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The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College
October 25, 2013
Survivor beats odds after late diagnosis Richardson encourages people to stand up and fight for their health by Rebecca Gaulke The Advocate
Grace Richardson
Grace Richardson is now 11 years breast cancer free, and still going strong. Richardson, a full-time humanities faculty member who teaches several reading courses at MHCC, was diagnosed with early second-stage invasive lobular breast cancer at the age of 56. It took two years from the time the cancer started for her to be correctly diagnosed. “I had a lump in my breast and I
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went to the doctor and he thought it was a (harmless) cyst,” she said. She went to another physician who had been recommended to her, a young nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner told Richardson she couldn’t even find the lump, and so she was sent home empty-handed. “What I should have done, is say, ‘Go find someone who can,’ ” Richardson said, in retrospect. She looks back now and realizes how important it is to stand up for your health. “I didn’t want to be sarcastic,
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and I thought, ‘How can I say this without sounding offensive?’ But, I should have been offensive – when it comes to your own health and something that serious,” she said. When she finally was properly diagnosed, Richardson was angry. “My emotional response was just fury. I was furious that I had this… and angry at people telling me to be upbeat and cheerful. “I was a single mother and teaching and it was, in my mind, nothing to be upbeat about,” she said.
Survivor
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Opinion
Oct. 25, 2013
Editorial: Get involved There is a place here where you can nurture your craft, find others who can help and see if what you want to be is really what you want to be. You just have to get involved.
that you’ll love everybody you meet and start playing Ring-Around-The-Rosie? No, but it’s a great way for people who have the same interests to meet and help each other grow in what they love.
Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
Above: The Diversity Center hosts a booth on orientation day. Right: Cameron Miller tends The Advocate booth outside the bookstore. Below right: The Aquatic Center holds a booth at orientation day. Below left: The science division talks to students on orientation day. What we mean by getting involved is to join a club or organization at the college. We know this is the kind of stuff that has been hammered into your skull since the beginning of high school. But we are going to tell you exactly why these things are so important, and why it’s foolish to not even consider the opportunities you have at Mt. Hood. The list of clubs, activities and organizations at Mt. Hood is exhaustive and varied. There is everything from clubs for video game lovers, to people deriving from native islands, to groups geared to nursing, construction, writing, religions, and more. Odds are, if you have a job you are considering or a passion you want to pursue, there is probably a club that would coincide with that. The benefit of joining a club relative to the job or interest you have is it’s a perfect and cost-free way to find out if that’s something you truly would want to invest your life in. Some of the reporters here at The Advocate may have wished to work as a journalist before, but after experiencing what it’s really like to be on a newspaper, they have decided otherwise. This is not a negative. They got to try it out, without having to get too deep, and didn’t waste much valuable time pursuing something they wouldn’t enjoy. Regardless of what they want to do later, all have gained invaluable experience and improved various skills that will pay off for the rest of their lives.
For those who still wanted to pursue journalism, they now have experience they couldn’t find in a class and real content they can put in their resumé. The benefits aren’t just intellectual or educational, but also are personal. This is a chance to meet other people who like what you like. Are we saying
Finding a good group and a good place on campus can turn MHCC from just a college, with the grind of classes and homework, to a second home. This is a great chance to further yourself as an individual. Getting involved in anything takes a lot of cour-
age. It’s very easy and comfortable to stay in our own little world and not take a leap towards something that may lead nowhere. Your abilities, people skills and confidence will evolve. Retention rates improve as much as 70 percent for community college
students involved with extra- and cocurricular activities while attending school, according to David Sussman, who oversees MHCC’s Student Union and specialized student services and has seen lives transformed. And, if you need a little extra persuading, there is the possibility of a tuition waiver for various organizations, as well. Some tuition waivers can cover up to 12 credits per term. While this should not be your main motivation, it certainly doesn’t hurt. We at the Advocate are thankful that besides the ability to get real journalism experience, for free, we also get a healthy portion of our tuition paid for. We understand your very busy lives and that it’s hard to commit, but even if that’s the case, there is something just for you. Many clubs or organizations don’t require massive time commitments. Some meet only once a week. At The Advocate, we accommodate all schedules, as long as someone is willing to write, draw, design or take photos. This is something we all should take very seriously: This is your life, and you have the opportunity to actually test out what you want to do and meet with similar-minded people. That is amazing. You have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but it’s not like you will be lessened by the experience. Just sit in at a club meeting for a day and meet with the members. You may find yourself intrigued, and inspired. Seriously, look at the club list right now, find something that pertains to you, and go for it. It will make a difference. For an updated list of active clubs, contact adviser Meadow McWhorter at Meadow.McWhorter@mhcc.edu or call 503-491-7277.
Photo illustration by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
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Guest Column: Why you should consider ASG by Elsie Praeger Diversity Resource Center Coordinator This year’s Associated Student Government (ASG) is starting the year strong with events, awareness and starting initiatives to help our school grow and develop. It is so important to have student input in our school because that is the only way to make a difference. Student leaders feel the impact of getting involved every day. Skye Troy, senator of communications and ASG historian said, “ASG is developing my communication skills, time management and leadership skills. It has given me an opportunity to explore different avenues of the business world as well.” ASG doesn’t just stop at what your position teaches you; it is also a support group. Emma Bird, director of student organizations council, said, “Coming into ASG my freshman year in college, I was extremely nervous and intimidated by the standards that I knew I would be held to. Our amazing ASG advisors helped me settle in and become comfortable. “Through the year my skills in public speaking and event planning increased immensely,” Bird said. “Thanks to ASG, I have no problem
talking to students, staff or community members and I feel confident that I will carry myself in the professional manner that ASG has helped me establish.” The most important part of leading is giving back to the students of Mt. Hood. This connection allows for success across the board. Jordyn Anderson,
“The best leaders work closely with their constituents and that is exactly how ASG leaders choose to be involved.”
Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
SAB receptions coordinator said, “ASG has been a great achievement for me in my life because it allows me to give back to school as well as the students. I believe that giving back is one of the most important, yet overlooked, things we as human beings can do. ASG gives me that opportunity every single day. All of the hard work and dedication all goes to students and the community.” One of the most important aspects of leading students is hearing and understanding their concerns and appreciations of the campus culture. Laura
“Too bad they didn’t let you into the restricted tunnel so you could show the coffin that’s in there.”
Aguon, ASG president, said, “I have seen that the best way to get your voice heard is by coming and having a conversation with your ASG representatives.” The ASG office is located in the Student Union, on the south side of campus near Parking lot “A”. We encourage you to come in at any time and voice your opinions. Currently, we are circulating surveys for MHCC students to complete. These are individually read and taken to heart, to get in touch with student concerns. Another option to connect with Student Govern-
“I’m not too worried because I take the necessary precautions. Everyone who has had their bike stolen (according to Public Safety) only used a chain, and that’s not enough.”
Comment from D. Melland on YouTube
Comment from Mt. Hood religion/philosophy instructor John Hasenjaeger in response to bike thefts
the Advocate Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Living Arts Editor Rebecca Gaulke
Opinion Editor Danny Perez-Crouse
News Editor Katelyn Hilsenbeck
ment is to attend our meetings. The Executive Cabinet (EC) meets each Tuesday, noon to 2 p.m.; Student Activities Board (SAB) meets 2 to 3 p.m. on Monday; the Senate meets noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday. All meetings take place in the Council Chambers, inside the Student Union. We are always looking for volunteers to take part in ASG. The best leaders work closely with their constituents and that is exactly how ASG leaders choose to be involved. Let’s make this year great with active leadership and student involvement.
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News
Oct. 25, 2013
What is a mammogram?
Being diagnosed:
A mammogram is a screening process that uses an X-ray to detect and diagnose breast cancer. The breast is compressed between two plates while the image is taken, within a few seconds. Mammograms can show changes even before they are felt, by as many as two years. “When breast cancer is detected early (localized stage), the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent,” (earlydetectionplan.org).
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, tests are performed to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. There are four general stages of breast cancer, with subdivisions. In brief: Stage 0 means it is a non-invasive condition and abnormal cells are confined to the lining of the breast duct. Stage I means a found tumor is smaller than two centimeters and is confined to the breast, or that clusters of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes without any tumor in the breast. Stage IIA means a slightly larger tumor is found, or a larger cancer cluster is found n fewer than three lymph nodes. (State IIB indicates a larger tumor and/or cancer in three or more lymph nodes.) Stage IIIA means a tumor (of any size) in the breast, and cancer has spread to between four and nine lymph nodes or near the breastbone, or any tumor five centimeters or larger. (Stage IIIB means a tumor of any size has spread to the chest wall and/or to the skin of the breast, and might have spread to as many as nine lymph nodes or those near the breastbone. Stage IIIC means 10 or more lymph nodes are affected, or those near the breastbone and collarbone.) Stage IV means the cancer has spread to other organs.
The first X-ray units dedicated specifically to breast imaging were available in 1969.
Who should have mammograms? Women age 40 and above should have mammograms annually, according to the American Cancer Society. For every 1,000 women who have a mammogram, 100 are recalled for further screening, 20 may have a needle biopsy performed and 5 are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Paying for mammograms: Under the new, federal Affordable Care Act (i.e., “Obamacare”) mammograms and other preventative services will be covered with no co-pays or “costsharing. Mammograms will be available for women over age 40 once a year, or every other year. This requirement should be in effect by Jan. 1. Currently, some state and national programs provide free or low-cost mammograms to low-income or uninsured women. To learn if you qualify, call 1-877-255-7070 (Oregon) or 1-800-9921817 (Southwest Washington).
Breast exams: Women in their 20s and 30s should have a breast exam during a regular health exam every three years. It is recommended that women perform self-exams every month.
How to perform a breast exam yourself: Lie down on your back with one arm behind your head. Use your other hand (pads of middle three fingers), to feel the breast on the side with the raised arm.
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Treatments:
Use circular motions in a dime-sized circular motion to feel for lumps. In order to feel all breast tissue, use three different levels of pressure in each area. Light pressure to feel the tissue closest to the surface, medium, and firm to feel tissues closest to your chest and ribs. Some evidence has shown that moving in an up-and-down pattern, starting at the armpit and moving toward the sternum, is most effective for examining all breast tissue. Repeat the exam on your other breast.
Surgery to remove cancer while leaving the breast in place (lumpectomy or partial mastectomy), or removing the affected breast (total mastectomy). Radiation (high-energy x-rays) as well as chemotherapy (uses drugs taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle) may be used to kill cancer cells or prevent growth. Hormone therapy is a treatment to remove hormones and block the action or cancer cell growth, for use in earlystage breast cancers. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. Graphics by Heather Golan - The Advocate
Survivor
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Paddling helps cancer battle She made the decision to undergo surgery, and then chemotherapy for three months. It was not a fast growing cancer, and she was “lucky in that way,” she said. It has been 11 years since her treatment, which she said is “good, but I don’t know many breast cancer survivors who say ‘I’m cured.’ Because you just don’t know.” Richardson said she was at higher risk for breast cancer because she became a mom for the first time at 35, and had trouble with conception. She also took estrogen replacement at one point, and the cancer that she battled fed off the estrogen. Because of this, she avoids eating soy, which tends to imitate estrogen in the body.
She managed to find a light through her darkness in the form of a competitive Portland dragon boat paddling team called Pink Phoenix. The entire team is made up of breast cancer survivors of all ages and all different stages of the disease. “It’s very positive. Instead of just talking about breast cancer and just talking about your experiences, we worked out, really, really worked out,” Richardson said. Some team members go to international races, and although she never joined them, the group has raced in Australia, China and “all kinds of places” where it paddles against other cancer-survivor teams. Pink Phoenix paddles the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s version of “Race for the Cure,” called “Paddle for the
Cure,” during Portland’s Rose Festival each year. “I was fairly athletic, so, for me, Pink Phoenix was like a dream come true. It’s just a positive, upbeat way of dealing with stuff,” Richardson said. She was a part of the team for three or four years, but stopped when she started teaching nights. She remains friends with some former teammates, and calls it “a wonderful experience.” Given her knowledge of the disease, Richardson urges every woman to follow through on annual check-ups. “Go to the doctor, catch it as early as you can,” she said. “Don’t avoid those mammograms. They are truly life-saving.”
Bark for a cure! “Everyone talks about the cure. Well, Mt. Hood is going to bark for the cure,” said Steven Page, ASG wellness coordinator. Breast cancer awareness “Jeopardy!” will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday below the MHCC Library. Prizes include water bottles, Tshirts, wristbands, bags, stickers, necklaces and lanyards. The prizes will be dictated on a point system, but most will be awarded with few than 10 points. Three high-end questions will win a T-shirt. The winner of the most total points gets a “swag bag” full of one of each prize item. “‘Fight for the Cure’ is a big thing… I wanted to do something that’s ‘us’ that we could take pride in, cause we’re the Saint Bernards,”
Page said. Page has spent more than four weeks researching breast cancer and has condensed the information into boards and packets with information he felt is important for students. “I don’t celebrate breast cancer awareness, I celebrate breast cancer prevention, because prevention creates awareness and saves lives,” he said. Page hopes the event draws hundreds of participants. Even if a smaller number show up, those people can spread what they’ve learned and make a difference, he said. His goal is that those who play the game “learn something that could possible save your life,” he said. “I just ask that they read the information, learn it, pass it on.”
- Katelyn Hilsenbeck
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Sports
Oct. 25, 2013
Raider grads lead the way for cross country Freshman Brandon Raleigh pursues his passions: running and journalism by Aaron Marshall The Advocate
Brandon Raleigh What You Should Know Age: 18 Reynolds High School Graduated: 2013
Week 2 NWAACC Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Emily Trosino What You Should Know Age: 18 Reynolds High School Graduated: 2013
Best time this season in the 5K Meters: 20:00 at the Charles Bowles Invitational Photos contributed by Matt Hart
Freshman Emily Trosino strides towards her goal of helping kids in poverty by Aaron Marshall The Advocate Emily Trosino’s hard work and dedication has helped to push her to the front of the Mt. Hood cross country pack this year. The freshman, a 2013 graduate of Reynolds High School, has placed first among Mt. Hood women in every meet so far this year. “My dad runs three miles every day, and around seventh or eighth grade, I started running with him,” said Trosino. “My dad and sister have been my biggest influences when it comes to running. They got me into it.” She said her sister, who is five years older, got her to join the cross country team in high school. “I started running to stay in shape but I ended up actually liking it,” she said. From Reynolds, barely a mile run away from the Mt. Hood campus, Trosino decided to join a group of Raiders runners who are now driving the Saints squad this season. “Brandon (Raleigh), Keenan (Follett), and Courtney (Andre) were all going to run cross country at Mt. Hood and they all went to Reynolds. So I thought it was going to be a little (Raider) team,”
she said. It’s been a good time, on and off the running course, she said. “Joining a sports team makes you feel connected and it’s a good way to meet people,” she said. At Reynolds, Trosino ran crosscountry all four years. She also was involved with student government. “My sophomore year I was class president and my junior year I was ASB vice president,” she said. This fall, a favorite moment for Trosino came during the Mike Hodges Invitational meet, held earlier this month. The leading women took a wrong turn off the official course, which reduced the 5-kilometer distance and threw personal times and team scores into confusion. “That meet got cut short for us but I felt good about how the team competed. It was a good bonding moment for all of us,” she said. From the outside, it might be easy to assume that all distance runners need to do for practice is to run, but they work at much more. “I go to the weight room every week, but I do a lot of different types of runs. I like to do a lot of tempo runs, which is running for a certain distance, then stopping, then doing it again,” said Trosino.
She is pursuing a career in teaching and is majoring in education. “I’m getting my AAOT then I want to go to a four-year school and get my teaching license. “I want to join the Teach for America program and help kids in lower poverty situations,” she said. In her spare time, Trosino enjoys watching movies and holds down a job. “I watch Netflix a lot with my boyfriend, and I work at Kitchen Collection in Troutdale,” she said. “With school, work, and hanging out with people I stay busy. But I like staying busy, it keeps me on track and it helps me make sure I get things done.” She said running at Mt. Hood has been a great decision. “Cross country has been a family to me; it’s good to have each other. The coaches are great. Head coach Matt Hart is intense and he holds us accountable but he also lets us have fun and I like the guidance he gives.” With the NWAACC regional and championship meets ahead, Trosino looks to stay focused and improve on her season-best 20:00 time for the standard 5-kilometer course. “I need to get to my highest level of fitness and work on my stride but I like where I’m at,” she said.
Top : Freshman Brandon Raleigh battles out other runners during the Charles Bowles Invitational back on Oct. 5. Bottom : Freshman Emily Trosino tries to outrun a Willamette University runner during the Oak Knoll Loop run on Sept. 21.
Cross country runner Brandon Raleigh has consistently competed at a level higher than expected this season. The Saints freshman has been Mt. Hood’s frontrunner this year on the course, the team’s top finisher in all six meets. “I like it and I’m good at it,” said Raleigh. “Usually when you’re good at something, you keep doing it.” Raleigh attended nearby Reynolds High School and graduated last spring. “I ran all four years there,” he said. “My older brother talked me into joining. So, I just kept at it.” In his senior year, he set a Reynolds school record for the 3k steeplechase event, which includes hurdling and water hazards. To date, he has finished first for Mt. Hood in every meet this season. His best time came in Charles Bowles invitation in Salem, where he covered the 8-kilometer course in 26 minutes, 23 seconds (26:23.45). Raleigh has been battling a calf injury the last couple of weeks, but says he’s been happy with the season and his goal is a new personal record by season’s end next month. “I want to place top seven in the NWAACC championships and get my time under 26 minutes,” he said. Away from running, Raleigh said he enjoys writing and sees it as a future. He hopes to earn a transfer degree and then to pursue a sports journalism career. He wants to find a university with a good journalism program where he can continue to run. “I love sports. I’ve been involved with sports my whole life. It would be pretty cool to work at ESPN and be an analyst,” he said. Raleigh said he is a big Portland Trail Blazers fan. “I’m excited to see what they do this season. They have made some good acquisitions this summer and I expect them to be better than last season, he said. He listed basketball icon Michael Jordan and Oregon running legend Steve Prefontaine as his favorite athletes. “Jordan was the kind of player that would do anything to win and I like that,” Raleigh said. “Prefontaine was gutsy and he put his sweat and blood into everything he did.” In his spare time, Raleigh likes to hang out with friends and play basketball. He also works part-time at Levi’s and Toys “R” Us outlets. This season, Raleigh gives Saints cross country head coach Matt Hart credit for being a good mentor. “He’s a funny guy and he knows what he’s talking about,” Raleigh said. “He is knowledgeable. He can be intense at times, but he’s a good guy.” Saturday morning, the Saints travel to Clackamas Community College for the Southern Region championships. Raleigh will be seeking another peak performance. “I want to go into the race and run without any regrets,” he said. “I want to help my team and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with.”
They are hard working, they are quick learners and they are passionate about developing greater success in the sport. Matt Hart cross country head coach
Living Arts
Oct. 25, 2013
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Continued “Alice In Wonderland” cast coverage
‘Queen of Hearts’ actually a king by Greg Leonov The Advocate
Jeremy Wray
Jeremy Wray is looking to thrill audiences with his pink, size 16 platform shoes and bright red wig as the Queen of Hearts on the set of “Alice in Wonderland.” “It’s the heart wig from the live-action ‘Alice in Wonderland’ that Helena Bonham Carter wears, and the goal was to have me in heels but that wouldn’t happen, so we got some bigger platform shoes that we spray-painted pink,” Wray explained. Wray began acting in the ninth grade while at Sam Barlow High School. His older sister contributed to his inspiration when “she did the backstage stuff for all of the shows at our high school,” he said. “I would come see the shows and really want to be in those, so I started theater my freshman year… that’s when it really took off.” He also sang in choir, starting before high school. Wray describes this production as his personal “redemption show.” The first play that he auditioned for was his high school’s production of “Alice in Wonderland” where he was cast as an announcer. “I got this teeny-tiny walk-on role, and was there for like, five seconds. I announced when all of the people came in to the court,” he said. “When I auditioned for it again, I was like, ‘This is a true test to see how I’ve grown as an actor.’ ”
Wray chose to play the Queen of Hearts as a personal challenge. “It really gets me to push myself out of my comfort zone, to try and take on the physicality of the queen, and being that character that everyone absolutely hates, but loves at the same time. “I’ve always wanted to be the villain of a show,” he said. “I understand her – I don’t particularly like her – but I understand some of her mindsets. She wants everyone to be obedient to her, and subservient to her all of the time, and if they don’t, then she cuts off their head.” Wray is confident he will portray the queen’s nice and mean sides effectively. “I can give a real contrast between when she’s being extremely nice and sweet, and then as soon as something doesn’t go her way, she switches, and completely blows up in a rage,” he said. The Queen of Hearts also offers Wray some personal insight. “She can give me the confidence to not worry about what other people are thinking of
me at any given time, because she can do whatever she wants, say whatever she wants, and no one can really stop her,” he said. “She has put them all in fear of her.” Wray acted outside of MHCC, and is currently the music director for the Corbett Children’s Theater’s production of “The Sound of Music.” He was in Corbett Children’s Theater’s performance of “Footloose” and will audition for MHCC’s version of “Footloose,” as well. “I’ve come a long way from that first show that I ever did, and I’m a lot more into musicals now, than I am straight plays,” he said. After studies at Mt. Hood, Wray plans to transfer to PSU where he intends to get his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music education and vocal performance. “I’m double-majoring, so it’s gonna be a busy time,” he said.
Mad Hatter has much in store for audience The play opens for school groups only at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, and continues on Nov. 6, 8, 13 and 15. A performance for the general public will be at 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 16. Tickets cost $2
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Justin Wright by Rebecca Gaulke The Advocate Justin Wright isn’t a crazy person, but he plays one on stage. Wright is the Mad Hatter in MHCC’s Children’s Theatre Production of “Alice In Wonderland.” “It’s fun being in kind of a world where everything is crazy and you can be as crazy as you want,” he said. Wright said the famous character is a lot to keep up with. He has to be “really crazy, really big, and he has, like, a lot of mood swings… One second he is really angry, and the next he is perfectly fine and happy,” he said. Currently in his second year at Mt. Hood, Wright is a theater
major and working toward his Associate of Arts transfer degree. His dream is to become an established actor in New York or Los Angeles, working in theater and film. Before “Alice In Wonderland,” Wright had prior roles, such as Cheswick in last spring’s play, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.” He said it was fun because it was one of his first big, serious roles and he got to be in the whole play. In high school, he acted in his school’s versions of “Macbeth,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Wizard of Oz.” But children’s theater is different from regular productions, and provides more options for the actors. “I feel you can be bigger and not so realistic… In adult plays, you kind of have to be more realistic and believable.”
Wright says he is learning a lot from the new Theatre Artistic Director, Mace Archer. “He’s helping me be more bold with my choices and acting, and not holding back, really going all-out,” he said. Wright looks forward to auditioning for the MHCC spring theatre production, “Footloose.” He says he enjoys the characters of Willard and Wren, and hopes to be cast as one of the two. “Alice in Wonderland” has much in store for the audience. “I think it’s a fun play where you get to enter a world where there’s no rules or anything,” Wright said. “It’s just people who are crazy and that’s really what it is. It’s a world full of madness and Alice is stuck in the middle of it and has to deal with all these characters (who) have no rules.”
Celebrities: It happens to them, too Breast cancer is a nearly universal disease that affects most everyone in the U.S., through family or personal ties. Here’s a list of some high-profile cases that have made news headlines in the last several years:
Angelina Jolie
Jolie jolted the public with her decision to undergo a double mastectomy at age 37 after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene, known as the “breast cancer gene,” meaning she had a high risk of developing cancer. Jolie’s mother died from ovarian cancer at 56, so Jolie made the decision for her six children. After the news broke, she wrote an article for The New York Times and said: “Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.”
Kathy Bates
Famous for her role in the critically acclaimed film, “Misery,” Bates was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy in 2012. She also battled ovarian cancer after being diagnosed in 2003. Bates is currently cast as Delphine DeLaurie on the third season of FX’s hit TV show, “American Horror Story: Coven.”
Giuliana Rancic
One of E! New’s most popular anchors, Rancic is a TV personality and journalist who battled breast cancer in 2011, discovered after she got a mammogram while undergoing fertility treatments. Appearing in her own reality show “Giuliana and Bill,” with her husband, she fought cancer publicly at age 37. She underwent a double mastectomy to increase her chances of survival.
Maggie Smith
Famous for a wide variety of movie roles, including Minerva MaGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, Smith battled breast cancer while filming “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” She would finish the film series, wearing a wig for the final movie in 2011. She currently stars in the hit show “Downton Abbey” as Violet Crawley, the Dowager countess of Grantham, which has won her a Golden Globe and two Emmy awards.
Sheryl Crow
Among the most outspoken advocates for breast cancer awareness, the Grammy winning
country and pop singer and actress had surgery in 2006, followed by radiation therapy. Her treatment was successful, and she released a new album just last month.
Breast cancer and social media
Check out, “like” and follow these social media accounts for more info on awareness, mammograms, facts and women in need:
Twitter: @TheBreastCancer @KeepABreast @BCAware
Facebook: Facebook.com/BreastCancerAwareness Facebook.com/BCACampaign Facebook.com/breast.cancer.aware
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News
Oct. 25, 2013
Carrying on traditions, culture from Guam Recognizing deserving students at the recommendation of MHCC staff
Christina White by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate An introvert by nature, Christina White has used the RICE Club (Remarkable Islanders Causing Excitement) as a way to come out of her shell. White is entering her second year as the club’s president. The former leader had to vacate his seat during winter term last year, so she said, “I’ll give it a shot,” and was elected unanimously. “RICE Club has definitely gotten
me out of my box,” she said. “I used to be the weird little girl who would be out in the jungle chasing wild pigs.” White is a mother of three boys age 7 and younger. She entered the GED program three years ago after her oldest son asked her where she graduated high school from, and she had to explain that she hadn’t. “He said, ‘don’t you think you should?’ With that in mind, it gave me the motivation to come back and finish,” she said. She is pursuing a business entrepreneurship degree and hopes to start a retail clothing shop with childcare built in. For White, the RICE club offers a chance to express her culture without needing to return home to Guam, where she lived for more than a decade. She described her time in Guam as a lot of sightseeing, beach time and “an easy-going life, a lot of shorts and tank tops.” When she moved to the States, “a lot of people thought I was really gullible, but it was just because we were so open and free,” she said. As a child, White struggled with identity. She was raised in Guam for 12 years and also was adopted. “I didn’t even know what my nationality was until I was much older,” she said. “I look nothing like my adoptive parents, so I knew something was different.” Even though her adoption was
closed, White managed to find her biological parents, who were not “very open to discuss or get to know me,” she said. “For me as a parent, it kind of made me closer to my kids,” she said. “I’m as honest as possible.” White was asked by the Northwest Leadership Conference to do a workshop on being an adopted child, and how it affects schooling. “It’s amazing how many people walk the halls (who) you never would even think were adopted,” she said. The RICE Club has encouraged her to talk to people, display her culture and learn skills such as how to dress professionally. Many events the club stages involve dancing, both the hula and the haka. “I started dancing when I was six. It’s a rite of passage back home,” White said. “It’s also a way to interlock the different cultures.” RICE members represent several cultures. Between various islands, styles of dance differ, too. White’s children and her husband often join in club events, including dancing. She said there’s real talent on display. “Some of us are really good with our hands, some are really good with our hips and some are good with (our) feet,” she said. “It’s like a piece of home and we’re able to express it.”
To see White tell her story, go to our website: www.advocate-online.net
To see footage of the cultural dancing, go to our website:
News Briefs Domestic violence presentation The MHCC criminal justice department will host its annual forum, Domestic Violence from the Law Enforcement Perspective, from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Visual Arts Theater. Chris Gorsek, MHCC criminal justice instructor and state representative in the Oregon Legislature, will be the key speaker at the free event. Gorsek is a former Portland police officer and will address domestic violence and dating violence, as well as the evolution of police law regarding domestic violence over the past 50 years. “It is something I encountered all the time in law enforcement duties and it continues to be an issue,” he said. Gorsek hopes those who attend the event will understand that “No. 1, it is not in any one particular group,” he said. “It crosses all economic, racial, religious barriers and… No. 2, that the most important thing you can do in a situation like this, even if people go back (to their abusers) several times, is to be supportive.” Anyone affected by domestic violence or who are interested in the subject are encouraged to attend.
- Katelyn Hilsenbeck
www.advocate-online.net
Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
Above: A traditional Aztec ceremony performed at the Hispanic and Latino Heritage event held in the Student Union Wednesday. Below: A student dances with the MHCC mascot Barney Bernard.
Dead Book Sale
A student digs through the coffin of $1 textbooks in the Bookstore The MHCC Bookstore is hosting its annual Dead Book Sale through Thursday – Halloween, of course. The sale includes older edition textbooks and miscellaneous gift items for $1. “It’s been very rewarding,” said Bookstore Manager Julie Godat, who has enjoyed watching students stock up on bargains. The books are sold out of an actual coffin that Mt. Hood’s funeral services department has loaned the Bookstore. They are texts the store could not return to the publisher for credit, so the store offers them at sharp discount so that customers may purchase multiple books. There are Halloween-themed events planned all week. “We have found that Halloween is a really big event for our students,” Godat said.
Hispanic and Latino Heritage Celebration
Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
On Halloween day, Thursday, the Bookstore will offer treats to students, while most of the staff will dress in costume. Before that, on Monday, the store will stage a “Cosplay” (“costume play”) contest for the prize of two movie tickets for “Thor: The Dark World” in 3-D. The winner will be announced on Nov. 8. On Thursday and Friday, the Bookstore will hold a costume contest for the chance to win two free scary movies on DVD. Contestants must come in costume. A photo will be taken and placed on the Bookstore’s Facebook page, where a winner will be determined by popular vote. Open to anyone, online voting will close Nov. 8 for the movie tickets and Nov. 5 for the take-home movies.
- Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Call 360-546-9779 to schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor.
Sports
Oct. 25, 2013
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Saints stretch streak to 13 matches
Photo courtesy of Matt Hart
Freshmen Mt. Hood runners Courtney Andre and Stephanie Bishop compete at the Lewis & Clark Invitational.
Cross country heads to South region championship this weekend Freshman middle, Xayna Robinson, attempts to tip the ball over a block in Wednesday’s “Go Pink or Go Home” match against Linn-Benton.
Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
MHCC stays red hot in “Go Pink or Go Home” competition by Cameron Miller The Advocate The surging, first-place Mt. Hood volleyball team ran its win streak to 13 matches, dominating Linn-Benton in a three-game sweep Wednesday night in the Saints’ first “Go Pink or Go Home” home match of the season. The Saints swept the secondplace Road Runners (26-24, 25-20, 25-19), making it 15 wins in their last 16 matches overall. In the process, they replicated their three-game victory over LinnBenton in Albany on Oct. 4. Mt. Hood’s coach and key players expected a tough fight in the rematch. “Our mentality is that every team is going to play their best against us. We have a huge target on our backs,” said sophomore outside hitter Lihau
Perreira. The first two games were closely fought. Then, MHCC head coach Chelsie Speer urged her team to focus on playing to its own ability, so that the positive results would follow. The Saints came out in the third set and immediately set the tone, improving on offense and defense to complete the sweep. Today, the Saints will host the annual Dorian Harris Classic Halloween Tournament in the MHCC gym. Mt. Hood players and players and coaches will be dressed in “Jazzercise” costume this year and will begin play at 2 p.m. against Wenatchee Valley. The night match will feature Mt. Hood vs. Whatcom. Speer said of the team’s development over the season, “This is the most improved team I’ve ever coached. Now I feel like there’s a
sense of belief that anything can happen.” The Saints had extended their streak at last weekend’s matches, winning the Green River Crossover Tournament by defeating Spokane twice, the championship game included. Rachel Woodcock and Shawna Smith earned recognition for South Region players of the week while Xayna Robinson made the all-tournament team. Perreira won the tournament’s MVP award. It was MHCC’s first tournament title this year and the Saints knew their toughest challenge was Spokane. The outcome in the championship match, a five-set thriller (26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-11), was a big boost. Perreira said, “We felt really good (going in) but knew they were going
to put up a fight… Whenever you play someone outside your region it’s a big deal.” Riding their winning run, the Saints have built up confidence. “This tournament was a change in how we played as a team,” said Robinson. “Once it came to (facing) Spokane we played with a competitive edge.” Smith added, “We came out mentally tough, we were really resilient.” On Day One of the Green River tournament, the Saints defeated Everett, Lower Columbia, and Spokane. Day Two saw MHCC quickly sweep Big Bend and Shoreline and culminated in the see-saw final eventually won by the Saints. “I firmly believe you need matches like that. It’s good to have that experience throughout the season,” said Speer.
2013 Stat Leaders (Through Oct. 22)
Service Aces Shea Lindsey (15)
Kills Lihau Perreira (281)
Blocks
Xayna Robinson (53)
Set Assists Rachel Woodcock (596)
Digs
Ally Rombach (297)
MHCC’s volleyball team celebrates after the final point in a three-set sweep against Linn-Benton on Wednesday.
by Edgard Valencia The Advocate The Saints men’s and women’s cross country teams gave their best effort in the Lewis & Clark Invitational on Oct. 19 and came out with momentum for their hardest meet yet, coming this weekend: the Southern Region Championships. In the women’s 6K, held at McIver State Park outside Estacada, Mt. Hood finished 12th with an average team time of 26:07. Freshman Emily Trosino led the way, placing 52nd.. Her time of 24:08 was one her best of the season. The men’s team battled its way to ninth place in the 8K run with an average time of 27:38, an exact match of their performance at their previous meet Oct. 12 in Clackamas. “Overall, we were happy with the efforts the men and women put forth,” said Matt Hart, MHCC head coach. As in prior meets, freshman Brandon Raleigh put the men’s team on his shoulders, leading them with a time of 27:14 and placing 56th overall. Right next to him this time was freshman Auston Burns who placed 58th with a time of 27:18, improving his time by nearly a full minute from the Clackamas meet one week earlier. “I think we picked up this week where we left off last week, which is to say many of our runners are running worry-free,” said Hart. The Southern Region Championships will be held Saturday at Clackamas Community College on a course the Saints ran on just recently, which might give them a slight boost. Mt. Hood will go against five other schools and hopes to finish in a good spot as the squad prepares for the last meet of the year on Nov. 9, the NWAACC Championships in Battle Ground, Wash. Hart said tomorrow’s race at Clackamas won’t be easy, but has faith both teams will do well. “We have been preparing all season for both of our championships, we have been gaining fitness and experience while increasing our confidence,” he said. “I am confident that there will be positive energy going into our next meeting.”
Photo by Cameron Miller - The Advocate
Running offers many challenges, rewards by Dominic Say The Advocate
Autumn in Oregon brings with it cross country, a sport in which competitors race on a running course over natural terrain, rather than circle a paved running track. Usually three- to eight-kilometers in length, courses can include surfaces of grass and dirt, passing over and through hills, woods and open fields
and sometimes paved or gravel roads. Both men and women, including the teams at MHCC, usually compete during fall and winter. That means weather conditions of rain, hail, sleet or even snow, and a wide range of temperatures. It is both an individual and a team sport. Runners are judged on individual times and score points for their teams. So, it’s a pretty challenging sport, and one that I love. I have been running cross country since eighth grade. I ran three years of cross country and four years of track and field at Centennial High School. Between the two running sports, I love cross country because it is longer and is not boring. In the distance events
in track season, you end up running in circles, instead of into the woods on trails, sand on the beach, or even sometimes on a busy road. In high school, freshmen run a 3K course, which is the same as running seven-and-a-half laps around a standard, 400-meter track. Older runners go 5K, which is about 3.2 miles. Coming to MHCC, I wanted to compete at the college level, but in college men’s events are 8K, the equivalent of 4.9 miles. That was a bit much for me. But there are many parts of cross country that make it appealing for athletes. For those looking for a sport to try out, all you need is strength and endurance. In running there are many competitors, so you will always have some-
one who is better and someone who is at about the same level, which makes it fun. It’s a mental sport, and not only physical. It is competitive, and teams and individuals come up with a strategy before the race and attack the opposition. While possible, it is rare to get seriously injured in cross country or track and field. Proper warm-ups and training help to lower the risks. Also, cross country and track and field are two sports where participants almost always make the roster. There is less need to compete hard for a spot on the team – and with it, a potential athletic scholarship – than in basketball or football.
If you’re considering a sport, I would recommend you try cross country in the fall, and possibly consider track and field in the spring. The benefits of being an athlete, especially in the field of running, are that it helps with time management, goal setting and making improvements.Some words of wisdom that I’ve received from Harland Yriarte, director of the Steens Mountain High Altitude Running Camp in southeastern Oregon, have stuck with me. “Don’t let your weakness define you, but be defined by your strength, your big things. Then work on your little things,” he said. It’s great advice for running, and for life.
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Living Arts
Oct. 25, 2013
From left: Fasai Streed’s “Fishtrap,” “Floating Market,” and “Harvest” will be on display in the Fireplace Gallery in the Student Union starting Friday, Nov. 1.
Contributed photos
Thailand heritage inspires art Fireplace Gallery exhibit “The Old Siam” opens Nov. 1 by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate An artist featured at Mt. Hood hopes to take those who view her paintings to a forgotten time and way of life, garnished by memories and colorful scenery. Fasai Streed, 43, who hails from Thailand, is the latest artist to have her work displayed in the Fireplace Gallery. The watercolor collection she has offered is titled “The Old Siam,” made up of 11 scenes that represent the Siamese/village life from a past era. The paintings are named for the timeless activities they depict, such as harvesting, fishing and basket weaving. “I am old, and old people always live in the past,” said Streed. Streed said her favorite paintings are “Fishing” and “Harvest.” “I love ‘Harvest’ because of the bright orange color and ‘Fishing’ because it’s very simple
TO BE DETERMINED
7 p.m. Tomorrow Rose Quarter Portland
Go check out 3 of Portland’s most terrifying haunted houses. Open through Nov. 1, these frightfests attract crowds from all over. Grab a friend and prepare to be scared!
with watercolors. “You might add little bit of background or add a little bit of shadow. If you add too much, it won’t be good.” She was inspired to make these pieces for many reasons. “My mom painted about this… It was what I saw and learned to do (draw and paint with her), so I know them well enough to do by myself,” she said. When Streed was young, she lived with her grandmother in the Thai countryside and saw a lot of scenery similar to that in her paintings. “Many things I saw don’t exist anymore,” she said. “It’s good to be documented by painting.” Streed said one of the reasons she loves painting is that it reminds her of her mother, who taught her how to draw and paint when she was little. “I still remember her painting at four in the morning,” she said. That relationship was not always the best, she added. But, with age and moving to another country with no family or friends, she now realizes how hard it was for her mother to raise two
Looking for something fun to do? Check out our revamped weekly calendar for
daughters on her own: “I appreciate what she did for me.” Streed lived in Thailand all her life until she moved to the United States in 2008. When she moved here, she had trouble finding a job and didn’t know that many people. “I started painting because that was the only thing I could do on my own and not have to rely on anyone else,” she said. That was when she began getting serious about being an artist. Streed said that she misses her home country “every day” but makes time to visit once a year. She is wistful, but also content to make her home here, she said. “I love living here, but I still miss Thailand.” Besides painting, Streed also is a Zumba fitness instructor. In the future, Streed hopes to stage more exhibits and become a well-known artist. “Maybe one day I can price my paintings at $1,000,” she said.
Viral Vid of the Week
some fun ideas!
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2 1 FrightTown
in composition in the real life.” She said the first thing that she wants people to think when they see her paintings is, “Ooh, that is colorful.” On her website Streed describes her watercolor style as, “The bold paired with colors that are sometimes intense and sometimes subtle combine as visually crisp, clean and noticeable images suitable for viewing near and far.” She also wants to provoke questions such as, Where is this from? What country are they in? When pricing her paintings, Streed said she takes into account factors such as how much time was spent and how many materials were used. She also said that an artist must come to the original idea when pricing his or her art: “Is this very unique? Is this something that you can’t find anywhere else? Can you go to another gallery and see the same thing?” Streed said these paintings took around three weeks to produce. She also said it’s very easy to tell when a piece is finished, especially
ASG Halloween Events Next Week Main Mall
Pumpkin Bowling Monday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Painting Pumpkins Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guess the Weight of a Pumpkin Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Halloween Dance Wednesday 7 to 10 p.m. Jazz Café
Blu Ray/DVD release: Monsters U Tuesday The second installment of Disney’s Monsters franchise, the movie follows best friends Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan as we are taken back in time to their college days. Originally released in June, the movie brought in more than 250 million, and shows how the two became best friends. Rated G. Pick this up for a fun movie! Even adults love Mike and Sully.
Spider on Hand Prank In the mood for a laugh? As part of our new weekly feature, we will show you one awesome video and tell you why you should watch it. In the spirit of Halloween, this week’s video is all about scaring people with fake spiders-- because what’s more terrifying than a big, hairy spider? Uploaded just two days ago to YouTube, the video already has almost 250k views, and that’s probably because it’s hilarious seeing people’s reactions to a fake spider on the back of their hands. Check out what all the hype is about.