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The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College
December 6, 2013
Facing the health care battle
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Top 5 things you should know for some extra insurance by Alexandra James The Advocate
Health care is a red-hot topic right now, mainly because of new rules under the federal Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”) that take effect on Jan. 1. Many people are still unsure of what the law requires. Across the U.S. and in Oregon, government websites designed to explain new health insurance options and costs have crashed or have yet to function properly, adding more confusion and frustration. As deadlines fast approach, The Advocate asked Janet Campbell, head of the MHCC political science department head, to share the top five things students should know about the new health insurance program. Her response: 1) Most people will be required to have insurance. 2) Anyone under 27 years old can still be covered on his or her parents’ insurance plan. 3) Many individuals may qualify for subsidies (financial or other support) to help pay for coverage. Students should seek out assistance with this, since it can be a “complicated decision,” Campbell said. 4) Pre-existing health conditions must be covered under the new Act – a major change under the health care reforms. Lastly, individuals who do not 5) enroll in a plan by the deadline face a federal fine: $95 or 1 percent of their income, (whichever is greater for the first year). In the second year, the potential fine jumps to $695 or 2.5 percent of the person’s income. So, there is strong
Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate
incentive to get enrolled in a health insurance plan, for anyone not already enrolled in a plan that is approved for 2014.
Enrollment deadlines have shifted recently, but as of right now, here are a few important ones to know: Dec. 15 is the last day to enroll to make sure you are covered by the first of the year; by Jan. 1, most Americans must have insurance; after March 31, insurance marketplaces operated by each state will close. All adults must enroll by the March 31, but it will be better to do it by the end of 2013, Campbell advised. People are
also wondering if they may keep their existing insurance. Yes and no, Campbell said: The government has new minimum standards for acceptable insurance coverage. If these standards are met under one’s current insurance company, the insurance policy may be retained. If the standards fall short, the policy will be cancelled. Students who do not currently have health insurance are advised to visit their state’s website for governmentprovided information on health car options.
Health care
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Volume 49 Issue 11
Today is the last day to withdraw from college
Outstanding Living Arts student:
Bringing the planetarium to life by Greg Leonov The Advocate After countless hours of labor by a dedicated student, the MHCC Planetarium’s new digital projection system is now ready to vividly display the visible and theoretical universe. The digital system replaces an aging model that served since first few years of the Mt. Hood campus, said Ethan Ignatovich, a physics student with a fascination for astronomy. “The old projection system keeps getting more dim, and students (were) having issues being able to pick out and see the stars in the dome,” Ignatovich said. The new projection system consists of six digital projectors and lenses. Each projector is connected to a computer through a
standard HDMI cable, Ignatovich said. The six computers interact and are linked to a seventh “master computer,” he said. “This is the largest project I’ve ever worked on, it’s been interesting so far,” said Ignatovich who faced plenty of installation challenges. “For a while, there (was) something wrong with the configuration files and it would cause one of the computers to randomly crash. Despite taking precautions, Ignatovich and the rest of the planetarium team fought frustration several times: “Just because the way the program is, there’s no save button, so every time they crash, we lose all the configuration files,” said Ignatovich.
Planetarium
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Profile of the month: Regaining strength, gaining skills Recognizing deserving students at the recommendation of MHCC staff by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate After migrating from Mexico and suffering a brain aneurysm, Alfredo Sanchez decided to go to school and learn English. “Thanks to God I still am alive. Because that kind of surgery, when I was at the hospital, many people die from the same surgery,” he said. “I was blessed; not lucky, blessed.” Sanchez learned he faced a 90 percent risk of dying.
Sanchez turned this 10 percent chance of living into an opportunity to complete the English as a Second Language program at MHCC and the accounting assistant program, from which he will graduate in March. “They told me I can die or live, but they never told me I will be paralyzed from the left side,” he said. After surgery, “they told me, ‘Can you move your right hand?’ so I move my hand. They told me, ‘Move your left hand,’ and I said, ‘I can’t.’ ” Sanchez spent three months in
the hospital and several months in a wheelchair before beginning to walk with a cane. After three years of exercise and physical therapy, he slowly regained mobility. “I used to hate the people who watched me in the wheelchair and (would) say, ‘Oh, you broke your leg!’ I don’t wanna tell them anything about it, so I just say, ‘Oh yeah,’ just like that.” Today, he walks with only an ankle brace for assistance. Only one hand is stiff. “My left hand is still paralyzed. I can move, but I cannot release,” he explained. He cannot grab items. “The good thing is that... they made a lot of tests about my speech and my memory and they say everything is
fine,” Sanchez said. Before he suffered the aneurysm in 1997, he was a key employee at a silk screen printing shop. “When I was working, I was the supervisor of the company... I used to work and make money,” he said. He had previously come north from Mexico at age 16 with a friend, leaving his family behind. “My plan (was) to come to the United States to work. I never thought to learn English. I never thought it was important,” he said. “Nobody told me to go to school and learn English.
POTM
Alfredo Sanchez
Continued on page 6
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Opinion
Dec. 6, 2013
What did you learn this year? Advocate staff and students talk about the one thing they learned during 2013
Enjoy life, stress less by Rebecca Gaulke The Advocate
What a year 2013 was. I began my sophomore year of college, became an editor of a college newspaper, learned how to wakeboard, got to be a bridesmaid in the most beautiful wedding of one of my dearest friends, went to Hawaii for the first time, and the list goes on… It was a year of many firsts. And each new thing I did really helped me grow as a person. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s actually true. But, really, the thing that stands out the most in this crazy year of mine would be my trip to Hawaii. I finally went to visit my oldest sister after she had lived on the Big Island for almost two years; my middle sister and I even coordinated so we would be visiting at the same time— all three siblings, on the same land mass, at the same time! Hawaii is all it is hyped up to be: complete paradise. I understand why my sister moved there, and why she stayed. I can’t wait to visit again. And not just for the hot weather, shaved ice or warm, sandy beaches. It’s because of the way of life. Today’s youth, who are constantly on the go, would be blown away by the apparent concept of time on the island: Don’t rush. Hurry? What hurry? There is something wonderful to
be said about those who live their lives permanently in a place where some very lucky individuals find themselves on vacation. I feel as though these people are more aware of the beauty surrounding them. How often do most of us stop and notice the beauty of where we live? …those everyday occurrences that may be extraordinary, but that we are often too caught up in our own hectic lives to stop and notice. So, my revelation of the year and the moment that I fully realized while watching a “this-can’t-possibly-bereal-life” sunset in Hawaii, is that I am going to try to live my life more like I am on vacation all the time. As if I live in Hawaii – more care-free, less stressful and gloomy. Because really, what’s stopping me? I’m not trying to say that just because you live somewhere as beautiful as Hawaii means you don’t have any problems, because that’s not true. Just like every other part of the world, things are far from perfect. There is plenty of poverty and homelessness there, which I got to see firsthand in poorer parts of the island and remote beaches with permanent campers. What I am saying is, while I was there, I felt like everyday people— who, even with the daily grind of work— were so much happier. Their happiness is what makes me want to go back. There is something all of us can learn from island life. I guess for now, the best I can do while I endure these long months of cold, wet, winter in Oregon is keep my memories of warm, sandy beaches close at hand, and a smile on my face.
Fabio Poved
“The important thing I learned this year is to continue growing, and to learn new things and to try to improve yourself whatever way you possibly can. And I suggest you do the same.”
Matthew Bartow
Illustration by Heather Golan - The Advocate
How to take a compliment by Jared Lichtenberg The Advocate
One of the biggest obstacles that I’ve overcome this year is learning how to accept love and kindness from other
people. I have always had a terrible time accepting compliments and always felt an urge to repay someone’s act of kindness back to them immediately after the fact to avoid feeling uneasy or uncomfortable. This past summer at Eagle Fern Camp, I worked with a small crew of other college students who genuinely desired to be a reflection of Jesus in their lives. Through this, I think I was confronted by the fact that we are some-
times given things we don’t deserve, and that not all people have ulterior motives when they compliment you, or they are just being genuinely kind. Most of the time, the best thing I come up with is to say “thank you” in return. It can be a vulnerable place. Now I feel that I’m more attentive to others around me and able to notice others when they accomplish something that they struggled with, and really be able to genuinely say “good job,” offer them a
piece of gum or a ride home from school, without expecting anything in return. It came down to me becoming aware of a self-dependent mindset that protected myself from being hurt by the possibility that some people might not be genuine. And the truth is, there are a few individuals out there who might not be. But I believe it’s worth the risk, because we will discover the ones who are genuine through being open to receiving others’ words.
Habits are hard to break by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate
This year I learned how hard it is to kick a habit, and how equally hard it is to make good ones stick. I wanted to kill two birds with one stone: exercise every day, and stop eating fast food, because my metabolism won’t be this awesome forever. Simple, right? Wrong!
For me, fast food is like a toxic onand-off relationship. I try to distance myself from fast food as much as possible, but there is always a part of me that thinks it won’t be so bad this time. And then fast food calls me up and says, “Hey Danny, we’ve got some great new limited-time item for five dollars. Now get your butt over here.” We hook up, and then I immediately feel terrible and sick. I say it will be the last time, but fast food just smiles while it waits for me to drag my sorry butt back to the drive-through. For a while, I was such a good boy. I was eating better, gaining some muscle and (mostly) sticking to my routine.
I felt like a flaming stallion pumped full of bull shark testosterone. But for whatever reason, I totally dropped the ball and stopped working out. I forget why, but I stopped for a couple days. And then I started eating fast food again, and that made me less inclined to work out. I broke my own heart. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why am I so hard to reason with? Manufacturing change for yourself is incredibly hard. I used to play on the tennis team in high school, and I would take lessons throughout the year. This forced me to work out each day, because it was required. I also ate healthier because my mom used to make all my
lunches and dinners. Forcing yourself to abide by your own rules is really hard because you can persuade yourself to slide out of commitments pretty easily. I found that consistency is key. Even if you’re not working out a ton, just work out at least a little a day. And don’t let one fast food meal slip into your regular diet. Just doing what you have to do every day, without fail, will get something to stick… or to fall off. Well, here’s hoping this time will work. Trying to escape my own bad habits has made me respect other people who have the same issues that much more.
the Advocate Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Living Arts Editor Rebecca Gaulke
Opinion Editor Danny Perez-Crouse
News Editor Katelyn Hilsenbeck
“The best thing that I learned this year is that we need to take care of each other and not worry about profit so much and more of just helping each other out.”
Yessie Rodriguez
“I learned that we should be connected with family because when you feel sad, or when you are in challenge, they are your support and not just family but friends. ”
To see student reactions on what they learned this year, go to www.advocate-online.net
Submissions Sports Editor
Reporters
Aaron Marshall
Advisers
Alexandra James
Howard Buck
Copy Editor
Lindsay Frost
Dan Ernst
Rebecca Gaulke
Photo Editor Carole Riggs
Ad Manager Cameron Miller
Greg Leonov
Bob Watkins
Q Quarterman
Video Team
Edgard Valencia Emily Wintringham
Melissa Casey
Jared Lichtenberg
Graphic Designer Heather Golan
E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu 503-491-7250
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Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 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.
News
Dec. 6, 2013
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The woman behind your printed degree If you have graduated since 2001 or applied for graduation this fall, chances are Laura Whiting is the person who approved it by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate Since 2001, every Mt. Hood student application for graduation and a degree has been guaranteed to pass through a single individual – Laura Whiting.
She’ll go out of her way to help people. Lindsay Mansfield Registration Specialist
Whiting is the MHCC transfer evaluator and degree auditor, but not for much longer: She retires as soon as she finishes the fall audits, later this month. She is currently responsible for auditing each individual graduation application, a process mostly done by hand with some help from DARS (online degree auditing program) software. Other Mt. Hood employees have begun training in the process Whiting knows so well. The involved technology will soon change, and she predicts the oversight duties will be shared among multiple workers. Her position has not yet been filled. Whiting’s journey with MHCC started in 1971 when she enrolled as
a student and continued as an employee in 1996 when she was hired as a part-time instructional coordinator for Industrial Technology. She helped created the school’s first evening and weekend college. She looked back on her time on campus and said with a giggle, “Not much has changed.” Lindsay Mansfield, MHCC registration specialist, said, “She really cares about people. She’s a kind person, really great to work with. She’ll go out of her way to help people.” Job highlights include commencement ceremonies and awarding the student degrees, Whiting said. “That is a fun time. I’ve always been very involved in commencement.” Sometimes a student might need a degree right away for a job requirement, or another situation, and Whiting can pre-print a degree, she explained. She used to print every degree at her own desk, but now sends them to the college mailroom. Another scenario she described: A student might not be eligible for the de-
gree he or she had planned, but are not far away from another degree. She can offer them an opportunity to switch, and then award them that degree. “That is a really big accomplishment,” Whiting said. She especially enjoys when an MHCC staff member receives a degree and she can deliver the goods. “That is the best part – giving out the degrees,” she said. Whiting serves as adviser, both to students and program directors. She encourages all students to regularly check their DARS along the path to graduation. A real challenge has been the maximum time frame appeal for student financial aid, she said, which keeps her in frequent contact with the MHCC financial aid office. “The more we help students, the less frustration there is for them,” she said. At 60 years old, Whiting said she’s ready to move on. “There is a time for everything, and it’s time to do something different,” she said. “Of course,
Slice of life Health care
Continued from page 1
Where to go for your insurance needs Students who do not currently have health insurance are advised to visit their state’s website for government-provided information on health car options. The Washington state website is up and running (at least at times), and Oregon’s troubled website finally also was functioning, as of Dec. 5. On the government websites, users may enter their personal information (age, income, etc.) and see what plans are available. For such complicated choices, it helps to work with a “navigator”
(a health care adviser), especially for someone who has not shopped around for health insurance before, Campbell said. The new health care system may be quite different and confusing to people, yet the intent is fair health care for all, she noted. To begin researching options, check these websites: www.coveroregon.com for Oregon residents; www.wahealthplanfinder.org for Washington residents; www.healthcare.gov is the federal website.
I will miss my co-workers. We’re all pretty close.” Living near the MHCC campus, Whiting plans to stop by for lunch occasionally. That is, between trips to see her children and grandchildren, some who live in Kansas City, and more family who reside in Idaho, she said – and perhaps even her own return to school, for studies she hasn’t determined yet. This year’s “Cardboard Challenge” for the engineering students was to deilver 12 16-ounce “frosty beverages” to the instructors waiting across a 12-foot chasm. The device used to transport the beverages, which were root beer, must be made of cardboard, duct tape and glue. The wait time and weight of the device will be considered. The lightest device won. The bottles were open and cannot spill. No student may cross the chasm and no part of the device may touch the ground. Results were not available at time of press.
Same great content with a new
flare.
Act now! Fall priority admission applications due January 31.
Laura Whiting
Look for our new green stands in January!
Living Arts
Dec. 6, 2013
by Alexandra James The Advocate
Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
The new projection system shows pictures with incredible detail at the unveiling on Nov. 19. The planetarium had its first all-digital show on Tuesday, which was titled “Introducing the Sky with Our New Star Projection System.” The next show will be on Jan. 7, focusing on what to expect in the sky in 2014. The system includes six projectors, two of which are pictured in the corner above.
The MHCC Planetarium has a new, digital way to show all the wonders of the night sky. It hosted its first show Wednesday evening using its dramatic new projection system, one that was aptly titled, “Introducing the Sky with Our New Star Projection System.” The production featured a variety of images put together one scene at a time by Pat Hanrahan, Mt. Hood’s planetarium director. It began with a view of Mt. Hood Community College from above and then zoomed out until Mount Hood (the mountain) was in view. The system then showed the mountain with incredible detail, including the snow and its peaks. The classic “Galaxy Song” also was revamped, with some striking images that really illustrated the lyrics of the song in a new way, without making some viewers in the audience dizzy, as the old projection system would, as its images spun around. The show also incorporated some classical music near the end, lending a more relaxed feel. Hanrahan said the new system “has capabilities that far exceed the program before.” Its software is from Microsoft and uses Worldwide Telescope, which not only lets people see space, but also the earth, in great detail. The system doesn’t just show typical points of light, but has three different ways to show visible light. It can show mi-
crowave radiation and X-rays, can illustrate star formation quite well, can zoom in a lot to show more stars and galaxies and show orbits of planets, and can display constellation boundaries, in addition to their names, all features shown off during Wednesday’s show. What viewers saw, and will continue to see, is “an incredible amount of detail,” says Hanrahan. Beautiful Earth scenery is detailed, along with space, and it is all simulating. In using Worldwide Telescope, the program has access to terabytes of data from nearly any telescope that has published pictures. The program allows for incorporation of music, which can prove relaxing or amusing, such as “Galaxy Song” or the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” With six projectors at work, it “almost feels like you can reach up and touch it (space),” said Hanrahan. In addition to being easily able to zoom in on any part of the sky, the new program allows pictures to be superimposed on top of imagery, which can help with reference or an explanation. The next Planetarium show, on Jan. 7, will preview what the sky has to offer in 2014. Shows will be at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. and are free for MHCC students, $2 for the public.
- Information contributed by Rebecca Gaulke
Award-winning student helps complete planetarium conversion Outstanding Living Arts student recommended by staff Planetarium
Continued from page 1
Ethan Ignatovich
The planetarium uses Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope program, offered free to anyone. Jonathan Fay, a Microsoft employee and a friend of Pat Hanrahan, planetarium director, wrote the programming for Worldwide Telescope. Hanrahan and Ignatovich spent about four full workdays getting the computers properly configured. For one of them, Fay volunteered to bring his own expertise to the project, Ignatovich said. Troubleshooting programs is a joy for Ignatovich. “I like to go in and try to find where that problem is and fix it,” he said. “I’ve always had a curiosity about how programs work, so I’d often just open
them up in some sort of configuration editor, just to see how they work, and maybe change a couple of things, see how they work differently.” After he earns his physics transfer degree from Mt. Hood, he plans to attend Portland State University. “I’m gonna get an electrical engineering degree, probably work at Intel, or somewhere like that,” he said. Physics and astronomy are closely related, he said. “I just find astronomy fascinating, just learning about all the different stars. It’s really interesting to see how amazing of an image you could get even from a little telescope.” Ignatovich is awed both by astronomy’s colors and scope. “I
mean, there’s some absolutely beautiful stuff in astronomy,” he said. “It’s interesting to think about how tiny of a fraction a person is in size compared to the size of the universe.” He engaged in the planetarium project last winter, after Hanrahan mentioned the digital upgrade in one of the first astronomy courses he took. “I sort of talked him into letting me help out with it because I have a pretty good grasp on coding and stuff like that. I just stuck with it, and here we are.” Ignatovich earned the Science Recognition Award for Winter term “for his outstanding service to the science division and the college,” said Brenda Wise, MHCC
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science lab coordinator. “He has been a pleasure to work with during his time here. I will really miss Ethan when he graduates, but I know he will continue to excel at PSU,” she said. Ignatovich credits simple perseverance. “If there’s something that you think might be out of reach, like a program like this, or a project like this, just stick with it,” he advised other students. “I never thought they’d let me get this involved with the program to actually be able to as much as I did. I would encourage everyone, if they think they have an interest in (something), definitely pursue it.”
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Living Arts
Holiday event guide
Christmas time is here
Looking for some local places to light up your holidays? Here’s a list of some of the best places in and close to Portland. ZooLights The Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland Open through Jan. 5 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) Hours: Sun. – Thur. 5 to 8 p.m., (guests may stay on the grounds until 9 p.m.) Fri. – Sat. 5 to 8:30 p.m., (guests may stay on grounds until 9:30 p.m.) Price: $10 for adults, $8.50 for 65 years and older, $7 for children ages 3-11. Age 2 and under are free. To make up for the fact that the zoo train will not be running this year, do to ongoing track reconstruction, more areas of the zoo will be lit up than ever before. Portland metro Toyota dealers are sponsoring the event, and if you want to take advantage of some special offers, head into local Toyota dealers for a 2-for-1 coupon, valid Monday through Thursday nights, Dec. 9-12. On Dec. 10, all admissions are buy one, get one free.
Dec. 6, 2013 The Lights on Peacock Lane Peacock Lane (a real street), between Southeast Stark and Belmont streets, one block east of Southeast Cesar Chavez Boulevard (39th Avenue) Opens Dec. 15, ends Dec. 31 Hours: Dec. 15 to 30, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31, 6 p.m. to midnight. Dec. 15 and 16 are pedestrian-only nights, no cars allowed. Price: Free Portland’s only Christmas street has been decorating since the 1920’s. Every house on street is lit up, in what has become a popular Portland tradition. Due to the heavy traffic, it is recommended to walk through on foot.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights Portland International Raceway, 1940 N. Victory Blvd., Portland Open through Dec. 25 Hours: Sun. - Thurs. 5 to 9 p.m. Fri. - Sat. 5 to 11 p.m. (Closed Dec. 10) Price: $16 per normal-sized car; prices vary for special events and bigger vehicles. Cash or check only (no credit or debit accepted). See winterwonderlandportland.com for more information. Special events: Dec. 9, “Bike the Lights” 9 to 5 p.m. $6 per person, children under 13 are free. This is a benefit for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and $1 for each paid admission and on-site sales will go to BTA. Cookies and hot chocolate provided to cyclists by the Beaverton Bakery. The Raceway show is the largest drive-through light display in the Pacific Northwest, and you can enjoy it from the warmth of your car. Themes include “12 Days of Christmas” and many more. More than 100,000 visitors tour the show each year; to beat the crowds, attend on a weeknight or in early December.
Providence Festival of Trees Oregon Convention Center, Hall A, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland Dec. 6-7 Hours: Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $6 for adults, $5 senior citizens, $4 children ages 3-12, children 2 and under are free. This annual event features more than 100 decorated trees, mini-trees and other holiday displays. More than 600,000 people have attended since 1983, and volunteers work all year on the event. The event has raised more than $11 million for charity in 30 years. Check it out for some design inspiration you can use on your own tree!
America’s Largest Christmas Bazaar Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive Dec. 6-8 Hours: Fri. - Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: $7 adults, $6 seniors 65 and older, $3 for children 12 to 17; free for 11 and under. Want to find the perfect gift for your loved ones? Here’s a great opportunity. With more than 400 booths of hand crafted gifts and 500 booths of commercial products, the massive event has been produced by the same local company for 31 years. The Bazaar benefits the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division, which provides clothes and food to those in need.
Santa House on the Bricks Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland. Next to the Christmas Tree Dec. 12 through 24 Hours: Dec. 12 to 23, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go check out Portland’s natural bearded Santa and get your picture taken; it’s a 27-year Portland tradition. Stay warm under the large rain cover, with heated tents and some hot cocoa.
The Grotto Christmas Festival of Lights
Tuba Christmas Concert Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland Dec. 14 at 1:30 p.m. If Tubas are your thing, or if you just like holiday music, you might want to check this out. More than 250 tuba players perform in unison, and it’s free for the public. You can take a break from shopping and listen to the 23rd annual Tuba Christmas Concert. If you are interested in playing in the event, visit thesquarepdx.org for more information.
Illustration by Heather Golan - The Advocate
Give Back This is something anyone can do at any time, no time or date needed. Let’s not forget what the holidays are all about: being thankful for what we have and helping those who are less fortunate than us. Anything helps – from donating items to the Salvation Army, to helping a family in need by donating gifts or helping at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. For ideas on how you can give back this season, and all year round, visit volunteermatch.org or handsonportland.org
The Grotto, 8840 N.E. Skidmore St., Portland Open through Dec. 30. Closed Christmas Day Hours: open nightly 5 to 9:30 p.m., (grounds close at 10 p.m.) Price: $9 general admission, $8 for 65 years and older, $4 for children ages 3 to 12. 2 years and under are free. The largest Christmas choral festival in the world, with the theme “Angels on High,” reflects the hope of the holiday season. Each evening, five indoor concerts are scheduled in The Grotto’s 600-seat chapel at 5:15, 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. The festival includes food and drink, outdoor caroling, a live animal petting zoo, and puppet shows. Parking is free.
Holiday Snapshot: “Scrooge Lives” Holiday Sale event
Left: Mt. Hood’s Chamber Choir performed during the event on Wednesday. Right: Wreaths are among the items on sale at the holiday sale event, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday.
Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate
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News
Heading into the new year, contracts undecided by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate Classified Association The Classified Association and MHCC administration met for a mediation session on Nov. 21. Their next session will be held Monday at 9 a.m. in the Board Room. “We made no headway,” said Cathy Nichols, classified association president, of their 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. session. “They (administrative team) don’t seem to bargaining the same way they did three years ago when Randy NAME was in charge, so, I think they want an agreement to this as bad as we do.” Nichols said they were not able to tentatively agree on any articles, but, “We’re still trying to make progress.” Janet Gillman is the new mediator for both the full-time and classified contracts still on the table. “I think she’s fair and I think she’s honest, so that’s a big plus. And she’s impartial, so that’s big... She just wants a contract,” said Nichols. Classified members gathered outside the Board Room during the meeting to chant and were moved to the Main Mall. “It was nice to see members. This was the first time we have had to ask members to step up like this. It was good to see a group come forward,” said Nichols. “We have to get done. It’s just a matter of what’s going to happen,” she said. “If we don’t get resolution on this one, I don’t know when our next mediation will be.”
Full-time Faculty Association Full-time faculty is also in mediation. They were able to tentatively agree on two articles, their professional development article which will reinstate a teaching and learning center, and the faculty evaluation article. “We feel good about those being done,” said Sara Williams, full-time faculty association president. She said, “The administration and faculty together agreed that this is a good thing,” about the professional development article. The full-time team and the administration has also met once on Wednesday without a mediator, but in a similar format. They plan to meet again next week, before their next mediation session in mid-January. “I think it was productive, but we didn’t finish anything,” said Williams. Conversations about health care, safety, advising workloads, temporary management assignments for faculty took place Wednesday. “Faculty are hoping that if we are work really hard next week, we could finish the contract before Christmas. “I feel like we’re balanced on this precipice and we could tip either way pretty easy. I’m not feeling reassured. I’m not feeling more concerned. All I can do is wait and see,” said Williams.
Dec. 6, 2013
Can you be a Beaver and a Saint? by Emily Wintringham The Advocate Applause filled the MHCC Board room on the morning of Nov. 25 as Mt. Hood President Debbie Derr and Edward Ray, president of Oregon State University, signed an agreement that would grant eligible students dual enrollment at both schools. The new enrollment option will be available starting in the Winter Term, which begins Jan. 6. OSU created its first Degree Partnership Program agreement with Linn-Benton Community College in 1998. Ray said it was developed by smart people who wanted students to
fulfill their dreams and “make it as easy as possible” to cut through transfer obstacles. Robert Cox, MHCC dean of student services, and John Hamblin, MHCC manager of admissions, records and registration, said students may be dual enrolled their very first term as long as they are admitted to OSU, pass the OSU entrance requirements and complete the program application. There is a single fee for the application process. Students considering the partnership program also should be planning to further their education at OSU. When they do officially change schools, they would not have to re-apply for admission.
News Briefs Board meeting preview
School closure information
The MHCC District Board will hold its December meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the boardroom, following an executive session at 5 p.m. in the president’s office. There will be a presentation by Chelsie Speer, Mt. Hood volleyball coach, on the team’s regular season and third-place championship tournament finish, and another on the Diversity Resource Center by Melinda Bullen, its coordinator. Jean Wagner, Head Start director, will report the complete community assessment for 2012-13, an overview required every three years. She also will give an annual update for 2013-14. Six assistant teachers for Head Start received their Child Development associate degree this fall: Norma Moreno, Nadia Ramirez, Maria Carmen Medel, Alma Sanchez, Brenda Orozco and Mariela Sanabia de Gonzales. The board will vote on candidates for the Oregon School Board Association. Each board member is asked to review the candidates and be prepared to vote. The formal Mt. Hood vote will be delivered on Dec. 13. Debbie Derr, MHCC president, will close Wednesday’s meeting with her goals and report.
In the event of inclement weather, MHCC offers several ways to find out if you need to brave the cold and journey to class. First, MHCC encourages students to sign up for FlashAlert, a system that sends alerts if there are cancellations. You can do so at http://www.mhcc.edu/About. aspx?id=854#here. The home page of the website as well as the phone greeting will have a closure message. Local television and radio broadcasts and websites may also display the closures.
Textbook trading To sell, trade and buy textbooks to or from MHCC students, visit my.mhcc.edu, click on student life, then textbook trade off. No shipping or handling costs necessary.
- Katelyn Hilsenbeck
The dual enrollment program is intended to reduce barriers students often encounter when transferring to a university. It should allow them to better manage their class schedules, finances, transfer of credits and other details. The agreement will allow students to work with their advisers at MHCC and OSU simultaneously. It calls for coordination between career counselors, advisers and teachers. Students may access services at both campuses, such as the library and the computer lab. Students will become eligible to live on campus at OSU. Technological services such as Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI) and Oregon Financial Aid Exchange (OFAX) also will be integrated to help dual-enrolled students. During the Nov. 25 signing, OSU leader Ray noted that 10 percent of students who attend community college do so with plans to transfer to a four-year university. The dual enrollment program seeks to meet those needs. Diane Noriega, chair of the MHCC Board, said the pact furthers the Mt. Hood mission. “This is a huge opportunity for our students… everything we can do to clear the field, and advance their learning” should be pursued, Noriega said.
POTM
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Passion for baking, soccer with the kids Sanchez shares his father’s pas“The main point was to come to sion, a love for baking. His father work, but my second thought was to owns a bakery in Mexico in which visit Disneyland,” he said. Sanchez worked while growing up. At a doctor’s appointment with He had a small baking business behis wife, there was an interpreter fore going to school at Mt. Hood, and who had only been in the U.S. for two hopes to grow it eventually. years, compared to Sanchez’s decade “They told me that (the accountin the States. “How come they learn ing assistant program) will help me so fast?” he said he wondered. for my own busiIn 2011, ness or to help in he enrolled (another) busiin the ESL ness,” he said. program at Baking, studythe MHCC ing and playing Maywood Deborah Saari soccer with his campus and MHCC Instructor kids are among then began Sanchez’s hobbies. During the sumthe one-year accounting program. mer, he had homework to do, yet His advice to other non-English his kids wanted to play, resulting in speakers is, “Go to school and learn lower grades. By the time finals came English. That’s very important. You around, “I decided to quit the soccer,” can work hard, but if you learn Enghe said. He currently has straight A’s lish, you’re going to work less and and is looking forward to working in earn more money.” the accounting division at a company, His wife, Angelica, and four chilperhaps a nonprofit. dren (age 22, 20, 16, and 13) are his Deborah Saari, MHCC Adult Basic inspiration. “I will demonstrate them Skills and Career Pathways instructor, that we can do it,” he said. nominated Sanchez. He went back to Mexico in 1990 “He is a delightful person with a for a vacation, and met Angelica ‘positive plus’ attitude,” Saari wrote. there. The two soon married and then “He is hardworking, never misses a he returned to the U.S. to save money class, and is a wonderful example of to bring her here, which he did about what you are looking for in an outnine months later. They recently celstanding student.” ebrated 23 years together.
He is a delightful person with a ‘positive plus’ attitude.
- Finals Schedule If class starts M/W/F between
Then, exam will be held
If class starts T/TH between
Then, exam will be held
7 and 7:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Monday
7 and 7:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Thursday
8 and 8:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Monday
8 and 8:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Thursday
9 and 9:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Wednesday
9 and 9:59 a.m.
8 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesday
10 and 10:59 a.m.
10 to 11:45 a.m. Monday
10 and 10:59 a.m.
10 to 11:45 a.m. Thursday
11 and 11:59 a.m.
10 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday
11 and 11:59 a.m.
10 to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday
noon and 12:59 p.m.
noon to 1:45 p.m. Monday
noon and 12:59 p.m.
noon to 1:45 p.m. Thursday
1 and 1:59 p.m.
noon to 1:45 p.m. Wednesday
1 and 1:59 p.m.
noon to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday
2 and 2:59 p.m.
2 to 3:45 p.m. Monday
2 and 2:59 p.m.
2 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday
3 and 3:59 p.m.
2 to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
3 and 3:59 p.m.
2 to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday
4 and 4:59 p.m.
4 to 5:45 p.m. Monday
4 and 4:59 p.m.
4 to 5:45 p.m. Thursday
5 and 5:59 p.m.
4 to 5:45 p.m. Wednesday
5 and 5:59 p.m.
4 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday
Night classes beginning 6 p.m. or later will take their final on the first day they would meet at their regular time. For Friday only classes, the exam will be Friday at the regular time.
Sports
Dec. 6, 2013
7
Women’s basketball slips up at Clackamas Invite by Q Quarterman The Advocate The Mt. Hood women’s basketball team dropped a pair of games last weekend at the Clackamas Thanksgiving Tournament, losing to the Pierce College Raiders and the George Fox University junior varsity Bruins in Oregon City. One of the losses was close, the
show up. We made some adjustments, but could not execute to a point where we could gain any control.” In Saturday’s contest against George Fox’s JV squad, the Saints responded with poise while fighting hard during a 61-58 loss, committing only 18 turnovers for the game. Mt. Hood was led by Yates with 10 points, seven rebounds, two as-
I feel we will walk away from this weekend feeling a lot better than the last. Tyler Rose Women’s Basketball Head Coach other a runaway. In the Saints’ opener on Nov. 29, they trailed Pierce at the half by just four points, 41-37. They had shot well from the field, at 56 percent. But second half seemingly caught Mt. Hood off guard. The Raiders outscored the Saints 5522 and pulled away to win, 96-59, feasting off 43 Saints turnovers, compared with their own 23, for the game. The Saints were led by sophomore guard Whitney Warren’s 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. Freshman center Marley Yates had 11 points and seven rebounds; and freshman guard Alana Wilson added 10 points. Head coach Tyler Rose tried to explain the turnover-riddled second half. “We were ready to handle anything Pierce had to throw at us and it showed in the first half,” Rose said. “Pierce did not change anything in the second half and we just didn’t
sists and two steals, followed by sophomore power forward Megan Nelson, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. The Saints trailed the Bruins 4137 at the half, and stayed close to the end. Rose credited Yates’ play in the middle. She “keyed us defensively by making players change their shots or think twice about driving, and her post defense was very active,” he said. Tonight and Saturday, the Saints play in the Warrior Classic, held in Walla Walla, Wash. The four participating teams are Columbia Basin, Mt. Hood, Portland, and Walla Walla community colleges. Rose predicts improved play. “We will continue to prepare this week to handle pressure,” he said. “We are looking to improvise a little bit more to counter what teams throw at us, and I feel we will walk away from this weekend feeling a lot better than the last.”
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Sport
Photo by Carole Riggs- The Advocate
Top Mt. Hood performers from the tournament (In two games)
Whitney Warren-
MHCC @ Walla Walla (Warrior Classic)
10 ppg, 3 rpg
Friday at 6 p.m.
Marley Yates-
MHCC @ Columbia Basin
Alana Wilson-
(Warrior Classic)
10 ppg, 7 rpg 5 ppg, 5 rpg
SC
Timbers notch MLS honors after breakout season by Edgard Valencia The Advocate The Portland Timbers collected several year-end awards from Major League Soccer this week, a tribute to their dramatic improvement in 2013. On Monday, MLS announced that Timbers head coach Caleb Porter had earned Coach of the Year for his success in his first season as head coach at the professional level. On Wednesday, Portland’s Donovan Rickets was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for his spectacular work. There was more: Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri, an Argentine native who led the league with 13 assists, was named MLS Newcomer of the Year; and Valeri, Ricketts and Timbers midfielder and captain Will Johnson were chosen among the MLS Best XI players (all-pro team) for the year. No other team placed three players on the Bext XI list. The week before, third-year Portland forward/midfielder Darlington Nagbe won the MLS Individual Fair Play Award, in honor of his overall skill and sportsmanship. The COY award capped a remarkable first season for Porter. It was voted on by media members, MLS players and MLS club management, based on regular season performance. Porter won the media vote with 58.4 percent and also the players’ vote with 37.2 percent to beat NY Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke, who finished second and tied in club votes with Porter with 30.6 percent of the votes. Porter, 38, came into the league
Upcoming Games
after coaching at the University of Akron, where he led the Zips to the 2010 NCAA Division I soccer title. His dedication and passion for the game guided his decision to join Portland, where he crushed expectations by guiding the Timbers to their first playoff appearance since starting MLS play in 2011. After Portland slid to a near-worst league finish in 2012, Porter had the task to pull the team together after hitting rock bottom. He built a new mentality in his players and guided them to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to Real Salt Lake in late November. In 2013, Portland recorded the best Western Conference record in the regular season at 14-5-15 (57 points), just edging Real Salt Lake, and third best record in the league. With emphasis on more efficient offensive and defensive play, Porter led the Timbers to single-season club records in points, wins, goals (54), goal differential (+21), shutouts (15) and fewest goals allowed (33). The team’s five losses during the regular season are tied for the fewest in MLS history in a 34-game season. The Timbers also made a deep run in the U.S. Open Cup this year with Porter, reaching the semifinals of the tournament before falling once again to Real Salt Lake, which later lost in the final. After struggling badly in 2012, better days have come to “Soccer City, USA,” as the Timbers hope to bring home the MLS title in the next couple of seasons under Porter’s leadership. His impressive performance was recognized last month with a contract extension that will keep him as head coach of Portland through 2018.
Sophomore Guard Whitney Warren averaged 10 points per game during the Clackamas Thanksgving invite
Saturday at 2 p.m.
MHCC @ Clark Tue., Dec.17 at 6 p.m.
entral 2013 MLS CUP Real Salt Lake At Sporting Kansas City, Saturday 1 p.m., (ESPN Network)
Upcoming Blazers Games: Utah Jazz AT Portland Trail Blazers, tonight 7 p.m., (Comcast Sports Network)
Dallas Mavericks AT Portland Trail Blazers, Saturday 7 p.m., (KGW Network)
8
Sports
Dec. 6, 2013
Volleyball finishes third in NWAACC by Cameron Miller The Advocate Blue Mountain claimed their third volleyball championship in four years, and the Saints finished third in the NWAACC tournament. MHCC, the 2013 hosts, were eliminated from the tournament after suffering losses to Blue Mountain and Olympic in successive matches. The Saints defeated Olympic on Nov. 23 to advance to the semi-final match against Blue Mountain. The Timberwolves then defeated MHCC in four sets (25-16, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19). MHCC was placed in the final match of the loser’s bracket against Olympic College for their third match-up this season. The Saints have defeated Olympic in both previous matches 3-1. Olympic overcame one of their greatest struggles against any team this season and defeated MHCC in two sets
(25-21, 25-23). The Olympic Rangers advanced to a match against Blue Mountain but needed to win two consecutive matches to earn the title. The Rangers battled but eventually lost in the first match (25-22, 21-25, 2725, 25-21), granting the Blue Mountain Timberwolves the championship. MHCC has placed 4th or better in the last three championship tournaments, claiming the title in 2011 and finishing 4th and 3rd in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Shawna Smith, sophomore outside hitter, earned the All-Tournament first team while the South Region MVP, Lihau Perreira, earned second team honors. The Saints along with their head coach, Chelsie Speer, were awarded for their regular season efforts the night before the tournament, including the South Region Coach of the Year award.
Photo contributed by Beka Haugen
Photo by Carole Riggs- The Advocate
Men’s basketball goes 2-1 in Red Devil Classic Tournament by Aaron Marshall The Advocate After dropping its first game in the Red Devil Classic basketball tournament over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Mt. Hood men’s team came back to win its next two games and regain some early season momentum. The 95-93 defeat on Nov. 29 came after a last-second floater by Yakima Valley Community College, eventual winners of the eight-team tournament played in Longview, Wash. The Saints quickly rebounded with wins over Centralia College and Spokane Community College to earn fourth place. Against Yakima, Mt. Hood surged ahead by 13 points at halftime, 57-44, shooting 67 percent (22-33) from the field while the Yaks shot 51 percent. The second half was completely opposite, as Mt. Hood shot 44 percent and Yakima Valley shot 57 percent. “We played well in the first half, but in the second half we rushed shots and had too many turnovers,” said Geoff Gibor, Mt. Hood head coach. Saints sophomore center Mac Johnson had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Landon Rushton added 16 points, while sophomores Brock Otis, Blake Updike, Denzel Green and Thomas Simien scored 14, 12, 8 and 8 points, respectively.
Upcoming
Games
Freshman guard-forward Oleg Marandyuk added 11 points off the bench. Yakima Valley would later win the tournament by defeating Everett Community College, 117-102. “That loss didn’t feel good on Friday and the bounce back was nice, but we have a lot of things to get better at so we can stay consistent and keep winning games,” Otis said after the Saints’ first-round setback. The first strides came on Saturday, when Mt. Hood outlasted the Centralia Trailblazers in overtime, 87-85. The team played well, adjusting to Centralia’s style, Gibor said. “They played a 2-3 zone the entire game but I felt we closed out well,” he said. Johnson had a team-high 20 points, along with 15 rebounds. Simien also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards, earning praise from his coach. “Thomas has been playing very well,” Gibor said. Updike scored 13 points off the bench and Otis scored 11. Mt. Hood dominated the rebound battle 56-29 and had 19 second-chance points compared to Centralia’s zero. The Saints previously defeated the Trailblazers back on Nov. 9 during a scrimmage. In its final tournament game on Sunday, Mt. Hood downed Spokane 7669. Johnson led the way again for the
Tonight @ 8 p.m. vs. Walla Walla in Walla Walla
Saints, with 23 points and 16 boards. He was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 20 points and 13 boards in three games. “Mac’s work ethic pushes us, he hustles and he’s a difference maker,” said Gibor. The Saints have found another leader in Otis, the second-year guard. “With my experience and understanding of everything going on, I feel responsible to be a vocal leader and I love my role,” Otis said. Tonight at 8 o’clock, the team heads east to take on Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Wash. “We need to protect the perimeter,” said Gibor. “They can shoot.” In three games at the same Red Devil Classic, the Warriors fired up 119 threepoint shots. “We played really well together on Sunday, but we have to defend hard and get hands in the shooters’ faces,” said Rushton. In the second day of action at the Warrior Classic, MHCC will play Blue Mountain Community College at 4 p.m. It’s a rematch, after the Saints beat Blue Mountain in the first regular season game on Nov. 15, 82-74. “It’s going to be a lot different from the first time,” Gibor cautioned. “They have already played a tough schedule and they haven’t been getting blasted. We gotta be ready to go.”
Photo by Carole Riggs- The Advocate
Sophomore forward Denzel Green throws it down during practice. Green also scored 8 points on 3-3 shooting against Yakima Valley during the Red Devil Classic.
Saturday @ 6 p.m. vs. Blue Mountain
in Walla Walla
Top: Sophomore Carrie Haguewood smacks the ball over the net during the NWAACC tournament. Left: Freshman Devin Saucy tips the ball over the net towards a Blue Mountain defender the NWAACC’s.
Dec 13-15, Fri-Sunday
Lassen College Tournament in Susanville, CA. (Time TBD)