The Advocate Vol. 50 Issue 16 - February 6, 2015

The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College

Feb. 06, 2015

Volume 50, Issue 16

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SEED students to meet Clinton

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Hood artist debuts in DRC

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Men’s & Women’s hoops earn wins

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the advocate

OPINION

February 6, 2015

Editorial | Traveling in your 20s is possible and well worth it Chat with Barney

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his goes out to all the twen- eign policy.

Another reason to travel in your 20s is that ty-somethings out there. It seems as though work, responsibilities, you’ll discover early on what’s most important. and choices in life all coat us with You’ll lose that need to purchase everything crippling stress - stress that some adults in monetarily, because the memories of clubbing their 30s have come to accept as their lot in in Amsterdam is worth the cash you would life. We have an idea - something that could have spent on a new wardrobe. That dirt bepotentially reverse the curse of becoming ma- tween your toes accumulated on a dusty fútbol chines that mindlessly complete menial tasks field is worth not going to the souvenir shop.

You’re probably thinking: I want to travel, for the rest of our lives. That something is travel. Often times we forget that we’re still but there’s no way I could afford or have the time for that. young with one-tenth of our innocence left.

There are techniques to make traveling Okay, it varies among everyone, but think about it: We’re suspended in a galaxy, stuck to easier.

Your first problem is most likely affording the surface of a sphere that contains the Himalayas, Rome, the Amazon, Istanbul, New Zea- a trip out of the country. If you are serious, land, the Galapagos - you name it! It would be you can do what one of our editors does to affoolish not to devour it while we still have our ford cool events. She has a separate, non-taxed curiosity, drive and stamina. There are many job: babysitting. Earning that extra 60 bucks reasons why traveling in your 20s is some- on the weekends will put you ahead of the game. If you work a side, non-taxed, job that thing to consider.

Traveling in your 20s can shape how you pays 60 bucks every weekend, in three years view the world. Most people fresh into col- you will have $8,280. That’s well enough to aflege have not decided what beliefs or values to ford a trip overseas. For amazing, professional stick to, so seeing the world through various tips on traveling, go to www.ricksteves.com/ perspectives can help influence a person’s par- travel-tips. You will find literally everything adigm. It’s important not to develop all your you’ve wanted to know about where to start opinions based on the media, classrooms, fam- from Rick Steves. As a guidebook author, TV ily, and inside circles. For example, traveling to Israel/Palestine, Russia, or South America will give you a more tactile perspective on for-

host, and manager of his own traveling company, Steves is a reliable counselor in the field of all things travel.

There are other ways to travel with benefits and learning experience. Our graphic designer recalls pleasant memories studying abroad in Italy. She spent a month in Rome and traveled in Siena, Pompeii, Florence, and many little towns in between. She studied art in the Vatican, and Christian art from 2000 years ago. She was able to witness the catacombs, filled with the remnants of Christians who died during the years of persecution.

As an art major, it helped her to understand and physically see in the flesh, a masterpiece.

Study abroad helped our designer receive several credits towards her art history class as well as her fine art photography. Pretty much all of her travels were paid for through grants and scholarships. Food, airfare, bus, and train rides came from her pocket. However, finding scholarships takes a bit of work. Our designer went through the list of scholarships available for study abroad students and she was also able to use financial aid.

To join the study abroad program at MHCC – destinations for Mt. Hood students include Costa Rica and Japan – you must contribute $5,000 of your own money but to many of the students, the experience is worth it.

We argue that traveling is worth it in general.

Should people travel when they’re younger, like 20, or when they are older?

What do you think?

“Probably when you’re younger. When you’re younger you have more endurance and you don’t have to take stops, and take naps as opposed to when you’re older.”

Penny Ferguson Student, medical office specialist major “When you’re young.

Sites are always more magical when you’re a kid than when you’re old and cynical.”

Jesse Crow Student, history major

chatwithbarney@gmail.com

Graphic by Shawnie Fortune

the advocate Editor-in-Chief Greg Leonov Lifestyle Editor Adam Elwell News Editor Hayden Hunter

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Sports Editor Brandon Raleigh

Opinion Editor Emily Wintringham

Copy Editor Hayden Hunter

Audio Engineer Jake Swindell

Graphic Designers Heather Golan Shawnie Fortune

Video Editors Aurora Angeles Thomas Stewart

Photo Editor Beka Haugen

Ad Manager David Ahlson

Reporters David Ahlson Will Darkins Ivy Davis Austin Guerrero Isaiah Ishman Omar Morante Alex Seymour Jake Swindell David Teas

Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst Bob Watkins 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

Corrections: In Issue 15 of the Advocate, two names were misspelled. MHCC District board member Todd Sloan’s name was incorrectly spelled in the article “Board of education goes fishing for new members,” on Page 5. The name of Sheri Mosher, director of accreditation was misspelled in a photo caption on Page 4.

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. Cover graphic by Heather Golan - the advocate

the advocate

OPINION

February 6, 2015

Column | Forget Social Darwinism; will to prove them wrong!

“When you’re young.

“Our group of friends are ’Cause when you’re older pretty diverse.” it’s less fun. When you’re young, you can live your life, enjoy your time, Alex Garcia and explore things you wouldn’t be open to if you were older.”

Kevin Aguilar Student, general studies “I think younger because you don’t have family, responsibilities, or the debts. You get to figure out the life you want to do before you settle down.”

Taani Dixon Student, vet technician major “I would love to travel right now, but my parents are like: ‘You need your education, blah, blah, blah.’ I don’t want to wait till I’m too old, you know.”

Enea Paine Student, General Studies “Both. Live life to the fullest!”

Davis Bunea Student, paramedics and accounting major

chatwithbarney@gmail.com

Emily Wintringham

the advocate

If anyone’s ever told you that riding the short bus is “no big deal,” let me tell you: They’re right … but they’re also wrong.

Even fourth-graders with learning and mental disabilities understand the burden of labels and social norms. It’s their duty later in life to dispel those norms.

For me, it went much further than riding a “Twinkie” to school.

I was always faced with two perspectives of myself: smart, and retarded.

Growing up with Asperger’s, ADHD, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, learning came slow and difficult for me. It still does.

I would become so overstimulated with noise and social interaction that I would come home from school exhausted. My decompressing tradition included laying flat on my back on my bed, listening to music, and rocking vigorously side-to-side. I still do this, but not as frequently.

On the surface, I have many barriers, but internally, I am very intelligent. Fortunately, in grade school, I knew the satisfaction of getting As and Bs, answering complicated questions, and being rewarded for good behavior. But, I also knew the embarrassment of being removed from class to sit on a bubble seat, being caught by peers chewing on my “bloopy” (rubber

oral stimulation straw), and taken out of recess because I had an “episode.”

Math has been the crux of my hardship in school. After the fourth grade, I did not pass a single math class. I went four years through high school excelling in advanced English classes whilst failing every pre-algebra and foreign language class.

With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, it’s very difficult for the brain to make connections.

Often, directions must be repeated over and over again for an individual with FAS to understand. Instead of the information traveling in the brain, say, from A to B to C to D, information wanders from C to A to B to finally D. This hangup made math very difficult for me. Recently, I have developed some study skills to help me finally pass Algebra and Geometry.

The reality is, no matter what age, people with cognitive, social, and learning disabilities are put in a separate category from those with physical disabilities. While neither category is positive, it’s almost as if having a brain-centered disability marks you as ineligible for a career.

My previous foster sister was not able to make good grades. With an IQ somewhere in the low 50s, it would take a miracle for her to land a career. But this is where I find our social battlefield at fault. Social norms tell my sister that she is too dumb for a good salary. Her fate will be sealed when she becomes a stripper or a custodian at a fast food joint. But so-called social norms know absolutely nothing about my sister’s hospitality skills and her passion for animals. Who are they to say because she won’t become a doctor or a CEO, that she is less accomplished? Whatever she does -

LET ASG AND THE ADVOCATE KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT DESIGNATED SMOKING AREAS. TAKE THE SURVEY AT: HTTP://SURVEYMONKEY.COM/S/MHCCSMOKING EMAIL THE ADVOCATE AT: CHATWITHBARNEY@GMAIL.COM

if she puts her mind, heart and soul into it - will benefit us.

If you have a mental disability, or even if you don’t, you should consider pushing yourself beyond what the world thinks you can do. Every great hero has proved his or her adversaries wrong, or amazed them in some way. Even if you have a wonderful support system, you can be your greatest nemesis. So, prove yourself wrong. Refrain from degrading yourself if you haven’t earned as many awards, trophies, or titles as the next person. For every one of us, there is a next person, and a next person, and a next person, and a next person.

Life isn’t about making it to the top – although people who have made it to the top can be a great influence and role model for people who wish to do so. For most people, the ladder of life is about hanging on to the hand above you that is helping you up, and reaching down to the person who’s below you. Basically, SCREW the misconception of Social Darwinism.

I wish I could give you all the cheats and tools for overcoming the greatest challenges in academia. The truth is: I don’t know where you’re at. If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t know where you’re at, yourself. This is why I deeply encourage you to speak with the MHCC’s disability coordinator and counselor, Elizabeth Johnson. Talk to the people in that department (located in Student Services) about the course, SKD10, available to students who register and qualify. Basically, this course will help you learn how to learn.

I wish you all the best!

Sincerely, Emily Wintringham, Opinion Editor

“For most people, the ladder of life is about hanging on to the hand above you that is helping you up, and reaching down to the person who’s below you. Basically, SCREW the misconception of Social Darwinism.”

Graphic by Sarah Hyndshaw

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the advocate

NEWS

February 6, 2015

Second Amendment meets a fine-tooth comb David Ahlson the advocate

A robust, 80-minute discussion helped to prove that any sort of mass agreement on gun ownership remains elusive.

“Guns and America: Exploring the Second Amendment,” an Oregon Humanities/Conversation Project open forum on Tuesday generated a respectable group of approximately 20 community members at MHCC. Due to the controversial nature of the topic, there were many passionately held points of view represented, ranging from unrestricted pro-individual gun ownership, to regulated and responsible ownership, to complete abolishment of ownership.

It was quickly pointed out by the guest facilitator that there was no “easy or ‘right’ solution to the questions we ask today. What we are going to begin with is historical context

and let the conversation evolve, just like the meaning of these words,” said Pancho Savery, professor of English and Humanities at Reed College.

Savery presented the Second Amendment debate both in a historical and semantic context. Original intent and liberal interpretation were discussed, from the original writing up to, and including, the 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming Americans’ individual right to bear arms.

The varying viewpoints came alive through a good-natured and genuine questioning of each other’s reasoning.

Noting the intent of the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution) was to protect against federal overreach meeting force with equal force was questioned by the group, as was the use of drones and the right of the people to defend themselves against their own government.

One participant in the discussion asked, “Could it be that the reverence we hold for the Constitution, the almost holy regard of the document, hinders our progress?

“European nations who view their governments and founding documents as being much more plastic don’t seem to have these problems,” she said.

Perhaps one of the linchpin concepts raised, which most of the audience seemed to agree, was the idea that the price of freedom is, without question, responsibility.

“You cannot have the freedom to choose anything, let alone such potentially dangerous implements as firearms, without being willing to accept the responsibility that goes along with choosing such things,” was how the notion was voiced by one of the philosophy students present.

Overall, the hour-plus discussion was positive.

Although participants might not have made any decisions that greatly changed their beliefs, they came together and had the discussion. Compromise in America has come to mean choosing either no guns or no regulation – when, in reality, the compromise is somewhere in the middle and the only way to get there is to talk about it.

English and humanities instructor Pancho Savery from Reed college led a talk About gun culture in America on Wednesday.

Social media speeds up idea of what community is Will Darkins the advocate

Social media: a dramatic force for good, or bad?

Mt. Hood’s Diversity Resource Center hosted a lecture on Jan. 29 focusing on the role of social media in communities. Speaker Tod Sloan, professor of psychology at the Lewis and Clark College Graduate School, led a group discussion among 15 people who attended.

“The Internet connects us in new ways,

while isolating us in other ways,” Sloan said.

He developed this idea while traveling in Latin America, noticing the effect of modern technology on foreign communities.

“The modernization of society there (Latin America) was undoing much of the basis for what they had preserved in communities.

With the rise of television and other technologies, people have forgotten how to talk faceto-face,” he said.

Sloan engaged with the audience, asking guests to form groups and discuss various topics. “How do communication technologies

based on the Internet affect the way we create communities?” was one question he asked.

That question garnered differing responses from those in my group.

A mother of two expressed concern teaching her children about social media. “I just feel like they won’t learn to communicate with people face-to-face,” she said. “It’s something I think about all the time.”

The group did not focus primarily on the pitfalls of social media, as a whole.

A Mt. Hood instructor taking part had a more optimistic view. “I don’t think we should

be focusing on the negative aspects,” he said.

“We should be thinking about ways to improve upon it, and create easier access for everyone.”

The sharing of polarizing ideas created an environment that fostered new thoughts and discussion.

The event’s focus was on the concept of community, the audience would realize. Simply put, innovations in technology have accelerated the way people talk and relate to one another. This leaves most people two choices: catch up, or get left behind.

SEED students to meet former President Clinton Hayden Hunter the advocate

Six Mt. Hood SEED students will be attending the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Conference at the University of Miami to introduce innovative ideas that could change the community in their own home countries.

T h e Clinton

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Global Initiative started the CGI U eight years ago to engage youth and empower participants to come up with new initiatives. On March 6-8, the MHCC SEED students will join more than 1,000 national and international students in Florida for the 2015 event.

They are: Julio César Sánchez López, Zayra Gutierrez, and Letecia Castro, all Guatemalan study abroad students; Keyla Souza, a student from Honduras; Ana Blandon, a Nicaraguan student; and Maria Romero, a student from El Salvador.

SEED is a federal organization funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is dedicated to opening college preparatory and public boarding schools designed for students who need a 24-hour learning environment to achieve their full potential, according to the program’s webpage.

SEED recruits international students who would like to study in the U.S. for a two-year study abroad program.

According to Nikki Gillis, SEED and international scholarship programs coordinator at MHCC, participating students have to complete a “commitment of action,” or a plan that will help the communities in their own countries. “Students identify a problem and then identify a solution to that problem,” she said.

Attendees at the conference have to go through an application process in which they must submit their “commitment of action” to the CGI U webpage. All 19 Mt. Hood SEED students submitted their applications, but only six got accepted. “It is not a bad application process; (students) just need to be concise …

150 words or less,” Gillis said.

She encourages all Mt. Hood students to apply for next year’s conference. Gillis said, “It has been a really wonderful opportunity for our SEED students. (It) offers students the opportunities to not just go and listen to things, but really get involved.”

University representatives, topic experts, and celebrities will attend this year’s CGI U Conference to help students gain the skills

and knowledge needed to take action on their “commitments.”

The CGI U website reports that because of The Resolution Project - a CGI U affiliate - and other fiscal opportunities, more than $900,000 in funding has been made available to select conference attendees.

Gillis said attending students will learn different techniques of project management, different ways to motivate volunteers in their community, even how to plan your budget and timeliness on projects.

MHCC has had significant success at CGI U. Two years ago, Glenda Maribel Alfaro Salmeron, a SEED student from El Salvador, took second place with her wood-conserving conventional ovens project. She was invited back last year, and is invited again this year to talk about her project’s success. Last year, another Mt. Hood student won a sizable grant for her project on compost toilets.

Applications are accepted at www.cgiu. org/meetings/2014/submit_your_ideas.asp

the advocate

NEWS

February 6, 2015

Rho Theta sets Mt. Hood’s standards for success Greg Leonov the advocate

Mt. Hood’s chapter of the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa, called Rho Theta, is run by students who work diligently to improve life on campus and in the community.

They spend hours working on creating scholarship opportunities and raising awareness about funding for college available to all students.

To qualify as a potential member of Rho Theta, a student must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, said Cassandra Westgate, vice president of scholarship. Once a member, students are asked to maintain at least a 3.0. If a GPA falls below a 3.0, that student will still be considered a member of the organization, but scholarship options become more limited.

“Our job here is to try to help students develop literature skills and provide them with as much information at the same time,” said Lluanny Martinez, president of Mt. Hood’s Rho Theta chapter.

Martinez first found out about Rho Theta when she received an email inviting her to join. She went to orientation out of curiosity. “I came in and they were like, ‘$37 million worth of scholarships available,’ and (talked about) transferred scholarships just by being a member. And you get access to special computer software that programs things that helps you look for colleges,” she said.

She discovered that the organization at Mt. Hood was looking for officers.

“I was, like, ‘What does an officer do?’ And they’re, like, ‘Your job as an officer is to inspire students and recognize the ones that do all the hard work,’ ” Martinez said.

“What we do is try to let them (students) know that there’s actual money out there. It’s not just based on whether you’re a minority or whether you have kids,” she said.

Rho Theta students will be helping MHCC students fill out OSAC forms during today and on Feb. 13 and 20, both Fridays. Anyone interested in receiving a OSAC scholarship is welcomed to the workshops. Former Mt. Hood student and Rho Theta president, and winner of the Ford scholarship last year, Sule Whitlock, will be on campus to assist students with all aspects of the process. She is fully knowledgeable in “any way you can dissect them,” said Martinez.

Rho Theta members also spend time contributing to their communities. Westgate is heavily involved in “Honors in Action.” “Every two years, Phi Theta Kappa chooses a new theme, and this year it is ‘Frontiers in the Spir-

it of Explorations,’ ” she said.

Westgate attended a conference in St. Louis last June to get information about contributing to the community. “They taught me how to research for it, what I need to do, (and) how to make connections,” she said. “I came back, I brought it back to the school (Mt. Hood), and I told everyone what I learned.”

The group then made a plan to plant flowers to help the bee population.

“We researched all year and we tried to do a service project where we planted bee-friendly plants here on campus in October,” said Westgate. “We did the Stark Street entrance, and in spring, they should pop up.”

The project was a success, even though members of the group had some scheduling conflicts due to jobs and other obligations, she said.

Student survives serious car accident to succeed Greg Leonov the advocate

After suffering an automobile accident that left her with skull fractures and a serious brain injury, Cassandra Westgate spent time in a wheelchair before going to work as a medical aid and caregiver.

Westgate is a student in MHCC’s nursing program and is also Rho Theta’s vice president of scholarship. When she’s not studying or fulfilling her duties for Rho Theta, the campus honor society chapter, she works for Public Safety answering phone calls and dispatching Public Safety officers.

She has been a student at Mt. Hood since fall 2011. She knew she wanted to pursue nursing after she quit her job as a med aid and caregiver. “I got in the nursing program, that’s why I’m here still, or else I wouldn’t be here,” she said.

Westgate graduated from high school in Woodburn, near Salem. “I graduated in 2008.

Didn’t start again for a few years. It was really hard at first. I’ve become more focused,” she said.

At age 19, on Oct. 15, 2009, she got into

a car accident that put her in the hospital. “I was ejected from the vehicle in a rollover crash and hit my face on the pavement,” she said. “I had three skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury, as well as road rash, a lacerated spleen, pulmonary lung contusion and a hematoma in my hip, (and) broken front teeth.

“Most people don’t remember when they get into that kind of thing, but I was awake the whole time, so it was kind of like a horror movie,” she said.

Westgate was told she was going to spend a month in the hospital, but she got out in six days.

“I was in a wheelchair for a little while, but I didn’t go out much until I could walk again.

My mom took me to a physical therapist that did acupuncture and helped with PTSD. I have a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak from the accident that still affects me and I have no feeling in parts of my head,” she said.

During her hospital stay, Westgate noticed the treatment she got from her caregivers. “I saw a bunch of nurses that were really good, and some that were not so good,” she said.

“I think that nurses and doctors in general should give you confidence and tell you that you are going to heal.

“When I first got there, they told me that I wasn’t going to be able to walk, and that I was going to be stuck there for over 30 days. This one nurse came in and she was gonna administer fentanyl, or morphine, I don’t remember what it was. I asked her to mix it with saline, and she said ‘I thought this was the adult ward.’

She didn’t mix it with saline and she put it in my arm, and my whole arm turned bright red.”

Westgate remembers the treatment she received from a nurse named Emily. “They wouldn’t let me go home unless I could do five things. She got off work, came back and stayed another shift, and helped me do those five things that I needed to do to go home,” she said.

“Out of all those people that helped take care of me when I went through that, she was the only one that I remember because it really made a difference.”

Westgate was supposed to spend up to two years in therapy relearning how to walk and talk. “I actually got a job eight months after my car accident and I worked as a caregiver and med aid for a year. One of the nurses told me, ‘Why aren’t you in nursing school yet Cassy?

You need to go to nursing school right now, quit working here.’ And so that month, I quit

Active shooter response lockdown drill to sound Mt. Hood will host an active shooter training session, open to all, from noon to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, in the Town & Gown Room.

Guests may bring food and drinks with them.

MHCC will conduct a lockdown drill on the Gresham campus at 2:50 p.m. on Feb. 19.

Immediately after, students may share feedback on the drill with Public Safety officials in the Visual Arts Theater.

Any questions or concerns may be direct-

ed to Wayne Feagle, Public Safety manager, at wayne.feagle@mhcc.edu.

Since last year’s Reynolds High School shooting, MHCC has adopted the “Run-HideFight” model developed by federal homeland security leaders. Details on the model are posted at advocate-online.net. Search for “Plan for active shooter threats.”

In a real incident, once emergency responders arrive on campus, people are asked

to stay calm and make sure hands are visible at all times. First responders are tasked with finding and subduing the shooter; second responders’ sole concern is aiding the public.

Active shooter information is also posted at www.mhcc.edu/publicsafety.

-Hayden Hunter

my job and I moved out here to Gresham, and I enrolled in school.”

Westgate’s path towards a nursing career and position in Rho Theta are a result of her persistence.

“I think that usually if I plan to do something, and I hold myself to it, and say that I’m gonna do it, then I pretty much end up doing it,” she said. “I don’t want to give up, or give myself any reason not to think I can do something.”

Photo by Greg Leonov - the Advocate

Mardi Gras Dance MHCC’s Student Activities Board will be hosting a Mardi Gras Madness Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday in the Jazz Cafe.

There will be free snacks, and a glow show.

Before the dance, guests may participate in a free DJ session with a professional DJ, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The event is open for all ages and is free.

-Greg Leonov

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the advocate

LIFESTYLE

February 6, 2015

‘Attack Attack’ fans flock to Hawthorne

Ex Attack Attack frontman Caleb Shomo, now touring with his new band, Beartooth, serenades a crowd.

Jake Swindell the advocate

If I punch you in the face, don’t take it personally.

That’s what anyone would say to you at the Hawthorne Theater last week on Monday, Jan. 26.

Famous post-hardcore band Silverstein was playing their celebratory, 15-years-of-being-a-band tour and performed an amazing show at the Hawthorne.

Having a sold-out show and bringing out many popular bands with them on tour, Silverstein proved their legacy of hardcore music.

Yet, the show was not as perfect as it sounds. Opening band Beartooth was also on tour with Silverstein. Providing the chaos for every tour stop, Beartooth naturally made the Hawthorne regret it ever existed.

Don’t believe me? Watch their music videos. The Hawthorne show became too disruptive during Beartooth’s set and the band had to ask for fans to not stage dive as much, due to the people in the front row.

Many fans did not listen to the request though; it resulted in two guitar techs running after fans and security putting a full stop to it.

The concert went on, with many other bands playing, including Hands Like Houses,

Web photo

Major League, and My Iron Lung. All performers did an amazing job with a great response from the crowd, as well.

But, of course I can hear the local bands around me talk among themselves... hearing lines such as “We could play that so much better,” or, “Our album is much heavier than that.”

To be honest, that was the only bad vibe from the show. Being a musician, you don’t need to focus on a “show.” It’s about the performers and bands that you paid to come see.

Caleb Shomo, ex vocalist of famous metal band Attack Attack, is now the lead frontman and vocalist for Beartooth. Seeing that for the first time wasn’t disappointing, at all. For be-

ing a huge inspiration to many musicians and always being a part of the scene, he provided much good atmosphere to the venue and showed that Portland is in fact, still weird.

Hawthorne Theater has always been a great venue and it still keeps me paying to see more.

Silverstein’s tour provided awesome live music for stopping into Portland. They will be back late next year for an album release tour, so don’t worry, you didn’t miss your chance.

And, remember: Live music is always a good way to start out a week, especially if it’s on a Monday.

‘Golden age’ of Hollywood comes to a close Adam Elwell the advocate

Every year, there seems to be a general consensus that some film got screwed over during the tense gap between the Golden Globes and the Oscar nominations. This year’s collection of the perennial orphan movies are: “Selma,” “Foxcatcher,” and “The Lego Movie.”

How shocking! I can’t believe that such an elderly and wizened group of individuals didn’t appreciate movies about civil rights, millionaires going to jail, and entirely new mediums for a feature-length film.

The Academy Awards are outdated and out of touch. What started as self-promotion in 1929 is now a sad charade attempting to

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emulate a “golden” age of film.

Today’s Hollywood is clearly not the Hollywood of 50 years ago, so why does the Academy insist on treating it as such? Teens are now - for better, or worse - the target demographic in much of the movie industry, and our bigscreen idols reflect that. The least worthy way to recognize these people’s achievements is to dress them up in tuxedos and dresses and make them golf clap for three and a half hours.

But the Academy just keeps ignoring this problem, and the Golden Globe Awards keep pulling closer and closer towards earning the higher credibility. And why wouldn’t they?

They’re the Academy of the next generation.

Sure, the event might be a bit more crass, and even quite a bit more drunk (a risk that comes

with any event that has an open bar), but for all of that, it’s even less pretentious. Being the red-headed stepchild of the entertainment industry has its benefits, I would argue.

Yes, I am referring to the Academy Awards(!)

Yes, it was a portentous event at one time, but it’s peaked and its graduates can’t help but cling to a misguided sense of nostalgia now holding them back from their former glory.

And I think we can all agree that the elimination of awkward on-stage musicals during the Golden Globes was a welcome gesture. (And I do mean awkward... COUGHSethMacFarlaneCOUGH.) Not that I would blame any comedian or TV personality brave enough to take on such a suicidal mission (hosting the Oscars) for a

poor performance. It’s truly a thankless job.

The crowd is always wooden at the Academy Awards, and for good reason. Circle jerks are just no fun when you’re wearing a tuxedo.

The Academy seems to keep with this theme of self-induced reverence when choosing its hosts. Billy Crystal recently hosted for his ninth time, and it makes you wonder if it’s only because Bob Hope wasn’t around to give a potential 20th performance. Humor always represents a shift in power, so it’s no wonder that the Acadamy is so uncomfortable.

There’s just no way to force this arcane group of “critics” out of the past; they’re just going to have to get there by themselves. But in the meantime, feel free to cut loose at the Golden Globes.

the advocate

February 6, 2015

MHCC artist re-imagines classics

LIFESTYLE

T P5 SONGS

Each week the advocate supplies you with our top five songs for your playlist.

You may not have known this about us, but we’re huge Kanye fans. This week we’re standing up and telling you “I am Warhol!”

Praise Yeezus.

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RUNAWAY | MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY

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Photo by Beka Haugen- the advocate

N***S IN PARIS | WATCH THE THRONE

Jawad Thagel’s replicas on display in the Diversity Resource Center through Feb. 27. Thagel is a student at MHCC’s Maywood campus.

Greg Leonov the advocate

Iraqi refugee Jawad Thagel, a Mt. Hood student who attends ESL classes at the Maywood campus, will have his art featured in the Diversity Resource Center (DRC) at the main campus through Feb. 27.

Thagel’s work includes four paintings that are replicas of existing art that was painted by Europeans in the 1500s, said instructor Denise Georgioff, who is helping him with his exhibit.

“They would come, they would do these beautiful paintings, and so this particular series is replicating these classic paintings by many European artists,” she said.

Thagel will present some original work, as well. One untitled painting is a picture of three women sitting and having tea.

“We have (a) tradition of (a) three lady meeting after two month(s or so)” – the women would get together and drink tea and talk about their lives, he said.

Thagel said he started painting at six or seven years old, when he was still living in Iraq. He wasn’t formally trained as a child. “I was little, but I draw. Not a lot of technique, but I draw,” he said.

Because of his talent, Thagel’s friend suggested that he showcase his art. His exhibit in the DRC at Mt. Hood is the first time he has displayed his work in the U.S., he said.

Thagel prefers not to do replica work. “I don’t like this because you mimic some art,” he said. “I need (to) make something - what I feel.

I need create something.”

When you draw like this, you feel free... You feel you make something. You make it.

-Jawad Thagel Artist

He constantly works on sketching, but challenges include finding time and funding to create full paintings. “I have many idea in my brain, but I cannot do this because color very expensive,” he said. “Canvas also expensive; for example, if one want to buy colors here, $3 or $4, which in my country, $1. See the difference?”

He wants to be able to create original work. “I like draw(ing) portrait(s), or special

landscape portraits because when you draw like this, you feel free,” he said.

“Next show, I try to draw portrait, ’cause you feel you make something. You make it,” Thagel said. “When you (look at a) picture, you try (to) transfer the color from the picture to the canvas.” He said that when he’s looking at something with his eyes, it comes alive.

Thagel said that in Iraq, many artists don’t replicate from other pictures: They usually go straight to painting what they see with their eyes in nature. “(You always got nature, or (you) discover many thing(s), especially about… color, or… the shade,” he said.

In Iraq, Thagel worked as a graphic designer, but he didn’t enjoy the field. “My occupation over there is designer, I don’t like designer,” he said.

To become an established painter, Thagel acknowledges that he needs a lot of practice.

“Here in America it’s easy, because everything is available. When I sometimes go to art store like this, I watch - wow! My country, mostly all this come from Chinese. (T) his good, it work, but the quality is not that decent.

“Here, everything is amazing. Amazing, but expensive,” he said.

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HEARTLESS | 808S & HEARTBREAK

GOOD MORNING | GRADUATION

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5

STRONGER | GRADUATION

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the advocate

LIFESTYLE

February 6, 2015

THEATER PREVIEW: 5 OF 6

Seasoned actor sits down for new role Ivy Davis

the advocate This term’s theatrical production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” features Brandon Watkins, a freshman here at Mt. Hood, as the lonely narrator who retells his favorite musical.

Watkins plays Man In Chair, one of the most important characters in the play. Though only a freshman, he brings experience and talent. Starting in the seventh grade, Watkins has joined 12 drama productions, starting with “Wipeout,” in the role of Freddy the Sea Turtle.

He credits Centennial High School theater teacher Kelly McCarty for how far he has come in the theater world.

“She inspired me throughout all of my four years in high school,” Watkins said. “I went from ensemble characters to Shrek my senior year.”

Under McCarty, Watkins played the lead roll of Shrek in “Shrek the Musical,” during his senior year at Centennial. He said “it was hilarious ... it went through a lot of trials in Shrek’s life – like looking to be accepted for who he was. It was amazing to play a role like that.

Now, Watkins enjoys his meaty part in “Chaperone.”

“It’s got everything. It’s funny, it’s got (a) musical, but it also has a lot of heart and emotion in it, too, dealing with lots of important topics,” he said. “The Man in Chair, he loves musicals and talks about his favorite musical. Throughout the show he is narrating what happening in his mind as he listens to the record ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ ” Opening with a page-and-a-half of monologue, Watkins starts the play showing off his memory skills.

Describing his fellow cast in the show, he

credits Merry Bishop as “the perfect person to play Drowsy. She is hilarious – not to mention, my best friend” who also attended Centennial High, he added. “In terms of storyline, Janet Van de Graaff would probably be the most important character (Drowsy) because ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ is technically about Janet,” he said.

While Watkins is technically playing the leading role, he called Janet as “the romantic lead. Her character is the show girl, she is everything. She can sing, she can dance, she can act, she’s just the all-around star,” he said.

However, it is another character in the production, Kitty, who works for Mr. Feldzieg (the acting troupe’s producer), whom Watkins loves most. “Her journey throughout the entire show is just hilarious, and I enjoy watching it every time we rehearse it,” he said about the character.

Watkins plans to continue in Theatre Education.

“I want to teach theater and direct shows starting at the high school level and moving my way up to the college level,” he said – doing the very thing that McCarty helped him with at Centennial, and MHCC theater instructor Mace Archer is teaching him now.

In his wildest dreams, however, Watkins hopes to be on Broadway.

Giving advice for other students in the theater world, Watkins explained, “You’re going to get more ‘Nos’ then ‘Yes,’ but the Nos will help you.

“Don’t be shy, you can’t be shy, you have to break out of your comfort zone. Let theater take you places.”

The Drowsy Chaperone opens on Feb. 20., and will be showing Feb. 20-21 and Feb. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 1, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $10.

Brandon Watkins channels his inner “Man in Chair.”

Photo by Beka Haugen - the advocate

Planetarium sheds light on nearby galaxies, stars Omar Morante the advocate

MHCC’s Planetarium show, “Exploring our Nearest Galaxies,” at the Planetarium Sky Theater (AC Room 1305) on Tuesday was a lecture on the distant and close corners of our own Milky Way galaxy.

The show tracked from the Milky Way to enormous, odd, and unknown galaxies, bringing the audience along. The projection surprised those who had never seen the show; it thrilled the eyes of the audience when it started spinning and the journey began - from galaxy to galaxy and constellations, too.

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Graphic lines made it easier for constellations to be recognized, among others. Music cannot be left out: There was sometimes music from the 1950s, and other times an intriguing soundtrack similar to the Star Wars soundtrack.

As soon as the journey into outer space began, those in the audience lost track of time.

The animation appears to be in 3-D for some moments.

“I learned a lot, there are tons and tons of galaxies out there and they don’t all look like the Milky Way galaxy,” said MHCC student Ernesto Lauger.

Galaxies, planets and constellations are

abundant with all types of sizes, shapes, colors, stories, and different names - from just letters and numbers, to weird names of Greek and Roman goddesses like our closest galactic neighbor, Andromeda.

Examples were given of how far the closest stars are, and how long it would take to reach them. Most are impossible to reach, even with our modern technology. Other galaxies are even less feasible to think about visiting.

Questions were few on Tuesday. As the show was well prepared, possible questions were soon answered. People of all ages were present; children, adults, and seniors all took time to attend. Besides being engaging, the lec-

ture was an educated distraction that helped to de-stress and offered a nice place to hang out at the end of the day.

The show was not too lengthy, which kept it interesting, but long enough to cover a chunk of our universe.

It ended as smoothly as it started. The countdown kept going... toward the next show, which highlights Leo, Virgo, and the Spring Sky, on March 3.

Planetarium shows are every first Tuesday of the month at 6, 7:15, and 8:30 p.m. Admissions are free for students with school ID, but $2 for nonstudents.

the advocate

NEWS

January 30, 2015

Architectural Illustration from Lutz’s notebook

Graphic By Heather Golan

Hayden Hunter the advocate

It was a blast from the past, with perhaps a boost for the future.

Shortly before Mt. Hood’s district board of education met for its December meeting, an aged binder with pages from the 1970s was given to MHCC President Debbie Derr by the family of Donald Lutz.

Lutz was the principal architect for the construction of Mt. Hood Community College in the mid-1960s.

The Lutz family delivered the notebook “because they felt like it needed a home,” according

to President Debbie Derr. She then passed it on to board member James Zordich.

“She called me over saying, ‘Look at this,’ and I have been looking ever since,” said Zordich.

Zordich was the obvious choice because of his experience with historical items. Before coming to Oregon, he worked as the curator for technological history at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for 30 years. “There was no doubt that he was the right man,” said Derr.

“I call it the Rosetta Stone. It has served as the nucleus upon which we’re trying to expand our understanding of the college,” said Zordich about the document.

Lutz’s notebook is a record of everything re-

lating to the college at that time that Lutz could get a hold of.

There are pictures, newspaper articles, documents about the college, documents about the college’s supporters, even hand-drawn sketches from Lutz himself.

Mt. Hood is hoping to roll this gift out next year, as it celebrates its 50-year anniversary and attempts to couple a successful new bond measure with it. “(The college) plans to dedicate a significant amount of revenue to repairing the facilities” should a bond measure win voter approval, said Zordich.

The official date marking the 50-year anniversary of MHCC has yet to be finalized. Zordich said there is some debate about whether the starting point should be when the college was built, or when the school’s education district was formed. As Lutz’s notebook notes, the college was established in 1965, but the current campus was largely completed the following year, 1966.

Zordich believes that the college today really needs to catch up to electronic technology.

The hope is to expand IT (information technology) programs by building a new IT facility

with some of the bond money.

Originally, the school was going to set aside a significant portion of bond money, should voters approve, to combat the seismic uncertainties on campus, in case of a strong earthquake. However, the Lutz notebook reveals that the core structure of the Academic Center is structural super-steel, a very strong metal that is used in the construction of skyscrapers.

“To be honest with you, I think this is the strongest and probably the most well-built facility of any building in Gresham,” said Zordich.

The money from this proposed bond (targeted for the May 2016 election) would not just go to the repairs of facilities. It would also help pay off some of the college’s general obligation funds, which are essentially credit obligations.

MHCC borrowed money from its general fund to repair the Student Union’s leaky roof and deal with a failing main primary power supply, Zordich said.

Having Lutz’s notebook delivered to the college just a year before the 50-year anniversary of the college could only be described as “serendipity,” Derr noted.“This really did come at the right time,” said Zordich.

New part-time music teacher hopes to branch out Greg Leonov the advocate

Newly hired part-time MHCC music instructor Ryan Meagher (pronounced “Marr”) hopes to get students to approach music with the same enthusiasm he does.

“I consider myself a performer, a composer first and foremost, and I certainly have a passion for music education, but my educational outlook is informed by my professional experience,” he said about how his work relates to his teaching.

Meagher’s primary instrument is the electric guitar, which he started playing because he really liked Nirvana. “I got into band in the seventh grade. Trumpet was actually my first instrument before guitar, so my initial experience of playing music was playing trumpet.

“I mostly just didn’t want to be in home economics, so my elective was band instead of ‘home ec,’ so from there, music became a priority,” he said.

Meagher teaches Mt. Hood’s jazz ensemble and keyboard harmony “which is a piano

class, but not for piano players,” he said. He still performs when he isn’t teaching. “I do a lot of stuff like on the local jazz scene (and) I still play in New York, which is where I came from.”

He also spends time with organizations in Portland. Meagher directs the operations for the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble.

He’s also founder of “this budding, soon-tobe nonprofit organization called the Portland Jazz Workshop,” he said. He also was a founding member of the Montavilla Jazz Festival.

When it comes down to teaching, Meagher works to have his lessons “be more individualized, as much as I can with the individual student ’cause we all learn different ways, and I try to make it happen for each student,” he said.

Meagher is looking forward to continuing to work with current instructors Grant Linsell and Kevin Lambert. “I think Mt. Hood is in a great place with them at the helm right now. I hope to join them at the helm. I definitely think Mt. Hood has a bright future with them.”

Aside from music and performing, Meagher is an avid baseball fan, and played yearly when he lived in New York. “It’s just pretty expensive to play, and here it’s pretty rainy too, so I think the season (locally) is short compared to New York.”

Before joining the band in middle school, Meagher wanted to be a professional baseball player. “It wasn’t like, I wanted to be a musician or something. I always wanted to be a shortstop for the San Francisco Giants,” he said.

Meagher plans to team up with other departments at Mt. Hood and provide music to whatever event another department puts on. “Richard Cutshall and I are probably gonna partner up to do some kind of impromptu music improv show.”

“If I’m here for a while, I can see myself partnering up with people in history or language, the humanities, doing poetry” with improvised music, he said. “I’ve done that kind of thing before. Meagher is even hoping to provide music for science events.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t get together

with science people and do some stuff.

“One of my things is communities. I’m all about communities, and here on campus, we have a community of professors and a spirit of cooperation,” he said.

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the advocate

SPORTS

February 6, 2015

Web photo

Seahawks throw away miracle comeback in Super Bowl XLIX Brandon Raleigh the advocate

Super Bowl XLIX had many on the edge of their seat: The New England Patriots’ 2824 roller coaster victory over the Seattle Seahawks was one of the greatest endings in Super Bowl history.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Patriots found themselves in quite the hole. They trailed the Seahawks by 10 points, 24-14, and were facing the stingy Seattle defense that rarely allowed opponents to score in the fourth.

On the biggest stage, in front of 114.4 million viewers, New England quarterback Tom Brady did what he does best, finding wide receiver Danny Amendola on a four-yard score with 7:55 left in the game: 24-21, Seahawks.

Soon after, Brady moved the Patriots down the field in 10 plays, eventually finding Julian Edleman for a four-yard touchdown, his fourth passing touchdown of the day.

The score gave the Patriots a four-point

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lead with 2:02 left to play.

Now trailing, the Seahawks had only one option: score a touchdown or go home empty-handed.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson started off the drive finding a streaking Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch down the left side of the field for a 31-yard gain.

What happened next was nothing short of a miracle: A Wilson deep pass to Jermaine Kearse was batted down by Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler. Yet, somehow the ball landed in Kearse’s lap, following several juggles of the ball. He pulled down the catch for a 33-yard gain.

Following the amazing snag by Kearse, the ball sat on the five-yard line with just over a minute to play. A Lynch run set the Seahawks up on the one-yard line.

At this moment, I slumped in my seat, realizing that the Seahawks would be hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy. Boy, was I wrong!

On second-and-goal from the one-yard line, a “Beast Mode” run seemed destined.

Yet, mind-blowingly the Seahawks decided to throw the ball. Wilson quickly darted a ball to a crossing wideout Ricardo Lockette, and to the despair of Seahawks fans, Butler jumped the route. picking off the pass to seal a Super

Bowl victory and a fourth ring for the future Hall-of-Famer, Brady.

Interestingly enough, Butler wasn’t originally supposed to be part of the game-saving play. Patriots assistant coaches noticed three wideouts in the Seahawks huddle, and quickly subbed in Butler. Butler felt that the Seahawks were up to something, and capitalized on the instinct – instantly becoming a Super Bowl legend.

Not many important games have ended

helped Brady’s case as the greatest quarterback of all-time. Only two other quarterbacks have won as many titles: Terry Bradshaw and Brady’s childhood hero, Joe Montana. I think it’s fair to say that Brady is the greatest. He owns basically all of the postseason passing records and boasts the most Super Bowl victories. The really impressive thing about him is that he still has the ability to win another.

The game hurt badly for many Seahawks fans, I’m sure, but honestly, that was the great-

What happened next was nothing short of a miracle: A Wilson deep pass to Jermaine Kearse was batted down by Patriot cornerback Malcolm Butler. Yet, somehow the ball landed in Kearse’s lap, following several juggles of the ball. like Sunday’s. The game reminded me of the time that Chris Webber called a timeout that Michigan didn’t have during the 1993 NCAA Championship basketball game against North Carolina. The play cost them a last-second shot at winning.

The comeback victory in Arizona only

est Super Bowl I’ve ever seen. Sunday wasn’t a blowout or an uneven matchup, but a competitive battle that came down to the final drive. I think I speak for all football fans in saying that is the way Super Bowls should be. Last Sunday was a gift of a game to the fans.

the advocate

SPORTS

February 6, 2015

Web photo

Time to look forward to an epic Portland Timbers experience Emily Wintringham

the advocate

Now that the American “football” season has come to an end, we can finally devote our attention to real football and our local love, the Portland Timbers.

The Timbers will face more grueling competition as they keep pace against four of the fiercest clubs in the Western Conference this March - the first month of the regular season.

The Timbers will face Real Salt Lake, LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City, and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

There is new expansion in Major League Soccer (MLS) this season, which is bittersweet. At this rate, it’s thrilling to see the soccer industry in the U.S. boom and seep into every corner of urban America. Slowly, we are witnessing the rise of soccer in place of the (American) football and baseball dynasties. As a result of the addition of Orlando (Florida)

FC and New York City FC this year, two of the stronger Eastern Division teams, Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo, have edged their way into our neck of the woods: They have been shifted to the Western Division. So, we get to face Sporting KC (2013 champions of the MLS Cup) thrice, oh what joy! Though, I’m sure if our stars align and the Timbers dominate their first four matches with 2-nil wins, like they did in their preseason match against Kansas City a week ago, it should be very easy sailing from then on.

Winning big games likely won’t be easy for our guys without the help of midfielders Diego Valeri and Will Johnson. It will be interesting to see how both key midfielders fare this season after recovering from injuries that snagged both of them from the field late last season.

Valeri, who tore his ACL in the last game of the 2014 season, is hopeful to return from rehab and be back in action this May. Johnson, the team captain, who sustained a broken leg, should be back sometime near April.

You also should know the Timbers have acquired a fresh new line of players to complement our veteran classics: Fanendo Adi, John-

son, Jack Jewsbury, Maximiliano Urruti, etc.

The Timbers seem to be looking ahead: They’ve added a new goalkeeper: the younger (age 27) Adam Kwarasey to replace Donovan Ricketts (age 37), who will guard the nets for Orlando City this year. The backup for Kwarasey will be 31-year-old MLS veteran Andrew Weber.

The roster also includes some newer, obscure names. I don’t think I’ve heard of Jeanderson before (he’s from Brazil, so it’s one name: Jeanderson). I’m assuming many of our newbies are going to be placed into T2, the Timbers’ developmental club.

It’s worth mentioning that Chivas U.S.A., our greatest rival and the hub of football culture and talent in America, (cough, cough – sarcasm) will be totally removed from MLS this season. The franchise will focus on rebuilding its image and re-branding itself sometime in the future.

One thing Timber adherents are not thrilled about are the leaked views at the new Portland kits (game jerseys), which remind some fans of, say, their old high school’s junior cheerleading squad’s getup. Opposition to the

new uniforms is bubbling all over websites such as Stumptown Footy in the form of outraged tweets. It is still not clear as to if these kits are the real deal.

One last point to keep in mind: The Timbers are hosting free fan axe photo shoots at Providence Park to commemorate their fifth anniversary in the MLS, and their 40 anniversary, overall, in Portland.

The classic photo shoots will take place over two weekends, starting today and continuing Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shoot is open next weekend, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, and Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individual Tickets for the Portland Timbers’ regular season - starting on Saturday, March 7 - go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20.

You can purchase tickets online at http:// www.timbers.com/tickets, or at the Providence Park box office (18th Ave/KeyBank plaza only.)

SPORTS FANATICS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY ARE YOU CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST GAME? MAYBE SPORTS JOURNALISM IS FOR YOU! GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME AND START WRITING FOR THE ADVOCATE TODAY. Send an email right now for more information.

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advocate

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the advocate

SPORTS

February 6, 2015

Saints run away from Riverhawks in victory Brandon Raleigh the advocate

Last Saturday in Gresham, the Saints men’s basketball team ran away from the Umpqua Riverhawks in a much-needed 81-66 victory.

The first half of Saturday’s victory was a close one. Turnovers hindered the Saints from pulling away from the Riverhawks, and the score read only 32-31, Saints.

In the second half Mt. Hood exploded, putting up 49 points, with the team shooting an impressive 64 percent from the field. Even more impressive, the Saints played clean basketball, turning the ball over just twice.

Coach Geoff Gibor listed the keys to his team’s strong finish.

“We had a couple guys make big plays,” Gibor said. “Jamal (Muhammad) had a hot stretch there and scored a bunch. We played really good defense. (Umpqua) had a hard time scoring. They didn’t score a lot of points and we didn’t turn over the ball in the second half, just two (turnovers).”

Muhammad and Kody Kennedy, both freshmen, were vital in the runaway victory.

Muhammad played a fine all-around game, finishing with 29 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Kennedy provided a flawless game for the

Saints, scoring 24 points and adding seven assists. He shot the ball well, connecting on four of five three-point attempts, and committed zero turnovers.

Muhammad gave his thoughts on the win.

“Our team came together as a unit and we all wanted to win and we made it happen,” he said. “When we made mistakes we didn’t get down on each other – we stayed positive.”

Kennedy discussed the importance of the win. As for his own performance, “I just took what they gave me,” he said.

“Once I hit a couple shots, that boosted my confidence the whole game. The game was a must-win. I feel that will give us confidence going into the second half of league (play).”

Gibor was pleased with the pair’s play.

“Kody hit some big shots, four-for-five from three (-point territory), and a couple of those at the end of shot clocks.

“Jamal just went through a stretch there, he was struggling in the first half and then in the second he scored on seven of eight possessions. Pretty amazing,” the coach said.

“What he and Kody did a good job at was the versatility of their game. Kody had 24 points, but nobody noticed his seven assists and zero turnovers. Jamal goes for 29 points, on 24 shots. He also adds six assists and six rebounds. When you start getting that type of

Jamal Muhammad defends Jeremy Smith in an 81-66 win over Umpqua CC. Muhammad scored 29 points in the Saints’ win, while Kody Kennedy contributed 24 points.

productivity from guys like that it really makes a difference,” Gibor said.

Next, the Saints face off against the Southwestern Oregon Lakers, (4-16 overall, 1-6 in league play) who got the upper hand on the Saints last time they met (86-72, Lakers). Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday in the Mt. Hood

main gym.

Muhammad is ready for the impending battle. “It’s time to get revenge; we went to their house earlier in the season and didn’t come out with a win like we should have.

“They’re coming to our house, we gotta protect our home.”

Saints trap Lions en route to eight-point win David Teas

the advocate The Saints women’s hoops team beat Multnomah University 66-58, Wednesday night.

Mt. Hood led from start to finish, and by as many as 15 points in the first half.

Saints sophomore center Marley Yates had 8 points with nine minutes to go in the first half. Multnomah struggled to contain her in the first 20 minutes of action. At halftime, Mt. Hood had a healthy 39-27 lead, led by her 10 points.

With 11:51 to go in the second half, Multnomah got to within five points, but the Saints were able to hold off the Lions.

Mt. Hood’s defense was ultimately the key in the win. MHCC constantly trapped Multnomah, who committed 22 turnovers that MHCC converted into 23 points.

The visiting team was hot from the threepoint area until the last three minutes of the game. Multnomah hit 11-for-26 threes in the game, but went just 1-for-6 in the final three minutes.

“My team could really use a win,” coach Tyler Rose had said before the game.

He added, “We beat Multnomah by 19 points the last time we played them (a 55-36 win on Dec. 3) and we didn’t play very well.”

Rose went on to say with optimism that the Saints’ season is not lost, even with an overall record of 4-17 and South Region mark of 0-6 in the NWAC. “Every team we play the rest of the season (is) beatable; we can still get that fourth playoff spot,” he said.

Mt. Hood had four players reach double digits in scoring on Wednesday. Yates and freshman guard-forward Delanee Martin had

UPCOMING GAMES

MENS

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14 points each; freshman guard-forward Lacey Weddle added 12, while freshman center Madison Weaver contributed 10 points.

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak.

Last Saturday, the Saints hosted Umpqua Community College. Umpqua, leading the NWAC with a 19-2 record, left with its eighth straight win. Mt. Hood seemed overwhelmed by the very good Umpqua team, trailing 42-22 at halftime and losing, 65-49.

“We played a very strong team. They lead our division for a good reason,” Rose said of Umpqua. Alexis Imbler was MHCC’s leading scorer with 10 points.

Mt. Hood concludes its three-game home stand at 2 p.m. Saturday against Southwestern Oregon (13-8 overall, 4-2 South Region).

Photos by David Teas - the advocate

Delanee Martin boxes out for a rebound against Multnomah University in a 66-58 victory.

WOMENS

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

SATURDAY

SW OREGON

HOME

4 P.M.

SATURDAY

SW OREGON

HOME

2 P.M.

WEDNESDAY

CHEMEKETA

AWAY

7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY

CHEMEKETA

AWAY

5:30 P.M.

FEB. 14

LANE

HOME

4 P.M.

FEB. 14

LANE

HOME

2 P.M.