The Advocate Vol. 49 Issue 24 - April 18, 2014

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The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College

April 18, 2014

Storm clouds loom over finances 7% enrollment decline

Volume 49 Issue 24

Student pockets will be missing money starting Summer Term

by Greg Leonov

$3 tuition

The Advocate

deficit

Responding to gloomy projections of a continued decline in student enrollment, the MHCC Board of Education has approved a $3 per credit hour tuition increase, taking effect this summer term.

The board vote on April 10 followed a special budget committee meeting on the projected MHCC budget for the 2014-15 school year. The tuition increase is intended to help offset a forecast 7 percent enrollment decline, said MHCC President Debbie Derr, who outlined additional cost-saving steps.

With board member Paul Capell acting as chairman, the budget committee heard unsettling news from Sergey Shepelov, MHCC systems analyst/programmer for computer services.

Shepelov presented enrollment projections, saying that Mt. Hood’s student population draws largely on people in their first 15 weeks of unemployment and from about 17 percent of new high school graduates from surrounding public school districts.

increase

Tuition

Continued on page 3

Cost increase per credit hour ($)

Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

es in dollars s a re c in n io it Tu by year

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

Forensics team takes fifth at nationals MHCC’s speech, debate team returns from Denver

by Hayden Hunter The Advocate Mt. Hood’s Forensics team went up against fierce competition at the Phi Rho Pi Community College Nationals held in Denver, Colo., last week, but did so in stride, placing fifth overall for its total season’s work.

Counting all the events entered this year, including the Denver event, the team as a whole placed fifth in the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), or group debates.

MHCC debaters were at a bit of a disadvantage in Denver, considering most debates they attend follow International Public Debate Association (IPDA) rules, which are different, said team coach Shannon Valdivia, forensics and speech instructor at Mt. Hood.

Karasalla Fale, a second-year student at Mt. Hood, competed along with Chris Josi, a freshman who debated in the novice division at the event. Fale had to argue the affirmative for cutting trade ties (import/ export) with Russia, which turned out a bit frustrating since her competitors had little foreign affairs knowledge, she said.

The Saints would prevail, however.

Tyler Garcia and Josi both advanced to the Sweet 16 Sweepstakes, along with Fala, who competed in the professional division.

“I don’t think any of us expected to be fifth overall. Not like we couldn’t do it, but (we) just didn’t think that it would happen,” said Fale.

With Fale the only MHCC debater to return from last year, all other Saints had to debate in thte novice division. Valdivia said she was pleased with the season results.

“I feel for a team of mostly first-year

competitors, we did fantastic!” she exclaimed. “We finished in the top three at most of our tournaments, earned a Silver Team Sweepstakes for the Northwest Forensics Conference, a fifth-place IPDA Season Sweeps and numerous individual event and debate awards.

“However, we are not done yet,” she said.

On April 26, the team heads to Lower Columbia Community College to participate in IPDA regionals. There, they won’t encounter any handicaps with the format of their debate.

How IPDA or one-on-one debates normally take place is for one person to have the affirmative (who is in charge of providing evidence in favor of the topic and concluding the debate) and one person to have the negative (who is in charge of refuting the other persons evidence). Beginning with the person who is for the negative, both players begin taking turns eliminating topics, out of five possible topics until one is left.

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Car thefts plague campus Three car thefts have been reported on the MHCC Main Campus in the span of a week.

The most recent theft came Wednesday in Lot A, with the car reported stolen a 1998 Honda Civic.

That followed a reported theft on April 9, involving a 1996 Toyota Camry in lot PL, and another on Tuesday, involving a 1996 Acura Integra in lot H. All thefts occurred on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Public Safety issued an all-staff email Wednesday to alert MHCC employees to the thefts, and suggested appropriate precautions to deter more thefts and break-ins.

Public Safety advises that each vehicle should be locked, with windows up; valuables should not be left anywhere in vehicles; and detachable stereo faceplates should be removed. Use of antitheft devices is recommended.

Currently, the MHCC Bookstore has an anti-theft club device device, “Dr. Hooks,” now for sale at $15 (a 25 percent discount) through May. Public Safety urges people to immediately report all missing or stolen vehicles, and suspicious activities or people to its office at 503-491-7310. Witnesses should not confront suspects.

They are currently working with the Gresham Poilce Department to identify and apprehend suspects.

In case of emergency, call 503-491-7911.

Forensics

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Continued on page 3

2013 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

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2

Opinion

April 18, 2014

Editorial: Take the necessary steps to transfer

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a Tr

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Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate

We know that plenty of students at Mt. Hood are ready to celebrate their graduation this spring. But, hold on now: If you’re getting a transfer degree, with plans to enter a four-year university, you still have plenty of work to do.

Transferring to a college is not a fast or easy process. There are many things you need to consider that may have slipped your mind. It’s easy to gloss over these details and be left drifting in a sea of frustration. We at The Advocate

have had our own transfer issues, so we don’t want others to experience the same headaches.

First, it’s a good idea to make sure that you are actually on track to getting your degree. Some of us miscalculated our credits and requirements, which set us back a few pegs. There are all kinds of mistakes and misconceptions that people make while planning for a degree. If you have even the slightest hesitation about some type of require-

ment, ask somebody; don’t twiddle your thumbs and pray that you’ve been doing everything right. We have an awesome set of advisers at the college who can be vital assets.

Mt. Hood also has many local university representatives frequently dropping in to answer questions. They usually arrive in groups, so this can be a great way to get personal interactions with various colleges in one sitting. Take, for example, the PSU advis-

er available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Wednesday, in the Jazz Cafe.

If you haven’t already been using DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System), get on that! It’s a great program that details what you need for a certain degree, and traces your progress along the way. There can still be errors and confusions with the program, so it’s good to work with MHCC advisers to fill in the blanks. Also, check out some of the College Success classes we have at Mt. Hood. They are smaller, easy-credit courses that can help you plan for the academic future.

While you may have met the required classes for your MHCC degree, there could be some further classes that a university demands from its incoming transfer students. You might have to complete eight credits of economics, such as the University of Oregon, to earn that final diploma. Look at a college’s requirements, along with your degree, and plan accordingly. It’s also important to check GPA requirements and hold your grades accountable.

Decide where you want to transfer as early as possible, and work with an adviser at that institution every step of the way. The earlier, the better – trust us.

Some of the classes available at Mt. Hood can cut out work you would have to do (and pay dearly for) at a university. One example is the film classes offered at Mt. Hood, the same as those required over at Portland State. Taking them here allows you to be one step ahead of the curve, wherever you are going. Check transfer articulations found on most universities’ websites

for specific courses.

If there is a specific program you want to enter, apply early and triplecheck the requirements. Just because you made it into the college doesn’t necessarily mean you are home free.

Deadlines for a college and its programs can differ.

Let’s not forget all the other little details.

For example, what’s your living situation going to be? Are you going to find a dorm or get an apartment? If you go the apartment route, good luck paying for that on your own. You’re probably going to need a roommate, or three.

There are finanical advisers here at Mt.Hood that can help you figure what living option is best for you.

Also, beware of over-borrowing: Always apply for scholarships and grants before accepting loans (if you have to take out loans, aim for the subsidized options). Regardless of what you choose, it won’t be cheap.

You’re probably going to need a job.

Most universities have plenty of jobs or programs on, or around, campus that can keep your wallet from being totally baren.

There’s also getting your documents or transcripts sent to a university (which is provided free in MHCC’s Student Services department), getting accepted on time, and getting accepted in the first place.

If you hope to graduate next year, now could not be a better time to start planning the groundwork. Deadlines for transferring can be as early as January for Fall Term at a four-year school.

It’s good to get started now, to prepare for any potential issues down the road.

Games like Candy Crush are secretly sinister

by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate

“Candy Crush Saga” may seem like nothing but gumdrops and lollipops (literally), but don’t be fooled, this game harbors darker intentions.

For those of you who don’t know, Candy Crush is a wildly popular free game that is available on mobile devices. It’s a pretty simple game. You match up candy pieces in rows of three or higher.

Sometimes the game mixes things up, but color matching is the crux of it. It’s like “Bejeweled” on a sugar rush.

What’s odd is that Candy Crush is free, but it’s one of the highest grossing apps on iTunes. That’s because it’s a dishonest scam. The game’s only goal is to get you addicted so you keep plunking money into it.

When you lose a level, you lose a life. If you run out, you have to wait 24 freaking hours to get another set of lives. Of course, you can speed that process up with a little more money.

There are also certain items that make the game easier, like a giant lollipop or an army of Swedish Fish. How-

ever, there is a catch. The game lays it out like this: “Hey buddy, use that pretty little item there. Didn’t that feel good? Look how easy that just made everything! Oh, you want to use it again?

That’ll cost you.” It will give you a taste of something to make your candy experience a little sweeter so you’ll be forever tempted to buy it.

Every facet of this game is designed to make in-game purchases more attractive. The longer you go in the game, the harder it gets. And at a certain point, you feel the pressure to buy power-ups in order to proceed at a normal pace. It also makes the wait between lives so long that it encourages you to spend money in order to keep playing.

Like a junkie needing his next hit. I’m really only scratching the surface here with the terribly gimmicky features.

And if you can’t spend any more money, just do the game’s dirty work and share it with your friends on Facebook for some free lives. Get your friends addicted and live in hollow happiness with all your digital tweaker friends.

Speaking of junkies and tweakers, the gameplay is like the equivalent of a drug. The way in which it constantly assaults your brain with explosions and colors, without doing much, makes you think you’re really accomplishing something. The game’s narrator will also coo sweet nothings into your ear

with a chocolatey smooth voice that only further illustrates this point. It manipulates the endorphin releasing pleasures with ascending levels, scores and candy explosions in order to make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

The worst part is that the game itself isn’t any good. There is almost no skill involved. You can try to predict patterns and manipulate luck to a certain degree, but there is too much randomness. It tries to distract you from its mediocrity by throwing colors, explosions and candy at your face. It’s like a colorful slot machine, except money only goes in and nothing comes out.

I know that other “free”-to-play games follow the same shameful model, like “Clash of Clans” and “Tiny Towers.”

I’m just picking on Candy Crush because it’s one of the more well known perps.

I’m also aware that around 70 percent of individuals who actually beat the game haven’t spent a dime. And to those people I say, “Really?” That still requires a ridiculous amount of patience that this game doesn’t deserve.

And that doesn’t dissuade from the fact that its creators still make a whopping $1 to 3.5 million every day. It’s incomprehensible to think how many idiots are actually slamming their Neanderthal foreheads on the “purchase” button to make a dumb game easier.

This awful business model has been

ruining the industry and seeping into other good games like “Forza Motorsport,” “Dead Space,” and “Plants Vs. Zombies.” The success of these games encourages publishers and developers to find ways to squeeze every cent out of the consumer’s wallet through micro-transactions, rather than making a

great product. This leads to cutting back content and progress within a game and toying with the mechanics so that buying stuff becomes a priority.

And the sad thing is that voices like mine that oppose this corrupt form of gaming get drowned out by all the money it makes.

“Comcast is raising its rates again on May 15th. Another $10 and change. F--k the sidewalk, we need competition now. We don’t have Verizon Fios here. We are trapped with an ugly, ugly monopoly. We need this alternative. They make toilets that sink into the ground all over London and other big cities. Make network huts that sink into the ground except when they need maintenance. We can engineer these things and hopefully slap Comcast back to goddamn reality.”

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the Advocate Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-ChiefKatelyn Hilsenbeck Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Living Editor Living Arts Editor Rebecca RebeccaGaulke Gaulke

Opinion Editor News Editor

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SE Stark Street Mt.26000 Hood Community College Gresham, Oregon 26000 SE Stark97030 Street Gresham, Oregon 97030

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News

April 18, 2014

Today is the last day to apply for graduation

3

Slice of life

Tuition

Continued from page 1

Projected 2014-2015 enrollment numbers very discouraging Chief Financial Officer Jennifer DeMent gave a detailed 2014-2015 budget overview, and said if Shepelov’s enrollment numbers are factored into the projected budget, then the estimated college deficit could make Mt. Hood not only unsustainable, but inoperable, without serious adjustments.

In order to return to healthy financial footing, Mt. Hood would have to get its funding support from the state back to 2007 to 2008 levels, DeMent said.

Derr presented the board with a formal president’s budget message and said she has faced similar “challenges” before.

“It is my experience that all budget developments present challenges. Even when there may appear to be adequate revenues, there are budget requests that cannot be provided for,” she said.

“We need to take a serious look at long-term: Where are we going; what is the missing vitality of our programs; and, I don’t mean just instructional programs, I mean programs in the sense of what we do, how we support our students,” said Derr about keeping enrolled students at MHCC until they graduate.

The budget committee scheduled a budget workshop meeting that will be open to the public for May 7. It will

meet again to approve a formal 20142015 budget plan in the MHCC boardroom on May 14, prior to the next regular board meeting.

After the grim discussion April 10 about the uncertainty of Mt. Hood’s financial future, there was an ominous environment in the boardroom.

But Derr would lift everyone’s spirits when she presented Mt. Hood’s Outstanding Support Staff Awards to Worksource Specialist Sheila McQueen, Adult Basic Skills Administrative Assistant Cecelia Pelayo, and Transitions Program Assistant Jenny Ruelas.

Johnson Controls, the organization responsible for optimizing Mt. Hood’s infrastructure with improvements, such as the HVAC system, and the recently installed aluminum light posts, presented Mt. Hood with a ceremonial check of $409,000 from the Energy Trust of Oregon as a tax incentive MHCC earned for installing the HVAC system.

Soon after, the board would unanimously approve a $3 tuition increase per credit hour which will take effect this summer.

In her prepared budget message, Derr also said that “The instructional and academic support functions of the College have been reduced by 5 percent from the adopted FY13-14 budget. Reductions have come in

part-time salaries, supplies and materials.

“The student development function of the budget is reduced by 6.5 percent from FY13-14. Reductions include full-time and part-time staff as well as travel, materials and supplies.

“The institutional support function of the College is reduced by 9 percent, including full-time and part-time positions, travel, supplies and materials,” she said.

In brighter news for MHCC students, the board voted to adopt fee schedule changes that include reductions in some areas.

Starting next fall, the Access Fee will not be required for any student taking only a single, one-credit course.

The new schedule also eliminates the $35 College Now fee and lowers the overdue fines for checking out videos to $0.25 from $1 “to increase circulation of new video collection,” according to the board agenda.

Normally, board meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month. The most recent meeting landed on a Thursday so that board members could attend the American Association of Community Colleges’ annual convention where speakers included U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

The next board meeting is scheduled for May 14 at 6 p.m.

Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

The Spring Term Club Fair took over the Main Mall with carnival-themed activities on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forensics

Continued from page 1

Debaters prepare by keeping up with current events Fale said, “You have to have both sides of the argument and be able to argue for both sides well.”

After a topic is chosen, the debaters have 30 minutes to prepare their argument.

The debate itself only lasts 26 minutes — giving the debaters 13 minutes a piece — going back and forth between debaters who present various arguments off of their prepared readings.

Fale and her fellow debaters are getting ready by learning new philosophies, and philosophical theories, but mostly by keeping updated on the news and current events.

Even though this year is almost over, Valdivia has high hopes for next year: “I look forward to next year and what it has to bring.”

Venture Magazine

Look for it on newsstands in early May!

4

April 18, 2014

Living Arts

Café Tuesday returns

Upcoming.......

May 13:

May 27:

June 3:

Asian cuisine

Spanish style food

Westernstyle buffet

Located at Lincoln Station Grill 310 SW Lincoln St., Portland

Next up on the menu on April 29: a three-course taste of Italian

by Greg Leonov The Advocate On Tuesday, students in Mt. Hood’s Hospitality and Tourism program hosted their first Café Tuesday event of the term at Lincoln Station Grill in Downtown Portland to gain experience in serving and preparing meals for customers and guests.

Roni Doyle, who does the marketing for her class, said that Café Tuesday is an event run by two different classes in Mt. Hood’s hospitality program: a culinary class and a catering class.

“It helps us, as students, learn the back of the house, the front of the house, running a restaurant — fine dining, we call it,” Doyle said.

Café Tuesday will be going on every two weeks, and will feature a different style of cuisine each time, she said. This past event featured Northwest Cuisine. “We focus on flavors from the Columbia River. There’s, like, seared salmon, we always have optional vegetarian dish, and then there’s chicken for people who don’t like seafood.

“Every week is different. April 29, it will be Italian week,” Doyle said.

“On May 13, it will be Asian week, and then on 27th of May, it’ll be Spanish week. And then the very last week, we do Café Tuesday of the semester, we do on June 3, and that’s a Westernstyle buffet barbeque.”

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and reservations are taken until 12:20 p.m. The program also invites Mt. Hood students, PSU staff, and any other drop-in customers.

Dining capacity is 48 persons.

Guests who decide to attend Café Tuesday have the option of buying a three-course meal for $10, or to purchase a la cart items separately. A three-course meal costs $5 for Mt. Hood students.

Doyle enjoys the event and said the program helps students to understand event planning.

“It makes us aware of what people go through when we’re doing catering or restaurants. It gives us the perspective on how things are run – you have to be very consistent and precise in what we do,” she said. “We have to understand the cost of food — breaking it down to the whole cost of what a plate would cost to make.”

On the culinary side, those students get “to learn hands-on through a chef on how to prepare things, so they have a chef working with them and teaching them. They’re learning hands-on, definitely more than we are because they do all the cooking,” she said.

Doyle said she hopes to see Mt. Hood students at Café Tuesday. “I encourage students to come down and check us out. When we raise money from our tips and gratuity, [it] all goes back into our program, which helps

Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate

sponsor peoples’ scholarships and other things.”

Doyle made her rounds downtown to drum up business. She was “pound-

Looking for something to do? Check out our TO BE revamped weekly calendar for some fun DETERMINED ideas!

2 1

Book signing

Tuesday, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

MHCC Bookstore Local author and former MHCC student William Curl will be signing his book “Faith of the Cosmos: The Beginning,” which started out as a class assignment, and turned into much more, in the Bookstore next week.

Books will be available for purchase during the event.

ing the pavement at local businesses, making them aware where can you get a three-course meal for 10 dollars. It is a really good deal,” she said.

“I think it’s important that every Café Tuesday that we do this term that we fill up, so we all have the experience of running a very busy place.”

Viral Vid of the Week

3 Tulip Festival

Feast and Famine Exhibit

Open daily, hours vary Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave, Portland This exhibit focuses on art since 1850 and questions how artists use the topic of food and drink to advocate social issues. Featuring more than 60 prints and posters, this is a good opportunity to enjoy art while also learning about history. For more information including hours, visit portlandartmuseum.org.

Photo contributed by William Lee

Open daily through May 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm 33814 S. Meridian Rd. Woodburn, Ore. 97071 Celebrate the season this weekend by heading over to see spring in full bloom at the 2014 Annual Tulip Fest. This event is fun for the whole family and is worth a little bit of a drive. If you want to cut some tulips yourself, the cost is $5 per bouquet or 4 bouquets for $15. Visit woodenshoe.com/tulip-fest for more information.

The Parkour Dog In the mood for a laugh? As part of our weekly feature, we will show you one awesome video and tell you why you should watch it.

This week’s video is for all the animal lovers out there. It features a dog who does awesome tricks and will surprise you with his skills. The music is pretty cool, too, and makes the video that much better. From riding a skateboard over ramps to jumping through the air like a ninja, this dog does it all. To see it for yourself, search it on YouTube today.

April 18, 2014

Living Arts

5

Annual Regional High School Art exhibit in the Visual Arts Gallery

Award winners

2014 Culture Shaper Emily Walker

Best of Show Mikayla Lindsey

First in Originality Madeleine Felix

First in Technical Skill Kayla Anderson

See story for additional winners Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

Emily Walker from Sandy High School is the winner of the 2014 Culture Shapers award. She was presented with the award last Thursday during the exhibit reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The Visual Arts Gallery will feature the exhibit through April 30.

Teen’s art touches on real-life issues

by Greg Leonov The Advocate Students from high schools surrounding MHCC were recognized for their work at Mt. Hood’s reception for the Annual Regional High School Art Exhibit in the Visual Arts Gallery, held last Thursday.

The winner of the 2014 Culture Shapers Award, the event’s top honor, was Emily Walker of Sandy High School for her piece “Spirits” which was drawn using stippling technique.

“It was a really big surprise. I didn’t know my teacher had nominated me for it, so it’s really surprising they called my name, but I’m really grateful that I won it,” Walker said about receiving award. “It means a lot to me.”

“Spirits” is a piece that portrays bottles of hard liquor from the eyes of an alcoholic, according to Walker.

Both of her pieces displayed in the show

portray social issues she is familiar with. “I looked at the things that I knew a lot about and (had) seen more of – it was domestic abuse and alcoholism and I really knew how those impacted people, so I wanted to express that to other people,” she said.

She plans on being an art therapist: “You work with people, like kids to adults, and you use art to help them express themselves. It’s more of a calming therapy and I (would) also do other therapy work like physical therapy and such.”

Walker is looking forward to attending Lewis & Clark College to double-major in art and psychology. Afterwards, she wants to get a master’s degree in art therapy. She said she expects to be in school for about six to eight years, “but it’d be worth it in the end.”

She is currently taking honors art classes and Advance Placement classes. “It’s kind of hard to find time for art and all of my home-

work, but I eventually get everything done,” she said.

The award is fitting for Walker, who has been volunteering since middle school, doing environmental work. She is also in the National Honor Society.

Walker tells individuals who are potential artists “to go for it – I know a lot of people see art as a career that [they] might not be very successful in, but I feel passionate about it, I say go for it, and do what you want.”

Many other students had their work recognized, including Sandy High’s Mikayla Lindsey, who won “Best of Show” for her piece titled “Four Days Living, Homeless.” St. Mary’s Academy’s Madeleine Felix got first in Originality for “Metamorphosis,” and Sarah Elliott, also from St. Mary’s, won second in Originality for “Darwin’s Children.”

Sandy High School’s Kayla Anderson won first place for Technical Skill with her

piece “Frienemies,” and David Douglas High School’s Tanya Amaya got second place with her “Faceted Bowl Set.” Walker’s “Spirits” also earned her first place in Composition/Use of Elements, while John Lopez from David Douglas earmed second, with “The Fence.”

The first-place award for Emergence of a Personal Vision/Voice went to Sandy’s Hayley Pullen for her untitled pair of photographs, and second place went to David Douglas’s Emily Beth Yonker for her “Expressive Self Portrait.”

Honorable mentions went to Heather Wait (“Helpng Hand”) and Zlata Danilevski (“Hands of Glory”) of Sandy High; Sam Barlow High School’s Anabel Morales (“Migraine”) and Brandlyn Hval (“Fierce”); Portland Lutheran School’s Jenny Wang, for “Rainbow”; Portland Adventist Academy’s Harry Lang, for “Cup #1”; and Reynolds High School’s Megan Mill, for “Whiteface.”

Photography director quits mid-term Nancy Jones, co-director of the Integrated Media photography program at Mt. Hood, is stepping down on May 9.

She said that she is “deeply saddened to leave” her students and that it was an “incredibly difficult decision to put my family first.”

Jones was hired for the 2013-14 school year and will see her students through their midterms. She said this is the first time she has never not completed a job.

Jones described reasons for her departure as “geography, timelines, personal, professional,” all colliding at once.

She said this is one of the “curve balls” that life throws and that you either have to know when to duck or to hit it out of the park – and she is aiming for the latter.

“There’s good things and bad

things in every transition,” she said.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.”

She gave her students praise, too: “They’re amazing! I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish in their careers.”

Adjunct faculty will step in for Jones after May 9, to complete the term. She said she feels confident students will be in good hands. She also said her courses are front-loaded, so a lot of what they need to learn this term will already be taught by the time she leaves.

Jones said that she feels “incredibly connected” with her students and that “every single one of them knows the second that you set your fanny in the chair in one of my classes, you can contact me for the rest of your life.”

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

6

News

April 18, 2014

News Briefs Donate blood for a chance to see ‘The Amazing Spiderman 2’ A blood drive is taking place at Mt. Hood Community College on April 28-29.

Donors may come to the Town & Gown Room anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to give blood, on those two days. Contact ASG in person, or email Steven Page, SAB Wellness Programs Coordinator, at sabwpc@mhcc.edu to secure a donation spot, as there are only 75 spaces available each day.

Walk-ins are also welcome, but reservations take priority. Securing a spot online is possible through the official Red Cross website at http://www.redcrossblood.org. Simply enter the sponsor code “MHCC” to see available times. For those unable to give blood or who are squeamish around needles, ASG has many other opportunities for volunteering, as well.

First-time donors are encouraged to be well-hydrated and eat food that has plenty of iron the day before donating. A healthy, balanced meal can help lower the chances of fainting and/or vomiting afterward. In addi-

tion to donating blood, there is the option to donate double red cells. In this process, an apheresis machine collects the red cells, but returns most of the plasma and platelets back to the donor. Double red donations take about 30 minutes more than the typical brief blood donation, and allow the donor to give two units of red cells.

In either case, the Red Cross provides light snacks and juice to help donors recover. Strenuous activity right after donating is discouraged. The more relaxed the donor, the easier the donating process.

Those who donate blood have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win two tickets to see “The Amazing Spider Man 2”, which premieres May 3, at Stark Street Regal Cinemas. Volunteers at this event are also eligible to be entered into the raffle, should they choose to donate blood.

- Madeline Boyce

PSU transfer workshop to be held in Jazz Café Portland State University is holding a transfer workshop at Mt. Hood Community College on Wednesday, in the Jazz Café.

The event runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the first hour featuring an admissions information session. It includes information tables with representatives from admissions, housing, residency, advising, career services, and the PSU academic departments. By bringing an official transcript to the event, MHCC students have the opportunity for priority admission into PSU. “(It’s) extremely important,” said Calvin Walker, academic adviser and transfer adviser liaison for Mt. Hood. Walker himself is a PSU graduate. “A lot of our students will end up going to Portland State University, so this is an opportunity to talk one-on-one, face-to-face.”

The university boasts a 50-acre campus

and is located in downtown Portland. Mt. Hood students have the unique opportunity to dualenroll at PSU and Mt. Hood at the same time.

This co-admission enables students to take and apply credits from both colleges towards their associate and bachelor’s degrees. It allows a smooth transition from community college to a larger university.

Walker holds a high regard for education: “The more education we have, the better the possibilities that our lives will land somewhere where we can make a decent living, buy a house, pay for a car, pay (our) bills, and have a family.

Those are the gifts, really.”

Anyone interested in learning more about Portland State University is encouraged to attend, and come prepared with questions.

‘Boots to Books’ event to discuss veterans’ experiences Veterans and civilians alike are invited to attend a special Boots to Books event at Mt. Hood on Wednesday from 12:10 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. in Room 3303.

Dr. Janet Campbell, MHCC political science instructor, was inspired after hearing a reading of the book “Redeployment” by Phil Klay. The stories of war fueled her desire to create an event centered on veterans and the problems they face returning home from war.

“Mainly it’s focused on issues that they (veterans) face in general coming back to civilian life (and) particular issues that they face coming back to college,” said Campbell.

A panel of as many as five veterans will be featured at the event, which will include a short presentation and a question-and-answer session.

- Madeline Boyce

Treat yourself and respect women ASG is hosting “Treat Yourself!” an event to honor, respect and appreciate women from noon to 2 p.m. Monday in the Fireplace Gallery in the Student Union.

Men can enjoy free food and “conversation about incredible women from around the world and how to treat them right,” organizers said.

Women can enjoy manicures, facials, massages, and gifts at the event.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

‘Share Life’ with the Surgical Technology Club The Surgical Technology Club invites the public to learn about donating life in their “Share Life” event held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Town and Gown Room on Tuesday.

Donate Life, The Community Tissue Bank and the Bone Marrow Foundation will be presenting about the opportunities for donating organs, tissue and marrow.

Club members will be present to answer questions about their Surgical Technology program and soon-to-be profession.

Guests are invited to play “pin the organs on the instructor,” grab a treat and have a chance at winning a raffle prize.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

SAB to recognize ‘Unsung Heroes’ MHCC’s Student Activity Board is recognizing three Mt. Hood employees as “Unsung Heroes” for their service to students.

This term’s recipients are Melissa Gonzales-McNeal, anatomy and physiology instructor; Tifini Roberts, College Now, Dual Credit and articulation coordinator; and Jennifer Ethridge, part-time speech instructor. The SAB will host an event from noon to 1 p.m. on April 25 in the Student Union paying tribute to the trio.

Jordyn Anderson, SAB receptions coordinator, said the award is for “MHCC employees who students feel go above and beyond the call of duty and consistently provide service to students without calling attention to themselves.”

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

- Madeline Boyce

Meet & greet your ASG presidential and vp candidates The election season for ASG president and vice president kicks off with a Meet & Greet session on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Main Mall.

Campaigning officially begins Monday.

The paired candidates, or tickets, campaigning for office this spring are: Alma Pacheco and Cristian Urzua; Jonathan Beaman and Nathan Doering; and Kristin Werner and Diana Ramirez.

The vice presidential candidates will debate April 28, and the presidential candidates on April 29. Both events are from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Main Mall, to be moved inside to the Student Union if it rains.

Online voting will take place May 5-8.

The winners will be announced at the Spring Dinner Dance on May 10, which will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham. The event is free for Mt. Hood students and $5 for guests.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Sports

April 18, 2014

7

Young Saints struggle through first half of season Blazers Mt. Hood works to stay optimistic for remaining schedule

playoff run starts Sunday

by Tyler Cornelison The Advocate Dropping a series 3-1 isn’t fun for any team out there. But the young Mt. Hood Saints baseball team, now 7-17 on the season, actually found some hope in an otherwise disappointing weekend in Coos Bay. The trip down to Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) last weekend resulted in two losses on Friday and a split on Saturday, with Mt. Hood’s only win being an 11-1 rout that morning.

“Connor Newell got on with a hustle double,” said sophomore third baseman Logan Grindy, describing Saturday’s win.

“We had a couple guys with timely hits and we put up five runs in the second inning. It was big. Everyone’s energy just flowed on to the next person in the lineup and we kind of just kept going with it.”

The rhythm was crucial to the Saints’ Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate win. And they will look back on the posiHead coach Bryan Donohue talks to the team between a doubleheader against Clark on April 7. tive, Grindy said. “Everyone felt better son we’re going to do well and hopefully get caught than in the past. as a team this weekend and I think we made some back up.”

Mt. Hood is coming off a season with a dominatstrides in the right direction.”

Mt. Hood will battle Clackamas Community Coling 31-14 record. The team lost some key sophomore Of course, there is still a task at hand. The Saints lege twice today, at home, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. players like Jake Thran and Ryan Degner, but the need to win ball games. Grindy made it clear that The matchup continues tomorrow at Clackamas, blame for its record doesn’t go directly to the inexeveryone was disgruntled over the losses, but they as both teams try to climb their way back from the perience and younger squad this spring, Grindy said. know they must keep their eyes looking forward. bottom of the South Region. The Cougars, 3-9, sit at In fact, current players see more potential in the Freshman outfielder and pitcher Evan Jones said the bottom of the conference while Mt. Hood is 4-8. next part of the season. the team has found value in more than simply skill.

Conference play is where it counts for the teams.

“I think everyone on our team has a pretty “We’ve come together as a family more. We’re It’s still anyone’s game in the South; in just one good attitude... all the guys who came this year, the more prepared for this weekend and ready for our weekend, the standings can change immensely. freshman, have always been good baseball players,” competition,” Jones said.

Jones summed up the Saints’ mission: “We just Grindy said. “We’re still playing the same game of There is no doubt this years’ team is younger have to get sweeps and we’ll be at the top.” baseball. I think towards this second half of the sea-

MHCC impresses against universities

by Q Quarterman The Advocate The Saints track and field teams did a stellar job and represented Mt. Hood well this past weekend at the John Knight Twilight meet, held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

In a battle of quick starts, stamina and speed, the Lady Saints earned fifth place while the men earned fourth, out of 11 and 14 teams, respectively.

Xayna Robinson

Devon Larson Photos contributed by Jeff Hinds

With Mt. Hood the only school from the NWAACC, their competitors were all four-year college teams, with more experience and more money to recruit. And, the Saints men and women were sensational against NCAA Division I, -II and -III athletes.

For the women, there were many strong performances. Earning first place in the women’s hammer event was Saints sophomore McKenzie Warren, killing the competition with a toss of 160 feet even.

In the 100-meter dash, sophomores Katchel Kristi (12.87) and Whitney Warren (13.67) each earned fifth place respectively in their heat.

Freshman Rachel Woodcock finished fourth in the Javelin (111 feet, 2 1/4 inches), while sophomore Caitlyn Safley took second in the 400-meter run (1.00.04). Freshman Kim Smith earned fifth place in the 5,000-meter race. And high-flying freshman Marley Yates took first place in the high jump, with a mark of 5 feet, 5 inches.

The women’s success continued with freshman Katerina (Kat) Lucero, who finished second in the 800-meter run (2.36.45). Freshman Courtney Andre also took second in the 400-meter hurdles (107.50).

Freshman Xayna Robinson came out nervous but earned top-five finishes in four out of her five events.

“Competing against the D-I, -II, and -III schools makes me nervous, at first,” said Robinson. “They (competitors) are older than me and more experienced. I feel like they’ve had longer to prepare because in the fall they were practicing their events and I was still in the gym with my (MHCC) volleyball team.

“But once I hang with them and make it to the finals, I realize it’s not as intimidating as I thought going into it,” she said.

Robinson took fifth in the high jump at 5 feet, 1 inch, and then won fifth again in the triple jump (32 feet, 11 1/4 inches).

“To be honest, after a meet I feel so tired and my legs are shot, but during a meet I have so much adrena-

Photo contributed by Matt Hart

Freshman Brock Otis competes in the 400 meters last Saturday at the John Knight Twilight meet. line it doesn’t faze me, my stamina just elevates and I’m really competitive,” said Robinson.

She showed that competitive edge in the 100-meter hurdles, where she placed fourth and in the long jump, where she earned her best finish, taking third (16 feet, 1/4 inch).

The men’s team finished fourth behind Western Oregon, Concordia, and Willamette University.

The Saints had a number of topfive performers, including freshman Josh Visan, who took second in the pole vault (11 feet, 11 3/4 inches). In the discus, sophomore Justin Schlaht took second, freshman Zach Killgore took third and sophomore Brian Sievers earned fourth place for the Saints.

Freshman runner Brock Otis finished third in the 400 meters (52.99), while in the 800-meter run, sophomore Cody Beierle took second (1.56.64) in his heat and freshman Taylor Hybl finished first in his (2.01.31).

In the men’s 100-meter and the 200-meter sprints, freshmen Devon Larson and Kingsley Mgbadigha produced mirror finishes, as they ran

one-two in both races. Larson won both but Mgbadigha was close, with times of 11.72/11.80 and 23.84/24.12, respectively.

“He’s my teammate, so, of course I want to beat him, but also it’s nice just having someone on you that’s pushing you, you want to finish strong and you also wanna win,” said Larson.

Known as “Seattle” by teammates and friends, Larson is scorching the track and earning consistent top-five finishes in more than one event. In Monmouth, he also won fourth place in the 110-meter hurdles, trailing only three Division-II athletes.

Larson said he was comfortable going against higher-level athletes.

“I think I’m young and I have lot of development, but as far as (my) athletic ability I feel like that I’m right there with those guys in the heat of the pack. I’m in the top three for each race and trying to fight for first. To me, those guys are talented but I think I have a lot of talent, too.”

The next meet for the Saints will start today and continues Saturday at the Lewis & Clark Invitational in Portland.

by Edgar Valencia

The Trail Blazers are bringing back the playoff excitement to Portland once again as they locked up the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference this week after missing the NBA postseason in the two previous years.

And, if Portland’s top players come through, the fun should last longer than just a couple of weeks.

It has been a weird season for the Trail Blazers in many ways, as they started fast and strong on offense and thanks to that, were on top of the Western Conference for a few weeks. Their positive run started in November and continued through December as they only lost six games in those two months (going 25-6) which made them legitimate title contenders at the time.

But everything started to go wrong for the Blazers by the beginning of February as they began to lose more games, sliding down several positions in the conference. The defense that had been below-average all season was a key factor during the bad streak. Damian Lillard’s stardom was not enough as Portland also suffered important injuries, including Joel Freeland, who had a sprained MCL in his right knee, and LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a lower back bruise that made him miss eight games in March.

With Aldridge healthy once again and with Freeland ready for the playoffs, the positive energy has come back to the team, which translated on the court for the last part of the regular season. Winning nine of its final 10 games, Portland now prepares for its first-round battle against the Houston Rockets, a team that gave the Blazers a lot of headaches throughout the season.

Both teams were fighting for weeks for the No. 4 playoff slot that guaranteed home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets won the battle, and secured home court advantage on Monday night as they beat the San Antonio Spurs. Thanks to that win, Portland will start the playoffs on the road in Houston at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

In four meetings between both teams in the regular season, Houston won three, and to many experts, are clear favorites to move on to the second round.

One key player to watch out for on Houston is its playmaker, James Harden.

Harden scored 41 points against Portland in their last meeting of the season just a month ago. He will enter the playoffs averaging 25.4 points per game, making him the fifth-highest scorer in the NBA regular season.

Another player sure to help the Rockets is their well-known center, Dwight Howard. Howard is coming back from an ankle injury that kept him out of action for eight games recently. He had a very solid first season with the Rockets, quickly adjusting to their style of play.

Houston also has Jefferson High School (Portland) graduate Terrance Jones, who has made his presence felt this season, averaging 12 points and six rebounds a game as a starter.

If the Trail Blazers hope to move on, they will need a win one of the first two games in Houston, which would erase the home court advantage. Offense is not a problem for Portland, as the Blazers average 102.3 points per game, but they will only win the series against Houston with improved defense.

If Lillard and Matthews can do their job on offense as they have been doing all season long, while Aldridge and Lopez do their job on defense, you can expect to see the Blazers move on from the first round.

8

Sports

April 18, 2014

Class act

Sophomore Cole Hamilton shows character on and off the field Go to our website, www.advocate-online.net to see Hamilton’s video

by Brandon Raleigh The Advocate With a total of 16 freshman players on the roster, the 2014 Saints baseball team is young.

With such youth it’s important to have veteran leadership, and that’s where sophomore shortstop Cole Hamilton comes in.

Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

Cole Hamilton is one of five players for the Saints that has played every game this season.

Season Stats RUNS BATTED IN

BATTING AVERAGE

9

.325

STOLEN BASES

HOME RUNS

5

2

HITS

GAMES

25

24

Hamilton, who won Southern Region Gold Glove award for excellent fielding last season, is taking younger players under his wing, showing them the tricks of the trade. He also leads all Saints in hits (25) and batting average (.325), through Thursday.

Hamilton, who attended Cleveland High School in Portland, has been playing baseball for a long time. “I’ve been playing baseball since I was five; I think that was my first year of tee ball,” he said. “When I was younger, I used to travel a lot, like Arizona, California (for games). I went to Puerto Rico one time , which was really cool. I’ve done a lot of camps and showcases.”

Away from the field, Hamilton enjoys hanging with friends and being outdoors. He counts playing sports with friends, hunting and fishing as hobbies.

Hamilton’s favorite athlete is none other than New York Yankees future hall-of-fame shortstop, Derek Jeter.

“He’s one of the best to ever do it and just the way he plays the right way, he’s a really classy guy, and he’s also one of the greatest shortstop’s to ever play the game,” Hamilton said of Jeter.

Hamilton is pursuing a degree in business. Currently, he is taking accounting, economics, statistics and probability, anthropology, and an online business class.

After Mt. Hood, he would like to continue playing baseball. “I’ve been getting some offers from schools, but being a junior college player, it kind of takes a while for that communication with coaches, so I probably won’t make a decision until the end of the season,” he said. “Obviously I want to continue playing, but I just want to find the best fit for me both academically and baseball-wise. I want to take my time and make sure I actually pick the right school.”

Western Oregon University, Central Washington University, George Fox University, Concordia University, and Missouri Western State University all interest Hamilton as possible destinations.

Missouri Western already has three former Saints in its program, including Cody Childs, Hunter Weiss, and Ryan Degner. Hamilton also would enjoy going south to a California school, he said.

Playing baseball is Hamilton’s dream job. If that doesn’t work out, he would like to own his own business, possibly starting a baseball academy in which kids can work out.

Hamilton enjoys playing under Saints head coach Bryan Donohue. “It’s fun. I mean he’s tough sometimes, but he just loves to win. And I really like that, because I like to win,” he said.

“You can tell just by the way he talks to us, especially after losses. It’s not that he wants you to be perfect, he just wants you to do your job, because he knows if everyone does their job then we can win.”

Donohue enjoys having Hamilton on his team as well.

“He’s an above-average runner, I think at our level he has an aboveaverage arm, and he has unbelievable hands,” Donohue said. “Some of the hops that he fields cleanly, the majority of infielders at our level just don’t field.

He’s made some tremendous plays.

He’s a difference maker for us; it’s been good to have him here for two years.

“Offensively he has done some things that have really helped us out in some big moments,” Donohue continued. “He’s done a really good job with timely hitting, a lot of big RBIs and singles, and has basically got himself to a point to where he’s an offensive threat.

“Personally, I think he is one of the best defensive short stops I’ve ever coached,” the coach said.

Individually, Hamilton would like to be named the South Region Player of the Year and bring home another Gold Glove, he said. But, his main goal this season is winning. “The biggest thing for me is that I’d like to win (the Saints team) the South again. And win an NWAACC Championship. I’ve never won a championship in my life, so this would be a good year to start that.”

Saints 4-0 over weekend; face rival Cougars Tuesday

by Aaron Marshall The Advocate This year’s Saints softball team is going to be one to remember.

Now at 24-0, 6-0 South Region, Mt. Hood is tied for first in their division with the Clackamas Community College Cougars (25-1, 6-0).

Mt. Hood’s winning streak continues, and they are the lone undefeated team in the NWAACC. The Saints and Cougars are the only teams in the entire league with over 20 wins.

“Everyone on this team is selfless. They are the epitome of playing for the person next to you,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter.

“They respect each other, care for one another and believe in each other.”

Mt. Hood is now an even bigger target for its rivals, McWhorter said. “We understand that every opponent is going to bring their ‘A’ game, so we need to control what we can control — our preparation, attitude and effort,” she said.

The Saints added four more wins to their record this past weekend when they traveled to Mt. Vernon, Wash., for the Crossover Tournament.

Mt. Hood defeated Highline Community College, Pierce Community College, Yakima Valley Community College and even Douglas College, who knocked them out of the NWAACC’s championship tournament last season.

Mt. Hood’s impressive 17-0 win last week against Clark College was arguably outdone Saturday with the Saints beating Highline, 24-4. Mt. Hood dismantled the Thunderbirds, recording 23 hits, scoring 12 runs in the third inning and eight more in the fifth. The game ended early due to the mercy rule. Freshman Kasidee Lemberger and sophomore Teauna Hughes both homered and had multi-hits, with Lemberger reaching base four times and Hughes three. Lemberger also hit two doubles.

Freshmen SheaLee Lindsey and Kelsey Reams also had three hits apiece.

After that convincing win, the Saints earned a much closer win against Pierce, 105. Sophomore Ann-Marie Guischer picked up the win, tossing a complete game. She gave up nine hits and four earned runs but the strikeouts were the impressive stat, as she ended with 14. Sunday, the team picked up two more wins over Yakima Valley and Douglas College.

The Saints got their revenge, beating Douglas 11-5.

Last year a 5-4 loss to Douglas ended the Saints’ postseason that held such high expectations and brought them the No. 1 overall seed in the NWAACC tournament, held in Portland’s Delta Park.

This time, sophomore Kristen Crawford earned the win, pitching a complete game in five innings, with all five of Douglas runs unearned.

Crawford was able to get some personal payback, as she took the loss in last year’s tourna-

ment game with Douglas. Hughes’ six RBIs were huge, to go with her home run in the fourth inning. Lemberger also had three hits, and Lindsey’s three RBI’s that were crucial as well.

The Saints were highly successful last year, finishing 39-7, but this team’s strong start hints that this season could be even better.

“This team competes with one another, but also supports each other. They want to bring the title back to Mt. Hood. They play for each other,” said McWhorter.

A few Saints are also making their names known on the all-NWAACC stat leader list.

Hughes is tied for first in home runs with 12, and she is third in RBIs with 41. Lemberger is third with a .590 batting average. Crawford is second in wins with 12, while she leads the NWAACC with a 1.08 ERA. On Saturday, the Saints host Chemeketa Community College (16-11, 2-4) for a doubleheader starting at noon.

McWhorter says the team’s game plan is to stay focused and ready to play, no matter the opponent.

The Saints need to “play our game, have quality at-bats, keep their hitters off balance and (play) lights-out defense,” she said.

On Tuesday, the Saints travel to Clackamas to take on their top rival for two games, starting at 3 p.m. The Cougars are currently riding their own 20- game win streak, nearly as impressive as the Saints’ 24-game streak.

Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

Sophomore pitcher Kristen Crawford delivers a pitch against Lower Columbia during a rainy matchup on April 1.