The Advocate Vol. 50, Issue 29 - May 22, 2015

The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College

May 22, 2015

Volume 50, Issue 29

the

advocate BETTER TRANSIT OPTION

COMING TO A CAMPUS NEAR YOU PAGE 9

Smoking policy reconsidered PAGE 2

Othello showing now PAGE 6

Softball finishes second PAGE 12

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You Tube

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OPINION

May 22, 2015

Editorial | Designated smoking areas reinforced with higher fines We at The Advocate understand the board of education’s decision if it chooses not to create designated smoking areas, based off the MHCC Smoking Survey published by our Associated Student Government (ASG). We do not believe harsher punishments or fines alone would be effective for discouraging smoking on campus. Knowing no such decision has yet been made, we would offer a compromise: We believe both that designated smoking areas should be created, and that the fine for smoking elsewhere on campus should be raised.

In the smoking survey, 753 people participated, and 17 percent identified themselves as smokers. This means the majority of individuals who took the survey are nonsmokers subject to potential secondhand smoke. The current fine for smoking on campus is $15, and it was suggested by ASG members that it be raised to $50. Though the majority of smokers taking the survey said they dispose of their cigarette butts in ashtrays and garbage cans, cigarette butt litter is still seen on campus. Many responses in the survey indicate that litter from cigarette butts, along with forcing smokers to go off campus – most of whom go to the bus stop in front of campus – do not create a good image for MHCC. We agree.

Image isn’t the only problem when it comes to smoking on campus, however. Only 30 percent of those surveyed answered that they are never exposed to secondhand smoke. One individual commented that “there are children that walk around campus sometimes in the daycare and I wouldn’t want them being exposed to any kind of secondhand smoke.” Though we personally couldn’t care less about whether we are exposed to cigarette smoke, we agree that both young children, and high-schoolers on campus are at risk for secondhand smoke.

If the board chooses to take only one of the suggestions, we believe a few things could happen. Like many of the respondents, we agree that having designated smoking areas won’t be entirely effective - without reinforcement.

Hearing from smokers, we know that the colder it is outside, the less likely they are to walk to the street for a cigarette. Knowing this, what

would make us believe they will use the smoking areas even if they are created?

However, if the only change is the fine for smoking on campus is raised, that will spark anarchy! We say ANARCHY! We’re only kidding, of course.

The fact of the matter is, only 21 percent who answered in the survey agreed the current smoking policy is effective. More often than not, smokers are being waved off and asked “not to do it again.” This shows that MHCC is not that concerned with smokers on campus.

Smokers at MHCC are on the curb right now, How do you identify within Mt. Hood Commuliterally. Rather than punishing them for their nity College? - 54% students; 3% administrators; addictive activities, MHCC should assist smok23% staff; 16% faculty; 4% other. ers with resources.

We suggest creating both designated smoking areas and charging higher fines for unauthorized smoking. Smokers have made clear that the creation of smoking areas will be utilized; their problem now is the distance and time it takes to walk out to the front bus stop.

Having more designated areas on campus will cut down in people smoking in parking lots, outside buildings, in the tunnels, and behind the computer labs.

Though there will still be cigarette litter, designated areas will have more concentrated amounts. These smoking areas will cut down cigarette remnants throughout the entire camDo you think that cigarette butt litter affects pus. Many respondents made clear they do not the image of our campus? - 92% yes; 8% no. believe more designated smoking areas will be used, however – and this is why we propose to raise the fine for smoking on campus, as well.

The higher fine will enforce, and encourage, smokers to use the new smoking areas – not to mention helping to offset any costs to create designated smoking areas for the school.

Survey participants are still worried on whether secondhand smoke will be a risk. This is a risk we can not predict since we don’t get to decide where these smoking spots will be. We highly suggest that the smoking areas be created out of the way of nonsmoking students, staff, and visitors - so that we don’t have to hear Would you support establishing a few desigthem complain about the smell, and so we don’t nated smoking areas on our campus? have to hear smokers complain about walking to the bus stop.

Chat with Barney MHCC smoking survey responses on whether smoking areas should be created:

“It’s really nasty, but I understand. It’s an addiction and there’s not much I can do.”

Survey participant #400 “If there are designated smoking areas, I know to avoid that area as to not be exposed to second hand smoke.”

Survey participant #583 “Litter is an issue. If there are areas, I think litter might become a lesser problem, however, overall I am indifferent.”

Survey participant #751 “I find it ridiculous that I have to walk through second-hand smoke, smell thirdhand smoke, and be subject to disgusting cigarette-butt garbage because someone else wants to fill their lungs with tar and nicotine. ” Survey participant #182

chatwithbarney@gmail.com

charts from - ASG MHCC smoking survey

the advocate - first year issue

The first year issue is produced by students who will be on staff next year.

Editor-in-Chief Adam Elwell

Opinion Editor Ivy Davis

Copy Editor Greg Leonov

Sports Editor David Teas

News Editor Sam Krause

Ad Manager David Ahlson

Lifestyle Editor Jon Fuccillo

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Photo Editor Beka Haugen

Reporters

Advisers Howard Buck, Dan Ernst Bob Watkins

Graphic Designers Heather Golan Shawnie Fortune

Brandon Raleigh

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250

David Ahlson Steve Olson Alex Seymour

Video Editors Aurora Angeles Thomas Stewart

Emily Wintringham

www.advocate-online.net #mhccadvocate

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

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested.

Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu.

Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC. Cover graphic by Heather Golan - the advocate

the advocate

OPINION

May 22, 2015

Column | “Under-cut” hair-style takes a turn towards the Tibetan monk look “Our group of friends are “When in front prettydriving diverse.” of the college, all I see are people smoking on the sidewalks.

Alex GarciaIt would look much better for the college to offer secluded (areas) on campus.”

Survey participant #1 “Smokers do not follow the rules - In what right mind do you believe they (smokers) will follow rules with more freedom and responsibility?”

Survey participant #4 “At the very least, could smoking be moved away from the bus stop?””

Survey participant #310

“If there are designated areas it at least will help make cleaning up cigarette butts easier.”

Survey participant #205

Adam Elwell the advocate

Let me preface what I’m about to say with this: There are a lot of people I know who fall under the following criteria, it’s absolutely nothing personal, and I like you all as people, but what you’re doing is buffoonery, and you need to re-evaluate your life.

I guess the problem started back in late 2013, right after Macklemore became a pop-culture fixation, and everyone started loosely interpreting the “under-cut” hair style (originally popularized by hipsters).

It has since devolved into several variants, as well as merging with another puzzling hairstyle, to create an absolutely mind boggling effect on primarily, young white males’ scalps.

Its two most extreme deviants are The Tibetan Monk, and the Cranial Circumcision.

Until the good folks at Merriam-Webster

Now take those two ridiculous concepts and smash them together as if you were a Marvel/Disney executive. It’s not a perfect science, but the usual effect is disturbing when seen on a mostly-grown man. I’m not even going to attempt to define it, I couldn’t do it justice, and I hope you’re never faced with the uncomfortable circumstance of wondering whether or not to tell someone that their hair looks like someone tried to fix a haircut that a five-year-old attempted to do themself.

web photo

Internet Explorer could have saved you Sam Krause the advocate

Graphic by Heather Golan - the advocate

consider this their jurisdiction, I will try my best at defining them.

The Tibetan Monk: In which the wearer probably received a decent rendition of this haircut at its conception, but the recipient has since either stopped combing/gelling his hair and/or it’s now slightly too long, creating an unkempt mop on the top of his head.

The Cranial Circumcision: Looks like what it sounds like. This person wanted to get in on the Macklemore haircut, but his hair was a little long, and he had a friend cut his hair for him. They cut it slightly too low, creating an odd, roughly inch-wide lip around the head, usually right above the ears.

The second hairstyle I referred to is hard to describe, since I don’t want to dignify it by calling it a ponytail. Do you remember Alfalfa, from the Little Rascals? Just imagine if he grew his hair a few inches, but that one part still sticks up, so instead of slicking his hair down he was like, “Screw it,” and just put it in a tiny-tail in that same spot. Again, I blame the hipsters for this.

Still with me?

Last week, The Advocate ran an editorial against Internet surveillance and why it’s important to secure your technology and yourself. To do that, you’re going to need a few best practices under your belt to actually be secure.

“The reality is that we all do dumb things with our computers, we all make mistakes, we all have accidents,” said Wayne Machuca, a business information science instructor at MHCC. His example is of smart people doing stupid things: A doctor at OHSU, “propeller head of propeller heads,” left his laptop full of personally identifiable patient information at a bus stop.

There are two points here. The first being, what an idiot. Second, what was that guy doing with that information on his laptop? If

that information hadn’t been on the laptop, then the laptop wouldn’t have been as valuable.

Even if you think that you’re poor and there’s nothing to steal, or you have nothing to hide (so, who cares if you’re watched?) that’s absolutely the wrong idea, and you need to sit down and read this article three times.

Really, the lesson is that in order to protect yourself, you don’t just need to protect your physical device, you also need to protect the information on your computer.

Machuca recommended using two laptops, or in the case of a college student, two web browsers. Use one web browser for financial information, school work, and healthcare.

While it goes against my better instincts, using Internet Explorer is the best Internet browser for more sensitive activities, it turns out.

For everything else, where the Internet just acts as a second social life, then any other browser will do. Except don’t use Chrome.

Machuca mentioned that Chrome has a bad record of saving personal information, then malicious software can take advantage of the stored information.

To date, “we’re not seeing the malicious software being able to jump between the different browsers that are installed on your ma-

chine,” said Machuca. “I’m actually looking to see if that is coming next.”

Along the same lines, protecting your devices themselves is an important way of keeping your information safe.

Make sure you have password protection on your devices. The idea is to give yourself a fighting chance against someone who has stolen your laptop. Password protection can save you from the agony of losing your personally identifiable information.

The best way to keep your laptop from being stolen, according to Wayne Feagle, manager of campus safety at MHCC, is to keep it near you at all times.

“That’s our biggest thing, because all the cars that don’t have all the stuff in the seat, (thieves aren’t) busting their windows and taking everything,” said Feagle.

It’s not just cars where this happens, either. Remember, keep your device near you.

As Feagle explains, “Saturday, a person left their phone in the bathroom, they left and of course it’s gone. It’s stuff like that, that we’re up against.”

These suggestions are just a few examples of how to better protect yourself. They’re simple, but that means they can be the easiest to overlook.

Next week, I’ll get into the world of encryption.

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the advocate

NEWS

May 22, 2015

Source: Multnomah County Elections Division and Clackamas County Election Dvision; Graphic by Shawnie Fortune - the advocate

Outgoing ASG prez and v.p. find footing for next step

Greg Leonov the advocate

Current ASG President Alma Pacheco and Vice President Cristian Urzua have a few weeks left in office. The two will head to separate universities next year, and plan to continue with their roles as student politicians.

But first, reflecting on the 2014-15 academic year, they said they have grown as individuals, and value their team on ASG (associated student government) at Mt. Hood.

“The presidency was just phenomenal for me,” said Pacheco. “It was honestly one of the best years of my life.” She said challenges are to be expected in a position of leadership. “I couldn’t have had a better opportunity to serve the school that I didn’t choose to come to,” she said, noting that MHCC “chose me” by electing her.

Urzua said that ASG exceeded expectations as a team. “Getting all the compliments from the board of education saying that they were really proud of this ASG team - having (MHCC Presi-

dent) Debbie Derr say it to us is just pretty awesome,” he said.

Listing some of their accomplishments, Pacheco and Urzua said they purchased the Oohlala app during last summer. “It was a rough start; we ended up having the app (operating) in October,” said Urzua.

With the app’s success, Mt. Hood will be able to rebrand it. “It wouldn’t be called Oohlala anymore, it would be called the ‘student life’ app … it’s going to be easier and more accessible for (users), and you won’t have to hear about ‘Oohlala’ anymore, ever again,” Urzua said.

The pair’s effort to unify ASG more was also something they were able to effectively achieve, they said.

“We really do want to recognize the whole team,” said Pacheco. “We wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity to be the leader they can be … and one of the things that we wanted to do was improve the communication within the team.

“We did that, and we really improved that by breaking down that wall that divided our office,” said Pacheco about the actual wall that separated

Photo by Beka Haugen - the advocate

Christian Urzua (left) and Alma Pacheco (right) lounge in the Student Union. Their terms as ASG President and Vice-president will end at the end of June.

the ASG executive cabinet and student senate from the Student Activities Board (SAB).

Among other accomplishments, Pacheco and Urzua said they completed the campus smoking survey, re-purchased TriMet bus tickets to help students with transportation, and worked toward bringing the Wallace Medical Concern’s mobile clinic to MHCC. Directing advice to Seth Albert, ASMHCC’s president-elect, Urzua said the college’s admin-

istrative advisers are a great resource. “They won’t force you to take any decisions that you don’t want to. Just continue what we created, that’s really what I hope for” to see the new team succeed, he said. “That communication is essential with faculty and advisers and staff members.”

ASG Continued on Page 5

Clubs: AAUW busy recruiting members, making plans for next year Sam Krause the advocate

Mt. Hood’s American Association University Women club is concluding its inaugural year by planning for next year and is continuing to seek new members and candidates to fill leadership positions.

As part of the recruitment effort, AAUW organized the S’more Social on May 6 to give students an opportunity to meet current club members.

Right now, the club is recruiting to fill its president, treasurer, and secretary slots for next school year. It meets at 11 a.m. on Fridays in the Diversity Resource Center.

Lindsay Patino, club member and new Associated Student Government vice-president elect, has been a part of the club since its inception at MHCC. She said the chapter has been active on campus since Winter Term.

“We’ve done a Valentine’s Day event and we’ve sold donuts. We’ve even had a cookie sale during career day at the Diversity Center,” Pa-

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tino said. The club also passed out Payday bars on April 14 this term to bring awareness to the fact that women are paid less than men who are employed in similar capacities.

AAUW member Jessica Gomez said pay inequality is what got her even more interested in the club.

“I ended up going to a meeting with (Lindsay) and what really stuck with me is how she said, ‘Obviously, men make more than women, but (among) women, Hispanics and Latinas make the least,’ ” Gomez said. “And I am Hispanic, so that kind of stuck with me and made me more interested in the group.”

The S’more Social gave additional students the chance to find out about the club.

Skye Troy, ASG director of legislative affairs and member of the Gresham chapter of AAUW, said that the event is designed “to loosen (students) up a little bit for Spring Term, take it easy, have a nice night by the fire, get to know everybody.”

Just last week, a Gresham AAUW branch meeting in the Town and Gown room honored

the MHCC chapter members who received scholarships to attend the National Conference for Women Student Leaders (NCWSL).

Kelsey Smith, a recipient of the scholarship and treasurer for the club, said the invited members want to bring back a plan to improve the college with a campus action project.

Of the conference, Smith said, “We felt very strongly that going to NCWSL would give us an edge to find out what these other leaders, who are in similar clubs and groups around the country, have done so that we can bring back new ideas on campus.”

In an effort to raise money for special events without reaching into pockets and requesting money from student fee reserves, AAUW will be installing BottleDrop recycling bins throughout campus. These bins will be enhanced to clearly label AAUW’s mission and display upcoming AAUW events. Currently, there are recycling containers placed in the humanities department. AAUW members are seeking consent from Facilities officials to add

more bins.

Angela Arriaga, Mt. Hood’s AAUW branch president, said she hopes the effort will be in “full swing in the fall.”

BottleDrop is a local business that simplifies redeeming cans and bottles. Each green bag has a bar code that when filled and turned into an official BottleDrop station, directs the money into a specific account. AAUW’s account with BottleDrop will enable the club to generate enough funds to hold greater fundraisers. Arriaga said that fundraisers such as Valengrams and painted mason jars will take place next year and help create more revenue to hold events.

Arriaga said that AAUW would like to purchase a three-year plan of Start Smart workshops for anyone who would like to negotiate fair wages.

“Women get 77 cents to the dollar a man makes,” Arriaga. “Minority (individuals’) gaps are even larger,” she noted.

Arriaga also mentioned that the group would love to bring back women’s historian Max Dashu and have her present in the Visual Arts Theater.

the advocate

NEWS

May 22, 2015

Nutshell News Join the Diversity Resource Center and the ESL/IECC Programs for Free Global Breakfast on Wednesday, June 3, from 9 to 11 a.m. There will be breakfast from different countries, examples of customs and traditions and a celebration of the countries represented on campus.

The steering committee of the Powell-Division Transit Project will meet at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 1, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9901 S.E. Caruthers St. in Portland. They are seeking public input on the next step for the project. Please email powelldivision@oregonmetro.gov for more information.

The MHCC Planetarium is gearing up for its last show of the term, on Tuesday, June 2.

It will feature Pluto and its New Family. There will be three showings at 6, 7:15, and 8:30 p.m.

Admission is $2 for community members and free for MHCC students.

Sign up for the second annual MHCC Students vs. Employees Dodgeball Tournament.

The event will run 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3. For more information contact sabwpc@ mhcc.edu.

ASG: Continued from Page 4

The campus will be closed Monday, May 25, to observe Memorial Day.

After the recent Nepal earthquakes, Nepalese and Bhutanese students at the college have setup the MHCC Nepal Earthquake Relief Project. Boxes have been set up in all departments.

All proceeds will go to Mercy Corps. For more information, send emails to ASG.DrDiversity@mhcc.edu

Pacheco told Albert that he should always put the students’ interests first.

“Whenever you’re making a decision, have it engraved in your heart and the back of your head: ‘What would the students want?’ ” she said. “Use the tools that are left for you (to) the best advantage.”

After graduating from Mt. Hood, Pacheco plans to attend Western Oregon University to study law. She said she hopes to join the student government there, and hopes to “keep on communicating to the community,” she said.

Urzua said he will attend the University of Oregon to study business and law while also serving as a student leader.

-Sam Krause

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the advocate

LIFESTYLE

May 22, 2015

PART 4 OF A 4 PART SERIES

Weakly Horrorscopes* MHCC debuts Othello, spring Gemini - (May 21 - June 20 ) - Venus’ position indicates that you will be extra influential this week. Only you can stop global warming, and we all know it’s just getting worse. Raise awareness by throwing large blocks of ice at strangers.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) - When was the last time you had an extra-terrestrial experience? Don’t you think you’re overdue?

Leo (July 23 - August 22) - Patience is a virtue, but only perfect practice makes perfect. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 24, 666, Hail Zaltac.

Virgo (August 23 - Sept. 22) - Now would be the time to pick up a sport, namely swamp snorkeling, fireball soccer, or tennis, in order of importance.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - A strong cup of joe would do the trick, but an 80s-sized line of Bolivian marching powder would do all the tricks ever. Food for thought.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Your spirit animal this week would best be described as a horsesized chipmunk, with a bear’s appendages. Feeling especially territorial wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, either.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Listen to me very closely, and for god’s sake do not mess this up: You absolutely must not EVER sneeze this week.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)- More like caprikorn, am I right? Nu metal is the only metal as far as you’re concerned this week.

It might seem right at the time, but you will definitely regret getting your hair cut later this week.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Writing your shopping list on your arm would be extra beneficial, but since this is absolutely crucial this week, a tattoo is your best bet.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Do you think a platypus cares if it looks weird? Hell no! It has important platypus stuff to do. Be like the platypus.

Aires (March 21 - April 19) - This week you will develop an itch that never goes away. Literally, right behind your knee – stock up on hand lotion now.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - You’re feeling charitable; checks should be made out to The Advocate. Oh, you’re not? That’s your choice, just know the alternative definitely involves something like a tentacle. * Just for fun and not to be taken seriously, seriously.

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term production showing now Ivy Davis

the advocate Wrapping up the five-act presentation of “Othello,” the wife of Iago (played by London Bauman), Emilia (Sierra Rickards) assists in unraveling her husband’s lies to find the truth.

Act Five is “when Othello completely unravels and flips sh*t on Desdemona - it’s crazy,” said Rickards.

In her eyes, the main difference between Shakespeare’s traditional “Othello” and MHCC’s contemporary rendition is the “fact that Othello is not a Moor (a medieval Muslim Spanish inhabitant), he’s white,” she said.

Othello wasn’t traditionally played by an African-American actor until 1948. Before, actors would use face paint or other methods to be portrayed as a Moor. Using a Caucasian actor for the now-traditionally African-American part is a bold move for the performing art group, she said.

For that matter, performing Shakespeare is risky in general. Rickards, like many performers in the play, is doing Shakespeare for the very first time. “(It’s) a lot of work; it’s harder than anything I’ve ever done,” she said. This is coming from someone who has been in over 20 plays.

Rickards has been acting since first grade. Her most enjoyable plays include, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” MHCC theater’s production last term, and “The Heidi Chronicles” last spring, also at MHCC. She said she believes she brings sass to her character, Emilia – facetious-

ly adding that she brings ethnic diversity to MHCC’s performing arts group. Being in the play this term, Rickards is gaining the “ability to be more bold and not bullsh*t around” from her role, she said. “Just go for what you know is right.

“This is the first time I’ve worked with a lot of these actors, except for (Bauman),” said Rickards. She enjoyed working with many actors in “Othello,” including Ian Booth (Othello). “He just gives a lot back when you’re acting with him; a lot of energy,” she said. She said she also enjoys working on productions with Merry Bishop (Cassio), among others.

For the production of “Othello,” Rickards also gets to work alongside her sister, who is “the drama terp for the show” – that being the interpretor for medieval language.

The sisters used to act together when they were younger, but never on a production like “Othello.”

Rickards said she is both excited and nervous for the show to open, but also is interested in the reaction of the audience.

“When people hear Shakespeare, they think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be boring, drab, and not much,’ but I think this show is really exciting and it will make people enjoy Shakespeare,” she said, hoping for a good turnout.

Othello opened Thursday in the Studio Theater, and continues today and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

There are three more 7:30 p.m. showings on May 2830.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door for adults, and $7 for students, seniors, and MHCC staff.

Join us for free at the

Advocate May 22, 12-1pm

Come write for The Advocate! We are Come writefor are looking to The addAdvocate! new staffWe members looking to add new staff members and/or editors to write, edit,and/or take editors towrite, edit,take photosor make photos, or make graphics.

Compengraphics. negotiable sationCompensation is negotiable,islocated in .room 1369in Integrated Media.

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LIFESTYLE

May 22, 2015

MHCC displays student art exhibit

Photo by Beka Haugen - the advocate

Student work in the Visual Arts Gallery, located in building VA17 behind the Student Union. This exhibit ends on June 4.

Adam Elwell the advocate

“Oh my gosh, everything in here impresses me so much. It is amazing to see what all the students are doing,” said Amber Starr, a Mt. Hood Painting III student, about the MHCC Visual Arts Gallery’s juried student exhibit.

Art features in the exhibit are contributed by students in almost every visual arts class at MHCC, and will be showing through June 4.

Starr commented on her pieces being

shown in the exhibit. Their titles are “Flower Child,” “Joy of Life,” and “Fire in Youth.”

“I used photos as reference but they kind of ended up being their own entity,” she said.

Starr said she didn’t plan to feature her work this year, but she enjoys having her work on display. “It’s a nice way to show what you’ve done,” she said.

Joy Autumn Fishel, also a Painting III student, also has featured work. Fishel talked about her painting “Divinity,” at the artists’ reception held May 14.

“I’ve been on a journey through yoga and meditation, and self-exploration, and through basically stilling my mind and being meditative, a process sort of channeled through me,” Fishel said. “I believe we are very spiritual beings, that is our reality. So, that is my soul on canvas – with the spirit god coming through and the chakra energy.

“The whole painting was painted when I was listening to this spiritual DJ and the whole thing was very alive to me,” she said.

The painting took her about 45 hours to

finish. This is Fishel’s second year of being featured in the exhibit, and she said having her work displayed is ideal for her. “I love it – my piece. I want to evoke feelings and questions in people. I want it to be an expression of that process, so, absolutely, (it’s good) to have more people see it and maybe get that ‘What is this?’ feeling.”

The Visual Arts Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (excepting Monday, Memorial Day).

Local tea and coffee shops do not disappoint Thomas Stewart II the advocate

This week I took a stroll down Hawthorne and down Division to try out some of their local coffee shops and tea bars. I was not disappointed. Three shops are located relatively close to each other on southeast Portland’s hippest strips.

Walking into Townshend’s Tea Company on Division, the vibe I got was all-natural. For those who like to grab a coffee or tea with an old friend and catch up, this is the spot. The furniture seemed like it was made yesterday, with real wood. The walls were coated with paintings from local artists. It is a great place to come in and get some nice kombucha, sit down with a computer and relax for a few

hours or get some work done.

I chose to test Love Kombucha and White Rose Kombucha. For my first sip of Love, I experienced a flavor that was so foreign I didn’t know what I was tasting until the lavender and jasmine smashed into my tastebuds. It tasted like how heaven should smell. White Rose was sour, like sucking on a lemon, but at the end had an herb-y sweetness. The prices were about what the average person would spend on a pot of tea. Plus, after finishing the tea, one can enjoy a nice XXX adult film right across the street - it’s a very classy convenience.

Stumptown, a well-known coffeehouse in Portland, is exotic to outsiders. The feel of Stumptown on Division was like home, but gave off a historic vibe at the same time, with a big ancient coffee grinder. The employees are

friendly and humorous, and the regulars who come to Stumptown are really welcoming and pleasant to talk to. I ordered a regular mocha.

When it met my taste buds, I thought it was fresh, plus there was beautiful whipped cream art to finish off the divine bean. It fit the “I just stayed up all night studying for finals ... Damn it, I deserve this coffee!” stereotype.

The final place I visited was parallel to Division, on Hawthorne Boulevard. Fat Straw is a local bubble tea bar serving amazing fruit teas. Fat Straw is a place that I would bring friends after a fun night out. It is family friendly, with pictures of the owner’s kids, and young workers. The theme for the shop is southeast Asian, with beautiful pictures of the tropics; it also serves bagels and bahn mi. I ordered a mango black tea with pomegranate bubbles. It

was so juicy that for a split second I thought I bit into a actual mango, with small pomegranate bursts that exploded in my mouth after chomping on them. Nothing bland there.

The trip was no let down, great Portland scenery and tasty caffeine treats. It made for a great small getaway from school, while refreshing and hyping me up for my next class.

All three drinks showed diversity, whether it’s carbonated, the classic cup of coffee, or a fruity tropic tea with squishy bubbles at the bottom.

I urge you to take the time for a break and go visit these local businesses, (Warning: Don’t try them all in one day. You will feel the pain.)

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the advocate

NEWS

May 22, 2015

Powell-Division Transit Project to provide safe routes to MHCC Sam Krause the advocate

A growing population, safety and education hubs are at the heart of a planned eastside Portland transit project that could extend a bus rapid transit bus line all the way out to Mt. Hood Community College.

The proposed Powell-Division Transit Project is intended to better serve TriMet riders between downtown Portland and Gresham.

“You’ve got so many people riding it, and you know that your population is going to continue to grow, so how can we provide a better experience for people?” said Dana Lucero, who leads public engagement on the project for Metro, the Portland-area government and planning agency.

A steering committee comprised of elected officials, business owners, and community members has been gathering public input on the Powell-Division Transit Project for the past year.

“One of the primary themes of the whole project is that it’s an education corridor,” said MHCC board of education Chair Diane Noriega, who sits on the steering committee.

The plan is to have a rapid transit system in place by 2020 that will serve portions of Powell Boulevard and Division Street from downtown Portland (and Portland State University), to Portland Community College-Southeast, and on to Mt. Hood Community College, and their surrounding businesses and communities.

It would bring the Mt. Hood campus from

the fringe of the TriMet transit grid to a destination point on a dedicated, frequent-service corridor.

“We’ve always been off the grid. Everything else is connected, then our campus is like, ‘Oh yeah, they’re over there,’ ” said Noriega.

Better connections for school students and professionals is key to the proposal.

“There are a lot more opportunities to think about really serving students and staff and high school students accessing the colleges, too,” said Lucero, of Metro.

driving around the corridor to see what the committee is up against.

“On Powell (Boulevard), I’m just horrified because there are whole families – moms with toddlers in stroller(s). There weren’t even any sidewalks, so they have to walk (in unsafe conditions) just to get access to a bus stop,” said Noriega.

As seen when transit expanded in other parts of the Portland region, an unintended consequence of making transportation easier is displacing residents as the area develops.

Part of the next step of the planning phase, according to Lucero, is to provide information and evidence to the federal government that those effects can be adequately mitigated.

Graphic by Heather Golan - the advocate

To get from Centennial High School to MHCC takes roughly 40 minutes using TriMet; from Parkrose High School, it’s about an hour. Both of these high schools (and districts) are in the MHCC service area.

Right now, the ride on any TriMet bus in the area is difficult, especially on the 4-Division and 9-Powell routes. Those routes, and others in the corridor, serve 18,000 people every weekday, according to OregonMetro.gov.

When the project began, Noriega started

“We have this whole process that will probably take about a year and a half where we really get a better idea of what we’re building, what kind of impact (it has) and how do we make sure that the communities get benefits instead of those (negative) impacts,” Lucero said.

The committee has reached consensus on a few details regarding the project: At the most recent steering committee, it was agreed that the new Tillikum Crossing suspension bridge over the Willamette River will serve the transit line from downtown to east Portland.

Also, a few routes were narrowed down to the best options. There are currently three options on the table for where the transit line will transfer from Powell Boulevard to Division Street, in southeast Portland.

Noriega and Lucero indicated that 82nd Avenue is heavily favored for shift, mainly due to its location in the newly dubbed ‘Jade District’ that is experiencing a boom in population and Asian-owned businesses.

That selection was easier because of a general consensus.

“We don’t have that in Gresham,” said Lucero. The trouble seems to stem from ambivalence toward the project from the community, she said.

To combat that, she said there will be a big community outreach effort this summer to get more information about the trade-offs on how the new line will work its way through Gresham.

One example: Regarding just where the transit corridor would best turn north-south through Gresham, “there was Eastman Parkway, Cleveland Avenue, and Hogan (Avenue), and the consensus was they all have pros and cons,” said Noriega.

Mt. Hood is an unquestioned terminus point, however: “The main thing is that they (route options) all end (here),” said Noriega.

The project’s next steering committee meeting is set for 4 to 6 p .m. on Monday, June 1, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 9901 S.E Caruthers St. in Portland.

Tuition Equity bill gives undocumented students fighting chance Sam Krause the advocate

Members of the Oregon Legislature this session are tackling the difficult topic of tuition equity for immigrant students who are undocumented. By the end of June, it will be clear whether or not undocumented students will soon have equal access to scholarships, grants and the amount of time needed to complete a full, university education.

For many students, the next step after attending MHCC is to transfer to a four-year college, usually in Oregon. Many of those students immigrate to this country without documentation, but have lived in the state nearly their entire life. In order to provide the same opportunities to these students, the federal government, Oregon legislators, and staff at MHCC have worked overtime to obtain tuition equity for students.

The federal program that allows undocumented students to remain in the United States without fear of reprisal from law enforcement or immigration is called Deferred Action for

Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Elizabeth Perry, coordinator for the Transiciones program at MHCC, said that DACA addressed “concerns about young students, children who had been brought to the United States by their parents, who at any moment could be subject to deportation. It provides relief from the fear of deportation, because they were given a status that made them eligible for a social security card for the purposes of work.”

Mt. Hood does not require students to demonstrate residency, so a student can apply regardless of their status.

The tuition equity bill, House Bill 2787, passed in 2013 by the Oregon Legislature, was well intentioned, said Perry, but it also had some unintended consequences. Consequences felt by student Jhoselyn Hernandez, who ran for student body president at MHCC this month and is active in student government.

“I don’t expect to get to certain places because there are restrictions,” said Hernandez.

She said she is staying an extra year at MHCC in order to take advantage of as many scholarships and grants as possible.

“Universities cost more than community colleges so it’s going to be much harder for me” at a four-year school, she said.

Spending extra time in school may not seem like a big deal, nor does taking a break after high school. But when Perry talks about unintended consequences, she’s referring to the time restrictions that were left in the original Oregon bill.

Under the current law, an undocumented student has to enroll in a four-year university, and not a community college, within three years of graduation from an Oregon high school, to obtain its benefits. Also, once a student has started their tour of duty in university, they must finish within five years. For many students – not just undocumented students – five years just isn’t enough time to get the degree that will lead them to a satisfying career.

The current legislative session in Salem has lawmakers looking into amending the original law. Senate Bill 932 aims to remove the time restrictions that effect Hernandez and others in her position. It also would allow undocumented students to obtain Oregon Opportunity

Grants, helping to bring about tuition equity.

“Tuition equity allows young Oregonians who have grown up in this state, who’ve gone to high school in this state, who’ve graduated from an Oregon high school and been accepted to an Oregon university, but don’t at this point have legal documentation, to attend the university at the same in-state rate as their high school peers,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Michael Denbrow, a Portland Democrat, appearing before the House Education Committee on March 24.

The bill moved onto the Ways and Means committee recently and is now waiting action.

On May 11 a fiscal impact statement was released detailing how much S.B. 932 would cost taxpayers if approved: about $75,000 per year to process the additional applications, assuming the number of undocumented students receiving a grant will be capped at 1,000.

There wouldn’t be an increase in funds for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, but even if the cap is reached, the change would push the total grants by the state higher by only about 1 percent.

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the advocate

SPORTS

May 22, 2015

Saints start tourney with comeback Jon Fuccillo the advocate

Sophomore Joe Balfour (9-1, 1.45 ERA) pitched seven quality innings for the Saints en route to a 6-3 comeback victory over Walla Walla CC in first-round action of the NWAC baseball championship in Longview, Wash., and came through big at the plate, too.

Trailing 3-0, the Saints responded a fiverun outburst in the seventh inning, taking control.

“It took us a while,” sophomore Nick Gawley said of Mt. Hood’s slow start. “We came out too aggressive. We were slow to start off the game but we’re used to playing from behind.

And (thankfully) we caught fire.

“We don’t really panic when we’re down.

And we started punching away and everyone was stepping up,” he said.

Saints head coach Bryan Donohue wasn’t fazed, happy his team got timely hitting late.

“We weren’t anticipating putting together a five-spot,” said Donohue. “The biggest run was the sixth run that we scored (in the eighth). Turning a two-run lead into a threerun lead is huge.”

In the Saints’ big rally, with no outs and two runners on, freshman shortstop Jay Rogers laid down a sacrifice bunt and all three runners were safe. Balfour then came up as the designated hitter and coaxed a bases-loaded walk to get the Saints going.

It was Balfour’s first plate appearance (pitcher’s and DH slots are interchangeable), as he would make way for Saints closer Chase Wiger on the mound. “He worked a good count,” Donohue said.

Gawley then knocked a two-run double down the left field line. He was just happy to contribute, especially after he was robbed of a home run bid earlier, he said. “I wasn’t trying to do too much when I came up with the bases loaded. I just got my pitch.”

Wiger (6-1, 1.06 ERA), shut the door in the eighth and ninth innings for his third save of the year.

“Chase has been our workhorse all year long,” Donohue said. “And to go 1-2-3 in the ninth is huge.”

Gawley agreed with his coach’s praise for Wiger. “It’s nice when he comes in. We can relax some on D, which takes some pressure off.”

The Saints, now 32-12 overall (20-4 in South play), face Tacoma CC (20-5 in the West, 35-12 overall) in second-round NWAC action at 4:30 p.m. today. Freshman pitcher Seth Rayburn (5-2, 2.19 ERA) will take the mound.

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Photo contributed by Doug Bowman

Sophomore Margaret Paul crosses finish line at the NWAC Track and Field Championships in Spokane,WA. She won both the 100 meter and the 200 meter dash. Paul was also named track athelete of the meet.

Saints run, jump, throw for fourth and seventh at Northwest Athletic Conference Alex Seymour the advocate

The Saints finished their track and field season on Monday-Tuesday at the NWAC Championship meet, hosted by Spokane Falls Community College.

It was the culmination of hard work put in over the season. The team placing didn’t change for Mt. Hood from last year, as the women took fourth place, and the men took seventh.

Spokane won the team competition on the women’s side, with Lane Community College taking second, and Lane won on the men’s side, with Spokane taking second.

On the women’s team, it was the Margaret Paul and Georgia Glovatsky show for Mt. Hood, as both of them grabbed a pair of golds in their events.

Paul brought home titles in the 100- and 200-meter races, both in personal record times. She went under 12 seconds for the first time in the 100, running 11.96 – breaking the 20-year NWAC record, the league announced – and ran under 25 for the first time in the 200, going 24.61.

Glovatsky starred on the other side of the spectrum, winning the 5,000 and 10,000-meter

MEN’S LEADERS

Devon Larson 2nd place in 110 meter hurdles Tyler Jackson 2nd place in the discus

races. The races were tactical – slower-paced, strategically run – but she still managed times of 18:16.63 for the 5k, and 39:03.35 for the 10k. She won both by considerable margins, creating gaps as large as 200 meters by the end in both cases.

Courtney Andre helped the team finishing second in the 100 hurdles, and second in the 400 hurdles. She ran 14.75 in the 100s, and a season best of 1:04.80 in the 400s. Her heptathlon score of 3939 also counted in this meet, giving her another sixth-place finish.

Madison Greenleaf also had a strong race in the 400 hurdles, finishing right behind Andre in 1:05.73.

Rachel Woodcock threw the javelin 35.53 meters to finish seventh. Emily Trosino and Haley McDonald competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Trosino finishing second in 12:01.48, a personal best and school record, and McDonald in eighth place, at 13:00.14.

The women’s 4x100 meter relay, consisting of Kayla Watkins, Andre, McDonald and Paul, took sixth in 51.27 seconds. The 4x400 meter relay, consisting of Paul, Watkins, Greenleaf and Andre, took third in 4:01.78.

For the Saints men, Brandon Raleigh ran the 1,500 and 5,000 meter double, finishing

fifth in the 1,500 in 4:05.04 and eighth in the 5,000 with a time of 16:17.57.

Devon Larson and Joshua Turner both ran strong in the 110-meter hurdles, Larson taking second in 15.01 and Turner getting third in 15.05. Turner also ran the 400 hurdles, grabbing seventh in 58.05.

Tyler Jackson threw well in the discus, throwing 45.25 meters, good enough for second.

The men’s 4x100 meter relay team, consisting of Ngai Li, Bryce Evans, Larson, and Dennis Carline, took fifth in 43.95.

After the meet, Paul was extremely happy – no surprise, given her record marks.

“I was surprised with the times I hit at NWAC’s… all the training and little tweaks in my running form paid off!” she said. “Fernando (Fantroy, sprints and hurdler coach at Mt. Hood) is literally the best coach ever.”

As for the women’s overall performance, she said, “The distance girls rocked it, and our hurdles performed really well. Everyone tried their hardest and supported each other. It was awesome!”

With the season over now, team members said goodbye to the departing sophomores and began prepping for 2016.

WOMEN’S LEADERS

Margaret Paul 1st in 100 & 200 meters 11.96 in the 100 meters *NWAC record Track Athlete of the Meet

Georgia Glovatsky 1st place in 5,000 & 10,000 meters Emily Trosino 2nd in the 3K steeple *school record

the advocate

May 22, 2015

The Draft Lottery Brandon Raleigh the advocate

Let’s not forget about Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, and C.J. McCollum: all lottery players drafted by the Blazers in recent years whose impact could be felt for years to come.

With the 2015 lottery order now known, it will be interesting to see the turnaround of franchises.

The draft order: Minnesota, No. 1; Los Angeles Lakers, No. 2; 76ers, No. 3; Knicks, No. 4; Magic, No. 5; followed by the

SPORTS

Kings, Nuggets, Pistons, Hornets, Heat, Pacers, Jazz, Suns, and finally, the Thunder, at No. 14.The Blazers won’t be drafting until No. 23.

With big names available such as Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky University, Jahlil Okafor of Duke University, and D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State, there is a lot of promise coming out of this draft, set for June 25.

On Tuesday, NBA franchises learned their 2015 draft fate via the draft lottery.

The lottery determines the order of the top 14 draft picks, using random combinations and a lottery machine.

The team with the worst regular season record has the highest odds winning the first pick, at 25 percent. The odds drop slightly for each better team record.

The lottery is a game-changer every year, leading to complete 180-degree turns for franchises.

It did just that, back in 2006. At a young age, I followed the Portland Trail Blazers’ every move. The “Jail Blazers” during that time were in desperate need of a fresh start, following a league-worst record of 21-61 in the 2005-2006 season.

As the balls bounced around the lottery hopper that day, I hoped for the No. 1 overall draft pick, seeing as my Blazers had the best odds. As the slots were announced, in reverse order, my excitement grew each time the Blazers weren’t named. That was until... “And the fourth overall pick goes to the Portland Trail Blazers.”

Slipping to fourth was disappointing, but what the Blazers did with this pick and the overall draft that June was nothing short of spectacular.

Before the draft, the Blazers acquired the rights of the Boston Celtics’ seventh overall pick, and veterans Raef LaFrentz and Dan Dickau, in exchange for Portland’s Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and a 2008 second-round draft pick.

The Blazers entered the 2006 draft with both the fourth and seventh selections.

With the first overall pick, the Toronto Raptors selected seven-footer Andrea Bargnani.

Next, the Chicago Bulls selected a power forward out of the University of Texas by the name of LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) chose selected Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison next.

The Blazers seemingly then selected shot-blocking forward Tyrus Thomas out of LSU. But they immediately traded Thomas and forward Viktor Khryapa for Aldridge and a 2007 second-round draft pick.

A few selections later, the Blazers traded the rights of Randy Foye, whom they drafted seventh, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for “The Natural”: Brandon Roy, the guard the T-Wolves had grabbed one pick earlier.

Three years later, the Blazers faced the Houston Rockets in the playoffs, ending a five-year postseason drought.

The impact of the 2006 draft lottery was huge for Portland. It brought both Aldridge and Roy to town.

Aldridge, arguably the best power forward in the game today, was named Thursday to the All-NBA second team for 2014-15.

Roy, whose career ended short due a degenerative knee condition, made an immediate impact, changing the whole culture of Blazer basketball. After winning the Rookie of the Year award, he was a three time all-star and was named to the All-NBA second team back in 2008-09.

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the advocate

SPORTS

May 22, 2015

NWAC Championship result

1 2 3 4 5 R H E SCC 1 2 4 0 5 12 10 1 MHCC 1 2 0 0 0 3 4 1

“Some teams (Mt. Hood) just peak at the right time and play above their heads.”

Spokane head softball coach

- Janet Skaife

Photo contributed by Jeff Hinds

Mt. Hood players gather in the dugout during the NWAC championship game at Delta Park on Monday. The Saints went on to lose 12-3 against the Community Colleges of Spokane and finished in second place. “We were a team, who at the beginning of the year, I was uncertain if we would even qualify for the tourney,” said Saints head coach Meadow McWhorter. The Saints finished the year 14-6 in the South Region and 35-11 overall.

35 11 & OVERALL

Saints fall to Spokane in title game, finish second David Teas the advocate Head coach Meadow McWhorter and her Saints softball team scratched and clawed their way into the NWAC championship game on Monday before falling just short to Spokane Community College, losing 12-3.

It was a beautiful and sunny morning at Delta Park, when the Saints took on the Sasquatch for NWAC bragging rights.

Spokane jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Shawnee Zink hit a solo home run. But Mt. Hood came right back in the bottom half of the first inning, as Chelsea Spanier drove in a run after finding space in the outfield.

The two teams were tied at 3-3 after two innings of action, before the game turned.

Spokane jumped all over Mt. Hood’s pitching in the fourth inning and took a commanding 7-3 lead. Unfortunately for the Saints, Spokane’s All-American Lindsie Scholwinski (29-0, 0.81 ERA on the season) was in the pitching circle and she took over the contest after the second inning.

There would be no comeback; in fact, after a Sasquatch grand slam, the game would end after only five innings with the mercy rule.

“Our number one goal this year was to make the tournament,” said McWhorter, whose Mt. Hood teams have won four of the last seven NWAC titles, including last year’s

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crown. “The South Region was stronger and we were young in key areas so we knew it would be a challenge.”

Mt. Hood would feel the loss of dominant pitchers Kristen Crawford and Ann-Marie Guischer, who had led the 2014 run. “I expect us to compete, but I knew we did not have the experience in the circle like we had last season,” McWhorter said.

Spokane’s head coach, Janet Skaife, has a tremendous amount of respect for McWhorter and the Saints. “I told Meadow that I was impressed with her team. They played (six) games to get to the championship and she and her team have to feel so proud.”

Skaife, whose Sasquatch won all five games they played at Delta Park, gave the Saints a lot of credit for bouncing back after losing the second game of the tournament.

“Some teams just peak at the right time and play above their heads,” said Skaife. “Meadow and her team have to feel awesome after their year, and I congratulate them for their resilience and determination. What a great tournament they had,” she said.

This was Skaife’s final game after an 18year tenure at Spokane. She couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out.

Mt. Hood played seven games in three days, including the championship game.

The Saints played Olympic CC in the first round, beating them 4-3 behind great pitch-

ing from Kelly Scott. In the second round, Mt Hood ran into South Region rival Southwestern Oregon CC and their great pitcher, Kaelyn Paque. Mt Hood lost 5-2. But McWhorter didn’t allow her team to get down on their luck.

“It was a moment of truth,” recalls McWhorter. “We talked about what it would take for us to make it to Monday (and) our sophomores really shined in their leadership at that moment.”

It was an uphill fight, but the Saints would climb their way to that Monday title matchup, wiping the nasty taste of that loss from their mouths.

First, the Saints played Pierce CC, and showed just how resilient they were. Three Saints went deep – SheaLee Lindsey, Reeghan Lehnart, and Rachel Rutledge – and Mt Hood wound up winning, 17-5. Scott picked up the W in the circle.

Lower Columbia CC would then fall victim to the Saints, 8-2.

The Saints would continue their hot streak and beat Douglas CC, 13-2, thanks in large part to Kasidee Lemberger, who went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. Once again, Scott made it look easy in the circle and was blessed with another offensive outburst to back her up.

The Saints then took on Southwestern Oregon again, with revenge on their minds. The

Saints’ bats came alive in the fourth inning where they scored four runs. Mt. Hood was able to capitalize this time around and took down the Lakers, 7-5.

Only one team stood between Mt Hood and the title showdown. The Saints would have to take down Clackamas CC, their tough South rival and the No. 2 seed overall in the tournament. The Saints would win, 5-4, in a tough game. This time around, Scott came into the game in relief during the third inning, then allowed just one hit in 4.2 innings of work. Mercedes Green helped the offense with a 2-for-4 afternoon, which included two RBIs. Lindsey added three hits and scored two runs.

That set up the Monday match with Spokane. If the Saints had won, they would have needed to beat undefeated Spokane a second time to earn another title. But, Scholwinski and Spokane’s hot hitting put an end to those hopes.

In the end, Mt. Hood could reflect on a 3511 overall record (14-6 in the South) and the NWAC runner-up trophy for 2015.

As for individuals, congratulations were due sophomore shortstop Spanier and sophomore outfielder Lindsey, who were named Louisville Slugger/ National Fastpitch Coaches Association NWAC All-Americans. (Players are voted in by NFCA-member NWAC representatives.)