March 11, 2016
the
advocate Independent Student Voice of MHCC
Volume 51 Issue 21
Sex slavery: hiding in our own backyard The head of the human trafficking unit at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office sheds light on a dark problem facing the area PAGE 4
Workers’ rights or T-shirts? PAGE 2
New exhibit open now PAGE 6
Hey, wanna trade? PAGE 8
“There is cronyism, there are corrupt and crooked politicians...” - Calcagno
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2 PAGE
OPINION
advocate-online.net
Editorial
Curiosity killed the cat, a fact-check brought it back
Resources to help escape the national media’s ‘echo chamber,’ and hopefully even use for your own fact-checking So, what is Bernie’s actual stance on gun control? What really happened with Hillary’s emails? Is anything Trump says accurate? The national media grows more ambiguous and confusing by the commercial break, and as many of MHCC’s constituents are young voters participating in their first presidential election, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the hype train. Back in the day, 1949 to be exact, televised news sources were required to hold some semblance of fairness. This policy, called the Fairness Doctrine was eliminated by the FCC in 1987, and the partisan
floodgates were opened. Since then, some news source have intentionally portrayed only one side of events, to cater to a target audience who are a more stable source of eyeballs on the screen, which in turn raises ad revenue. Fast forward to now, and the system is as jumbled as ever. It’s to the point where if you want your own “fair and balanced” news source, you’re going to have to do a little digging for yourself. Alarmingly, 93 percent of Americans can’t find the tools necessary to check facts given in their media sources, according to the survey we
“The national media grows more ambiguous and confusing by the commercial break... it’s easy to get wrapped up in the hype train. ”
made up for this article. While the politics-media-spin system is harder to navigate, there actually still are good sources out there. A fine start would be The American Press Institute, which has fact-checks arranged by common political topics on its website: www. americanpressinstitute.org/training-tools/fact-checking-resource/ A resource the Advocate staff uses regularly is allsides.com, a website that compiles news sources and arranges them by bias. While it doesn’t say anything for the ultimate credibility of the articles provided, it’s always useful to know the bias
of the news source going into them. And sources from “the center” or a generally unbiased source are provided, too, arranged from left to right, the more conservative to the right, and liberal to the left. It’s also helpful that the site was originally designed for schools. Our point is that you can be receiving technically correct information, but quite possibly about a thousand tiny things that don’t represent reality and are really part of a feedback loop or “echo chamber” as it’s been referred to – but there are ways around this problem. Stick it to the man: Do your own fact-checking.
Decision time: workers’ rights or discount T-shirts Emily Wintringham the advocate
Thrifting has been “in” for a while now, which is unfortunate for many reasons. Macklemore’s reference, “Pop some tags,” isn’t too far from reality. On some hunts, you can’t take your $20 very far at all. Brandname shoes, even if they are three years used, can be priced at $25-plus. Though thrifting is seen as a combative to corporate injustice, “one man’s treasure” comes at a high price.
The question is: Are you willing to trade worker’s rights for a faded Banana Republic shirt? Are you putting some thought into what you’re achieving behind the scenes when you stack your cart? Figure this: Some workers such as at Goodwill with disabilities get paid less than $3 an hour - according to many sources such as Forbes and National Federation of the Blind. It is absolutely abhorrent for any laborer to make less than minimum wage; it stands in opposition of the very labor movement. Change.org has a petition set up to fight this, at https://www.change. org/p/goodwill-industries-international-pay-disabled-workers-a-real-wage. It’s funny – in a sad kind of way – for the head of a “nonprofit” organization to be making a six figures salary on granny’s old loafers. The above is old news, although still very much of a Problem.
What’s currently making matters even worse is the fact that online thrift stores such as Lightinthebox and ThredUp are fast becoming mainstream. This is potentially bad because where traditional thrift stores (at least) provided an avenue to employment opportunities for often-marginalized workers, these new thrift CEOs could make bank without a need to pay as many employees. Clearly, even the socialized value of thrifting is being decimated by dog-eat-dog corporatism. What’s the fix? I believe it could be the localization and privatization of thrifting. Bring it back to the good ol’ days of “tribal trade.” As if that doesn’t sound corny and hipster enough. This is where technology comes in handy, because we know we can’t simply blame technology for our problems – we can still use it to change and improve our tactics.
DO
• Facebook buy/sell • Craigslist (be smart) • Etsy • Garage Sales
DON’T • Goodwill • Consignment shops (like Buffalo Exchange) I really like the community-based Facebook buy/sell groups. You can find them in Portland, Gresham and all the surrounding towns. You can join a group, and post what you’re selling/what you need. You can comment on the posts and pri-
vate-message sellers. It’s like Craigslist, but less shady. Where you choose to shop, whether it’s thrift stores or not, solely depends on your morals. For example, according to the Salvation Army, 82 cents of every dollar goes to charity. However, others do not support the Salvation Army due to its views on marriage – Salvation Army has been noted for discrimination against LGBTQ employees. The primary goal of thrifting is to get things for cheap and to help out those less fortunate. In sum, I suggest buying from the seller as directly as possible. That eliminates the middleman from getting the majority of the cut. So many people are in need and they could probably use the cash to feed their kid, instead of shelving their old Blue-ray. The other method: keeping up on top of which businesses/nonprofits you can feel good about supporting.
the advocate Editor-in-Chief Adam Elwell
Sports Editor Clay Vitale
Associate Editor Hayden Hunter
Graphic Designers Cody Holcombe
Arts+Entertainment Editor Ivy Davis
Photo Editor Nick Pelster
News Editor Gloria Saepharn
Opinion Editor Adam Elwell
Public Relations Manager Emily Wintringham
Video Team Members Kristina Dawn
Features Editor Jon Fuccillo
Ad Manager Joseph Frantz
Video Editor Chuck Masi
Copy Editor Quincy Smith Staff Writers Nicole Kaadi Monique Mallari
Candice Sandland Beau Blunck Glenn Dyer Jordan Vawter Web Editor Matana McIntire Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst
Front cover by Nick Pelster and Gloria Saepharn
E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 www.advocate-online.net #mhccadvocate Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030
The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.
NEWS
March 11, 2016
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Evening of Jazz hosted by Mt. Hood College
Gloria Saepharn the advocate
Jazz enthusiasts gathered at a concert in the Visual Arts Theater on Wednesday evening that featured both Mt. Hood and visiting performers. MHCC’s own Jazz Ensemble began with American hard bop jazz trumpeter Michael Mossman’s rendition of Duke Ellington’s “C-Jam Blues” (“Ala Mambo!”). Mt. Hood musicians Kyle Ramirez played an alto solo and Ben Trombi soloed on his trumpet.
Directed by Dan Davey, in his first year as MHCC’s director of jazz, the students played with enthusiasm. Smiles emerged on their faces as they peered into the crowd when they paused from playing their part during arrangements. “Georgia On My Mind,” written by Hoagy Carmichael and arranged by Mark Taylor, featured T Anderson on the piano, which had a mellow tune to it. Anderson swayed back and forth as his fingers bounced on the keys in a rhythmic and lively manner, and drew applause from the crowd for his solo. Band members nodded their heads, ever so slightly, to the beat as each played their instrument. At times, one could catch a player smiling at their colleagues. The evening also featured the University of Oregon’s JazzArts Oregon Combo. “We had the opportunity to have (them) come out and play with us and have Steve Owen, their director, be a featured soloist. It was a great opportunity, it worked out really well and it was an educational experience for the students,” said Davey. Mt. Hoods’ own Ensemble played a rendition of “ ’Round Midnight” by
Cootie Williams/Thelonious Monk, arranged by former MHCC music faculty member Dave Barduhn. The soothing song caused those in the audience to sway a little in their seats as they listened closely to Jeremy Reichenbach, playing his solo on the flugelhorn. Trombi was the vocalist in “Nice ‘n’ Easy” by Lew Spence, arranged by Sammy Nestico. Trombi said his mouth tired halfway through the performance, but he continued doing his best. “I thought my vocal song went really well. I just love singing, so I thought it was really fun,” he said. He explained that he doesn’t look for the applause from the audience as he performs. “What’s really awesome to see is when I see myself growing in what I do. I think what really makes me smile is being able to play with a whole bunch of amazing musicians and seeing the individual growth of myself and seeing myself get better,” he said. The annual, end-of-term concert brought families, friends and visitors to the Gallery. Davey praised the effort of all the students at the performance, and how far they’ve gotten. Trombi returned the compliment.
“I’m really glad that Dan Davey is our jazz director. He’s not just really good at what he does, he encourages us to get better and he’s just really fun to work with,” Trombi said. There are currently 20 people in the band. “A standard jazz ‘big band’ is five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets and a rhythm section with piano, bass, guitar, drum, vibraphone,” said Davey.
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For the last hour, the JazzArts Oregon Combo played songs that they had arranged themselves. The crowd cheered as the guests played through and ended each tune, each featuring at least one solo. The night ended with Boobop, which was a lively, fast-paced ensemble that had the audience bouncing once more.
TOP LEFT: Tony Glausi playing his trumpet solo in the Visual Arts Theater. TOP RIGHT: Mt. Hood Community College Jazz Ensemble performing “Well You Needn’t” with the JazzArts. BOTTOM RIGHT: The University of Oregon’s JazzArts Oregon Combo performing “Family.” Photos by Gloria Saepharn
MHCC Board member seeks statewide improvement Hayden Hunter the advocate
MHCC Board of directors member Michael Calcagno has decided to throw his hat into the ring for the Oregon House of Representatives District 50 seat. Calcagno, who runs his own marketing and video company, will run as an independent in the May 17 primary. He hopes to Web Photo unseat the incumbent, first-term Rep. Carla Piluso, a Democrat who also serves as chair of the Gresham-Barlow School District. In an interview with the Advocate, Calcagno said he strongly believes that special interests are controlling politics and government,
something that must stop. “We need to have a legislature that represents the people and what the people need, rather than what the lobbyists and donors need,” he said. Personally and politically, Calcagno calls himself a pro-business fiscal conservative: “I believe in managing money in a way that I can see a higher return on our dollar, to support better jobs through the support of business.” He plans to run on the theme that Oregon residents need better jobs, smaller government, and stronger schools. “We need more teachers in the classrooms, we need smaller class sizes,” he said. “We need more DHS workers – so, more people, caseworkers on the streets helping out struggling families.” One pressing reason Calcagno gave for running is the job crisis Oregonians are enduring. He blames destructive anti-commerce
legislation he said he believes will destroy job opportunities, possibly affecting entire cities and towns by sending Oregon companies out of state or out of the country, and increasing poverty rates. The first-year board member is displeased with all of the “easy-fix” solutions the Oregon Legislature has been passing recently. For instance, legislators aren’t taking into consideration the repercussions of setting a $15 minimum hourly wage for all workers. He said he thinks the result is going to be more automation, as in more automated services. Businesses he talks to are already planning on just reducing the hours of their employees, he said. “I’m much more interested in policies that support minimumwage workers, in a way that actually makes sense to grow jobs, but also raise wages,” said Calcagno. Calcagno said he worries about other ripple effects emanating from
Salem. Mt. Hood is experiencing some of these firsthand, he said: Head Start officials told the MHCC board this week their organization would have a 15 percent labor cost increase that would force a staff reduction, thanks to the new wage law. He said he strongly promotes government transparency. “I sincerely believe that we have way too much corruption in the government. There is cronyism, there are corrupt and crooked politicians, there are back-room deals, and there are sweetheart deals that need to be put forth in front of the people,” he said. This could not be more clear with the past year’s scandals involving former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and his partner, Cylvia Hayes, he said. He said the political incompetency torch was passed to the new governor, Kate Brown: “When she came into office, she said that she was going to create a real
difference in government. She was going to be transparent and allow public records requests so that the news media could look into these things,” he said, adding that she failed to follow through. Calcagno summed up his platform for voters. “I am going to Salem as an independent, and I’m going to advocate really strongly for measures that will increase transparency and will also grow jobs and help schools, but at the end of the day will create a stronger, smaller, more efficient government,” he said. Calcagno also said he stands for “protecting our freedoms and our rights, as well as increasing our economy.” He said he believes “so many legislators nowadays forget the fact that they are there to serve the people, the people are not there to serve them. They are there to listen and respond to what the people need, and you don’t see that nowadays.”
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NEWS
advocate-online.net
Portland known for large sex trafficking rings Emily Wintringham the advocate
“You’re getting the PG (-rated) version of what’s going on. But it is important for everyone to know,” said Keith Bickford, head of the Human Trafficking Unit of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. Bickford spent an hour Tuesday in the Town and Gown Room to educate MHCC students and staff about the gruesome realities of sex slavery in our own backyards. The graphic stories he shared from his experience working with victims and their families are the filtered versions, but still go far beyond the dry numbers and conventional stats we usually encounter at public forums. Disclaimer: the content that follows may be disturbing and cause discomfort – especially given these accounts are all true. Bickford has worked with Multnomah County for 20 years, and has pursued trafficking cases for eight years. He’s now focused on foreign- born (victims) trafficking. He defines general human trafficking as “the power and control over someone that exploits them somehow.” In sex trafficking, also referred to as sex slavery, this is done in three key ways: Pimps (traffickers) use force, fraud, or coercion to manipulate those they prey on. Bickford said modern trafficking has grown more complicated. In the
past, beatings and inducing drug addictions were common methods of making victims submit to them, but traffickers now realize these tactics do not work as well because their “products” break down more easily. “Some of the girls I talked to were having sex with someone – someone that was paying to have sex with them – 20 to 25 times a day. “That takes its toll on a human body. I don’t care how young you are or good a shape you are – that’s not just sex, that could be beating, that could be rough sex, that could be a lot of horrible things happening to these children that they have to endure because this person (a ‘John’) is paying for it,” Bickford said. Mind games The method of victims’ “brainwashing,” as Bickford called it, makes reaching out to them that
Graphic by Nick Pelster
Just a day in the life: Adam Elwell the advocate
Photo by Chuck Masi
Jerimy Hammer, MHCC student
much more difficult. “They’re taught to look normal. They’re taught to not make eye contact. What to say if a teacher talks to them, or a counselor at school. Or, police officers,” he said. “They train these girls and boys how to behave out in public or school, in church – all of the above.” The pimps zero in on young girls and boys by appealing to their wants, or even, needs. Studies such as those by the Polaris Project show that teenagers without positive influences or strong guidance are targeted more often, and are more vulnerable. “The trafficker can say ‘yes’ to everything that a parent says ‘no’ to –that’s their ace in the hole,” Bickford said. Schools not safe Pimps target areas where they know children hang out most. This can be the shopping mall, the park and even where we tend to think they are most safe – at school. Bickford told the account of
Photo by bawso.org.uk
a recruiter who was about age 18 who knew exactly how to make his money the easiest way. The recruiter did his “homework” – he read the rules of the school handbook, knew all the school guidelines. “He said, ‘I’m having a little trouble reading. I haven’t been able to read very well for a very long time.’ So they set him up in the special education department, (him) knowing... he could stay in high school ’til he was 21 as long as he stayed in a special education program.” The recruiter even assigned one of the girls in his so-called “herd” to recruit even younger girls at a nearby middle school. Disturbing trend Bickford explained why such young girls and boys are being targeted nowadays – comparing this desire to a drug. Johns get used to having sex with a 17-year-old or a 16-year-old “and that gets boring after awhile, so you want to get a little bit of excitement,
so you want to start going a little bit younger,” he said. “So, they start paying out more money trying to find the person who has these children. I think the youngest, I believe who was in Georgia, was about 8 or 9.” Outreach is critical This is reality. This is happening in Portland. And while it is awful to hear, Bickford says we can’t hide from it. “A lot of you may ask: What can I do to help? And I know it’s hard sometimes to swallow, but it’s the outreach. It’s taking the paperwork (handouts) you have here and spreading that to other people. Share it at work, at church, at school, or wherever, you know. “The outreach is worth more than you can imagine. The more people know, the more we can combat this,” he said.
To view the full unabridged story, visit: advocate-online.net
For more information about how you can prevent sex trafficking: National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Toll-free: 1 (888) 373-7888 SMS: 244733 Text “HELP” or “INFO”
Website: traffickingresourcecenter.org
Languages: English, Spanish and 200 more Graphic by Gloria Saepharn Youth Ending Slavery (YES)
Website: youthendingslavery.org Based in Portland, Oregon
Oregonians against trafficking
humans MHCC integrated media student Jerimy Hammer talks about his Website: oregonoath.org with blindness upcoming project, creating his own record label, and living ICS (A Non-profit immigration
“It’s mostly about informing people on people who are blind and the kind of technology and the kind of barriers we have to deal with on an everyday basis,” said Mt. Hood student Jerimy Hammer on his final Integrated Media project this term. Hammer, is just like the rest of the students in the radio broadcast program, except he just can’t see, after a single-car driving accident blinded him 13 years ago. His “dream job” is to start his own record label, he said. “I would love to take people’s music, and make it nicer cleaner, neater, more professional.” He’s currently organizing interviews and compiling content for his project to be aired over KMHD2, the MHCC campus radio platform.
law firm)
use my computer; you “I love when my stuff gets can’t, but I can.” Which to play on-air,” said Hammer. is a nice perk He plans on having a friend when you also affected by blindness on air, want to whose message is, “Don’t shy get some away from us – we’re no homedifferent than you work done are; we just can’t in class, he see.” added. Of course, Photo by Nick Pelster There’s more: “Most working in such an integrated field a s people don’t understand that we can media means meeting a lot of new use phones just like you do to. We people, and for Jerimy, running can send text messages just like you into some common misconceptions do. “...Now picture messages, that’s a about vision-impaired individuals. “A lot of people are really little difficult,” Hammer said. Yes that was a joke – his sense of shocked when I’m able to use the computer… It’s just a voice-over, all humor is definitely still intact. “I crack jokes at being blind all Macs have them, it’s just a quick key to turn them on,” he said. “I can still the time. It makes it easier to deal
Call: (503) 221-1689 Website: with the immigrationcounseling.org fact” – for himself, and
Based in Portland, Oregon the people Hammer communicates with, he means. This habit is a bit off-putting at first, they might wonder if they’re supposed to laugh. To clarify, they definitely are. Hammer says navigating the Mt. Hood campus isn’t terribly hard, apart from the large open areas near the bookstore and Visual Arts Gallery. A more concerning obstacle is when he can tell that people see him, but won’t move out of the way, he said. “You think common sense would be to move (aside), right?” When he’s not working on broadcasting homework, Jerimy enjoys listening to movies, and listed “Bad Grandpa” and the Wayans Brothers’ films as some of his favorites.
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March 11, 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cosmetology students: Megan Berry and Erica Torres Ivy Davis and Quincy Smith the advocate
Megan Berry
Megan Berry is one of many students enrolled in the Cosmetology program at MHCC. Berry didn’t start off in cosmetology, however. In middle school and high school, the young artist partook in theater. “I worked for a few theater companies downtown,” she said. “Even-
tually I transferred from being on stage to being behind stage, doing the makeup.” Doing makeup for different theater companies got her interested in cosmetology. Makeup became her hobby, as she experimented with nail art. “I’d see people on TV and all the celebrities’ nail art and just got super interested in that,” said Berry. At 16, she toured a cosmetology school and knew it was what she really wanted to do. This is Berry’s second term at MHCC and she is now taking walk-in clients. “Mostly I just get manicures and haircuts,” she said, also mentioning that she’s gotten a few hair dye jobs, which are fun but not too crazy.
Her favorite part of cosmetology is “nail art, by far.” Looking at Instagram and seeing celebrities such as the Kardashians with long stiletto nails inspires her. Berry said she likes “doing a lot of negative space stuff, thinking outside the box.” She’s not a fan of the “cutesy” nail art but likes using rhinestones and studs. The young stylist is unsure whether she will peruse hair but has every intent on being a nail tech. “I want to do a lot of custom work similar to the stuff you see on ‘The Kardashians’ – I think that would be really fun.” Besides going to school at MHCC, Berry is an aerial dancer, working with silks. She also works
Zootopia explains race for kids
Ivy Davis
the advocate
3.5/5 on the pixar scale
One day I came home to my parents watching cartoons, “Dragon Riders” to be exact, and I knew “this is where I get it from.” I love children and family movies. Something I don’t brag about for good reason is that when I was 14, I vowed to watch every Barbie movie produced, and I have. So when trailers hit theaters for “Zootopia,” of course I knew I was going – with my entire family. Judy Hopps, a small rabbit from the countryside, has been told all her life she could never be a cop. This was because she was small and cops needed to be larger predator animals. Hopps proved everyone wrong and graduated top of her class. However, with 14 missing animal cases, her new chief of police still puts her on parking duty. The movie underlines a few morals, including “anyone can be whatever they want to be,” and whether someone is predator or prey, you shouldn’t treat them differently. Zootopia also captures real-life problems, using animals. When Hopps catches a bad guy, her chief threatens to take away her badge for not sticking to parking duty. After a crying otter, some yelling and screaming, and the assistant mayor showing up, Judy is given a measly 48 hours to find the otter’s husband. Unfortunately there is nothing in his case file and because she is so new to
The movie doesn’t end there, the precinct, she can’t access anythough. Of course, the problem is thing on the server. Hopps blackmails a entrepre- resolved and Hopps and Wilde beneurial, tax-evading fox into help- come friends again. Judy encourages ing her. Nick Wilde, the fox, was Nick to join her at the precinct and the last person to see Mr. Otterton. be her partner in crime fighting. Wilde takes Hopps to a nudist comAll in all, the movie is enjoyable, munity, the DMV, a limo parking teaching some good principles. Just lot, the home of a crime boss by the because someone is a certain “race” name of Mr. Big, and lastly, to one of (or physical stature) doesn’t mean Mr. Big’s limo driver’s house. they can or can’t do something. Judy Within the film there are many proves she can be a cop and Nick laughable scenes. Hopps has a family proves he can be everything opnumbering well over 250, and when posite of sly and cheating. Though she leaves the small town of mostly the film was good, little girls will rabbits you can see the population probably still watch “Frozen” over number still growing. The mayor of “Zootopia.” Zootopia is obviously a lion – being But, if I ever have children I the king of the animal kingdom and will most likely own this film for all. When first arriving at the pre- them, or for myself. I give this cinct Judy meets a very large, dough- movie a 3.5/5. nut-loving cheetah cop at the front desk. The DMV is filed with sloths and by the time Hopps and Wilde get their plate number, it’s midnight. Mr. Big himself is quite a small animal who employees polar bears as bodyguards. As the movie continues, you find out the hard time Hopps and Wilde have been through. The pair end up finding the entire group of 14 missing animals – all gone crazy. The entire city of Zootopia becomes frightened, as only predator animals are reverting Ph ot back to their natural o Fr om ways. Judy loses her new friend, W eb Wilde, along with her hopes for Nick Wilde being forced along by Judy the city, moving back home to be Hopps on their journey to find Mr. Otterton. a carrot farmer.
at a summer camp where she teaches kids to ride horses. Erica Torres
Cosmetology student Erica Torres is incredibly passionate about what she does. “Ever since I was young I’ve always wanted to do it. I think I was in sixth grade and I was, like, ‘I want to do hair when I’m older,’ ” she said. But even though she’s always had a passion for hair care,
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the program also teaches about skin care, in which she also has developed an interest. Torres said she considers cosmetology to be an art form. In her opinion, hair is a major way we express ourselves, and it is incredibly customizable. She said one of the draws to the Mt. Hood program was its instructors. “They’re so passionate about what they do. It’s such an inspiration,” she said. She dreams of opening her own hair salon in Portland, specializing in hair coloring. “I love hair color. I really love doing vibrant colors and ombres. Playing with color is one of my favorite things to do.” Photos by Nick Pelster
Former MHCC instructor shows earthenware “I failed a class that was sequential and it caused me to go an the advocate extra year,” he said. “I had plenty of time to take electives, and ceramEarthenware is pottery made ics was it.” from clay fired in a kiln to beA happy accident, indeed. come nonporous and duraAt that time, Sprague said ble. While we could just call it he was looking for an pottery, or ceramics, the alternative path. word “earthenWhen he found ware” seems to ceramics, the prohold a certain imcess from idea to agery to it. creation to finished Looking at Don product was what he Sprague’s work disfell in love with, he played in the Visual said. “It’s just being Arts Gallery, the word involved in process. I just feels right: They don’t want to say I’m may be formed, decnot interested in the orated and glazed by outcome, but I’m hand, but his work is enjoying what is unequivocally from happening.” the Earth. What is hapSprague is the pening is a long, third former Mt. Photo by Chuck Masi attentive process of great Hood art instructor to return to the Gallery to display their work artisanship. Fired in wood kilns, this month. Against a backdrop of Sprague’s earthenware can be heatpaintings and mixed-media pieces, ed as long as five days, during which his earthenware is three-dimen- it requires his constant attention. sional, drawing the eye with tiered Recently, he has been exploring larger jugs and vases, influenced by displays of three and five. Considering where he started, it his favorite work featured in the Vimight be weird to imagine ceramics sual Arts Gallery, “Jar.” His work certainly stands out being where he ended. In the mid-1960s, Sprague grad- against the white walls of the Galuated with an degree in architec- lery – and is available to any MHCC tural studies. While his studies re- student, staff or community memquired minimal art, such as drawing ber who wishes to appreciate it. The current exhibit, “Spotlight and illustration, he says now he was always more form-oriented, rather on Three Artists, runs in the Visual Arts Gallery – open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. than “painterly.” In fact, his journey into ceramics weekdays – through March 17. was an accident.
Matana McIntire
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Gods of Egypt: an historic failure
Glenn Dyer
the advocate
1.5/5 on the Eye of Ra scale
Do you remember that “Clash of The Titans” reboot from 2010? Did you ever want it to be longer, stupider, and somehow make even less sense? Then “Gods of Egypt” is the movie for you! From Alex Proyas, the “pristine” director of “I, Robot,” “The Crow,” and “Knowing,” comes his first feature in seven years. The plot revolves around the wind god, Horus, and his trusty sidekick, Aladdin, going on an epic journey to defeat the evil god, Set, and bore the audience. W e l l , the above description isn’t entirely true. The sidekick’s name is actually Bek, but his character is so similar to Aladdin that this could be considered plagiarism. To start off, this movie will in no way be pleasing to hardcore fanatics of Egyptian mythology. While the relationships between these deities are pretty sound and there are a few subtle references to other stories sprinkled around for people to find, their characterization and abilities are in many cases the polar opposites of what they should be. Set is demonized in order to make him a simple antagonist, Horus has absolutely no power over the wind, the god of wisdom, Thoth, is not wise, and all powerful god of the sun, Ra, is defeated easily. In and of itself, this is not
necessarily a bad thing. Most audiences would be put off by an incredibly faithful adaptation of the myth and, as a fictional story, the creators are fully at liberty to experiment and come up with their own unique product. The true problem of this movie lies in its execution. From the very beginning, we are thrown into an alien world with hardly a paragraph of context as strange, 10-foot tall beings begin to prattle on about the afterlife and retirement parties, before a large group of people in silly red costumes show up and cause everyone to immediately surrender. That is not an exaggeration. That is the opening scene of the movie, and the rest of the film tries desperately to follow in those shaky footsteps. In other words, neither Egyptian mythology buffs nor general audiences will find themselves enjoying the film. The sad part is, there are a few things in here that make me want to admire the
film. For o n e thing, t h e “gods” all bleed gold, so the movie is able to maintain a PG-13 rating despite a rather sizable level of violence and gore. For another,
the general style of the film is very colorful and many of the set pieces are creative, just not used well. Sadly, these good points are minimized by the abhorrent and often unnecessary use of cheap CGI in order to create all the action scenes. The satisfaction of seeing a bad guy get decapitated never feels as good when your brain can tell a computer made it. Honestly, I would normally recommend this movie based on some of the silly parts alone, but since the film is over two hours long, the novelty of it will wear off before the end. Although, if you feel you take it, I didn’t even mention half of the strange things that happened in this film, such as Thoth’s brain getting ripped out of his head and placed into Set’s head (Thoth got better).
F o r everyone else, there is not much to get out of this and I would have to recommend you skip it. Score: Bad/Sub-Moderate 1.5/5 on the Eye of Ra scale.
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KENDRICK LAMAR
untitled unmastered King Kendrick is back, all hail the King. A first look into the sudden release, trackby-track. Matana McIntire the advocate
untitled 01 | 08.19.2014. The first track is the best way to open the album. The voice of Bilal over smooth bass and drums welcomes you, reminding you of To Pimp a Butterfly (TPAB) in a way that gets you ready to enjoy ‘untitled unmastered.’ In his long verse between the intro and outro, Kendrick talks about the sins of our world. His tempo is strong and fast, with a sound reminiscent of verse three from King Kunta. The track ends on a slow-paced outro that pulls you right back to the days of listening to TPAB on repeat. untitled 02 | 06.23.2014. The breakout track of this album, untitled 02 is the one to bump. Kendrick does what we all love, playing with his voice to create different effects and tones in his music. Add in a powerful bass, and you can’t help moving your body to this track. You find yourself yelling, “Get God on the phone!” the first bar from the hook that truly makes you alive. The real magic, however, comes from verse 2 when Kendrick lowers his tone and speeds up his tempo. He almost sounds bored as he runs through his bars, yet it still gives you chills. untitled 03 | 03.28.2013. The second track is followed up by a real upbeat, jazzy song that was performed on “The Colbert Report” in December 2014. In the lyrics, Kendrick includes perspectives from different minorities. He speaks on lessons he has learned from oth-
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er cultures – Asian, Indian – and his own, that of the black man. He rounds it off with a real punch: What the white man say? A piece of mine’s That’s what the white man wanted when I rhyme Telling me that he selling me just for $10.99 untitled 04 | 08.14.2014. The fourth track is another powerful, beautiful song. Kendrick combines his voice with that of SZA to create a beautiful intro that comments on the corruption of government. It’s a short track, only running 1:49, but it’s one you’ll want to play on repeat just to get that feeling evoked from you again, and again, and again. And if you can explain the recurring lyric, “head is the answer, head is the future,” that has everyone baffled, please write in. We would like to know. untitled 05 | 09.21.2014. Another beautiful mastery of drums, bass, piano and sax. Track five brings in Anna Wise, who ushers you into the track with smooth vocals. The instrumentals continue on as they started, and Kendrick bursts out onto the track with some great bars. What makes the track great is the intertwining of Wise’s vocals, Kendrick’s rap, and the bass guitar. Also, Jay Rock makes an appearance, which can always improve something.
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Artist seeks the ‘story behind the shadows’ in her art Nicole Kaadi the advocate
MHCC’s Fireplace Gallery invites you to check out the compelling and haunting works of Carolyn Campbell’s “Story of She: Through the Looking Glass.” “Story of She” is a series of pictures exploring historical, cultural and personal social issues we often don’t want to talk about. Each picture tells a story that explores real-life experiences women have overcome with the use of dolls and a montage of images, viewed through glass that intentionally blurs the line
Photos by Nick Pelster
LEFT: Carolyn Campbell in the midst of hanging her art in the gallery. RIGHT: Close up of “sun setting on self-judging” by Carolyn Campbell.
between what is a doll and what is actually a human. The pictures have a type of “ethereal, dreamlike imagery” that range from the compelling, provocative, melancholy, haunting, to the
just plain disturbing. Campbell’s works have a way about them that catches the viewer’s eye and draws them in for a deeper look. That’s by design, she said when discussing her art style.
“When people see a picture they can say ‘Oh, that’s a picture of a flower in a vase.’ I’m not interested in that,” she said of her work. “I’m interested in, like, what’s the story behind the shadows? “Dolls and figurines have traditionally been used as talismans for the living and guardians for the dead. They offer us a mirror of who we are, who we’ve been and who we dream of becoming,” she said. Campbell is an artist, teacher, coach and social activist. She has also been a mask maker, theater director, business coach, and what she calls “a curious wanderer.”
The idea for the dolls came to her about two years ago when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she said. She began doing a photo essay using her mother’s childhood doll. As she told women about the project, they began offering their own dolls and telling their own stories. She then started “creating environments” for the dolls given to her that captured the essence of these women’s stories, she said. This caught on, and since then, she has photographed over 200 dolls from more than 10 countries around the world.
SPORTS
March 11, 2016
Track and Field off to the races
Photo by Nick Pelster
Clay Vitale
the advocate The Willamette Open on March 5 gave Mt. Hood’s track and field squad the opportunity to sharpen its tools before it hosts the Saints Open on Saturday. Head coach Doug Bowman’s men and women competitors squared off against the likes of Western Oregon University, Colorado College and the running club from the University of Oregon. Being the only school participating from the NWAC in Salem, the Saints represented their conference well.
The men’s 100 meter dash saw three freshmen Saints finish in the top ten, with Chad Figueroa placing third with a time of 11:41, followed by Joshua Turner in fourth and Lexington Reese tenth, with times of 11:43 and 12:00, respectively. Figueroa also ran 23:41 in the 200 meters, good for fifth overall. Distance runners Jonathan Zacarius, Dean Nizer and Jacob Barnett placed 14th, 18th and 20th, respectively, in the 1500 meter run, while Luke Lowe ran the 5,000 in 16:34 for a 17thplace finish. Joshua Turner took first out of four participants in the triple
jump with a distance of 13.99 meters. On the infield, Saints throwers Brian Salgado and Kobie Ham placed third and fourth with respective shot put marks of 14.06 meters and 14.02. Ham also took third place in the hammer throw with a distance of 45.99 meters, followed by Saints teammates Salgado in sixth, Alec Fappas in 10th and Joshua Spears in 11th. The women’s 100 meter dash featured three Saints all finishing within 14 one-hundredths of a second. Mikhayla Baravik ran a 14:04, immediately followed by Kayla Watkins at 14:06 and Taylor Rispler with a 14:18, good for 11th through 13th place. Rispler and Baravik finished the 100 meter hurdles in third and fourth place, with times of 19:53 and 22:60. Rispler worked the infield javelin as well, tossing a best of 37.57 meters, good for third overall. Kayla Watkins placed behind her in eighth, with a mark of 31.67 meters. Mt. Hood welcomes league rivals Clackamas, Clark, Lane, SW Oregon and Treasure Valley this Saturday in Gresham, where the Saints will be able to perform in front of friends and family.
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Saints explode out of the gate
Mt. Hood is turning it up against NWAC foes, with three shutouts, five double digit scores and mercy rule victories.
Photos by Nick Pelster
Saints softball utilizes the gymnasium at Mt. Hood when field conditions are not up to par outside. Here they hone their skills in all aspects of the game.
Mt. Hood baseball works on ‘simplifying the scenario’
Softball is 10 games into the year already, and Mt. Hood is near the top of the leaderboard, as usual. With a record of 8-2 and plenty of lopsided victories, head coach Meadow McWhorter’s squad is poised and ready to take on division rivals, come April. With split road games between the Blue Mountain Timberwolves, Walla Walla Warriors and
dominant road trip. “We played to our level in five games. I was proud that we didn’t drop to the level of our competition,” she said. Kayla Byers threw five innings of shutout ball against the Timberwolves on Friday, with the mercy rule in effect after those five. The Saints won 11-0. The second game saw Mt. Hood pour on 21 hits and score 18 times, thrashing Blue Mountain by 10. The duo of Byron and Cox held the Warriors to only four hits and had a combined
the weekend, Mt Hood cranked out 14 hits but only scored six times, the advocate a ratio that attests to the early struggles of driving runs in. Last weekend, Mt. Hood traveled The team is working on to Blue Mountain and Walla Walla aggressive at-bats, running through community colleges for a set of drills where the hitter must be double headers, continuing the rapidselective, but not defensive. They’ve fire pace of games early in the season. challenged themselves thus far, and The Saints took on the Timberwolves Donohue is grateful for of Blue Mountain seeing areas of need at (in Pendleton) this stage. “We know first, winning 2-1 how to shoot ourselves before dropping in the foot. Now we the next game, 4-3, have to learn and on Saturday. Then, adjust.” This is not only against the Warriors a game of inches, but in Washington state, of adjustments. Every they lost their next pitch thrown provides contest by the same an opportunity to alter 4-3 score, but closed the game plan, from out the weekend with a game management, to 6-3 victory. Three-hole baserunner, offense hitter Bowen Ogata had Photo by Nick Pelster to defense. And while another big weekend Head coach Bryan Donohue had his troops rallied after practice at the Saints are sitting at for Mt. Hood, going the Yoshida Event Center, where they worked on plate discipline. 9 for 14 at the dish with three runs, said head coach Bryan Donohue. 3-5 in preseason, outside-of-region three runs batted in, and a couple of LOBsters (a turn of phrase for play, Donohue has confidence in this walks. The big starting catcher has players “Left On Base”) are a team’s team’s abilities moving forward: “We hammered opposing pitching to the own worst enemy on the field, as the have full control over everything we responsibility to score rests in their need to do to improve.” tune of a .536 average in 28 at-bats. With so many close games, the own hands. In their biggest win of
Columbia Basin Hawks, the Saints took five of six last weekend, outscoring their opponents 64-9 in the victories. Their lone defeat came in the final game against the Hawks, where Sammie Byron took the circle before eventually being replaced by Kendal Cox. After demolishing Columbia Basin 12-0 earlier that day, Mt. Hood dropped the finale, 8-2. McWhorter said the team learned some quality lessons in the loss and need to find ways to get better against a pitcher like the Hawks’ Kayla Andrews, who punched out eight Saints. “Our offense didn’t respond like I hoped they would. We faced Andrews last year, and know she’s beatable,” said McWhorter. Although it was tough to head home after a loss, it shouldn’t detract from a mostly
shutout on Friday. The mercy rule again took effect after five innings and saw Mt. Hood cruise to a 13-0 win. Byers toed the rubber in the second game, striking out seven and allowing only one run. The Saints allowed Walla Walla to stay in the game a whole extra inning, with the mercy rule calling it after six this time. The Saints won 10-1. Coach McWhorter has been instilling an “I will” attitude in the team, turning hesitation into determination. They’re not concerned with statistics at this point. In fact, McWhorter prefers they don’t even look at their offensive numbers, because they’re focused on the two things they can control: effort and attitude. With fundamentals in place, there’s likely no stopping a team with this talent.
Clay Vitale
tide could have turned and provided a clean sweep for the Saints, but there were a few factors that settled the .500 road trip. They set the table well by getting on base, but the big hit to drive runners in has largely eluded them. “We alleviated pressure on our opponents by not doing anything with runners on,”
Clay Vitale
the advocate
8 PAGE
SPORTS
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