The Advocate, Issue 16, February 8, 2013

Gresham, Oregon | Februar y 8, 2013 | Volume 48, Issue 16

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The independent student voice of Mt. Hood Community College

the

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Photos by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Black History Month includes campus exhibit

Andrey Ivanov and Alejandr Cruz, welding students at MHCC, browse the Freedom Fighters “Frederick Douglass, From Slavery to Freedom: the Journey to New York City“ exhibit on Wednesday. The exhibit, which is currently on a naitonal tour showcases how Douglass went from slavery to championing civil rights. It was on display in the Student Union fomr Tuesday at 10 a.m. through Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Black History Events in the Portland Metro Area: All Aboard: Railroading and Portland’s Black Community This exhibit focuses on the lives of black railroad workers from the 1800s through the 1940s.

Jan. 15 - April 21, Oregon Historical Society, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., free for Multnomah County residents and OHS members, $5 - $11 tickets.

PCC’s Black History Month Celebration: Emmy and Peabody award-winner Charlayne HunterGault’s speech about civil rights activism as a black female journalist in the 1960s.

Feb. 28, Suzanne Fields Ballroom, Portland Art Museum 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., $20 tickets.

Artist works with ‘Frozen‘ glass

Photo by Jonathon Long/The Advocate

Men’s momentum checked by PCC

History, Hope and Harmony: A Black History Month Tribute to Portland’s Jazz Heritage with Esperanza Spalding Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding honors Sweet Baby James, Bobby Bradford and other jazz icons.

Feb. 23, City Hall, 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Hair-itage Jubilee “Revolution of our African roots“ Enjoy a fashion show, music, poetry and guest appearances by celebrity stylist Tabiba Styles and author S. Renee Mitchell.

Feb. 23, Ambridge Event Center, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m., $10 tickets.

Sophomore Colby Mitchell during Saturday’s win against Lane. For more information on Men’s Basketball coverage, see Page 12.

‘Frozen‘ by Jim Weiler on display in the Visual Arts Gallery for the Scuplture Exhibit which runs through Feb. 21. For more information on the exhibit, see Page 7.

budget snapshot

pro/con

St. valentine’s day: Slave to love OR

Slave to Hallmark page 3

This week: Finale of the profiles on the lead roles page 6

administrators present the college’s plan to close up the deficit pages 9

2

Opinion Feb. 8, 2013

Editorial: ASG/SAB should follow through on campus connections Leaders have stressed the value of student feedback; now is the time for them to rise to the occasion

Representative government forms the basis of our society. As a community, it is the bedrock upon which all else is built, and as such a community college ought to be likewise structured.

Recently, The Advocate has been less than impressed by the efforts of our Associated Student Government (ASG) and thus seek to address our grievances and offer some constructive suggestions.

First off, we would like to point out some of the good things that ASG has done this year: the implementation of discounted TriMet passes for students, steady progress in the services offered by Barney’s Pantry, a new text alert system, and fulfillment of its obligations regarding the hiring of a proposed diversity resource center coordinator.

(The coordinator position has still not been posted by MHCC’s Human Resources department. In a Jan. 29 interview, ASG President William Miller said the job posting is in HR hands, and that it should already have been posted.)

Now, we are not here to berate ASG but to suggest some areas of opportunity.

As students, it seems to us that ASG has not exactly been engaging the students of MHCC. Those of you who may have been here during the administration of Larry Collins-Morgan (2010-2011) are likely familiar with the very boisterous personality he possessed and his ever-present interest with seemingly everything on campus.

During the administration of Bradley Best, prior to Collins-Morgan’s reign, ASG and Student Activities Board (SAB) members were often seen around campus promoting events and collecting student feedback, as well as tucking event leaflets into books at the bookstore.

Now, while these may have been large shoes to fill, the lack of seeing our current ASG president and vice president out in the Main Mall, in the line at Vista or inside the bookstore or even frantically cramming in the library is disconcerting. ASG represents us as the student body and when we at The Advocate feel its leaders are not exactly taking the time to reach out to us and get to know the students, our feelings about the school and our needs, then we are not being properly represented and our government is not doing right by us.

Miller discussed ASG’s forums with students. “[We have forums] once a term… It’s more of just a discussion of what we’ve done,

where we’re at and where we’re heading and input, suggestions, comments, concerns and all of the above.” He said that about 15-20 people attended the forum during fall term.

“We encourage staff, students, administrators, everyone to come and share input, because it’s really important to hear what students want and that’s the sole purpose. We are here to serve the students.

If we don’t have that, there is no area for improvement,” Miller said.

Asked if ASG had considered hosting more forums in order to increase attendance, he said that was never an idea but it “definitely could be entertained.”

It seems to The Advocate that ASG has been hiding behind student feedback in the form of the poorly attended forums, as well as student surveys taken at events over the past few months, instead of taking the time to hold additional forums and to better publicize them to increase turnout, and therefore, feedback, from a student body of more than 9,000. Most of the events put on by ASG, as well as issues for which it lobbies on behalf of the students, are based purely on the feedback it receives through surveys dispersed at ASG

events.

A S G needs to be held accountable. Its leaders were elected by the students and for the students and they aren’t making the best impact they could be making at this point in time. Most of the events have been uninspired and lacking in any real creativity; they seem more infrequent than in years past and are poorly advertised.

This is not providing a service to students by getting them involved in the MHCC community, which should be ASG’s mission. Instead, leaders are merely going through the motions of governing.

So, we would like to see ASG leaders spend more time outside the office and get to know the students, actively advertising themselves and the events they host for students. We want to see them engaging with students and asking what they can do to help students’ experience at MHCC improve.

the advocate Co-Editors-in-Chief

News Editor

Reporters

Advisers

John Tkebuchava & Mike Mata

Mike Mata

Jackie Garrity Hayden Hunter Shaun Lutz Aaron Marshall Cameron Miller Kayla Tatum

Howard Buck Dan Ernst Bob Watkins

Associate Editor Kylie Rogers

Living Arts Editor Shelby Schwartz

Assistant Living Arts Editor Danny Perez-Crouse

Opinion Editor Jeff Hannig

Sports Editor John Tkebuchava

Copy Editors Kylie Rogers

Webmaster Logan Scott

Ad Manager Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Photo Editor Jeff Hannig

Photographer Jonathon Long

Graphic Designer Lauren Bakke

E-mail advocatt@mhcc.edu 503-491-7250 (Main) 503-491-7413 (Office) 503-591-6064 (Fax) www.advocate-online.net

Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030

“ASG/SAB is effective at providing awareness of their events” 1Strongly agree 1Agree 1Indifferent 1Disagree 1Strongly Disagree

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Submissions

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.

3 VALENTINE’S DAY: A SLAVE TO LOVE OR HALLMARK HOLIDAY? Opinion

the advocate

PROS

If you’re not already in love, don’t bother

Jeff Hannig The Advocate

A can of Skoal chewing tobacco, please. A six-pack of Full Sail bottled beer, a bag of Ruffles Loaded Baked Potato Chips and — oh, yeah — one of those longstemmed roses you have behind the counter there.

Do you have a box of chocolates and a Valentine’s Day card?

Actually any card will work — I’m creative.

A birthday card scribbled on with a sharpie and a generic box of chocolates are at the heart of

the demise of Valentine’s Day. Every year I hear at least one person complain that V-Day is a “Hallmark holiday” created by corporations to make money. And every year one person bravely carries a flaming bouquet to their loved one and rekindles the magic of this underestimated holiday.

Every year, always after V-Day, I hear or read of something truly romantic. Someone who is madly in love does something incredible that makes haters think twice about uttering the phrase “Hallmark holiday.”

I’m all for V-Day, but meaningful relationship stocks are dropping, thanks in part to reality TV, dating websites, one-night stands, mini-skirts and obnoxious cologne. It would seem that truly romantic gestures are a thing of the past.

Romantic is watching what your partner wants to watch, eating what they want, cleaning when they don’t want to clean and

understanding when they are having a bad day.

When done correctly, both sides of a relationship are cared for. One side will take the reins and say “Taco Bell” and the other side will say “Subway” another night. One will have a good day and be strong enough to help the one who hasn’t.

For these elite few — who don’t abuse love, who are ready to say one is enough, who care about that one person in their life more than anything in the world – V-Day will always be special. Even if it is just a post-it on the bathroom mirror, reminding their other half just how much he/she means in their life.

For those who pick up their VDay gift as an afterthought, I say you are only cheapening the holiday for yourself.

I can’t help but think of what Christmas would do in this situation. Christmas is a holiday steeped in tradition and belief. It is virtually meaningless for those who don’t put anything into it.

So for the thoughtless guys and females alike, who pick up a card at the same place they buy beer, those who cash in on one day of relationship work for the rest of their year, those who use V-Day like a get-out-of-jail-free card – why bother? Just skip it.

For those who don’t abuse the holiday, but instead celebrate a year’s toil of the heart, I hope you enjoy yourselves.

And for those who may feel too busy this year for romance, or feel your relationship has become routine, I offer this: Once there was a person who made you dream a little bigger and reach a little further, once there was a person you decided you could live the rest of your life with, so that when you two are old and gray standing in line for a small popcorn and soda, you’d be the couple still holding hands. For you, this year, I hope you use V-Day as a way to fight for your love.

CONS Don’t be a slave to Hallmark or to cheesy gestures

Mike Mata The Advocate

All the single ladies.

While most people would instantly associate this saying with a heeled Beyonce strutting her stuff and telling her man to put on a ring on it, they would not associate this with pagan Roman priests slapping Roman women with bloody strips of goat skin.

This bizarre ritual is called Lupercalia, and is one of the recognized antecedents of what we know today as St. Valentine’s Day. Today’s St. Valentine’s Day has been labeled by many a critic as a “Hallmark holiday,” meaning that it

was created or publicized by companies such as Hallmark that sell gifts and cards. The popular social aspects of Valentine’s Day are the act of giving a gift to a romantic partner in the form of chocolates, cards, flowers and other small or meaningful gifts.

While this notion is nice, it seems to essentially be a marketing ploy in order to sell an inordinate amount of garishly pink and red décor and as well as gushingly cheesy cards.

Sure, the notion behind going out of your way to remind a loved one that you care for him or her and/ or are excited to have this person in your life is a nice one. However, one should not focus on their significant other for just one day a year. Nor should that day be only one extravagant display of love or romance, because, let’s face it, folks, it’s nice to feel loved 365 days a year.

Let’s strip away the pink and red crap and see where this modern gush-fest came from in an attempt to shock ourselves out of the this farce of a holiday.

The aforementioned festival of

Lupercalia was set on the Ides of February, typically Feb. 15, one day after modern day St. Valentine’s Day. The festival itself was a fertility rite, with the priests, called Luperci, who would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purity. They would then take the dead goat and cut its hide into strips and dip them into the blood of the sacrificed victims and then walk through the streets of Rome and slap every woman they encountered in order to spread the alleged fertility gathered from the sacrifices.

The Catholic Church recognizes several St. Valentines, at least two of whom are tied to the modern Valentine’s Day. One of these St. Valentines was said to have gone against then Roman Emperor Claudius II’s decree that young men were not allowed to marry (as they were supposed to make better soldiers when unmarried), and took to marrying young couples in secret. This legend does go toward explaining the romantic connection between today’s holiday and the association with the

name Valentine.

Another Valentine was alleged to have helped other early Christians escape torture from Roman authorities, and was caught during his activities on their behalf. This legend goes that this Valentine fell in love with a young woman during his imprisonment and sent her love notes that he signed with “Your Valentine,” which may be the origin of the modern phrase, “Be my Valentine.”

Thus, dear readers, we have uncovered and exposed some lessthan-pretty origins of St. Valentine’s Day. Hopefully the sobering thoughts of priests swinging bits of bloody goat at young women while several early Christians named Valentine were imprisoned and killed for helping out their fellow Christians ought to be enough to induce you to abstain from the giant pink heart balloons. Instead, let your loved ones know that you love them every day. Or, if you’re wanting to conceive, find a priest holding a dead goat.

4 College seeking ways to cut down $8.6 million gap News

Feb. 8, 2013

During a budget presentation at last weekend’s board retreat, college adminstrators discuss ways to balance its budget Hayden Hunter The Advocate

MHCC’s ongoing efforts to narrow an $8.6 million funding gap for the current budget year were detailed at a district Board retreat on Saturday.

Bill Farver, vice president of administrative services, and others presented just how MHCC is trying to fairly budget its limited resources.

“What this presentation does is show the progress in these four areas (increased revenue, increased enrollment, reduced costs, and reduced employee costs), and what we need to do for next year to balance the time frame,” said Farver.

The balanced approach means that increased revenue, reduced costs, and reduced employee costs each take up 30 percent of the burden, leaving 10 percent for increased enrollment. Shared sacrifice in reductions across all groups is stressed, meaning that when teachers and students are losing money, administrators are not padding their (budget) pockets.

In the current academic year, students saw a $5 per credit hour tuition increase. Farver said if all goes well, there will be new increase next year.

“That accounted for about $2.3 million (30 percent of the funding gap), which is what we wanted,” he said.

To reduce employee costs, MHCC reached a deal with the faculty association that allowed the college to hire 10 parttime instructors instead of 10 full-time teachers. This has saved the college $700,000 in the current budget cycle.

To improve the efficiency of the college, administrators tried a technique labeled “smart growth,” and attempted to better manage the Aquatics Center. Smart growth is expanding class sizes by a couple of students in each case. This gives the college new tuition money from the extra students, but at no greater expense, because the teacher and classroom are already paid for.

Farver elaborated on the Aquatics Center changes. “We have increased the price. We charge high school students and community members more money, and they also (pay) more to get into swimming-related events,” he said.

Senior Budget Analyst Mark Denney discussed new fed-

eral regulations on financial aid. Those new rules require proof that a student has earned financial aid, “and if we can not prove that through attendance, we must reimburse the federal government the aid that was already dispersed to the student,” he said.

An administration worry is all the money lost to students who try to scam the school by getting their financial aid for a course, then just stop attending but keep that money. MHCC has combated against this by taking attendance the first week of class each term to record all student names. This has saved the college another $250,000 this school year.

MHCC hoped to increase enrollment by 8 percent from 2011-12. However, enrollment has decreased by 1.5 percent. The college is hoping to fill that resulting money gap with new state revenue.

According to Farver, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is the primary culprit in dragging down the MHCC budget. It’s a cost that cannot be reduced or be offset by any type of refund, and so it continues to drain the college resources, he said.

Jennifer DeMent, director of finance said, “PERS employer rates went up almost 5 percent and (they will rise) another 3 percent in July.”

An alternate savings for the college is having employees take three furlough days. A furlough day is a unpaid leave day for which the state pays nothing.

“Currently, full-time faculty have two furlough days, saving $140,000, and management employees have three furlough days that save $60,000,” said DeMent.

The college is trying to reduce spending as much as possible, but President Michael Hay is also trying to restore one of the dean positions and to create a grants development office, at an estimated combined cost of $250,000.

MHCC administrators will repeat their presentation for anyone on campus and the public at 2 p.m.

Thursday in the Town & Gown Room.

Closing the $8.6 million gap $2.3 million earned through the $5 per credit tuition increase last year Hiring 10 part-time teachers last year instead of 10 full-time teachers saved $700,000 Catching students who try to keep financial aid after dropping classes, saved $250,000 Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) went up 5 percent and will raise another 3 percent in July Combined furlough days from full-time faculty and management equal $200,000 saved Hiring a new dean and creating a grant development office would cost the college $250,000

For past articles, poll results, videos and photos see www.advocate-online.net Phot by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Safety first

There is no planned parenthood at mhcc, so condoms are the only means of protection offered. They are free and can be found in the student union.

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News

the advocate

Finance Council votes on Athletics News Briefs The proposal for resurfacing the track will make its way to the MHCC President’s Executive Cabinet after the Finance Council voted Tuesday to set aside $150,000 from the contigency funds for the track.

John Tkebuchava The Advocate

In the third meeting of the Student Finance Council, the athletic programs Tuesday voted to set aside $150,000 from their contingency funds towards a project to resurface the college track.

According to Kim Hyatt, the director of athletics, previous estimates on the cost for resurfacing the track were approximately $287,000. To cover the remaining projected cost, Hyatt said there is an additional $150,000 or so available for a construction project through Facilities Council, which is comprised of various students, faculty and administrators from MHCC. The project proposal will now make its way to the MHCC President’s Executive Cabinet, which will make the final decision.

Following discussions on the condition of the track, the baseball program, represented by Hunter Weiss, suggested that the contingency funds go toward leveling and changing the drainage system at the baseball field.

According to both Weiss and Hyatt, because of the slant of the field and poor drainage system, water tends to accumulate on one end of the field, creating large puddles and mud.

“It’s getting to the point where it is not playable,” said Weiss, adding that the baseball team has had to spend much of its practices indoors in the gym.

According to Hyatt, previous estimates for leveling the baseball field and making changes to the drainage system would cost more than $300,000.

Both the co-curricular programs and athletic programs are facing a deficit in their 2012-13 projections. The co-curriculars are $69,013 in variance

while athletics is $21,000 short.

Now that all presentations and justifications of the programs have been made, the programs will be spending the next several weeks closing the deficit through cuts or reduced funding requests.

According to Antonio Guerrero-Jimenez, the ASG vice president who was representing ASG in place of president William Miller at the meeting, they have made around $30,000 tentative cuts to their budget that could potentially bring down the deficit to approximately $40,000.

Included in some of the potential adjustments, Guerrero-Jimenez mentioned a reduction of $5,000 towards public safety and a $5,000 reduction to requested funding for the Student Organizations Council (SOC).

The reduction to SOC funding would bring it down to $35,000, up from the 2012-13 budget of $20,000.

SOC assists with funding for various clubs and groups on campus that offer events and clubs trips for students.

“SOC is the number one way to get the student fee money back to the students,” said David Sussman, manager of the Student Union Center, in regards to the SOC budget justification.

Hyatt, during her presentation of the Assigned Athletics program, announced that $6,000 of cuts had been made as well.

In total, as a part of this year’s budget, the cocurricular programs have $460,400 and athletics has $380,400 available to them to distribute between the programs.

The next finance council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in the Lake Room. The co-curricular programs will meet from 4-5 p.m., followed by the athletic programs from 5-6 p.m. All finance council

IS IMAGE EVERYTHING? IT MAY SEEM THAT WAY.

The presidential search continues The college search committee has narrowed the list of candidates under consideration to become MHCC president, from 32 candidates to 11.

Since candidates may hold other jobs while being interviewed for the MHCC position, their personal information is confidential.

When the campus search committee, made up of students, employees and community members, as well as hired search consultant Michael Viera, is finished conducting interviews of the 11 hopefuls, there should be three to five finalists.

Those finalists will be revealed to the public with an announcement at the March 13 meeting of the MHCC District board. The ultimate pick will succeed current President Michael Hay, due to retire this June.

Viera, who works for Community College Search Services firm, said the search is progressing quite well and has drawn several strong candidates.

— Hayden Hunter

Time diet, learn how to manage your time There is a time diet presentation being given on Feb. 13 from 2 p.m. till 3 p.m. in the Jazz Café.

Emily Schwartz, the founder of Time Management Speaking and Coaching, will present the Time Diet Presentation.

Kristen Stewart, Director of the Student Activities Board said, “She (Schwartz) is coming to teach students how to manage their time and cope with stress.”

Schwartz has experience as a straight-A student and a K-12 and collegiate educator. Because of her background, she has first hand experience when it comes to managing your time between a rigorous academic schedule and some semblance of a social life.

According to Schwartz’ novel “The Time Diet: Digestible Time Management”, she is an educator and speaker with a passion for helping everyone from students to business professionals manage their time.

To get more information on how to manage your time more efficiently, visit www.thetimediet.org.

— Hayden Hunter

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Living Arts Feb. 8, 2013

student plays character activist follows passion living with aids for building community Shelby Schwartz The Advocate

Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

For first-year MHCC student Jeremy Wray, music and theater serve as stress relievAfter taking a four-year hiatus, a Portland State student has ers for a busy school schedule. returned to the stage here at MHCC. “I really like just singing by myself in a room,” Peter Molof took a break from acting because he was worried he said. “If you look at my iPod I have 12 different about how he would be perceived by directors after announcing musicals in there and I just cycle through which one he is transgender. He auditioned for “RENT” at MHCC to “prove I’m listening to. Like I’ll listen to ‘Les Mis’ and then to myself I can still do that,” he said.

‘Phantom (of the Opera)’ and just cycle through and Molof auditioned without a character in mind, but feels “sube like, ‘Okay today I’m going to be this character and per blessed” to be cast as Angel, a character he can relate to. “I sing all of their songs.’ It’s kind of a stupid hobby but, think it’s Angel’s spirit of giving” that allows that connection, he it really helps me de-stress,” he said. said.

Wray, 19, portrays Tom Collins, or Collins, in this He describes Angel as the character who is always taking month’s MHCC production of “RENT.” Wray is a care of others and has not been disheartened by the trials he has double major in vocal performance and music educafaced. He also has strapped on high heels since the second or tion. third rehearsal to better prepare for Angel’s Wray said Collins is a professor of drag-queen persona. computer-aged philosophy. “He has “I’ve never really been apart of a cast AIDS and he meets Angel (Peter Molof) that’s been so cohesive and so talented toand they become a couple,” Wray said. gether. I think we’re ready,” Molof said.

“He’s pretty easy going. He likes He said he finds this production someto dream about what it could be like to what unique. not to be in New York. He’s a visionary. “(We) are genuinely coming at this not just I would say, because of his situation, like ‘look at me, we’re doing “RENT”,’ but he likes to imagine where he could be treating it like any other show where maybe instead. He likes to look at all the posiwe haven’t looked into the soundtrack so tives in his life and I think Angel really many times,” he said. Adding to the special complements that and brings that out in feeling: “Just the individual stories of us all him,” Wray said. and how that forms our character, and what This is Wray’s first MHCC show, that means,” he said. and his ninth production he has been Following his break from acting, Molof involved with. He is a recent graduate said he has “realized how much it meant to of Sam Barlow High School where he me, how much it’s part of me.” He has experiwas involved with theater and choir all ence in professional acting, with rock operas four years. and other productions. He has also taught Wray was also involved in the Cortheater at community centers. bett Children’s Theater production of During high school at alternative-study “Footloose” this past summer. “I played Clackamas Middle College, there was not a Willard, the kid who couldn’t dance theater program. But, several students decidthat Ren teaches how to dance,” he said.

Wray and Molof rehearse a scene at a rehearsal in the studio theater on Jan. 29 for their characters of Tom Collins and Angel in the winter theater production ed to write and direct their own play because He has also been part of the chamber of “RENT.” “we were sort of hungry for that,” Molof said. choir for Pacific Youth Choir.

He has studied at Portland State for two years and will graduate this year with a major in social For Wray, acting in “RENT” and playing the character of Collins was tough because science and a minor in gender studies, after attending PCC for three years.

“I have always been like the comic relief in the show and always cast as the funny guy.

He will continue to work with the lobby group Basic Rights Oregon for the next two years, This is the first role I’ve ever had where I’ve had to actually be a real person and not just specifically on its same-sex marriage campaign. a caricature making fun of something,” he said.

“For me, it’s just about doing what’s right. It’s as much about fighting for my Wray struggled with the genre of “RENT” in comparison to rights as much as anyone else,” he said. “I think doing this kind of work means most other productions he has been involved in, as well as strugthat hopefully folks down the line who are alive after I am will have the ability gling with not letting his previous characters show through into to do the things I couldn’t.” his current role.

Molof spends a lot of his free time putting together community events and “I normally am like the funny caricature. I was Charlie Brown fundraisers. “I find a lot of who I am in the community and the work that I do,” (in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”) and then Willard and he said. now I’m Collins. They were all within successions of each other.

His ambition is to pursue a master’s degree in education or educational adThe biggest challenge is getting into that this a real person and not ministration.

He would like to run a college cultural center or be a director of a a interpretation of someone or like a stereotype, like this character campaigning or lobbying organization. really creates its own viewing of life and its not the norm,” Wray As for those hopes, Molof said, “I’m close and I’m getting there, so it feels said. good to be able to say that.”

Wray plans to transfer to Portland State University and get his Just like Angel, his goal is to bring a sense of community to people where it may not exist. ”It’s music and teaching certifications and one day become a high school choir director as hard to build community, because there’s a lot of things that are separating folks from one another,” well as voice teacher and continue performing on the side. “I want to be a high school he said. choir director, and I’ve known that since like junior year of high school.”

“I love performing and being in a show is like one of the highlights of my year,” he said.

Peter Molof

Photo by Jeff Hannig/ The Advocate

Jeremy Wray

RENT shows are Feb. 22, 23 and March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the College Theater and at 2 p.m. on Feb 24 and March 3.

Living Arts

the advocate

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Visual Arts Gallery hosts sculpture exhibit until Feb. 21 Danny Perez-Crouse

Some pieces are for sale, such as the glass plates, while others are not. “When I’m pricing these pieces I try to factor in the amount of materials and how much labor was put into it so I can make around $10 an hour out of it. It’s more of a labor of love at this point,” Weiler said.

Weiler has big plans for the future, hoping to start his own small business. He said, “It Shapes and shadows that speak to the imagination and emotions captured in glass and plates with a sense of whimsy are the kinds of things students will find in the Visual Arts can be daunting when thinking about a business because you never know if people are going to like your stuff, or if it’s enough to justify the price tag you have placed on your art.”

Gallery from two distinct artists.

The second artist, Posie Currin, is a Portland-based artist who received her master of The latest exhibit is a two-person show featuring work from Jim Weiler and Posie Currin. fine arts at Portland State Weiler is a Portland-based artist who earned University. Her work exa bachelor of fine arts in sculpture at Bowling plores a broad spectrum Green State University in 1998 and an master of of mediums including fine arts in glass from Southern Illinois Universifilm, sound, photograty-Carbondale (SIUC) in 2004. phy, choreography, inHe then taught glass at SIUC for two years stallation and sculpture. and blew worked glass in Fresno, Calif. In 1996, Currin’s methodoloWeiler received a grant to study sculptural anatgies within her art pracomy in Klaipeda, Lithuania. In 2008 he joined tice, as described by her the Bullseye Research & Education team, where on her website, take liberty he now teaches and develops educational vidwith the aleatoric process eos. (when some element is The current focus of his personal work is left to chance) bringing combining hot shop (a glass blower’s workshop) her closer to a kind of altechniques with Bullseye Glass (the company chemical journey which is he works for) to create innovative patterns and embedded in the artworks compositions. “I have been a serious artist for themselves. about 20 years now,” he said.

Some of the art she “I always did art in high school, but I went is featuring include pato undergraduate school for media design and taphysic cutouts (a theory ended switching my major to sculpting. I would of what lies beyond the make my design as fast as possible and then run realm of metaphysics) and to the sculpture lab,” Weiler said. various ceramic sculptures Weiler also likes to sketch and draw. “As an with unique designs. Some artist you have to know how to draw to some extent,” he said, adding that he sometimes uses The piece shown in front is entitled “Puppy Study L” by Posie Currin and is made out of mold cast wax, wood, paint and heat bulb, the pieces on the wall behind are of her art is on sale. entitled “Shadow Study G”, “Shadow Study A”, “Shadow Study L” and are made out of black vinyl and also a part of Currin’s body of work on display in the Visual Arts Currin could not be his drawings as inspirations for his next piece.

Gallery until Feb. 21 along with workd by Jim Weiler. reached for further inforHis sculptures in the gallery are a variety of shapes and ideas. There are glass plates with lines and waves that Weiler says are meant to mation.

The sculpture exhibit will be shown until Feb. 21. The Visual Arts Gallery is open Monevoke a sense of whimsy, but also order and discipline. “That’s just who I am,” he said.

“Frozen” is one of the more visually striking pieces on display in the exhibit and is a face day through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. To see more from these artists, check out Currin’s webmold cast in a glass square. Weiler said, “That one is a very process-oriented piece. It must site at possiecurrin.com, and look for Weiler’s profile at bullseyeglass.com. have been a month to make, total.”

Photo by Jeff Hannig/ The Advocate

The Advocate

Review: McCarthy’s crass comedy captivates audience Mike Mata The Advocate

Throat punch.

This is essentially the punch line for many of Melissa McCarthy’s jokes in the slapstick criminal comedy “Identity Thief,” which opens today.

McCarthy teams with Jason Bateman to portray the two main characters of the movie: Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Bateman) as a fairly milquetoast businessman and Diana (McCarthy), a serial identity thief.

“Identity Thief” opens by bludgeoning the viewer over the head with the problem that launches the film’s plot: Diana cons Sandy into turning over all of his personal information, thus opening a can of fraudulent whoop-ass.

The movie follows the premise of the actual Sandy trying to make ends meet on a tight budget in Denver while Diana lives it up in some driftwood resort town in Florida, taking all of two weeks to max out Sandy’s credit card.

Taking a chance with a new business venture that would fix all his financial woes, Sandy’s endeavor is threatened by Diana’s increasingly expensive escapades in Florida.

This comes to his attention via an arrest warrant for a court date that Diana, impersonating Sandy, racked up with one of her trademark throat punches, delivered to a cop. At the police station, Sandy begins to realize his identity has been stolen and through a series of deals with the cops in Denver and his new boss, manages to get a week’s worth of time to find Diana and get her to confess the fraud in person.

What ensues is a sailor-mouthed, throat-punched frolic across several states as Sandy expounds an immense amount of effort to transport a less-than-thrilled Diana now on the run from a redneck bounty hunter (Robert Patrick), as well as a pair of hit-men (Genesis Rodriguez and T.I.) that she screwed over.

The bluntly hilarious duo of McCarthy and Bateman trade dead-pan jabs, with Bateman calling McCarthy just about every synonym for manipulative sociopath you could imagine, while McCarthy repeatedly calls him several variants of a baby, a pansy and a woman’s genitalia whilst flipping him the bird.

Particularly funny is the scene where Diana finally agrees to come with Sandy to Denver

after being chased back and forth on the side of the highway by him. For anyone unfamiliar with McCarthy’s physique, a line from Bateman’s character sums it up: “She’s a hobbit.” So, while she huffs and puffs about 20 feet in one direction while he nonchalantly jogs past her, she is prompted to ask him if he’s a Kenyan.

This kind of crass humor is quite prevalent in the movie.

However, delivered by the bubbly bane of humanity, Diana, and the sarcastic and stretched-thin Sandy, it makes for much hilarity.

Part of the humor comes from several running jokes: an imaginary badger that causes a fender-bender between Diana and Sandy as well as another car-related violence; most every character’s insistence that Sandy is actually a girl’s name while he claims that it is uni-sex; and Diana’s everpresent throat punches, used both to punctuate jokes and escape scenes. It helps that McCarthy is nearly throat height to most of her foes, adding to the guilty joy of watching a shocked, and much taller, victim fall to the ground clutching their larynx.

McCarthy’s Diana also finds ways to alternately charm and con other characters, such as Big Chuck (Eric Stonestreet), a waitress (Ellie Kemper) and a beguiled hotel clerk (Ben Falcone, McCarthy’s real-life husband.) This adds a layer of ethos to her primary job as an identity thief while showing off a genuinely likable side that invariably causes the audience to empathize with her.

Anyone familiar with the 2010 comedy “Due Date” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis would see quite a few similarities between that movie’s comedy and “Identity Thief.” Both of the uptight characters (played Bateman and Downey Jr.) are constantly affected by the topsyturvy world of the free-spirit characters (McCarthy and Galifianakis.) A slight twist is that Diana somehow turns into Sandy’s guardian angel: Busting them both out of police custody, saving him from being hit by a car and (sort of) rescuing him from some slightly ferocious snakes.

As could be discerned, near the climax of the film, Sandy and Diana develop a bond which makes him question the ethics of turning her in, especially when she charms her way into his kids’ hearts.

So, in order to get a little more McCarthy and Bateman in your diet - let’s face it, who wouldn’t want that? - get in line for “Identity Thief.” Just make sure to pay in cash.

8

Living Arts Feb. 8, 2013

the day tripper

your weekly event planner

SaT. 2.9

E. Portland

Come celebrate the 3rd annual Mardi Gras Ball at the Bossanova Ballroom.

It’s a great chance to indulge with fine food, music, costumes and dancing.

Cost is $25 per person and the event starts at 7 p.m. 21+. Get tickets at bossanovaballroom.com. 722 E. Burnside St.

Wed. 2.13

ne Portland

Things From Another World (TFAW) will be hosting a Mighty Marvel signing with Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel) and Pete Woods (Superman: New Krypton) for Avengers Assemble #12. Come to TFAW today from 7 to 10 p.m. to meet these amazing creators and enjoy free food and beer. All ages welcome. 2916 N.E. Broadway.

Wed. 2.13

NW Portland

Portland BrewCycle ride will be hosting a singles only event today for their first ever “Valentine’s Day EVE Ride!” The ride will start at 7 p.m. and the seats will cost $15 a person. The bike holds room for up to 28 people.

21+. Register at brewcycleportland. com.

Thur. 2.14

SW Portland

Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of our time, Grammy Award winning Roberta Flack joins the Oregon Symphony to perform a collection of her romantic hits including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing me Softly,” and “Tonight I Celebrate My Love.” at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $32. 1037 S.W. Broadway Portland.

THur. 2.14

nw Portland

The Star Theater will be hosting a Valentine’s Day event that will include a catered dinner in the private VIP balcony, or the dinner buffet in the covered and heated patio, while being serenaded by the 70’s soft rock tunes of the Red Light Romeos. The event will start at 7 p.m. 21+. Tickets are $14 and up. For more info go to startheaterportland.com. 13 N.W. 6th Ave. Portland.

MHCC instructor writes book on American VP Kylie Rogers The Advocate

Political science instructor for Mt. Hood Community College and Portland State University covers the vicepresidency as an institution in “Second Best: The Rise of the American Vice Presidency.”

Author James Hite teaches three political science courses at MHCC part-time and a few courses at Portland State University as part of the extended campus program, including a course he created, “presently the only political science course in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the study of the American vice presidency,” he said.

Hite has been teaching for over six years and teaches a class for MHCC every term.

Hite has been interested in the presidency since childhood and had developed an interest in the vice presidency by the time he began teaching at a college level.

Concerning his current book Hite said, “In the earliest stages, the book was planned as a purely political assessment of the vice-presidential institution.”

The initial idea of the book developed during the 2004 election. Hite said he was struck that the vice presidency was being treated as a joke by the voters despite Dick Cheney and Al Gore being “clearly influential people.”

As he looked into the office’s history he found that there “was more to the office than most people are aware.”

The “drawn-out” process took between four to six years, according to Hite, due to a period a time where he was too busy to work on the book.

Hite cites Henry Wallace as his “favorite vice president, without question… He was a remarkable man who served under President Franklin Roosevelt.” Hite said he was incredibly progressive and productive at a very important time in U.S. history. “Yet few people today have ever heard of him – perhaps because he was only the vice president.”

“In terms of my book (Wallace) was really critical in the growth of the vice presidency in that the jobs that Roosevelt gave him to do where a first for a vice president,” said Hite.

In his book, Hite discusses the increased responsibility of the

vice president beginning with the responsibilities given to Wallace. He said that although vice presidents have taken on more responsibility since the 1940s, their responsibilities as outlined by the Constitution have not changed.

Concerning how the public views the vice presidency, Hite recommends that voters consider and treat a vice presidential nominee like they would a presidential nominee. “How that happens? That’s an unanswerable question,” said Hite.

“I always tell people when they vote for president you’re actually voting for two presidents because there is a very real possibility they will succeed. And even if they don’t succeed they are the natural, the expected presidential nominee of the next election cycle,” Hite said.

According to him, he doesn’t appear to have a problem with writer’s block. Hite began working on a second book before the first was finished.

“The book concerns the life of President Franklin Pierce and the direction approach to Pierce than has been taken by the few writers who have written about him,” said Hite.

Hite’s second project, accompanying the book on Pierce, is a novel. The novel that Hite describes as, “hard to explain,” was put on the back burner to the vice presidency book.

“It’s a story about these people in a small town who are resistant to time and change.

It’s based on a real town and circumstances and people that I knew. I had an interest, I had a story in mind,” said Hite. “Then all of the sudden here we are and it’s like six years later.”

Hite advises aspiring writers to persevere, “success as a writer is hard to achieve, but it is great when it happens.”

James Hite

-Information contributed by Daniele Caldwell

Cosmetology students offer discounts until March Kayla Tatum The Advocate

MHCC Cosmetology is offering free classic manicures, $5 pedicures and basic facials for $10, through March 20.

The special offer is to help program newcomers learn the different aspects of cosmetology.

The services are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and on Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. They are open to students and the public, either by walk-in or appointment.

Second-year MHCC student Breanna Gaither has only been in the program four weeks, but said she has learned much.

“It’s fun, very challenging too. You realize that it’s not like high school where you can get by,” she said. “You have to know what you’re doing when a client comes in.”

Gaither wants to continue with the cosmetology program. In the future, she plans to focus on “aesthetics,” including facials, waxing, massage and cleaning up people’s skin,” she said. “I find that very interesting. I like for people to

feel good about themselves.”

MHCC student Preston Hayes is another newcomer and currently the only male in the program. Before being accepted into the cosmetology program, Hayes went to culinary school, sold real estate and served in the U.S. Marines.

“While in the Marines I did military fade (hair cuts). I learned how to cut hair on my own,” Hayes said.

He grew up in a family involved in the business. “My family owns a salon. I grew up in the industry, but I never thought this would be something I’d follow,” he said.

Many might see no similarity between the atmosphere of a salon and that in the Marines. But, Hayes said, “Being around all of these girls is just like being in the Marines. They talk as much as the guys talk.”

Asked if he could give some words of inspiration or advice to men who might want to go into cosmetology but feel afraid of being judged, he said, “Just be passionate about what you do and leave your ego and judgments out the door.”

For more information about the discounted manicures, pedicures and facials, contact Cosmetology at 503-491-7192.

News

the advocate

9

New media policy, president search update to be given at board meeting

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

First Thursday

John Tkebuchava The Advocate

A second reading of a proposed new social media policy will be presented by Michelle Gregory, director of board relations, and Maggie Huffman, director of communications, at Wednesday’s district board meeting at 6 p.m.

As a part of this revision, MHCC will strive to increase its social media presence to enhance its marketing and communications efforts.

At the board meeting, Michael Viera of the Community College Search Services firm will update members on the MHCC presidential search.

Linda Robinson and Ted Gilbert of the Gateway Education Center will make a Gateway Green Project presentation. The Gateway Green Project is an organization that aims to create more park and open spaces.

Before the meeting, the board will meet in executive session at 5 p.m. to consider matters of employment.

The district board also met for a retreat Feb. 2 and reviewed the current budget status and discussed matters of labor negotiations during the executive session that followed.

Jennifer DeMent, the director of finance, Bill Farver, vice president of college services, and Mark Denney, the budget officer, led a financial forecast presentation.

Included were updates on the two-year budget plan to close a $8.6 million funding gap and statistics on enrollment and projected revenues for MHCC. For more information on the financial presentation and a general update of the MHCC budget, please see Page 4.

Will West & the Friendly Strangers performed yesterday during the monthly First Thursday event in the Student Union. The band is composed of seven people including a banjo, percussionist and two guitarists. First Thursday took place from noon to 1 p.m.

February to host upcoming SAB events, kicks off with Lunar New Year Jackie Garrity The Advocate

Budget Information

The Student Activities Board (SAB) is continuing its February events with the Lunar New Year celebrations, which run 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Union.

Later on Tuesday, SAB will host a Lonely Hearts Open Mic night, at 6 p.m. in the Jazz Café.

According to SAB’s seasonal planner, Erica Fuller, the Open Mic event “is all about letting your talents shine. Come and enjoy the talents of your fellow Saints and listen to Rudy Francisco, a San Diego, poet who is known for enlightening the minds of those who witness his amazing performance,” she said.

There are still spots available. Contestants are automatically entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card. Sign-ups close at 3 p.m. today in the Vista Dining Center. Those interested should contact Fuller at sabsec@mhcc.edu and inquire about being a featured performer.

On Feb. 20, MHCC students will have a chance to meet Dillon Garcia, a comedian who has been featured on Comedy Central, during Mental Health Awareness Day. This event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union, with Garcia performing at noon.

“Students can come stop by and get a green ribbon in support of Mental Health Awareness, and get a good laugh in poking fun at themselves with Dillon,” said event coordinator Sami Stoecker.

Activities planned for the Mental Health Fair include Mental Health Bingo and “Wheel of Health” Trivia. Refreshments also will be served.

Garcia started as a comic at age 16 and in the short time since has opened for such acts as Nick Swardson, Dave Chappelle and Gabriel Iglesias. Garcia has performed all over the country and been featured on Comedy Central, American Latino Television, Google TV and MTV. Students will have a chance to play Bingo for food and prizes from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Student Union.

On March 5, students will be treated to a “Chill Out!” stress relief event featuring musician Mikey Wax. This event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Jazz Café. Students can build their own ice cream sundae, get a free five-minute massage or even play Twister. SAB is hoping students will “learn stress-coping and study skills, make new friends, and walk away with some cool SAB prizes,” Stoecker said.

SAB is always looking for volunteers. To get involved, you can contact its director, Kristen Stewart, at asgdsab@mhcc.edu. Stewart said SAB activities are funded through student fee dollars, so its goal to provide the students with helpful events.

“All of the events that we put on here at MHCC are to benefit the students, whether that is through providing them with a meal and a place to relax and listen to a comedian for the afternoon, or a presentation that they can attend on how to handle stress,” Stewart said.

Closing the $8.6 million gap

$2.3 million earned through the $5 per credit tuition increase last year Hiring 10 part-time teachers last year instead of 10 full-time teachers saved $700,000

Catching students who try to keep financial aid after dropping classes, saved $250,000 Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) went up 5 percent and will raise another 3 percent in July

Combined furlough days from full-time faculty and management equal $200,000 saved

Hiring a new dean and creating a grant development office would cost the college $250,000

Weekly Event Planner Event Details

Description

Lunar New Year

Celebrate by decorating lanterns, sharing lunch, watching dragon dancing, information about Asian culture.

Lonely Hearts Open Mic Night

Gives students and staff the chance to express talents through poetry, music, art, or stand-up comedy. Signing up will put you into a drawing for a $100 gift card. Sign-up by 3 p.m. today in the Student Union.

Dillon Garcia Comedy Show

Hosted comedian performance.

Light refreshments will be provided and student trivia games that students can perticipate in to win prizes.

BINGO Night

Fun game night filled with BINGO madness! Food and prizes will be given away.

Tuesday 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Student Union

Tuesday 6 - 7:30pm Jazz Café

Wednesday, Feb. 20 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Student Union Thursday, Feb. 21 5 - 7 p.m.

Student Union

10 Sports Photos by Jonathon Long/The Advocate

Feb. 8, 2013

Left: Freshman Mercedes Smelser battles for a rebound with a Lane player in Saturday’s loss to the Titans (83-39). Top right: Sophomore Hannah Mocaby put up nine eight points and nine rebounds in last night’s loss to Portland Community College. Bottom: Freshman Hannah Lopez makes a quick pass towards a teammate under the basket on Saturday.

Saints drop two games; final stretch approaches John Tkebuchava The Advocate

The MHCC Saints fell to both Portland Community College and Lane Community College this past week.

The Saints are now 0-9 in the Southern Region and 2-18 overall.

The PCC Panthers are ranked just above MHCC in the South with a 2-7 record (3-16 overall) with both of their regional wins coming at the expense of Mt. Hood.

The Lane Titans currently sit at 8-1 in the South (22-1 overall) and are ranked second in the region, behind Clackamas Community College

(9-0).

Heading into the Lane game, the Saints were aware of the challenge ahead of them.

“When you play a team like Lane, you look to be competitive and set some goals and shoot for those. I am not concerned about winning the game; I am concerned that we continue to make forward progress,” said head coach Jocelyn McIntire.

When the dust had settled Saturday in the MHCC gym, the Saints had fallen once again to Lane, 83-39.

In general, the team had a slow day on offense but sophomore guard Sadie Jenks and freshman forward Kirsten Shockman led the way, each

finishing with nine points.

On the other side of the court, four Lane players scored in double digits, including Tori Mchaffie with 14 points.

The Saints also struggled with offensive rebounds, which accounted for around 20 percent of all game rebounds, but were consistent on defense once again with 58 total stops.

In their Wednesday game against the Panthers in North Portland, the Saints lost 73-58, but kept the score close until halftime, ending in a 28-28 deadlock.

Rallying the offense, the Panthers proceeded to outscore the Saints 4530 in the second half to pull away for the win.

Rebounds were concern for the Saints, who totaled 23 rebounds to 53 for PCC. Though the team finished with a 31 percent shooting average, MHCC had a good day offensively beyond the arc, finishing with 33 points on three-pointers.

Building on her success in recent games, Jenks put on one of the best performances offensively of any Saint this season, scoring 20 points.

With only five games and a little over two weeks left until the Southern Region playoffs, the Saints’ season might be coming to a rapid close.

With communication, ball handling and scoring being an issue for Saints in past weeks, McIntire said the team “has shown some growth in blocking out and rebounding, so that is great to see.

“Also, I think our communication and team chemistry has started to move forward in a positive direction,” she said.

The team will face Umpqua (148) in a home game at 2 p.m. Saturday, before heading to Clackamas Community College on Wednesday.

Clackamas is the top-ranked team in the Southern Region, with a 19-3 overall record, and is undefeated in region play.

This season’s performance by young Blazers team exceeds expectations Coming into this season, everyone thought the Trail blazers would be rebuilding and looking to get a high draft pick for this years draft.

I expected them too for sure, but right now they are proving us all Aaron Marshall wrong.

The Advocate 49 games into the season, with a 25-24 record, they are definitely playing better than expected.

Rookie and future franchise player Damian Lillard has played amazing so far this year. He has won rookie of the month three straight times for November, December, and January. He has played in all 49 games this year and is averaging 18 points per game and six assists per game. He is also consistent from the foul line shooting wit 85 percent accuracy.

Although Lillard was the 6th pick in last year’s draft, he is expected to win rookie of the year. Number one overall pick Anthony Davis has played good averaging 13 points per game and seven rebounds per game. The Hornets have not played well this season with a 16-33 record, so as such, he is not expected to win.

Both players will be involved in All-Star weekend along with other young players in the Rising Stars Challenge, formerly known as rookies vs. sophomores.

Forward Lamarcus Aldridge will also be in Houston for all-star weekend as he was selected to play for the western conference in the all-star game. This is his 2nd selection playing last year also. All-star weekend begins Feb. 15 and ends on the Feb. 17. Alridge has had a good year so far averaging 20 points per game and nine rebounds per game. In general, he has played better than earlier in the season. He has had six straight double-double games which includes games against the Mavericks and the Clippers.

At the start of the season, it was fair to say that everyone was bagging on forward Nicolas Batum and his new contract of $46 million, which goes towards the next four years. Everyone said he did not deserve it but now obviously things have changed. He is averaging 15 points per game and couple weeks ago he had two triple doubles in the same week. He is a big part of Portland’s future.

Along with all this efficiency come difficulties, The trade deadline is coming up on the 21 of this month and talks have been about forward J.J. Hickson who has been playing center all season and averages a doubledouble with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

No one knows if they will keep him and try to finish the season strong and compete for the playoffs or trade him and try to get a good draft pick this year. Although, it has been said that this year’s draft class is not that good. I think they should keep Hickson and try and compete and get to the playoffs.

Even though they have probably the worst bench in the league, they play well together and anything can happen if they stay healthy and stay consistent. With Lillard, Aldridge, and Batum the Blazers have a bright future to look to.

Role players Wesley Matthews and big man Hickson will make this team even better. This upcoming offseason, they just need to develop a bench and get pieces in free agency to make the roster better.

Sports

the advocate

Sport

SC

entral

Ducks and Beavs have decent showing at national signing day as SEC rakes in the talent

Shaun Lutz The Advocate When recruits inked their names on letters of intent for their future college programs, both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University seemed to be at a disadvantage compared to the LSUs and Alabamas of the college football world.

Let’s take a look around the country.

The SEC dominance has created a legendary stranglehold on college football.

As national signing day came and went Wednesday, three of the consensus top five recruiting classes belong to the Southeastern Conference, with two-time defending national champion Alabama leading the way.

The Florida Gators and the Ole Miss Rebels join the Crimson Tide in the top five as SEC representatives. Ole Miss landed a slew of five-star recruits, including the top-rated offensive lineman in Laremy Tunsil and the number

one overall recruit, Robert Nkemdiche.

Nkemdiche joins his older brother Denzel to be a part of a Rebel defense that became loaded overnight. Another addition to the Ole Miss defense includes second-ranked safety Antonio Connor.

The Rebels didn’t stop there, attracting the nation’s top overall wide receiver when Laquon Treadwell committed to their program. They ranked fifth after signing day.

Alabama brought in highly revered Derrick Henry, the highest-rated linebacker in Reuben Foster, and the second-ranked wide receiver in the nation, Robert Foster, among others to make the number one recruiting class in the country.

Ohio State, led by recruiting guru Urban Meyer, and Notre Dame also made the top five recruiting classes for 2013. Along with the drama that goes with where the major recruits look to sign included the story of Myles Crosby. Crosby is an 18-year-old high school senior from Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas.

The young man modeled for Calvin Klein last year, as well as being featured in several ads for Esquire, GQ, and Vanity Fair among other advertising spots, but passed up a modeling career to pursue college football offers.

His decision was reportedly based on his passion for football and the chance to earn a post-high school education. Then came the story of highly touted running back Alex Collins, the four star recruit out of Plantation, Fla.

Planning on signing with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Collins’ mother apparently “confiscated” his letter of intent when the thought of her son leaving the area became too much for her to get over.

Signing day certainly brings out the raw emotion of many families. As for the two squads in our backyard, both the Ducks and the Beavers had respectable signing day results. Oregon took a local approach, grabbing one of the most talented running backs in the country in Thomas Tyner, a senior at Aloha High School. Evan Voeller, the

and the Nike brand attached, as well as recent national prominence, helps the Ducks but losing Chip Kelly was thought to hurt the program. After losing running back Dontre Wilson to Ohio State, some thought it would create a domino effect for recruits to leave, but new head coach Mark Helfrich maintained expectations at a high level of excellence in Eugene by keeping the majority of their class.

As for the Beavers, they were able to attract one of ESPN’s top 300 recruits when Westlake High School corner back Dashon Hunt committed

“The SEC dominance has created a legendary stranglehold on college football.” monster offensive guard from West Linn, also signed with the Ducks as well as Doug Brenner from Portland’s Jesuit High School.

After elite defensive end Torrodney Prevot decommitted from USC Wednesday, he selected Oregon as his eventual landing spot.

Prevot wasn’t the only key signee as they were also able to lock down twins Tyree and Tyrell Robinson out of San Diego, attributing to U of O’s 26th nationally ranked recruiting class.

Of course, having Phil Knight

to OSU, yet they received no committments from any players within the state, ranking 46th nationall with their 2013 recruiting class.

With Oregon State returning 15 of 22 opening day starters, and Oregon bringing back 14 of theirs, signing day wasn’t as pivotal to the Oregon rosters as they were to teams who were senior heavy.

That being said, both addressed areas of need and move forward toward two hopefully bright and competitive seasons in the great Pacific Northwest.

- Blazers/College Basketball - Blazers -

- Ducks -

Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets

Oregon

Portland St.

Utah

Southern Utah

Today, 5 p.m. on Comcast Sportsnet

Saturday, 5 p.m. on Pac12 Network

Thursday, 7:45 p.m. at Stotts Center

at

- Portland St. -

at

11

Photos by Jonathon Long/The Advocate

12 Sports

Saints get pumped in huddle before Saturday’s game against Lane Community College.

Saints fight for playoff position as season winds down Saints get revenge against Lane Community College, winning 84-72, but fall behind late to Portland Community College in a 82-71 loss Aaron Marshall The Advocate

The men’s basketball team started off hot last week by beating Lane Community College, one of the best teams in the conference, but fell to Portland Community College Wednesday.

The Saints were unable to match their Saturday success against Lane when they met the Panthers in North Portland and lost to 82-71.

“Their guards were aggressive. They played well and we did not execute like we should,” said head coach Geoff Gibor.

Guard Landon Rushton had team-high 17 points with eight coming from free throws. Starters Colby Mitchell and Updike each scored in double figures with 16 and 15, respectively.

The Saints shot 40 percent throughout the game. “We missed a lot of easy looks,” said Gibor. “When you miss lay-ups you lose games. They had good shooters and down the stretch hit big shots.”

MHCC won its last game with PCC, 78-65, on Jan. 9.

“They (PCC) played harder this time. We got outrebounded, and you have to win the rebound battle, so that was a big blow for us,” said Gibor.

In the loss, only three MHCC players scored in double figures. “Players need to get more touches, but it depends on the game and who were playing. I think (Mac) Johnson needs to shoot the ball more,” said Gibor.

The Saints are now 4-5 in conference, 8-13 overall.

Hang up your towel – pool closures on the horizon

Saturday’s game against Lane was a different story. Freshman Blake Updike was the high scorer for MHCC with 24 points total, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line, as the Saints won by 12 points, 84-72, in Eugene.

Freshmen starters Landon Rushton and Kyl McMaster also scored in double figures, with 14 and 10, respectively. McMaster also had 10 rebounds for a double-double. Overall, the Saints won the rebound battle, 35-23.

“Since (the first loss to Lane, 93-56, on Jan. 5), we have developed as a team. We played more focused and we were comfortable. It’s always a advantage when you are comfortable,” said Gibor.

The team shot 61 percent throughout the game, shooting 24 of 39 from the field. The team also shot 7 of 14 from beyond the three-point arc.

“We had good looks in the post and we shot the ball consistently throughout the game,” said Gibor.

On Saturday at 4 p.m., the Saints host Umpqua Community College, who are 3-6 in conference and 6-14 overall. The teams previously met on Jan. 12 and MHCC won, 74-73.

On Wednesday, the Saints will play Clackamas at 7:30 p.m. in Oregon City “Against Umpqua, we have an advantage down low. We have to get rebounds and play aggressive. With five games left, we have to commit and play hard,” said Gibor.

“Down the stretch, we’ve got to control the composure of games. Rebounding is also key,” he added.

Put away your goggles and snorkels: Swimming is not much of an option for anybody this weekend or next in the MHCC pools.

MHCC will host the Mt. Hood Conference high school championships today and Saturday. The swimming pools will be closed all day Saturday, but only until 5:30 today.

Freshman Mac Johnson goes up for a lay-up against Lane on Saturday.

The Aquatics Center will also host the OSAA high school swimming championship for the 27th time, from Feb. 1516. The rock wall and all other pools will be closed during that weekend.

Tickets for the championship meet are $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Because this annual event draws such a big crowd, there will be a great need for

volunteers. Volunteers will be needed to direct the large crowd and distribute shirts and other items to the public.

If you would like to volunteer or find out more information on this event, you can contact either Katie Heilsberg, Steven Hula, or Donna Ryan, all located in the Aquatics Center, at 503-491-7421.

- Hayden Hunter