Volume 54, Issue 10 November 22, 2019 advocate-online.net
FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS
Aircraft on Mars PAGE 4
Pardoning poultry PAGE 5
A check-up on women’s health PAGE 8
‘The Mandalorian’ Review PAGE 10
COMMUNITY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CUTS
PAGE 6-7
‘Tis the season? PAGE 11
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NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
NEWS BRIEFS
ROJO THE LLAMA’S LIFE WORK
with Sadie Klein
Meet your college President and ASG members:
At noon on Monday, Nov. 25, MHCC President Lisa Skari and Associated Student Government representatives will host a “Pizza with the President” event in the Student Union, as a chance for students and all others to meet them, ask questions, and enjoy pizza and refreshments.
Interview tips:
The Career Planning and Counseling Center will help students prepare for job interviews or interviews for restricted programs across campus, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, in the Town & Gown Room.
Family Holiday photoshoot:
Students, staff, and community members are welcome to bring their families to the Student Union on Monday, Dec. 2, for free holiday family photos. Running 5 to 7 p.m., the event offers free cookies, cocoa, and two different holiday-themed backdrops to pose with. Each family will receive a printed and digital copy of their photos. ASG has teamed with the Mt. Hood photography program to make this event possible.
Chloe Collins
MHCC Chamber & Symphonic choirs concert:
The first concert of the school year will be performed from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, in the College Theatre.
Free Pancake Feast for finals:
The Advocate
Rojo, the beautiful, red-brown Therapy Llama, was scheduled to bring the joy to MHCC on Thursday. Unfortunately, after 12 years of dedicated community service, he passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 6. He spent his life traveling to schools, care facilities and nursing homes, and yes, colleges, to provide students with the Serotonin that is no doubt released by the brain on mere sight of the fluffy guy. He is, however, survived by his long-time partner, Napolean the Alpaca, who did make a well-attended midday appearance inside the Mt. Hood Library on Thursday, Nov. 21, along with a companion friend.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, students are welcome to de-stress with free pancakes, 9 to 10 a.m. in the Fireplace Lounge inside the Student Union.
Free yoga, and massage chairs:
From noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union on Dec. 4, students can de-stress with yoga mats, provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Massage chairs also will be available. A yoga expert will help teach yoga and means to deal with wellness, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, preventative measures and associated benefits for mind and body.
Rojo the llama in all of his fluffy glory and wearing his therapy llama badge.
MHCC District Board meeting:
The next session begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 18 in the Board Room, adjacent to the President’s Office.
Clay Club Holiday Sale:
The popular annual sale event will be held in the Visual Arts Gallery on Dec. 4-5, running noon to 6 p.m. both days.
Maysee Thao | The Advocate
Napolean the Alpaca and friends in the library on Nov. 21.
for the students by the students
@mhccadvocate
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins
Sports Editor [Position Open]
Broadcast team Gage Linhares
Ad Manager Parrish Chang
Outreach Manager Melanie Roberts
Associate Editor Omar Saradi
Opinion Editors Sadie Klein Omar Saradi
Graphic Design Team Leydi Perez Carrasco
Staff Writers Brad Le Daniella Young Kel Buell Laura Clement Omar Carrillo Carson Koch
Social Media Manager [Position Open]
News Editor Chris Barney Arts & Entertainment Editors Kurt Larson Eli Rankin
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Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin Broadcast Editor Naethaniel Lile
Photo Editor Maysee Thao Photo Team Bethy Fallgren Landon Spady
Copy Editor Corwin Benedict
Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck
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NEWS
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
THE DARK TRUTH BEHIND EATING DISORDERS
Parrish Chang The Advocate
One of the biggest health epidemics that hits teens and young adults in America is chronic eating disorders. Eating disorders can cause poor mental health in many people, as well as many unhealthy habits. The ages most commonly linked with victims contracting an eating disorder range between 14 and 24, but that doesn’t mean if you’re outside that range it isn’t possible for you to fall victim. There are many different types of disorders that begin with dietary issues, and how one consumes food. During high school in your average health class, you likely talked a little about dietary problems, but not enough for it to really show you the dangers. Eating disorders are more common in young females because that’s when many of them start to worry about their appearance. They start to worry about their looks and weight so they acquire these disorders, even if they’re unaware of it. Males can have these problems, as well, but the problem is not seen among males as much as it is in females. MENTAL, PHYSICAL HARM One of the most common eating disorders is anorexia, which causes people to starve themselves and
constantly worry about the things they eat. Affected people don’t eat much at all and it causes their brain to start shutting down. They can’t think straight and have a hard time making rational decisions. Thus, the routine becomes an addiction, since they have the idea they can stop whenever they want or that they are in control. Anorexia can also cause a person’s entire body to be thrown into an unhealthy loop. Victims of anorexia will often fill up on water to get rid of the feeling of hunger and if they do eat, they try to erase any “damage” they’ve done to their bodies by forcing themselves to throw up the food. Physical symptoms from anorexia includes anemia, which lowers your healthy blood cell count, which in turn lessens the oxygen going through the body. This can also cause hair loss and hair thinning. For women it can cause irregularities in menstrual periods; they will no longer occur at the times expected. Other symptoms known to occur include insomnia, dehydration, gastrointestinal problems, a number of heart problems, bone density loss, food craving, and many more problems with the immune system. MULTIPLE RISKS Another common eating disorder is bulimia. Bulimia can be seen as the opposite of anorexia: Someone with bulimia
CORRECTIONS
eats frequently and doesn’t even realize it. This excessive eating is commonly driven by emotions – someone with bulimia might eat whenever they’re sad, angry, confused, and even when they’re just bored. The biggest problem with bulimia is that the person doesn’t realize how much and how often they’re eating until it’s too late, often leading to types of obesity, which can put them at risk for multiple types of cancer. Bulimia’s cycle is very different from anorexia. Bulimia can cause a person to hate their own body and how it looks, which causes depression, which leads to even more senseless eating. This cycle is just as dangerous as anorexia, but it doesn’t seem to be talked about as much because it is not as common – plus, the thought of starving oneself is seemingly more dangerous than overeating. Some common responses to bulimia include excessive exercising. Those with bulimia often wish to get rid of the weight they put on because of their disorder; however, they often overdo it and do more harm than good to their body. People with bulimia will often be less social and will often withdraw from social gatherings or commitment, most commonly because they are ashamed of what they’ve become, in their own mind. Bulimia often affects the victim’s
mental health more often than their physical health. They often eat in secret, or just eat by themselves. They can become quickly irritated by others, too. Eating disorders are often followed by the same procedure, commonly known as purging. This is the cycle of victims trying to manipulate body weight by forcing themselves to vomit. This can cause many problems for their body, and even makes it harder to recover from the disorders they are experiencing. FINDING HELP During a starvation, intentional or not, the human stomach shrinks and prepares itself for the next starvation the body has. It holds
onto the nutrients from the small amount of food the individual does ingest. Because of this, trying to recover from eating disorders isn’t easy. In the case of anorexia, one’s body adapts to being deprived of the nutrition it needs, so it makes changes to make sure they can at least survive with that current diet. This causes the body to handle less food, as it waits for the next starvation. A victim trying to recover to a normal diet likely will get really sick at first. It’s important for those recovering from an eating disorder to take baby steps and to make sure that people around them are aware so they can help.
IF YOU SUFFER FROM ANY DANGEROUS EATING DISORDER CALL THESE NUMBERS
A PLACE FOR HOPE (888)-771-5166 TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS (855)-737-1639 NATIONAL EATING DISORDER ASSOCIATION (800)-931-2237
A story in the Nov. 15 issue on the Mouths of Others appearance by author Liz Prato contained some errors: She was interviewed following her MHCC presentation; she advised students to be “responsible” and “respectful” as future tourists, not as writers; she did not use the word “balm” to describe her own writing. A story in the Nov. 15 issue on the comprehensive MHCC review of academic programs misidentified Marty Castellanos, instructor in the cosmetology program.
GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE
Cover by: Chloe Collins
to 0
On the cover: Dr. Donald Anderson testified for a growth in the college’s programs.
Contact us! E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website:advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030
The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.
Maysee Thao Photographer Maysee is a photo editor and staff photographer for The Advocate. She loves shooting fashion and portraits of people, capturing their beauty and personality. Maysee loves exploring new places and going out with friends and families. She will be graduating in the Spring with an Associates of Applied Science to a pursue a photography business.
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NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
MOVE OVER, MARS ROVER
NASA PREPARES TO PUT A CHOPPER ON THE RED PLANET Carson Koch The Advocate
Next year, NASA will launch something incredible: the next Mars mission. While it does not include humans quite yet, it is something very cool. Mars 2020 is the first mission in decades specifically designed to search for life on the red planet, moreso biosignatures, or evidence of the presence of life – little patterns left in the Martian soil that could only be made by a living organism. The most likely scenario of a living organism on Mars would be microscopic bacteria that live underground to shield themselves from the planet’s harsh environment. Mars has a thin atmosphere and not much of any magnetic field to shield from radiation coming from the sun, so life on the surface is unlikely. From photos of the surface it is quite clear to see that there are no large cultures of anything alive. Previous missions
such as Curiosity discovered evidence that at one point, there was liquid water on Mars, the key building block for life as we know it. So, Mars 2020 is in a sense a followup mission to run further tests. Missions like Curiosity were akin to “a chem lab on wheels” wandering the surface, but Mars 2020 is a different type of mission. It is similar to a mine on wheels, probing the red planet. It will drill deep into the surface of Mars and collect what are called cores, small rock and soil samples that are intended to be left on the surface for later pick-up and return to Earth. They will later be studied, likely using techniques that haven’t even been invented yet to search for these biosignatures. Many researchers remain skeptical of a breakthrough. Whatever the case, not only will these samples be the first Mars rocks returned to Earth, but there are some extremely
valuable things to learn from them. Mars is a time capsule, a largely unchanged snapshot of its state around the same time life on Earth was developing. The issue with studying that time period on Earth is rocks from that era are not preserved, being subjected to our weather and other major changes. As a result, in a truly poetic sense, we have to look to the sky to find our origins on the ground. Mars 2020 will be our binoculars into the past, as well as into the future. But that is just a glance at the rover used in the mission. Mars 2020 packs another small device that is truly revolutionary – a helicopter. Yes, you read correctly, a small, Martian helicopter, the first powered flight conducted on another planet. The engineering of this tiny helicopter is truly mind-boggling. Given the very thin atmosphere, flying this device is equivalent to flying a helicopter above the Earth at 100,000 feet altitude.
For perspective, never has a non-rocket jet airplane flown at that height. So, the blades of the helicopter will spin five times faster than helicopter blades on Earth. As well as the need to cut as much weight as possible, the name of the game in spaceflight engineering, the project team does gain an advantage in the sense that gravity on Mars is just 38% of that on Earth. The helicopter will have the ability to fly on its own power, take photos of large areas, transmit data to the rover, and then send that data back to Earth. It will serve a multitude of purposes. First, it can cover much more ground than a rover in a far shorter time. Opportunity, a previous Mars rover, nosed around for 14 years and only covered about the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles). This helicopter will ideally travel much farther in far shorter time. It also can take vitally important aerial shots of Mars, something
seldom accomplished by anything that close to the surface. We can get remarkably valuable data on everything from areas the rover will be safe to travel in, to scientific data, and even scout potentially future landing sites for human and rover expeditions alike. From cores of the Martian surface destined to for eventual study on Earth, to missions designed for research into the origins of life on Earth as well as potential alien life on other planets, to a novel helicopter checking out the red planet, Mars 2020 is shaping up to be absolutely “Earth-shattering” undertaking, directed from 33.9 million miles away. Mars 2020 is scheduled to launch in July of next year. Only time will tell what groundbreaking things we will discover about ourselves, and even potential extraterrestrial life on Mars. At its root, Mars 2020 will seek to answer the long-held question: Is there life on the red planet?
Web graphics
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NEWS
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
MHCC WELCOMES RETURN OF TIFFANY ENSUNSA Daniella Young The Advocate
Tiffany Ensunsa is the new student employment coordinator for Mt. Hood, who helps students with federal Work Study and student aid. However, she is no stranger to MHCC. Ensunsa was born and raised in Salem and is a fifth-generation Oregonian. She has been working in the education field for about 15 years, and began working at Mt. Hood in 2008 for Project YESS, a support system for students that was a federal grant-funded program. She worked in this program for about 10 years, and changed positions as a result of that program being shut down in December 2017 after 37 years of operation. From March 2018 to September 2019, Ensunsa worked at Concordia University in northeast Portland, then returned to MHCC this Fall Term. “It’s really nice. I’m really excited to be back. I’m really humbled and grateful that I’ve been welcomed back by so many
Daniella Young | The Advocate
Ten-year former Project YESS staff member Tiffany Ensunsa is back on board as student employment coordinator.
people,” said Ensunsa. She attended Sprague High School in Salem, while completing her undergraduate program at Eastern Washington University and her graduate program at Portland State University. Her favorite college memory was graduating and overcoming challenges.
“Balancing all of that is really difficult,” she said. “Grad school was a challenge but also really rewarding.” Ensunsa decided to return to MHCC for a variety of reasons, she said: “I wanted to work directly with students. I was interested in working with underserved populations.”
She also chose to come back because this new position was a new opportunity for her. “It’s really exciting, because it’s a relatively new position. It’s exciting to help create how this new position will work,” she said. Her favorite part of the job is working with many different students and staff members on
campus and “getting to know all types of people,” she said. “The people I am working with are amazing. It’s a dynamic department; I felt like it would be a good fit. “I have been welcomed back by so many people and it has been much appreciated,” she said. In her free time, Ensunsa enjoys the outdoors, kayaking, crabbing, fishing, camping, and gardening. She also recently got the opportunity to travel to the Basque country in northern Spain and southern France. She visited her wife’s family while she was there. Her favorite type of music is jazz and blues, although she doesn’t really have a specific favorite food. “I love all food. I love to cook and I love to eat,” she said. Although she doesn’t have a clear idea of what the future holds, Ensunsa is optimistic and wants to continue her growth in the education field. “I try not to think that far ahead. There are so many opportunities that can come up,” she said. “I’m always looking forward to growing my skills.”
ONE LUCKY TURKEY WILL WIN HIS RIGHT TO LIVE Brad Le
The Advocate Every Thanksgiving season, the U.S. president as part of their “duties” as head of state partakes in a tradition where upon being presented with a live turkey, publicly pardons the turkey and forbids the turkey from being served as a Thanksgiving dinner. Surprisingly, the tradition is a rather new phenomenon, starting somewhere around the Lincoln administration and taking a giant leap during the Reagan administration more than a century later. Like many lasting traditions, it has evolved bit-by-bit over time. The modern origin of the turkey pardoning differs from the traces of what led to the tradition originally. The earliest traces of the turkey pardon appeared under Abraham Lincoln. Supposedly in 1863, President Lincoln had granted clemency for a turkey, which was recorded by White House news reporter Noah Brooks. Since then,
citizens began sending turkeys to the president annually as gifts. For example, during the Coolidge Administration, the first lady received a turkey from a Girl Scout in Vermont. Turkeys by then had become a symbol of cheer during the Thanksgiving period. Still, it seems as though the presidents did dine on the turkeys presented to them. Dwight Eisenhower was the last president known to have eaten the turkeys presented to him, during the 1950s. While the foundations of the pardon can be traced back to Lincoln, the modern context dates to John F. Kennedy’s administration. JFK, who followed Eisenhower, was the first president to not eat turkey as part of the ceremony, as well as to use the term “pardon,” though it wasn’t an official action but a phrase made in passing. It was Ronald Reagan in the 1980s who became the first president to officially pardon a turkey on paper and to make turkey pardoning an
Web Photo
Carrying on the traditional “Presidential Pardon,” President Donald Trump spares a bird from the Thanksgiving dinner table.
annual event. Unofficially, turkeys that were pardoned after the Kennedy era were not allowed to be eaten, until the George H.W. Bush administration in 1989, where it was first made an official policy to
not eat the turkeys. Bush formally said the designated turkey was to be spared from dinner with the words, “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table; not this guy – he’s granted a
presidential pardon as of right now, and (we will) allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.” Since then, the president of the United States has pardoned a turkey each Thanksgiving time. Today the tradition of turkey pardoning is about as official, and organized, as can be. The turkey selection process begins with picking a normal turkey from a flock of 50, and of 80 birds. Two finalists are selected and are given names from suggestions given by children from the state where each was raised. The actual tradition of naming birds started during the Reagan administration, with the first named turkey being “Charlie.” By 2019, at the time this story was written, President Trump had pardoned two turkeys, named “Drumstick” and “Peas.” Later this month Trump will have pardoned the third turkey of his first term, with perhaps a fourth still to come. PA G E 5
NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
PUSH
BACK
Chloe Collins and Omar Saradi The Advocate
Emotions ran high at the MHCC District Board meeting on Wednesday evening, Nov. 20. By 6 p.m. – a half-hour before the scheduled start – the corridor outside the Mt. Hood Board Room began to swell with students, staff, and community members arriving early to try to secure a spot inside. The crowd would grow to 150 or more, many carrying signs and attracting cameras from at least three local television stations. During a five-hour meeting filled with passion and backed by presented facts and alternative ideas, the consensus message was the MHCC community calling for the board to postpone a decision on proposed program phase-outs and, “let us help you” with reforms, in the words of political science instructor Janet Campbell. When those in the crowd realized the meeting would begin and they would not be allowed to enter the room, they began a chant calling for a “bigger room.” Many suggested a move to the Town & Gown Room in order to fit everyone, but the meeting continued as planned. The public input portion of the session – its agenda didn’t address the proposed program cuts – was moved up in order to accommodate the vast number of people attending to speak, a number that would surpass 80 as the hours passed. THE CONCERNS On the surface, the college administration has maintained since the announcing of these program cuts that the “revitalization” effort is student-centered and has little to do with Mt. Hood’s impending budget crisis. Faculty members told the board that college leaders have given contradicting statements about how much the budget influenced this decision, announced on Nov. 8. “We have been told that these quotes are ‘not about the budget’, and that’s a direct quote, but we’ve also been told ‘it’s all about the budget,’ and that’s a direct quote. Which is it?” Tambi Boyle, MHCC mathematics PA G E 6
Cosmetology students react to the testimony of a recent MHCC cosmetology graduate.
instructor, asked the board. In an email to The Advocate, Jennifer DeMent, budget director for Mt. Hood, has confirmed that the college estimates a $3 million operating budget deficit for the next fiscal year. Also, college President Lisa Skari explained in an all-staff email on Tuesday, Nov. 19, that, “Each [of the programs proposed for cutting] has been a part of this institution’s history and carries with it the legacies of faculty, staff, administrators and alumni. At the same time, we are faced with financial model that is not sustainable, and our students can no longer carry the burden.” Campbell, who heads up the political science department, stepped forward to point out to the board the college is a public institution accountable to the Oregon
taxpayers. She said, “Transparency, by nature of a democracy, is required.” She said the college has not made the correct steps to be transparent, as suggested by administrators. Pointing to the data used for the recommendations made by Alfred McQuarters, vice president of instruction, as flawed and faulty, she referred the board to other data that show that whenever academic programs are cut, students leave the institution – only adding to enrollment troubles. Campbell ended by saying, “Let us help you. We have the history here, we have the expertise; we have scientists, and we certainly have the willingness to help you make these decisions.” Donald Anderson, English department instructor, showed up with a large sign reading, “GROW OUR PROGRAMS.” He told the board that the college lacks brand
Chloe Collins | The Advocate
recognition. He ended his testimony by voicing his concern over the state of faculty members involved in programs that are not on the phase-out or “modify” list issued by McQuarters. WILDERNESS LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION The wilderness survival and experiential education program (commonly referred to as WLEE) opened the night with a testimonial from an MHCC alum. The 1989 graduate currently runs his own company, which employs 80-90 experienced wilderness professionals to facilitate wilderness tours and programs, he said. His ultimate case to the board, he said, was that there are plenty of jobs to be had in outdoor recreation. Numerous alumni and current students of the WLEE program said during the
evening that the jo to assess the progr data that seemed concern was failure employment, they s WLEE instructo told board members to grow the program more dynamic. In th therapy has becom treatment for many disorders, she said. Currently in th are only two schoo therapy programs, L WLEE program is a is one of few in the she said she believ be altered to includ improving its statur ENVIRONME SA In one of the mo to the board, Javid passion about the re and his program ov “My life is this board let Mohtasha graduates to stand gave the rest of his t In defense of th the director of Portland Public S wages of EHS profe Some of those wages and he explained the for EHS profession suggested board m what kind of ways promoted the EHS p COSME As expected from as shared with The customers, studen the college’s cosme to defense of ever program. Instructor emotional testimon telling the board th on family.” BROAD
NEWS
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
MT. HOOD COMMUNITY ISSUES STRONG REBUKE TO PROPOSED CUTS
ob prospects data used ram were skewed. The to warrant the most e to consider off-season said. or Petra LeBaron Botts s there is an opportunity am into something even he last few years, nature me widely known as a y emotional and mental
he United States, there ols that offer wilderness LeBaron Botts said. The already unique in that it e Pacific Northwest, but ves the program could de the therapy training, re. NTAL HEALTH AND AFETY ore prominent addresses Mohtasham spoke with elationship between him ver the years. program,” he said. The am bring in his previous d behind him while he testimony. he program, Joe Crelier, risk management for Schools, described the essionals he works with. s extend to $50 per hour, ere will always be a need nals. Mohtasham then members ask themselves s the college has ever program. ETOLOGY m their original response e Advocate, supporters, nts, and graduates of etology program came ryone involved in the r Marty Castellanos gave ny that ended with him hat “you can’t put a price
DCASTING
JD Kiggins, instructor and head of the Integrated Media department’s broadcasting program, also spoke, hours into the meeting. He raised concerns that the evaluation process was not completely transparent and that the board has not had enough time to consider the ramifications of cutting these programs. AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE AND LIGHT REPAIR Bess Wills, general manager of Gresham Ford, expressed concerns over proposed elimination of the Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair program. She told the board that Gresham Ford has hired three professionals from that MHCC program, and all three have gone on to expand their automotive education. One of the three even went on to a one-week training in Wisconsin and upon returning was able to outfit all Portland police cars with computers. Finishing her thoughts, Wills listed all of the programs proposed to be cut, and declared that the goals of this college should be to serve all aspects of this community. PRACTICAL NURSING At least one practical nursing alum sat before the board to its members that the low-cost practical nursing program at MHCC opened doors for her she needed in order to build her career. This program allowed her to get her foot in the door in the medical field, and still support herself while attending school, she said. THE RUNDOWN Overall, the MHCC community has loudly voice questions and concerns that remain unresolved. Many of the programs on the cut list showed lower enrollment than usual last year. It is also worth noting that several have already experienced a rebound in enrollment for the 2019-2020 academic year. The board will now decide whether to postpone the decision. If they do not postpone the decision, a vote to proceed with phase-out of the seven affected programs is scheduled to take place at the board meeting set for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 18.
“THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT FINANCIALLY GOOD FOR THIS INSTITUTION, NOT EMOTIONALLY GOOD FOR THIS INSTITUTION, AND THEY CERTAINLY HARM OUR STUDENTS... YOU NEED TO POSTPONE THIS VOTE SO WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE THESE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS… LOOKING AT DATA THAT ACTUALLY MATTERS.” - JANET CAMPBELL, MHCC INSTRUCTOR “WHEN DID OUR MOTTO CHANGE FROM ‘BE YOUR DREAM’ TO ‘BE YOUR DREAM, BUT ONLY IF MHCC ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IT’S WORTHWHILE’?” - TAMBI BOYLE, MHCC INSTRUCTOR “I AM A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM, IN THE WORKPLACE FOR UNDER 5 MONTHS, AND I AM MAKING TWICE WHAT THE DATA SAYS THE GRADUATES MAKE. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHERE YOU GOT THE INFORMATION (YOU GOT TO MAKE THE DECISION).” - MADISON, COSMOTOLOGY GRADUATE
Chloe Collins | The Advocate
Photographed above from top to bottom and left to right; Janet Campbell, Joe Crelier, Javid Mohtasham, Carol Redwine, Marty Castellanos.
“I AM A DOCTORAL STUDENT SO I CAN READ DATA PRETTY WELL …THE DATA IS FLAWED.“ - LINDA FLESHMAN, PRACTICAL NURSING DEPARTMENT PA G E 7
OPINION
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
A WOMAN’S TAKE ON HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN
Bethy Fallgren The Advocate
I don’t know about you, but going to the doctor is not one of my favorite things to do. As a female on the OHP and with minimal income, it can often be hard to find good care. When I do, I am often given a possible diagnosis, treatment and told to come back if I don’t feel better. About a year ago, I was having very sharp pains coming from my
lower abdomen. My first thought was that it was my appendix acting up and I went to the closest urgent care facility. The doctor, who was male, gave me a diagnosis of constipation and told me to flush my system and my pain should go away. Well, it didn’t go away. So I found myself going back, and was seen by a different male doctor who said I may have endometriosis (a pretty severe disease for us ladies). I was sent to an X-ray tech at a different office for a hysteroscopy, which was rather invasive, to say the least. The best part is, after that no one called me about what my results were. I got to worry all the time, until I finally called the office. A doctor was put on the line – I don’t even know if it was the one I saw – and he told me simply, “No endometriosis, you’re good,” and that was that. Although the physicians are very friendly, it is frustrating not getting answers about what is going
on with my body. It makes me not want to go to the doctor at all. All I could think was, “Okay, but what’s my pain coming from?” Or, was there anything else they noticed, good or bad? It just made me feel like I wasn’t a priority and my pain wasn’t a problem. So is it me, or is it them? Lately I have wondered how hard it is for others seeking healthcare and if there is a bias, as much as I suspect, for women receiving care from male physicians. Amazingly, in 2019 it was recorded by kff.org (the Kaiser Family Foundation) that there were 359,409 female and 644,683 male professionally active physicians in the U.S. Statistics also show that 49% of women will return to see male doctors (following an initial visit). This may be because female physicians are more likely to deliver
preventative services, and have also been noted to be more intuitive to their patients’ needs and symptoms (leading to fewer return visits for the same health issue). All patients
Web Graphic
should receive this sort of care. Coincidentally, did you know that according to The Guardian. com, men are more likely to be
prescribed pain medications? And as for gynecological disease such as endometriosis, 1 out of 10 women have it, but it can often take seven to eight years for it to be diagnosed! Crazy, I know, but it’s true. Understandably, many of the statistics don’t necessarily have to do with being treated by a male physician, but the care that has been given by males has not changed much through recent history. Women’s health has often been downplayed. With more women becoming physicians every year, hopefully this unfair treatment will subside. Hearing stories about the mistreatment of women by their health providers is unnacceptable, no matter what gender of the physician.
COMMUNITY POLL RESULTS
WHAT ARE MHCC’S FAVORITE COFFEE PLACES? Black Rock 24 votes
Dutch Bros 27 votes Starbucks 20 votes
Other 19 votes
Barney’s Cafe 8 votes
Riverview 3 votes
Annual Clay Club
Holiday Sale 12/4/19-12/7/19 Wed., Dec. 4- Friday, Dec. 6 from 11-6pm, Sat., Dec. 7 from 11-4 pm
o c ate Poll R e s u l t
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in the MHCC Visual Arts Gallery Handicapped Parking accessible in Parking Lot AM
All proceeds go directly to the Clay Club to fund future workshops PA G E 8
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
‘HARRIET’ REPRESENTS A TOUGH TIME IN HISTORY Daniella Young The Advocate
The movie “Harriet” outlines the story of Harriet Tubman, one of “America’s greatest heroes” who escapes from slavery and through her bravery, frees other African-American slaves in the 19th century. Tubman was born into slavery as Araminta Ross in Maryland in the 1800s. She spent years working and getting beaten by slave owners until in 1849 she escaped to freedom in Philadelphia. This film tells her story as she hops on wagons and travels north from Maryland to Philly, keeping out of sight from those who might be looking for her. She finds a home for refuge and stays there for a while, but then travels back to Maryland, under the radar, in order to rescue more family members. Her initial plan was to rescue her husband, but by the time he got back, he had already remarried and didn’t want to travel “up north.” However, in 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. This meant the authorities were on the lookout for slaves and that if caught, they would be sent back to their owners in their original state. This in turn caused many former slates to travel to Canada for refuge, rather than stay in the U.S. The film tells Tubman’s story with visual settings, as the movie is set to the mid-1800s with costumes, shacks, older machines, bathtubs, and more. This film strongly represents this time period and what it was like for slaves, which really opened my eyes. It also was suspenseful, as I was always on the edge of my seat and didn’t know what to expect. The music and underscores in the film were also beautiful and greatly connected to the tone and mood of the scenes. For example, the song “Goodbye Song” by Terence Blanchard and Cynthia Erivo is sung by the main character, Harriet (Minty was the name she used as a slave, and Harriet was her name after becoming free), in the scene where she says goodbye to
“TUBMAN IS PORTRAYED AS A BRAVE SOUL...” “Harriet,” in theaters now, tells the story of one brave woman who played an intergral part in freeing slaves.
her family and friends and runs to escape to freedom. Tubman is portrayed as a brave soul, and her courageousness is admired. Throughout the movie, she risks her life and freedom in order to give others that same independence as well. She does this by returning to Maryland numerous times to bring family and friends back to Philadelphia with her. She is remembered in history and will continue to be remembered for her nobleness and the difference she made in this movement. This movie was an amazing insight into some of the history of American slavery and Tubman’s experience, as before watching this I didn’t really know about her or her story.
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I would highly recommend this film. For those looking for a historical or meaningful movie, this one’s for you. For more information on Harriet Tubman and her life: math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html
5 out of 5 stars
MUSIC MAKES A DIFFERENCE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Ash Espinoza The Advocate
When you look up the definition of the word “homage,” you will most likely get homage means “great respect and honor, or something done to honor a person or thing.” And we as people often celebrate almost everything and anything such as birthdays, accomplishments, weddings, etc., we also celebrate music: We rate it, play it, share it and worship it – especially if it’s our favorite artist or even just a single song we get stuck in our heads on an endless loop, a catchy tune you’re gonna probably be humming nonstop for days on end. Or maybe, it’s a lullaby that was sung to you as a small child – whatever it is, you probably get the gist of this so far, but maybe there’s more to it, like remembering the artist that paved the way for the music we have today, because without them there’s a lot that we wouldn’t have today, music-wise. Music is a way to escape, a way to relax or get through the day or sometimes even to cope with a moment that just wears you down. We don’t have to just thank the artist who made the song, but the song itself, for how it makes us felt in that moment, how infinite we felt when that one song played at just the right time. Artists such as Ray Charles, The Beatles, Brendon Urie, Sam Smith and many more have given us music that we can almost always relate to, or it just feels right when you hear it. You can’t help but sing along to it or dance to the beat because that artist gave that song or album Web Photos their all, and this is why we pay homage to the artist. So, at Thanksgiving time, give thanks to your favorite artist and those before them. Because – I don’t know about you – but a world without music is a world I don’t want any part of.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
STAR WARS FANS REJOICE: THE MANDALORIAN IS HERE Kurt Larson
The Advocate Disney Plus is finally available for all to purchase and along with the release of this new streaming service comes the Disney Plus exclusive, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian.” And the show seems worth the wait. As a general rule, the Star Wars property is a license to print money, but just because it’s profitable doesn’t mean it’s an indicator of quality, as the Star Wars fanbase is ever so eager to point out. Most fans, and even critics, have had very mixed opinions of the new Star Wars films that have been released over the past few years. Though most still find the recent movies entertaining, they still seem to lack that certain spark which audiences have been craving from the series. The Mandalorian is an episodic sci-fi Western about an elite bounty hunter living on the edge of the galaxy, searching for his fortune. With the release of the feature comes a promise of a truly new adventure in the Star Wars universe, one that does not rely on characters and major events of the main series, a breath of fresh air away from the drama of Jedis and lightsaber fights. While this claim proves very
exciting indeed, the reality is that the story of the Mandalorian is only a few steps removed from the events of the original trilogy, taking place only a few years after “Return of The Jedi.” Series creators Jon Favreau, famous for his work with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and director Dave Filoni have teamed up to create the first episode of the season, and a very entertaining first episode it is. If you had any doubts about the scope of the Star Wars universe being able to work on a TV budget, then you’ll be more than pleased to hear that the quality of the physical sets and wardrobe live up to the aesthetic of the films. When CGI is used, it tends to stand out as somewhat budget-driven and particularly noticeable as mediocre. But aside from the occasional poorly implemented CGI animal, the show is gorgeous, bursting with practical effects and epic wide shots of alien desert badlands, echoing the shows overt Spaghetti Western themes. The protagonist himself, The Mandalorian, is both a mix between Boba Fett from the original trilogy and the classic Clint Eastwood western character, The Man With No Name. And much like
Eastwood’s character, Pedro Pascal’s interpretation of The Mandalorian is also a man of very few words. Though his dialogue is sparse, by the end of the first episode, a lot of real character begins to shine through that shiny silver helmet of his. However, when there is dialogue it usually proves to be a little too on-the-nose. To tell the truth, there really isn’t enough dialogue or plot laid out during the surprisingly short 40-0minute runtime to be able to give a fair judgment of the series, going forward. While the first episode is very promising, the short length of this first episode seems to have proved somewhat detrimental to the pacing, as the first 15
minutes or so feel a little choppy and disjointed. Thankfully, things smooth out as the episode continues, with Filoni delivering some truly fantastic action sequences and fun character interactions. The banter between the Mandalorian and an IG bounty hunting android, played by Taika Waititi, stands out as particularly charming. So far, The Mandalorian is looking to be a wonderful addition to the Star Wars canon and may just prove to be the refreshing new take on the franchise audiences have been looking for. Although the cliffhanger at the end of this first episode does suspiciously leave some potential for some
prequel trilogy level of nonsense to occur, with any luck the writing team behind this new series will know what pitfalls to avoid. And, with such a star studded cast of professionals both on- and offscreen, my hopes remain high for the future of this streaming series. If you’re a fan of Star Wars, or if you like Westerns, then this is definitely something you’ll want to check out. The only real question is whether or not you want to spend $6.99 a month to see the show.
4.5 out of 5 stars
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WHAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY DO IF YOU HAD SUPERPOWERS Kel Buell
The Advocate It’s the age-old question, asked after every Marvel movie: “What would you do if you had superpowers?” The answer, at least for most of us is, “I’d have fun,” or “I’d make the world a better place” or would somehow produce “world peace.” But would you? What people constantly seem to forget during this mental exercise is that they are just as human as the rest of us – superpowers, or no superpowers – and with that humanity comes human nature. People often forget that even paragons of virtue such as Peter Parker and Clark Kent still have their dark sides. After his aunt was killed in the comics, Spiderman embarked on a rampage as he tracked down her killer, resorting to murder several times himself. And let us not forget the infamous scene of Superman being forced to kill General Zod in order to save the family he was threatening. My point is, anyone can be driven to extreme lengths if they are pushed too far. This is demonstrated perfectly in the novel “Superhuman Nature,” by Brandon Overall. In the story, Neil Hitchens is an ROTC cadet on the cusp of graduating when he is struck by a series of strange dreams. Through the next few days he begins to discover that he has somehow gained the power of telekinesis, or the ability to move things with his mind. At first it’s fun learning about his new abilities, pushing himself to see just what he can do. Until he gets discovered. Neil’s journey through the following month is fascinating, from both a psychological and a superhero standpoint. The reader follows along as he is forced to deal with major event after major event, rapidly bending his once-normal life completely out of shape. This book is absolutely worth a read. Instead of following the well-beaten trend of zero-to-hero, the author takes a more realistic view of things, writing in a way that reflects what an ordinary, everyday person would do in response to various life events. If you’re bored and looking for something to do, I would absolutely recommend Superhuman Nature. You won’t regret it. Graphic by Eli Rankin | The Advocate
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NOVEMBER 22, 2019
IS IT
EVER TOO EARLY FOR
HOLIDAY CHEER?
Parrish Chang The Advocate
Christmas is a joyous time, which everyone who celebrates it can enjoy. However, it is often hated when people like myself start to celebrate the holiday as soon as Halloween is over. As soon as the calendar hits November, I pull out my Pentatonix Christmas albums and start to sing many songs that are correlated with the season. And yes, I am often asked why I start celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving has even arrived. The first reason is my absolute joy of the music that comes with the season. When I give this reason people often are confused, because of the same songs they listen to every season. For example, the general public listens to the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” sung by, say Dean Martin, or other famous artists many decades ago. The song is great on its own, but can get really old really fast. That’s why I listen to the newer version by recorded by Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé, because there’s more personality in their voices and the notes are nicer to my ears. I often do something along those lines with all of my favorite Christmas songs, so that I always enjoy them when I get to listen. There are many a capella groups or cover artists with Christmas albums, so you, too, can add some variety to your playlists this season. I often hear that Christmas music is overplayed on the radios
during this time, but is that any different than how it usually is? Whenever a new song is released that is very popular, stations (including streaming services) will overplay the song to the point where you’re tired of hearing it. So, what exactly is the difference? We listen to these songs over and over again for 10 months out of the year with nearly no one complaining about it, but for two months we hear these holiday songs and suddenly it’s a huge problem that’s unbearable. Another huge complaint I often see is that as soon as Halloween is over, stores immediately start stocking their shelves with Christmas decorations and you can hear Mariah Carey singing “All I Want for Christmas is You.” While, yes, it’s a little offputting, let’s think about it from a business standpoint: People don’t really decorate their homes and living rooms for Thanksgiving, they usually just buy a bunch of food for their big dinner. As a retailer, it would just make sense to attempt to make a profit off the two holidays at once (and these items are mostly in two different sections of the store). Overall, it’s a matter of preference if you want to start Christmas early or not. Yes, there will be some people who will say that it’s wrong to do so, with Thanksgiving still to come. That’s okay, too – they just have different opinions about the Christmas season and when to start celebrating it. Other people just want a reason to be happy and the Christmas season is full of it, and so are the memories that come with those thoughts. Christmas is a time to be happy and Thanksgiving is a day where we look back and see what we’re thankful for. How about we be thankful that so many people are so happy and enjoying something that makes them smile?
Graphic by Eli Rankin | The Advocate
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
Happy Thanksgiving A Poem
T
hanksgiving – Elegant dinners with family and friends
H
ere at last, reminiscing the past
A N K
time to be thankful Web Photo
DON’T SLEEP ON ‘THE SHINING’ SEQUEL
ew dreams, we have cast
indness and caring, kindled with love
S
Omar Saradi The Advocate
haring each moment with help from above
G
oblets of crystal and delicate wares
I
nclude silver place settings, tho’ some may be rare
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ictuals, plentiful, prepared in advance
I N G
ntense flavors, aromas
oteworthy
randeur and splendor everywhere
-Laura J Clement
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I never would have thought that someone would make a sequel to the 1980 classic “The Shining,” but it happened, and it is better than I could ever expect. Director Mike Flanagan had one of the toughest jobs with adapting this story to the screen: Not only did he have to adapt the “Doctor Sleep” novel written by Stephen King, but he had to create a sequel to the Stanley Kubrickdirected film, which King famously hated. This big conflict in production created one of the most memorable horror films of the past decade – an amazing story, great directing and acting, and, of course, fan service for people who love the previous novels and movie. From the very start, Doctor Sleep recreates a couple of iconic scenes from the original and then picks up after the events of that movie. Danny Torrance, the little kid with psychic powers, or “the shine,” is our protagonist. The beginning fills in the gaps between the first movie and the direct plot of this one, then it flash-forwards, and we now follow an adult “Dan Torrance.” Just like his dad, Dan is an alcoholic and suffers from the trauma of the first movie’s events. Ewan McGregor does an amazing job of portraying a man running from his past while being
confronted with problems that make him chase it. His arc is one of the more satisfying parts of the entire film, and by the end you feel that he is the adult Danny that we deserve. Aside from all the throwbacks to The Shining, the main story of Doctor Sleep is compelling and constantly had me on the edge of
were some really hard-to-watch sequences that were original for a horror movie, and there some sequences that take similar visual cues from Kubrick’s direction. Doctor Sleep is a great film and an awesome viewing experience. This is a must-see for anyone who is a fan of King’s novels and especially for people who liked the Kubrick
THE HORROR IN THIS MOVIE IS A LOT MORE INTENSE THAN THE TRAILERS SUGGEST. THERE WERE SOME REALLY HARD-TO-WATCH SEQUENCES THAT WERE ORIGINAL FOR A HORROR MOVIE... my seat. The child actress who plays Abra does an amazing job and even outperforms her adult peers in key moments of the story. The expansion on the lore of the shine was a little hard to understand if you didn’t read the King novels, since the 1980 movie lacked this exposition. But the ways in which Flanagan is able to portray these plot elements keeps the movie suspenseful, and even, scary. Speaking of which, the horror in this movie is a lot more intense than the trailers suggest. There
classic, although I think viewers who are unfamiliar with the first film are going to be a little lost since the story relies on the iconic imagery and music that made it historic. Still, I truly believe that Flanagan, McGregor and the rest of the crew deserve all the credit for making this movie as good as it is. It’s a truly impressive feat.
4.5 out of 5 stars