The Advocate, Issue 21, March 11, 2011

Volume 46, Issue 21

Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead on Sunday 2 a.m.

march 11, 2011

Contract meeting brings no resolution; additional mediation session set March 16

By Jordan Tichenor The Advocate Representatives of both the full-time faculty association and the MHCC administration said they are frustrated after mediated contract negotiations Thursday yielded no results.

March 16 has been left open by Robert Nightingale, the state-appointed mediator, as a possible date for more mediated bargaining, but he has not yet indicated whether he will return to mediate on that date.

The end of the 30-day cooling off period is March 24, ultimately making the first the day the board could impose a contract March 25.

This is also the first day the faculty could strike, assuming they give a 10-day notice before the cooling off period ends. The first day of spring term is March 28.

Randy Stedman, the labor relations consultant hired by the board to bargain the contract Photo by Devin Courtright/The Advocate for the administration, said Friday, “From our Students rallying for resoultion in Main Mall prior to Wednesday’s board meeting . perspective, a valuable opportunity was squaning a settlement. We got nothing. dered. It was a waste of a day.”

“Their position was that they didn’t have the authority Regarding specific issues, the faculty proposed increasing employee contribution to medical benefits to $71 for a single from the board to make any movement,” she said.

Jack Schommer, full-time faculty president, said, “They person, $104 for employee plus one, and $135 for full family. were unprepared to negotiate. I’m not even sure why they Current rates are $55, $65 and $75. showed up.”

Stedman said, “This offer was symbolic of how negotiaIn a Thursday letter to the district board, Williams said, tions have gone. The faculty take two steps back, one step “We reluctantly conclude that either your bargaining team forward, and insist they have made concessions.”

“We clearly communicated, with our explanation, that is obstructing the negotiating process or that you have not we saw this as an indicator of areas where we were able to authorized your team to reach a settlement with the facmake movement,” said Sara Williams, the faculty’s chief ne- ulty. Whichever it is, we believe that the only opportunity gotiator, Thursday. “We asked for a specific indicator from we have to avoid implementation and strike is to meet with them that they had an interest in negotiating today, in find- members of the board.”

See Contract on page 3

Women's basketball team loses scholarships

By Laura Knudson & Jon Fuccillo The Advocate The Mt. Hood Lady Saints basketball team is facing the consequences of violations enacted by former head coach Larry Davis, who used eight unofficial letters of intent this past season for his players said athletic director Kim Hyatt.

After Davis resigned, effective March 4, the Lady Saints were informed that the team will face a twoyear probation, $1,000 fine, the loss of two of eight scholarships that the team receives yearly and the inability to recruit off-campus for two years.

Hyatt said she discovered the “fake letters of intent” that Davis had left on a printer in the athletic department toward the end of July during her first week on the job.

During a phone interview Thursday night, Davis admitted to creating “fake” letters of intent and said he didn’t understand the seriousness of his actions. He also said he wanted the letters that he created to be something nice for the girls to sign and to show their family and friends back home.

“I made some on my computer,” Davis said of the letters of intent.

“Did I know that was a violation?

No. I wasn’t trying to find a loophole.

I thought it would be a nice gesture.

Thinking back on it, I should have known it wasn’t a binding contract. I still don’t see it as a recruiting violation. I wasn’t trying to get ahead.”

In terms of future prevention, Hyatt said, “We are working very hard with our staff and coaches to continue to educate them.”

Davis’ biggest concern is the timing in which the violations went public, since the information had originally come out in early August, according to his knowledge.

“Kind of odd that it’s just coming out now,” Davis said. “It’s water under the bridge. I went into a closed door meeting with Kim (Hyatt) and we talked about things. I didn’t find out about the violations until December and I told her I will resign right now if it will cost my team any games.”

Hyatt said, “We had to wait until we had all of the information and we did not hear back regarding the penalties until January and we were waiting for the NWAACC office to release the information to the public.”

Davis said, “I will pay (for the fine) out of my own pocket. It was my mistake. Kim said no and that we all make

mistakes.”

Questions were raised by other community colleges when the letters of intent were not available for Mt. Hood, “but nothing came of it,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt immediately reported the incident to Dick McClain, executive director of the NWAACC board, who along with other executive members made the final decision to impose the penalties. Among the self-report was an explanation written by Davis. The report was submitted in early Aug. “In our initial self-report, I met with our other commissioners and discussed the violation with them and put ourselves on probation and suspended recruiting for the year until we heard back from the NWAACC. The penalties were stronger than we had anticipated but only because this was something we had not gone through. The penalties are certainly within the policy and guidelines of the NWAACC Rules & Codebook,” Hyatt said.

The 2009-2010 NWAACC Codebook states under article 5 section 3H: “Only the NWAACC letter of intent form will be used. College letters of

See Davis on page 7

Forensics confident about team's chances in national tournament

By Anevay Torrez & Jen Ashenberner The Advocate After two years of preparation, the MHCC Forensics team will compete over spring break in the national debate championships with a “home court” advantage against some of their biggest college and university competition.

More than 80 college and universities and about 600 students will compete in the Pi Kappa Delta Speech Tournament March 24-26, occupying m ore than 100 competition spaces on the MHCC Gresham campus.

“My students and I have been planning this event for two years. It’s quite an undertaking,” said forensics director Shannon Valdivia. “The team is preparing at the same time to compete in this tournament - which will be the largest national competition in the country this year,” “Our team goal is to try to win the community college National Sweepstakes Title,” said Valdivia. She said her squad’s biggest competition in the Northwest are the College of Western Idaho and Clark Community College.

Of the four-year teams, Valdivia said the best that are attending are Boise State, Southwest Baptist, College of Idaho, McNeese University, and Cameron University.

She said they are all strong competitors, In addition to MHCC hosting this national championship for the first time, it is also the first time the competition has been hosted by a community college, Valdivia said in a Wednesday press release.

Valdivia said MHCC President John Sygielski “encouraged me to go for the bid to host the tournament in 2008. I think people are excited to have the honor to be the first community college to host, although there’s also nervousness as to the size — but we’ll get it done.”

See Forensics on page 3

Campus closure blamed on electrical wiring

By Jen Ashenberner The Advocate The power outage that closed MHCC’s Gresham campus Thursday was resolved by 2:30 p.m. but fears of a second outage convinced college officials to keep the campus shut down all day.

Classes held in the Industrial Technology and Visual Arts buildings were relocated for Friday after the campuswide power outage was resolved in all but those buildings, according to facilities management.

“Power was established at 2:30 this afternoon with the exception of the IT and VA building (and we are) still assessing the cause for this,” Director of Facilities Management Richard Byers said in an email Thursday evening.

Byers said the process of trying to figure out the root of the power outage could cause the campus to lose power again, which is why regardless of power being restored the campus was closed for the day.

Byers said in an email Friday the outage was caused by a, “Failed three phase wire running from the central utility plant to a transformer that provides power to the IT and VA buildings.”

The campus-wide power outage started at 6:30 a.m. and a flash alert was issued at 7:45 a.m. advising of a delayed opening until noon Thursday. It was followed by another alert issued at 10:08 a.m. stating campus would not reopen until 5 p.m., then again at 4:37 p.m. with a update that the college would be closed until 8 a.m. Friday.

2 OPINION Editors-in-Chief

Jen ashenberner & Jordan tichenor

Sports Editor Jon Fuccillo

Living Arts Editor David Gambill

Assistant Living Arts Editor Anevay Torrez

Photo Editor

Devin Courtright

Opinion Editor L. John King

Assistant News Editor John Tkebuchava

Reporters Jill-Marie Gavin Chanel Hill Riley Hinds Laura Knudson Yuca Kosugi Mike Mata Jess Peterman Kylie Rogers Shelby Schwartz Jessica Winters

Adviser

Bob Watkins

Assistant Adviser Dan Ernst

E-mail advocatt@mhcc.edu 503-491-7250 (Main) 503-491-7413 (Office) 503-591-6064 (Fax) www.advocate-online.net

Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030

Submissions 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.

THE ADVOCATE

MARCH 11, 2011

Editorial If there is a strike we all lose – especially students In the Nov. 5 issue of The Advocate, we asked “Does the administration really want to negotiate?”

Last week, an Advocate reporter asked Randy Stedman, the labor relations consultant hired by the board to bargain the contract for the administration, if the administration would be willing to return to face-to-face talks in the full-time faculty contract negotiations.

Stedman said, “I don’t know why we would return to a forum that had no progress. We don’t think there’s much chance (to settle the contract) without mediator involvement.”

The Advocate has to ask, does the administration really think there is more of a chance to settle the contract if the faculty goes on strike? We are 14 days away from the first possibility of a strike, and 17 days away from spring term. Every option possible should be explored in the next two weeks if there is even the slightest possibility of avoiding a strike.

How about the ripple effect of a strike on students who are worried about next term’s classes?

The administration says they are preparing by lining up teachers to cover classes. However, it wouldn’t be the full-time teachers with a dedicated curriculum teaching the class. It would be parttime teachers who might not be as well versed in special programs as the advisers/instructors who the programs are built around, like radio broadcasting’s J.D. Kiggins, or Susie Jones, Dave Barduhn and Marshall Tuttle of the music program.

Sounds like an obvious disruption to us.

What about changing the perception of MHCC in the community? There has never been a community college strike in Oregon. If MHCC is the first, especially during a time when community colleges are supposed to be on the rise, it can’t bode well. If this is prime-time for community colleges, what will people think when MHCC can’t even settle a contract?

People will consider the proximity of schools such as Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, neither of which are having labor disputes at the moment, and therefore have a much reduced chance of classes being interrupted in a significant way.

In an ad run last week and this week’s issue of The Advocate, the administration has stated “the decision to strike is entirely up to the faculty.”

While this is technically true, can the blame really be washed from the board’s hands? Three months were already wasted when the administration refused face-to-face talks after the original 150-day negotiation period was up, as reported in the Oct. 22 issue. The majority of the outcry from the fulltime faculty has not been “better pay” but “sit down and talk to us”?

The Advocate strongly urges the administration to return to face-to-face talks. Worst case scenario, the talks don’t go well and ultimately the faculty goes on strike anyway. Best case, an agreement is reached and a strike is avoided.

There is nothing to gain by not talking. There is everything to gain by attempting to negotiate, assuming that is the intent of both parties.

MHCC programs collaborate in philanthropic event

By Mike Mata The Advocate

Mt. Hood Community College will pay host to the first Adventure with Purpose Summit March 18 at 8:30 a.m. on the Gresham campus.

This free event is designed to help connect athletes, companies and organizations that utilize the outdoors for philanthropic adventures and athletic events. It is a cooperative venture involving the MHCC Wilderness Leadership and Experimental Education program and the program’s instructor Bryan Anaclerio, who helped bring the event to MHCC along with training coordinator Robert Weinman.

The summit will end at McMenamins-Edgefield with an assortment of short films about international and regional events as well as a screening of “Hood to Coast,” a new movie about four teams of Hood to Coast runners. Tickets prices are $10, with proceeds going to

support Team River Runner, an organization that helps military veterans and active servicemen and women.

The summit will have presentations from athletes such as Lance Trumball, founder of Everest Peace Project, and Tonia Farman, a nationally ranked kiteboarder, from Kiteboarding 4 Cancer.

There will also be charitable organizations, including Climb for Hope, Everest Peace Expeditions, Kiteboarding 4 Cancer, Climb for Breast Cancer, American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, Surfrider Foundation and Willamette Riverkeeper. Mt. Hood Meadows and Aldercreek Kayaks will also be represented.

Weinman said, “While the exact progenitor of philanthropy via the outdoors is unknown, the American Cancer Society may have been one of the first.”

“Ten years ago I lost my brother James in a mountaineering incident.

After that I decided to build bigger

purpose in my future adventures other than just diversion and personal goals,” said Weinman.

In 2007, Weinman co-founded a personal adventure called BeachwalkProject.com that traveled the East Coast by foot and kayak promoting clean water.

“While organizing BWP I discovered there were hundreds of athletes that had established similar programs in honor of a life- changing event or loss of a loved one. I also discovered that Portland was the mothership of outdoor events and adventures with purpose,” said Weinman.

“I saw the awesome work that Bryan and Kim Anaclerio were doing with the WLEE program here and wanted to connect MHCC WLEE students with this awesome network in Portland for their own future opportunities for collaboration and careers,” he added.

For more information or to register for the event, visit www.mhcc.edu/awp.

NEWS 3

MARCH 11, 2011

Frustrated students rally for a resolution regardless of rain

By John Tkebuchava The Advocate

With the possibility of a full-time faculty strike growing ever more real, MHCC students gathered in the Main Mall Wednesday to rally for a quick resolution.

The student rally, which started at 5 p.m., was made up of nine people as they marched outside the bookstore in the rain.

“I’ve been working by organizing (the student rally) on facebook and email,” said Travis Apollonius, philosophy major, who was the main organizer for Wednesday’s student rally.

Apollonius said that out of respect for teachers, he and students should rally in favor of a hastened conclusion to the extensive contract negotiations that have already taken more than a year.

Apollonius said the implications of the contracts could also affect him even further because of the career path he has chosen, “I intend to become a college teacher,” he said.

“The sign says ‘Be your dream’, but then they’re trying to shut down the students’ dreams. It’s frustrating,” he said.

Apollonius also spoke of frustrations he and other students have had when trying to make contact or to get information from board members.

“I’ve personally noticed and, talking with other students who have noticed, have tried to reach out to the board and I, and others, have been ignored,” he said.

Apollonius said he and students would send emails to board members and while some would reply accordingly, others would respond to questions with “cut and paste” messages that would be sent to all student questions.

In a message sent to board members Feb. 18, Apollonius said, “In the letter to students put out on

Contract: Board reluctant to take 'backdoor approach' Continued from page 1 Stedman said Friday, “The board has given us the authority of the range they’re wiling to settle at.”

He said the administration sent back a list of items for the faculty consider. “We hoped there might be things on the list, with creativity, might bring the parties closer together,” said Stedman.

The areas Stedman said the administration’s team asked the faculty to consider were in the areas of the salary schedule, employee health insurance, retiree health, and greater flexibility to use part-time faculty.

Williams said the most significant difference in the faculty’s Thursday proposal from the final offer submitted to the state was “an increase in our healthcare contributions.”

Brian Freeman, MHCC board chairman, said Thursday night he is reluctant to grant face-to-face talks between the board and faculty representatives because they don’t want to encourage a “backdoor approach,” and the next time the faculty contract is negotiated, “the faculty would be encouraged to wait until they could cut a bargain at the last minute.”

Asked if returning to a public meeting format with negotiators from both sides in one room was an option, Freeman said, “That could be done, I suppose.”

Monday, we were complete your told: ‘First of all, classes, and rest assured that earn certificates the College is door diplomas. It ing everything is our aim to it can to lessen be staffed and or eliminate any ready to serve potential imour students pacts to you if without interyour instructors ruption.” decide to go out “It’s hard to on strike. We believe that neare expanding gotiating (beour interim pool tween faculty of qualified and and the adminavailable partistration) will time instructors be done in good to seamlessly asfaith if commusume teaching nication with duties created by students aren’t Photo by Devin Courtright/The Advocate striking faculty.’ in good faith,” Jordan Bennett leads a group of students through a rainsoaked campus Wednesday night to the I for one will not MHCC District board meeting. he said. stand for my eduIn response cators being replaced with scabs. It saddens me to to this, the Associated Student Government presisee the administration of my own college standing dent Larry Collins-Morgan said, “I know there’s a up to be on the wrong side of over 120 years of strug- lot of frustration (among students).” gle for organized labor.”

Collins-Morgan said he hopes for a conclusion Two responses from board members were re- with negotiations where both sides can be satisfied. ceived, according to Apollonius, one from Beverly It’s important to find the commonalities.”

Russell and the other from Brian Freeman.

After the students had rallied through the Main Russell said in her response, “As a student, you Mall, they meshed with faculty members who had would have to pay an additional $15 per credit hour gathered outside the district board’s regular meetif we give the faculty what they are requesting.” ing. Board member were unavailable for comment Apollonius said in his blog Feb. 22, after receiv- Thursday. ing a response from Freeman, “After listing off On Thursday, a mediation session between fullseveral talking points, Mr. Freeman concludes by time faculty and administration negotiators was completely ignoring my disapproval of using scabs held and March 16 will be left open if the mediato break the union’s power by reiterating, “If your tor believes another session would be fruitful after instructors decide to strike, you will still be able to Thursday’s meeting.

Forensics: Team will sponsor spring break national competiton on campus; expecting over 600 people at MHCC for debate events Continued from page 1 “I think by sheer size of squad, there will be some schools we can’t touch for the overall sweeps race. But my team is not nervous; they are eager to go into battle,” said Valdivia. The MHCC Forensics team consists of eight members and the largest teams will consist of 25-30 team members, so MHCC will be considered a small entry program, according to Valdivia.

“Our team is the current International Public Debate Association (IPDA) two-year national season sweepstakes leader and we finished in the top 10 of all major tournaments we attended this year,” she said.

The cost to host this tournament is about $14,700 and paying for it has been a cooperative effort between the MHCC general fund, the forensics program, the MHCC student government, and the MHCC Foundation. They have also had support from the Province of the Great West Pi Kappa Delta.

Volunteers to help accommodate the event and its guests are needed as tournament judges, campus guides, unlocking doors, food and hospitality services and setting up Wednesday prior to the event and taking down Saturday after the event.

Valdivia said criteria for tournament judges include having the desire to listen with an open heart and mind and to provide solid constructive criticism.

She said she is offering training.

According to the Pi Kappa Delta website, this year’s tournament will offer intercollegiate foren-

sics in a full range of individual and team events, including debate and individual events not before offered at a PKD national tournament.

There will be five styles of debate; — IPDA is one-on-one style debate where the students are given five topics and they each strike a topic until one remains. They then have 30 minutes to prep before they debate. The topics can be anything like pop culture, politics, social and philosophical issues.

— NPDA is team debate where the teams are given a topic and they prep for 15 minutes. Topics of discussion surround governmental issues.

— NFA-LD is one-on-one style debate and the topic the competitors are debating this year is “Be it resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially reform the provision of mental health services to the chronically mentally ill.” — CEDA is team debate and all questions are based in policy analysis. — BP debate is a four-member team debate. The topic changes every round. This style is based on the British Parliamentary system of government where coalitions are needed to push legislation forward.

There are also individual events such as prose interpretation.

A schedule of debates for the free events can be found at http://www.pikappadelta.com/nationaltournamentconventioninfo.html.

4 SPORTS

MARCH 11, 2011

Saints head coach Geoff Gibor (far right), flashed signs of emotion in the final minutes of the team’s second round loss to the Whatcom Orcas. The loss sent the Saints home after losing two games in the double elimination NWAACC Championships in Kennewick, Wash., at the Toyota Center.

Photo by Devin courtright/the advocate

Two and done, Saints return home empty handed

By Jon Fuccillo The Advocate

Two games, two losses. Pack your bags, fill up the gas tanks, regroup and ride three hours back home to Gresham from Kennewick, Wash. That was the Saints NWAACC tournament in a nutshell.

They were supposed to be tears of excitement. Instead the Saints left the Toyota Center with tears of frustration and empty-handed in the hardware department after getting stomped 7860 to the Whatcom Orcas (21-8, 11-5) in a consolation game Sunday at 8 a.m.

It was a freezing match-up between two teams that have developed a history at the NWAACC championships.

Just two seasons ago, while Saints head coach Geoff Gibor was serving as assistant to then-head coach Rob Nielson, the Orcas sent the Saints packing in another must-win consolation game.

“Slowly recovering,” head coach Geoff Gibor said Tuesday night. “It takes a while. The season is an emotional roller-coaster. It all culminated for me after that second game – very emotional.

“You just put so much into the season, and when it comes to an end, win or lose, it’s hard. Easier when you win, but it’s still hard. I was totally overcome with emotion.”

In back-to-back days the Saints had to play in the 8 a.m. game that teams dread to play. The Orcas seemed to have gotten better rest than the Saints with the way they jumped out of the gates and attacked the defensive sets of the Saints and scored at

will, though it was neck and neck for most of the first half.

The Orcas were able to pull ahead and take a 40-28 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

The Saints were used to playing in front of good-sized crowds and using fan support for energy. The scenario wasn’t quite the same as the Saints in back-to-back games saw little-to-no crowd in what looked like an empty arena.

The Orcas went on to torch what was left of the Saints after freshman forward Rei Jensen was sidelined minutes after tip-off due to a dislocated right shoulder that he suffered the morning before in their loss against the Highline Thunderbirds.

The good news for the Saints?

Freshman forward Spencer Clayton returned to the lineup after slicing open the upper left side of his lip the morning before in the game against the Highline Thunderbirds. He held his own in the low post and took advantage of the smaller Orca defenders. He finished the contest scoring 16 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting the field.

That wasn’t enough to keep Clayton happy. “Feel so empty,” Clayton said Sunday after the game. “We went to the tournament to win as a team and not to impress scouts.”

Freshman forward Gerron Powell was another bright light in the Saints halo. Powell was cleaning up the rebounds at both ends and getting easy second-chance points with the tip of his fingers. He pieced together a silent double-double, team highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Freshman Otho Lesure for the second day chipped in with double figures, finishing the contest with 10 points.

The Orcas had a surprise performance by 6’6’’ sophomore reserve forward Cody Peters, who scored 22 points in 22 minutes of action, including 16 points in the first half. On the season Peters only averaged 8.6 points per game, which was good for the sixth leading scorer on the team. Gibor felt blindsided by his performance.

Peters shot 8-of-11 from the field and scored four big three’s in the first half. The Orcas had three other players in double figures.

“It’s frustrating,” Gibor said. “We watched video on them and scouted everyone but him.”

Through the thick of it all, the team had no one to blame but themselves and their poor showing that ultimately paid its price of misfortune. All of the excuses of injuries were thrown out the window. Gibor said it felt like he was watching a different team than he watched earlier in the season.

“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Gibor said. “It’s so frustrating and disappointing to come this far and go out like that. But it is what it is.”

Gibor nailed it on the head. The Saints didn’t look prepared and had a hard time finding the basket when they need to score most, especially from behind the arc where they shot 1-of-14 for the game. That lone trey ball came from freshman guard Coletun Tarr when it was too late to help.

Gibor said he felt his team handled themselves well in the moving forward process.

“It was good to see everyone in that locker room get emotional,” Gibor said. “It shows how much people really care. It really matters that people really cared about what we were doing as a team. We are truly a family.

“Our motto is F.O.E. (Family Over Everything). It played true with this group. They’re truly brothers. No one can ever take that away. It’s amazing the relationships that are built through experiences like this.”

The team is already looking toward the future of the program and bouncing back not only in the Southern Region but contending for an NWAACC title next year. The team will only lose sophomore guards Delroy Gibbs and Jake Rickert. All 10 freshmen are expected to return, along with redshirt freshmen Drew Johnson and Dustin Jones.

Johnson was sidelined all season long with a stress fracture in his left foot and Jones ineligible due to grades. The team also expects 6’6’’ forward Curtis Papenfuss to return to the Saints after serving a two-year Mormon mission in South America.

There was some speculation that Clayton would take his skills to the next level instead of returning. But he cleared that up by saying, “It’s in my best interest to come back and improve on my game instead of sitting on a bench somewhere. You have to play in real games in order to improve.”

“We got some experience at NWAACCs now and we’re all (planning) on coming back,” Clayton said.

“The only upside to the trip was we gained experience. We have already set high expectations.”

SPORTS 5

MARCH 11, 2011

Photos by Devin courtright/the advocate

Clockwise from left: Freshman Coletun Tarr drives to the hoop against a Highline Thunderbirds defender in the second half of the Saints loss on Saturday. The Saints get pumped up before their game with the Thunderbirds. Freshman Marcus Moore scores two of his 10 points in the loss against the Thunderbirds. Freshman guard Otho Lesure drives past a Thunderbirds defender.

Injuries sting Saints in breakfast battle Saints lose in round one NWAACCs action, Spencer Clayton goes down

By Jon Fuccillo The Advocate

The No. 2 seeded Southern Region Saints expected to use their athletic post play to pound it inside for easy buckets. Instead, they were forced to play most of the opening game without freshman forward Spencer Clayton, who played less than one minute against the Western Region’s No. 3 seeded Highline Thunderbirds.

Clayton was expected to use his size and strong body as a decoy in the paint. But the 6’9’’ player took an elbow to the chops that sent him out of the game.

6’8’’ freshman forward Rei Jensen also went down after diving for a loose ball during the first half. He came up holding his right shoulder and found out after the game that he separated his right shoulder.

These two factors helped the Thunderbirds (19-9, 11-5) on the way to a 72-62 victory during the 8 a.m. breakfast battle, as they famously call it.

“The injuries did not help us by any means,” head coach Geoff Gibor said. “Anytime you lose Spencer (Clayton) 6’9’’ and Rei (Jensen) 6’8’’ to injuries it will affect your team. Guys are used to playing a role.”

Thunderbirds head coach Che Dawson said, “It’s a shame any time a player gets hurt. It certainly helped us to not have the big guys on the floor as much.”

One minute after entering the game off the

bench, Clayton was sent to seek medical attention as his busted lip would require four stitches inside his mouth. How important is Clayton to the Saints?

During the regular season he averaged a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game and was their second-leading scorer with 10.9 per contest.

Clayton was receiving updates from his sister through text messages while waiting at the urgent care facility just around the corner from the arena.

Clayton said he planned to return to the game but the wait took more than an hour and was too late by the time he returned. “Apparently they didn’t think I was too urgent,” Clayton said.

Credit the Thunderbirds, who shot 44.8 percent from the field while holding the Saints to 36 percent. They also forced the Saints into 18 turnovers and protected their defensive side of the court. They also out-rebounded the Saints 47 to 29, whereas during the regular season the Saints were used to out-rebounding their opponents on a regular basis.

“That was hard,” Gibor said. “We were only outrebounded three other times during the regular season before coming into the (NWAACC Championships).”

Dawson added, “Rebounding is something we emphasize every day of the year. It is a lost part of the game. I like to think our kids learned to take pride in that part of the game.”

It wasn’t even close. With the absence of Clayton and freshman forward Gerron Powell in early foul trouble, the Saints were playing with their backs against the wall.

At the half the Saints trailed 36-27 and had only shot 36 percent from the field (9-of-25). The Saints were hurting for an inside presence and the guards had a rough time getting themselves involved. For the fourth game in a row, sophomore transfer and shooting guard Delroy Gibbs was ice cold from the field (2-of-8) and held to a dismal six points.

Both teams had to deal with the always cold arena that the Tri-Cities Americans hockey team uses as their home. On the night before, the hockey team played a home game and the frosty feel remained in the arena – not benefiting either team that are used to warm gyms and less stiff rims.

It took the Thunderbirds all-star 6’6’’ sophomore guard PJ Bolte a while to get going, but eventually he displayed all his offensive weapons, scoring a game-high 20 points and eight of his game-high 13 rebounds were on the offensive end. That created second-chance points that the Thunderbirds used in their favor. They outscored the Saints 14-5 in that department.

“PJ (Bolte) often started games slow and produced incredibly as the game went along,” Dawson said. “He did a nice job on the glass this year.”

The Saints didn’t go without a fight. But the damage had already been done.

Freshmen guards Otho Lesure, Coletun Tarr and all-star Marcus Moore did their part in keeping the Saints in the game. All three ended the contest in double figures. Lesure led the team with 14, while Tarr punched in 13 and Moore chipped in with 10.

But that was about all the offense the Saints got.

6 SPORTS

MARCH 11, 2011

Top-ranked softball team returns with strong pitching

By Chanel Hill The Advocate

The Mt. Hood Saints softball team heads into the season as top dogs with a No. 1 preseason ranking in the NWAACC poll and back-to-back NWAACC championships under their belts.

It’s safe to say that the other teams in the conference are gunning for them.

“There’s always a target on your back when you win two championships. This year the target is even bigger. There’s added pressure, but it’s good pressure,” said sophomore pitcher Kayla Anderson, who ended last year’s season with 10-2 record and a 1.46 ERA, along with a team-high four saves in relief.

The Saints welcome back another seasoned pitcher in sophomore Chelsea Schriber, who last year posted an 11-2 record, along with a 1.24 ERA. There’s also new talent on the mound in Kendra Groom, the freshman out of Gresham High School who was awarded all-league pitching honors in

2008 and 2010 in the Mt. Hood Conference for the Gophers.

Each of the pitchers bring some-

ball, are excited for the change Groom brings to the mound, “Chelsea and I are similar. Kendra is kind of a mix of us both,” said Anderson. “Kendra puts a twist to everything. She’s a down ball pitcher which we haven’t had. If Kayla and I start off and then bring Kendra in, it will put hitters off balance,” said Schriber.

The team which hasn’t seen practice time on the field because of poor weather is eager to play on the dirt,

File photos

thing unique to the team. Having played a season together, Schriber and Anderson have a strong rapport and similar pitching style.

Schriber, who throws the up ball, and Anderson, who throws the corner

Top left: Kayla Anderson pitching for the Saints last season. Left: Chelsea Schriber pitching last season for the Saints

Burright

Pechmann

Keenan Alex Keenan

“It’s tough to stay motivated. We’ve been practicing in the gym, and you don’t get the real feel of the field that you would if we were outside,” said Schriber. Still, the team is staying motivated, with help of ninth-year head coach Meadow McWhorter who at the beginning of the year gave each of the girls inspirational quotes to stay positive through the season.

McWhorter tells her team to “create their masterpiece,” which applies to more than just taking it one game at a time, “I want to improve my ERA this year, but I also want to work on motivating the team through talking more,” said Schriber, “It’s about short runs and long runs. It’s about life in general. Make your life what you want it to be.”

The Saints are scheduled to play Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 13 in the South Inter-region Tourney in Vancouver. Results were not available at press time.

Dolman RHP

Jeremy Burright

LHP

Nate Dolman

Yearout RHP

Matt Pechmann

LHP

Jon Yearout

Returning Saints pitchers ready to step it up and lead

By Chanel Hill The Advocate

The Mt. Hood Saints baseball team is ready to face the new season with tunnel vision and new blood in the roster.

The Saints who in past years have relied heavily on their bats and offensive power, are looking to their deep pitching staff to produce wins this season and get back in the hunt in the Southern Region after falling short of the post season last year for the first time in 16 years. Despite the disappointment, returning sophomore pitcher Jeremy Burright is ready to step up and lead, “What last year did was make us (returners) want to be good leaders to the freshmen. We set

the tone with our hard work. Every we bring in the closer. To get the hold, game counts, we need to take care of to be a part of a team that is trying to business,” said Burright. win the NWAACCs, it’s going to take a This years ten-man pitching staff team effort, focus and a common goal,” which includes said Burright, who returning soph- “I am willing to accept any role finished last season omores Alex with a 6-3 record Keenan, Jeremy that coach (Bryan Donohue) asks and a 2.26 ERA. Burright, MatKeenan who finthew Pechmann, me to play and I’m trying to get as ished last season Nate Dolman, with a 1-1 record Jon Yearout, many innings and keep improving.” and a 4.00 ERA, five freshmen expects to be in the Alex Keenan mix of the rotation and transfer sophomore Eric this season, but is Kittleson will compete for time on the willing to accept any role that helps mound. “Time doesn’t matter to me. I towards the team’s success. want them (pitchers), to be enthusiasSaid Keenan, “I am willing to actic, to throw that eighth-inning before cept any role that coach (Bryan Dono-

hue) asks me to play and I’m trying to get as many innings and keep improving.”

Despite missing the post season, the five pitchers averaged 17 wins, 11 losses and an average 2.67 ERA, an impressive performance from all of the men from the mound. This year brings in new talent and more opportunities for the freshmen too, “We’re really relying on the freshmen, they’re all great pieces to add,” said Dolman.

The Saints are scheduled to play two double-headers Saturday March 12 against Olympic College and Thompson River JC and Sunday March 13 against Bellevue and Centralia Community College. Results were not available at press time.

7 SPORTS

MARCH 11, 2011

Davis: 'very, very blindsided, but not surprised at all.'

Continued from page 1 form will be used. College letters of intent will not be valid and may bring the school using them penalties as determined by the Executive board. Under no circumstances will blank letters of intent be allowed to be released.”

Hyatt said MHCC will appeal the penalties in hopes to get the scholarships and off-campus recruiting back since they will begin the process of finding a new coach after spring break.

In a meeting held for the Lady Saints Monday, Lady Saints volunteer assistant coach Amber Magner, who was with the team this past season, “volunteered to help with off-season workouts to keep the team moving in the right direction,” Hyatt said.

Along with Davis stepping down, long-time assistant coach Rosie Contri will also leave the program after serving three years under Davis. Davis was with the team for six years.

Hyatt plans to include the players in selecting a new coach. “I want to make sure they are part of the process. I don’t want to settle for just anyone.”

Hyatt plans to keep in close contact with coaches at other NWAACC member schools if any of the women decide to transfer. Since the girls were not in a binding contract at MHCC, they shouldn’t have to forfeit a year of eligibility. “It’s kind of a tricky situation,” Hyatt said.

“Because the athletes were not given an official letter of intent to sign, any student who transferred to another institution within the NWAACC may be able to receive a waiver to this rule because they did not actually sign an official letter of intent,” Hyatt said. “However, we are honoring the letters that they signed with coach Davis as if they were an official letter with regards to honoring the amount of scholarship that the ladies were promised and we also would be supportive of any waivers requested to the NWAACC if any of the ladies wished to transfer to another NWAACC institution.”

It is unknown whether MHCC will be able to honor the current scholarships of any returning players. Sophomores Charlie Neilan and Jackie Cannon

are the only players to have used up their eligibility.

Asked if his resignation was a refection of the violations Davis said, “Is it the reason I’m leaving?

Absolutely not. Not by any means.”

“Last year I looked into some other opportunities,” Davis said. “But we recruited these athletes and I wanted to see this class out. Plus I ran my own business and I am seeking different opportunities.

And I have a family that I want to spend more time with. It just felt like the right time since everything changed in the (athletic) department.”

Davis said, “things felt micro-managed” in the department and that the atmosphere changed “when the new athletic director came in.” “The relationship between the AD (Hyatt) and I wasn’t great since she came in. I may not be her favorite person,” he added.

Overall Davis felt “very, very blindsided, but not surprised at all.”

Hyatt said, “My relationship with an employee or former employee is a private, personal matter.”

Some of the Lady Saints players felt uncomfortable discussing the matter, as some stood behind coach Davis and feel his actions were accidental. photo by jon fuccillo/the advocate “I believe my coach didn’t do it on purpose. He is From left: Former head coach Larry Davis and assistants Rosie Contri a really nice guy, a great coach,” freshman forward and volunteer Amber Magner watching the Lady Saints in a game Natalie Humble said Wednesday. “I can’t respond against Clackamas CC. for the rest of the team but I will miss my coaches.

They were great.”

Clackamas Community College and said her future Asked if the rest of the freshmen were planning in basketball is up in the air. Freshman Maria Noon returning to MHCC next year, “I am coming back lan is still uncertain, according to Davis, who said it to play next year,” Humble said. “I don’t know of ev- “depends on the coach that comes in.” eryone coming back for sure. But I do know Melissa When looking to the future program, Hyatt said, (Carey) and Haley (Chovich) are.”

“I’m fully committed to make sure MHCC stays 100 Davis said that point guard Emily Burch is ex- percent committed to our exceptional high standard pected to return in a Saints uniform next season. for ethics and sportsmanship.”

But he wasn’t sure of the future of the rest of the team. He did mention that freshman forward Gina Bianchi would return to Carson City, Nev., after Go to www.advocate-online.net for more feeling home sick. Also, Noelle Laffoon would reMHCC Saints coverage. turn to Nevada as well after suffering one too many concussions. Forward Teri Gilbert is transferring to

Records fall as track and field team sets the tone for the season Meet Highlights •

MHCC javelin thrower Tyler Callahan broke the school record with a throw of 212ft. 8in.

•

Both men's and women's 4x100meter relay teams placed first.

•

MHCC sprinter Erica Drake placed third in the 100-meter dash.

contributed Photo By Matt Hart

Tyler Callahan breaking the MHCC javelin school record by throwing 212 feet 8 inches and winning the 2011 Linfield Icebreaker.

By John Tkebuchava The Advocate

A school record fell and both Saints’ 4x100-meter relay teams snagged the gold as MHCC opened its season at Saturday’s “ice breaker” meet.

Records are meant to be broken and MHCC freshman thrower Tyler Callahan from Estacada High School wasted no time in breaking the school javelin record at the Eric Anderson Icebreaker meet at Linfield College almost immediately after it had begun.

Callahan record throw was 212 ft. 8 in, good enough to also win the event.

The entire MHCC track and field team had a good showing Saturday with numerous first-place finishes.

“I thought we competed well,” said head coach Matt Hart. “Both relays (4x100-meter relay) did really well.”

The men’s team finished the relay with a time of 42.55, led by sophomores Chris Zeller and Zach Young, along with freshmen Justin Oliveri and Robert Hanke.

The women finished with a time of 50.17. The relay team consisted of freshmen Erica Drake, Amy Kegler, Whitney Sewnson and Mariah Crumpler.

Zeller, last year’s NWAACC 400-meter champion, was pleased with both his and his team’s performance, even though he only competed on the 4x100meter team at the meet, “I only got to compete in the 4x100 due to injury. We (the 4x100-meter team) did great for having two new people on the team,” he said, with Young as the only other returner.

“I was really happy about the performance,” Zeller said, “We definitely scored where we needed to score. We had a lot of people scratch.”

Drake, who placed third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.06, had a similar response, “I think we did really well for the first meet,” she said, “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Competition for the meet included community colleges, some high school athletes and four-year universities, including Oregon State University, University of Portland Pilots and Portland State University.

Though some individuals like Callahan, Young and Drake managed to do well, injury reduced the Saint’s potential as numerous athletes had to scratch out of their events, “We’re kind of beat up,” said Hart,

mentioning shin splints as one of the ailments athletes had to deal with.

He said the situation can be remedied with a better warm-up and better cooldown after an event.

Other standout performances were Young’s first-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles (55.42), Swenson’s second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (16.00), Oliveri’s third-place finish in the 100-meter dash (11.37) and Hanke’s second-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles (56.98).

Conditions for the meet were also ideal. “Beautiful. It was perfect,” said Hart on the weather, something he says is an oddity given the more common climate for the early March event.

“It’s called the icebreaker for two reasons,” said Hart, one being that it’s a meet to “break the ice” of initial competitive hesitation and secondly, because of the cold.

Hart said he was confident about his team’s potential, “Once we get acclimated to the competition, we’ll be fine,” he said.

The team will compete Saturday in the Pacific Preview in Forest Grove at Lincoln Park Stadium, home of Pacific University.

8 THE FLIPSIDE 5 Day

Saturday Showers 49o F

THE ADVOCATE

MARCH 11, 2011

Sunday Showers 48o F

Monday Showers 50o F

Tuesday

Wednesday Showers 51o F

Showers 50o F

Check out The Advocate online for more content at www.advocate-online.net

Forecast Forecast gathered from www.weather.com

New college president search continues

By Jen Ashenberner The Advocate

The search for a new college president has been extended as the administration is awaiting applications from potential candidates.

“The MHCC District Board of Education will be continuing to meet to discuss the selection of either a permanent or interim president,” said June Jacobs, assistant to the president of strategic initiatives and board relations. “An announcement about Dr. Ski’s successor will probably occur by the end of the month.”

Asked who has applied for the position, Jacobs advised the information is confidential and handled by human resources.

When asked how many applications have been received, Jacobs declined to comment.

Steve Abels, Mt. Hood Regional Education Consortium coordinator, has confirmed that he is an applicant for the presidency. The Advocate was unable to reach other rumored candidates.

Deadline for the study abroad program to japan is March 18.

For more information, please contact Paul Eckhardt, director of MHCC study abroad,Eckhardt, 503-491-7497.

i wonder ...

WARNERPACIFIC.EDU

MHCC

bookstores

what is my next move?

Ranked as one of the best values and best baccalaureate colleges in the West by U.S.News & World Report 2010, Warner Pacific is an urban, Christ-centered liberal arts college in the heart of Portland. With 27 undergraduate majors, you can choose from hundreds of career options.

next book buyback is March 14-18 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

2219 SE 68th Avenue t Portland, Oregon 97215 503.517.1020 503.517.1540 warnerpacific.edu

OUR #1 PRIORITY: STUDENTS Students have been – and always will be – our number one priority. We know you have questions about contract negotiations with the Full-Time Faculty Association. We’re here to help.

MHCC full-time faculty enjoy the highest average salaries of the 54 community colleges in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They are approximately at the 83rd percentile nationally.* You may be thinking that our faculty should be the highest paid among all Pacific Northwest community colleges. We understand your position because we, too, believe our instructors are smart and talented professionals who possess the skills and attributes that make them good educators.

The simple truth is this: •

The State is cutting funding to community colleges

•

Taxpayers expect us to be fiscally responsible and to operate within a budget

•

We are serving more students than ever before

We have called upon the full-time faculty to moderate their expectations, just as our other two unions have, as well as our non-represented employees.

To learn more, we invite you to visit mhcc.edu * According to NEA (National Education Association) data published April 2010

Q)

I am in a rigorous program and need to graduate with my classmates on time. I have heard rumors that the College will close.

What’s the truth?

A

Our best advice is to not believe the rumors. The College will remain open for business and continue to meet the needs of its 33,000 students and the community that supports them.

this worst-case scenario while hoping for settlement.

If your full-time instructors choose to stop working (and we certainly hope they do not choose to do so!), we intend to do everything we can to cover your classes and programs with qualified instructors. We are preparing for

You are committed to achieving your academic goals and we intend to ensure that you receive the high quality instruction, counseling and training that you deserve. Students remain our number one priority!

A decision to strike is entirely up to the full-time faculty. We urge them not to jeopardize student progress by interrupting classes.