The Advocate, Issue 3 - October 5th, 2018 by The Advocate

Volume 53, Issue 3 OCTOBER 5, 2018 advocate-online.net

New Student Experience (NSE) update PAGE 3

Chicana poet speaks out PAGE 7

Coach wins leadership award PAGE 8

MHCC PRESIDENT WANTS YOU!

PAGE 5

Pam Benjamin says farewell

PAGE 4

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2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION | NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

THE FINGER

NEW CAREER PATHWAY & BOARD VACANCY

Who’s giving out licenses?

Mariah Getch the advocate

Road rage: What does that mean to you? Does it mean a certain finger thrust up in the air? Tailgating? Maybe even speeding past someone to tell them, without words, that they pissed you off? We all have driving pet peeves that make us absolutely lose it. Due to all the summer/ early autumn construction, traffic has practically doubled, it seems. And so have the problems. Of course, it really doesn’t help that drivers – in our area, at least – don’t seem to understand the incredibly basic concept of merging. If all the vehicles had a carlength distance between them, merging would go much smoother. For some reason, these individuals think it’s smart to ride the backs of other cars and then slam on their brakes every two seconds, in turn causing everyone behind them to also slam on their brakes. This creates the hair-

tearing-out, yell-until-youcan’t-anymore, overall-senseof-utter-annoyance that anyone who has ever driven in stop-and-go traffic has faced. This next pet peeve shouldn’t even exist, because it’s against the law to not use this: your turn signal. It absolutely perplexes me why drivers can’t flick up their fingers a couple inches and just turn it on. Not only are these people being reckless, they could potentially be risking the lives of others. Hello: How are other drivers supposed to know what direction you’re going if you just suddenly swerve in front of them? What happens if they don’t notice in time and rear-end you? I bet you’d find those couple inches worth it then. Then, there’s those people who don’t even know how to drive, individuals who should never have gotten their license in the first place. These are the individuals that cause excessive hand gestures and expletive after expletive. I’m not even sure how to define their actions. It could be anything from random stops and swerves to not obeying traffic laws. However, at some point in everyone’s life, they will come across one of these irritating drivers and angrily yell – despite the fact that they won’t be heard – “Learn how to drive, dumb-ass!”

Photo provided by John Hamblin

Bethany McCurley the advocate

The Mt. Hood Community College District Board of Education chose to delay filling a new vacancy on the board and approved a new career pathway certificate when it met on Sept. 19. Last month’s meeting was the first since most instructors returned to campus for the Fall Term. The board usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month in the MHCC Boardroom, located in the 2300 wing of the main Academic Center. The MHCC Board consists of seven elected members who serve a four-year term – five representing geographic districts, and two elected at-large. However, the panel is one member short this fall after Michael Calcagno resigned, upon moving outside of the college district. Board members voted to keep Calcagno’s position vacant until after the May 2019 election. They unanimously decided that any

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC

Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias PA G E 2

Opinion Editor Position Open Arts & Entertainment Editor Position Open Graphic Design Team Sheila Embers Eli Rankin Positions Open Photo Team Shyann Tooke Positions Open

Video Team Andy Carothers Drevsen Shadley Positions Open Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open

replacement appointment, at this time, would not be beneficial. The hiring process could require months, then the new member would need additional time to understand the role. By that time, they might be replaced in the upcoming election cycle. During the meeting the board also approved a program request for a career pathway certificate for the Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining program in the Applied Technology division. The 16-credit program contains the first term and advanced classes of a regular two-year program. In the past these sessions have successfully led to employment for nearly all the participants in Applied Tech programs; at the end of a past session, students could attend an event where five employees competed to fill over 100 openings, program leaders said. Associate Student Government (ASG) President Bob Hansen updated the board about this year’s goals. The Mt. Hood student government is especially focused on

improving campus safety, textbook affordability, Barney’s Pantry, and student outreach and recruitment. ASG is particularly concerned with the amount of cars stolen from campus parking lots and the security camera in the Student Life (Student Union area) not working properly. ASG leaders are partnering with Student Life director John Hamblin and Portland State University staff to bring in an outside company for a safety evaluation of the campus. Over the next year, they will write a grant proposal to improve Mt. Hood’s security. Hansen said ASG was excited about finishing Barney’s Pantry’s relocation/upgrade and partnering with the Oregon Food Bank to provide more options for students. The student government is also working to improve ASG’s multicampus visibility by recruiting more students to join committees and be present at MHCC’s other locations, such as the Maywood Park campus. The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 in the MHCC Boardroom.

Get Involved! Come visit us during our weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in our office, room AC1369.

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Staff Writers Bethany McCurley Mariah Getch Deniqua Adams Chloe Collins Jennifer Salazar Positions Open

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NEWS | OPINION

OCTOBER 5, 2018

CATERING TO STUDENT SERVICES New Student Experience project update, vision, goals Megan Phelps the advocate

If you’ve been by the Student Services office in the past week, you may have noticed colorful graphics lining the windows: These images are part of the New Student Experience (NSE) project, led by the Title III project team and other staff here on campus. It’s the most visible piece so far of the evolving approach at Mt. Hood to assist students during their registration process and first full term at MHCC. Registration steps have been simplified, in print and online. The “Getting Started Guide” helps students with tasks of registration on paper; Navigate is the new online tool. As described online, key elements of Navigate include: “tasks to be completed, helpful student resources, reminders, and a major exploration tool to assist students in clarifying and picking their major.” However, the biggest change in the NSE plan, developed with input from many MHCC faculty, staff and students, is physically moving student-oriented services. To make registration easier, plans call for creating a central student services hub, which will have all the necessary departments in one location. That will be the current Student Services/Business Office; hence, the colorful imagery in the windows. To achieve this, other departments have relocated. The former SOL center (Room 50) in the Student Union basement, which housed departments such as Transitions/Transiciones, TRiO, Student Outreach and Recruitment, and the Oregon Leadership Institute

Cover by: Megan Phelps

Contact us! E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

has been temporarily closed. Mt. Hood’s Orientation Center has moved to the upper (mezzanine) level of the Library along with TRiO. Transitions/Transiciones has moved to the Orientation Center’s previous location in AC 1001, and will also have a visual presence in the NSE windows. Easier, holistic approach “These are programs that we should not hide,” said John Hamblin, MHCC executive dean of student development. “We really want to prioritize and put them in a spot where more students will be able to receive and benefit from those resources.” The design of the hub is similar to an Apple store, with an open layout which will require the removal of both the large desk currently in place, and walls separating the offices to the left and right of the main walk-in area. Hue Design, a Gresham architecture firm, is helping in the process. Once contractor bids are solicited and received, “we’ll have a detailed timetable” for completion, said Matthew Farina, Title III director of retention for Mt. Hood who has helped lead the NSE effort. It’s a big change from the current, oft-confusing process of registering that requires students to visit multiple departments located in various locations on campus. They might start registration at the Orientation Center, then be directed to the Business Office to supply documentation, and then to a different area to receive advising for a specific area of study. Public Safety role Over the years, Public Safety has been a big part of catering to new students’ needs, taking a one-

on-one, holistic supporting role with student service. Wayne Feagle, department manager, said that assistance will continue. “Public Safety is here 24/7. That’s the biggest support and how we play a role in this (NSE),” Feagle said. “After a certain time (hour), we’re the only live person (people) can get a hold of on campus, (especially during the) evening. I would say probably 75 percent of the day for Public Safety is assisting students find what they need.” To streamline the process further, there are plans to have students check in digitally with student ID’s when they visit the hub, in order to figure out wait times for appointments with either a financial or academic adviser. This is a big shift, having financial advisers work directly with students. “Financial aid advisers primarily stay behind the scenes. Part of this is because they do a lot of processing,” said Hamblin. The NSE approach is “really that balancing point of being able to provide that customer service, but also keeping that ‘machine’ (of processing paperwork) in the background going,” he said. Choices for the NSE design were made to cater to students, making them feel welcome and feel like they are able to go through the process of registering. In turn, the hope is, the college can increase student retention rates – the main reason why Title III, a federal-funded grant program to improve student outcomes, is a part of this process.

TO CONTINUE READING, SEE PAGE 4

LET’S GET MOVING The importance of daily activity

Deniqua Adams the advocate

In an age of increasing automation, and sedentary jobs and transportation, it can be hard to find half an hour to get your body moving, let alone the hour or two you need to hit the gym. Even so, it is still extremely important to do aerobic exercise (activity that raises your heart rate significantly and makes you sweat) for 30 minutes or more per day to reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health states that adults who are inactive are almost twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease as those who are active, even if they don’t have any other preexisting conditions – or harmful habits such as tobacco use – that increase risk of heart disease. Because I’m also a Mt. Hood student, I understand that 30 minutes can be a big chunk of

time – time you might have to devote to work or studying, time that may be essential to your schedule. But what if I let you in on a little secret: You can spread out your activity time. A 2012 study from Arizona State University concluded that three, 10-minute exercise sessions are as effective as one 30-minute session for heart health. Ten minutes seems much more manageable, I think. As well as ‘cutting up’ activity time, you can try to incorporate simple exercise into your daily life. It could be something as simple as riding your bike to school or work, or picking up the pace when walking the dog. The benefits of regular exercise extend beyond just keeping your heart healthy. Exercise can help manage depressive and anxious symptoms; regulate sleep; lower blood pressure and cholesterol; and help maintain a healthy weight or prevent weight gain. Now, I hope you’re sold on the benefits of frequent exercise, but please remember to consult your doctor before starting a new routine if you have either been inactive for a long time, or have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, or any other serious health conditions.

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE 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.

Associate Editor and Photo Editor Fletcher Wold is studying photography and is a second year student in the Integrated Media program here on campus. Art has always been a part of his life, and he has enjoyed being a part of the Advocate getting to make and create content each week. Along with photography, he enjoys playing basketball, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, listening to music, and spending quality time with friends. His favorite level of a banana is a level 5 to a level 8, for questions on the level of bananas, I guess you’ll just have to ask him. PA G E 3

NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

MEMORIES AND FAREWELLS WITH PAM BENJAMIN

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Cassie Wilson the advocate

The first few weeks of Fall Term can feel like a hectic blur for students, but for longtime Mt. Hood employees such as Pam Benjamin – executive assistant to the college president – it’s the most exciting time of the year. And, just like the changing of the seasons, things are shifting in the president’s office: Lisa Skari is the new MHCC president, and while Benjamin has already formally retired, she’s been filling in until someone new takes over. (Update: Skari announced on Thursday that Felisha Brewer, previously at David Douglas High School, will succeed Benjamin, starting on Oct. 15.) Benjamin has worked at the college for 29 years. She’s worked for nine presidents, including two interim leaders. She started working here after living in Hawaii for 10 years, then moving back home to Oregon after going through a divorce. Having done secretarial work since she was 16, when a friend told her about an opening for a part-time receptionist position in the president’s office, she thought it sounded like a fun way to ease back into life. “I just loved it. I dived into it head first and I loved my co-workers,” Benjamin said. “I loved the whole college family feel that we had. “I get the same feeling I got when I lived in Hawaii. There’s excitement of the tourists coming in on vacation,” she explained. “When I moved back, Oregon is not exactly Hawaii. So when I came here it was right after Fall Term started, and I thought, ‘I feel that same energy.’ ” Growing up, Benjamin never got the

I JUST LOVED IT, I DIVED INTO IT HEAD FIRST AND I LOVED MY COWORKERS. I LOVED THE WHOLE COLLEGE FAMILY FEEL THAT WE HAD.

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

Pam Benjamin has been the executive assistant to the college president for 29 years. She’s now set to retire as Felisha Brewer fills her position.

chance to seriously consider a career for herself. At that time and in her own family, it was expected that she get married “and live happily ever after,” she said. She didn’t realize a woman could have her own career. “Getting married and having kids, that’s wonderful, I wouldn’t change a thing about that. But there was more for me and I don’t feel that I was aware of those other options,” she said. Benjamin has five children and seven grandchildren, and beams with pride when talking about her family. Getting to see her daughters build their careers and follow different paths than she took has been exciting for her, as times have changed. Personalities differ Working for nine different Mt. Hoods presidents meant learning the ins and outs of

each one, she noted (using the title “Doctor” since most had earned a doctorate degree in education). “Each time you get a new president you have to learn all over again like what this one likes, what they don’t like. You even have to know what kind of restaurants they like, what kind of food they eat, if they’re a coffee drinker – which, Dr. (most recent President Debbie) Derr was definitely a coffee drinker,” she said. Benjamin’s favorite two presidents – not including Skari – were Robert Silverman, who served from 2001 to 2007, and Derr, who served the last five years, ending this July. “Dr. Silverman was an interesting person,” said Benjamin. “He put his foot in his mouth a lot, but he had a sense of humor that I totally enjoyed and I got. But, a lot of people didn’t get it, so there were some problems there.” To lighten the mood, she would draw cartoons of him. He loved them so much that in one of her performance evaluations, he wrote, “Pam must draw a cartoon every President’s Cabinet meeting,” she recalled. “Dr. Silverman died a few years ago and I still I still have a whole binder full of those silly cartoons that I drew for him,” she said. Derr is Benjamin’s other favorite president. She was the first woman she had

worked for, and her personality was the complete opposite of Silverman’s, she said. “She thought before she spoke, which is a smart thing to do when you’re the president. She became like my very dearest friend, and I shed some tears when she told me she was going to retire,” Benjamin said. Ready for new chapter Being able to still fill in this autumn has made the transition to retirement easier for Benjamin, she said. Her second husband died last year, and she had never lived on her own, but she’s finding things to look forward to doing with her new free time. Her 19-year-old grandson just moved in with her, and she just got a beach lot with her kids in Long Beach, Washington, so she has somewhere to get away. She also has plans to finish writing her mom’s biography, which is a half-autobiography that her mom wrote by hand. With so many grandkids, Benjamin is also excited about the potential babysitting that she’ll get to do, so she’ll always feel that energy that both Hawaii and the college have brought to her life. Meantime, at Mt. Hood, she knows the ins and outs of her position better than anyone else. Her advice to the person who takes her place is to pay close attention to the president’s calendar. “That calendar is so busy, it’s just unreal. I don’t know how any president can do all that they do,” she said. That Benjamin’s own schedule will change so dramatically soon no longer rattles her. “I think I’m having some withdrawal pains a little bit, but it’s time for somebody new to come in, and we have a new president, so it’s perfect timing,” she said. “It’s time for me to enjoy life.”

‘CATERING TO STUDENT SERVICES’ CONTINUED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

More changes due Mt. Hood previously won a Title III grant totaling roughly $2.1 million over five years, about $430,000 per year, “which provides resources to aid colleges in serving low-income students,” according to guidelines. More NSE funding came from the MHCC Foundation, which donated $173,000 to the project. Aside from the physical changes, there have been multiple training sessions to build a more informed, holistic approach to working with students throughout the registration process. Hamblin described a practice scenario where a faculty member played the role of a Portuguese student registering. The would-be student was confronted with “words like federal government, PA G E 4

form, regulations – words that are concerning to a person who is an immigrant coming to college,” he said. “Those types of words can be a put-off to a student who’s looking for that welcoming environment. “(That is) one of the things we can learn, as our community has been changing for years now. Those are things where it’s important for us to be a better support,” he said. The hope is to have the hub completed before next summer. More substantial moves are likely during the winter break and Winter Term. Meantime, Nancy Gomenz-Sewell, the NSE project director, has left her position. Farina said Mt. Hood will work through Title III federal hiring rules to find a replacement. For more project information, visit: mhcc. edu/NSE.

Photo by Shyann Tooke / the Advocate

The new window mural outside of the future location of the student services hub.

NEWS

OCTOBER 5, 2018

COLLEGE PRESIDENT WANTS TO HEAR YOUR VOICE Cassie Wilson the advocate

With a passion for collaboration and shared visions, Lisa Skari is beginning her first year as Mt. Hood’s president with goals of listening and learning from as many voices as possible around campus. In early July, Skari officially made the move to Oregon from her Seattle home. She and her husband now have a place out in Sandy, with enough property to keep them busy with cleaning up blackberry bushes and planning Skari’s dream garden for next year. “I was originally from Montana and grew up on a farm, and then kind of migrated west over the years, so I love the outdoors,” she said of her new home. Becoming a college president was definitely not a childhood dream for Skari, she said. “When I was really little, I wanted to be a gymnast, and quickly found out that my lack of grace and my height just wasn’t going to let that happen.” Then, in high school, she wanted to be an accountant. “The two things I said I never wanted to do were education and politics because that was my family experience, but here I am – education and politics,” she explained, with a laugh. Skari earned her bachelor’s degree in clothing and textiles at Washington State University (WSU); her master’s of Business Administration at Pacific Lutheran University; and her doctorate degree in education at WSU. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked in business for seven years. After her master’s, she became a part-time faculty

member at Highline Community College near Seattle, and continued working her way up the ladder from there. “I’ve been in the community college system for 22 years in various roles,” said Skari. She created a centralized internship program at Highline, worked on budgeting for a few years, and then moved into the role of institutional advancement. “I created a division with all the policy stuff and administrative things that went into it, hired the team, and then just really for 17 years moved it forward,” she said. ‘Bold’ leadership style For her last year-and-a-half at Highline, the college president was out on medical leave, so the vice presidents stepped up to help fill that role. While Skari said she wasn’t president-in-name, she “took over work with the board, legislative issues, funding, and got some broader experience in the role.” Now at Mt. Hood since July, Skari’s firstyear plan includes a lot of listening and assessments. “Her leadership style is bold, innovative, inclusive, respectful and thoughtful,” said Diane McKeel, chair of the MHCC District Board of Education that selected Skari from among several candidates for the college’s top job. “We look forward to working with her as we advance opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, and community.” Skari wants to understand campus culture, get a feel for the initiatives that are already underway, and figure out what makes the most sense and what is most important to the college in moving forward. She listed her top three priorities as student success, employee satisfaction, and

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THIS – AGAIN – NEEDS TO BE OUR PLAN. IT’S NOT JUST MY PLAN.

community engagement. She will focus on making sure that students succeed with little-to-no barriers; that employees have the freedom to do the best at their job; and that students can fill needs in businesses and industries in the surrounding community. “I’ve always been a collaborator,” said Skari. “ I know where I want to get, but I don’t know how we’re going to get there because that’s going to take a lot of people and a lot of voices – what makes the most sense, and what’s going to be most successful.” Seeks student input The new president has been working on formally and informally trying to hear from as many people on campus as possible by sitting in on department meetings, inviting people to come talk with her, and working with Associated Student Government (ASG) to figure out ways to connect with students. An idea in the works is “pizza with the president,” so in exchange for pizza, Skari can hear what’s important to the students. “You gotta talk to me and tell me the things that are important to you, and just try to create that dialogue, so I can make sure we’ve got the student voice, and the student voice is being heard.” Students can also speak up through student clubs and organizations, such as the

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

As of July, Dr. Lisa Skari is the new president of MHCC. She comes from Highline College in Washington, and is eager to involve student voices in the process of higher level decision making.

ASG or the Advocate, or at monthly MHCC District board meetings held on campus. Aside from listening, other assessments are being made on college needs such as structuring, budgets, personnel, and overall operations. “This – again – needs to be our plan. It’s not just my plan,” said Skari. So far, she’s been energized by her time as Mt. Hood’s leader. “I really do love what I do, and I think with that even on the bad days I can think about the work and how lucky I am to get to do this work, so that’s motivating in itself,” she said.

IMPACTING STUDENT LIFE, DIRECTOR WILL BE MISSED Megan Phelps the advocate

Since Sept. 14, the position of director of student leadership and civic engagement at MHCC has been vacant. Because this vacancy affects Student Life activities at Mt. Hood, John Hamblin, executive dean of student development, has been assisting to fast-track the process of hiring a new staff member for this important role. The individual who previously held this role was Justin Core, coming to MHCC with “over 25 years of experience in student life areas” according to Hamblin. His stay at Mt. Hood lasted only one

school year. Hamblin described the several positive impacts Core had on Student Life while at MHCC. He said Core helped foster a new relationship with Oregon Food Bank (OFB) to boost college’s Barney’s Pantry, a service available to students in need of food while on campus. Along with teaming up with OFB, the Pantry was relocated to a larger space in the Student Union. It now includes a fridge to store perishable food items, provided through the new partnership. Hamblin praised Core for his focus on student needs. Last school year, the pantry “served around 500 students. Over

4,000 meals were given out during that period of time, which really speaks to his care and compassion to leadership and food, housing, and security for our students,” he said of Core. “His awareness on that level was really, really strong.” Bob Hansen, Associated Student Government (ASG) president for 2018-19, said Core “would always ask the question, ‘How does this benefit students?’ when he would make decisions.” Hamblin also noticed an increase in student engagement and involvement. Core would frequently update him about the number of attendees at events throughout the school year, he said.

Looking ahead, Hamblin has set a timeline of six weeks to fill the vacant role. This timeline started when the position was posted on the MHCC (Career) web pages roughly one week after Core’s final day. If the hiring process goes as planned, Mt. Hood would see a new staff member in place by the beginning of November. Meantime, Hamblin is the interim supervisor of the ASG/ Student Life area. He said he does not believe Core’s absence will affect students, since a lot of programming and planning took place prior to his resignation. “I think we’ve got a very capable team that’s managing the transition

very well. My hope is that we keep the time-frame very limited to minimize the impact,” Hamblin shared. “The last time this position was vacant, it was for over nine months; I think that did have a substantial impact,” he said – referencing the departure of David Sussman. As for other student programs looking for formal approval and assistance with projects, as well as having things signed off, Hamblin said leaders should “communicate with me, communicate with Doctor (Abio Ayeliya, ASG faculty adviser) and Cassie (James, Student Union assistant and fiscal manager), and we’ll get the process taken care of.” PA G E 5

NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS New Campus Alert System The RAVE Alert system is a new emergency system that will allow Mt. Hood Community College to instantly email or text students, staff and faculty in the event of an emergency. In the event that there is threat to students, and/or property, such as natural disasters or active shooters, students and staff will receive a RAVE Alert with the necessary information about the emergency. A RAVE alert will also be sent out if any campus is partially or completely closed due to inclement weather. No information from students or staff will be shared with others. Emails and phone numbers will be kept private and only used in case of an emergency. Students and staff can manage their RAVE settings through the My MHCC portal. The RAVE emergency alert system is listed under student life; here students and staff can add or change their email and/ or phone number. For general information about the RAVE Emergency Alert system, visit ravemobilesafety. com https://www.mhcc.edu/RAVE/ Scholarships are still open Scholarships are still open to apply for the 2018-19 school year. In order to apply for a scholarship students will need to sign in to the scholarship portal, using their MHCC login. A General application is needed in order to match students with available MHCC scholarships. Applications need to be in by Friday, Oct. 12. Two workshops are still available for any student who needs orientation when applying for scholarships. Available dates are noon to 12:45 p.m. and 4 to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9, and noon to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Recipients will be notified via Saints email by Nov. 16. (Two briefs above by Jennifer Salazar)

All–USA Academic Team All–USA Academic team is offering scholarships to outstanding students who have displayed academic diligence, honor, and innovation to improve themselves and their community, as well as students who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and service to their college. For more information, contact Megan Dugan at megan.dugan@mhcc. edu or to apply, go to www.ptk.org/Scholarships/ BachelorsDegreeScholarships/All-USAAcademicTeam. aspx College Radio Day Friday, Oct. 5 is the eighth-annual College Radio Day. It’s a celebration to encourage people who may not normally listen to college radio to do so on this day. [College radios contribute to the growth of punk, indie-rock, hip-hop and local music scenes. They play an important role in promoting local concerts and events, being a voice for students, and preparing them with technical skills needed for their careers. Mt. Hood’s jazz station is KMHD 89.1, and streams on kmhd.org. The student-led indie/alternative station is KMHD2 89.1-HD2, and streams online at kmhd2.org. Fall Club Fair On Tuesday, Oct. 9 and Wednesday, Oct. 10, MHCC will be hosting a Club Fair. The event in the Student Union runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. It’s a great opportunity to get informed and involved with clubs offered on campus. PA G E 6

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

BALLOT MEASURE BRIEF SUMMARIES

Web photos

MEASURE 102: MEASURE 103: MEASURE 104: Measure 102 aims to amend the Oregon Constitution to allow local governments (i.e., cities, counties) to credit money to private enterprise to build affordable housing. (Approved by both the Oregon House and Senate, the amendment must be ratified by state voters.)

WHAT WILL CHANGE? Local governments would be allowed to spend public money on affordable housing that they may not necessarily own. Since the private enterprise would be investing money or labor, those entities could be partial owners or wholly own the project. FACTS TO NOTE:

The amendment would require local voters to approve bonds and annual audits of the new housing.

VOTING YES: A “yes” vote would let local governments issue credit to private entities to build affordable housing.

VOTING NO: A “no” vote would mean keeping the law that bars local government from raising money for, or loaning money to private enterprise.

Measure 103 would write into law the decision not to tax groceries. It isn’t common in Oregon to see sales tax on groceries, because there is no statelevel sales tax. However, there also is no law keeping local governments from enacting such taxes. Measure 103 will prevent any sales tax on groceries in the future – including beverages (i.e., any new soda tax), explaining why major beverage companies backed the measure. The measure would also repeal any sales tax put into effect in Oregon cities after Oct. 1, 2017.

Measure 104 would redefine the phrase “raising revenue” as used in the Oregon Constitution. The Constitution requires a three-fifths majority vote to pass legislation related to raising revenue. This measure would move for “raising revenue” to also include changes to exemptions, deductions, or credits as well as any direct, legislativeapproved change or increase in taxes. For any of those actions listed above, a three-fifths vote from each chamber (i.e., House and Senate) would be required to pass new bills in the future.

WHAT WILL CHANGE?

Groceries will remain tax-free. The chance of any Oregon city to apply sales tax on groceries will be eliminated.

The definition of “raising revenue” in relation to the Oregon Constitution.

VOTING YES:

The Oregon Constitution would be amended to officially ban state or local sales tax on groceries.

Voting “yes” will require a threefifths majority vote on additional legislation involving state revenue in the future.

VOTING NO:

Local government would keep the right to enact sales tax on groceries.

The Constitution will not be amended. The scale of revenue-related bills that require a three-fifths majority vote to pass will not be affected.

The Advocate will cover other ballot measures in next week’s issue.

Scan the QR code with a scanner app or hover over the code with your camera.

Select the state in which you live.

Click “start your online registration”

Enter in the required information

Registration Deadline:

October 16.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 5, 2018

POET’S ‘CHINGONA FIRE’ ILLUMINATED STUDENT UNION Mariah Getch the advocate

Angela Aguirre, Chicana feminist poet and advocate for students with disabilities, performed at the college on behalf of the Associated Student Government (ASG) in the MHCC Student Union on Tuesday. She didn’t shy from hard, ongoing controversies, reading from several of her poems. In her work, “What are You?” she lists things that she defines herself by: her culture, her family, her friends. She read aloud from its prose: “When they ask me who I am, I say I am generations of don’t fuck with me.” Aguirre has been speaking for the last seven years, from her own and others’ experiences with rape, disability, identity, and substance abuse. She performs poetry centered around them all. In 2006, Aguirre was diagnosed with ADHD. A counselor at her community college told her that “school just wasn’t for everybody,” she told the Mt. Hood audience. However, she eventually graduated college and became

a published author. She was honored by California state Sen. Anthony Portantino as one of 10 Women of the Year he named for 2017. “The moment I began to embrace the part of who I am that makes me different instead of rejecting it is the moment I began to live my fullest life,” stated Aguirre in her TEDx talk, posted online. During her talk at Mt. Hood, she spoke of her own struggles with dyslexia and her experiences with a special education student with Down syndrome, Molly. “Molly was my first teacher in disability… [she] helped me accept my own disabilities,” said Aguirre. What consent means As more students entered the Student Union, she brought up federal judge Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court nominee that has been accused of sexual assault by psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford, and, former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, found guilty of sexual assault (and at the center of a controversial, light criminal sentence). Of Kavanaugh, Aguirre said, “It’s hard to say (his) name without wanting to throw up.” Before beginning her next poem, she

dedicated the piece to Turner. The poem went through different situations in which she states “there is no ‘yes.’ ” Aguirre lists situations that are often said to be “muddied” when it comes to consent, painting a clear picture for her audience of just what consent means. “There is no ‘yes’ in a blackout... There is no ‘yes’ no matter how malleable my consent feels to you,” she writes in her poem titled, “For Brock Turner and All the Men Like Him.” Her work has been featured by The Huffington Post, Latina Magazine, and All Def Digital. She also has performed at events such as the Women for Racial Justice Breakfast and the Adelante Mujer Latina conference. Aguirre is the co-founder of the Latina Feminist Poetry Collective, Chingona Fire, that organizes events for women of color in Los Angeles. She also has taught poetry workshops at many high schools, universities, and organizations including InsideOut Writers, Homeboy Industries, and La Pintoresca Teen Education Center. Her book, “Confessions of a Firework”, was published in 2016 by the World Stage Press and contains poems and writing prompts.

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Angela Aguirre recites her poetry during her talk in the Student Union on October 2.

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SPORTS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

GET TO KNOW YOUR SAINTS! Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

In this edition of “Getting to know your Saints!” we had the privilege to meet a few of the Mt. Hood volleyball players. This week, Grace Buchanan, Lea’a Puleiala and Jaida Spendelow gave us a little bit of their time to talk with us about volleyball and other fun things.

mer visit and ended up falling in love with the campus. She had the chance to play with the team during some summer practices and knew at that point that she wanted to sign with the Saints. “I liked that I was coming to a school which didn’t have a huge campus... a place where most people know each other,” Puleiala said. She has been enjoying college life so far but admits it’s hard to be away from home. “It’s tough… it’s rough to be away from family but it’s a first step to life, to get away from family and learn things on your own and be an independent person.” Puleiala, an outside hitter, is often the only freshman in the starting lineup for the Saints this season. While currently out with an injury, her season goal is to be nominated to an NWAC Athlete of the Week award.

LEA’A PULEIALA Meet Lea’a Puleiala, a first-year student coming from Haleiwa, Hawaii. She heard of Mt. Hood through a friend who had previously played for the Saints. MHCC wasn’t her first choice; she had planned to go to the military after completing high school, the U.S. Coast Guard, to be specific. But she went ahead and sent Saints head coach Kristina Crivello an email with a season highlight video of her senior year. One thing led to another, and Puleiala ended up coming for a sum-

JAIDA SPENDELOW Jaida Spendelow is a sophomore transfer for the Saints this year. She is a Milwaulkie town girl who attended Gladstone High School and after her senior year received an offer to play at a school in Wyoming. She took it, but after one year, wanted to be closer to home. She sent out some emails, including to rival

Clackamas Community College, but quickly heard back from Mt. Hood. After meeting with Crivello, she fell in love with the coaching staff and decided to play for the Saints. Spendelow was named in the all-tournament team for the Mt. Hood Crossover Tournament, held last month. It was a great achievement to consolidate her spot on the team as the designated defensive specialist. “I was happy when I heard I was nominated,” she said. “It was like an achievement for those who didn’t believe in me. Like an ‘I told you so’ feeling, you know?” Grace Buchanan, also listed as an outside hitter, is a returning sophomore who played volleyball and threw the javelin for the track and field team at Mt. Hood last year, earning All-American honors for the latter. Asked if she preferred one sport over the other, she said, “I like them equally, I guess.” She paused for a second then said, laughing, “I enjoy more the one I’m currently not doing.” Buchanan has grown to be a volleyball team leader this season, mostly over the last few games as the team is suffering with a couple of key injuries.

GRACE BUCHANAN

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E L H T A Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

GRACE BUCHANAN FAVORITE SUPERHERO: Ironman FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Parent Trap” or “The Goonies” FAVORITE TV SHOW: Too many! FAVORITE SONG: I can’t narrow it down INSTA OR SNAPCHAT: snapchat INTERESTING THING: I don’t have my appendix GOALS THIS SEASON: Find a school to move on to

LEA’A PULEIALA FAVORITE SUPERHERO: Spiderman FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Sound of Music” FAVORITE TV SHOW: “Game of Thrones” FAVORITE SONG: “Work” - Rihanna INSTA OR SNAPCHAT: snapchat INTERESTING THING: I love math! GOALS THIS SEASON: Get NWAC player of the week

JAIDA SPENDELOW FAVORITE SUPERHERO: DEADPOOL!!! FAVORITE MOVIE: “Slumdog Millionaire” FAVORITE TV SHOW: “One Tree Hill” FAVORITE SONG: “The Way Life Goes” - Lil Uzi Vert INSTA OR SNAPCHAT: snapchat INTERESTING THING: I’m a Canadian citizen GOALS THIS SEASON: Get recruited

MHCC COACH RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

Mt. Hood Community College assistant volleyball coach Taylor Gould. PA G E 8

Congratulations to Mt. Hood’s own assistant softball coach Taylor Gould for recently being named a 2018 Easton/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year. The award honors coaches from the various National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) membership categories for dedication to the sport of softball and “to the continued education, growth and development of young women, both on and off the playing field,” award organizers said. Gould has been with Mt. Hood the last two years. She spends most of her talent mentoring the outfielders; last year, under her guidance, Makiah Johnson was named a 2018 NFCA All-American.

Head softball coach Brittany Hendrickson told the Advocate, “It’s a huge honor for her to be named a NFCA award winner. That’s national recognition and I think she’s very deserving of that. “Mostly, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May, (Gould) hasn’t taken a step away from the program, and her work ethic towards making sure Mt. Hood (softball) is the best that it can be” has amazed Hendrickson and Saints players, she said. “(That is) something that the student athletes look up to and (she provides) a great role model for them.” When reached before a recent evening softball practice session, Gould shared credit for the award to the entire Saints program, in her usual, easygoing fashion. “I feel proud to represent Mt. Hood in that aspect,” she said. “I love doing what I do and I’m

glad it’s being recognized but it’s really about this (the team), you know. I’m able to be a good coach because I have great co-workers, (an) athletic director, and the school in general – it all added to it (the award).”

Gould stays busy and keeps moving, including riding around the softball field on this tractor.