Volume 54, Issue 4 October 11, 2019 advocate-online.net
FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS
Textbooks and MHCC: on the right track? PAGE 2
The costs of immigration PAGE 3
SpaceX change makes rockets shinier PAGE 6
CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP PAGE 7
'Joker' laughably bad? Or scarily good? PAGE 5
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OPINION
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
CLASS TEXTBOOKS: THE FINAL EXPENSE
Omar Saradi The Advocate
When it’s the start of a new term, teachers and students are thinking the same thing: How much do I have to shell out for the class textbook? It’s like playing a game of chance because every class is different. For the most part, subjects are really “by the book” and therefore you gotta spend a couple hundred on the textbook; otherwise, you’re at
a disadvantage. Then there are the more casual learning classes, where all your course reading is either done online or in class handouts. These are the ones that I prefer. Adding to the headaches of rising tuition costs and student debt, college textbooks are the thing that don’t hit you until you get past the other hurdles. After you let out that sigh of relief from sorting out financial aid, in comes the next obstacle, the teacher’s assigned textbook – the line in the bookstore is the least of your worries in obtaining it. Even your instructor understands the problem with textbook costs and will do their best with accommodating, (using the MHCC portal or other website services) but that brings up the issue of copyright violations. MHCC has actually made big steps to reduce the cost of textbooks by taking advantage of online
services (a shift to Open Education Resources (OER) has saved Mt. Hood students an estimated $1.2 million in 2015-19, a new report shows) and going as far as not requiring a class textbook for some courses. These are changes I and many others hope expand and improve. At the end of the day, these books aren’t supposed to be free, but the perception that higher education should be a free and easily accessible journey is getting more common. With pushes for tuition free college in the national political discourse and moves on the local level (the Oregon Promise Act) soon students will be willing to purchase textbooks because it will be the only thing they’ll have to worry about. Online websites such as eBay and Amazon have come in to compete with full-priced textbooks at more traditional outlets in response to the financial
issues that come with going to college. Students are often encouraged by instructors to get a used copy of a textbook or use the MHCC Library’s resources. After all, the latter is provided through student tuition and fees. Campus bookstores should more open to different buying options; not every book has the potential to be rented out or bought back by the bookstore, for instance. My biggest issue with textbooks is that after the term is over, I won’t need or use them again. They’ll just take up space in my room. That’s why there’s a whole marketplace for books not in use, because more than 95% of the information in these books is retained every year. We live in the information age.
People who grew up within it feel entitled to free information, and it’s not our fault, either, that it’s just one the things technology has made easier to obtain. So, rather than going against the grain with regard to college finances and textbooks, our colleges and universities should embrace the rapidly growing movements of tuition free college and the use of technology in education. It’ll make the experience of higher education less stressinducing and more attractive.
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PROTECT GOVERNMENT WHISTLEBLOWERS
Kel Buell
The Advocate Recent events concerning the Ukraine scandal and Trump administration have brought the matter of government whistleblowers back to the
forefront of national debate. At the head of the lineup of recent-era whisteblowers is Edward Snowden, catapulted into the heights of controversy and infamy when he leaked documents detailing the secret surveillance programs of the CIA, in 2013. Snowden compares this latest international incident with his own circumstances to demonstrate that whistleblowers really have no choice at this point but to go to the press (the media) with what they’ve learned. He explains that before he went to journalists, he made every effort to go through the proper channels at work, but kept getting shut down and was thus forced to take more drastic
measures. He cites several other government whistleblower incidents, many of which resulted in the whistleblower having their personal/work life torn apart. This, Snowden laments, is the norm. Whistleblowers are an important part of keeping governments accountable for their actions, and yet despite the fact that there are systems in place that are supposed to give them a safe way to make their complaints, many end up getting fired, or worse. Snowden – who fled the U.S. years ago, fearing legal prosecution – hits the nail on the head: The basic problem with government whistleblowing is that you have to
for the students by the students
report wrongdoing to those most responsible for it, he explains. This simple fact prevents many whistleblowers from coming forward at all, and tends to shut down many of those who do. This needs to change. Whistleblowers, while often overlooked, are actually key figures in keeping the government and corporations morally accountable. They keep the public informed if there is something wrong happening behind the scenes, and are a powerful force for keeping corruption at bay. Yet, often while performing this duty they receive nothing but condemnation and ridicule. We, the people, need to
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Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins
Sports Editor Julia Empleo
Broadcast team Gage Linhares
Copy Editor Corwin Benedict
Outreach Manager Melanie Roberts
Associate Editor Omar Saradi
Opinion Editors Sadie Klein Omar Saradi
Graphic Design Team Leydi Perez Carrasco
Ad Manager Kaleb Moring
Social Media Manager Kaleb Moring
News Editor Chris Barney Arts & Entertainment Editors Kurt Larson Eli Rankin Austin Asciutto
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Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin Radio Producer Naethaniel Lile
Photo Editor Maysee Thao Photo Team Bethy Fallgren Landon Spady
Staff Writers Brad Le Daniella Young Parrish Chang Kel Buell Ash Espinoza
Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck
make it safer and more effective for whistleblowers to voice their findings, whether that means building a whole new whistleblower system, or simply improving the old one. Although this is not always the case, these people generally seek nothing more than to get the truth into the hands of the people, so that the public might decide what to do with it (Snowden’s stated motivation, in his case). In short, to preserve our freedom of choice, we need to preserve the freedom of our whistleblowers — after all, they are one of our last lines of defense against a powerful system.
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OPINION
OCTOBER 11, 2019
IMMIGRATION IS A COMPLEX PROCESS
Ash Espinoza The Advocate
Immigration is a controversial topic we’ve all heard over and over for years, but do we as Americans
really grasp the concept? Legal immigration is a process through which individuals “become permanent residents or citizens of a new country,” as explained by Brittanica.com. It’s a long and grueling process, but most of us don’t really know the process of how to obtain citizenship. To be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative, a lawful U.S. permanent resident, or a prospective employer, with a few exceptions. The sponsor begins the immigration process by filing a petition on the foreign
citizen’s behalf with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In truth, most people who apply to become American citizens wait up to 15 years or longer before they are actually granted citizenship. In the meantime, under the Trump administration (and the Obama administration before that), many families and people looking for a better life have been turned away or deported back to their countries, because they can’t afford the cost to become a citizen, whether it’s due to financial or time-based issues. Also, small crimes can cost someone applying
for citizenship everything. Netflix now also has a documentary about illegal immigration – “Living Undocumented” – that shows us the true fear and terror all illegal immigrants face on a daily basis because they were either denied citizenship, are waiting to have it granted, or have had their citizenship taken away due do a minor crime such as a traffic ticket, and can no longer stay in the U.S. It shows their day-to-day lives and struggles, such as not being able to work until they are given a Social Security number.
Did you know the current naturalization fee for a U.S. citizenship application is $725? That includes $640 for application processing and $85 for biometrics services, both of which are nonrefundable regardless if the U. S. government approves or rejects the application. We as American citizens often take advantage of the small luxuries we are handed just for being naturally born citizens. Too often, we forget that not everyone has those same opportunities. A better understanding might help us all.
GET REIMBURSED FOR MUTILATED MONEY
Brad Le
The Advocate Oh, no – your fat stack of cash got damaged and no one will take it! Fret not, because the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has a solution to your problem. Whether your bills have been damaged by fire, water, animal consumption, or anything else, the BEP has an entire organization dedicated to helping you reclaim mutilated currency through one of its services, with its aptly named Mutilated Currency
Division. The Mutilated Currency Division is a small organization of about 20 employees inside the BEP where people can send their mutilated currency for a claim of evaluation for a reimbursement. This was a free service introduced during the 1860s, with a purpose to replace the damaged currency with new currency so that there is no loss of currency in the economy’s circulation. In present times, the division receives around 23,000 damaged currency claims and reimburses about $30-$40 million annually, with checks from the U.S. Treasury. In addition, according to Assistant Manager Eric Walsh in a YouTube mini-documentary posted by Great Big Story, the division also serves as somewhat of a humanitarian service, following a major or minor disaster. “We’re called upon when a lot of people have hit their low point,
so any relief you could provide someone... is very rewarding,’’ Walsh said. While some might think that mutilated currency sent in to the MCD has to be relatively easy to count, the division has explained how it is willing to go through quite some lengths to count it properly. The most common claims submitted are bills that were damaged by fire or water, but the division has taken on cases where animals have consumed the money. Walsh referred to perhaps the division’s most infamous case during the 1980s. A farmer had lost his wallet in the middle of the field, and came to find that one of his cows had mistaken his wallet for food. The farmer sent the cow’s stomach to division, where workers dissected it and reimbursed the amount they found inside in his wallet. The division also has taken cases dealing with animal
excrement. A 2018 story by “CBS Sunday Morning” mentioned that a man had followed his dog closely for a few days, waiting for it to excrete the rent money that it had eaten before sending it in for the division to evaluate and then reimburse him. While the exact procedures used to dissect the cow’s stomach and the dog’s excrement are unknown (likely for good reasons), the division has shown commitment to helping people reclaim their lost money.
On the cover: Edith Ramirez, a student who represented MHCC at the New Leadership Oregon Conference.
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
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The formal process to file a claim with the division is to send your mutilated money to the BEP, with a written letter estimating the value of the damaged currency, your contact information, and explanation of how the money became defiled. After a process of 6 to 36 months, you should receive a treasury check for reimbursement. While the process might seem very long and filled with uncertainty, the reward is that you get money back – reimbursed in full, dollar for dollar.
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.
Omar Carrillo Writer Omar is a freshman majoring in English. He is a life-long lover of stories and all the different kinds of people who carry them. There is no greater satisfaction to him than bringing art he can be proud of into the world.
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OPINION | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T Graphic from Rebecca Sugar’s and Cartoon Network’s Twitter
FIGHTING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
STEVEN UNIVERSE MAKES A CHANGE
Bethy Fallgren The Advocate
“Change is coming, whether you like it or not.” Harsh words spoken by young, Swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg. At only 16 years young, what started out as missing class on Fridays to fight for our climate and creating the Fridays for Future movement, Thunberg’s campaigning has gained her international fame. In 2018 Greta was recognized for her passionate speech given at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where she addressed those in power the stark truth of what young citizens like herself face in the future unless serious decisions are made on behalf of saving our environment. Clearly when I hear Greta’s speeches, I can’t help but feel her pain and frustration. I’m scared of the world we are making for ourselves and future generations, which is pretty much no world at all. When science proves that what we are doing is going to cause us harm, it feels like no one listens, especially those in power. Thunberg stands for change and is very upfront about how she feels about our current climate situation, despite criticism. Like myself, she is not worried about being liked but more about being heard, and I find that very admirable. Although Greta has many supporters and followers of her movements and activism, not everyone is such a fan of the motivated teen. Some say that she is being robbed of her childhood and education, missing school for climate injustice. Others blame her parents for letting Thunberg live in fear and therefore controlling the whole family because of that fear. She was able to manipulate her family to be vegan and mother to give up her career due to air travel. Also, The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) claims that attacks on the oil industry may be one of the biggest threats to the industry, moving forward. But isn’t all this kind of what she is going for? Overall, I think Greta is only doing what her heart is telling her to do. So many of us let environmental issues roll off our shoulders and it often starts at a young age. We have been told from the time we were little that humans are causing a change to our environment, some for the better but also for the worse. No answers are given to the problems at hand and we go along with our lives while our planet suffers. Some of us strive to make a difference, whether it’s driving an electric car, reducing our use of plastics and other wasteful products, but is it enough? With people like Greta speaking the bold truth of how she feels and the knowledge she has acquired, what’s the harm? She wants change, she wants a future she can be proud of and future generations can enjoy. She’s tired of being ignored, tired of all our voices being ignored, and I don’t see why the rest of the world doesn’t want that, too.
Parrish Chang The Advocate
On Sept. 2, the Cartoon Network aired the animated movie, “Steven Universe: The Movie.” The movie was the first no-commercial break movie the network has shown in years, and for good reason. In a very emotionally driven cartoon series made by Rebecca Sugar and the “crewniverse,” Steven is a human-gem hybrid that is nothing like the other gems in the world the series is based on. The original series ran for five seasons before the movie was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018. The movie picks up two years after the Season Five finale, “Change Your Mind.” So, it is highly recommended that you watch the animated series first before diving into this movie. The show is very much like a musical movie with its extensive soundtrack and songs such as “Other Friends,” sung by Sarah Stiles, who voices the main antagonist of the movie, and “Independent Together,”
sung by Ted Leo and Aimee Man. The music alone in the movie is a great reason to watch. It follows the story of Steven Universe, who is voiced by Zach Callison, and his struggle towards his “happily ever after.” The movie starts off with Steven’s message to the universe, saying that he was planning on staying on Earth with his friends Garnet (Estelle Swaray), Amethyst (Michaela Dietz), and Pearl (Deedee Mango Hall), as well as many other of his gem friends. After Steven returns home, he reminisces about how far he and his companions have come, his feelings expressed by four musical solos from the four main characters of the series. The song represents how hard each have worked to be in the future they’ve built for themselves. This “happily ever after” they made is brought to a screeching halt by the main antagonist, of the film who has brought down a machine that will destroy all organic life on the Earth. The villain then hits each of the gems with a weapon that poofs them and resets them all the way to where they started.
Since Steven is half-human he can’t get poofed, but all his powers and things are gone, so he’s like he was at the start of the series. For a majority of the movie he spends his time trying to remind his friends of who they are. Sugar’s team has been really busy with more content; right after the movie aired they began working on an epilogue series, “Steven Universe Future,” which takes place after the events of the movie. The team who works on Steven Universe is, it would seem, a passionate group of individuals who love to give new content to its dedicated viewers. Overall, Steven Universe: The Movie may sound like every other cheesy musical in the world, but there are plenty of action scenes and scenes that deal with heavy psychological themes such as abandonment, loss of self, depression, and self-doubt. This movie is a must-watch if you have a great appreciation for music and animation.
4.5 out of 5 stars
PRATFALL AND HITMEN Kurt Larson
The Advocate Have you ever wondered what would happen if “Breaking Bad” was shot as a comedy? “Barry,” Season Two, is the continuation of Bill Hader’s original HBO comedy series about a hitman-turned-wannabe Hollywood actor. But is it any good? Season One stood out as an unprecedented new take on what a live action comedy series can look like, pairing bizarre absurdist humor with moments of real drama and the meta examination of theatrical performance. The first season introduced Barry Berkman, played by Hader, as a loner with no purpose in life except to travel from state to state, killing for hire, with his hit coordinator and only friend, Monroe Fuches, played by Stephen Root. One fateful day, Barry gets a job to kill a young man and during the process of stalking his victim to learn his routine, accidentally gets pulled into an acting class the man is attending. During the course of the class, he suddenly finds a passion, a purpose in his life, and a potential love interest in an acting scene partner (Sarah Goldberg).
Barry decides he can no longer kill his target. But, life as a hitman doesn’t exactly allow for normalcy or any kind of public persona. He’s driven to pursue this new, redemptive career in acting, all the while struggling mightily with maintaining a normal facade and attempting to end his career as a hitman. Things are never that easy, and the local Chechen mob isn’t inclined to just let him go without completing their assigned hit. By the finale, it seemed as if things were finally looking up for Barry and his acting career – not to mention his growing relationships with his classmates and acting teacher, played by Henry Winkler. But as any good show is wont to do, the season ended with a massive cliffhanger that set the stage for the next series of episodes. That first season plotted its comedic moments perfectly, blending “John Wick”type action, slapstick humor, and a dramatic, Breaking Bad criminality into one bizarrely entertaining package. It knew when to introduce just enough drama and selfexamination to really flesh things out. Thankfully, Season Two continues that tradition, for the most part. Hader, as the
co-writer, co-director, and star of the show, has managed to make something entirely original and brilliantly funny with Barry. Its premise alone provides an untouched gold mine of humor, critique, and drama on levels that aren’t present in 99% of TV shows on air. While Season Two maintains its high comedic standards and subtly brilliant moments of drama and meta analysis, it isn’t without its flaws, however. Characters and situations in the previous season were wacky and absurd at times, but always kept an air of believability. Season Two takes things a bit further, and depending on your taste, too far at times. One mid-season episode in particular stretches the reality of the show to a point that potentially detracts from some of the genuinely serious drama that comes from the writing and portrayal of Barry’s world. Overall, however, the majority of complaints for this season are nit-picky enough to be negligible. Barry, Season Two is still the most interesting comedy on television and if you haven’t already seen it, it’s a must-watch.
4 out of 5 stars
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | NEWS
OCTOBER 11, 2019
‘JOKER’: PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO NOTICE Omar Carrillo The Advocate
There is nothing remotely funny about “Joker.” By the end of its justover-two hour runtime, you will feel sick. Sick being the closest feeling describable in words. And that is just the point. The movie will leave you with an utterly grim outlook and cynicism mirroring that of a certain caped crusader, a feeling of dread for yourself and the world you inhabit – the world we inhabit. Joker, released in theaters nationwide on Oct. 4, is yet another adaptation of the title character from DC Comics fame, Batman’s recurring and most iconic nemesis. The duality between the pair’s ideology has been explored countless times (and arguably, a bit beaten to death at this point…) and it is a relief that this is not what this movie is about. Not in the more obvious sense, anyway. No, this film is about a man. Simply a man – one you watch live his life in suffering, breathing in suffering, being able to think only in suffering. And about the suffering that is eventually regurgitated back out. Arthur Fleck barely scrapes by, living in poverty and under medication for his mental affliction that dominates his everyday life. In a city seemingly always in shadow that brutally ignores all but its very wealthy residents, Arthur couldn’t be any smaller, more invisible, and more vulnerable to the harsh and unforgiving metropolis he’s found himself in. Then, well, to quote infamous line from the 2008 adaption of the Joker character in “The Dark Knight”: “As you know, madness is like gravity... all it takes is a little push.” It feels rather dissonant, indeed, to describe this work with a word anything even close to “beautiful,” but it truly is: beautiful. With a musical score that perfectly complements and accompanies this tale of extreme darkness and tragic circumstance, Joker’s directorial composition and color makes every shot feel like an ink-washed painting, dancing with a watercolor vibrance. It is an undeniable looker and feeler, through-andthrough. But in terms of the screenplay
itself, Joker does not pull any punches. It does not pretend that Arthur is a perfectly innocent human being or that any of his actions at all are in any way
“BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF WHAT IS SO DISGUSTING ABOUT THIS MOVIE – THAT THIS CHARACTER, THE JOKER HIMSELF, DARES TO FEEL SO… TANGIBLE.” justifiable. But it also does not let you get away with not sympathizing with him. Like he could leap off the screen, speaking words we have heard already from the mouths of people just as despicable. This time, from someone who actually means them.
It is impossible to fully address this film without acknowledging the controversy surrounding its release and initial reception. There is no secret at all regarding the discomfort being felt by audiences everywhere regarding this work’s subject matter, and that unease will make even more sense to the viewer as it goes further and further into its runtime. There is no denying the horrifying violence that drips (and at moments, absolutely pours) from this movie, and, in fact, its makers have no intention of doing that. This is certainly one of the hardest “R” ratings you will ever come across. Joker is supposed to be ugly. The imagery is supposed to be stomach-churning, terrifying. Does that mean it’s off the hook
Put on a happy......
Graphic by Leydi Perez Carrasco | The Advocate
at all when it comes to possibly glorifying that violence? Frankly, I don’t believe it glorifies much of anything – not even the comic book powerhouse it is meant to at least partly promote.
The pessimism of the film reaches much farther than that. Farther than just the narrative presented, the film soaks into our own understanding and perception of the carnage making headlines routinely these days. Somehow this fictional story makes this all seem that much more real, because if we can so chillingly realistically convey that kind of belief and immense cruelty in our FICTION, then… What kind of a place are we living in now, anyway?
5 out of 5 stars
COMMUNITY POLL RESULTS
SHOULD PLASTIC STRAWS BE BANNED IN PORTLAND AND SURROUNDING AREA?
2%
31%
67% YES 84 VOTES
NO 38 VOTES
UNSURE 2 VOTES PA G E 5
COLUMN | NEWS
A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T
ONE LARGE STEP CLOSER TO MARS Carson Koch The Advocate
or basically any other material simply cannot handle these huge differences in temperature, but steels can. Stainless steel out performs almost any conventional rocket material in withstanding these huge swings in temperature. It, more than any other
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important, is the matter of strength vs. maximum operating temperature. Meaning, sure, you might have a material that is strong and light, but can it withstand huge changes in heat? While aluminum works very well for current SpaceX models, which are designed for Earth orbit and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, Starship is designed to be an interplanetary vehicle, more particularly, a Mars mission. Why is this important? Because fuel for rockets is cryogenic, which means it is sub-zero temperature when loaded. Then the rocket has to light the engines, which generates extreme heat, and after the flight is done, has to re-enter the atmosphere, which generates even more heat as SpaceX rockets light their engines again to make a soft landing. This new rocket, as designed, would have to take off from Earth, which means sub-zero to extreme heat, enter Mars’s atmosphere, which means extreme re-entry heat, and land, which means even more heat. On Mars, it has to refuel, which means back to subzero, light engines again, fly back to Earth, re-enter Earth’s much thicker atmosphere, which means much more heat, and burn its engines again for landing. And then – as a reusable starship – be able to be able to do it all over again. And again. Carbon fiber, aluminum alloys,
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significant amount of weight while not adding a proportional amount of strength to the rocket. However, there are far more factors at play, such as thermal conductivity, which describes how a material conducts heat. Aluminum, the standard for most SpaceX rockets, and rockets in general, conducts a lot of heat very quickly, which requires extensive add-ons to protect the fuel. For instance, on NASA’s space shuttle, the distinctive orange paint on the external fuel tanks wasn’t actually paint at all: It was sprayed-on insulating foam to prevent the fuel from boiling off. While NASA eventually switched aluminum alloys, the process of getting those booster rockets flight-ready resulted in wasting most of the material. And although SpaceX and NASA are similar, they are not by any means the same: SpaceX is Musk’s private business, so profit is important; NASA is a government agency, so profit is not of any concern. SpaceX has to make decisions on material with costs and profit in mind, which is why it originally opted for carbon fiber fuel tanks and fuselages. TOLERATES EXTREMES But carbon fiber has a few major flaws. First, it costs roughly $135 dollars per kilogram (2.2 pounds) for a 164-foot tall rocket and its fuel tanks. That is a pretty penny. Second, carbon fiber needs to be woven very specifically, and for a large fuel tank and rocket, this requires a massive facility, which SpaceX couldn’t find. Lastly, and by far most
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For the last few years, space enthusiasts, otherwise known as full-blown nerds such as myself, have waited patiently for the latest generation of SpaceX rockets. And with the most recent Starship update, we have seen some big changes made to the SpaceX family of rockets. If you have spent a lot of time on the internet lately you are aware of the change: SpaceX switched the body of its rocket, or fuselage, from a carbon-fiber composite to an allstainless steel build. If you have seen photos or videos, the rocket is very striking. The Starship Mark 1 stands 164 feet tall, dwarfs most surrounding buildings, and its look appears to be straight out of a sci-fi film. It just catches the eye with the stainless steel, which makes it, for lack of a better term, just so shiny. After admiring the stunning appearance of the rocket and watching Elon Musk’s update speech delivered in front of it, while a video drone tries its best to fit Musk and Starship into the same frame, I began to ask myself a big question: Why switch to stainless steel? For those who don’t know rockets, the name of the game is saving weight. To gloss over a wealth of intense rocket engineering science, the more the fuselage weighs, the more fuel a rocket needs to get to its destination. But fuel adds to the weight, so you have
a heavier rocket, which then needs more fuel to lift the fuel and now, a larger fuselage as well, which adds more weight... This is what astronaut Don Pettit describes as “The tyranny of the rocket equation.” So, back to the question: Why would anyone in their right mind switch the fuselage from extremely lightweight, durable, carbon-fiber composite, to bulky, not-used-onrockets-since-the-1960s stainless steel? On the surface, it almost seems like the material was switched for looks alone, but as you delve in, the move starts to make sense. BLAST FROM THE PAST Stainless steel fuel tanks were used in the Atlas rockets in the ’60s when rocketry was barely out of its infancy. They essentially acted like big metal balloons and could collapse under their own weight, which – fun fact – led to the creation of WD-40, which actually stands for water displacement-40, originally produced to prevent rusting when the rockets were used as underwater, submarinelaunched ballistic missiles. The only reason these rockets did not collapse under their own weight was fuel pressure. As the rocket and fuel tanks want to buckle and fail, the pressure of the fuel keeps them stable. Still, one fueling mistake and the rocket will come cascading down and you can kiss roughly $200 million goodbye; that’s not a good look for stainless, at all. It’s true that stainless steel adds a
proposed material, can meet the requirements for manned spaceflight to Mars. To clarify, this current rocket is referred to as Starship Mk1. It is a prototype of the much larger BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) which would go to Mars. Starship Mk1 isn’t flight-ready yet, but once it is, it will serve as a stepping stone for the future of manned spaceflight. SpaceX from the beginning has been about creating innovative rocket designs, and disruptive space technology. In the words of Musk, “Is it in the future, or not? If it’s not, then who cares.” Why should we care? Because Mars is the future, and Starship Mk1 and its shiny stainless steel body is a stepping stone for how we get there.
MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSITY RESOURCE CENTER TO HOLD FORUM FOR STUDENT VOICES Chloe Collins The Advocate
One of the main goals for MHCC and President Lisa Skari this year is working toward an improved relationship between the Gresham community and the college. The recently renamed Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center (MDRC) is working to build a stronger sense of community on campus, with an eye on strengthening off-campus PA G E 6
connections, as well. On Oct. 2, the Center held an open house to spread awareness of the resources they can offer to students. Ernesto Vasquez, coordinator of the MDRC, explained that Mt. Hood community members can “provide authentic support for each other” by truly understanding the issues facing the community. This year, a main MDRC effort is to break down important social issues, to increase understanding. The MDRC will host several events
this year, some of then recurring events, in order to provide the space to discuss these issues. Since a big part of the MDRC’s goal for the year is open discussion, they will be hosting Student Voice Forums this year. These events will offer a physical space for students to speak freely about their experiences on campus, said Vasquez. The first Student Voice Forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Center, located in the rear of
the Student Union. The MDRC also will begin a dialogue series called, “Let’s Talk About:”. During these events, community members can learn about and discuss the social topic chosen for that meeting. The first of these, “Let’s talk about microaggressions and implicit bias,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23. Vasquez also is planning to launch the Social Justice Advocates program this year. Students who
participate will learn more about social issues and gain skills to design and implement projects for social change on campus. Applications for this program are expected to be open by December or January. If social issues are something you’re passionate about, the MDRC has a few federal Work Study positions available. Meantime, the office is open to any/all visitors, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday-Friday.
NEWS
OCTOBER 11, 2019
PROGRAM BOOSTS CONFIDENCE OF WOMEN IN COLLEGE Daniella Young The Advocate
Edith Ramirez arrived in this country six years ago from Mexico, and started studies at MHCC five years ago. She recently participated in a leadership conference called New Leadership Oregon, which took place in June and gave her new skills and new confidence in her higher education. “Since I arrived here, I was trying to be involved in the community,” said Ramirez. She is currently a leader and student in the Mental Health, Social Services and Addiction Counseling office at Mt. Hood, as well as being a part-time office assistant in Adult Basic Skills. She hopes to study social work and transfer to Portland State University. The leadership conference took place mainly at PSU. Female college students from many schools, such as the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Linfield College, participated in this conference, which included a five-day residency at PSU. The conference was based on encouraging the values of leadership in women, as well as emphasizing community and political values. Attendees were able to meet about 30 woman leaders in the community, and visit the home of one. Participants also traveled to the state Capitol in Salem to meet with Gov. Kate Brown and others involved in state legislation. They held simulations where they had discussions with each other and defended their points on community and political issues. “This program really helped me. It’s a great opportunity to be more confident and to increase networking and connections,” said Ramirez. This is a program that is open to any college or university woman in Oregon; the application process begins in February, and the 2020 conference will take place in June. Ramirez is very grateful that Deborah Saari, ESL instructor at Mt. Hood, referred her to this program, and for the generous support of others at both MHCC and PSU. “She (Saari) believed in me more than I believed in myself at times,” said Ramirez. “With this program, they (supporters at both institutions) also helped reaffirm me to continue in school.” For more information on the program, visit: thecenterforwomensleadership.org
IMPEACHMENT? HOW IT WORKS Corwin Benedict The Advocate
Treason, bribery, or other “high crimes and misdemeanors”: According to Article 2, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, these are the crimes for which a civil officer of the United States – including the U.S. president – can be impeached. Impeachment has been on the collective minds of our country and its people, as the word has been thrown around quite a bit by our leaders in the U.S. House and Senate, of late. On Oct. 7, in order to educate and maybe clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding the subject, MHCC instructors Janet Campbell (political science) and Pat Casey (history) led “Impeachment 101,” a midday forum that discussed the process of impeachment and the history of presidential impeachments. The very first thing that happens before the entire U.S. House of Representatives decides on
impeachment, is a House Judiciary Committee investigation. During this investigation, representatives from both parties, led by the majority party (currently the Democrats) will investigate and gather evidence for potential impeachment, creating a document called the Articles Of Impeachment. Once the evidence is gathered, the Committee holds a vote on whether to submit the Articles to the entire House for a vote – with a simple majority vote deciding the matter. If the House votes “Aye,” the president is considered impeached. The issue then is taken up by the U.S. Senate (where Republicans hold the majority now) as a trial. The U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice (currently John Roberts) will preside over the Senate trial. Here, the Senate will hold a vote on whether the impeached person is guilty, or is acquitted of the charges against them. A guilty vote passes only with a two-thirds majority – 67 or more votes in favor.
NEWS BRIEFS with Chris Barney
Film Fridays will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11 (and succeeding Fridays) just outside the Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center, in the rear of the Student Union. Come learn about various cultures and issues of the current day. (Specific films TBA) REVIVE Worship Night will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight (Friday), Oct. 11. REVIVE is a time for students to come sing, pray, and be in community however they feel led. Join My Fathers House at the Cedarville Lodge for the Harvest Hoedown from 6 to 10 p.m. tonight, Oct. 11. The event will start with line dancing instructions at 6 p.m., followed by a performance from the Robert Henry Band. Blue Lake Regional Park is hosting the Blue Lake Runs, starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. There will be a children’s run at 9:30 a.m., followed by other running events at 10 a.m. A group barbeque will follow the running.
30 women attending the Oregon Leadership Conference gather on the stairs.
Photo contributed by Edith Ramirez
If this vote passes, the person is removed from their public office, but has not yet been criminally convicted. There would have to be a criminal trial to put anyone in jail after the impeachment proceedings. In U.S. history, three presidents have had an impeachment inquiry started against them: Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. Accused of violating The Tenure Of Office Act, Andrew Johnson was impeached, but not convicted by the Senate in 1868, in a 35-19 vote that fell just one vote shy of a guilty ruling. Accused of Obstruction Of Justice and Abuse Of Power, Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before impeachment proceedings could proceed past the House Judiciary Committee. Finally, accused of Lying Under Oath and Obstruction Of Justice, Bill Clinton, like Johnson, survived after a Senate vote did not reach the necessary two-thirds majority in 1999.
Come to the Gresham Splash Pad for the 2019 Gresham Zombie Walk starting at noon on Saturday, Oct. 12. Dress up like a zombie and wander the streets of Gresham spreading Halloween cheer.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is hosting their Light the Night event from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 in Portland. Meet at the OMSI bridge lot and join a walk to honor those touched by cancer. The Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center will host a Student Voices Forum from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. This is an opportunity for students to speak freely about their experiences as an MHCC student. Staff, faculty, and administrators are invited also. The Center is located in the Student Union. Film Fridays will be held outside the Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. (Films TBA) The Saints volleyball team will be facing the Rogue Community College Ospreys at the MHCC Gym at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students, $3 for seniors and children 12 and under, or free for MHCC students with ID. The Reynolds High School Raiders football team will face the Clackamas Cavaliers in the MHCC stadium, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. PA G E 7
NEWS | SPORTS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
STARBUCKS MANAGER STRIVES TO SUCCEED IN LIFE AND WITHIN HER FAITH Melanie Roberts The Advocate
Velvet Hunter has worked at a Starbucks coffee stand inside an Albertsons grocery store for almost 10 years – a full decade, as of Jan. 10 this coming year. In April 2013, she got promoted to department manager, a job that matches her well – both in her attention to detail and her devotion to every customer she serves, a huge part of her deep sense of community. “I really like working for Starbucks because I like how much variety there is in my job,” Hunter said. She likes interacting socializing with the customers, her routine of replenishing ingredients and add-ins, keeping things looking nice, and cleaning, she said. “I think it’s really fun to clean, honestly.” Few details escape Hunter’s attention. For instance, she mentions a concern she believes Starbucks could improve on: “I would prefer if they were a little bit better about their waste. They aren’t ridiculously wasteful, but they could improve.” The example she gives is that she and the rest of her baristas have to make Starbuck’s signature Pike Place Roast coffee every 30 minutes, every day, until closing time, so that customers are always guaranteed to drink fresh, hot coffee.
“Like this,” Hunter said, motioning to coffee that she just switched out. “I just dumped coffee down the drain and our coffee is kind of expensive. I don’t even know how much we as a business pay for the coffee; it’s just part of it goes down the drain every half hour. “That’s kind of a pretty big waste, but it’s for quality,” she said. One of Hunter’s baristas, a current Mt. Hood student, has been impressed and inspired by her extra care. Gabe Arciniega, finishing up his pre-reqs at MHCC with a plan to earn a bachelor’s degree Photo by Landon Spady | The Advocate in biology and chemistry at Portland State University, has worked Velvet Hunter serves Starbucks coffee with a smile, striving to make a difference in the alongside Hunter for more than community and world around her. a year, after frequenting the store Arciniega has noticed even the store as a customer for six more about his boss. months, he said. “Aside from work, she holds “Velvet is a very meticulous and effective person,” Arciniega said. strong morals. Everyone expects “She has no issue putting in the ex- employees to be perfect while worktra effort to get the job done. When ing, but Velvet makes sure that even customers have questions about when she is off the clock, she is still drinks or merchandise, she is very being a good person,” he said. “She surrounds herself with the commuknowledgeable. “The first month after being nity and makes sure to do her part hired, I felt like I learned a year’s to help out.” Hunter’s attention does show worth of experience from her,” he said. “I would never have asked to be she cares about community outtrained by anyone else, or have any reach. While working at Starbucks, she other manager, than her. Period.”
always makes sure to remember customers’ names, their drinks, and talks to each of them by asking them how their day is. She credits the way she was raised. “My family and parents were really big on always treating other people like they’re better than me, having an attitude that they deserve the best and that I should go out of my way to ensure that they are happy,” she said. Arciniega explained how working at a coffee shop is always about making people’s day, something Hunter excels at. “Every shift, you are crafting these drinks by hand so that your customers enjoy them throughout their day,” he said. “Great baristas also aspire to ‘learn’ the community. You have the privilege to meet the regulars, but you also have the opportunity to meet people who are new to coffee drinking. It’s the ‘first-connection’ with a new customer that makes being a barista the most enjoyable to me. Getting the chance to develop a relationship with a new person, and showing them the great community behind the (Starbucks) brand is what it’s about. “It’s imperative that you take pride in that,” he said. Hunter said she always wants to make sure she is giving the customers the most amazing day they
could ever have. “Every day somebody could wake up feeling hopeless and sad, and (if) the first bit of that day makes their day better, it can really make them a happier person in general,” she said. “Going to Starbucks and having a barista make a person’s day with a smile, is sometimes what that person needs.” Hunter’s care for customers is also deeply entwined with her Jehovah’s Witness religion and faith in God, she said. “My biggest inspiration, well, not to sound cheesy, is God,” she said. “I’ve got a connection with the Creator through Bible reading and prayer,” one that focuses on four principle traits, which are love, justice, power, and wisdom, she explained. Another huge inspiration is Hunter’s mother, Dana Backes, because she always goes out of her way to make other people’s lives better, not just focusing on herself, she said. At the end of the day, money does not matter to Hunter, she adds. She likes her barista job, and her primary long-term goal in life is to be involved full-time with her church community, she said. Meantime, she strives for success – for her own and for all those people she meets and serves.
TRAIL BLAZERS BEGIN PRE-SEASON WITH 50TH CELEBRATION Jesse Shoemake The Advocate
In a league that was once ruled by Goliath, the NBA is now full of Davids looking to become that very monster. The Portland Trail Blazers found out the hard way that they need every weapon they have. Center Jusuf Nurkic went down with a broken leg in a game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 25, and everyone was left holding their breath as the playoffs began. The Blazers soldiered on to defeat Oklahoma City, then the Denver Nuggets, delivering a Game 7 Mother’s Day victory that Rip City fans could surely be proud of. It was then on to Goliath: the Golden State Warriors. Counted out from the beginning, the Blazers showed some heart against the Warriors. But they were PA G E 8
quickly outmatched and outgunned from every angle and were hurting for their missing big man, riding the bench in civilian clothes after his season-ending surgery. Still, Rip City showed other freeagents and future NBA players that Portland had a solid team to offer as a destination. Going to the Western Conference Finals could be viewed almost as a publicity stunt for the Blazers: Players around the league watched our small-market team take its swings against some better-known teams, and find success. Being constricted by several earlier bad signings and trades, the Blazers, as always, had to look to make every penny work for them this off-season. And again, they found success. Guard-forward Rodney Hood luckily decided to re-up with Portland even though he had more lu-
crative offers elsewhere. The versa- Lillard won’t stand for that. A more tile forward Mario Hezonja, then “family” friendly environment in with the New York Knicks, had a the Blazers’ locker room should help showtime block on LeBron James Whiteside mold his attitude and delast season, leaving James to take a meanor into the fantastic player he knee and rethink his career. Fillcan be. ing in for a recovering Nurkic Sec– still out until January or ond - ye ar Portland February, at least – big man Hassan guard AnfernWhiteside will ee Simons be looking to will be bring more looking to value to his fill some next contract, big shoes. as he is in the E v a n last year of his Turner decurrent deal. parted PortWhiteside land, leaving has been known the backup point for being a guard rotation open. problem Last season, Simons was Web graphic in the Miable to show some flash in the ami Heat locker room, but Damian last regular-season game, putting 37
points on the board while playing the full 48 minutes. While we could discuss the rookie, forward Nassir Little, that the Blazers acquired in the NBA draft, it would do a disservice to laud praise and expectations on such a new prospect. Remember No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden? Yeah, I want to forget, as well. Luckily, veteran forward-center Pao Gasol, who also signed with Portland, will be here to mentor the rookie and provide even more stability within the locker room. If you are searching for hope in the numbers this season, don’t look to NBA analysts for help. The closest to a guaranteed playoff prediction from the media “big guys” sees the Blazers as an unlikely possibility as a title contender. If you were to ask me, that only adds fuel to Lillard’s internal fire.