The Advocate, Issue 23, Apr. 12, 2013

Gresham, Oregon | April 12, 2013 | Volume 48, Issue 23

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The independent student voice of Mt. Hood Community College

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Derr picked as first female president Former vice president to return to MHCC, to start July 1 Hayden Hunter The Advocate

MHcc

The Mt. Hood Community College District board Wednesday made official what was initially announced on Saturday: It has chosen Debra Derr as the next MHCC president.

The board unanimously voted in Derr — who will be MHCC’s first female president — at its regular district board meeting, which followed an open forum on Friday at which the two remaining finalists for the job introduced themselves to the campus community and fielded questions.

Derr is currently the president of North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), a position she has held the last five years.

She is no stranger to MHCC, having served in several administrative positions at the campus for 15 years, before departing in 2002.

Derr is due to replace President Michael Hay, who will retire on June 30 after two years leading Mt. Hood.

She was pitted against Jacob Ng, vice chancellor for Peralta Community College District based in the Oakland, Calif., area.

A third finalist, Suzanne Miles, interim chancellor of Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., was named last month but withdrew from consideration.

That left Derr and Ng as the last two contenders standing.

Derr acknowledged forum attendees she had worked with, and commented on her return to MHCC. “It is amazing to be back here. Some things have change, others have not,” she said, drawing a few laughs.

She told the audience the college has a bright future, if Mt. Hood leaders can better determine and market its best attributes.

“What differentiates MHCC from the others?

MHCC is a diamond in East County, in the district,”

she said. “The question is, what can we do to bring that sparkle back?”

After her final selection, MHCC board chair Dave Shields said, “We felt that Derr was a better fit for the college because she had an extensive understanding of the college and Oregon.”

During her time serving at North Iowa, Derr has logged a few different successes.

“CNN ranked NIACC as 14th in the Student Success and Completion survey and we also have a very large and successful fundraising foundation,” Derr said.

She said NIACC successfully supported and attained an instructional equipment referendum that secured nearly $354,000 for Northern Iowa schools.

Derr said she looks forward to being closer to her family. She said most of her family, including two adult children, lives in Oregon and Washington.

“When I was presented with this opportunity, I said yes,” she said. “I’ve worked here for 15 years previously. I love Oregon, I’m from Oregon, my family is currently in Oregon. It was just a great opportunity.”

Derr began working at MHCC in 1987 and left in 2002. She worked numerous positions: she was an adviser, counselor, instructor, associate dean, dean and the vice president of student development.

She said she was very curious returning to the campus to see everything that has changed.

“What stood out to me was the new, beautiful Child Care Center and the Student Union. It seemed so bright and cheery,” she said.

Derr deflected personal credit for all achievements at NIACC that burnished her resume’. “Not me, but the people I work with helped (me) be successful,” she said.

Long before Derr assumes the Mt. Hood position on July 1, she plans two visits to the campus, and to Gresham-Portland: First, during the MHCC Foundation Auction on May 4, and then, at the MHCC graduation ceremony June 15.

Visual Arts gallery offers high school students a chance to show their work page 6

SEED student takes second place in national competition page 5

African adventure

sports profile

Astronomy instructor to reprise teaching in

Freshman thrower holds two MHCC records and aspires to be a page 12 paramedic

Southern africa

page 7

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Opinion April 12, 2013

Roger Ebert’s impact on film criticism will not be forgotten

Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate

Film critics are not celebrities.

You never ask your friends who their top five critics are or catch up on the gossip of the hottest reviewers.

Off the top of your head, name one film critic or reviewer. There is a good chance that the only one you could think of is Roger Ebert, and that comes with good reason.

He coined the phrase “thumbs up,” he was the first man to win the Pulitzer Award for film criticism and is regarded as a god among film buffs and critics.

So, why so much acclaim? Because he’s a freaking good writer.

He recently lost his battle with cancer, so I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to the man who got me interested in writing about movies.

He began his illustrious career in 1967 writing film reviews for

the Chicago-Sun Times, and continued writing for them in association with his website the rest of his career.

He really gained traction in the public eye when he joined another critic, Gene Siskel, for a TV show in 1986, “Siskel and Ebert at the Movies,” which was later shortened to “Siskel and Ebert,” where they talked about movies. This is where Siskel and Ebert trademarked their famous “thumbs up/ thumbs down” review summary.

The show took on many names and variations between stations.

Even with Siskel’s passing in 1999, Ebert continued doing television reviews until 2011.

What people loved about his reviews were how simple yet sophisticated they were. He made it fairly clear what was good and bad about a film, and would explain in great detail, which was complemented by his four-star rating system.

People also looked forward to the reviews of films he hated, because he wouldn’t just disapprove of them, he would rip them apart.

If I had made a bad movie, Ebert is the last person I would want to see it. You could feel the venom ooze from the text, and you would also feel your sides splitting from how funny they are. His insults were blunt, cringe-worthy, clever and hilarious. In his review for the film Brown Bunny, he said, “I had a

colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than The Brown Bunny.”

While his regular reviews were good, his series of special reviews that featured in-depth critiques of great movies were a testament to the poetry of his writing. This man didn’t just dissect movies, he performed hardcore surgery on them.

His pen was the scalpel and he would use it to tear into the premise, locate the flaws, analyze the plot and remove the hidden messages. I think Ebert knew more about the vision and meaning of a film than the director. If I could pay someone to help me kidnap Ebert, so I could discuss film with him, that man would have a blank check with my name on it.

What I think makes a great critic, and Ebert is the prime example, is one who you can totally disagree with, but you can still understand where they are coming from. There are quite a few of Ebert’s reviews where I thought to myself, “How the hell did you not like that movie,” or “Why the hell did you like that movie?” However, Ebert was so eloquent and fair in how he articulated his opinions, that even if he were to write about why the Twilight series are the greatest films to grace our generation, I would still be able to respect his opinion.

Roger Ebert’s passing is sad not just because it’s the loss of a

Web Photo

human being, but it’s also the loss got me into film. I give your life of an architect in film criticism. and accomplishments two masEbert penetrated the mainstream sive thumbs up, and I hope you like no critic before him. He got can find Siskel up there to tell him people talking about movies in about all the movies he has missed. ways they didn’t ever think of. The brunt of most people’s discussions of a film is if they are good or bad, but they rarely think of why? After I first started reading his reviews, I began thinking about the acting, presentation, message, vision, and “How credible are North direction of the movies I Korea’s nuclear threats?” was watching. I now expect more from my movies ◊ Highly credible and I have greater appre◊ Vaguely credible ciation for the ones I love, ◊ Not so credible and a greater hatred of the ◊ What threats? ones I don’t.

Roger Ebert, you were a great writer and really

Editorial: Not enough competition in presidential search On Saturday, MHCCD board members announced that Debra Derr would be our next president. For those who aren’t paying attention, a presidential forum was held Friday and two candidates — Derr and Jacob Ng — made short presentations and then answered questions from a packed Visual Arts Theater audience.

Last week, in our editorial, we encouraged the district board to look at its options and to consider reopening the search given the limited number of candidates for the MHCC presidency.

This week, it appears we never had a choice.

At the forum, Derr was challenged by a slew of questions from faculty for which she had strong answers. One question, from English instructor Jonathan Morrow, garnered applause from the faculty sitting in the audience. He asked what Derr was going to do to change what he called, “an interim era” or rather, how was she going to make lasting change for MHCC.

Derr said it was her intention to come to Oregon, to return to her family (many of whom live here) and retire in Oregon, which would give her a sense of permanence at the college. Derr went on to give examples of her achievements as president at North Iowa Area Community College.

Jacob Ng flew in from California for the forum and also was challenged by MHCC faculty in the time provided for questioning.

The question that stood out as the most controversial came when a faculty member asked about his affiliation with the Missouri-based Christian Worldview Leadership Academy, which Ng could have answered better.

He more or less sidestepped the question by thanking the member for bringing it to his attention and “educating him on it” because, he said, this is the first he had heard (although he is listed as a board member) of the group’s stance on religion and education: “Any philosophy of education that pursues truth and an accurate perception of reality must be at its core Christian.”

Ng went on to answer questions substantially and even asked ASG Vice President Antonio Guerrero-Jimenez to join him at the podium while he answered his questions.

After the theatrics, MHCC philosophy instructor Chris Jackson asked the candidate again about his affiliation with the Christian association, and Ng supplied a similar response.

As much as we wanted to feel as if we had a say in a choice of MHCC’s next president, it just didn’t go that well for Ng. Also, Derr was a strong candidate, which is, of course, a good thing when it comes to MHCC. She clearly was the stronger of the two options.

Derr seems like a good fit for MHCC and The Advocate looks forward to how she will function at the college.

But, given the situation with Ng and the last-minute withdrawal of candidate Suzanne Miles, we have no way of knowing if Derr was the best available candidate for the college, and would have preferred to see more options.

the advocate Co-Editors-in-Chief

News Editor

Reporters

Advisers

John Tkebuchava & Mike Mata

Mike Mata

Jackie Garrity Hayden Hunter Shaun Lutz Aaron Marshall Cameron Miller Kayla Tatum

Howard Buck Dan Ernst Bob Watkins

Associate Editor Kylie Rogers

Living Arts Editor Shelby Schwartz

Assistant Living Arts Editor Danny Perez-Crouse

Opinion Editor Jeff Hannig

Sports Editor John Tkebuchava

Copy Editors Kylie Rogers

Webmaster Logan Scott

Ad Manager Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Photo Editor Jeff Hannig

Photographer Jonathon Long

Graphic Designer Lauren Bakke

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

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Correction

In the March 15 issue of The Advocate the page one story about the finalists for the MHCC presidency, Jennie Burlingame’s name was incorrectly given.

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.

Opinion

the advocate

North Korea’s rocket threats fall short of its target

Mike Mata The Advocate

Hail, Supreme Leader!

Or at least, that’s all anyone can say in North Korea as Kim Jong-Un rattles his saber at the United States and pledges to attack the U.S. with a preemptive nuclear strike over imagined threats to North Korean security supposedly made by the U.S. and South Korea.

North Korea and its leaders, the indefatigable Kim dynasty consisting of Kim Il-sung, his son Kim Jong-Il and current supreme wacko, Kim Jong-Un, have a been known to make increasingly crazed threats and gestures since the end of the Korean War in the early 1950s. The fact that these tyrants seem ready and willing to go to war over imagined slights ought to be a good indication of they and their nation’s mental state: delusional.

These threats come alongside a flurry of movement around North Korea in the last year, as missiles are moved towards launch pads in March of 2012 whilst South Korea holds an international nuclear security summit, troops are deployed all over the country, the military fires a test rocket that essentially falls apart into the sea and old nuclear sites are in the process of reopening.

As North Korea seems to be readying itself for an international scuffle, its government made sure to approach diplomacy with South Korea as tenderly as possible, shutting

off telephone communications and shutting South Korean workers out of a joint-Korean factory in North Korea. This is happening while the state-run media points fingers and shouts at the U.S. and South Korea for their annual “war games” training and flights of American military aircraft over South Korea.

This led North Korea to release a propaganda video last month that showed theoretical attacks on the U.S., including scenes of attacks on the Capitol and the White House.

On top of all of this action, North Korea is increasingly blathering a torrent of threats to the international community, as well as the U.S., claiming earlier this month that it can no longer guarantee the safety of foreigners.

It’s important at this point to take a step back and look at the rest of the world has to say to Kim and North Korea if they maintain this insanely hard line: The United Nations (UN) unanimously passed increased sanctions against the country in early March of this year, with China, North Korea’s main ally, supporting the sanctions as a means to stabilize the Korean peninsula; Britain has called for the international community to essentially take a chill-pill and try and talk the North Koreans down from any possible red-button-pushing and itchy trigger fingers they might have; Russia said Sunday through multiple spokespersons that they stand by the UN while urging cool and calm heads to prevail.

Even the Czech Republic considered closing down its embassy in Pyongang but decided against it, as the North Korean diplomat assured that its embassy was not a target (but also would not guarantee safety by the North Korean government).

All of this posturing and bellicose ranting by North Korea sums to down to one thing: these Kim headcases sure like attention.

The “coincidence” that all these threats and plans by North Korea happen to

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Illustration by Jeff Hannig

match up to the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s birth is no real coincidence, at all.

Much as the Advanced Placement/College Board likes to match its history exam essay questions to historical anniversaries, North Korean leaders like to show off on anniversaries. In this case, their “showing off” could ignite a nuclear war that could drag half the globe into the conflict.

Or, it could just be ignored.

Perhaps not entirely ignored, but at least taken with a grain of salt: The most recent

rocket launches by North Korea resulted in abject failure and in an unconfirmed “success” of putting a satellite in orbit. In 2009 it tested similar missiles, with most just flying a little past Japan and just thoroughly annoying everyone.

So, instead of dusting out the old Cold War-era nuclear shelters, everyone should calm down and let President Obama play a little game of paper, rock or drone, in case North Korea gets too crazy.

Guest Column:

Challenge cliches, trite slogans – and do the right thing like no one is watching Larry Collins-Morgan

2010 -2011 MHCC ASG President

“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” — John Kenneth Galbraith As I look back on my time as student body president at Mt. Hood Community College, I can’t help but smile. Leading the student body was a great honor and a humbling privilege. By no means is it or was it the apex of leadership, but when done effectively you can leave a lasting legacy.

Normally, addressing student concerns, and communicating with the student body are the primary functions of student government. But 2011 was anything but normal.

Teacher strike preparations, rally plans, media interviews and an occasional class or two consumed a considerable amount of time. Somehow we were thrown into a tumultuous situation and I believed we needed to be united and steady! The leadership the Associated Student Government (ASG) president displays is paramount in how the college community responds in times of crisis. This is why I believe the position of ASG president is as significant as the person holding the office allows it to be.

The ASG presidency, for me, was about promoting and appreciating the undervalued and overlooked people on campus. It was about challenging the heart of the perpetual and pervasive “middle management creep mindset” that the

college had then adopted. It was about asking pointed questions about cliché and trite slogans that sounded good but returned hollow results. It was about doing the right thing because it was right, not because people were watching. The outcomes we as a group accomplished were NOT greater than any other administration or year. They were simply executed in a heightened context!

The position of ASG president allows you to voice your disdain or support for issues like no other position. The ASG presidency is also worthwhile if for no other reason it requires the administration to listen to the students, knowing full well many of our discussions with the administration were out of formality, not inquiry.

One of the many tasks of the ASG president was meeting with the administration on a regular basis, a function I feel is an inherently vital part of leading the student body. These regular talks are aimed at addressing important issues, key concerns or working with the administration on strategic outcomes. Your direct interaction with the president and deans are rare glimpses inside the minds of the decision makers. They also allow you to be the voice of the students.

In 2011 we were faced with a great challenge on our campus: the full-time faculty preparing to strike. Our options were either sit quiet and watch or stand up and lead. So as a team, ASG took a stance to stand up for what we thought was right, as representatives of the students.

I remember a conversation with an administrator shortly before the near-strike. The conversation quickly grinded to a halt when he uttered the phrase, “The college couldn’t func-

tion without us (the administrators). Let’s get that straight!”

Function? Surely he had not met the administrative assistants or the counselors, or the classified workers or teachers who I felt were just as responsible for the college’s success (if not more responsible than him). We politely agreed to disagree and went our separate ways. Out of this disagreement came action. Action, in my opinion, is the second most important ingredient of leadership, after listening.

Without a strong student government there would have been no action or leadership. Having an ASG president who chews barbwire and spits out rust can go a long way in representing students. Though these actions often take great risk, I am a firm believer we will be rewarded in the end for doing so. I believe the ASG president was elected to take risks and be a leader, hence the name. ASG, when leading, has a monumental impact on a transparent and thriving Mt. Hood, which is driven by its president. When its leaders are dormant, Mt. Hood becomes just another community college!

Courage, conviction and resolve: principles I believe that should drive an ASG president. People will treat you exactly how you allow them to, and in 2011, we chose to be relevant!

In my interactions, I used the simple timeless formula: “It’s still trust but verify. It’s still play, but cut the cards. It’s still watch closely. And don’t be afraid to see what you see.”

Here is to a continued legacy of leadership, and a community of humble listeners where being all about students is not a slogan, but the culture.

4 TRiO programs may face financial woes News

Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate

The TRiO program may face another big funding cut.

TRiO Student Support Services (SSS), as described on the Mt. Hood website, is a federally funded grant program that has been serving students at MHCC since fall 2001.

Susan Godoy, TRiO College First director, said, “These programs have been very successful and we’ve seen them transform the lives of families because they were able to access a college education and get help.”

The program faces a possible 5.2% decrease in funding for the 2013-14 school year, due to federal sequestration cuts – mandatory federal agency spending reductions triggered

by Congress’ failure this winter to reach a budget agreement.

Eric Juenemann, TRiO Student Support Services director, said the SSS has faced many similar cuts before, but that this hit is a little bigger.

Godoy said the reductions have “forced our programs to make some changes on how we manage our resources.”

“It’s been hard enough this year figuring how to best service students,” she said. “Before, we were serving over 600 students. Now, we are serving 501. With less staffing and less resources, the students who need these services will be less informed.”

Godoy said such funding cuts are very hard to prepare for.

Juenemann expects to receive formal notice this summer on when the next cut will be official. “I think the decision has been made and will be made; we just don’t know the exact dollar amount yet,” he said.

Staffing and financial woes aside, it’s the students helped by these programs that are the main worry.

“If the funding keeps getting reduced, we will have (fewer) students who will be able to get a head start on the college experience,” Godoy said. “We have fewer financial resources to help students who are impacted by their own financial issues.”

Juenemann said, “This is an economic imperative. We need college-educated individuals to fill the jobs of the 21st century. These are vulnerable populations we are catering

ASG President election filing due today Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

Today is the last day to file as a candidate for Associated Student Government (ASG) president, with the forms due at noon in the Student Union.

The packet includes: a ticket consisting of candidates for both president and vice president; 200 signatures from students supporting your candidacy; a completed elections petition form; and a Certificate of Scholastic Eligibility verified by the Office of Admissions and Records.

The elections petition form includes a declaration of candidacy, experience, and a list of goals to accomplish and a plan to do so.

Candidates must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and carry a minimum of six credits.

Students will have the opportunity to vote online at mhcc.edu/vote, starting May 6 at 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on May 9.

Current ASG President William Miller said, “If you want it, you’ve got to chase it. It’s going to be exhausting, but it’s going to be worth it in the end.”

A mandatory candidate meeting will be held Mon-

day from noon to 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Biographies for voting pamphlets will be due Wednesday.

The Presidential Candidates Meet and Greet is April 24 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Main Mall, which allows students a chance to see the candidates. Campaigning is to begin April 22.

After that, there will be a vice presidential debates on April 29, and a presidential debate April 30 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Main Mall.

The 2013-14 ASG president will be announced at the Spring Dinner Dance held May 11 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham.

“I believe that candidates should be open-minded.

You are asked several questions; be okay with saying ‘I don’t know,’” Miller said. “Commitment is huge.

When the going gets tough, you need to be committed to ensure that the student body is being represented well.”

Chief of Staff, Director for Communications, Director for Community Affairs, Director for Diversity, Director for Finance, Director for Student Organizations, and Administrative Assistant are positions that are appointed by the ASG president.

Graduation announcement The deadline to apply for graduation is April 19, with the application to be turned into the Admissions, Registration and Records Office.

Commencement will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m.

GED/AHSD will be Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m.

Both will be held on the Gresham campus, with the GED/ AHSD ceremony being held indoors while the Commencement Ceremony will be outdoors in the stadium.

For more information, visit the MHCC website and look for “Graduation Information” under the “Current Students” tab.

April 12, 2013

to, and they need help to get there.”

Speaking about TRiO’s work, Juenemann said, “I really like to immerse myself with the students we are working with, to support them and enjoy their success.”

Godoy said many will come back and share their thanks and successes “and that’s what keeps me motivated,” she said. “We really have to focus on the ‘now.’ ” The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of participants and to ease students’ transition from one level of higher education to the next. It is designed to provide academic support to low-income students, first-generation college students and students with disabilities.

TRiO began when Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans to enter college and graduate. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and are referred to as the TRiO Programs, referencing the initial three title programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Special Services.

Class notices Today is the last day to add classes late with instructor permission April 25 is the last day to withdraw from a concentrated class without refund or grade change status May 17 is the last day to withdraw from a standard class without refund or grade change status June 7 is the last day to completely withdraw from college

News

the advocate

SEED project hopes to improve community Mike Mata

finals.” Clinton hugged Salmeron while posing for photos, along with the student from ASU and Stephen Colbert, the event host.

Salmeron and seven other SEED students went to the conference in St. Louis and then returned for a reception for Salmer-

our families and communities,” The Advocate Salmeron said in an email interview Thursday.

Salmeron’s CMISF project Coming from a small ruwill take place in her hometown ral community in El Salvador, of Jardines de la Nueva, where Glenda Maribel Alfaro Salmerthe project will improve the soils on’s composting project landed to improve the town’s harvest her next to former President Bill and thereby inClinton Saturday night with crease economic a 50 percent chance of winning a national competition.

“As from our home countries benefits and imSalmeron’s project, Com- we are all to making positive prove the standard of living post Methods to Improve Soil Fertility (CMISF), went change to help our families and communi- for the town.

Salmeron said up against 15 universities in ties,” the Clinton Global Initiative SEED Student, Glenda Maribel Alfaro Salmeron the current soil in Jardines de University (CGIU) challenge la Nueva is very in St. Louis last week — and claylike, which made it to the finals. Arizona State University’s DREAMZone on Monday in the Student Union. puddles water when it rains and Salmeron, a second-year dries out and cracks when it’s project ultimately took first place.

“I was so happy,” Salmeron Scholarship for Education and hot outside, neither of which are said. “When I was on stage I Economic Development (SEED) beneficial to growing produce or could feel all of the support from student, began CMISF as part other agricultural products.

“I considered many project everyone that voted. I also knew of the SEED program’s requirethat they would all be so excited ment that each student “develop ideas and learned a lot from my about it. It was amazing to repre- a project that we can implement MHCC classes and from comsent my family, country, MHCC when we return to our coun- munity organizations through and the SEED Program at CGIU,” tries,” adding that she has been workshops and community serworking for the past year on her vice. I also took a soils class last said Salmeron.

When Salmeron was intro- project with her instructors and fall where I learned about types of soils, methods for composting duced by Clinton, the former fellow SEED students.

“As leaders from our home and the benefits of healthy soils president said, “I’m very proud of her. She’s the first community countries, we are all dedicated to on production,” said Salmeron.

She added, “All of this knowlcollege student ever to reach the making positive change to help

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edge helped inspire my idea for composting in my home community. It is an inexpensive and easy project to implement, but the benefits will be big!”

The CMISF project will distribute composting bins as well as compost education to the roughly 100 people of Jardines de la Nueva.

Salmeron said her CMISF project will take about 15 months to complete, but she added that she might expand her project scope to other communities near hers.

“The biggest effort we will need is for families to learn and start a habit of composting. Other than that, it won’t require a lot of labor,” said Salmeron.

Of her experience with the CGIU and the conference at St. Louis, Salmeron said, “I learned a lot about other countries, cultures and world problems. I met other young people and learned about their projects for positive change,” adding that the sessions she attended taught her about marketing opportunities for her project.

“It was a wonderful educational and leadership opportunity,” she said of the conference.

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MHCC makes cuts for budget Jeff Hannig The Advocate

MHCC’s ongoing effort to reduce its budget deficit has cost four campus managers their jobs.

According to an email sent Tuesday

by MHCC President Michael Hay, the college has eliminated the positions of “the Manager of Benefits and Payroll Systems, held by Debbie Leingang; Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management, held by David Minger; Manager of Advising, Retention and Testing Services, held by Luis Juarez; and Manager of Custodial Services, held by Lance Belnap.”

In the email, Hay said the terminations were made for Mt. Hood to “continue to be our students’ best source for education, training and enrichment,” and that despite efforts to find financial solutions, the reality is that the college must make difficult but necessary strategic changes.

Hay indicated the staff cuts fit within a deficit-reduction plan. There are more structural staff changes to come, he cautioned.

Gale Blessing, MHCC director of human resources, labor negotiations and safety, was unavailable for comment before print deadline.

For Blessing’s answers about the changes, please see the updated story at www.advocate-online.net.

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Living Arts April 12, 2013

Photos by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Local high schoolers take over Visual Arts Gallery until May You can see the High School Art Exhibit through May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays in the Visual Arts Gallery

Above is part of the high school exhibit that is on display in the Visual Arts Gallery until May 1 and showcases works from area high school students. Below is a piece on scratchboard by Britney Faulkner a senior at Sandy high school entitled “Wildly Tinted.” On the right is a piece by David Douglas senior Danil Blashchishen entitled “Stereotypes” it is made of watercolors, colored pencil and magazine prints.

Local high school students exhibit their work in the Visual Arts Gallery in hopes of winning the Culture Shapers award Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

The Visual Arts Gallery will showcase around 100 pieces of art created by local high school students through May 1.

Students’ art comes from six high schools: Parkrose, David Douglas, St. Mary’s Academy, Sandy, Sam Barlow and Reynolds will be on display.

As it has for about 25 years, MHCC invites surrounding area schools to submit up to 20 pieces each.

St. Mary’s has participated for the last eight years. St. Mary’s teacher Kathy Mitchell said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for high school students to have their work in the public eye, to be in a real gallery in a college setting.”

The pieces will be ranked first and second in each of the following categories: originality, technical skill, composition/use of elements, and emergence of a personal vision/voice. Judges will be MHCC art instructors Lori Lorion, Nathan Orosco and Steve Mauldin.

The trio also will award “Best in Show” and “Culture Shapers,” the latter started three years ago to recognize exceptional leadership, artistic vision, and service to community.

Miles Browne, Gallery coordinator, said the “Shapers” award is to honor those students “who took an extra step.” The recipient earns a $150 cash prize.

An opening reception was held Thursday night and Dean of Social Science, Performing and Visual Arts Janet McIntyre presented awards. Results were not available at The Advocate’s press time.

Recipients received certificates as well as prizes in the form of art supplies, including sketchbooks.

“I always love watching the students come in and (to) see their expression as they see their piece in the gallery,” Browne said.

“It’s great just to see what these students are creating. Every year I’m always impressed with the quality of the work,” he said.

Digital animation, photography, painting, drawing, ceramics and mixed media are all represented in the show.

Mitchell allowed her Advanced Placement studio art class to select two pieces that they would like to show. St. Mary’s also will show ceramics and digital animation work.

Sam Barlow submitted 10 drawings, graphic design and mixed media pieces. Art teacher Lynn Adams said, “For my students, it’s really their only showcase. Anytime there’s a show, competition, contest, I try to go for it, because these kids don’t get a lot of recognition.”

Three of Adams’ beginning art students will present their project from an assignment she described as pretty challenging for freshman and required patterning instead of outlining. “When I hung them all out... the three of them popped out,” she said.

Sam Barlow student Joy Taber was inspired by an image she saw in a magazine to feature candle holders in her drawing.

“I really like the design, really, the lines and the patterns,” Taber said of her piece “Essence d’une Bougie.”

Vickie Chayamam, another Sam Barlow student, said she likes her piece, “Dreamcatcher,” because “It’s creative. It’s not really normal.”

Their teacher, Adams said the gallery show fires up her students.

“To me, it’s a great motiviation for them and a great way to do what we do as artists – show our work,” she said.

Living Arts

the advocate

Planetarium director

7

travels to Africa Katelyn Hilsenbeck MHCC Planetarium Director Pat Hanrahan will journey to Africa this spring to teach and entertain people about the southern night sky.

Hanrahan will visit the NamibRand Nature Reserve in western Namibia and the Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. It will be his second trip to Namibia.

In Namibia, he will entertain reserve guests at the reserve with an introduction to the night sky as he did previously. Hanrahan will show guests which parts of the sky are familiar to them based on where they live, and which are new.

Features specific to the African sky include: Alpha Centauri, our nearest star, and Beta Centauri, and how they point to the Southern Cross; the Jewel Box, an open cluster of very bright stars; galaxy Centauri A, or the “hamburger galaxy”.

“That’s just where I start,” said Hanrahan. “They don’t want to have something where it’s die-hard education; they want entertainment,” he said about guests who often have been on daylong tours.

He will have access to a telescope, but will use a green laser to point out things in the sky to the weary guests.

“Quite often they’re just happy to plop down in a chair and have me talk about the night sky without a telescope,” he said.

During his time in Botswana he will stay in tents and help rangers “be able to give a more informed tour of the sky” to visitors. Rangers have limited knowledge on astronomy but typically give tours of the sky to guests and answer questions.

Hanrahan’s goal is to create a checklist of interesting things for the rangers to tell visitors. “I’ll be giving them information on how to work with the guests and what kinds of things to point out them.”

He will take anti-malarial medicine on his trip because he will enter a part of Botswana where the disease is common.

Hanrahan said, “I originally was afraid to go into Africa, because, well, I just heard bad things about people getting ill and whatnot, but I found that it’s an amazing area and something I wish I would’ve done earlier.”

Through his astronomy group, the

Rose City Astronomers, Hanrahan learned of this opportunity in Namibia several years ago. It will be his first time in Botswana.

Former MHCC planetarium director and Rose City Astronomer Douglas McCarty has already journeyed to Africa twice, on Hanrahan’s recommendation, and plans to go back.

This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity that Hanrahan is pursuing because, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to see a part of the world and to see the southern sky,” he said. The airfare alone is nearly $3,000, which he paid for out of pocket.

During the daytime, Hanrahan will entertain himself with hiking. He is already familiar with the trails around the reserve in Namibia and has hiked for as many as 10 hours a day.

There’s a number of hills around where I’m staying and I take the personal challenge to see how many of those hills I can climb,” he said.

He follows the trails that zebras make when they run through the desert and carries a radio in case he gets into trouble.

Once reaching the top of a hill, the area flattens out and the challenge be-

comes finding the least steep trail to get back down, he said.

“You’re into areas where hardly anyone has been before... areas that are virtually untouched by man.

It’s just magical when you get up there.”

When not hiking, Hanrahan plans to work on his course plans for upcoming terms at MHCC as well as the planetarium show schedule.

For about an hour a day, he will have Internet access and hopes to Skype with his family members back home.

He will take three cameras and photograph his experience as well as the night sky throughout his trip.

“There are some nights I’ll be up all night,” taking pictures, he said.

“In terms of astrophotography, I tend to be somewhat of a rebel. I do all the things that other astrophoAbove are photos from Hanrahan’s previous trip to Namibia. He will be returning to Namibia tographers say you can’t do. this spring as well as travelling to Botswana.

“I want to get something that’s more artistic, and maybe less scientific.”

While traveling this spring, Hanrahan will return in time to teach summer term.

Photos contributed by Pat Harahan

The Advocate

MHCC Club fair to welcome former “The Voice” performer Kayla Tatum The Advocate

The last club fair of the school year will be held next week to encourage MHCC students to joining a club or extracurricular activity.

The Spring Club Fair will be held in the Main Mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday.

The club fair is held during the third week of every term. Its purpose is to market

MHCC clubs to as many students as possible and to promote what each is about. The fair is offered on different days at different times in an effort to reach more students.

Nelly’s Echo, a musician from the hit television show “The Voice” will be performing on Tuesday.

According to Leksi Lizotte, the director of the Student Organizational Council for Associated Student Government (ASG), there will be “passports (cards), which will have little squares on them so that students

can get stamps. Each of the clubs will have these stamps, so all they would need to do is go up to them (the clubs) and talk to them.”

Students who obtain at least 10 stamps can return their card to Lizotte and enter a raffle for a chance to win a $25 dollar gift card to the MHCC cosmetology salon, she said.

Lizotte said the previous two club fairs held this school year have been a success. At the first, “all of the food that I had at the club fair was gone in about an hour. And I had

made it for 200 servings,” she said. “I’m assuming 200 (visits) per hour and the club fair is a six-hour event. We get a lot of students.”

Tuesday’s performer, Nelly’s Echo, was chosen from the annual National Association for Campus Activities Conference that some of the ASG members attended. “There are tons of performers there” where groups can get contact information, Lizotte said.

For more information about the club fair, contact the ASG office at 503-491-7224.

8

Living Arts April 12, 2013

Review: Yeah Yeah ... No No No

the day tripper

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs fail to please with obscure sounds on their fourth studio album.

Shelby Schwartz

your weekend event planner

The Advocate

In their fourth studio album, indie rock band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs execute a cornucopia of musical stylings never before displayed in their previous music.

The YYY’s start the album “Mosquito” off with the foottappin’ good “Sacrilege.” The song mirrors characteristics of the band’s previous hit, “Heads Will Roll,” until you realize you are listening to an entirely new song. The song ends strong, with what sounds like an abundance of church ladies wailing a gospel song at the top of their lungs.

“Subway” is a quieter tune.

In a mysterious echo-y sense it is great; I wouldn’t recommend comparing this song to some of the group’s greater songs like “Maps” and “Soft Shock” because the 5 minute, 16 second “Subway” will be crucified.

The title track, “Mosquito,” has a sassy rock feel, which echoes the words “He’ll suck your blood,” over and over and over until it’s creepy. The song is creepy and really out of place on the album, even as the title track.

“Under the Earth,” redeems the prior two duds on the album, and proves to be super catchy.

Featuring a slow and enticing beat with a bit of mystery and intrigue thrown in, it is one of the album’s best tracks.

The beginning of “Slave” sounds like a dog playing with one of those annoying squeaking toys, but it’s weirder and techno-

today

hood River

Kicking off today is the annual Hood River Blossom Fest. The fest will run until April 28 and will include open studio tours of Columbia Gorge artists; a passport weekend at Columbia Gorge Winegrowers, including tastings; and a Second Saturday at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, including watching the planes take off and land as well as riding in the antique cars. All events will take place on a different day, so for a complete schedule, check out hoodriver.org.

y. It’s a weird electronic beat and adds nothing to the song. One gets hopeful that the awful noise will end but instead it fades in and out throughout the song. If it weren’t for that, this song would have been pretty good.

The YYY’s really show a sense of experimentalism and show off a new sound in the track “These Paths.”

The track “Area 52” is soon to be the theme song of every hardcore alien convention out there.

The song is rock-influenced and slightly techno tune, and speaks the words, “I wanna be an alien.”

“Buried Alive” starts strong but then features some rap verses, which cause the song to become a terrible track after the first minute.

“Always,” is a slower, pretty melody. This track is good; it’s

probably not the best but it’s also not strange or experimental. The following “Despair” is much the same in style and sound. These two help wind the album down.

The final track on the album, “Wedding Song,” is different than all that come before. It is emotional and revealing and not a rock tune; it is more about the words Karen O speaks then the music that comes along with it.

Overall, the album doesn’t rate as top-notch. If you are a hard-core fan and expected an indie rock album, “Mosquito” probably isn’t going to satisfy you, as the YYY’s previous albums better execute the rock stylings of the band. They are more straightforward and less experimental than the forthcoming “Mosquito,” which will hit stores on Tuesday.

Photo by Jeff Hannig/ The Advocate

Herstory Too!

Slam poet Lauren Zuniga read her work at the “Herstory Too” event Tuesday in the Vista Dining Room

Today & Sat. 4.13

SE Portland

Actor and Comedian Jon Lovitz will perform at the Helium Comedy Club tonight and Saturday with two shows each night, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets start at $25 for general admission and $30 for reserved seating. Lovitz was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” in the 80’s and acted in such movies as, “The Wedding Singer” and “Little Nicky.” To purchase tickets, visit heliumcomedy. com/portland. 1510 S.E. Ninth Ave., Portland.

Saturday 4.13

W. portland

A special, all-decades video dance attack will be held tonight at Lola’s Room at the Crystal Ballroom. VJ Kittyrox will play music videos from the past 40 years. The event is 21+ and begins at 9 p.m. The cost is $5. 1332 W. Burnside St., Portland.

the advocate

Leveling the playing field

Governor Kitzhaber signs the tuition equity bill 2787 into law on April 2, granting undocumented students the right to pay in-state tuition at Oregon public colleges Cameron Miller The Advocate

On April 2, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed House Bill 2787, a new tuition equity law that allows undocumented Oregon high school graduates to pay in-state tuition rates.

Laura Aguon, MHCC Associated Student Government (ASG) director of state and federal affairs, said, “With the passing of HB 2787, we are ultimately making college

more affordable and accessible to all students.

“Hopefully, this encourages students to continue on to higher education, giving America a healthy, intelligent workforce,” she said.

ASG took part in supporting the legislation recently and in the past. Aguon said that after the tuition equity bill failed in the in the state Senate in 2012, the Mt. Hood contingent and Oregon students rallied together this year in Salem “to see that this year in-state tuition be afforded to all Oregon students.”

In an OregonLive.com article from April 2, Kitzhaber declared, “Friends, a dream has become a reality.”

Similar bills were presented to the House and Senate in 2003 and 2011 but never cleared the House. This year, the House passed the revised bill on Feb. 22 and the Senate approved it on March 21.

Kitzhaber’s views in this case are reflected by Mt. Hood’s ASG group. “Governor Kitzhaber speaks for all who are in favor of higher education equality,” Aguon said. “This

9

push towards eliminating the financial barriers that discourage students from pursuing post-secondary higher education is going in the right direction.”

A Feb. 15 OregonLive.com article written by Yuxing Zheng said “(a)pproximately 38 students are expected to take advantage of this program during the 2013-15 biennium, with another 80 students expected to benefit during the 2015-17 biennium.”

This means that over the next several years, many students who would have had difficulty paying for college will have the chance to pursue higher education.

Previously, students who were not officially documented as U.S. citizens were required to pay nonresident tuition and fees at colleges and universities. The new law now exempts students who pass certain requirements.

Those requirements are as follows: The student must have attended school in the country for at least five years, attended a high school for at least three years, graduated, and have shown intent to become a US citizen.

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10 Sports

April 12, 2013

Late inning rally helps Saints Pitino’s week of sweep Clackamas doubleheader wins hard to match Shaun Lutz The Advocate

Itching for action after rain washed away their weekend games, the Saints baseball team traveled to Oregon City Tuesday to sweep a doubleheader from the Clackamas Cougars.

After splitting a doubleheader with Chemeketa last week, MHCC was gearing up for games against the Lane Titans over the weekend.

But April showers forced postponement of the games until Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Saints dominated Southern Region foe Clackamas.

Sophomore Jon Bjorklund threw nine strong innings in the first game, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, striking out five Cougar batters in the process.

Making only four hits, the Saints capitalized on three Clackamas errors in the 5-2 victory. The Cougars scored their only two runs in the home half of the ninth inning before Bjorklund closed the door.

In the back half of the double dip, Clackamas took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. MHCC’s offense was stifled through the first five innings but touched up the Clackamas starter, freshman Zach Carter, for three runs in the top of the sixth before knocking him out.

The Cougar reliever, freshman Satoru Kusama, gave up the fourth run of the inning before he was run out of the ball game, forcing Clackamas to dig deeper into their bullpen by bringing in a third freshman arm, Kyle Diaz, to stop the bleeding. Clackamas added another run to bring themselves within a manageable two-run deficit heading in the final frame.

But a six-run onslaught by the Saints offense ran Diaz out of the game. Sophomores Ryan Degner and Marcus Blackmon and freshman Logan Grindy each drove in two runs in MHCC’s 10-2 victory.

Sophomore Brandon Williams started the game for the Saints, providing six in-

nings of work and striking out seven batters. Freshman right-handed reliever Zane Bambusch struck out two Cougar hitters during his only inning of work Tuesday night.

MHCC is set to host the LinnBenton Roadrunners for two games Saturday in a match-up featuring the top two squads from the Southern Region of the NWAACC. Results from Thursday’s doubleheader against Lane were unavailable at press time.

Freshman Jacob Thran

Short relays highlight Tacoma meet John Tkebuchava The Advocate

The MHCC track and field team placed second in both the men’s and women’s 4x100-meter relay competing against more than 10 colleges at the Shotwell Classic Saturday at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

The men’s relay team, consisting of freshmen Caleb Coe and Chris Beard and sophomores LT Avants and Zechariah McLaurin, finished with a time of 43.49 seconds.

The women’s team, consisting of sophomore Molly Scoles and freshmen Whitney Warren, Charlene Manning and Kristi Kachel, clocked in at 51.70 seconds.

Overall, both teams came home with over a dozen top five finishes, including fifth place in the 100-meter run by Scoles, who is proving to be a solid all-around athlete,.

Scoles posted a time of 13.04 , and also had a third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:08.

Sophomore distance runner Christa Collmer continued her consistent top finishes in the women’s 800-meter, placing fifth with a time of 2:23.

The women’s 4x400-meter relay team (Scoles, Collmer, Whitney Warren and Manning) placed fourth in 4:15.

Freshman standout Manning posted a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (16.57).

The women’s jumps were led by freshmen Carrie Haguewood in the high jump (fifth place, 1.45 meters) and Kachel in the long jump (fifth, 4.76 meters).

In the throws, freshman McKenzie Warren placed

second in the shot put, 12.22 meters, and sophomore Tori Dixon placed fourth, 11.88 meters.

Warren also placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 38.44 meters.

At the meet, Warren only competed in two events since the hammer was on the second day and the team would only be there for the first day of competition.

“I was really disappointed,” said Warren, especially since the hammer throw is her favorite event.

Nonetheless, Warren says she’s been happy with how she has performed in the opportunities she’s had thus far.

“I’m just hoping that I either stay the same or get better,” said Warren.

Fortunately for Warren, she will have the opportunity to compete in all three of her events today at the John Knight Twilight Invite meet at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

On the men’s side, sophomore Avants placed third in both the 200-meter (23.11) and the 400-meter (51.26).

Avants also ran on the 4x400-meter relay team — consisting of freshman Cody Beierle, sophomore Vladislav Ishenin and Coe — that placed third with a time of 3:32.

Sophomore Tyler Callahan, MHCC’s javelin record holder — placed second in his staple event, throwing for 63.57 meters.

On April 20, the team will stay local to attend the Cougar Open meet at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City.

The Saints have six meets left on their schedule, not including the NWAACC Championship meet.

If you think you’ve had a good week, feel free to step in Rick Pitino’s shoes. The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team didn’t hit the lottery, but his recent success is comparable.

Shaun Lutz Reaching the The Advocate pinnacle of college basketball, Pitino and his Cardinals won the national title for the third time in school history (the school’s first since 1986). What’s more impressive is that it’s Pitino’s second championship.

Even more impressive is that Pitino became the first coach in NCAA Division I history to multiple titles at two different schools.

Still not impressed? Pitino didn’t just win a title for two schools, he won a title for two schools in the SAME state, winning his first in 1996 while at the helm for the Kentucky Wildcats. That stat alone is enough to keep any grown man happy.

But, wait: there’s more.

During the season, several Louisville players told Pitino that if and when they won the title, he had to get a tattoo. Their head coach responded by saying, “Hell yeah, I am getting a tattoo.” Reportedly, he is keeping his promise to his players and plans on getting his new ink.

Pitino cemented himself alongside the likes of John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Knight, and Dean Smith as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time Monday night.

It didn’t come easy for Pitino, though.

He lost his best friend and brother-in-law during the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Another brother-in-law died during a freak accident. He also committed adultery and then was extorted by the same woman.

His tenure at Louisville has been anything but smooth sailing, yet this week has helped eased the pain of all those incidents and brought triumph to the legacy he is building.

Speaking of triumph, anyone paying attention to March Madness now knows the name Kevin Ware.

The sophomore guard out of the Bronx, N.Y. suffered a greusome broken leg during a regional final game that could’ve easily broken the spirit of this Cardinal team, yet his words “I’ll be fine, you guys win this game,” served as motivation that Louisville used en route to its championship.

No, even this was not the end of Pitino’s magical week. He celebrated his 37th wedding anniversary.

His son, Richard, was named the new head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team. Goldencents, a horse he co-owns, won the Santa Anita Derby and qualified for the Kentucky Derby.

Did I mention that Rick Pitino was also deservingly elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame? Throw that into the glorious run Pitino had.

Now, I don’t know many people who have had quite such an experience inside seven days, and I doubt I’ll ever witness this again, so a resounding congratulations is in order.

Battling back to beat Wichita State in a national semifinal, then surging from behind to capture the title over Michian, on top of all Pitino’s other accolades, was the icing on the cake.

The head coach conquered anything in his path this week, something not only sports fans, but anyone can admire. Thank you for setting a new bar, Mr. Pitino.

Sports

the advocate

11

Sitting at 20-3, holds second best record in NWAACC Aaron Marshall The Advocate

After losing a nailbiter in game one of a doubleheader against Chemeketa Community College Wednesday 6-5, the softball team came back in game two with a dominating 9-3 win.

In game one, the Saints lost on a walkoff home in the bottom of the seventh. Although the Saints typically out-hit their opponents, Chemeketa ended the game with 13 hits compared to 11 for the Saints. Freshman shortstop Teauna Hughes homered twice, in the first and sixth innings, but it wasn’t enough.

MHCC owned game two. Saints scored twice in the first, three times in the third, and twice in the sixth and the seventh. Sophomore pitcher Brittney Dawson pitched all seven innings and got the win. She is 6-0 on the season.

Saints now have a 20-3 overall record and 4-2 record in conference, with the losses coming to Chemeketa and Southwestern Community College.

“We do have a target on our back. We focus on playing our game, working to get better every day and having a purpose in ev-

erything we do,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter.

McWhorter, in her 11th season as head coach, says it takes a lot of time and effort to be successful.

their strengths and their strengths stronger.

But most of all, they have to enjoy what they are doing,” she said.

“Our entire pitching staff has worked hard to take care of business in the circle.

is hitting .500 in 22 games played.

“All of our players were good hitters when they came to the program. It’s our job to make them great. They have worked extremely hard and they understand hitting.

They work to make adjustments quickly,” said McWhorter.

Even with having the best record in the Southern Region, McWhorter stays with a humbling mindset.

“We are not looking ahead. We keep it simple, one pitch at a time. Control what we can control. We do not focus on our record; we focus on one game at a time. We still have a long road ahead of us,” said McWhorter.

All of MHCC’s losses this year have been close: 2-1 against Bellevue Community College, 3-2 against Southwestern and 6-5 against Chemeketa.

According to McWhorter, the team has been working on game-like pressure situaOur pitchers complement one another well. tions in practice to be prepared for games.

If one struggles, another one steps up. They On Saturday the team has a noon doubleare a team within the team,” said McWhort- header at home against Clackamas Commuer. nity College. Clackamas is 15-7 overall and Hitting has also been a major factor in the 4-0 in conference play. team’s success, especially by Hughes, who MHCC will play Lower Columbia on leads the NWAACC with 14 home runs. She Tuesday at home in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

“All of our players were good hitters when they came to the program. It’s our job to make them great.” softball coach Meadow McWhorter

“We have worked hard to make this a program that players want to be a part of and they are proud of. It is a family: once a Saint, always a Saint,” said McWhorter.

“No one can plan to be a three-time champion. Every year, every team is different. You work to make their weaknesses

Sport

SC

entral

- Trail Blazers Schedule - Tonight -

- Sunday -

- Tuesday -

Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers

POrtland Trail Blazers

at

at

at

Portland Trail Blazers

Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Clippers

7 p.m.

2 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

12 Sports Photos by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

April 12, 2013

MHCC thrower looks to leave behind a legacy

Freshman McKenzie Warren broke two school records (discus and hammer throw) in her very first meet as a Saint.

­John Tkebuchava The Advocate

With two school records now under her belt, MHCC’s track and field thrower McKenzie Warren is looking to make a name for herself as a Saint.

An Oregon native, Warren attended Sandy High School and has lived in Sandy all her life.

She’s also a veteran athlete.

Warren brings a wealth of experience to track and field since starting the sport in the third grade. Though most elementary schools do not have track and field teams, Warren took the opportunity to take part in a summer track program, where she trained under Doug Bowman, who coincidently is now the throwing coach at MHCC. Besides her deep roots in track and field, Warren has been active in many other sports, playing on basketball and volleyball teams from fifth grade through her senior year in high school.

She has accumulated numerous honors, including a 2012 Oregon state championship in both the shot put and discus, repeating titles won her junior year.

Despite the fact no Oregon high schools stage the hammer throw event at their meets, Warren was able to break the MHCC school record for the event. The freshman said she has practiced the hammer for several years. Her record throws were 44.24 meters in the discus and 48.04 meters in the hammer throw. “(Bowman has) been helping me with it since eighth grade,” she said, although she hasn’t had many chances to

compete in the event.

That practice certainly paid off. Kicking off her MHCC athletic career at the Eric Anderson Ice Breaker meet, Warren broke two school records, one that stood for three decades.

Asked to list her favorite of three throwing events, she said, “Hammer is definitively my favorite.” She said she finds tossing a large metal sphere on a chain is just “so cool.”

Warren’s three events are all clumped in the throwing category and onlookers might see some similarities in the way they function. Yet, Warren says, each is very different and distinctive in how the throws are carried out.

They have “totally different footwork,” she said. “Sometimes I get messed up in the discus if I’m thinking of the hammer.”

As the Saints enter the mid-season, and with Warren already holding two records, one can wonder if things can get much better for the thrower. But she’s hoping that they really do, right up to NWAACCs. “I’m doing pretty well. I’m expecting to get better still, so hopefully I will,” she said. As long as she throws equal to or better than she has been, she’ll be satisfied, she said.

As for how she’s able to keep on top of her throws and hit her marks consistently, Warren said composure and execution is key.

“I’m pretty calm. When I do summer track, we go to nationals,” she said, and because of that, she’s used to performing on the big stage.

“I just try to get my mind off (competing). If I think about it too much, it messes me up.”

Warren also brings a good sense of confidence when she

competes. She aims to place first at NWAACCs in the shot put, hammer throw and discus. She’s already qualified for the season-ending tournament in all three events.

This Saint also likes to draw some inspiration from others to help her perform. One such athlete is Mac Wilkins, an American discus thrower from Eugene who won the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Warren said she practices with the former Olympian sometimes over the summer.

Even if Warren does not go on to break her own records in the upcoming meets, she will have the opportunity to do so next year, as she plans to return to MHCC for her sophomore year. After her time here, Warren hopes to continue on to a four-year university, and she won’t even stop there.

“I want to be a paramedic, so after I finish there I’ll have to go to another two-year college to get my paramedic degree,” she said.

Off the field, her hobbies require a degree of calmness and precision, just like her throwing.

“I like to go hunting. Hunting and camping, those are my favorite things,” Warren said. “Anything outdoors, I like.”

Just as with track and field, her hunting experience runs very deep. She has been hunting most her life, and said her dad has always been big on the sport.

“We hunt mostly deer and elk, with mostly gun and bow,” she said, adding that the bow is very hard to use.

Regardless, whether Warren becomes a paramedic or Olympic thrower (or maybe an Olympic skeet shooter), NWAACC throwers and deer alike should take heed of this Lady Saint, as her limitless energy is bound to take her far.

“I just try to get my mind off (competing). If I think about it too much, it messes me up.” thrower McKenzie Warren