The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College
Feb. 27, 2015
Volume 50, Issue 19
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advocate PAGE 3
Activities budget almost set PAGE 3
‘A letter to the man who shot me’ PAGE 4
NWAC venture within sight PAGE 7
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OPINION
February 27, 2015
Editorial | According to OregonLive.com, state lawmakers in Salem are proposing a new bill that would require employers to allow up to eight unpaid work hours per year to give employees who are parents the chance to attend their children’s school conferences and activities. But, are attending conferences and school activities really the end-all, be-all of a child’s success? We think not. We on The Advocate agree that the support of our guardians really strengthened us, individually, to push forward, but in the end, we could have managed on our own. The general consensus was that unless our guardians were sticking us in Harry’s closet under the stairs, feeding us dog food, or any other form of neglect, we would still
Parent-teacher conferences aren’t the only factor in your child’s success
succeed. In simple terms: parents who can’t attend every conference and basketball game are not awful. If something really is important, parents should be responsible enough to mark the date of the conference, concert, or any other big event in advance. There are some creative ways to get involved with your student’s academic life that are probably more effective than attending a conference. If you’re a student at MHCC and you also have children attending school, it might be ideal to have family homework night. Ridiculous as it sounds, it can benefit everyone to work together, hold each other accountable, and get
help when needed. Family homework night could make schoolwork less intimidating. By setting an example for your children and making a schedule, you won’t have to sweat it later. You can schedule other activities more easily knowing that you won’t be doing homework at the last minute. And after the family finishes the hard work, pop some kernels and put on a movie – you all deserve it. This may not work for everyone, but all families should be connecting somehow. It’s healthy to have some time during the week when you all do something together. It’s just understandable that a midday conference isn’t always an optimal time for families to engage and take part in academic life. Graphic by Shawnie Fortune
The problem of modern breast-fed racism Gustavo Balderas
the advocate
To a young mind any word spoken by blood can never be wrong: “Si mi madre lo dejo, entonces es la verdad.” In other words: if Mother said it, it’s true. “If white men work eight hours, we work twelve.” “You are not Mexican, but an American of Mexican descent.” Strong mottos to live by. Affirmations telling me that I belong; no longer classified as a Mexican, but as an American siding with his cause. These whispered words are said as truth, seen as pure, and embraced without hesitation. Blessed is the family that demands prosperity; the family that believes that life’s battle will be conquered. Nothing great is bestowed upon the weak. Their beliefs become a young man’s guides when calculating moves. Being ignorant to the inevitable – a two-front war is born with familiar enemies on both sides, and
him right in the middle. I learned when to embrace my ancestors’ past and when to ignore it, for advancement. I learned when to salute our nation’s flag and when to tolerate it, for belonging. My way gave me face, but never did it give me acceptance. How could I grow, when so confused? How can I learn to live, when hypocrisy is the epitome? Years have passed, and no longer a child, I allowed countless situations to decide how I would view the world forever more. From home teachings, to only kicking back with “Xicanos” (Chicanos, or Americans of Mexican descent) in school. To joining a street gang that taught how to hate the person who is not like me. To prison, where I only converse with fellow “Surenos” (gang members of Latin descent), with the main enemy being not whites nor blacks, but “Paisas” (any person born in a Latin country that immigrated to America). All these situations and many more taught me this: how to have disgust for anyone that is not who I see in the mirror. Funny thing is, deep down I know my views of the world are wrong, yet I act as if it was nothing; that my character and how I choose to portray it is normal. I may not ver-
bally bash on a white man or show blatant nausea when having to interact with a “Paisa,” but alone or around fellow like-minded individuals, I can’t help but crack a joke on a “savana” (white person) having exaggerated assumptions of how they live, just as I group Latin people born to different countries as child molesters and “true” wetbacks. Sitting here reading my words, I finally understand why I think this way and what I will be handing down to my daughter: I have the chance to change the world for generations to come. What I give to my daughter now as truth, will always be remembered as truth. This was written to give you a glimpse of what it’s like to grow up in America as a “Xicano.” Not knowing how I would respond to what I wrote, I couldn’t have known that I would find it in me – what is said to be going on in this country – “racism.” I have the power to pass down to my child a new view of the world. The only question is, am I strong enough to watch my daughter cry when she’s put into a situation where she is seen as different? What I say at that moment will decide whether my daughter lives life peacefully or breast-feeds her child the one sentence that ignites a civil war.
Chat with Barney How important are parent-teacher conferences in a child or student’s education? “I think the more support a person has, the better they are going to do in school. Everyone needs their own support group. They also get an idea of who their support is. If no one shows up they think: Does anybody care?”
Tamara Johnson Student, Early Childhood Education major
“Elen White, our ECE adviser, definitely supported us to think out of the box and not just base everything out of the textbook. She gave us support outside the classroom.”
Tiffany Pillette Student, Early Childhood Education major
chatwithbarney@gmail.com
Corrections: In Issue 18 of The Advocate, Peter Woodford’s name was misspelled in “ ‘Drowsy’ cast prepares for opener” on Page 5. In “An inside look at Portland’s Rose City Futsal,” it is accurate to say a futsal ball barely bounces, but an exact height is variable. The futsal court floor is made of rubber. Rose City Futsal will be sending four teams to Northwest regionals of the U.S. Federation of Futsal.
the advocate Editor-in-Chief Greg Leonov
Copy Editor Hayden Hunter News Editor Hayden Hunter
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Opinion Editor Emily Wintringham Lifestyle Editor Adam Elwell Podcast Producer Jake Swindell Sports Editor Brandon Raleigh
Photo Editor Beka Haugen Video Editor Aurora Angeles Thomas Stewart Graphic Designer Heather Golan Shawnie Fortune
Reporters David Ahlson Gustavo Balderas Will Darkins Ivy Davis Omar Morante Antonio Pineda 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
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
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NEWS
February 27, 2015
College to reach crucial milestone in time for bond
Hayden Hunter the advocate
As of next school year, Mt. Hood Community College will have been around for 50 years. However, 41 years will have passed since MHCC last got a thumbs-up from local voters, in the form of a community general obligation (GO) bond measure. That could change by May 2016. While PART 4 there’s no defined version of a new bond proGraphic by - Heather Golan
posal that would raise millions of dollars for campus improvements from a bump in local property taxes, the college is taking steps to set up another bond plan. The notebook of former principal architect Donald Lutes, recently turned over to Mt. Hood leaders, is playing an important role. Among other things, the notebook describes “super steel” material used in construction of most MHCC main campus buildings that could minimize the need for costly fixes to reduce potential danger from seismic activity. “Those architectural renderings are a big help because it shows us that, as Jim (MHCC District board member Jim Zordich) probably shared with you, that this facility was pretty prepared back then to deal with some of the
possible earthquakes,” said Al Sigala, executive director of alumni relations and the Mt. Hood Foundation. According to MHCC Vice President Rick Doughty, Lute’s notebook was a big contributor to school officials deciding not to pay for major seismic upgrades. Instead, Mt. Hood is hoping to get more money to spruce up the campus. This doesn’t mean that MHCC will not ask for money to pay for a seismic upgrade; it just means that amount will be substantially less, Doughty explained. First comes setting up the bond campaign, and its own structure. In order to go forward with a bond, Mt. Hood has to hire a committee to run all the campaigning for the bond. No one employed by the college may serve on this committee. According to Mt. Hood President Debbie Derr, two co-chairmen of this initiative have already been set. One is Doug Walker, local business owner of Walker Travel and Cruises. The other is Fred Sanchez, a businessman who worked with the Gateway Business Association for 30 years, she said. The next steps for the GO bond effort are for Mt. Hood to hire a consultant to go out and interview a portion of the local community and then work with the marketing director (newly hired Bruce Battle) to increase the
bond’s public awareness. Assuming the proposed bond gets approval from Mt. Hood’s stakeholders, it would need final approval by the District board. Derr expects that to happen by late 2015 or early 2016, aiming for the May 2016 (primary) special election. Derr said Mt. Hood plans on leveraging the 50th anniversary when moving forward with the GO bond. “The history piece is going to be important” in how the bond is presented to the public, said Derr. That’s where nostalgic items such as Lutes’ notebook will come into play.
Officials are even considering opening the school’s time capsule, buried near the steps leading down into the campus Main Mall. The underlying thread: Mt. Hood is far overdue for some new support that would fund new renovations and upgrades. In fact, voters haven’t approved new bond money for MHCC since 1974, with several failed election attempts since. Mt. Hood’s leader hopes to reverse that trend. “We want to celebrate that the facilities are 50 years old, but we also want the community to recognize that the facilities are 50 years old.” said Derr.
A sketch of the main mall seen from upstairs drawn before campus completion.
Check out more photos from Lutes’ notebook online at www.advocate-online.net
A photo of the campus during construction.
Racism in policing explored through film and talk Antonio Pineda the advocate
Against the walls of the room fell a soft darkness. A flickering of light touched the screen before the audience, as it watched the story unfold. On Monday, Sean Gallagher, who directed the documentary “Brothers of the Black List,” was present for a question-and-answer session after his movie was screened in the Visual Arts Theatre. The event, part of Mt. Hood’s recognition of Black History Month, was organized by the Diversity Resource Center. Gallagher has been touring campuses across the nation to spread awareness of institutionalized racism in higher education and in police forces. The documentary told the story of a small town in New York state, where people of col-
or were systematically stopped, searched, and questioned as the result of a report provided by an elderly woman after an assault. She listed nothing more about the perpetrator other than that he was black, male, and possibly had a cut on his hand. As a response, the college in Oneonta, N.Y,. created a list containing every single name of students fitting the vague description she gave. The list singled out all black students and that made the black men featured in the movie uneasy. Black men were pulled aside and questioned like criminals as police went searching down their list. Men were
mostly asked to show their hands, but women were stopped, as well. The documentary continued to go indepth about racism with testimonials from people associated with the event, one whose memory an entire town tried to repress. After the screening, the audience participated in Q&A style discussion. Gallagher, the director, said that he had to find the speakers a safe place to talk about the issue, with minimal questioning – creating a therapeutic and confessional storytelling that crafted the framework of the film. He talked about Graphic by - Shawnie Fortune the process of getting
material for the film. “I pressed ‘Record’ and said ‘Tell me your story.’ Almost everybody I talked to... I’d press ‘Record’ and an hour-anda-half later, they would stop talking,” Gallagher said. “It was really rewarding to give them this opportunity to speak. “This is an institutional problem,” he said – meaning, there continues to be a noticeable disconnect between police, or people in power, and the black community. Recent events, such as those in Ferguson, Mo., the Eric Garner death in New York City, and the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, have demonstrated the continuing tensions between police and the black community. Gallagher’s goal in touring the country and displaying his film for students is to inform them and help create a dialogue and prevent similar events from unfolding in the future, he told the Mt. Hood audience.
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the advocate
LIFESTYLE
February 27, 2015
‘Saturday Night Live’ turns 40: time to reminisce Ivy Davis
the advocate The 40th Anniversary special of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) was aired on Feb 15., so during this sick season, while you lay in bed feelin’ a fever coming on, honor SNL by picking up your favorite electronic device and watch some of the show’s best skits. To help you, here is a list of my favorite skits, actors, and hosts from SNL. “Shy Ronnie” is the first skit that deserves attention. It takes place in a classroom with Rihanna and Andy Samberg singing a duet. If you want a laugh, “Shy Ronnie” is a must. Next I would suggest the “Gilly” episodes.” Played by Kristen Wiig, Gilly is a grade-school student who explodes her teacher with a bomb, and is the basic terrible student. A classic from SNL is “Chip and Dale’s,” an audition where angelic chubby Chris Farley and smokin’ hot Patrick Swayze show off their “sexy” dance moves. And last, but not least, I would suggest “More Cowbell” featuring Will Ferrell, in a sweater way too small for him, and Christopher Walken. This skit shows the beauty of the cowbell as a musical instrument. As for actors and characters, SNL has progressed, for better or worse, through the years. Most actors have used SNL as a stepping stone to further their acting careers. Same as comedians such as Eddie Murphy, who began on SNL in 1981 then continued to act in some of my favorite films like “Shrek” (playing the voice of Donkey) and “The Nutty Professor.”
Next, there is Mike Myers, who started in 1989 and is the mastermind behind the voice of “Shrek” and the iconic face of “Austin Powers.” Myers plays Wayne Campbell (of “Wayne’s World,” of course), along with many other fun characters on SNL. My favorite actor/comedian by far is none other than “Big Daddy” Adam Sandler himself who started in 1990. He doesn’t need words because he’s the idol of my heart. Some honorable mentions besides Sandler are Farley, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Samberg, and Ferrell with that cowbell who comes close to taking the show, and is always willing to wear inappropriate clothing. This huge man is a ridiculous, show-stopping gag. Betty White will forever be the Number One host, regardless of whether or not NBC favors Steve Martin. White takes first place, for God’s sake. She’s 93 and still kicking. Alec Baldwin is also impressive for making a total of 16 appearances on the show. For all the ladies dying to see some manmeat, though, watch the five episodes hosted by Justin Timberlake, who also appeared as a musician and guest actor, making SNL all the more worth watching. My other favorites were Candice Bergen, who plays a really good villain in “Miss Congeniality.” Steve Martin made it to the list, being the iconic “King Tut.” Last, Walken makes a top-notch music producer with a love for cowbell. So, there you have it: The Saturday Night Live best. Now you realize what your fever really is: “a fever for more cowbell.”
Steve Martin in his infamous “King Tut” skit.
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Part 1 of a 2 part series
A cannabis paradise waits at the end of harvest Sam Krause the advocate
You’re filthy. You smell like vitamins and sh*t. It’s hot, too, at least 90 degrees outside, and you can feel it. The fingernails on your one hand are sticky with resin, the fingernails on the other hand are caked with dirt. Both hands are sore from sudden moments of dexterity to cut only the correct leaf. That’s just your hands: Your knees, back, and neck are no better. As you struggle and squirm beneath a canopy of thick green foliage, the temperature dips for a moment and the coolness of the plant is shared with your skin, a brush with refreshment. There’s sweat everywhere. There isn’t a place the sweat hasn’t soaked. It’s not all bad, though; the wind is picking up and the smells of the farm across the street waft to the backyard, those earthy smells that are so similar to white pepper and cilantro. A car hasn’t driven past the house, or anywhere around the neighborhood for that matter, for hours. You can hear the slightest stir in
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the air, little sounds of a twig falling from the top of a tree, or the nearby koi kissing the top of the pond, making a tiny popping sound that for an instant is so intense it overcomes the gentle splashes of the waterfall. All the while, a snip here, a snip there, maybe an honest-to-goodness cut of a branch every once in a while. For just a moment, you stand up and light the joint rolled just for you, as thanks for all your hard work. Then you straighten your back and stand as upright as possible while taking in a deep hit. You look around at the verdant shrubbery and know that months of work are paying off. Heck, you grew what you’re smoking right now, and it’s good. That is the experience of tending to a marijuana garden and I love every moment of it. I have enjoyed marijuana ever since I was way too young, but have enjoyed growing it for the past five years. Gardening itself is something from which I derive a great amount of pleasure; I even inherited my mom’s green thumb. Growing plants just comes naturally, but there are just some plants that are more fun to grow.
Every summer I have my basil, lavender, oregano, thyme, rhubarb, tomatoes, onions, blueberries, clover, lemon cucumber ... the list goes on; however, my favorite plant to grow is marijuana. At first I grew the plant illegally, but eventually I was able to legally grow it under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. When I first started smoking, I just did it because it felt good and eventually a lot of my friends were, too. Thirteen years later, it’s socially acceptable and I, for the first time ever, have found myself discussing marijuana more openly. While it used to be all about getting high, now there is more to it. I have seen the medical, practical, and recreational uses in a much more responsible and informed way and that has made my experience with marijuana a rich one. For all the personal growth I’ve had, the volunteering I’ve done, and the campaigning that will continue, I really enjoy the process for growing more than anything else about marijuana. In the beginning, there is a clone. There are so many little steps to cloning a plant. It requires a certain precision, a ruffed-up ver-
sion of precision. When I clone a plant, it’s like starting a song over that I really like. A razor blade in my hand, carefully inspecting the mother plant for the right physical traits of a healthy clone, I really get to know her during this process. My mind is asking so many questions and remembering so many little things. That branch is too thin. This top soil looks a little lame. That leaf is a little yellow. Did I just see a f*cking gnat? Is that mold? Should I use this plant? That’s not mold, it’s just a piece of fuzz and that gnat was just an errant coffee ground. All of that and more is racing through my mind, but it’s a natural thing. More than just flow, it’s like doing the same math problem over and over again using similar but different methods to get the same solution each time. When the clone is selected, I use the freshly sterilized and unused razor blade slip right through the slim stem. It’s dipped in rooting hormone and set in some dirt for a few weeks. This is done to multiple mother plants and many clones are made. And the journey toward another sweaty, well-earned reward begins.
the advocate
February 27, 2015
McGill and ‘The Flutist of Bed-Stuy’
Established writer, Jerry McGill, visits MHCC and reads from his novel
LIFESTYLE
T P5 SONGS
Each week the advocate supplies you with our top five songs for your playlist. This week, we decided to bless you with our favorite songs the CIA uses for torture, after a list of songs was published in December.
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SESAME STREET THEME
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AMERICA | NEIL DIAMOND
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Adam Elwell & Brandon Raleigh the advocate
An inherent quality about Jerry McGill is that he loves to write. During his reading at MHCC on Thursday, as part of Mt. Hood’s “Mouths of Others” (guest speaker) reading series, the audience’s favorite questions were pertaining to his disability: “How do you find the strength?” “Do you want closure?” “Where do the two (race and disability) meet in your writing?” His answers to which were, respectively: “I really believe that people don’t think they have the strength, but I think the reality is we all kind of have this well deep inside of us.” “The idea of closure is not important to me,” And, “I don’t ever see the two meeting in my writing.” Growing up in the lower east side of Manhattan in the 1970s, McGill enjoyed playing sports, from touch football to ballet. He got his first job at 10 years old, working at a friend’s parents’ grocery store to feed his burgeoning “addiction” to arcade games and pinball. He lived in public housing and was raised by his
mother. His 13-year-old life “changed drastically” on New Year’s Day after he was shot by an unknown assailant. The bullet lodged in his lower spine and remained there, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. McGill recorded these events in his autobiography, titled “Dear Marcus: a Letter to the Man Who Shot Me.” Asked if writing was an occupation he discovered after his accident, McGill replied adamantly, “The truth is, from the earliest point I knew I was going to be a writer. I always knew that writing was something I loved, and that I was going to do... and I kept it up right up until my accident, and then shortly after started again. “I always knew that writing was going to be my bread-winner,” he said. McGill read not from his autobiography, but from a novel he has been working on, titled “The Flutist of Bed-Stuy.” He described the novel as “semi-biographical,” as it describes a relationship he had with an elderly Jewish sculptor for whom he modeled. It’s stylized; in the book, she’s also a holocaust survivor. The story’s protagonist, a black man from Manhattan, dates her daughter,
which McGill described as “a tragic love story.” Despite his attachment to the material, McGill remained humble, saying, “It is really something I kind of pulled out of my butt.” He explained his reason for writing the book was the juxtaposition the duo created. “I was very intrigued by what we looked like to other people,” he said. Before McGill read, Mt. Hood writing instructor Michelle Hampton introduced him by reading an excerpt from “Dear Marcus.” McGill said, “It’s funny hearing your words read back to you. Sometimes it’s like, ‘Wow, did I really write that?’ It feels like it’s so far behind me.” Not that he dislikes “Dear Marcus,” he clarified. “I’m sure if you gave Shakespeare the chance he would go, ‘You know, that ‘Hamlet,’ there were some parts in it that really suck.’ ” Aside from writing, McGill mentors disabled children and teaches writing workshops for convicts. His presentation in the Visual Arts Theater showcased his vast array of writing skills, and appeared to move those who attended. Scheduled to speak next in the reading series on April 8 is Dorothy Allison, a feminist, poet, and National Book Award nominee.
ENTER SANDMAN | METALLICA
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THE REAL SLIM SHADY | EMINEM
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DIRTY | CHRISTINA AGUILERA
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the advocate
NEWS
February 27, 2015
MHCC to improve based on satisfaction surveys’ help Greg Leonov the advocate
This spring, Mt. Hood students will have the opportunity to give input about ways the campus opperates. Feedback from the survey will be evaluated and considered when deciding what improvements to make on campus. The bi-annual campus satisfaction survey normally reaches 30 percent of the college’s population, but this year researchers hope to achieve closer to 50 percent. During the spring term, MHCC will conduct a student satisfaction survey to learn more about how students feel about the college so administrators will know what kinds of improvements could make campus life more convenient. Such surveys have been conducted every other year since 1994, according Tim Green, research associate for Mt. Hood’s Information Technology department. He hopes to hear from at least every other student. The survey poses questions on about 40 different topics that include student satisfaction with academic advisers and instructors, and how students feel about certain areas of the college. “It gives us a very rich data set from which we
can prioritize where we need to allocate resources and improve the situation,” said Green. Data consistently gathered every other year is crucial to the process, he said. During the fourth week of spring term, Green will randomly select a number of students, then send an email asking them to take the survey. Students who are not selected may still participate by going online. One direct outcome from previous student surveys is the way the MHCC Library is now run. Going back several years, Mt. Hood had seen “steady declines with satisfaction with the library, and the library services that were available,” said Green. “The library went through some drastic changes, both in making librarians available, and making food service available in the library itself” and adjusting the hours it was open, he said. Satisfaction has increased, as a result. Last year, Mt. Hood conducted an employee satisfaction climate survey, which hadn’t been done since 2008. Green said the long gap resulted from too big a transition in leadership “and no one really knew what the priorities were.” Current President Debbie Derr has shown “she is committed to gathering this information on a systematic regular basis, so
we are planning on giving it every two years from now on,” he said. “This is an important piece of information for the college to function effectively: understanding where folks have problems, where we might work to improve how we deliver the services that we deliver.” The main concern raised by the employee survey was communication problems, Green said: “(W)e’re talking about top-down: highest-level administrators communicating decisions and (the) reasoning behind decisions that are being made.” Communication issues are rise from the bottom up, he said. “Employees need to feel that they are being listened to, and that any ideas or suggestions that they might have for improvement are being listened to and evaluated,” he said. “Horizontal communication” that goes between different departments is another key issue, he said. Results from the employee climate survey are now used to inform the Culture of Excellence training sessions that Derr has introduced, said Green. “We should see a mesh with the Culture of Excellence and this survey... and results of this survey.” Final results and reports for the employee
satisfaction survey are now available online. Go to: http://www.mhcc.edu/About.aspx?id=936 and see the reports atop the current list of documents.
Yes
No Graphic by - Aurora Angeles
Activities and athletic budget waiting for approval Emily Wintringham the advocate
Despite a nearly unanimous vote and quicker progress than a year ago in Student Finance Council budget negotiations, determining the funding allocations and reductions for the 2015-2016 academic year brought more than a bit of tension. This year’s meetings totaled eight hours. Mt. Hood’s Athletics and co-curricular groups spent two hours presenting their budget requests for next year, and then two hours each discussing and voting on the motions. Since the proposals have been voted through, the ASMHCC (student government) executive cabinet and student senate must approve the plan. From noon to 1 p.m. on both Thursday and on March 9 in the Student Union, open budget hearings will determine the final approval process. All Mt. Hood students are invited to participate in the discussion and voice their opinions. “All of the Finance Council, including ASG (Associated Student Government) will take it into consideration,” said ASG President Alma Pacheco. “Since it’s the students’ money, it should go back to the students. That’s (the) student council’s main goal.” In mid-March, the Associate VicePresident for Student Services will endorse the budget. The Business Office will proofread and the budget will be sent to the MHCC board for final action. Mt. Hood’s ongoing enrollment decrease
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resulted in a 5.5 percent reduction in the budget for 2015-16. Theoretically, all activity groups were required to cut 5.5 percent from their own budget to maintain the Finance Council balance at zero. Co-curricular programs needed to cut $1,785 combined, but not all groups made the minimum cut needed to balance the budget, said Seth Albert, Student Activities Board (SAB) wellness programs coordinator. Publications (groups) such as The Advocate newspaper, Venture magazine and Perceptions literary journal were unable to meet the 5.5 percent mark because printing
already had seen a sharp reduction. “Two years ago, our receptions budget was at $20,000; last year, it was $16,500 and this year we cut it down to $11,500,” said Keiko Downing, SAB director. “It’s going to affect receptions big-time, because our receptions coordinator is actually in charge of one of our biggest events which is where we announce our president and vice president for the following year,” Downing said. “We just decided that maybe next year, we won’t make it that big of an event.” According to Downing and Ashley Gass, SAB director of finance, consensus was
Graphic by - Shawnie Fortune
is a fixed cost that makes changes difficult, according to their student representatives. Because not every activity made the cut, the senate had to trim $350 and the SAB cut another $408, plus an additional $500 from the SAB receptions (staff assistance) budget that
achieved among the co-curricular activities but the budget was not settled in a cheery fashion. “It was a lot more aggressive this year than the past few years I’ve been in,” Downing said. “Instead of ‘Can you cut this?’ it was like ‘I’m
not cutting, so you need to,” she said. Forensics (Mt. Hood’s speech and debate group) did not volunteer any additional budget reduction after their initial cut. Gass said there was some spirited debate between Forensics and other groups over that move. Athletics faced a challenge of the opposite kind. The sports programs had to figure out where to allocate $12,043, but according to ASG Adviser Meadow McWhorter, the athletic groups collaborated well. “The amount of participation and discussion from all the student representations was phenomenal,” McWhorter said. “In my six years of being involved in student council, this was hands-down the best council we’ve had. They were thinking with their ‘athletic department hat,’ versus their ‘individual program hat,’ ” she said. MHCC Athletic Director Kim Hyatt oversaw the students’ decisions on where to put the money. “The student representatives allocated these funds into the several areas, including: assigned athletics, baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, softball, and volleyball,” Hyatt said. The majority of the excess money went to fund the women’s basketball away uniforms, to replace substandard apparel, and material to help maintain the fields used for softball and track, she said. In the end, the proposed budget was approved by a 7-1 vote by the council representatives.
the advocate
SPORTS
February 27, 2015
Saints one step closer to NWAC playoff berth Brandon Raleigh the advocate
Wednesday night, a packed MHCC gym witnessed the Saints men pull out a crucial 8576 win over arch-rival Clackamas Community College on Sophomore Night. The win was Mt. Hood’s first win over Clackamas since January 2012, ending a sixgame drought against the Cougars. It was the Saints’ third straight win, overall. Just as important, the Saints (10-14 overall, 7-7 in division play) stayed alive in the hunt for an NWAC playoff spot. It will be win-or-go-home time on Saturday, when Mt. Hood plays Umpqua Community College (16-11 overall, 7-7 division) in Roseburg: The winner will grab the South Region’s fourth and final slot in the upcoming NWAC Championship Tournament. On Wednesday, both sides started out hot, answering each other’s baskets with one of their own, until the Cougars built a 23-18 point lead. At that point, the game changed for both sides. The Saints’ shots began to fall more often and they soon turned their five-point deficit into as much as a 15-point lead. It seemed as if the Saints were shooting into an ocean, as they connected on eight triples in the first half alone. With a 30-14 run to end the half, Mt. Hood took a 49-38 advantage to the locker room. The Saints came out of halftime energized on both sides of the ball and quickly built a 5740 lead – their largest lead of the night. After minutes of back-and-forth basketball, the Cougars started to trim the Saints lead, however. Near the eight-minute mark Clackamas trimmed the deficit to single digits. The next few minutes were tough for the Saints. They set themselves up well on many plays but were unable to convert. Foul trouble plagued both sides and the game turned into a free-throw shooting match. The Cougars
Sterling Anderson (30) scraps for a rebound during a hard-fought 85-76 win over Clackamas Community College on Wednesday.
were able to slice the Saints lead to only 69-68 at about the four-minute mark. With just a minute left to play, MHCC possessed only a one-point lead. However, the Saints dug deep and closed in dominating fashion, outgunning Clackamas with a 16-10 run. Saints head coach Geoff Gibor gave his thoughts on the vital win. “Our guys came in and played well early and to be honest, we just gutted it out at the end,” he said. The Saints struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 17-for-35. Several misses helped the Clackamas comeback. “We needed to make more free throws, but other than that our guys played hard,” Gibor said. He gave credit to the “team effort: We had guys give us great minutes off the bench and that’s what you have to have.” Assistant coach Brian Cornelison was pleased with the gritty victory. “We came
out and had a lot of effort… and heart; it’s pretty much all it came down to,” he said. Sophomores Oleg Marandyuk and Jamal Muhammad starred in their Saints home finale, combining for 56 points. Marandyuk finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two assists on 4-of-5 from downtown. Muhammad added 26 points, two rebounds, and two assists with zero turnovers. Marandyuk discussed his focus heading into the game. “All day, it was all I could think about,” he said. “Just trying to focus. I feel like we could have really blown that one because it’s Sophomore Night. It’s a big distraction; family is in town for a lot of these guys.” He continued, “I’m just speechless how we came together and honestly stuck together the whole game.” Muhammad pointed to the team’s preparation. “We came out ready this time. Our
photos by Beka Haugen
sophomores came out and it was their day. (The) sophomores came out and went to work,” he said. “I was feeling it a week ago. I’ve been dreaming about this game. I wanted this game so bad. I’m so proud of my guys,” Muhammad said. The victory sets the stage for Mt. Hood – coming after another must-win last Saturday, 78-67 over Linn-Benton CC, in Albany. On Saturday, the Saints face off against the Umpqua Riverhawks in a must-win game. A loss and the Saints’ season is over. “We’ve got to get Umpqua, and then we’re going,” said sophomore forward Jason Wallace. The two squads share a 7-6 record in league play, and met earlier this season in a game that saw Mt. Hood run away and win, 81-66. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Roseburg.
Saints fall at home to rival Clackamas CC David Teas
the advocate
photos by Beka Haugen
Lacey Weddle defends oponent in 77-68 loss to Clackamas Community College on Wednesday.
Wednesday was Sophomore Night for the Mt. Hood women’s basketball team, which gave everything it had for its last home game of 2014-15. The Saints hoped to play spoiler against rival Clackamas Community College, whose NWAC playoff hopes would have ended with a loss. Despite a tremendous effort from MHCC, the Cougars rained three-pointers all night and finally pulled away to win, 77-68. The game started off with a lot of intensity
from Mt Hood. Not even five minutes into the game, freshman guard/forward Lacey Weddle picked up two quick fouls. The game was tied at the 11:40 mark, when freshman point guard Jesse Morris got her second foul and also had to sit. Midway through the first half, Saints post Marley Yates got it going, scoring three straight buckets. Yates was all over the floor, inspiring her teammates. She was playing with a ferocity that was contagious. Morris took a hard charge, freshman guard/forward Delanee Martin was fighting for loose balls on the floor. Freshman forward Madison Weaver fought hard down
low, getting rebounds against a much taller opponent. With six minutes to go in the first half, Martin hit back-to-back threes to give Mt Hood a 27-22 lead. Unfortunately, the Saints expended too much energy and they began to tire, and Clackamas starting heating up from downtown. (For the night, the Cougars took an unbelievable 44 attempts from three-point-land. Emma Platner took 16 threes herself, hitting five of them.) Women’s basketball Continued on page 8
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the advocate
SPORTS Women’s basketball Continued from page 7
February 27, 2015
Saints freshman chases hoop dream
With the first half winding down, Clackamas began trapping Mt Hood. Clackamas’ defense quickly gave them a 35-29 edge with 3.2 seconds to go. Jasmine Walker then hit a buzzer-beating three to end the half, at 38-29 Clackamas. “They have a group, that any one of them can get hot at any moment,” Saints head coach Tyler Rose had warned before the contest. He said the Cougars lead the entire NWAC in three-pointers attempted, and made. “They have five or six players that have scored 20 or more points in a game. Their offensive strategy is to catch and shoot, catch and shoot.” Rose’s preview would prove spot-on. In the second half, the threes just kept coming from Clackamas, but, five minutes in, Mt. Hood trailed only 43-37. Halfway through the final frame Martin badly injured her ankle, and had to be helped off the court, however. “This is the first time I have ever had an injury, it’s awfully frustrating,” said Martin. Without her, MHCC fell behind by nine points rather quickly. The injury seem to deflate her teammates. Although the Saints never gave up, they couldn’t catch up with a hot Clackamas team. In the end, four Saints scored in double digits. Martin had 14 points, and Yates had 17 points and eight rebounds. Morris had a great game, going 5-for-9 from downtown to record 17 points and 7 assists, and Weddle contributed 10 points. Freshman post Madison Weaver played extremely well also, scoring eight points and grabbing 10 crucial rebounds for Mt. Hood. The Saints (5-21 overall, 1-10 in division play) close out their season on Saturday, playing Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.
Delanee Martin (10) boxes out for a rebound attempt. The Saints freshman has helped the team with her scoring, rebounding, and energy this season.
photos by Beka Haugen
David Teas
the advocate
UP NEXT: Lady Saints @ Umqua CC @ 2 p.m. Saints @ Umpqua CC @4 p.m.
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Delanee Martin, a breakout player for the Mt. Hood women’s basketball team this year, would much rather throw herself into a game than passively sit and watch one. Lucky for the Saints, the freshman hasn’t been sitting much at all. Averaging 28 minutes per game, the 6-foot tall forward accounts for about 10 points, four rebounds and 1.6 steals every contest. Martin grew up in Eugene, the youngest of four children with two older sisters and a brother. She gained her love for basketball from watching her older sisters play when she was very young. She began playing in grade school, eventually making it to AAU basketball. “AAU is what I really liked. It was the best
time of my life,” Martin said. Her AAU team traveled all over the U.S. “We knew each other’s strengths, and we fed off of each other. We were all best friends, we played really well together.” Martin was playing basketball year-round in high school. She then red-shirted at Northwest Christian University in 2013-14, but she wanted to get out of Eugene and try her best, with two years of eligibility at MHCC. Later, she wants to see if she can take her basketball career even further, maybe two more years at an NAIA-level school, she said. Martin chose Mt. Hood because it was still in Oregon, and it’s her first year away from home. There have been challenges; a self-described introvert, she said “it’s tough to make new friends.” She said her best friend is her dad, whom she admires a great deal. “I couldn’t have asked for better parents. My parents set a perfect example for me,” she said. She also looks up to her older sister, part of a very close-knit family she misses very much. While in high school Martin ran cross country, a sport she enjoys. “I wasn’t very good, but I liked it,” she said. She thought about competing at Mt. Hood in cross country, she said, but called herself “out of shape.” She agreed with the idea that women play more of a “team game” than men. “I think girls are a lot more structured, and play a more teamoriented game,” she said. Believe it or not, Martin does not enjoy watching others play basketball, period. She has no favorite NBA or WNBA player or team. “I don’t watch games. I’d rather play, watching is kind of frustrating,” she said. Asked the first person she thinks of at the word “basketball,” she replied, “My AAU
coach. He has had such a big impact on the player that I am.” All during high school Martin wanted to be a nutritionist or a personal trainer. “Now that I’m in college, I have absolutely no idea what I want to be or what I want to do,” she said. Fortunately she has plenty of time to decide on a career after basketball. Martin has a never-say-die attitude on the court. “If you are playing bad, instead of giving up, finish strong,” she said. “If I do that, then I know I gave it all I got.” She said she’s been inspired by Shadow Kendrick, a Saints sophomore player whose career was ended by injury seven games into the season. As “ ‘The Voice of the Team,’ Shadow really pumps us up,” Martin said, smiling. “She always has something positive to say; she is the voice of everything.” Martin said she is heartbroken for her teammate, and appreciates how well Kendrick handled her adversity. The Saints continue to demonstrate some fight, too. After back-to-back seasons with only two wins, Mt. Hood has earned five victories this season, with one more game remaining (Saturday, at Umpqua Community College). Saints fans can expect to see Martin back on the court next year, and better than ever. With her two closest teammates also being freshmen – point guard Jesse Morris and guard/forward Lacey Weddle – things are looking up, especially with her steady presence. Martin, an optimist who sees the good in everything and cares about those who she is close to, is aware of her opportunity to affect others. “I can set a good example,” she said.