The Advocate, Issue 20, March 9, 2012

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DARS looks to help students with course selection for degree

March 9, 2012

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MHCC Dean premieres film on March 15 about binge drinking

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Softball, Baseball and Track begin seasons

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Volume 47, Issue 20

MHCC given mixed results from Salem

by Mike Mata The Advocate

Japanese and MHCC students share cultures, perspectives

Photos by Yuca Kosugi and Logan Scott/The Advocate

Top left: Liam Kenna, a barista from the Stumptown Annex, leads a coffee-tasting event with information about Guatemalan, Kenyan and Ethiopian coffees.

Top: Mako Yamasaki ventures out to Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach on Saturday.

Bottom: Mayu Yamada helps a student wear a yukata on Tuesday’s festival.

by Laura Knudson The Advocate

Japanese students from Ryukoku University co-hosted a Japanese cultural celebration with the MHCC Japanese club on Tuesday, one of many memories they are creating while living in the U.S. Japanese culture was shared at the event through music, steamed pork buns and mochi ice cream, origami, brush painting, flower arranging and traditional dress.

Club member Ashley Dunhardt said the festival would not have been as successful without the Ryukoku students, who have been on campus the last three weeks learning English and experiencing American life.

Yoko Sato, MHCC Japanese instructor, said, “Ryukoku University and MHCC started their relationship in 1996 when Mitch Terhune (then a Gresham resident and now an English professor at Ryukoku University) brought 12 students to MHCC from Ryukoku University.”

The program existed until September 11, 2001 when Sato said, “Many Japanese people became wary of travelling to USA.” The program was revived in the winter of 2007 by Sato and Terhune.

Since the beginning of the program a total of 83 students have been hosted at MHCC in six years.

Sato said, “For every program, host families are recruited. Many of those families are MHCC staff or faculty who I feel are very responsible and safe to depend on.”

Japanese club members take an active role in the exchange program. “Many of the students in our Japanese classes are involved in welcoming the guest students by attending part of the EFL classes to be conversation partners, by coordinating after-school activities and by being helpers for the whole program,” said Sato.

In class students are introduced to cultural topics, which they discuss in English with an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) helper students. The students compare cultures while practicing English and gain insights to American lifestyles.

Family systems have been a recent topic. Dunhardt said most Japanese families are either nuclear or single fami-

Mt. Hood Community College

lies in contrast to our nuclear, blended, single or same sex families. She added, “Ryukoku students were shocked about same sex families and how large blended families can become.”

Dunhardt said they also compared the age students wished to get married and start a family. “The female students were aiming for about their thirties and about two to three children. They also wished to work. This surprised me because I thought Japanese women stuck to the nuclear tradition of being a stay at home mom,” said Dunhardt.

The Ryukoku student’s time spent in the U.S. has also gone far beyond learning English. The students have been busy with off campus activities and field trips.

Corie Mallen, Japanese club president, has coordinated most of the field trips the students have gone on. She said they

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“Japan”

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State Senator and MHCC District board member Rod Monroe helped secure $800,000 for MHCC this week to be used for capital expenditures.

The Oregon Legislature adjourned its regular session at 8:48 p.m. Monday. At the meeting, Monroe helped secure MHCC’s portion of the $9.6 million set aside for community college capital expenditures.

The Legislature also maintained the current levels of grant money for students at MHCC. The capital expenditure money will be used for building projects on campus, such as new classrooms. This money cannot be used for hiring new staff or offsetting the college deficit.

In addition, the Legislature also approved Head Start money, which Monroe said will be used in correlation with the childhood center.

“Actually, Mt. Hood ended up doing pretty well out of the session, given the economic circumstances,” said Monroe on Wednesday, adding that other state community colleges will be in the same boat as MHCC. However, the overall community college funding from the state decreased by 3.5 percent.

“The 3.5 percent cut to community college funding was a result of a decision we made back in (2011) when we basically withheld a certain portion of the approximately $420 million that was supposed to go to community colleges. We just kind of set it aside and said (the community colleges) will get that in February if the economy doesn’t continue to decline, if the revenue for the state didn’t continue to decline,” said Monroe, adding that the state revenue did decline by several million dollars.

Monroe also said the state FTE-based funding of community colleges is being discussed in Salem. The discussion includes how to better fund expensive programs, such as nursing, instead of funding all programs the same regardless of actual program costs and their effectiveness in helping students get jobs.

In April, the president and his cabinet will make recommendations on how to address program costs. A meeting will follow in late April in which the board will review the recommendations and look at filling a “several hundred thousand” dollar hole in the budget, possibly looking at cuts in programs or a tuition raise to balance the budget, according to Monroe.

Monroe said he always tries to hold tuition increases at a minimum, but that with the state funding being cut, they may have to raise tuition “a bit” in order to maintain the current programs.

Gresham, Oregon

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March 9, 2012

Editorial

Being a bilingual individual will benefit students in career and personal life

This week was national foreign Fortunately, we have several options language week, and to celebrate for students to learn a foreign language that fact the Japanese club hosted an at MHCC. MHCC course offerings inevent educating students and staff clude Spanish, Japanese, German, French about Japanese culture. and Italian. And the best way to learn a We at The Advocate encourage atlanguage is to immerse yourself in the tendance in cultural events and see a culture of the language. MHCC also ofvalue in learning foreign languages. fers study abroad trips in Italy, Mexico Students, and this goes for pretty and Japan. much anyone, are going to succeed Students would be greatly benefitted if they are fluent in the languages by taking one of these trips, they would that are a part of their community. not only walk away from it knowing a Though English is the most comforeign language and having the oppormonly spoken language in the tunity to speak with locals of the country United States many residents don’t but they would also have a better underspeak English. Knowing a second standing of the culture of that particular Photo by Logan Scott/The Advocate language, such as Spanish which is Students partake in an exibition of Yukata, summer cotton kimono attire on Tuesday in the College country and be able to bring that knowlwidely spoken in the United States, Center for an event about Japanese culture, in celebration of National Foreign lanuage week. edge home to the U.S. will benefit students not only in their It would also benefit U.S. residents who desired career path but may also make them better candidates for jobs. do not already speak English to learn English, as it is widely spoken in Employers see language experience as a good asset. the U.S. and will make life in the U.S. easier and perhaps more enjoyable.

Knowing a second language will also benefit individuals because they The idea here is that being bilingual goes both ways, benefitting both will know how to better communicate with people who do not speak people who were born in the U.S. and grew up speaking English and English. These communication skills make for more well-rounded indi- people who were born outside of the U.S. and grew up speaking the lanviduals. guage of that country.

Students leaving high school may or may not be bilingual, as only a We feel that if students were to take advantage of the events on camyear or two is recommended for graduation and although some will take pus to learn about culture as well as taking advantage of the language more than the required amount, it would benefit young people to learn classes offered and even participating in available study abroad proa language while in high school, already putting them farther ahead of grams, students will find that language barriers will begin to disappear many adults who do not know a second language. and opportunities for new relationships and career paths may emerge.

The benefits of creating a diversity resource center at MHCC

by Katherine Lindquist ASG chief of staff

Creating a Diversity Resource Center (DRC) at MHCC has been a reoccurring topic, particularly for students in the last 2-3 years. In the summer of 2010, Amira Caluya, a former MHCC student, started advocating for a DRC. In the fall of 2010 she recruited multiple groups and stakeholders on campus to provide input. They discussed the goals, vision, and mission for a DRC. Broad input suggested that the Lake Room was the best option to propose. In the spring of 2011, students from many groups collaborated to draft a proposal for a DRC. The draft proposal was then shared with many groups on campus including students, staff, and administration to provide input, which was incorporated into revised drafts. This input included ideas related to the DRC mission, possible locations, budget and other considerations.

This proposal and idea of a DRC was created by this large group of students and was adopted by Associated Student Government President Jackie Altamirano and ASG Vice President Erika Molina during their campaign last spring. The proposal for a DRC is now in its eighth draft. President Altamirano, Vice President Molina and ASG Director of Diversity William Miller are working in conjunction with many student and staff groups preparing for the next step in the approval process.

The mission statement included in the current draft proposal for a DRC is: “The Diversity Resource Center seeks to establish a vibrant community space on campus devoted to encouraging fellowship, nurturing ideas, sharing resources and above all promoting diversity and providing collaborative cultural, educational and social experiences, through the institutionalization of a needed space and the events and student support that it generates.” This gives you an idea of what this center would be used for

and its potential benefits.

Different funding ideas for a DRC in the Lake Room were discussed in this year’s finance council because of the extra funding after all the programs’ initial budget requests were met. After a lot of discussion, ASG maintained that the college should contribute to the development of a DRC because of the benefits the college would receive from having such a center.

The budget that the student finance council passed last week included $30,000 for upgrades to the Lake Room, including a major makeover with new furnishings, paint, carpet, window treatment, etc. This also includes installation of modern technology such as a projection system, smart board, and portable, secured computing stations for students. Another portion of the $30,000 is to go to hiring presenters, trainers, consultants and perhaps other campus visitors next year to help promote diversity and greater cultural competence for the institution as a whole. ASG is committed to moving forward with better and more impactful diversity programming that serves what the students have identified as a major need of our college community. A key point of this improvement is that ASG is committed to keeping the Lake Room as a space that would still serve multiple groups and purposes.

For purpose of clarity, there is no DRC currently on our campus. Rather, there is a proposal being developed by the MHCC student leadership to create this college service, which will be going through the established approval process including being presented to the college’s executive leadership. Students hope that through an open, collaborative process, the college community will soon see these efforts come to fruition. ASG is committed to serving the needs of students and welcomes any input on what you would like to see in a DRC or on campus in general. The ASG office is located in the College Center.

Corrections and Clarifications In an article titled “Finance council approves co-curricular budget, helps fund center” that appeared in the March 2 issue of The Advocate, the Associated Student Government vice president’s first name was misspelled and her last name was presented incorrectly. Her name is Erika Molina. In the same article, the budget process was incorrectly stated. The order in which the budget will be considered after student forums is ASG Executive Cabinet first, then on to the student senate.

The Advocate would also like to clarify, as indicated in the story, that an MHCC diversity resource center is at this point only a proposal, and must still go through a

multi-stage approval process before becoming a reality. Based on a front-page teaser headline and the story headline on page 3, some readers may have believed the center had won final approval.

In the article “Assault prompts safety warning,” also on March 2, an incorrect telephone number was listed for students to use for a “Safe Walk Escort” to their vehicle or bus stop. The correct number for a non-emergency safe walk escort is 503-491-7310. The number listed in the story, 503-491-7911, is the number for emergencies on campus.

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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.

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March 9, 2012

Financial aid and DARS to advise students to choose degree courses

by Leah Emura The Advocate

One tool MHCC uses to help students meet their graduation requirements and guide them in course selection is DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System).

DARS is used to track students’ progress toward meeting specific requirements, show taken courses, courses completed, and show how many more courses are needed to graduate.

“Run DARS reports frequently so you have an educational plan. College is like any other major project you will do — you need to organize and have a plan,” according to David Minger, vice president of student success and enrollment management.

Financial aid should only cover courses required for graduation for a student’s program of choice, as reflected in DARS, said Minger. Yet, the enforcement of having students select courses only in DARS has been lacking, he said. Both Minger and Peggy Maas, director of admissions, registration and records, said this should push students and staff to work together more to ensure that courses being selected count toward graduation.

According to Luis Juarez, who works in Financial Aid (FA), if MHCC decides to establish a policy that enforces FA to cover only required courses with no exceptions,

they will make sure students are informed.

For now, “always check and double check with someone [an adviser] that you’re making the correct course selections” said Juarez.

Minger also mentioned that since the DARS software was implemented, it has made a significant difference on MHCC student graduation rates. “Before DARS was brought to MHCC, staff had to manually compare student transcripts and the degree or certificate requirements in college catalogs,” said Minger. “That took countless hours of staff time,” he said.

In addition to saving staff time, DARS is beneficial for students because they can receive information faster, make wiser course selections and graduate on time, said Minger.

Although DARS is a “fine product, proven and (has) developed over many years,” said Minger, DARS is expanding to a java-based application that includes new features. “Moving to that has some cost,” he continued.

No changes to DARS will occur any time soon, according to Minger, as long as MHCC sticks to its strategy of maximizing the automation of routine work. He said, “While technology costs money, it is cheaper than alternatives...(with technology) human time is freed up to help our students more.”

In addition to using DARS, Minger said there are four

News Briefs

ways to increase students’ chances of success.

• Send transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended to MHCC’s Admissions, Records & Registration Office. “That may cut the number of courses a student needs to do here and save time and money,” Minger said.

•Work with an advisor. “It is not just about picking a major or what classes to take. It includes taking the steps to make sure you are prepared. It includes learning about your dreams and goals and developing a plan to get there,” Minger said.

• Use AgileGrad for course schedule planning. AgileGrad is software that helps students by creating a schedule depending on when they want to take courses. “That saves students a lot of hunting,” Minger said, referring to creating a class schedule manually.

• “Make sure to graduate. Don’t leave just short of finishing; community college credentials do matter. Students should do everything they can to help themselves succeed in completing their training and educational goals at MHCC,” Minger said.

For students who want more information about DARS, go to www.mhcc.edu/graduation/. Or go to the Admissions, Registration & Records Office and pick up a DARS card with instructions for accessing DARS.

ASG to hold forum about proposed diversity center today The Associated Student Government will be facilitating the first student forum for the 2012-13 student fee budget today in the College Center lounge, from 10-11 a.m.

The forum will discuss the details of the 201213 student fee budget allocations, which includes a sum of over $1,000,000.

Last Monday the student finance council approved all budgets and approved funding for both the proposed Diversity Resource Center, $30,000, and the emergency transportation fund, $4,000.

Forensics takes second in regionals

The MHCC Forensics team placed second overall at the 2012 Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) Regional Championships this past weekend.

“The team finished second overall to a very large Boise State team but also walked away with the top spot in the Community College Sweepstakes race, defeating the College of Southern Idaho,” said Shannon Valdivia, MHCC forensics coach, in an e-mail sent to all staff Monday.

Five members of forensics — Ryan Rhoades, Kevin Craig, Stephanie Saracco, Danner Marshall and Rob Sepich — represented MHCC in the regional championship hosted by Spokane Falls Community College.

MTV’s three-time Emmy Award-winning series The team finished with three first-place winners and three “MADE” will have an open audition Monday from second-place winners in the individual debate events.

The same students will represent MHCC Martch 15- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lake Room of the College 18 at the PKD National Comprehensive Championships at Center.

The sign-up sheet and the informational packet Longview Community College in Overland Park, Kan. are located at the College Center front desk. Student Events and Center Coordinator Meadow McWhorter said students are encouraged to sign-up The Associated Student Government is hosting a “Tobacand pick up the packet before Monday. co Use On Campus Survey” online.

In an e-mail to McWhorter, MTV’s casting asThe survey is made up of nine questions that cover desigsociate Ryan McRae said, “The economy has been nated smoking areas and smoking fines. especially hard on recent college graduates, and “(The survey is) just to gather student input and get a many students must wonder what their future solid student opinion,” said Nathan Harris, ASG’s Director holds. MADE is now here to help!” of Finance. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.

In addition, McRae said, “We will ask students: com/s/S2T7FWK

Students who attend the forum can provide their own input and opinion about the details, which will be considered.

After the forums, the budget will be sent to the ASG Executive Cabinet, then to the student senate.

If approved, it will then be sent to the President’s Executive Cabinet and then to the district board for final approval.

The second student forum will be held on March 13, from 3-4 p.m. at the same location.

MTV comes to Lake Room Monday to hold auditions for new ‘MADE’

Smoking surveys now available online

‘If you could have any opportunity what would it be?’ Maybe they want to start a business. Perhaps they seek true love. Or do they simply want to figure out what they want to do in life? We want to hear about the goals that they think might be unattainable and help them find their paths in this uncertain world.”

The casting process involves a couple of producers who will come to MHCC campus and interview students with a small camera. Then, according to the flyer, if they are interested in a student, they will contact the student, their families, and the school before moving forward with their process.

“I hope we get to see a Mt. Hood Saint MADE! Best of Luck” said McWhorter in an email.

MHCC student arrested and charged for campus assault An MHCC student has been charged with attempted sexual assault following a Feb. 28 attack on a female student who was walking just east of the main Academic Center.

MHCC student Carlos Hernandez was arrested Monday at 2:30 p.m. and charged with one count of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree and one count of harassment, according to Gresham Police Detective Scott Hogan.

The assault occurred while the victim was walking on the lane that runs east of the Academic Center near AC1451 and was reported around 6:20 p.m., MHCC officials said.

“Hernandez had been identified as a possible suspect based on a description the victim provided to campus security officers,” Hogan

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said. “Hernandez is lodged at Multnomah County Jail,” he said.

Hernandez is being held with two unrelated warrants out of Washington, Hogan said Thursday, which will give investigators time to collect more evidence to present to the grand jury who will then proceed with the formal charges.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Hogan at 503-618- 3141.

Students and staff are reminded of basic safety tips, including to be aware of surroundings, report any suspicious behavior or encounters right away to Public Safety, and to call Public Safety at 503491-7310 for a “Safe Walk Escort” to your vehicle or the bus stop.

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March 9, 2012

On Campus

Faded: Girls + Binge Drinking Your weekly reason to stand up and hit the streets

Marc h 12 Ground Kontrol and the Hollywood Theatre are teaming up for a dual event at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Hollywood Theatre, 4144 NE Sandy Blvd. The event starts with a Tetris competition, where the best players will advance to the finals, before the local premiere screening of “Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Master,” a documentary about the best Tetris players in the world as they prepare for the Classic Tetris World Championship. The event closes with the finals of the Tetris battle on the big screen. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Marc h 13 Auditions for the MHCC spring productions of “The Glass Menagerie” and “The Underpants” will be held in the Studio Theater at 3 p.m. See story on page 5 for more information.

Photo contributed by Janet McIntyre

Holley Doepke, shown here competing with the Rose City Rollers roller derby group, is among four young women profiled in Janet McIntyre’s newest documentary, “Faded: Girls + Binge Drinking.” Doepke’s binge drinking lost her a job, housing and the respect of loved ones before she decided to quit.

Marc h 13 & 14

MHCC Student Activities Board presents “Soothe Your Stress Away” in the Jazz Cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event features free massages, video game play, music, prizes, snacks and students can design their own tiedye t-shirt.

Marc h 14 Celebrate 3.14159265 . . . with Pi Day presented by the Vector Math Club from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Vista Dining Center. The club will be giving away iPod touches and iTunes giftcards to people who receive apple pies. You have to answer a simple math equation to win your pie.

Marc h 16 The MHCC Mad Scientists Club presents “Physics: Down with Gravity” from 3 to 6 p.m. in Room 2515. The club meets every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 2556. For more information, e-mail MHCCmadscientists@ gmail.com. .

The documentry by an MHCC dean will premiere March 15

by Kylie Rogers The Advocate

“Faded: Girls + Binge Drinking” was spurred on by statistics found by Janet McIntyre, filmmaker and MHCC dean of Integrated Media, Performing and Visual Arts, and led her on a fiveyear venture with what was meant to be a nine-month project.

The 60-minute documentary will premiere at 7 p.m. March 15 at the Whitsell Auditorium in the Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. While the premiere is next week, the film has been screened for audiences before, showing last November at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival.

“It was a good showing,” McIntyre said. “However, I couldn’t control the time and dates. I really wanted to have a screening that would celebrate all the people that helped make this possible and also be able to do a bit of a reception and coming out.”

McIntyre has also gotten involved with the local chapter of the national organization Girls Inc., a group that helps girls make healthy decisions involving substance abuse, to help with distribution of the film.

“They’re very interested in working with me at getting this message out and using the film to help get this message out,” said McIntyre.

There will be a Q&A session after the premiere Thursday and Girls Inc., will be represented.

“This isn’t a film about alcoholism, cause that’s another whole huge topic even though it’s touched a whole lot of lives,” including girls who were not involved in the film, said McIntyre.

McIntyre wanted people to realize that the stereotype of girls who drink is far from the truth: girls don’t drink because they are a tomboy or because they don’t care about themselves or their future. She also wanted the audience “to look at the societal pressures, the peer pressures that girls are experiencing and try to understand,” she said about her the film.

“My goal was not to preach or deliver answers, to offer some answers, but really allow the viewer to reach their own conclusions through following the stories of the girls and trying to speak to them on a more emotional level through their characters,” she said.

“I was very happy to see some people crying (at the screening). It’s kind of a goal in all my films is to make sure somebody cries. I love it,” McIntyre said, followed by a laugh.

This week, McIntyre heard that her film was receiving national exposure from Nightline, a late-night ABC television show.

Nightline wants to use the film in an upcoming spring break piece and fly Holley, one of four girls featured in the documentary, to New York as part of it, McIntyre said.

“I never really believe it until I see it, but (Nightline) said they’re going to be there and shoot some of the footage of the premiere and fly Holley to New York and do a ‘where is she now’ interview if Holley doesn’t freak out too much about it,” McIntyre said while knocking on her wooden desk.

McIntyre said she is excited about the exposure but is worried about the girls in her film or herself “being taken advantage of.”

“It’s exciting to think about national coverage on that level.

I mean, it’s five million viewers. That’s not going to hurt . . . as long as I get credit, which is always a question. I’m protective about the girls and how they’re portrayed,” said McIntyre.

She said she wants to be sure she is involved enough so that Holley isn’t commercialized and can maintain her integrity.

“To me, she was the bravest of the four, and the most honest.

So to have her taken advantage of would be really horrible. She’s a tough cookie,” McIntyre said.

Tickets are still available, according to McIntyre, and can be bought in advance through www.nwfilm.org and cost $9 for adults and $8 for students with I.D. For more information about the documentary or to purchase it, go to: www.fadedthemovie.com.

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March 9, 2012

On Campus

Choir to use ‘choralography’ during concert The Advocate

An “extremely entertaining performance” is what potential attendees of the end of term choir concerts should expect, said choir instructor Solveig Nyberg.

The free end of term concert is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the studio theater and will feature a variety of pieces in the musical theatre style, including works from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Nyberg said the end of term concerts also serve as the academic final for not only the choir groups, but for other music classes as well.

“This particular performance is different than a normal choir concert. Usually in the end of term choir concert you’ll have soprano, alto, tenor and bass singing in harmony and singing as a group,” said Nyberg of the concert.

“This particular concert is musical theater based. So we have got numbers that both choirs are singing together, we have some numbers where just symphonic (are singing), numbers where just the chambers are singing and a whole bunch of small ensembles,” she said.

Solveig also said that for the first time, the chamber and symphonic choirs will be performing separately from the orchestra.

“This is the first time that the choirs have got their own concert. Mainly because there’s so much music that we needed our own night,” said Solveig.

Though the songs will be in the music theater style, Solveig said that not all the songs will be of the “broadway” variety.

“Some of the songs on the show and a couple of solos are from a TV show called ‘Evening Primrose.’ It was about a man who wanted to escape the world so he decides to hide out in a department store and finds out there’s a whole civilization living in the department store.”

“This is the first time that the choirs have got their own concert.”

-Solveig Nyberg Choir instructor Solveig said that anyone who attends the concert will be in for a new treat, as this year the choir will be incorporating “choralography,” an offshoot of the word choreography.

“We’re not just standing and singing in this concert, there’s a lot of movement,” she said.

Solveig encourages all to attend the concert, not only for the students’ sake, but for their own pleasure.

“I would love to see the studio theater packed at end of term concerts,” she said.

“When you perform, you want to have somebody to perform to and that reaction, there’s nothing like that, that performer audience interaction,” she said. “Especially with musical theater, because there’s going to be tons of humorous spots, so you’re going to have an audience laughing, you’re going to have tender spots. It’s going to really run the gambit of emotions.”

The MHCC music program is also co-hosting a concert tonight with the student orchestra club, Collegium Musicum, featuring virtuoso violinist Joseph Gold. The free event is at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church on 507 West Powell Blvd. in Gresham.

MHCC will also be host the Northwest Orchestra Festival tonight and tomorrow, which is an annual competition of 1,500-2000 musicians from about 70 high schools across Oregon and Washington.

Off Campus Review

‘Friends with Kids’ explores the joys of parenting The Advocate

Upon hearing the title “Friends With Kids”— an R-rated comedy released in theaters today — I immediately thought of all of my friends in their early thirties who I used to see on a weekly basis until they seemingly vanished after becoming parents.

Although the movie does capture this characteristic of parenting, it actually focuses on a concept that some may find controversial: two people who are friends, but not lovers, having a child together so they can experience the joys of parenthood without the perceived pains of a monogamous relationship.

The film starts with a cell phone ringing, and the clock reveals it is very early in the morning. Jason Fryman (Adam Scott of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”) answers the call from Julie Keller (Jennifer Westfeldt, who also wrote and directed the film) asking him a joking question regarding ways he would prefer to die. Fryman’s response and the ensuing conversation immediately gives the audience the idea that Fryman and Keller are the best of friends and sets a comedic tone that is prevalent throughout the film.

Fryman and Keller make clear their parenting beliefs right from the onset: everyone is doing it wrong. Their mutual friends are two married couples, Alex (Chris O’Dowd) with Leslie (Maya Rudolph) and Ben (Jon Hamm) with Missy (Kristen Wiig), who have had tremendous problems keeping their lives together since they had children. Using their friends and the general American population as examples, Fryman and Keller determine that their concept of child rearing while in a polyamorous relationship is superior to

by Kayla Tatum The Advocate

by John Tkebuchava

by David Gambill

Auditions to be held for spring plays

the standard, monogamous relationships most couples in America culture choose.

Their concept skips the fighting and the inevitable divorce and goes straight to a shared custody system. With Fryman being a sex addict, Keller’s biological clock ticking and both of them wanting kids, the decision to conceive was not difficult.

What is scary about this concept is that many Americans growing up in families torn apart by divorce relate to this situation and many viewers might see this system as a real solution to their problems. If Americans accept this concept as normal, then the institution of marriage and raising children as a loving couple could be at risk.

The experiment starts well when the pseudo-couple has a healthy baby boy.

When their friends show up to a party to meet the baby, they are amazed to find a clean apartment, a happy mom and dad and an array of hors d’oeuvres that no new parent could possibly have had time to make.

Before long, Fryman meets a woman he falls for, a well-endowed dancer named Mary Jane (Megan Fox), who can do things in the bedroom he’s only dreamed of. When he tells Keller about his good fortune, she becomes jealous and the experiment begins to unravel. Suddenly, Keller doesn’t feel comfortable sharing her feelings with Fryman anymore.

This revelation showcased one of the surprising morals in the story, that honesty is critical in communication between any couple. When all the relationships in the film are pleasing and the characters are happiest is when everyone is being honest with each other. This “honesty is the best policy” theme was refreshing.

While the movie is steeped with laughs, there are many annoyances. Cell

phones ring on more than one occasion, which is irritating. I nearly yelled, “Hey, turn off your phone,” but luckily realized it was coming from the movie.

My largest disagreement with the movie came from an idea of how parents should act with their children in public. In an early scene, the friends are gathered at a fancy restaurant where a couple seated behind Fryman and Keller has brought their clearly annoying children and Fryman complains to his group. Later in the movie, a similar situation happens while Fryman is on a date. This time though, Fryman begins to talk with the couple and has learned to sympathize with their situation. This is a terrible message to be sending to an audience. Restaurants are not playgrounds and parents should teach their children how to behave at home before exposing them to adult situations.

Responsible parents find a babysitter if their children aren’t disciplined enough to sit still at a diner table. Believe me, no one really wants to be on a date and have mashed potatoes fly onto their clothes from another table.

The movie certainly is focused on the American ideology that parenting is an academy run by one or two people and it isn’t until nearly the end of the movie that even a glimpse of utilizing your extended family to give parents a break to live their lives is shown.

I would give this movie a B-. After looking past all of the annoyances, the script was well written and at times felt like it could be translated to a modern stage play. There is some nudity and most of the humor is adult. Seeing this movie would be a fun way to start a weekend with friends or for taking someone on a date you would want to talk about having kids with.

Auditions for the plays “The Glass Menagerie” and “The Underpants” will be held in the Studio Theater on Tuesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone is welcome to audition.

The plays will be “directed by students who have taken the directing class,” said Valory Lawrence, part-time theater instructor.

“The Glass Menagerie” is a play by Tennessee Williams.

MHCC student Terrence Brasch is the assistant director for “The Underpants.” Brasch said he recently became interested in theater because he wants to get into comedy and wanted to work on his stage presence.

“I really wanted to do ‘The Underpants’ because it really fits my style,” Brasch said. “(As a director) we get an idea of how we want to envision the play and your job as a director is to help the viewers envision the play,” he said.

MHCC second-year student Zhanell Magee is the set designer for the play “The Underpants” and “The Glass Menagerie.” Magee has been doing theater since she was in eighth grade and said, “My cousin was going to David Douglas and she needed my help and I fell in love with it (theater).”

This spring will be Magee’s first time designing a set for a student-directed play at MHCC. The set design for “The Glass Menagerie” is in progress.

“Right now we are running out my ideas. Once we get onto the next term we will start designing,” said Magee.

Magee said she is enjoying the process of creating set design ideas for “The Glass Menagerie.” “It’s a creative ability to do whatever you want on the set.”

Lawrence said last year’s studentdirected plays were “very successful and were close to selling out. It’s unique to Mt. Hood and it’s an amazing program.”

At the auditions, there will be scripts given for people to read. However, students who are cast have to take a corresponding theater class.

Callbacks for the auditions will be Thursday. Rehearsals for the plays will be Sunday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Lawrence at lawrencv@mhcc.edu.

Art Brief “ComedySportz” will be performed this month as one of the events planned from the MHCC Theater Department.

MHCC’s ComedySportz show will be performed in the Studio Theater March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.

Jennifer Hunter, part-time theater instructor, said tickets sell fast and she encouraged people to purchase their tickets early.

ComedySportz is an interactive “improv” comedy show with two teams, “similar to the show ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’”said Hunter.

“In the fall we had auditions for the team. This will be our third show,” she said. The ComedySportz have been successful selling out their last two shows in December and January.

6 sports

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March 9, 2012

“It was about leaving it all out there. All or nothing.”

Spencer Clayton Southern Region MVP

Saints men’s basketball takes fifth place NWAACC honors

by Chanel Hill The Advocate

Although they were standing on an unfamiliar court Tuesday, the MHCC men’s basketball team couldn’t have felt like anywhere but home. Each player, looking to the left or right, shared a smile and friendly embrace with a teammate or coach. All recognizing the bittersweet end marked by the buzzer that ended their season but shared a family bond built over the past five months.

After a season of consistent highs mixed with one or two lows, the Saints finished fifth at the 2012 NWAACC Basketball Championship over the weekend in Kennewick, Wash. From the start, the Saints, who accomplished a major goal of winning the Southern Region championship title by ending 12-2 in their league, played like a team on a mission.

“I was confident in the team. We prepared all week to play a different really fast style, so I felt good going in,” said sophomore guard Robby Rivers.

The Saints won their first, third and fourth games, losing only in the second round to the Tacoma Titans. The Titans, who ultimately were crowned NWAACC champions, played for the title against the Chemeketa Storm, who the Saints edged in their last meeting in the regular season to claim the Southern Region title.

Round one pitted the Saints against the number four Northern region Shoreline Dolphins, and the Saints capitalized on both their size and defensive pressure.

Sophomore guard Curtis Papenfuss had a breakout game, posting 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench, and sophomore power forward Spencer Clayton led the Saints with 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Saints won 100-93.

The win advanced the Saints to play Tacoma, the number two seed from the West. The Titans, who just missed winning their region title and whose roster included the nation’s leading community college scorer, Mark McLaughlin, would present a different challenge for the Saints on day two.

The Titans started aggressively on offense, running the ball and jumping out to

Photo contributed by Jeff Hinds

Sophomore Curtis Papenfuss in Hood’s final game of the NWAACC Championship Tournament against the Yakima Valley Yaks.

an early 10-2 lead. The Saints rallied behind key shots by sophomore point guard Marcus Moore, who dropped two consecutive three-point shots to pull the Saints within two.

At the half, the Saints were down nine, but true to form, came out hard after the break on both sides of the ball. But following a series of calls against the Saints

and the Titans converting for 25 points off turnovers, the Saints weren’t able to close the gap down the stretch, falling 59-46 to the Titans.

“We couldn’t get shots to fall,” said Clayton, who was held to six points and seven rebounds against the Titans. “We fought a really hard defensive battle, but they made a few more shots. It was heart

wrenching.”

Following the Tacoma loss, the Saints displayed their resilience on day three.

They faced the inter-region Southwestern Oregon Lakers, who had upset the Northern Region Champion Whatcom Orcas 75-71 on day one. “We knew their style and there was motivation from the Tacoma game. We weren’t going to go out like that,” said Rivers.

The start displayed a change on the floor for the Saints, with Papenfuss taking the starting position of sophomore Rei Jensen. Jensen and sophomores Coletun Tarr and Bradley Seehawer sat the final two days of competition due to unspecified disciplinary action, according to head coach Geoff Gibor.

Early runs by the Saints kept the small section of Hood fans cheering for their team. At the half, the Saints were up by three and they remained out of reach from the Lakers after the break. At one point, MHCC led by 27 points behind the scoring of Papenfuss, who led all scorers with 28 points. “We weren’t going to take them lightly,” said Clayton who posted a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds against the Lakers. “Curtis came out of the shadows and willed us through that game,” added Clayton. The Saints ended with an 89-67 victory, eliminating the Lakers from the tournament.

On Tuesday, the Saints faced the number four Eastern region team, the Yakima Valley Yaks. The Saints led throughout, winning 73-60 to claim fifth place in the tournament to end their season on a high note. Clayton, who was named Southern Region MVP, and named to the NWAACC first All-Tournament team posted his third double-double of the tournament by scoring 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

For the Saints (24-8 for the season), who never boasted after wins or pointed fingers after losses, the fifth-place finish may have meant missing a goal but not a feeling.

“It wasn’t about fifth or sixth place for us,” said Clayton, “It was about us being a family on the court one last time. We have the greatest team ever. It was about leaving it all out there. All or nothing.”

Basketball more than wins for Saints

by Chanel Hill The Advocate

In what has felt like a whirlwind of a ride, I, as a die-hard basketball fan, want to give props to the Saints men’s basketball team.

It’s street talk but I can’t help but feel I have had an opportunity to glimpse into something truly rare and special. The Saints ended the regular season as league champions and went on to place fifth overall in the NWAACCs. But the wins are small in comparison to the bigger picture. Zoomed in close, this family portrait contains a Justin Bieber look-a-like, a ladies man, an extremely humble head coach and a host of tall characters.

The heart of what makes sports enjoyable is feeling you are a part of the greatness you’re watching.

In a time when pro and college athletes are treated as gods, it is rare to find the occasional few with both feet planted firmly on the ground, especially during times of success.

This season I watched each basketball game with nervous anticipation, and found myself holding back overt applause, smiles and comments under the guidelines of journalistic objectivity. But I will say it now: this season’s team had a chemistry and bond that isn’t easy to come by.

“Line up tallest to shortest,” said coach Gibor at a practice earlier in the season. “You mean tallest to Marcus (Moore),” shouted a Saints team member laughing alongside his teammates. My first instinct was to think offense had been taken, or an ego scorned. Moore just laughed; that’s when I felt the first of what would be many big grins spread across my face in observing this team.

They banded together in defeat and they remained unusually humble in times of success (like the eight-game win streak, a Southern Region title, and a coach of the year award). They did it because they loved it. All of it, the nicknames, the chance to rep their HOOD, and for one last season to play ball with family. Maybe some will go on to play elsewhere, maybe even at the pro level. My guess is it won’t quite be the same, because no matter where they go, they will always carry HOOD in their hearts.

A new possibility changes everything.

WARNERPACIFIC.EDU PORTLAND, OR

sports 7

advocate the

March 9, 2012

“Right now everyone is heavy.”

Matt Hart, head track and field coach

Throwers leads track team at ‘Icebreaker’ opener

by John Tkebuchava The Advocate

The MHCC throwers took the spotlight March 3 with seven top-five finishes at the team’s first meet of the season at the Erik Anderson Icebreaker meet in McMinnville.

Freshman Molley Scoles placed first in the women’s 200-meter dash with a time of 26.70.

Sophomore Terra Zodrow, who finished in third last year at NWAACCs, placed second in the 400-meter hurdles Saturday with a time of 1:07.80.

The women’s 4x100-meter relay team, which brought home the NWAACC title last year, seems set to be a top competitor in the event this year and placed second with a time of 50.81. The team consisted of sophomores Laura Knudson and Amy Kegler and freshmen Emily Sharp and Scoles.

Freshmen throwers Kaitlin Doyle and Tori Dixson had an impressive outing in the shot put at the Icebreaker, placing first (11.03 meters) and second (10.91 meters), respectively.

The two also placed well in the discus, with Doyle finishing third with a throw of 36.04 meters, and Dixson coming in fourth with a throw of 35.97 meters.

On the men’s side, sophomore Robert Hanke, who placed fourth at NWAACCs in the 400 meters, placed fourth in the same event at the Icebreaker, finishing in 57.42.

Jon Lawson, another freshman, threw his way into the top five in three events. He placed first in the discus (46.79 meters), fourth in the hammer throw (46.79 meters) and second in the shot put (14.28 meters).

Head track and field coach Matt Hart said, “We had some good performances. We

were about where I expected. Our women throwers did well.”

Hart said that although their marks weren’t the most impressive, relative to how other colleges are performing, they’re ahead of the game.

“Right now everyone is heavy. Everyone’s not as sharp as they could be,” he said.

“Everyone’s kind of broken down from weightlifting and from training hard. So for them to perform the way they did and to have the placing they did, it says a lot about the program and about where they’re at.”

Though numerous Saints athletes placed high at the meet, several competed at the meet unattached due to academic ineligibility.

Asked if this fact hurt the team in their performance, Hart said, “It didn’t hurt us because we’re not scoring right now. Right now it’s about individual performances.”

However, he added, “It will hurt us if they won’t get eligible. “ As for the competition, Hart said there was enough to go around.

“Clackamas (Community College) was there unattached and Clackamas has some really strong women in certain events,” Hart said.

This weekend, the track and field team will stay home to host the Saints Open which Hart said they have been busy preparing for.

“It seems like it’s going to be a smaller meet, which is okay,” said Hart.

“It will be a fun, kind of small meet and should be fairly quick. So it won’t be so much pressure on our athletes plus we’re at home,” said Hart.

“Hopefully our athletes can relax a little bit and just do what they’ve been doing in practice but under a competitive kind of environment. If they do what they’ve been doing in practice, with adrenaline and are fresh, I think they’ll surprise themselves.”

Upcoming Spring Sport Games

Softball

Baseball March 16 March 16 March 17 March 17

Treasure Valley Pierce Edmonds Wenatchee Valley

Bend, OR Bend, OR Bend, OR Bend, OR

10:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

March 10 March 11 March 17-18 March 24-25

Walla Walla CC Columbia Basin CC South Inter-Region West Inter-Region

Walla Walla, Wash.

Pasco, Wash.

Vancouver, Wash.

Centrailia, Wash.

4:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

TBA TBA

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File the FAFSA by these dates:

You must also complete all MHCC paperwork by the following deadlines:

Summer Term

As soon after Jan. 1 as possible

April 1

Fall Term

April 1 — earlier if possible

July 1

Winter Term

July 1 — earlier if possible

October 1

Spring Term

Nov. 1 — earlier if possible

February 1

TIPS:

1.

2.

3.

4.

File your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online for faster processing (fafsa.gov).

Check MyMHCC regularly for your application status and turn in required documents promptly.

If you missed deadlines, financial aid will not be available until after the start of the term.

Students are served first-come, first-served for fairness - do not ask for exceptions unless the College made a clear error in your file completion date. This will help us serve you and all students faster!

CA1581

Remember: It can take up to 12 weeks for your financial aid to be ready after you file your FAFSA!

8 news

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March 9, 2012

A look at theEarly Childhood Center Where the Early Childhood Development program and Head Start meet

Continued from page 1

by Jeff Hannig

Exchange students to head back to Japan Sunday

The Advocate

Before the $6 million Early Childhood Center (ECC) building was finished in September 2011, the program it serves had been targeted for elimination by the MHCC District board.

The former facility was a 40-year old building with walls that were crumbling and plumbing that had always ran up hill.

Head Start, a primarily federal government-funded program dedicated to helping at-risk children prepare for elementary school, had worked with MHCC prior to the overhaul, volunteered to step in and pick up the pieces.

“It was a smooth transition,” said Jean Wagner, director of Head Start and Early Start. “We already had established relationships with MHCC, but this was the first time we really had a high profile presAs a result of this new symbiotic reence on the campus.” lationship, Head Start now serves chilEven though Head Start took on dren younger than 18 months. Because of the financial responsibilities of the prothe benefi ts ECE students gain from the gram and essentially saved childcare for hands-on experience of dealing with baMHCC, Head Start had no control over bies, Head Start added the staff necessary government restrictions which ruled out to make it work. some students from being able to continue “It provides such a great opportunity,” bringing their kids to the ECC. said Wagner.

“We had some upset students; they Another plus of the new building is its made too much money, so they couldn’t central kitchen: be helped,” Waghere the food ner said. “That for the 12 other was a consequence “ That was a consequence that locations in the that couldn’t be couldn’t be helped,” East Multnomah helped. Head Start -Jean Wagner County area is has rules, so they Director, Head Start & Early Head Start prepared and (students) have to then shipped meet the poverty from. guidelines.

The “It’s one pergovernment reson’s job to pick up the food and drive it quires proof of income to determine if the around in a refrigerated truck to all the lofamily is eligible. Once approved they are cations,” said Wagner.

The funding for the eligible for two years regardless whether kitchen, Wagner said, was helped along the student receives an increase in pay. with Head Start’s $660,000 contribution.

“That’s a good thing. That’s one of our The remainder of the $6 million budgoals,” she said. Teaming up with the Earget was largely thanks to Rod Monroe, a ly Childhood Education (ECE) program state senator and MHCC board member, and hiring most of the former staff was who initiated the drive to get funding for another key step for Head Start in making a new building. the smooth transition from the old to the Over the past six months, children new building. have attended the ECC by either being During construction, Head Start was dropped off by their parents, or picked able to sit down with the Early Childhood up by one of the three buses that work for Education faculty, including Vice PresiHead Start.

For children able to attend, dent of Instruction Christie Plinski, the they enjoy a breakfast, individual activity MHCC board members, and administratime, group time and work time as part of tors to discuss the possibilities and plans the daily routine. for the new building.

After parents walk their children to “When things got cut, we decided totheir classrooms, pre-schoolers are given gether,” said Wagner. a breakfast where they sit in a familyThis process was especially helpful for style arrangement and learn to share, the ECE students, Wagner said. The stupour milk, and practice their manners, dents in the ECE program not only went brush their teeth and wash their hands as from having some of the oldest classrooms a group, and then are off to their activity to the newest, but the classroom technolcenters. ogy became the most advanced on school Activity centers can range from buildas well, said Wagner. ing block stations, arts and crafts areas, Unlike the nursing program, which dramatic theater, and reading stations, focuses on the study of people’s health “part of this time is for kids to make and how to take care of them physically, choices,” said Wagner about the activity the Early Childhood Education program centers. focuses on childhood development, and Children then gather for group time Head Start’s primarily goal is preparing where the kids and the teachers discuss at-risk children for school. things like what day it is, the weather and With that in mind, it is easier to undertypically the teacher will read a story. = stand why cameras were installed in the Wagner explained that this part of the classrooms in the ECC, so ECE students day is focused on building the children’s may observe teachers and children. social skills.

Another benefit the ECE students Outdoor time may look just like any gain from the new facility is that they other playground full of kids, but accordcan take what they learn in their college ing to Wagner each child is being watched classrooms, go right down the hall to the by their teacher and that this part of the children’s rooms, and apply it as student day is just as important as any other to the teachers. child’s development.

Japan:

Photo by Tiarnan Fortes/The Advocate

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Top to bottom: The ECC building is located at the North side of the campus; an arts and crafts station; the dramatic theater station.

“Among what looks like chaos, the teachers have a plan for every student,” said Wagner.

Before outdoor time, teachers talk with the children about what their goals are.

These goals are derived from each individual plan built by the child’s teacher and parent. Data on the child’s progress is recorded on a computer that helps each teacher track the progress of every student.

Children’s progress is monitored by their development in motor, language, cognitive, literacy, and math skills.

“What we do has grown over the past few years,” said Wagner, “Head Start has raised the bar for what is being done in order to get kids ready for school.”

MHCC students do not have to be full time in order to be eligible for partial day childcare; however, for all-day childcare, students must be enrolled in school fulltime and maintain student status, according to Wagner.

The ECE is open to the community and Head Start encourages families who are intrested in applying to contact the Head Start office at 503-491-6111.

have visited places like Café Delirium, Gresham Station and Clackamas Town Center for shopping, bowling and even the Oregon Zoo. Dawn Criscola, a Japanese club member said, “It’s been so fun. Ridiculously fun.” She said the club and EFL helpers have been introducing the Japanese students to shopping and restaurants to “Try to give them an American experience.”

Mallen said she feels the students have adjusted well and are learning a lot through “immersing themselves in each activity and field trip.”

She added that she often heard the students saying they don’t want to leave.

“That makes me feel like we are really making their time here a blast!” she said.

Japanese exchange student Yuka Kawatani expressed this saying she wants to stay in America longer.

She said that her favorite thing about America is that “everyone is very, very friendly.”

When asked about her least favorite thing about America, she said the food portions are too big.

For Dunhardt, “Exchanging customs and hobbies with the Ryukoku students has been the most enjoyable.”

“It’s interesting to see how the Japanese live. We’ve swapped music, games (such as hangman & gold fish), dinner and deserts, our daily schedules, lifestyles, and ambitions,” said Dunhardt.

Sato said, “The opportunities for new friendships that both the summer and winter programs create are tremendous. People who never met before become very interested in each other very quickly.”

Once the Ryukoku students depart for Japan, “Many of them keep in touch by e-mail, Facebook or writing letters,” said Sato.

Mallen said the experience has been rewarding and she feels “like we aren’t just teaching them but are also making life-long friendships with them.”

“I feel like this program is very enriching for the lives of those who participate in it both from America and from Japan,” she said.

“These friendships, though maybe a small thing, are a step toward increased understanding, acceptance and appreciation of the different cultures and the recognition of the universality in all humanity,” said Sato.

Dunhardt said, “It has been a real adventure and I hope our ties remain with the Ryukoku students.”

The Ryuokoku students will leave Sunday and arrive in Japan on Monday.