February 5, 2016
the
advocate Independent Student Voice of MHCC
Volume 51 Issue 16
Yoshida donation: one year later PAGE 3
MHCC winter production: Urinetown PAGE 5
Saints basketball puts in work PAGE 8
“The college has done well making two nickels go far, but now it’s time to invest.”
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OPINION
Editorial
advocate-online.net
Reinvigorating the political muscles MHCC’s campus is perched on the brink of a critical election, with an influential role. Six percent of voters could make the difference.
“I really believe democracy is like a muscle. If you do not use it, it will atrophy.” said MHCC’s general obligation bond PR specialist, Paige Richardson. The sentiment is as important now as it’s ever been – especially to young voters, who make up the largest share of students at MHCC. The second largest group here is students over age 40. With Mt. Hood going for a $125 million bond measure on the May 17 primary election ballot, student involvement could be critical. “In primary elections, the most reliable group of people, to vote are oooollldd, I mean, over 50. The least reliable are the young voters. In presidential (election) years they come out more,” Richardson elaborated.
Early community polling shows about 46 percent of MHCC district voters would vote “no,” another 1416 percent are still undecided, with the remaining people surveyed supporting the bond. Only a simple majority is needed for the bond to pass, which leaves about 6 perent of those undecided voters Mt. Hood would need to sway to get the bond passed. The adage “get out the vote” might seem like stating the obvious, but there’s a reason it’s repeated. It’s one of the few finite factors in politics: Either people have voted, or they didn’t – and if they didn’t, then they don’t get a say in what happens. This becomes a simpler process if you address the undecided voters, who, given our experience talking to students about the bond, will lean towards voting for the measure once
they find out what it is and does (see our video for full coverage), and what Mt. Hood’s situation is right now. As for the latter, it’s not fantastic. The college has been sliding deeper into debt the past four years. It owed about $29.4 million dollars in debt service at the beginning of the 2015 fall term. The last six bond attempts by MHCC, which were punctuated by a long gap in even seeking a new bond, failed for various reasons. The last time a bond was attempted was nine years ago. If the May bond measure fails, MHCC is looking at a debt service of $41 million over the next 20 years. These conditions make the MHCC campus a very important melting pot for the upcoming campaign. It has the most, and least
consistent, groups of voters in close proximity to each other, perhaps having conversations with one another more frequently as we approach the May election. These conversations the most important turning points for undecided voters, according to Richardson, who said the bond campaign seeks to have “10,000 conversations” with voters before elections. The Advocate staff supports this bond, especially since it’s been such a long time coming. “The college has done a really good job of making two nickels go a long way, but it’s time to make an investment so that the good work can continue,” said Richardson, summing up Mt. Hood’s sales pitch. MHCC President Debbie Derr had a similar remark when asked
about the bond effort by the Advocate earlier this school year. “We have been incredibly good stewards of the taxpayer dollar,” she said. Filling out an election ballot is a relatively quick process. A bond win on May 17 would allow the college to renovate the Maywood campus, match an $8 million grant from the state, and help improve the school’s wi-fi, which the student body has expressed discontent with, time and time again. Whether you vote “yes” or “no,” by picking up this paper you’ve demonstrated you are at least vaguely concerned with the school. That 6 percent “swing vote” is not a large margin. If students want or don’t want this bond to happen, their voice directly and heavily will influence the fate of this bond.
Impromptu road trips: just what the doctor ordered
Nick Pelster the advocate
Are you sick of your same old routine of going to school and work every day? Is the rain and the lack of fun in your life simply bringing you down? If so, looks like you need a change of surroundings to spice up that stagnant life of yours! Why not take a spontaneous road trip?
Let’s cut it with the infomercial stuff: Let me tell you about how a random road trip can really change you for the better. Experiencing new surroundings, food and people is nothing but good for the soul. Doing something so out of the norm makes your heart beat a little faster. I have had the same best friend since middle school. His name is Brady Ching and he’s a funny Hawaiian boy who loves baseball and foreign girls. Brady and I have wanted to take a road trip to California ever since we were in seventh grade, when we had ambitions to go there for our senior trip. Little did we know almost six years later our childhood dreams would come true. Brady was leaving to go to U.S. Navy basic training so we decided abruptly to take a road trip to beau-
tiful sunny Southern California for a week. Seven days later, I pulled up to his house at 6:30 p.m. sharp and loaded my Subaru Outback with all of our bags. We were off, bumping old-school rap classics over the aux cord and eating banana bread. Over 18 hours we traveled 1,150 miles taking turns driving and pumping our own gas in all the random gas stations along the way. We arrived at our destination, a.k.a Brady’s cousin’s house, at 1:30 the next afternoon and then our getaway started. Over the week we hit every beach, went to Hollywood Boulevard, spent a whole day at Disneyland, and much more. It was a week of my life that I never wanted to end. On our last full day, the family we were staying with planned to
take us out on their grandpa’s SeaDoos. We took the two water-crafts down to the harbor and got loaded up, putting all of our phones in the waterproof cubby of one. Brady and I were going to be on one of the two Sea-Doos, Brady’s cousin Natalie and her Grandpa on the other. Of course, one of them wouldn’t start so we tried jumping it using the truck, but it still wouldn’t work – so Gramps told the other three of us to take out the one Sea-Doo. I was worried, but I volunteered to drive first. After we got into the open ocean, Brady tapped me on the shoulder for me to hand him his phone. He took a Snapchat of us and puts it on his story; I put the phone back in the cubby and continued to ride around until I feel the Sea-Doo start to tip to the right. Then, it does a barrel-roll
as Natalie screams. I fall into cold, but oddly refreshing, water and start freaking out. I try to climb on top of the upside-down machine as if I see “Jaws” in the water. Brady was just about to scream for help until we finally got the craft to flip over. When we did, the cubby was open and all of our phones sank like rocks. I thought to myself and laughed – because if I had been in Gresham right then sitting in math class this wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t mind, because even though all the memories of the week sank to the bottom of the ocean, this would be a memory that would never leave my head. That’s the beauty of road trips. I’m going to end this with some advice: Go on a road trip, but never take your phone on a Sea-Doo.
the advocate Editor-in-Chief Adam Elwell
Sports Editor Clay Vitale
Associate Editor Hayden Hunter
Graphic Designers Ayla Buckner Cody Holcombe
Arts+Entertainment Editor Ivy Davis News Editor Gloria Saepharn
Photo Editor Nick Pelster Opinion Editor Adam Elwell
Public Relations Manager Emily Wintringham
Video Team Members Ben Baxter
Features Editor Jon Fuccillo
Ad Manager Joseph Frantz
Video Editor Chuck Masi
Copy Editor Quincy Smith Staff Writers Lena Simon Nicole Kaadi
Monique Mallari Konah Nimo Candice Sandland Beau Blunck Web Editor Matana McIntire Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst
Front cover by Cody Holcombe Nick Pelster
E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 www.advocate-online.net #mhccadvocate Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030
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.
NEWS
February 5, 2016
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Women in STEM empower students at Mt. Hood Quincy Smith the advocate
On Jan. 29, five MHCC faculty members held a forum on being a woman in the career field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – the STEM disciplines. All the panelists spoke about the trials and woes of being a woman in traditionally male-dominated fields of study. Each had different stories and experiences to share, but all of them seemed to agree it is not exactly an easy path for a woman. A summary of what they shared: Valory Thatcher: Anatomy and Physiology/Microbiology Thatcher spoke briefly about her PI (principal investigator) in college telling her, “I would never hire a pretty girl to work in my lab.” But Thatcher went on to explain that more than hurtful phrases like that, it is the psychological barriers that will
hinder a STEM woman the most. She urges young women pursuing these types of degrees to not focus on feeling out-of-place or exposed. Thatcher admitted that when she was younger she had the perception she wasn’t smart enough for grad school or the sciences, but she never let these feelings stop her from continuing to work hard toward the career she dreamed of. “I never had a mentor through college…it motivates me to be that mentor for my students now,” Thatcher said. Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Women in STEM suffer from impostor syndrome... It’s not real – it’s a social construct. Once you’re on the other side of it, you feel the empowerment.” Lisa Bartee: Biology Bartee had a very different experience, with a female PI in college who seemed more supportive and positive toward the women in
her lab than the men. And though she didn’t have a mentor per se, she said her mother was her main “motivating force” throughout her education. Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do.” Joyce Sherpa: Chemistry Sherpa spoke briefly about what it’s like to work with men in her field of work. “Men already have trouble communicating with women, but math and science men especially live in their heads,” Sherpa said. She stressed the importance of communication in the sciences, especially with her students. In fact, the Mt. Hood panel was visited by one of Sherpa’s own former students, whom she had mentored for many years and who recently earned a doctorate degree from Pacific University. Her advice to women studying in STEM fields: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself or be different. Have fun!”
Lisa Hillyard: VESL (vocational Gina Shankland: Mathematics English as a second language) Metals The main issue for Shankland was Hillyard teaches welding at the gender roles in the workplace, MHCC, and welding is an incredibly which extend out to any workplace male-dominated trade. Hillyard in Western society, she said. She encourages her students, and any stayed home with her son for several women in STEM, not to lose their years after he was born. She missed femininity for the job. “It used to teaching math a lot even though she be that in order to succeed in these valued her time with her family. This fields, a woman would have to act balance between work and family and behave like men in order to be is a tough situation for any working mother. taken seriously,” she said. Her advice to But Hillyard insists that a woman can go out and buy the pink Car- women studying in hartt’s (gear) and be feminine and STEM fields: “Go for it. Take lots of still kick ass in any career classes. Don’t they aspire to. Her adbe afraid of vice for women studymath; don’t ing in STEM fields: be afraid of “Don’t quit if you face science.” male or sexist opposition. Keep going in order to prove t h e m Photo by Nick Pelster wrong.” From Left: Dr. Valory Thatcher and Lisa Bartee
Yoshida donated $1 million – where is it now? Gloria Saepharn the advocate
In September 2014, Mt. Hood Community College received a $1 million donation from local businessman Junki Yoshida. Yoshida came to America from Japan without proper documentation. He managed to elude immigration officers while he worked his way through Highline Community College, located near Seattle. He gave karate lessons to Highline students in exchange for paying tuition, he recalled during the gift celebration. He’s never forgotten that start, while becoming a big supporter of MHCC, along with his wife, Linda, since the couple moved to Oregon. “(I)t’s about providing young people an opportunity, hope and ambition for this world. You are doing that as staff and teachers,” he told the Mt. Hood audience that Wednesday in September. So, what’s been done with that big donation in the last year? To start, Yoshida entrusted MHCC President Debbie Derr with dispersing the money to where it’s deemed most appropriate within the college. “Debbie is still working on (needed improvements) and (asking) ‘Where is the biggest need?,’” said Al Sigala, executive director of the MHCC Foundation and alumni affairs. Sigala said that the list of needs
Photo by The Gresham Outlook
Debbie Derr accepts a donation of $1 million on Sept. 17, 2014, courtesy of Junki and Linda Yoshida. The Yoshidas are long time supporters of Mt. Hood.
within the school is big, but one of the first priorities was to try to get a large, new scholarship available to students. “We want the scholarship to make a direct impact so that students are seeing the benefit of that gift,” he said. The entire donation can go towards classrooms and curriculum improvements, but the scholarship will be shaped by Derr’s decision. “We started with $50,000 and a minimum of $10,000 every year that we receive money will go back into that endowed scholarship,” the MHCC president said. She said she is looking into what type of criteria the “legacy scholarship” should have. “We want to leave it as flexible as possible, but I want to get a sense from them – [the money] will be ‘forever’ – an endowed scholarship,” Derr said. The endowment is expected to last a long time, and would provide multiple scholarships for students every year.
Derr said the Yoshida gift will come through the span of 10 years. “We get $100,000 each year – we don’t have $1 million in the bank today,” she said. The amount the scholarship would give to students hasn’t been decided. Next year will be the first year that some of the scholarship money will be given out, the president confirmed. Initially, about $14,000 went towards the Yoshida Event Center’s (the renamed Mt. Hood main gymnasium) improvements – a new paint job inside, repainted pillars, and replacing the carpeting. “It’s... provided a nicer environment for our student athletes and students” in that area, Derr said. Sigala said other uses for the Yoshida money could be classroom equipment or needs that other programs have. For instance, Derr said her goal is to have Open Educational Resources – a means with which
to provide students with free textbooks. “I have offered $10,000 in a grant this year to the faculty to develop Open Educational Resources (OER),” she said. This is where text material is being developed “in lieu of” a textbook, that is free to students and is “open source” – anyone can use it. “Our OER committee is working with faculty who might be interested in doing that,” Derr said. The Yoshidas have long known Derr, which made giving her control of the money more comfortable. Derr worked at MHCC for 15 years, from the 1990s up to 2002, before leaving for the Midwest, and knew the couple through their Foundation assistance. “They have always been so generous to help the college Foundation with fundraising activities and opening up their home,” Derr said. “I reconnected
with them right after I came back and started as the president” in 2013, she said. The friendship with the president may have been the reason that prompted the gift. “[Junki Yoshida] holds a lot of respect for Debbie and obviously, we hold a lot of respect for him. He knows it’s going to be spent well,” Sigala said. Their trust level is high. Sigala said the Yoshidas didn’t request to know exactly how their donation money was to be spent, except “that we still do (tell them). We let them know, because they’re good friends to the college and they are very familiar with the president.” The couple host the Yoshida Cup (formerly NW Classic) every year and this year is the 30th anniversary of the major regional karate competition. The event will be held in the Yoshida Event Center on March 19-20.
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NEWS
advocate-online.net
Bond strategist lays campaign strategy on the table Adam Elwell and Hayden Hunter the advocate
Paige Richardson, the PRcampaign specialist hired by MHCC supporters to win passage of a $125 million general obligation bond on the May 17 primary election, sat down with the Advocate this week. She explained her campaign strategy and experience, likely obstacles and just how Mt. Hood students and others can provide crucial help. Here’s a summary of a lengthy Question-and-Answer session with Richardson:
Advocate: Can you tell us more about the bond, specifically, the message – what is the tag line you would get out to voters? The ‘elevator pitch’? That this bond is accountable, and a transparent investment in our
community; that the success of Mt. Hood is directly tied to the community’s success. So, when you invest in Mt. Hood, you’re investing in yourself. For every dollar a community puts into a community college, you get $6.80 back (in value). This bond which will... bring almost a billion dollars of value into the community. So that’s one place I would start, (with) a reminder that Mt. Hood has done an amazing job over the last 50 years, but there hasn’t been a bond for the college in 40 years. And so there are critical repairs and safety upgrades that must be made. And then... we’ve got to bringing the workforce training piece up to (current) standards.
“When you invest in Mt. Hood, you’re investing in yourself,” -Paige Richardson, MHCC’s PRcampaign specialist Mt. Hood has traditionally been the place where you could come to get specific training and go out and get a good job, and we want that to continue to be true and so this bond is gonna make sure that happens.
Photo by Chuck Masi
Advocate: How can students get involved? We will be out on campus
when we can to recruit (volunteers for) phone bank nights, canvassing (door-to-door). The phone banks should be starting in one or two weeks. Students should go to the bond committee website (friendsofmhcc. org) and share on our site. We need students to take a leadership role on storytelling... getting the word out on Mt. Hood. There are... miracles happening here every day, small and large, and people need to hear that to be connected. Voters need to hear that. We are going to have a voter registration, and then an education effort, on campus. I hope that we will have a record young voter turnout in this district, because you routinely have the potential to change elections and the world.If your demographic jumped in, it would be enough to swamp the cranky folks (who often oppose tax measures).
Advocate: (What will the bond PR campaign look like?) Social media is going to just run wild. Considering the time frame, and the money that we currently have... it would be better to wait until closer to the May ballot to release the paid media messages. We’re hoping for as many direct conversations as we can get... we want 10,000 conversations, on the phone and at the door. We’re also going to ready-made crowds of people. That will be the secret to success here, depending on how much volunteer engagement we get: (There’s) no limit to those conversations. We will have some “old school” media, maybe cable (TV) ads. And
real old school, mailers (brochures) to go to voters, but only three weeks before the election or so when ballots go out in the mail.
Advocate: Why do you think MHCC has had a poor track record (on passing a bond measure) for the past few years? It’s not that you don’t have a poor track record; it’s that you haven’t asked. Most school districts ask routinely; Portland Public Schools ask every two years, most school districts ask every four years. (Mt. Hood won a bond vote) a decade or so ago, but we didn’t get it (approved) because of the rule of double majority rule (more than 50 percent “yes” vote, plus more than 50 percent voter turnout). That’s not an indicator of voters not loving the college. People have a connection to you in ways you don’t always see, they just don’t know you need help. Advocate: How does this bond survive voter tax fatigue, being sandwiched between other local tax measures? What the college is facing is not so much opposition, as much as it is people wondering if they can afford it. (The projected tax is 30 cents per $1,000 assessed value.) That is $6090 a year per (homeowner) property,
on average. It’s not a large amount of money, it’s not small. There will be many voters that need to consider that, because people are being asked a lot, but it is also a reasonable additional investment. Good school districts bring up home values, and lots of homeowners understand that. People understand the value of Mt. Hood, and the services you provide in allowing people to get and hold paying jobs that they tie you directly their economic good fortune and our community’s economic success.
Advocate: What campaign steps have you found out absolutely work, and which ones do you want to avoid? (T)he strongest is a live conversation with a voter. The tactic that does not work is telling them what to do, making a presumption that you are smarter than them, or scaring/forcing decisions upon them. (Our strategy would be one) that starts with one-on-one conversations, then moves on to phone conversations because it’s still person-to-person, and then next would be paid communications that tell stories. Being real and respectful to voters, that works. The folks who participate in this process, who are trying to pass bonds, if they appreciate that and respect that, they will do better, always.
For interviews related to this story and the full unabriged story, visit our website at: advocate-online.net SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel at: Youtube.com/MHCCAdvocate
Winter Jobs Fest helps students obtain employment now Chuck Masi
the advocate On Tuesday, MHCC hosted the 2016 Winter Jobs Fest NW. On hand were over 40 employers from many industries looking to hire students and alumni, offering internships, full-time positions, and seasonal employment opportunities. Several new employers were represented at the job fair this year, including Intel Corp. and Multnomah County. Many of these employers will pay tuition reimbursement, in addition to wages, often after a period of three-to-six months of successful employment. FedEx, one of the attending companies, will reimburse tuition of up to $1,500
per year, and UPS offers up to $5,000 reimbursement in a calendar year. Through the Jobs Fest and other events, students and alumni are able to identify and contact companies that are hiring and have the best wage and benefits in their field. Bhaktirose Dawdy, coordinator of Career Services at MHCC, said her office seeks to connect students with jobs and internships by developing relationships with local and regional employers in Oregon. “Our goal is to connect students and alumni with internship and employment opportunities in their area of academic study at MHCC,” she said. The MHCC Career Planning and Counseling Center maintains an online job board, within the MHCC
To make an appointment with Web Portal. Go to www.mhcc.edu how she spends the majority of her and log in to My MHCC. Click time, with students and alumni, she the counseling center, call 503-4917432 or stop by Room 1152. on the “Student Services” tab and said. then the “Other Student Services” folder then the “Career Planning and Counseling Center” folder to access the job board and other useful services. The counseling center staff can assist students in developing an attention-grabbing resumé and cover letter. They also can help coach students through the process of a successful job interview. “One of the most challenging aspects of obtaining employment today is navigating online job applications,” Dawdy added. “With our help, students can submit them successfully and get interviews with Photo by NIck Pelster potential employers.” In fact, this is Students and community members immersing themselves in the Winter Jobs Fest.
Feburaury 5, 2016
Urinetown: Part 1 of 3
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Act One addresses today’s issues Quincy Smith the advocate
Rehearsals for “Urinetown,” the MHCC winter musical, are in full swing, with opening night at about two weeks away. The first act of the musical has a underlying hum of drama, tension, and revolution, leaving the audience in heavy anticipation for what’s to come in Act Two. The opening exposition highlights the setting and title of the production: “Urinetown,” a society severely impacted by a water shortage. One corporation has a monopoly on the town’s water usage and charges the inhabitants of Urinetown to use the public restrooms. Mt. Hood’s theater director, Mace Archer, calls the mood of Act One “comedically oppressive.” “It is my favorite kind of musical,” Archer said. The production addresses corporate greed and unequal wealth distribution in a satirical and topical way, which sets it apart from shows that Mt. Hood Community College theater have taken on in the past, he notes. “‘Footloose’ and ‘(The) Drowsy Chaperone’ weren’t saying anything about our society,” said Archer, who is enthused to be finally “telling the story of today’s issues.” Hope Cladwell is among the major players in Act One. In the open-
Urinetown cast members run through choreography in rehearsal.
ing number, she sets out to her first day at work at her father’s company – Urinegood Co. – the corporation that has monopolized the water supply in Urinetown. Having just graduated from “The Most Expensive University in the World” (yes, that’s what the university is called), Hope is ready to begin her career. Until she runs into protagonist Bobby Strong on the way to her first day of work, that is. She falls for him, and according to actor Hannah Hensley, who portrays Hope onstage, discovers she is “completely led by her heart and not at all her mind.” In the midst of Act One, Hope encourages her new love to “follow his heart.” By the finale, she dis-
Photo by Ben Baxter
covers that his heart is leading him to some serious conflict with her family. “He kidnaps me,” Hensley divulged. “It ends with him picking me up and carrying me away with the mob.” The CEO of Urinegood Co., Caldwell B. Cladwell, is played by veteran actor Michael Tippery. His character is reasonably irked by the kidnapping of his daughter, Hope. “I naturally send policemen that I pay to find him and beat him senseless,” said Tippery of his character. “I mean, he kidnapped my daughter!” Tippery said that Cladwell has a stable demeanor through most of Act One, and though he is greedy and driven by money, his ruthless side
really begins to show once he pursues Bobby Strong. “They call me the villain of the play, but I don’t kidnap anyone’s daughter,” Tippery said. In essence, he explains, Act One is about the “stirring of unpopular rebellion against an unbreakable institution.” The MHCC ensemble for this show was highly praised by everyone interviewed, with Hensley calling it “the best ensemble I’ve ever worked with.” She added that almost everyone in the cast has had at least some acting experience, but there were many who had never worked on a musical before. “I’ve been doing musicals my whole life,” she said. “I’m really impressed with how they’re doing. They’re working really hard, that’s for sure.” “Urinetown” looks to be shaping into a great success. With lots of hard work being put in by the cast and crew and a riveting plot line, the production seems, , to put it lightly, worthwhile. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for MHCC students, seniors, and Mt. Hood staff members. See: mhcc.edu/TheatreBoxOffice/ At the door, tickets will be priced at $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors, and staff members. The performances are set for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 19-20 and Feb. 26-27, and 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28.
Grease Live! shines despite detours Matana McIntire the advocate
4.8/5 on the Grease scale
Reach to the heavens and praise all that is good: “Grease Live!” wasn’t a disappointment. For longtime fans of the original movie released in 1978 starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta, “Grease Live!” on FOX should have been a great experience. The live televised play was nearly the same as the 1978 movie – in fact, so much so, that the producers seemed to add content rather than take away from the original. This decision was… questionable, at best. The first time they veered from the movie script was Keke Palmer’s performance of “Freddy My Love” during the sleepover scene. Now, I have the soundtrack for “Grease” on Vinyl, so I was
familiar with the song. But, bottom line, it’s not in the movie, and it threw me off. Also to be noted is the fact that Palmer was cast in a role (originally) with no music, but she is a singer – this leads me to believe the producers added this scene in so that Palmer could have her chance in the spotlight, which kind of bums me out, ’cause I’d like to think they would choose quality over making sure everyone had their solo. But I suppose that’s how it goes. Another example of this is the atrocity that is the new original song created for Carly Rae Jepsen, “All I need is an Angel.” Basically, it was put in so she had a song to sing in the performance and to preface “Beauty School Drop Out,” sung by Boys II Men. The thing with this, though, was that it was literally horrible. It didn’t fit with the existing soundtrack, it felt weak (I’ve read that the techs had issues with audio levels, so her mic could’ve very well been lowered), and she was pitchy. I didn’t like it. Frenchy wouldn’t sing
a song like that; this was definitely Carly Rae Jepsen on stage and not the character Frenchy. Despite that, though, Jepsen did well in her role as Frenchy. The whole cast did well in their roles, in fact. Vanessa Hudgens played a great Rizzo; the T-Birds were a wellrounded and talented group; the Pink Ladies all shined in their own way. I was completely pleased with the performance. Julianne Hough takes the figurative cake, though – she was the best recreation of Sandra Dee I could ask for. When she sang songs like “Hopelessly Devoted to You” or “Summer Nights,” it almost seemed like she trained her voice to sound like Olivia Newton John’s performances of those tracks. I got chills when I saw Hough perform. “Grease Live!” was performed on Hollywood’s iconic Warner Bros. Burbank Studios, which is over 20 acres of sets and studios. This changed the performance, and created a wonderful hybrid of typical
Broadway style theater and television. If I had to pit New York and Los Angeles against each other (comparing this production with those such as “The Wiz Live!” or “The Sound of Music Live!”), it’s clear that L.A. wins. The crew was able to do outside scenes, had more fluid continuity from one set to another, and fully constructed sets that looked like
real-life structures. There is so much more I haven’t included, and all I can recommend is to turn on the TV and watch it for yourself. Overall, I give “Grease Live!” a 4.8/5 on the Grease scale. Photo from web
Aquarius- Buying almonds in bulk might not produce noticeable effects in your health, but they do so much for feng shui. Pisces- Your sign feels a connection with nature; try throwing all of your electronic devices into a nearby river. You’ll be out a considerable amount of money, but you will have unimaginable emotional wealth. Aries- Ranking the top 10 monkeys might not be the most productive use of your time this week, but you’ll be glad you learned about the Emperor Tamarin– which has a friggin’ sweet mustache. Taurus- Try to stay in tune with your chakras this week: Does your butt chakra need to poop? Do your armpit chakras need deodorant? Ask your soul these questions. Your chakras will answer them. Gemini- Midterms are only worth what you remember, right? Why not make this one super-memorable, by loudly vocalizing a sneeze mid-exam. Cancer- Gardening is an incredibly therapeutic activity, which is recommended for Cancers. Pro tip: Plants don’t NEED crackers to survive, but they LOVE them! Leo- Uranus enters its third phase and some other planets are doing some stuff, so, you know, have a week. Virgo- My advice to Virgo this week is to clean up your act. Swap the crude humor for something more distinguished. At least, that’s what your mom told me in the shower this morning. Libra- Sometimes the best medicine is to help someone else. Leos might feel especially directionless this week; start there. Scorpio- Typical greeting interactions are just too subtle for you this week. If you want to make any impression at all on the people you meet this week, make sure to lick them from the tip of their nose to their eyebrow. Sagittarius- You’re going to feel the need for change this week. Mohawks are a bad idea – but a body-length soul patch/Chaplin-stache/mohawk combo is so crazy it just might work. Capricorn- When was the last time you built a ramp for your bike? You can actually use power tools now; why haven’t you done this yet? Today is your day to achieve sixthgrade glory.
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SPORTS
February 5, 2016
PAGE
7
The Advocate’s guide to Super Bowl spectating
Patrons take in a game at The Station in Northeast Portland, a prime viewing spot for Super Bowl 50.
Clay Vitale
the advocate Are you watching the big game this weekend? Of course you are, but the real question is where? The storyline heading into the weekend is quite riveting, with Peyton Manning looking to go out in a blaze of glory (or at least tie his doofus little brother in Super Bowl rings), while the Panthers counter with Cam Newton in an attempt at their first championship since entering the NFL in 1995. Carolina has “wrecked the league” this season, but hasn’t gone up against a defense as dynamic as Denver’s yet, and are 1-3 all-time vs. the Broncos. So, if you‘re planning on tuning in but haven’t secured your watching spot for Sunday, the Advocate is here to shine some light on the best sports bars PDX has to offer. Just like pairing the perfect wine with the appropriate cheese, your taste in viewing should match the venue chosen on this important occasion. Sports bars are a different breed than other watering holes, typically choosing to put the emphasis on TVs and fandom rather than food and drink. The sports fan appreciates an ambience of cheering, clapping and yelling, as opposed to
the softer tones of, say the stuffy Multnomah Whiskey Library. Let’s start with the triedand-true local joints, right in the backyard of campus. Geno’s Grill is located at the corner of Kane and Stark, and features a full fare of good ol’ American eats, such as Buffalo chicken dip, a pretty standard selection of adult beverages, a competitively priced happy hour and open seating in the dining room surrounded by televisions. Heading further down Stark will situate you in front of Skyland Pub, a staple in the East County. Skyland is a massive bar divided into two sections – the bar / restaurant area enveloped in televisions, and the gaming / gambling section with more TVs, darts, pool tables and video poker. The busy Troutdale bar invites you in with a heated wooden patio and loads of parking, then keeps you around with a rocking jukebox (replaced of course by the booming sound of Levi Stadium), prompt table service, good food and strong drink. This place has sheer size on its side, easily able to accommodate over 100 thirsty fans. The next bar on the list, and the closest to resemble a “dive,” is The Tanker, set on trendy Southeast
Web Photo
Hawthorne Boulevard. It’s a saloon, with big port hole windows cut into the side, serving canned beer (among the traditional drafts), naughty bingo, ski-ball and, you guessed it, sporting events on the big screens. The Tanker ditches sophistication to bring simple elements back to the neighborhood tavern. With plenty of screens littered within its small confines, there’s not a bad seat in the house to take in the game.
On Deck Sports Bar and Grill lives life on the other side of the coin, resembling a restaurant you’d likely encounter on the Las Vegas strip. Located in Portland’s Pearl District, it compliments upscale decor with HD flat screens and sports memorabilia throughout the restaurant. Super Bowl 50 will pack the place, and for those wanting to lock down a seat, it will cost $25 for the reservation but that includes an appetizer and drink ticket. There will be prize giveaways at the half and after the game. The novelty winner has to go to The Station, an up-to-date restaurant that took residence in the original home of Northwestern Electric Co. on Alberta. Subtle reminders of the power station’s past are apparent throughout the taproom as skylights have replaced the original ventilation shafts and the high voltage rack is still attached to the ceiling in the bar. The Station also breaks the mold
because it’s focused on an advanced menu, with eclectic offerings like “Crater Tots” - crawfish tail meat with Yukon gold potatoes and creole aïoli... intriguing, indeed. It can transform into the sports pub persona beyond the six large flat screens fixed on the walls, as two massive projector screens drop down to turn up the sportage amps. Neon lights splash color all over the Bucket Brigade Sports Bar on Southeast Powell Boulevard, where cheap drinks and the video lottery are the name of the game. This cocktail lounge touts 17 televisions and “the coldest beer in town” to attract regular clients. They offer a package of Buffalo wings and a pitcher of beer during the game, price TBD. For the any-ager, the staff pick consensus pick is The Station for its well-executed environment and next-level fare; for those with a proclivity for raucousness, there’s no match for Skyland.
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8 PAGE
SPORTS
advocate-online.net
Mt. Hood plays with guts, not glory Clay Vitale and Jon Fucillo the advocate
Women’s fierce comeback falls short Both Saints basketball teams traveled to Vancouver, Wash., on Wednesday to take on the Penguins of Clark College. The 7-13 women’s team (2-7 in league play) tipped off first against the 14-8 (6-4) Penguins in a game that came down to the wire. For three quarters it looked as though the Clark Penguins were going to run the table, as the Saints trailed by 22 points before the start of the 4th quarter. While keeping it close at 31-25 after the first half, the Saints had come out flat in the third and were outscored 23-7. The “Fab 5” then flipped the switch and made a furious comeback, climbing within 3 points in the final seconds, before losing, 64-59. “We didn’t play our game at all the first three quarters,” said 5-foot-10-inch sophomore Madison Weaver. “We played down to their level instead of playing at ours. That was the difference in the fourth quarter – we played our game.” Weaver totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, but Mt. Hood was led by Jesse Morris with six n a i l e d 3s, 24 total points and three steals. “We got down by 20 in the third quarter and we were playing horrible then turned it back up in the fourth,” said Morris. The deficit proved too large and there was too little time left. “We didn’t execute in the first half,” said head coach John Hawley. “And in the third quarter we couldn’t buy a basket.” The Saints employed a full-court press in the fourth, something they’ve done earlier on in the year but had to limit because of the absence of any bench players. “We’re pretty disappointed because we know we are a better team and should have had that one, but I am proud of how we came back,” said Morris. “Not many teams can do that like we do. We are moving on to the next game with confidence. “We should have won with the five of us, simple as that.”
Oregon showing in Super Bowl Jon Fuccillo the advocate
Above: Kody Kennedy goes up for the lay-in at Clark College on Wednesday night. The Saints dropped the match to the Penguins. Left: Alexis Imbler has played a solid center for the “Fab 5” women’s team. Left photo by Jeff Hinds
Men have full team effort The Saints men, at 4-17 overall (1-9 league), took the court shortly after the women’s game against a Clark team trending in the opposite direction. The Penguins sit atop the NWAC at 18-4 overall, 9-1 in league, and look to be an early NWAC tournament favorite. Early on, the sides traded threepoint blows before Clark started pouring it on and pulling away to win, 97-77. Saints coach Hawley said, “We had great looks early on, but you just can’t slow them down” in referencing the Penguins’ fast pace. The squads had similar totals in steals, assists, blocks and turnovers, which allowed Mt. Hood to go toe-to-toe with Clark. They lost the rebound battle 34-24, but had noticeable improvements in their season averages in field Mak Hutson tosses from the charity stripe in Wednesday night’s 97-77 loss to the Clark Penguins. Hutson came in off the bench to start the second half and finished with 10 points, 4 assists and a rebound. Photos top and bottom by Ryan Robbins
goal percentage (48 percent), freethrow percentage (86 percent) and three pointers made (11-for-27). Unfortunately, the Penguins had the advantage in speed, and according to Hawley, can “score at any position. “They’ll beat you off the dribble, their speed is unreal, and then it just depends on whether you want to allow a two- or three-point play, they’re that good.” Clark shot an absurd 64 percent from the floor, an even better 67 percent from downtown, which usually only happens in video games. “Clark is No. 1 in the conference for a reason,” said Hawley, whose squad was led by Luke Anderson, clocking 20:16 off the bench and dropping 19 points, with four steals. Cody Thompson was right behind with 16 points and four assists, Trent Baker and Mak Hutson each threw down
10 points, and Jamal Muhammad, often double-teamed, finished with nine points and tied Kody Kennedy with five boards. The first half saw Mt. Hood sink a bit, trailing 45-29 before hitting full stride in the second. “We played together better and had a full team effort off the bench,” said Hawley. His team put up 48 points in the last 20 minutes, rivaling the 52 points that Clark scored. Although they ended up on the wrong side of the score, the Saints revealed more positives than negatives with more cohesive play and some growth on the hardwood. The Saints’ women and men next take on the Chemeketa Storm on Wednesday at the Mt. Hood gymnasium at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Since 2012, Carolina Panthers right tackle and former Jesuit High School standout Mike Remmers has bounced around the NFL and played for five teams, including the Denver Broncos for four weeks before being cut. Now, the 6-foot5 inch, 305-pounder is starting and protecting Cam Newton on the offensive line in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, when the Panthers square off with Peyton Manning and Co. at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Remmers, a walk-on at Oregon State University, has a difficult task in front of him when he lines up against All-Pros DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller. Jesuit head coach Ken Potter said he’s very excited to see his former player playing on the biggest stage, since it hasn’t been an easy journey for the 26-year-old. Remmers wasn’t offered a single scholarship coming out of high school, but he went on to start all four years for former OSU coach Mike Riley. He went undrafted, but that never stopped the big fella. “Yes, it’s surreal, but so satisfying to see a young man have a dream come true,” said Potter. “I know that for Carolina to win, Mike must block the best defensive ends in the league and pick up the different stunt packages that the Broncos bring. I am worried for him, but knowing Mike, he is calm... He has done his homework and will be ready.” Remmers played both nose guard on defense and offensive tackle, and because of his athleticism (he played basketball too), Potter often pulled him on offensive sweeps. He isn’t the only player with Oregon ties on the Panthers. Former Beavers star Derek Anderson (Scappoose High School product) backs up Superman (Newton) at quarterback. Ex-Beaver defensive lineman Dwan Edwards plays defensive tackle. Carolina also has two former Oregon Ducks, running back Jonathan Stewart and tight end Ed Dickson. And if it wasn’t a small enough world, the Panthers also suit up Scappoose native and former Texas State standout David Mayo. In all, the Panthers have six players with Oregon ties – not too shabby.