Advocate The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood
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www.advocate-online.net November 15, 2013
Volume 49 Issue 9
Saints claim 21 straight victories heading into the NWAACC Tournament see how they made it happen
Page 7 Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
Sophomores Shawna Smith and Lihau Perreira embrace after the Saints’ 20th straight win, clinching the South Region title against Clackamas Community College on Nov. 8
Profile of the month:
Student juggles motherhood, school, work Recognizing deserving students at the recommendation of MHCC staff by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate Mother of four juggles school, work and parenting, all while maintaining a 4.0. Meet Jessica Lang, 30, who enrolled at MHCC in summer 2011 after spending 10 years as a stay-at-home mom. “I think it’s really important to go back to school if you can,” Lang said. “And it’s tough. It’s really hard for me to go back and it’s hard on a regular basis to balance our schedule... We all work together,” she said of her family. Lang was nominated by MHCC mathematics instructor Robert Hauss
for her “unwavering work ethic and her insistence on perfection. “Jessica has balanced the job of motherhood with the job of being a student beautifully,” he said. “In both of the classes she has had with me she has gone out of her way to reach out and make sure she understands the material thoroughly.” Lang said this dedication carries through in all of her schooling. “I just want to do the best that I can and show my kids that it’s important not just to do something because you’re doing it, but to do it well. And understand what you can... so you are prepared,” she said. She is working toward a transfer
degree in business and plans to transfer to the Eastern Oregon University branch on the MHCC campus after she graduates from Mt. Hood in June. “I like numbers; I like math. I’m good with numbers,” said Lang, who would like to work in the finance area on behalf of schools or cities. “I want to do something that will help out somewhere.” When she returned to school the dynamic of her family changed, and her husband of 12 years has played a large role in making it all come together, she said. “We’ve had to adapt a lot along the way. He has taken on a lot of the responsibilities. He’s really, really supportive. “It’s challenging. I sleep a lot less now,” she said. “I stay up really late and work on homework. I’m really dedicated to my end goal. I just think about
graduating and the different career opportunities that will be available.” Distance learning classes have become a key resource for Lang. She now works as a secretary at her children’s school, so online classes allow her to be home and help with their homework during evenings. She said her children see the work that goes into college courses and said, “It’s showing them that they need to go to college.” When not working or studying, Lang and her husband enjoy riding motorcycles together. She is also the leader for her three daughters’ Girl Scout troop. Her family strategy is to “plan everything out and make sure we still go and do activities on the off-days,” she said. “Even though it’s tough and it’s busy, it’s definitely worth it.”
Jessica Lang
2013 FirsT plAce
General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association
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Opinion
Nov. 15, 2013
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Editorial: Stereotypes in the parking lot
The Lurker Everyone knows that parking can be a little tight in the morning at Mt. Hood because everyone hears about it from everyone else. We have been here long enough and spent enough of our lives parking that we’ve noticed some trends. And we feel that we have compiled enough data to classify a majority of the different types of parkers. Which one are you? First, we have The Lurker. This parker seeks out someone who is walking to his or her car, and will patiently follow them. They will stalk their prey for minutes until that motorist has left the spot. Don’t be too intimidated by these would-be predators, if you are
The Dreamer
the one leaving, the most punishment you’ll receive for taking your time is a dirty look and some under-the-breath insults. There also is The Dreamer. This is the most adorable, if likely the most foolish, collection of parkers. They believe there is a perfect parking spot with their name on it. They are so dedicated to this notion that they will shoot for the front of the lot and circle it until their dream comes true. They can be both pleasant and irritating to ride with. They won’t start throwing a tantrum if things go south, but they will take forever driving past perfectly good spots if they are not within spitting dis-
The Procrastinator
tance of their destination. Next, we have The Procrastinator. This is a cousin of the dreamer. No matter how many times they are faced with the problem of coming to school five minutes before class and being late, they do it anyway, and still expect to get a good spot. You can hear them coming a mile away because they will mask their laziness with the “lack of parking spots” excuse. And, finally, we have The Pragmatist. They have a very “screw it” attitude towards parking. They accept the first spot they are offered, no questions asked. They shoot straight for the back parking lots because they know they will have a
The Pragmatist
spot, for sure. There are even those who head straight to the Athletics lots (yes, the boonies!) for their spots. Regardless of the walk or weather, they will endure with a stern face of indifference. However, there are a few things all these groups have in common. They whine incessantly about their parking woes. Just about every morning, and in every class, you hear somebody complaining about something parking related (we are guilty, too). Whining about parking is an extremely petty exercise in how far we can spit in the face of our good fortune. There are plenty among us who don’t have the luxury of a car. Our com-
plaints sound really stupid to the guy who has to walk half a mile in the blistering cold. Or, to the person who rides the bus and must endure the cramped seating, bad smells and occasional weirdo who won’t stop talking to you. And, for what? So we don’t have to walk for an extra three minutes to our class. God forbid we get a little exercise in our routine day. Believe it or not, there is usually always an open spot in the lot. Even if it’s a little far from our class, we just have to park, deal with it, and go on with our day. And, unless someone has a spare million, or ten, to spend adding capacity at Mt. Hood, it’s not going to change.
New consoles, new problems What you need to know Online play now requires a monthly fee Cost: $400 The playstation Vita can be used as a second screen Ram: 8GB GDD5/ Memory: 500 GB Record gameplay on the fly
by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate
The time is finally here! The next generation of consoles are about to arrive. It’s a special moment in gaming that doesn’t happen often. This was the longest console cycle in history, so we are due for a fresh start. The need for extra discs, excessive sequels and large installs show that the outgoing generation is finally ready to die. Rest in peace, seventh generation: You were the most unstable, but most exciting, in history. For all the red rings, hidden costs and terrible peripherals, there was a wealth of excellent high-definition games and
terrific online experiences. However, moving forward there are some nagging worries that I can’t seem to shake. Besides the fact these consoles are new and have better graphics, there is not anything to get particularly psyched for regarding their arrival. The last set of new consoles were really making gamers freak out in giddy anticipation. The Playstation 3 was integrating Blu-ray; Xbox live was pushing the boundaries of online integration and it was the jump from standard definition to high definition. And of course, there’s the Wii. When I first heard about the Wii, it blew my little adolescent mind: a console that was controlled purely through motion control. It sounded like some kind of black magic. Now what we have from Nintendo is the Wii U; a very awkwardly named, designed and marketed device that has failed to truly excite
In the spirit of no-shave November, we wanted to share a portion of this fantastic comment from a user named Todd. It was recently posted on an article from last year called mustache or no stache.
Requires a mandatory online update to work Cost: $500 No removable hard-drive Ram: 8GB GDD3/ Memory: 500 GB Seamless voice control and recognition
those who are not dedicated to Nintendo. However, it’s not just Nintendo. The mantra for the Xbox One (Microsoft’s newest console) is that it will be the (sigh…) one home for all your entertainment. And they are still forcing Kinect (motion-capture peripheral) on us, which Microsoft is very stupid for thinking we still care about. The problem with Microsoft’s new focus on television and other media is that it bogs down the Xbox. Because of the power drawn from the Kinect and the three different operating systems required for the other media functions, it’s not as powerful as the PS4. Speaking of such, the PS4 has me less worried, but I still can’t get psyched for it. The future of Gaikai (cloud gaming) seems promising, and certain features of the new interface are cool, but what steps does the PS4 take for the future? A button for recording gameplay? Whoop-dee-freaking-doo.
Besides the consoles themselves, there are some nasty trends that have evolved in the past few years that I fear will only worsen. The way that downloadable content and online patches have slowly handicapped this generation, can only get more troublesome in the next. I hate the laziness that has been bred from this new wave of online integration. The fact that games can have such glaring and game-breaking issues (Fallout: New Vegas, Bully: Enhanced edition) and not be fixed before release, shows how much developers rely on patches now. Before, developers had one shot to make sure their game ran smoothly. And if it didn’t, you had to face the repercussions for not ironing out the bugs. It’s nice that developers can fix issues that they’ve missed, but patches should not be used as a crutch. The greatest and most agonizing sin is that these consoles have no back-
“I grew my mustache because I like it and women are attracted to a mans confidence. After years of corporate clean cut, I became enamored with the cool “70′s” rock star look (Three Dog Night, Badfinger, Deep Purple) and grew my ‘stache as a way to mock weak, lesser men around me; and those who spent cash money for all those cheesy tatoos everyone has – apparently it’s easy to get inked – badly. I’m blessed with thick dark brown-now-turning- gray hair and my standard mid-sizedchevron stache is easy to quickly comb/wash and grows jet black – a true burst of youth if you will. It’s interesting to note that I now work for the “mouse house” who now officially allows facial hair. Suffice it to say I’ve traded in all my country club golf shirts for a new-to-me classic Van Halen II concert t-shirt. Rock on.”
the Advocate Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Living Arts Editor Rebecca Gaulke
Opinion Editor Danny Perez-Crouse
News Editor Katelyn Hilsenbeck
wards capability whatsoever. They are the most advanced consoles to date, and they can’t do one of the most basic and necessary functions in gaming? There may be older games made available later to download, but we don’t want to re-purchase games we already have. I may sound like a stubborn old man, but I miss how consoles used to be. You would put a game in the machine and play it. There was no bullcrap. I fear that consoles are becoming more like watered-down computers with all of the updates, installs, operating systems and whatnot. Don’t get me wrong: There are plenty of games that have me salivating for the next generation, such as “Titanfall,” “The Witcher 3” and “Metal Gear Solid 5.” And ultimately if we get great games, all of this is irrelevant. Hey, the last gen. started off terrible and became pretty good; maybe the same can be said for this one. I hope....
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Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030
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News
Nov. 15, 2013
Faculty honored by Stanford by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate There was both a celebration of student success and a recap of sobering fiscal news during Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Mt. Hood Community College District Board. The meeting kicked off with recognition of a special MHCC alumnus, Sean Davis. He is military veteran who received a Purple Heart medal for injuries received during his service and, despite his obstacles, thrived in school. Earlier that day, Davis gave a reading from his book, “Wax Bullet War” (to be released in the spring) as the first visiting author in the humanities department’s new Interdisciplinary Reading Series this autumn. MHCC nursing program students joined a presentation led by instructor Chrissy Bloome that included several testimonials. Then came a pleasant surprise, during a brief presentation from the TRiO program. The federally funded program serves students from low-income households with no prior family history of college study. Last year, Mt. Hood student Tuan Anh Tran Caraballo earned a full-ride academic scholarship to Stanford Uni-
Nicci Harwood
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Student enrollment takes a large hit Ethnic diversity of MHCC African American
Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Amercian Indian/ Alaskan native
Multi-Racial Asian
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Caucasian/ Non-Hispanic Hispanic
by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate
Photo contributed by Chantelle Hodson
Above: MHCC President Debbie Derr presents Nicci Harwood with a certificate recognizing her teaching ability from Stanford University. versity. Caraballo attributed much of his remarkable success to the TRiO program, and to his adviser, Nicci Harwood. Stanford recognizes teachers who have had a positive influence on students who transfer in from TRiO at community colleges. And, Caraballo asked that Harwood be so honored. Harwood was presented a certificate by MHCC President Debbie Derr. The certificate reads, “Stanford University wishes to recognize Nicci Harwood for exceptional teaching, for dedication as an educator and a mentor that has contributed to the future of your students.” Harwood and the board were shown a video of Caraballo at Stanford, thanking her and TRiO, personally. “Do I get the video?” asked Harwood, who received a nice round of applause.
The board then turned to more grim matters. The latest MHCC fiscal report shows that student enrollment compared to 2012 indicate a “significant decline” in tuition-bearing classes, of 9.6 percent for summer term and 7 percent for fall term. The result is a tuition revenue loss of $1 million, estimated to reach $2.3 million total if the trend continues through winter and spring terms. Board members voted to adopt current-year budget transfers intended to address the new fiscal picture. Mt. Hood will claim another $1.2 million in state aid and dip into its contingency fund for another $224,432 to help cover an anticipated $2.8 million loss from lower student tuition and fee revenues in 2013-14. The board next meets at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 in the MHCC boardroom.
When the Great Recession hit, MHCC saw a jump in student enrollment, as did most other colleges across the land. Now, as the economy slowly recovers, updated numbers for Mt. Hood show a notable drop in students here. For Fall Term 2013, MHCC reports a 5.8 percent decrease in FTE (fulltime equivalent) students – based on the average number of credits all enrolled students are taking – from the previous year, said campus analyst Timothy Green. The slide corresponds to a 9 percent decrease in full-time (12 or more credits per term) students, the Mt. Hood District Board learned at its meeting on Wednesday. Green also reported an almost 11 percent decrease in the unduplicated (total) school head count, as of Thursday. Approximately 4,600 students enrolled part-time for Fall Term 2013 and 4,100 enrolled full-time. That compares with 4,543 part-time and 4,518 full-time students in fall
2012, a 400-student drop in fulltime enrollment the more significant change. The number of students enrolled in non-credit classes, such as community education, also has dropped by nearly 1,000 students, from 3,498 in fall 2012 to 2,568 this term. Green attributes this decline to the economy self-correcting, resulting in a student population similar to that Mt. Hood had served prior to the recession. Meantime, the racial diversity of MHCC students has not changed drastically in the last year, figures show. Fifty-seven percent of Mt. Hood students are Caucasian or nonHispanic; 12 percent are Hispanic; 7 percent are Asian; 6 percent are multi-racial; 5 percent are African American; 1 percent are Hawaiian or Pacific Island; 1 percent American Indian or Alaskan native; and another 11 percent cannot be categorized. During the 2012-13 school year, MHCC awarded 692 career or technical degrees, 532 transfer degrees and 229 certificates. The unduplicated head count for the last academic year was 28,988 students.
Nearly 250,000 water bottles saved by Dominic Say The Advocate Mt. Hood has recently installed additional refillable purifying water stations, raising the total to 10 stations on its Gresham campus and one more at the Maywood campus. The main campus stations are located thusly: one outside the Library lobby; one inside the Student Union; two in the HPE lobby and another near the gymnasium (north side) restrooms; and one each, inside the Aquatics Center, the Learning Commons (3000
level above the Library), in the 2700s breezeway near the St. Helens Bistro, and inside the Fisheries and Industrial Technologies buildings. The stations are made by the company ELKAY and work by sensing when a bottle is below the spout. After about 16 ounces of water is poured, the machine counts a new, plastic bottle as being “saved” (rather than being purchased new). The counting system is precisely calibrated, measured by ounces dispensed. If one user gets 8 ounces of water and then another gets 8 ounces,
Winter registration opens Monday Monday Registration open for students with 46+ credits and who have attended Winter Term 2013 or later Tuesday Registration open for students with less than 46 credits and who have attended Winter Term 2013 or later Wednesday Open registration for continuing and new students
the machine will count only one bottle “saved.” Through midday Thursday, the stations’ digital counters reported a total savings of 241,699 16-ounce water bottles. The most-used station is that outside the Library with 70,556 “saves,” followed by Aquatics station, with 56,763. The least-used station, to date, is in Fisheries, with 1,099 bottles saved. Thursday’s numbers do not account for when the stations were installed, however. Six stations were installed last
school year, at an approximate cost of $15,800, including installation, construction and electrical work. ASG President Laura Aguon said they are placed in areas where installation did not require interfering with brick walls. To further push the energy-saving “green” trend, MHCC last spring installed three new Solar Dok picnic tables at the main campus. The distinctive red tables have solar panels that can recharge a laptop or any electronic devices using an AC cord, or to charge USB devices, smart
phones included, with two USB ports per table. The tables are illuminated at night and are constructed, in part, from 1,200 recycled milk cartons. They may be found in the Main Mall across from the Bookstore, near the Student Union heading towards the gym, and near AC1700. The solar tables cost $33,885, including shipping and installation. Both the water stations and solar tables were paid for with 2012 and 2013 ASG funds, as a student government legacy gift.
Cyber security roundtable by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate The MHCC cyber security division hosted a roundtable discussion on emergency management on Tuesday as part of its “Cyber Security Speaker Series.” The panelists included lead presenter Todd Felix, representing the Gresham city emergency management department; Kelly Piper, worldwide emergency manager from U.S. Bank; Linda Vigesaa, MHCC chief information officer; Don Adams, MHCC information technology manager; Richard Byers, MHCC facilities manager; and Staci Huffaker, MHCC risk manager. “Talking about cyber security and viruses and malicious intent and anonymous… that’s really sexy. People want to have that conversation,” said Wayne Machuca, Mt. Hood cyber security in-
structor. “But when you talk about emergency management, disaster recovery, that’s management stuff.” Machuca was prepared to toss out discussion topics to the roundtable, but the students attending rose to the occasion and filled the time with tons of thoughtful questions and created a “real engaging conversation,” he said. “They weren’t just questions; they were insightful questions… To me, that’s what made the event. “One of the things that we get to do as a community college that I really, really like is that we get to bring people into the community that are subject matter experts… and bring information that is as current as today,” Machuca said. Having both Mt. Hood employees and community members who communicate on a regular basis on display helped to show the importance of con-
necting with others, he said. “Nobody works on emergency management in a vacuum,” Machuca said. The “community’s outpouring support… has been so encouraging.” Machuca’s goal is to bring experts from a wide variety of areas to “enhance our overall awareness, (which) I could never do as a single instructor,” he said. The MHCC cyber security program has seen an increase in students and newcomers may enroll for the program in any term, he said. Machuca cited a recent newspaper article in The Oregonian that noted “80 percent of Oregon tech businesses plan to increase technical staffing in the next year,” he said. “If you’re looking for a career that pays well… tech is the way to go. (Tech businesses are) hiring for technicians and we’re training technicians,” he said.
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Living Arts
Nov. 15, 2013
TO BE DETERMINED
Looking for something fun to do? Check out our revamped weekly calendar for some fun ideas!
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TV pick:
Album pick: Daughtry Tuesday In stores
everywhere Chris Daughtry is the popular American rock singer well known for his fourth-place run on “American Idol” back in 2006. His fourth studio album, “Baptized,” features his hit single “Waiting for Superman,” which received positive reception from critics and peaked at No. 17 on Billboard’s adult pop charts.
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“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” Tuesday 8 p.m. ABC
This classic is an annual must-watch. Based off of the long-running “Peanuts” newspaper comic strip, this popular cartoon that originally aired in the 1970s is a classic tale of the chaos of Charlie Brown. Tune in Tuesday to get in the Thanksgiving mindset and watch the always entertaining, kidfriendly Charlie Brown.
Viral Vid of the Week
3Weekend Movie Pick: Best Man Holiday
Starring Terrence Howard/ Regina Hall In theaters today It’s not too early to get in the holiday spirit, and what better way than a Christmas movie? Rated R for language and sexual content, this movie is probably not the best one to take your kids to. This movie focuses on friends who reunite during the holidays after 15 years apart, and is more of a comedy than a serious Christmas movie. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, as well as a little bit of Christmas fun, check it out.
“Swing Time”
Saturday 4 p.m. lessons, 5 p.m. dancing
Crystal Ballroom, Portland. $8 for all ages “Swing Time” is a continuation and celebration of the music and dance that started in America in the Jazz Age and Swing Era. If you’re interested in trying something new, head over to the Crystal Ballroom, which has been around since 1914, and bring your dancing shoes.
Extremely Scary Ghost Elevator Prank in Brazil 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. This week, it’s an oldie but goodie. Posted in 2012, this video has almost 80 million views, and for good reason. This is one of the most hilarious videos we’ve ever seen, guaranteed to give you a laugh. In the video, people in Brazil are pranked as they ride in an elevator. During the ride, the lights go out, and when they turn back on, there’s a creepy little girl dressed like a dead girl. They turn back off, and she disappears. Every person who gets on the elevator is terrified. You have to see the priceless reactions of this wellexecuted prank for yourself!
Living Arts
Nov. 15, 2013
Graphics by Heather Golan
by Danny Perez-Crouse
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The Advocate
“Y
ou bring it, we’ll play it.” This is the motto of the self-proclaimed largest and most diverse club on the MHCC campus: A club where everyone is welcome to indulge in her or his favorite card, video or table-top games with others. This is the Gamers Club. The club says that it is a relaxed and open community. “You can pop in here, play a game and leave,” said its vice president, Adam Middleton. And that game can be anything. The club says that it is very accommodating to what people want to play. “We try to get anybody into anything that they want to do,” said Middleton. Some of the most popular games among club members are “Magic: The Gathering” and the newest iteration of “Pokemon.” “We are the most diverse group on campus and we are the largest group on campus,” said Loren Brule, the club treasurer. The club has
by Greg Leonov The Advocate MHCC offers game development courses to give students skills so they can jump into the highly profitable video game design industry. How profitable? How about an annual salary approaching six figures? Oregon is experiencing a shortage of employees in many areas of the IT (information technology) industry because of tech’s rapid expansion. “I’m very excited about this problem, and I’m very excited that Mt. Hood has the opportunity to be part of the solution,” said MHCC computer education and cyber security instructor Wayne Machuca. Machuca was a major player in pioneering the video game development program at Mt. Hood, which started in 2011. He said the career field is wide open to any type of student who is creative and can channel their efforts. “We believe that there is huge opportunities in game development for women, for minorities, for non-English speakers. The design of our degree program is to make the training as accessible as possible to a wide diversity of students,” he said. Game development in the Portland metro area is based on a freelance type of system: A
been around for almost eight years and there are currently 173 members. It is not limited to students, either. Steven Page, the current club president, says that about 73 of its members don’t go to this school. Page says the club doesn’t exclude nonstudents because it might turn them off to Mt. Hood entirely. The club also likes to hold events outside the campus so if people are interested, they can come over to Mt. Hood and join them. Brule said the club is very active and has held many events. Last year, the group hosted tournaments for games such as “Super Smash Brothers,” “Halo 4,” “League of Legends” and “Magic the Gathering.” “The Gamers Club is a chance for people to enrich their college experience through interaction and shared experience. It (gaming) transcends all other forms of identification,” he said. “For the most part, the Gamers Club has
group of developers may unite to create a game, sell it, and then disband and start over in different groups to start new projects, said Machuca. In the freelance model, a developer is recognized for his or her skill rather than traditional credentials, he said. Freelancing is “exactly how artistic people function well.” Machuca said. Yet, he emphasizes that a degree in game development does not mean that one will have an easy life that consists of playing lots of games. “The degree is about developing games
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been pretty entrenched in card games and video games,” Brule continued. Despite this, he said the group is trying to incorporate more tabletop gaming. “We worked a deal with Big Apple Pizza were we meet two Saturdays a month and play a variety of tabletop games (such as “Dungeon and Dragons,” “Dark Heresy,” etc.).” Page’s big push for his presidency is to get the Gamers Club “solidified.” “Our main goal is to be taken seriously,” said Middleton. One of the greatest challenges for the club has been to gain respect and acknowledgment. The club says that gamers have this stigma of being slovenly, unfriendly or that they don’t know what a woman is. “You don’t have to be a nerd to be a gamer. We are trying to break away from just being gamers to being MHCC in its entirety.” “We have had a lot of bad reputation in the past. The Student Union used to hate us,” said
Page. He also said that members were able to better their reputation by changing their ways and helping out around the Union. “This club really enriches the student body,” said Brule. “People are having fun, they meet other people and gain relationships and friendships that can last throughout their college career, and even forever.” Page says the club is looking to promote itself through the Internet and social media. “We are looking into streaming and Twitch.” The club also is working on a newscast show that talks about what games are coming out, what to do in a role-playing game, and other game- related topics. If anyone is interested in joining the club, Page says that the best way to join is to head for the Student Union and grab a chair. Throughout the week, the club can be found in the back area of the communal area (you’ll see the trading cards and Game Boys). “We are here whenever the (Union) is open,” said Brule.
and developing games is hard,” he said. “You want it to be hard, because if it was easy, no one would pay you to do it. According to indeed.com, video game developers in Oregon can earn a (typical) annual salary of about $92,000. Another myth Machuca said he likes to dispel is that gaming, in general, is a “boysonly club.” Women have increasing joined the crowd. The Electronic Software Association reports that women age 18 and older “represent a sig-
nificantly greater portion of the game-playing population (31 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (19 percent).” Machuca said he “raves” about Erika Ruhl, who is lead instructor of the MHCC video game development program. He calls her a highly valuable resource for students who are serious about game design. A game developer herself, Ruhl has “a deeper, more solid insight in the true inner workings in how game development works than nearly anybody,” Machuca said.
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News
Nov. 15, 2013
A week of events Wednesday
Monday Free Movie Monday (Elysium), Nov. 18, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., Visual Arts Theater, bring I.D. to verify age for Rrated movie
Tuesday “Coping with Depression” Student Success Seminar 12:10 to 1 p.m. Bob Scott Room (library) “Visual and Hands-On Learning” Student Succes Seminar 1:10 to 2 p.m. Bob Scott Room (library)
“Jazz Up Your Life” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student Union With midterms now behind them and the end of the term coming into view, students may feel the pressure of multiple exams, projects and homework. That’s why ASG is hosting “Jazz Up Your Life” on Wednesday to help students unwind. This is a themed event intended to help students “chill out,” said Steven Page, the SAB wellness programs coordinator. They may relax, enjoys smooth jazz, games, and prizes at this free event, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union. Students “are just getting through midterms and need the opportunity to de-stress from school before we go on break, and then come back into another stressful dead week,” Page said. Stress can negatively affect many aspects of life, including sleep, focus, and drive. And, when students are less stressed they usually do better academically, Page noted.
- Alexandra James
Sexual Assault Presentation noon to 1 p.m. Jazz Cafe ASG will host an educational discussion on sexual assault from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the Town and Gown room. The event aims to educate the MHCC community about a topic that might not get full attention or be misunderstood, a subject that “goes largely avoided in our classrooms, homes, and social circles,” says Jonathan Albi, director of public safety and campus sustainability. Albi said sexual assault demands attention and concern, especially if the community wants to work towards prevention. An October forum on the MHCC campus focused on domestic violence. This event will discuss what is now defined as “any sexual act that is perpetrated against someone’s will,” according to the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes rape, abusive sexual contact or unwanted touching, as well as non-physical menacing by means such as threats and verbal sexual harassment. Beyond explaining sexual violence and its prevalance, there will be specific focus on the connection between our nation’s obsession with pornography and sexual assault, said Albi.
Thursday Political Forum 12:10 to 1 p.m.
Bob Scott Room (library) The Bridge to North Korea project will be showing a short film about the escape of a North Korean refugee and discuss how refugees are helping family members inside North Korea escape the regime.
“End the Semester Strong” Student Success Seminar 2:10 to 3 p.m. Bob Scott Room (library) Wingo Bingo 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Student Union Prizes, food and B-I-N-G-O free for students and $2 for nonstudents. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Barney’s Pantry for two extra bingo score sheets.
“Island Travels” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Student Union
Those interested in learning about many different Pacific island nations and their customs should visit the Student Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday for the Island Travels event, hosted by Mt. Hood’s RICE club. There will be free food, fresh fruits, both hula and haka dance performances, a live DJ, a raffle drawing and a lei making workshop. There will be tables set up for every island represented in a tourist setting, for the chance to learn about the various islands and how to engage in the different customs. The Island Travels event is free and open to the public.
- Lindsay Frost
“Veterans Appreciation Dinner” 6 p.m. Jazz Cafe Families welcome. RSVP to ASGDCA@mhcc.edu
- Alexandra James
Who shot JFK? Find out!
Veterans Career and Benefit Fair
MHCC instructor Pat Casey shares his evolving belief of who the assassin was by Dominic Say The Adcoate
Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
The Veterans Career and Benefit Fair was held Tuesday in the Jazz Cafe. Attendees had the ability to meet with businesses ready to hire. Above: Stress balls disguised as military men available at the Fair.
Friday, the 22nd of November, marks the 50th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy assassination. And, in spite of numerous investigations pinning the sole blame on Lee Harvey Oswald, many Americans believe that a deeper conspiracy killed Kennedy. Join the History Department at noon Friday in AC2755 for a special Historians’ Rountable that looks at both the assassination and its aftermath. “I’ve spent more than 35 years researching this case. For the first two decades I believed it was a conspiracy, but now I think Oswald did it,” said Pat Casey, MHCC history instructor. “I’ll try to describe what changed my thinking, as well as the major conspiracy theories,” he said. Audience questions will be encouraged after the short presentation, he said. Casey has pondered JFK’s death for more than 35 years. “I first visited Dallas for a football game when I was in college in 1977, and while there went to Dealey Plaza, the site of the assassination,” he said. “Although I could remember the assassination myself – I was in second grade at the time – I had not taken a tremendous interest in the controversies that emerged” by the mid-1960s, he said. “Seeing the actual site though got me to wondering – the official govern-
ment inquiry, the Warren Commission, said that Lee Harvey Oswald killed the president by firing three shots from the Texas School Book Depository,” Casey said. “For whatever reason, though, that didn’t seem plausible, so I began looking at the massive number of books about the assassination. “A number of books came out in 1966 and 1967, such as “Rush to Judgment” by Mark Lane, “Inquest” by Edward Jay Epstein and “Accessories After the Fact” by Sylvia Meagher, all of which I read,” Casey said. “The one though that made the most sense was “Six Seconds in Dallas” by Josiah Thomson, a college philosophy professor.” That puts Casey distinctly in the minority: Surveys show 75 percent of Americans don’t believe the Warren Report findings he will walk the audience through. The Historians’ Roundtable is free and open to students, MHCC employees and the community. All are welcome to participate and perhaps decide what they believe, and why.
JFK TV programs http://www.oregonlive.com/ movies/index.ssf/2013/11/television_remembers_president. html#incart_m-rpt-2
Sports
Nov. 15, 2013
7
Saints undefeated in league play by Cameron Miller The Advocate
The Saints celebrates their win over the Chemeketa Storm.
The Saints (34-6) easily handled their last two opponents of the regular season to run their South Region record to a perfect 10-0 and clinch the regional title. Mt. Hood’s winning streak now stands at 21 matches. The team hopes to ride its red-hot play to another overall NWAACC crown in the championship tournament it will host in Gresham, starting on Thursday. On Nov. 8, MHCC defeated Clackamas (25-22, 27-25, 25-14) to claim the South title. Clackamas needed to defeat MHCC in Gresham and then win out in order to share the lead with the Saints. The first two sets were competitive, but the Saints were able to distance themselves and never look back. Next, Mt. Hood turned around on short rest and dispatched the Chemeketa Storm (16-22) on Wednesday. The victory was emotional and wasn’t necessarily easy. The season finale was Sophomore Night, where the Saints players and coaches honored the second-year players seeing their last league action. Keely Siegel, Ellie Drain, Carrie Haguewood, Morgan Entze, Shawna Smith, and Lihau Perreira were the sophomores who celebrated with their parents in the pregame ceremony. “There’s just something special about this group. It’s all started from the sophomore leadership and the freshmen buying in from
Photo by Cameron Miller- The Advocate
MHCC hosts the NWAACC Championsip Tournament Nov. 21-24 The Saints will play their first game Thursday morning at 9 a.m. against Everett.
the beginning,” said head coach Chelsie Speer. Ultimately, MHCC swept the Storm (25-19, 25-12, 26-24) and ended the regular season winning 21 matches in a row, including tournament play. The first set was a bit of a slow start for Mt. Hood who allowed the Storm to remain tied with the Saints 12-12. Then, MHCC settled and outscored Chemeketa 13-7 to win the set. The second set included an 8-1 Saints run heading into halftime. The third set would prove not to be as easy. Chemeketa cleaned up the early mistakes it was making and took advantage of MHCC’s unforced errors. The Storm took a 23-22 lead before Speer called a timeout. “I feel like they don’t have anything to lose, you see that happen a lot,” she said of the Storm’s strong play. “They played a lot better than down in Chemeketa, they’re fighting to get into the (NWAACC championship) tournament. That game was a big deal to them.” After the timeout, the Saints won four of five points in order to extend and win the set (26-24), and sweep the match. Mt. Hood can now rest until the NWAACC title tournament begins. The Saints will start by playing Everett (6-19) at 9 a.m. Thursday. Mt. Hood players and coaches like their chances, but also know they a big target. “We do have a lot of pressure to perform,” said Speer, “the focus of the tournament is one day at a time.”
The NWAACCs are a doubleelimination tournament, where teams must lose twice before they are knocked out. MHCC’s second game of the tournament is going to be against the winner of the Spokane (31-13) vs. Pierce (20-15) match. Speer analyzed the two potential opponents. “Spokane will be tough. We beat them twice in Green River, but the second game went five (sets),” she said. Although the Saints will be battling injuries through the tournament, Speer thinks they can hold their own, and keep their hot streak going. “What a journey, that’s what comes to mind,” she said. “This is one of the most improved groups I’ve coached. We are a completely different team from Day One.” One of Saints’ standout players has been outside hitter Lihau Perreira, who became an outspoken leader while receiving a lot of recognition late in the season. She has now earned the South Region Player of the Week award two weeks in a row. “She’s one of those people where it is ‘This is why I coach,’ ” Speer said. “She finally believes in herself and that’s why she’s playing so well. That’s the player we’ve been trying to get from her, all along.” That type of leadership and MHCC’s fighting spirit are going to be keys in the attempt to win NWAACCs and bring the Saints their second championship in three years.
The run to 21 9/27/2013
10/26/2013
Winning Streak Begins
Mt. Hood def. SWOCC (27-25, 25-21, 25-12)
MHCC’s win streak reaches 21 games
Saints sweep Halloween Tournament Mt. Hood def. Olympic (25-23,25-22,20-25,25-20)
10/19/2013
Mt. Hood def. Spokane
Saints go undefeated in league play #1 seed in NWAACCs for South Region
(26-24,23-25,25-21,15-25,15-11)
11/13/2013
10/22/2013
Sophomore Lihau Perreira
NWAACC Regional Players of the Week Setter: Rachel Woodcock – Mt. Hood Defensive: Shawna Smith – Mt. Hood
10/18/2013
MHCC Sweeps Green River Tournament
11/08/2013
South Region Player of the Week for the third consecutive week.
Saints clinch outright South Region title
All-Tournament Team: Xayna Robinson Most Valuable Player: Lihau Perreira
Mt. Hood def. Clackamas (25-22,27-25,25-14)
Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate
Men’s basketball tips off the season in Pendleton Upcoming Men’s Basketball Schedule MHCC at Blue Mountain 5 p.m. today in Pendleton
Fri-Sun Nov. 29- Dec. 1, Red Devil Classic in Longview, Wash. Yakima Valley vs. Mt. Hood Friday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m.
For more info on the tournament, visit http://www.nwaacc.org/basketball/mens_schedule.php Top left: Freshman Jason Wallace shoots over a Centrailia defender during their scrimage last saturday. Bottom left: Sophomore Jalen Thomas dives for possession of the ball against Centrailia. Right: Freshman Kylelle Brown pulls up for a jumpshot over a centrailia defender. Photos contributed by Mykala Williamson
MHCC at Walla Walla Friday Dec. 6, 8 p.m.
MHCC at Blue Mountain Saturday Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
8
Sports
Nov. 15, 2013
Cross country
finishes season strong by Edgard Valencia The Advocate The NWAACC Cross Country championships on Nov. 9 turned out to be the one of the Saints’ best performances of the season as the runners gave their all and saw their hard work pay off in the year’s finale. Lewisville Park, near Battle Ground, Wash., was the site of the final contest in which the MHCC men’s team placed sixth, three spots higher than in 2012. The women’s squad came in seventh, after finishing sixth a year ago. Twelve teams competed in both the men’s and women’s divisions. For the Mt. Hood men, freshman Brandon Raleigh led the way again with a new personal best of 25:06 (minutes) for the 8,000 meters. He smashed his old mark by about 80 seconds and finished 12th out of 75 runners, only one second out of a Top 10 placement. “A couple guys squeezed by me in the final seconds of the race, but I definitely think I could have placed 10th if I would have kicked a tiny bit harder,” Raleigh said. Fellow freshman Taylor Hybl
also got one of his best times of the year as he finished second among MHCC men at 25:37, cutting his time from the previous meet by nearly two minutes. Another Saint who ran one his best races of the year was freshman Cody Beierle, who posted a 26:15
time to finish third for Mt. Hood. “We had a great group of men this year. We are young and I am encouraged that we will be strong for years to come,” said head coach Matt Hart. The women’s team also was led by freshmen.
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Emily Trosino finished strong – in sixth place, overall, out of 70 women runners – with a time of 19:25, just 12 seconds behind the season-best mark she recorded in her previous meet. Finishing second for the Saints was Haley McDonald, at 20:33, and rounding up the top three for MHCC was yet another freshman, Courtney Andre who had one of her best races of the year, at 21:38. The championships ended a year in which the Saints finished strong after several ups and downs. The group seemed to always stay together and got through every meet in positive fashion, Hart said. Both the men’s and women’s teams relied on a strong core of freshmen recruited almost exclusively from Gresham-area high schools that compete in the Mt. Hood Conference. That familiarity helped the runners, Hart said. “Because they all knew each other previously, they all seem to be very close,” Hart said. “We had a great group that all liked each other and are welcoming of anyone, and because of their attitudes, our training and competition atmosphere were fun and supportive.”
Sport
SC
Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
Above: Freshman Taylor Hybl fights to the finish line during the NWAACC championships last saturday. Left: Freshman Courtney Andre paces herself during the NWAACC.
entral
week 11 NFL MATCH UPS San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints -
After a shocking 10-9 home loss to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, the 49ers are under pressure to rebound this weekend. But that won’t come easy as they travel to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to face the 7-2 Saints. Last Sunday night on national television, Drew Brees and the Saints destroyed the Dallas Cowboys, 49-17, and Brees threw for more than 390 passing yards. The Saints are 5-0 at home and the 49ers are 3-1 on the road. Brees is second in the NFL in passing yards with 3,064. Yet, San Francisco and New Orleans are also two of the NFL’s best defenses, as the 49ers allow 17 points per game and the Saints allow 18 points.
Predictions: Saints-31 49ers-21
San Francisco 49ers AT New Orleans Saints Sunday, 1:25 p.m., (Fox Network)
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos -
It’s the matchup everyone has waited for: Kansas City and Denver. The last remaining unbeaten team, Kansas City has been surprising, to say the least. The Chiefs’ defense has led the way this season, allowing a league-low 12 points per game. Kansas City, 9-0, heads to Sports Authority Field at Mile High to take on the Broncos, 8-1. Denver is 5-0 at home and the Chiefs are 4-0 on the road. The two rivals meet in two weeks in Kansas City. The Sunday night game should be one to remember, with a lot on the line.
Kansas City Chiefs AT Denver Broncos Sunday, 5:30 p.m., (NBC Network)
Predictions: Broncos-27 Chiefs-21
New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers -
The Monday night football showdown also should be worth watching, unlike the recent Dolphins-Buccaneers game. New England is first in the AFC East with a 7-2 record, and the 6-3 Panthers are on a 5-game win streak. The Carolina defense was stout last Sunday against the 49ers, and the Panthers are second best in the league with just 12.8 points allowed (and 280 yards) per game. The Patriots throw for 232 yards a game, and the Panthers, 195 yards. New England’s offense against Carolina’s defense should be a battle to behold.
Predictions: Patriots-28 Panthers-17
New England Patriots AT Carolina Panthers Monday, 5:30 p.m., (ESPN Network)