Volume 54, Issue 2 September 27, 2019 advocate-online.net
FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS
ASG's vision for Mt. Hood PAGE 2
Books vs. movies: Tolkien Edition PAGE 3
Concerts set to rock Portland PAGE 4
THORNS HEADED TO PLAYOFFS
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Review of HBO's Emmy winning "Chernobyl" PAGE 4
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A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
ASG’S GOALS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR Daniella Young The Advocate
With a new school year, MHCC’s Associated Student Government (ASG) leadership has new goals and ideas in mind that could encourage unity and a greater sense of community between students. Many of these goals coincide directly with the goals of the college. “We oriented these goals to be similar to the college goals so we’re all working towards a common purpose,” said ASG President Collin “Kazu” Lewis. The ASG held a retreat Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, and a team of about 21 collaborated to create the goals, said Chelsea Allison, the ASG vice president. There are four main goals that ASG is focusing on this year. Goal One focuses on increasing the amount of student involvement and engagement, both on-campus and off-campus. The leaders plan to identify areas of improvement by Nov. 20, working with Mt. Hood instructors and staff, Lewis said. “A subgoal inside of the first goal is how to measure the goal statistically, from increasing student involvement and participation from about 2,400 to 3,000 students (total) at events,” Lewis said. Goal Two is making students more aware of resources that MHCC and the community has to offer, working with the college staff and administration to Web graphic increase awareness. “The third goal is towards collaboration, working with college partners and clubs,” Lewis said. The fourth and final goal is making communication around the school more effective. ASG is also planning a few events in the evening for those students who have classes at later times, rather than in the morning. “We are keeping in mind that evening programming is popular. Some events aren’t planned yet, but we are keeping that in mind,” Allison said.
WILL THE TIMBERS RALLY?
Julia Empleo
since, the Timbers struggled greatly on offense, even with a total of 66 shots (including blocked shots). On Sunday, Sept. 22, at Providence Park, the team looked more aggressive and recorded 28 total shots but again went scoreless for the night in a 0-0 draw with Minnesota United. The frustrated team came out to play again at home on Wednesday night against New England. Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse had an incredible goal in the 48 minute to put the Timbers on the board, finally. In the 81st minute, Ebobisse scored another goal that seemed to be assisted by the opposing team
The Advocate
The Portland Timbers currently sit in the No. 6 spot in the Major League Soccer Western Conference – the top seven in the standings make the playoffs. But they have been struggling for the past four matches, going winless (two draws, two losses) and scoring only two goals. Until this week, the Timbers hadn’t scored since Sept. 7, beating Sporting Kansas City 2-1 with the late goal by Brian Fernandez. In their first three matches
Maysee Thao | The Advocate
Minnesota and Portland players battle in a game at Providence Park on Sunday that ended in a scoreless tie.
Julia Empleo
THORNS PLAY TO WIN
The Advocate
The Portland Thorns have clinched a National Womens Soccer League playoff spot after a 1-0 win against the Houston Dash last Saturday, Sept. 21 at Providence Park. After losing two consecutive games for the first time since 2017 and devastating 6-0 loss on Sept. 11
against North Carolina, the No. 1 team in the league, the Thorns did make sure to put on a show in front of 21,022 fans on Saturday night. They didn’t make it look easy, after going scoreless in the first half. The home team was aggressive on offense, recording 12 total shots and giving the visitors just three shots in the opening half. In the second half, the Thorns finally got on the board in the 48th minute, where Tobin
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For the students by the students Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins Associate Editor Omar Saradi News Editor Chris Barney Opinions Editors Sadie Klein Omar Saradi
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Arts & Entertainment Editors Eli Rankin Kurt Larson Austin Asciutto Sports Editor Julia Empleo Photo Editor Maysee Thao Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin
(nearly an own-goal). But the home team couldn’t stop the late rally by the Revolution, who scored two goals in the last three minutes of regulation and stoppage time, for a 2-2 tie. The Timbers now need a run for the last two games of the season to make, and get ready for, the playoffs. They travel to Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 26, to play at 4:30 p.m. (Root Sports), then have their last game of the regular season at home on Sunday, Oct. 6 against the San Jose Earthquakes at 1 p.m. (also Root Sports).
Broadcast Editor Naethaniel Lile Broadcast Team Austin Ascuitto Julia Empleo Kurt Larson Positions Open Graphic Design Team Leydi Perez Carrasco Positions Open
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Heath was on the receiving end of a cross from Lindsey Horan, and put the ball in the net. Saturday’s win secured a playoff berth for Portland, currently sitting third in the NWSL, and ended the playoff hopes for Houston. The Thorns travel to Tacoma on Sunday, Sept. 29, to play against the Reign FC who also hope to get a playoff spot. The match will start at 1 p.m., and can be seen on ESPN2.
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OPINION
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
GUNS: TOOL OF DEFENSE OR INSTRUMENT OF DEATH? Chris Barney The Advocate
In this day and age, politics has become a complex and, in some cases, corrupt system. Parties are more divided, various topics of debate more intense. Gun control is one of these intense topics and, quite frankly, in the media it has become a complicated war between those who support the Second Amendment and those who would rather ban guns all together. The Second Amendment was put in place to protect citizens from an overreaching government. If we as citizens have no way to protect ourselves as individuals, the government can and will control our lives. This is called totalitarianism, and this possibility is why the Second Amendment is of vital importance to this nation. In addition, there is the matter of mass shootings. Whenever a news story is aired about another mass shooting, people start screaming for gun control all over again. The question we must ask is if all factors of the situation are being considered in these instances. The answer is likely no. It seems that people look for a quick fix to the issue, instead of seeking a common understanding. Each time a mass shooting occurs it is vital to consider that shooter and not just the tool with which they carried out their heinous offense. The very first thing one should understand about guns is that, like anything else, they are a tool. They are simply a device which a person can utilize in some situations. Guns do not under any circumstance have a free will of their own. They are no more able to discharge than a car is able to turn on and move without a human operator (at least, so far). With regard to mass shootings, it must be considered that all legal gun owners
are not evil simply because someone takes a firearm and proceeds to use it for a purpose for which it was never intended. It is well-observed that most people who legally own guns are rather strict about safety around firearms. Any shooting range will have four basic rules for handling guns: Always handle guns as if they are loaded; never touch the trigger unless you are prepared to fire; always keep the gun pointed downrange (or in a safe direction); and always be sure of your target and what is beyond it (which is to say don’t aim at anything you aren’t willing to shoot). All of this considered, there is yet another angle to examine. There are those in the middle who do not desire to ban guns but do want to create and enforce stricter gun laws. This is not the worst solution you could implement; however, this could act as a gateway to banning guns. Therefore, we must create a new, different option, which seems most logical: to require training prior to someone acquiring a firearm. The process would be to pass a background check, which is mandated by law, and take a course in safe gun handling. Only then could the firearm be purchased and possessed. After this, additional guns could be purchased if desired. All it takes is to put forth the effort to ensure that the potential buyer is safe to own a firearm. While it is terrible that mass shootings occur, it is important to remember that it is the shooter, not the gun, that is responsible for the crime. A gun is no more responsible for killing someone than a spoon is when a person grows overweight. One of the most important things to remember when considering gun control is that, yes, it is people, not guns, that kill people.
BOOKS VERSUS MOVIES: THE AGE-OLD RIVALRY
Web Graphic | Godfrey Hibbert
Kathrine Birch The Advocate
Books versus movies: Which offers the best, most profound experience? In the age of modern innovation, even those books that have held their own for decades are being rivaled by movies made from them. For example, “The Lord of the Rings,” one of the best-selling series of all time, now has movies that are in fierce competition with the books. Originally published in 1954, LOTR is a trilogy that tells a tale of the struggle between good and evil in the world of Middle Earth. Strains of classical mythology are intertwined with new creatures and character arcs, resulting in a potent concoction that became a literary supernova for author J.R.R. Tolkien. In 2001, the first installment of the saga, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” was transformed into a massive three-and-a-half hour movie. Over the next three years, the two remaining novels were turned into films. The written series had been slimmed down to just short of elevenand-a-half hours of film. The movies certainly held their own: Receiving 475 awards, in all, they became the most awarded series in the history of cinematography.
On the cover: Tobin Heath scored the winning goal on Saturday, sending the Thorns to the playoffs.
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for the book devotees. The depth of the story is fleshed out much more thoroughly in the novels, in contrast to the entire characters and areas of conflict that were eliminated in the movies. Finally, the consumer’s ease should be taken into account. The books, although literary masterpieces, are not easy to read. Tolkien has a wordy and rambling writing style which often causes chapters to stretch 20-40 pages in length. In contrast, the movies maintain a constant running time at a controlled pace. Books or movies? Which is better? The Lord of the Rings, a literary phenomenon at its birth in the 50s, is now being judged by a new generation. The books have the ability to totally ensnare one’s mind and transport the reader to another dimension; the movies capture interest with a dramatic plot and clear character development. However, people today appreciate ease; they want speed, and clarity is of the utmost importance. The films are the better match for what people are looking for in an epic story. They deliver the tale with a fraction of the work of reading even though the books delve further into the story.
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Thus, the question was again posed: The books, or the movies? In analyzing this question, one factor to be considered by fans is commitment. The books include a whopping total of 481,103 words which would take an adult 32-40 hours on average to read. (Minus coffee breaks and bathroom trips, of course.) Comparatively, watching all three extended versions of the movies takes a fraction of the time at only 11 hours, 21 minutes. Clarity should also be taken into account. For example, two lead female characters, named Arwen and Eowyn, interact with the same lead male character at different points in the tale. They have astronomically different roles, but the similarity of their names can be confusing in the books. Meanwhile, on-screen, they are portrayed by two different actresses, eliminating any identity confusion. The ability to remember individual characters is much easier onscreen because there is a name, and a voice, to associate with each character. Accuracy is a third issue to consider. To keep the length of the movies manageable, many scenes and chapters from the books were cut. This, and the editing of characters’ personalities, caused much grief
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.
Daniella Young Staff Writer Daniella Young, 18, is a freshman and is excited about her first year with the Advocate! She plans to major in Elementary Education at Mt. Hood, as well as possibly minoring in music and being involved in the Symphonic Choir. Aside from writing stories, she loves to sing, play the guitar, volunteer, read, and walk her dog, Spinner.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
RADIATION, HBO, AND THE DEATH OF THE SOVIET UNION Kurt Larson
The Advocate Thirty-three years ago, on April 26, 1986, the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded in northern Ukraine. A new HBO television documentary aired during this summer brought the tragedy into greater perspective, and served to highlight unpleasant truths. Seconds after the stunning event, a conspiracy to cover up the plant’s failure was already underway. In the aftermath of the explosion, dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish what they had been told was only a roof fire. Though it should have been obvious there was more going on than they had been told – as the explosion could be felt miles away in the city of Pripyat – the firefighters bravely carried on with their work, not knowing, and not caring about the potential hazards they were faced with. The true nature of the situation clearly manifested itself minutes after they began extinguishing the flames, however. As the crew marched through the rubble to bring their hoses closer, death was already upon them. Radioactive smoke clouds poured from the burning power
plant as the exposed reactor continued its deadly chain reaction, atomizing surrounding air molecules into brilliant hues of color as the firefighters unknowingly trampled over pieces of graphite blown directly out of the reactor core. They had unwittingly stepped into a nuclear event potentially worse than the atom bomb dropped on Japan 41 years prior. It would take days before the then-Soviet (U.S.S.R.) government would take the issue seriously. That delay would result in tens of thousands of nearby residents being exposed to cancer-causing amounts of radiation, the eventual evacuation of over 100,000 people, and the deaths of untold thousands of people in the following years (and years still to come). HBO’s “Chernobyl” miniseries covers the events of this horrific nuclear accident, the Soviet attempts to hide the incident and its severity, and the story of the scientists who worked tirelessly to clean up the mess – which some credit for the eventual downfall of the U.S.S.R. itself, just a handful of years later. If you haven’t already heard, Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, is the highest-rated TV show of 2019. In
fact, it currently stands among the highest-rated TV series in history, according to IMDB.com, beating out “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Wire,” and most every other critically acclaimed series of the last 50 years. So, is it really that good? In short, yeah, pretty much. Everyone has their preferred show and tastes will always vary by person, but on a technical level, there is almost nothing about this series any reasonable person could complain about without coming across as pretentious or nitpicky. (Though to be fair, part of the reason for Chernobyl’s high rating is its fiveepisode length. Where other TV series have multiple seasons with both amazing and weaker episodes, this show’s creators only had to contend with making five amazing episodes.) And the show’s episodes are amazing, though not for the faint of heart. It’s a thrilling and sadly intriguing ride ’till the end. The gloomy, off-green, melancholy haze in which most scenes are shot, the incredible art direction, periodappropriate speech patterns, superb writing, and Emmy-award winning performances all work together to make this some of the most interesting TV you’ll ever see. Jared Harris as the head scientist
and lead of the show, Valery Legasov, puts on a performance of a lifetime in this series, alongside co-stars Stellan Skarsgard as Vice Chairman Boris Shcherbyna, and Emily Watson, who portrays an amalgamation of scientists as her fictional character, Ulana Khomyuk. Speaking of fictional and nonfiction aspects, part of what makes this series so impactful is its painstaking adherence to reality and the true events surrounding Chernobyl. While some scenes and character interactions are clearly played up for the drama of the story and for the sake of moving the plot forward, every fact that matters is portrayed for its truth – truth being a central and very important theme throughout the series. If you have any interest in history, or simply in the events surrounding the mysterious pop culture phenomenon of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, then this is a must-watch. Not only is it a massive cinematic accomplishment, but the discussion around truth, politics, and fake news makes this series as timely as the upcoming 2020 election, and even brings to light some of the old-guard hypocrisy coming out of 2019 Russia.
The events of Chernobyl
and this miniseries remain a horrible reminder of what can happen when a country’s way of life is built on secrecy and lies. But sadly, history has a tendency to repeat itself. As of August 5, 2019, Russia was again attempting to cover up a nuclear disaster, much in the way the Soviets did back in 1986, which is frightening for a multitude of reasons. An explosion at a military ammunition depot was reported, leaving 12 persons injured, eight dead, and 16,500 people out of house and home as evacuation efforts were made in the aftermath. Despite reported spikes in radiation levels, according to Business Insider, Russia refused to explain the exact cause of the explosion and doctors who treated the injured were not told of any radiation risks. Meantime, authorities are said to have confiscated and destroyed hospital records, coinciding with the mysterious closure of surrounding nuclear monitoring stations following the incident.
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CONCERTS FILLING THIS FALL WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC Ashaura Espinoza The Advocate
Fall is such a relaxing time of the year: The leaves are changing color, there’s a slight nip in the air, and many bands and artists are going on tour. I don’t know about you guys, but I am really excited for these amazing up-and-coming artist tours, so let’s get down to business! Starting off the list is Logic, with his “The Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” tour at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Moda Center in Portland. Robert Bryson Hall, better known by his stage name, Logic, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and music producer. “Confessions” finds him venting feelings of selfdoubt caused by hateful comments on social media, and his grappling with the criticism he is getting for his vulnerable material. When teasing the album in early January, PA G E 4
the rapper described the effort as a mix between his “Under Pressure” and his 2016 mixtape, “Bobby Tarantino.” Next we have NF with his “The Search” tour at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Moda Center. The Search is also the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist NF. Even though most would categorize him as a Christian artist, he doesn’t agree: “I’m a Christian, but I don’t make Christian music. You’re not going to reach everyone with just one point of view,” he has told interviewers. If you’re looking for a quick way to describe NF’s album, what better way then by using one of his songs. “Therapy Session” is an analysis of his life and mental state. It discusses his growth from being a nobody, to performing in front of thousands, and giving his listeners music to relate to, while also touching on
the seemingly ever-increasing negativity he receives. A therapy session is a place where someone can go to discuss anything and where they can be entirely honest about what’s bothering them. NF describes his music as being his outlet and therapy. Following up is The Jonas Brothers, an American pop rock band, with their Happiness Begins Tour, at the Moda at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 13. Formed in 2005, they gained popularity from their appearances on the Disney Channel television network (I’m sure a lot of us still remember the show). They consist of three brothers: Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas. They embarked on their 40-date trek across North America this summer, which will carry into Europe over the winter. Bebe Rexha and rising star Jordan McGraw will also appear, as they
will open each concert throughout the tour. We also have Hozier’s “Wasteland, Baby!” tour at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17, also at Moda. “Wasteland, Baby!” is about falling in love. Hozier compares it to an apocalyptic event, and he frames it in a way that is not necessarily negative, but more reflects a new beginning. Ultimately, it’s a song about looking at the end of the world and finding love in the face of that, as well as finding the humor in a destructive event – a theme that permeates the whole album. Lukas Graham will be at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom the evening of Oct. 23 (appearing about 9 p.m.). The band recently issued its third album, The Purple Album, with its lead single, “Love Someone.” I can’t help but say that I’m pretty excited about the Bring Me
the Horizon “Threesome” Tour, featuring Sleeping With Sirens and Poppy. Bring Me the Horizon are an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 2004. The group consists of lead vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia, bassist Matt Kean, drummer Matt Nicholls, and keyboardist Jordan Fish, and unlike some bands that have either fizzled out over time or have dissolved, they are still going strong as ever. Bring Me the Horizon is promoting their newest album, “Amo,” which Sykes has said is a “bit of a love album, basically.” These are just a handful of the upcoming performances to kick off the holiday season, because I can’t think of a better way to enjoy it than jamming out to some good live music with friends, and then screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs with hundreds of others as they scream along with me.