something
the Gresham Police suggested we tell them for their safety. ” Asked if she had been working with ASG on the campus-smoking problem Blessing said, “We (Public Safety) brought it up in a president’s cabinet meeting and reviewed some of the changed policies at PCC, who we modeled our policy after. We’ve also been discussing it with the safety committee but we would be glad to give another group a call. At this point the discussion has mostly been at the president’s level.” Associated Student Government President Jaqueline Altamirano said, “We’ve been having a lot of students come in and complain about the smoking on campus.” Altamirano said, “When people come to MHCC campus the first thing they see is smokers, and the second thing they see is cigarette butts.” She said of the smoking ban, “It’s a difficult change because it’s so recent but the smoking on campus problem needs a big campaign to make sure it’s respected. “I wasn’t here when they removed the kiosks but from what I’ve heard the designated smoking areas at least controlled the litter,” she said. Altamirano said, after speaking with Director of Public Safety and Campus Sustainability Melani Snider, they agreed ASG would be willing to pay for trash receptacles and place them in high trafficked areas of campus frequented by smokers, if public safety agrees. Due to neighbor complaints Portland Community College published a notice on their website Nov. 8 stating that they recently raised their fine for violating the campus-smoking ban from $25 to $50; those caught smoking in wooded areas are subject to fines of $75. PCC mentioned in the notice that they refined their tobacco free policy in March 2011 to permit “Good Neighbor Zones” where smokers can gather to smoke and not be issued citations. PCC’s designated Good Neighbor Zones are on the outer edges of their campuses and include shelter and trash cans for smokers. The Nov. 8 notice from PCC Sylvania Campus said their personnel will clean the areas around Good Neighbor Zones twice a week. Photo by Riley Hinds/The Advocate
News Briefs Forum discusses moral character and goodness in politics The political forum this month poses the questions, “How much should moral character matter in politics? Do people have to be “good” to be a good leader?” The forum will be held at the library in the Bob Scott Room Wednesday, February 8, from
noon to 1pm. MHCC’s debate team will be showcasing their argumentative prowess with the yes and no’s of the topic for the first 20 minutes. Discussion, questions and comments from the audience will follow.
Student Success Seminars Feb. 6 - 9 Monday:
Math Mid-Term Success- 1:10 to 2 p.m. in AC2307
Tuesday:
Social Media and Your Job Search-12:10 to 1 p.m. in AC1152 How to Succeed on Tests-2:10 to 3 p.m. in AC2307
Wednesday:
Succeed in College While Raising a Family-1:10 to 2 p.m. in AC2307
Thursday:
Resume Development Lab-12:10 to 1 p.m. in AC3333 How to Read a Science Textbook-1:10 to 2 p.m. in AC2307
Dead Mathematicians presents on alternative formulas In “Completing the Square,” presenter Rob Hauss, a math instructor on campus, will present on alternative methods to solving equations of the form Ax2 + Bx +C = 0. The talk will be held in room AC2608 February 9 at 3:15 pm. “We will develop a technique that can be used to solve any quadratic, without having to memorize the Quadratic Formula,” said Hauss. The talk will be accessible for students that have completed Math 60, but Hauss encourages anyone who has ever used the quadratic formula and wondered where it comes from and why it works to attend the presentation.
Board to take action on Automotive program The Wednesday MHCC District board meeting will begin with a moment of silence for the passing of student Taylur Dewolf. Following the moment of silence for Dewolf, who died in a snowboarding accident Jan. 27 on Mt. Hood, the board will take action on an Automotive Light Repair and Maintenance program. The program is “less than one year program,” according to Dennis Mattoon, dean of instruction for industrial technology and apprenticeship, adding it would take three terms to complete. The program would be an entry level program, and as the college moves to a “completions” oriented model of state reimbursement, the program would be projected to show 18-20 completions annually as compared to 12-15 every other year in the other programs offered under the AAS degrees. Also on the agenda will be the monthly reports on personnel, Head Start and the finances of the college. Interim President Michael Hay will also present the Outstanding Support Staff awards at the meeting. Director of Facilities Management Dick Byers will present a fourth quarter energy report, followed by a budget update by Director of Finance Jennifer DeMent and Senior Budget Analyst Mark Denney. The penultimate report will be about online learning, given by Rodney Barker, dean of instruction for business and information systems.
In the city, for the city. WARNERPACIFIC.EDU PORTLAND, OR
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February 3, 2012
On Campus
Guest director adds to performance of ‘iconic’ play by Kylie Rogers The Advocate
Your weekly reason to stand up and hit the streets
Feb. 6 The MHCC Planetarium presents “Supernovae: The Spectacular Deaths of Big Stars!” in the Sky Theater at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Admission is free for MHCC students and $2 for general admission.
Feb. 7 Native Foods, 7237 SW Bridgeport Road, Portland, is hosting “Native Community Days in February!” Order an entree, side and Native drink and receive a free dessert. Proceeds from this event will go to House of Dreams, a free-roam no-kill cat shelter in Portland.
Feb. 8
It’s easy to see that Jennifer Hunter, part-time theater instructor and director of “Snoopy!!!,” is ready to be involved in another production at Mt. Hood Community College. Technically, according to Hunter, although she is a parttime instructor she is coming in as a guest director for the performance. It’s her second time directing a play at Mt. Hood — she previously directed ‘The Rocky Horror Show” — but she brings in quite a bit of experience. Before coming to Mt. Hood, Hunter directed two performances at the University of Portland and she directed “at least a dozen musicals and a dozen nonmusicals” at University High School in Spokane, Wash. Hunter said she is working with a diverse cast. “The students aren’t just from the theater program. Some are from the music program and some are from outside in the student body that just wanted to do something creative,” said Hunter. Hunter has taught every age
level from 5-year-olds to adults. Her training has prepared her for all learning styles and she feels she can adapt easily to a student’s acting needs, she said. “The people in the cast have all different levels of experience,” said Hunter. The challenge is to keep rehearsals hard enough for people who have done this a thousand times and keep the cast’s goals realistic while staying on schedule, Hunter added. Hunter’s goal as director is to make it a fun, family-friendly show. “The show is suited for the full family. It will be a fun night for everyone,” said Hunter. “Snoopy!!!” is a musical that has made its way around the globe. According to Hunter, the cast is working with the London recording but the play itself has been performed in other community theaters and colleges. “’Snoopy!’ is so iconic, it keeps the show in the mix. It’s a classic. It won’t ever go away,” said Hunter. With a play and characters that are so “iconic,” Hunter had to make it stand out. “We added a chorus that’s
Photo by Kylie Rogers/The Advocate
“Snoopy!!!” director Jennifer Hunter watching her cast as they worked on choreography in rehearsal Wednesday night in the College Theater.
not in the script,” she said. “The dance numbers are bigger and have more energy.” “Snoopy!!!” rehearsals have been taking place five days a week for three hours a night to master choreography ranging from chorus lines to military drills and song styles, including
Artists from the Bullseye Glass Company setup their work in the Visual Arts Gallery over the weekend. The exhibit runs from Feb. 2 to the 23. Bullseye Glass Company creates glass artwork primarily for architecture. For some artists, like Darren O’Neill, this is the first show that wasn’t put on by Bullseye. “It’s a great opportunity to get away from mothership,” said O’Neill. O’Neill has worked for Bullseye mixing dry materials for three years. “I went to school for construction management. I just try to make pretty things,” said O’Neill. Even though the artwork shown is not connected to Bullseye Glass Company, all the artists showing at the gallery work there. All the artists would like to thank the Visual Art’s department, Dan Ally and Miles Browne for the opportunity to show their work.
Feb. 9
Feb. 10 Sleep Dentistry, 19265 SE Stark St., is hosting “Dentistry from the Heart” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients will receive either one cleaning, filling or extraction on a first-come, firstserved basis. For more information, visit www. sleepdentistryofportland. com.
“Snoopy!!!” opens Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the College Theater. Tickets are available now in the box office.
Bullseye Glass showcases employee works
McMenamin’s Edgefield presents musician Tim Connell and his unique mandolin style that reaches beyond the realm of bluegrass. The free show starts at 7 p.m. at the Edgefield Winery for ages 21 and older.
The 35th annual Portland International Film Festival opens with “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” — screenplay by Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) — at the Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $9 for students and $10 general and are available online at nwfc. spotlightboxoffice.com. For more information, visit festivals.nwfilm.org.
Snoopy singing a country number, according to Hunter.
Photos by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate
Off Campus Review
Indie artist’s voice takes the spotlight over instruments by John Tkebuchava The Advocate
“Gallantry’s Favorite Son,” the latest album by Aussie-born New Yorker Scott Matthew, is a haunting yet surprisingly blissful experience to be had by indie and soulful-folk fans alike. Opening with the track “Black Bird,” featuring an assortment of instruments and Matthew’s oftentimes despairing voice, the song is a good indicator of the overall sound of the album. Skillful at a variety of instruments and particularly the guitar and ukulele, Matthew is able to compose a very beautiful arrangement of tracks. Musical instruments aside, it’s Matthew’s voice that takes the show on this album. Fragile and teetering on the brink of breaking while still remaining strong and full of emotion and spirit, the vocals are by far what makes this album as great a listen as it is. With the nature of Matthew’s voice, it’s not surprising that there are pretty much no fast songs to be had in this release, and it is good that is so, because his voice fits this style perfectly. One of my favorite tracks is “Felicity,” a surprisingly up-beat song accompanied by female vocals and a celebration of life - essentially a birthday song of sorts. “Duet” is another song that will no doubt be a favorite among fans. A very dreamy piece with a nice touch of a ukulele, the song is both heart-rending and spirited. It is here that Matthew’s voice truly takes flight.
The lyrics are another strong point for the album with lines like, “I will save you from the demon weeds you’ve sown. Little dream perhaps you’ll see you’re not alone.” These lyrics are a nice change of pace from the meaningless and empty words that mainstream radio bombards us with daily. Perish the thought that we might actually have to interpret music. I’m no musical elitist by any means, mind you. But I’m just sick of hearing words like “shorty,” ”club” and “baby” uttered every single sentence and with this album, you won’t have that issue. Matthews is able to take a theme like love, a very common one in mainstream music and still make it interesting both lyrically and musically. Take, for example, the track “The Wonder Of Falling In Love.” One of Matthew’s more poppy sounding ballads on the album is one that does not use the word “shorty” once. And this effective use of words with a fitting mood is just what Matthew is able to do so well through his often haunting voice to his excellent instrumentation and storytelling through his lyrics. Nonetheless, the albums still has its flaws. Many of the songs tend to lack identity. My first time through the album, I couldn’t differentiate between many of the songs, which is something to expect given the soft and slow nature of the album, and only after several spins could I call out the tracks by name. As such, if you’re looking for tunes to break dance to, this album is not for you. But if you’re looking for some music featuring a unique relaxing voice that can put you to sleep, you should give this Aussie a try.
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On Campus
ASG sponsored week of activities to open with Mardi Gras celebration during the civil rights era, he’s going to be talking on his experience about that,” said Miller. Wednesday, “The Help” will be showing in the Visual arts gallery, from 3 to 5 p.m. The decision to show “The Help” was based on the theme of white and black people working together for racial equality, said Miller.
FEB.
Black History Month
by Shelby Schwartz The Advocate
In honor of Black History Month, Associated Student Government will be hosting a week of black history events to help students celebrate and learn more about black culture in America. According to ASG’s Director of Diversity William Miller, the four-day event will start Monday kicking off with, “a Mardi Gras theme - our jazz club is going to be playing New Orleans style in the main mall. “We’re going to be marching…and tossing Mardi Gras beads,” Miller said. Miller said a talk by Richard Kingsberry will follow the Mardi Grad event. “ He’s going to be speaking about blacks in the military.” The Mardi Gras celebration featuring MHCC’s Jazz club will take place in the main mall from 11 to 11:30 a.m., Kingsberry will follow from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the College Center. On Tuesday, “our very own Larry Dawkins is going to be presenting,” said Miller, “Dawkins will be talking about black history in Oregon. I actually saw it and it’s amazing. (It’s) very moving and inspirational and it brings a greater understanding of what people when through. “To follow is Ben Fuller. He grew up in Mississippi
“Dawkins will be talking about black history in Oregon. I actually saw it (the presentation) and it’s amazing.” -William Miller
ASG Director of Diversity “‘The Help’ is more of an inspirational, stand-up for what you believe in kind of thing,” Miller said of ASG’s decision to show “The Help” over “The Color Purple.” The last day of the event, Thursday, will feature a presentation from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the College Center from Hadiyah Miller and Katie Kissinger. Miller said of the presentation, “It’s … an interactive session that introduces five tools they’ve used… in social justice diversity teaching and training for children and adults.” The presentation will include “singing, dancing, acting, telling stories, things like that… so it’s not just ‘this is what black history month is. It’s interactive with the audience,” said Miller. Kissinger is a part-time early childhood education instructor at MHCC. Rip City Kingz will follow from 1 to 2 p.m. with a hip-hop dance performance in the College Center.
Photo by Riley Hinds/The Advocate
Grammy-nominated pianist Janice Scroggins plays piano while Marilyn Keller (not pictured) sings in the College Center Thursday during a MHCC First Thursday/Black History Month event.
See page 8 for a full calendar of next week’s events
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advocate the
February 3, 2012
“They (the coaches) don’t want us to think because we’re 6-1 that we don’t have to go as hard.” Robby Rivers Saint's sophomore guard Guest column
by Jon Fuccillo former Advocate Sports Editor
Former Ducks to appear in the 46th Super Bowl Now that the Pro Bowl is over and done with (thank God), we can slide right into the main event, this Sunday’s Super Bowl. It will be the New England Patriots (13-3) vs. the New York Giants (9-7). Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning’s little brother Eli. But as a Ducks fan, I would like to think of this year’s Super Bowl as Patrick Chung vs. Spencer Paysinger. It’s history in the making, baby, at least for Duck fans worldwide. If winning the Rose Bowl wasn’t enough for those crazed Duck fans, we get a second opportunity to watch former Ducks battle it out on the gridiron in the biggest game of all. On the Patriots side, we have the 5-11, 212-pound starting safety Patrick Chung. He finished the regular season with 62 tackles, one interception and one sack. Not bad for the third-year man in the secondary. Then we have rookie linebacker and 6-2, 236-pound Spencer Paysinger representing the Giants. He finished the season with 12 tackles, mainly on special teams duties. The sky is the limit for this kid’s future. The pick for a winner should be a no-brainer. Right? But it isn’t that easy. Hopefully fans haven’t forgotten about Super Bowl XLII when the Giants pulled off the impossible and beat the undefeated Patriots 17-14 in Glendale, Ariz. I believe it will be another close game where defenses rise to the occasion. As much as I would like to see a shootout on offense, I just don’t see that being the case— at least not the kind of monster shootout that Ducks fans are used to. However, I do think Mr. Brady or Mr. Manning will have to play great games and carry their offenses. I have one recommendation for the Giants defense: Watch and cover 6-6, 265-pound tight end Rob Gronkowski. The big fella tore up defenses all season. He finished with 1,327 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns, and NFL record for a tight end. I believe him to be key if the Patriots offense wants to get going. And never sleep on the ability of the little fella, 5-9, 185-pounder Wes Welker, who finished the season second in the NFL with 1,569 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. On the other side, the Patriots secondary need to be on high-alert (which I’m sure they’ve already been informed). Manning has a handful of weapons at the receiver position. They have big-time playmaker 6-0, 204-pounder Victor Cruz. He finished the season with 1,536 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Then you have 6-1, 208-pounder Hakeem Nicks, who finished the season with 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns. Finally, there’s 6-0, 185-pounder Mario Manningham, who had less impressive numbers but finished the season with 523 yards receiving and four touchdowns. I’m going with my gut feeling. I have the Giants winning 35-27.
Saints rebound to take first place in Southern Region by Chanel Hill The Advocate
The men’s Saints basketball team bounced back from a crucial Southern Region defeat to the Chemeketa Storm by coming home Jan. 28 to beat the Linn-Benton Roadrunners 8667. The Saints now sit alone atop the Southern Region with a 6-1 record. Sophomore starter Spencer Clayton, who sat out the Chemeketa game due to an injury, played a critical role in the victory. “It’s always tough to have to sit out and watch your team struggle,” said Clayton. “I think that everybody had a chip on their shoulder after the loss.” Clayton led the Saints with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Up to this point, Saints players and staff have been vocal about their goals for the season: winning the Southern Region and winning NWAACCs. Neither goal is out of reach for the team, which has shown its strength and consistency in beating traditionally tough teams and demonstrating its athletic ability and tenacity on the plywood. Still, the Saints have to remain focused moving forward. “Six and one means nothing” were the words spoken to Saints point guard Drew Johnson by assistant coach Kamiron Jackson following a Wednesday night practice. Sophomore Robby Rivers,
Photo contributed by Jeff Hinds
Sophomore point guard Drew Johnson posted eight points against the Linn-Benton Roadrunners January 28 at MHCC.
who posted 13 points against the Roadrunners, said, “They (the coaches) don’t want us to think because we’re 6-1 that we don’t have to go as hard.” The Saints, who will head
down to Eugene Saturday to face the Lane Titans for the second time this season, are looking to best the Titans on their home court. “It’s gonna be tough. Games on the road are more dif-
ficult,” said Rivers. “We need to do what we do better.” The last time the two teams met, the Saints had home-court advantage and shot the ball extremely well, shooting 18-of-31 from behind the arc. They held the Titans to 5-of-15 from behind the three-point line to best the Titans in shooting and take the 104-76 win. Earlier this year, Titans head coach Bruce Chavka said, “I personally think Mt. Hood is the best team in the Southern Region,” adding that the Saints are “the cream of the crop” in the Southern Region. But it seems the Saints are taking nothing for granted. They have had a week full of grind-out, physical practices, putting in the work to ensure continued success. “We talked about the importance of coming in every day and focusing,” said head coach Geoff Gibor who pointed out that shooting on the road won’t match the shooting the Saints produced at home against the Titans. “We shot the ball so well, but we’re not going to shoot the ball like that on the road. We have to stay focused,” said Gibor. Clayton echoed that sentiment, saying, “We have to focus on continuing to play our game, keep playing tough defense and rebounding. If we do those things, we feel like we have a chance against anybody.” The Saints will play the Titans Saturday in Eugene with a 6 p.m. start time. On Wednesday, the Saints will play the PCC Panthers at home at 7:30 p.m.
Recent win boosts morale for women’s basketball team by Chanel Hill The Advocate
There was a get-it-done mood in the air Wednesday at the women’s basketball practice as the Saints continue to work on turning around their season. There was a sense of purpose in the room as the Saints, currently fourth in the Southern Region with a 3-4 record, are slowly building their comeback. They have won two of their last three league games, chipping their way back from recent tough losses, picking up wins when it really counts. The Saints played the Linn-Benton Roadrunners Jan. 28 at home and came away with a 51-49 victory. At the half, the Saints were tied 23-23 despite an early injury to sophomore Kelsey O’Neil, who has been one of the team’s leading scorers this season. “I rolled my ankle like 10 minutes into the game,” said O’Neil while rehabbing her ankle at practice. “But I should be ready to go for the next game.” The Saints, who outrebounded the Roadrunners, rallied to narrowly close out the game with a 28-26 second half. Sophomore point guard Emily Burch stepped up to lead Saints scoring with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Head coach Jocelyn McIntire, who has previously said her team needs to step it up
and be physical, pushed the girls at practice with one-on-way shooting drills. “If anything, ladies, don’t avoid contact. Embrace it. Because if nothing else, it gets you in there to draw the foul,” McIntire said during the Wednesday drills. At the halfway mark of the season, the Saints are preparing to play all the Southern Region teams for a second time. The test will be how the Saints adjust to teams the second time around. The Saints play the Lane Titans Saturday in Eugene with a start time of 4 p.m.
Upcoming games Men’s Basketball Feb. 4 @ 6 p.m. vs Lane, in Eugene Feb. 11 @ 7:30 p.m vs. PCC, at home
Women’s Basketball Feb. 4 @ 4 p.m. vs Lane, in Eugene
Photo contributed by Jeff Hinds
Sophomore Kelsey O’Neil suffered an ankle injury against the Linn-Benton Roadrunners Jan. 28 at MHCC.
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advocate the
February 3, 2012
Read the story on Black History month events on page 6
February is Black History Month Monday, Feb. 6
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Thursday, Feb. 9
Mardi Gras music & speech by Kingsberry
Speeches about Black history
Movie showing of “The Help”
Interactive lecture & dance performance
11 - 11:30 a.m., Main Mall The Jazz Club will be performing “New Orleans style” outside and ASG members will be tosssing Mardi Gras beads. 12 - 1:30 p.m., College Center Military historian and retired veteran Richard Kingsberry will speak about blacks in the military.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m., College Center MHCC speech instructor Larry Dawkins will speak about the significance of Black History Month. 12 - 1 p.m., College Center Ben Fuller will talk about his experiences growing up in Mississippi during the Civil Rights era.
3 - 5 p.m., Visual Arts Gallery A showing of “The Help” will take place on campus and is free to everybody. The movie is about an author during the Civil Rights Era who writes a book from the point of view of black maids working for white families.
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., College Center Hadiyah Miller and part-time faculty Katie Kissinger will give an interactive presentation on trasnformation and social justice work. 1 - 2 p.m., College Center The Rip City Kingz will do a hip hop dance performance.
1927
Black history in Oregon 1844
Slavery is declared illegal in Oregon. “Lash Law” is passed in June, requiring all Blacks — free or slaved — in Oregon to be whipped twice a year until they left. It is declared to be too harsh and punishment is reduced to forced labor in December.
1870
Oregon amends to remove a clause denying blacks the right to vote.
The 15th Amendment, granting Black men the right to vote, is added to the US Constitution, but fails to pass in Oregon.
1959
Oregon voters ratify the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution.
1951
Oregon repeals its law prohibiting interracial marriages.
The population of Blacks in... ...the United States ...Oregon ...Portland
12.6% 1.8%
6.3%
...Gresham
3.5%
Information from the Teaching Research, the Oregon Quality Assurance in Teaching grant, and the 2010 US Census Bureau