The Advocate - Volume 56 - Spring 2022 Edition

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Volume 56, Spring Issue May 31, 2022

FOR THE STUDENTS, BY THE STUDENTS

Softball wins NWAC Championship PAGE 16

College during COVID PAGE 4

The face of downtown PAGE 8

MHCC SPRING SPORTS EXCEL PAGES 15 AND 16

Being Trans and starting HRT PAGE 10

2019 FIRST PLACE

GENERAL EXCELLENCE Pacific Northwest Assoc. of Journalism Educators


FEATURE

A NEPALI NATIVE SHINES AT MT. HOOD Kelley Chang The Advocate

This month at The Advocate, we’re exploring history, stories and people in our community during Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Oregon. And if you visit the Learning Success Center/AVID center or the Room 1451 computer lab on the MHCC campus, you may see the person featured here, Karuna Rai. Karuna is always willing to help

Karuna and her parents and sisters.

those that have questions about either facility and can even in some instances give a little tutoring. She works at the computer lab under Mt. Hood’s federal Work Study program while earning her degree in the medical/health care field. She currently has a 3.2 grade point average and aspires to help people, as well as heal the sick. Karuna is 21, and originally comes from Nepal and has lived in the United States for the past 13 years in Gresham. She’s the middle

Karuna’s father in Nepal.

Karuna’s family at Powell Butte Nature Park.

child of three, with an older and younger sister. Her older sibling has also recently enrolled at MHCC. On her spare time, Karuna enjoys dancing, arts and crafts, hiking at places such as Powell Butte Nature Park in Portland, and traveling to Canada and through the continental U.S. She enjoys volunteering at her church teaching Sunday school, and also does community work at the Rockwood CDC (Community Development Corp.), specifically with the Nepali Community Garden. Karuna likes eating Nepali food but says there’s currently no Nepali restaurants available in northern Oregon. Her favorite foods include momo dumplings (perhaps now Nepal’s “national dish”), sel roti (a version of flatbread), and dal bhat (a series of small side dishes). Asked why her parents decided to immigrate to America, she replied, “For a better future… A better life.” She went on to say that her parents sacrificed so that she and her sisters could get an education and have a better life than they had. To go in-depth into Karuna’s roots, we must first take a trip to the Himalaya Mountains, which would require a long and strenuous road. Her family came from the small village of Khudunabari, about 300 miles outside (east) of the capital city of Kathmandu, located in Jhapa Province. Karuna’s father and mother were farmers in a caste system similar to “sharecroppers” in 1930s America. Their village had no electricity, and most tasks were done manually. The internet and other modern conveniences that we take for granted are something that may

for the students by the students Editorial Team Ashaura Espinoza Jay Schwartz Kelley Chang Shalynn Robinett

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Photographers Aquilina Larkins Jay Schwartz

Staff Contributors

Abdulrahman Alsuwailem Aurora Myers Brad Le Daniella Young Karuna Rai Kelley Chang Monique Moisoiu Makaya Smith Nell Little

Contributed photos

Karuna at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland.

seem a millennia away in some locations in that part of the world. Even things like running hot water or refrigerators are something that these villagers only hear about in folktales or stories from the very few villagers who migrate to Kathmandu or other cities of Nepal or India. When she was asked if she would like to say something that describes how she’s feeling about being profiled in The Advocate, Karuna smiled and said, “Namaste. It’s a Nepali greeting. It means the light within me bows to the light within you.” If you’re ever in the 1451 computer lab, stop by. There’s a good chance you may run

into the friendly, smiling and accommodating Karuna Rai. If you have any questions, surely she or the rest of the staff would be more than helpful.

Karuna in Nepal.

advocate-online.net Advisors

Dan Ernst Howard Buck


NEWS

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CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICA/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE

Kelley Chang The Advocate It’s the time of year; the “Merry Month of May,” that (usually) means spring is here – but it’s also officially Asian American/ Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This closer look features the history of the most overlooked and most times, forgotten, past of our Asian and Pacific Islander citizens’ migration, which would eventually lead to Portland’s rich and diverse population. For starters, a centuries-long series of events lead to the building of Pacific Northwest railroads and our city’s structure and its commerce. One delightful adventure that links to the past is the Lan Su Chinese Garden in the heart of downtown Portland in the Chinatown district. As you enter the garden, one can’t help but have a feeling of strong tradition as well as deep ancestry. It’s like a blast from sixteenth-century China. Upon entering, you notice a big courtyard, and words such as “breath taking” and “iconic” come to mind. You can see patrons dining alongside a large pond with intricate, old Asian designs epitomizing the continent’s culture and tradition. There’s a courtyard of

bonsai trees, Chinese plants, and flowers, as well as a waterfall that flows from a sixteenthcentury style rock structure. A walk on the garden path leads through an old-style Chinese tea house, which would most likely not exist today in modern China. A wooden structure building is constructed from teak wood that was commonly used hundreds of years ago. The Tao Tea House serves a small menu of authentic Chinese appetizers, as well as a wide range of flavored teas, at reasonable prices. A taste of Asia is right at your disposal. And seating to have lunch or drink a cup of tea on the pond and courtyard is abundant. Of course, they say “In order to tell a person’s future, you must first look at their past.” And this month, surely such a look out our history is worthy. Chinese immigrants were coming to America as far back as the mid-to-late 1800s, even as early as the 1700s. They were the first of a long wave of migration of many different ethnic Asians, and were primarily hired to build our railroads as well as provide cheap labor for plantations and farms throughout the continental United States. Asian immigrants at the time were seen as cheap and expendable labor. A lot of the

jobs they accepted most times were very dangerous and/or labor-intensive. The history of Chinese laborers coming to Portland stems from their expulsion from Seattle and surrounding cities in Washington. Chinese laborers flocked to Portland, where they were largely welcomed and seen as hardworking people. Over the years, Chinese businesses started popping up in and around Portland. Today, people can reminisce and also find descendants of the original Asian immigrants still living in Portland, as well as in other Oregon towns and cities. The Lan Su Garden is a nonprofit organization that accepts donations. Proceeds go towards daily shows and storytelling from different Asian cultures around the world, as well as cultural events from Pacific Island ethnicities such as Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian to name a few). Performances can include the Hawaiian hula song and dance, the Samoan slap dance, and Tahitian dance styles. As someone who is third-generation Chinese, as well as a native Hawaiian, I could not help but to have a strong feeling of pride as I entered the garden. It was overwhelming, as if I stepped back and I was there during the

time of my ancestors. I thought I heard voices of long-passed people who once walked those same downtown Portland streets. The feeling of a voice, not physically heard, but just a feeling of voices wanting to be heard, was strong. May is the month to teach our history – “our” meaning all those who reside in Portland presently. I suggest anyone stop the garden by any day; everyone is welcome. LAN SU GARDEN 239 NW Everett St., Portland 503-2288131 Summer Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.Last visitor entry/ticket booth closes 5:30 p.m. Admission: Free – members $14 – adult (age 19-61) $13 – senior (age 62 & over) / student (18+ with I.D.) $11 – youth (age 6-18) Free — child (5 and under) Adjacent street parking is available at regular downtown Portland rates.

Cover photo: Aquilina Larkins / The Advocate

Contact us! E-mail: advocate@mhcc.edu Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

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NEWS

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COLLEGE DURING COVID REOPENING COLLEGE CAMPUSES: STUDENT INTERVIEWS

Makayla Smith

is reopening at the right pace, Brooks said he believes that it is. Keisha Garadwey is another Mt. Hood student who also believes that the in-person tutoring has been a big help, even if the available times are limited. Garadwey does wish that the school offered more in-person classes and she believes that for the classes she does has that are in-person, the school is doing a good job keeping everyone safe by making sure that everyone is properly social distanced in the classrooms. She said, “I just wish more classes were on campus rather than online because I don’t do too well with online classes.”

The Advocate

Over the last two years now, we have all been struggling with the effects of COVID-19. Some lost family members, or their jobs. Another big struggle was figuring out how to go back to school. We saw many children and others struggle with online learning and many schools and colleges have been fighting to reopen and stay open, rather than to remain remote-only. After speaking with a few current students from different colleges, I learned what these students thought about how their colleges were doing with reopening their campus, and classes – including here at Mt. Hood. Are they moving too fast? Are they lacking in the amount of resources offered to help students if their classes are still online? Or are they doing exactly what they should be doing? I received mixed responses, and here will share them. Jill Romero is a sophomore at the University of Oregon majoring in psychology and minoring in special education. After the rise in COVID cases around Week Three of the current Winter Term, most U of O classes moved from in-person to Zoom classes again. Romero says, “A lot of professors made the decision (to move classes online) because the UO wasn’t doing anything, so a lot of professors said, ‘Okay, I’m just going to go online then if we aren’t going to do it collectively as a school.’ ” The option for professors to choose whether they wanted to teach online or in-person was something that I found was offered at a lot of schools. However, another approach Romero mentioned was that the very classes that ended up staying in-person were her big lecture classes that included around 100 students, which she found weird. Further, she believed that it was not smart for attendance to be mandatory for those big, in-person lecture classes. “For a couple of my classes there is no online choice. It’s either you come to [inperson] class or you don’t learn anything, which I think is stupid,” Romero added. A couple of her professors did also run a Zoom class while teaching their in-person class, in case a student couldn’t make it or they didn’t feel comfortable going, and she believes this is something that all in-person classes should offer. She also thinks that COVID testing should be required for all students who attend classes on campus, even if they live off-campus. At U of O, testing used to be required weekly for all students, but now (March 2022) it is only PA G E 4

required for students who live on-campus. STRICT RULES IN PLACE Liz Feirstein is junior at Pratt Institute in New York City and is studying photography and digital media and also minoring in psychology. As of right now, the campus is only open to students and faculty and not the general public, which also means that students are not allowed to bring nonstudents back on the grounds. Feirstein said Pratt students have the choice of in-person classes or online classes, rather than figuring out after they have already registered for the class which method

is offered. Similar to the U of O, whether or not the class is in-person is ultimately up to the professor. “We have studio classes and all of those are in-person because you cannot physically do those online,” Feirstein said. “Most of the professors who teach lecture classes opted for the classes to be online, but it is still their decision.” One thing different from most schools was that “in order to come back to the campus (in January 2022), you had to be fully vaccinated, have your booster, and also have to do weekly random testing, where every week about 300

to 400 students get randomly chosen to be COVID tested,” she noted. Feirstein believes that with all of the requirements for students to be on campus, her school is doing a good job with combating COVID and keeping it safe. MHCC: WANTING A BIT MORE SUPPORT Nymier Brooks is freshman here at Mt. Hood Community College and is majoring in business. At MHCC, most classes are still online; however, there are some lab classes that are being taught in-person because the material is something that cannot be taught

well online. Something Brooks stressed was the importance of in-person resources offered to Mt. Hood students, such as tutoring.“I think that not having all of the resources available five days a week is something they [administrators] could improve on,” he said. “Right now, the tutoring center is only open three days a week (for most subjects), but what about the other two days? They do have some online resources when the tutoring center is closed but a lot of students need that in-person help.” Still, when asked if he thinks the school

KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE Trong Nhan is a sophomore at University of Southern California studying neuroscience. USC is fully open but some courses still offer Zoom class options. Asked what he thinks about the different procedures the school is going through, Nhan said, “I do think there should be more options for hybrid classes. I also think that the required weekly COVID testing is a little over the top, as well as the requirement to wear surgical-grade masks.” However, he said he believes that what the university is doing is keeping COVID cases low so he wouldn’t change much about the actions they are taking. Nhan said he thinks that how USC is reopening now is much better than what it was doing early on during the most recent Omricron variant surge. “During the first two weeks (of Winter Semester) we were all online but during the third week, which was the peak of our COVID cases, they decided to open in-person classes back up, which surprised most students and it also raised our COVID cases,” he said. Similar to the Pratt Institute, USC requires students to have their COVID vaccination and a booster shot. They also require all students to do a daily online health check, which gives them a code and without that code, they cannot enter campus. Nhan says that he prefers in-person classes much more than those online, but he would still like the option of online or hybrid classes that are better organized than the ones he has now. • • • All told, the majority of the students that I spoke to felt like their schools were doing a good job handling this virus and keeping their students safe. While all the schools could be doing some things differently, most students felt safe and provided for.


NEWS

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BANNING CAMPS ALONG DANGEROUS ROADWAYS Shalynn Robinett The Advocate

If you drive through the Portland metro area, you’ve undoubtedly seen tents on the side of the roads and interstate highways. Many of these tents are steps away from heavy traffic, and some people agree that this is a dangerous place to live. This month, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) released a report stating that 70% of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents during 2021 were homeless last year, Portland mayor Ted Wheler decided to take action. “We can no longer justify allowing our most vulnerable community members to be exposed to the dangers of camping in freeway and high-crash corridors,” Wheeler said in a Feb. 3 press conference. He enacted an emergency ban, effective Feb. 4, that will prioritize clearing campsites along high crash areas by the city’s Impact Reduction Program. Exactly such a related incident that comes quickly to mind happened just last Dec. 5 when a driver veered off the highway and crashed into an occupied tent set up at the northbound Interstate-205 off-ramp to Southeast Powell Boulevard. The man inside the tent did not survive. However, several homeless advocacy

groups disagree with the mayor’s decision, including the Central City Concern, The Street Trust, and No More Freeways. The groups pointed out possible solutions they

governments can only remove homeless campers if there is sufficient shelter for each affected person, which there is not (Peel). There is no easy answer to this crisis, but a

Homeless camps draws controversy among the some groups.

believe are more appropriate to the situation, such as closing high-crash corridors, reducing speed limits, and increasing visibility at busy intersections. The groups also claim that poor roadway design, delayed maintenance, and reckless driving are to blame for the alarming rise in deaths (Peel). They also questioned the legality of this action citing the Martin v. Boise ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the federal 9th Circuit, which says

Photos By Jay Schwarts

personal experience has led me to believe that this ban is a step in the right direction to prevent traffic-related deaths to folks living near busy roadways. I was recently driving south along I-205 to I-84 early on a misty morning on my way to school at MHCC. I entered the tunnel that connects to I-84, and just as I was exiting, a man with a bike and a gas can jumped off the embankment right in front of me to cross to the other side. This was a blind spot

as I was in a tunnel, and I did not expect a man to jump out in front of me. I was going around 55 mph, and there was no time to slow down or stop. Fortunately, I avoided him, but it was a very close call that startled me. I disagree with the proposed solutions from the advocacy groups. Roadways are not designed with illegal camping in mind; they are designed for vehicle traffic. Of course, lower speeds can help with safety, but it won’t make a difference if an occupied tent is hit at 55 mph or 35 mph; both will lead to a fatality. In addition, camp occupants must travel to and from their camps to access supplies and services, crossing dangerous freeways not meant for pedestrians. And if these people are impaired by drugs, alcohol, or mental illness, this would only add to the danger of crossing. So, there is a daily risk, which could be prevented if these tents are set up in a different area. Do these advocacy groups have data to back their proposed solutions? How much will this cost, and where would the funding come from? If there is funding, I believe it should be allocated to housing instead of making the freeways safer for illegal camping. I hope that the city and advocacy groups can work together to develop a data-backed, feasible solution that brings safety to all.

START YOUR ENGINES FOR MHCC ‘CAR-MENCEMENT’ For a second straight year, Mt. Hood’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 11, will be a drive-through affair – with several improvements over last year’s version. College officials sent out a survey to all existing and potential 2021-22 graduates early this year to get feedback on options. Due to COVID safety restrictions in place during Winter and Spring terms, they said there was not time to plan a full, in-person event. More than 70 percent of those students

surveyed who responded wanted the drivethrough or similar type of event. Many also wished to have the traditional graduate cap, gown and diploma cover included, said Dawn Sallee-Justesen of Mt. Hood’s admissions, registration and records office. The “Car-mencement” will run similar to last year’s event, in which graduates will travel by car onto the MHCC Gresham campus, entering from the Stark Street entrance (“G” entrance).

They will be able to walk across a stage and receive their diploma from President Lisa Skari, set up near the 1700 Building opposite the Early Childhood Learning Center. This will be while family and friends can look on, from their car. This year, graduates can bring two vehicles with family and friends, and an additional waiting area, so that graduates can wait for the second vehicle or jump into another car, if needed.

Officials also have added a second selfie station for new graduates to capture the moment, with a nice backdrop. There will be a “cheer squad” of Mt. Hood faculty, staff, and volunteers lining the route, plus an MHCC band to add to the atmosphere, Sallee-Justesen said. Once again, however, the ceremony is closed to the public. For more details on procedures for graduates and others: MHCCcommencementflyer. PA G E 5


NEWS

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TONGA ERUPTION RATTLES OREGON Makayla Smith The Advocate

On Jan. 15 at around 5 p.m. local time, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted in the South Pacific Ocean – reported to be the biggest volcanic event in the world over the past three decades. This eruption produced a 260-km wide ash cloud and about 400,000 lightning strikes over the course of three hours. It also caused a tsunami with waves that were over a meter high and set off tsunami warnings on the U.S. West Coast. It was initially thought that Oregon’s coast could get waves reaching 3 or 4 feet high; however, the warning was lifted by Sunday morning. The highest waves recorded on the West Coast were in Port San Luis, California, reaching 4.3 feet. Oregonians were still warned to stay away from the beaches because of the strong and unpredictable currents caused by the tsunami that could easily pull people far out into the sea. One big question being asked about the massive eruption is if it will impact the world’s climate. In a New York Times article titled “Heard, Felt but Barely Seen: How a Volcano Severed Tonga From the World,” Sydney, Australia bureau chief Damien Cave wrote, “Although it appeared to be the largest eruption in the world in three decades, the explosion of the Hunga volcano on Saturday will very likely not have a temporary cooling effect on the global climate, as some past enormous eruptions have.” Unfortunately, the eruption did cause a significant amount of damage to the nearby area, including an ash deposit that will most likely cause environmental damage there for

the next few years. As of now, only three deaths have been confirmed from the eruption, but there is currently a “communication blackout” due to damage to an undersea cable, so the amount of damage that has been done is still unclear. Yet, in another New York Times article titled “Three Tiny Islands Have Borne the Brunt of Tonga’s Tsunami,” reporter Natasha Frost wrote, “Nomuka, Mango and Fonoifua [three of Tonga’s islands] were buffeted by waves almost 50 feet high, compared with waves of only 4 feet on Tongatapu. On Mango, brown and gray ash deposits now cover the entire island, and the settlement there, which once included a school and a simple, red-roofed church, appears to have been swept away, an analysis from the United Nations showed.” There also have been major concerns about air, food, and water contamination due to the amount of ash falling. As noted, Oregon was warned of a possible tsunami from the eruption – and it would not have been the first time the Oregon coast has experienced one. The most recent one came on March 11, 2011. The Oregon coast suffered waves 3 to 4 feet high as a result of the 9.1-magnitude Tohoku earthquake in Japan, where waves reached about 130 feet. Four people were

reportedly injured in Gold Beach and in California, one man was swept out to sea and drowned. A delayed wave later that day hit Port Orford’s marina in southern Oregon, and caused millions of dollars in damage. The biggest reported tsunami to hit the Oregon coast (in modern times) was on March 27, 1964. A magnitude 9.2 earthquake shook Prince William Sound, Alaska, the biggest earthquake the U.S. has ever had, and this sent large waves to the West Coast – as high as 12 feet. Bridges were torn down, houses flooded, powerlines were taken out, and four children got swept out to sea and drowned near Lincoln City while their parents were pinned down by the water. And while this time, there wasn’t much of an impact in Oregon, this month’s tsunami warning has given us another opportunity to prepare for the huge, offshore Cascadia subduction zone earthquake that the West Coast is overdue for.

Notable Oregon tsunamis Since 1854, 21 tsunamis have impacted the Oregon Coast, per the Oregon state Office of Emergency Management. · January 1700: approx. 9.0 magnitude Cascadia subduction zone earthquake off Oregon/Washington coast; tsunami devastates native communities and coastline · April 1946: 8.6 magnitude earthquake in Alaskan Aleutian Islands; surge reaches Oregon (kills more than 160 people in/near Hilo, Hawaii) · May 1960: 9.5 magnitude earthquake in Chile, South America; surge reaches Oregon (kills 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii) · March 1964: 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska; surge hits Oregon and West Coast, four children killed on central Oregon Coast, 11 killed in Crescent City, California · March 2011: 9.0 magnitude earthquake off Honshu Island, Japan: surge hits Oregon and West Coast, kills one person in northern California

Venture 2022

In Advocate kiosks this spring! History of Thrifting Drew Eubanks, Reynolds Star Rising Pacific Crest Trail Odyssey Music as Therapy Son of Spagg; King of Public Access The Queen of Troutdale

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NEWS

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A BRIDGE BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT CELEBATING THE MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY AT PORTLAND’S ONE MOTO Abdulrahman Alsuwailem

apply to motorcycles the same as cars and other four-wheeled vehicles. Almost all countries require their own driver’s licenses, and the holder needs to pass a special test to ensure that they have the necessary skill to use one. He or she may be required to wear a safety helmet and goggles to safeguard against the sun and dust. In many countries, many people rely on motorcycles to go to work or school, especially in France, Germany, Britain and Italy. But many drivers use them mainly for fun and sports.

The Advocate

America amazes us with its unique cultural diversity that combines innovation and originality. Many local and international cultural and entertainment events are held that attract tourists from around the world, trying to get to know American society closely. The hobby of motorcycle riding is highly popular and finds many audiences for it, part of the culture of American society that is emerging today and that attracts lovers of this vehicle from all over the world. A motorcycle, whether a two- or three-wheeled vehicle, is driven by a gasoline engine installed midway between the front and rear wheels. It has a more sturdy chassis than that of a regular bicycle, which itself is an evolution. The first real motorcycle was invented in 1885 by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler, who installed an engine on a regular bike. People in different countries of the world use a motorcycle for transportation, or for entertainment and sports. It is also used by policemen in pursuit, and

in organizing traffic, for its potential in easing movement between vehicles. Some fire departments use it to transport medical personnel to accident sites. And in large cities, the couriers use one to deliver documents and small parcels. In most countries, traffic rules

PORTLAND FESTIVAL And this is what we were able to see at the One Moto Show 2022 festival, held April 29 to May 1 in Portland at the historic Zidell Barge building in the South Waterfront district. I went with a friend to the event sponsored by One Moto, which specializes in organizing such festivals.The displays and organization were professional, attracting many photographers and visitors from different ages. It was a great feeling. Near the headquarters there was a special booth selling clothes for motorcyclists and a special place for getting haircuts, for those who want to keep their

styles up with their bodies. Also, there was a booth selling personal effects. In general, I came to find that in their private lives and way of living, the motorcycle hobbyists have their own uniform and a special body. In fact, they are more like a private society. I entered a huge bazaar that displays all kinds of old-style bikes, dating to more than 80 years ago. As we finished with viewing the latest new models, I realized I had thought that the design of the bike was in one form, until it became clear after discussion with one of the organizers that over the ages its manufacture passed through gradual stages, like many other inventions, where each stage takes a new trend in its time. We also had the opportunity to see some collectible classic cars

– the old models that express the way cars originated and how they evolved into what they are now are – of course, now very expensive due to their rarity. It is worth mentioning that the exhibition consisted of three periods of time: We saw the past and the present, and we can predict the future, based on the first two. Holding events like this is something that deserves attention because it highlights cultures and encourages joining them and getting to know them – and is also supporting learning the tributaries of the country from the social, cultural and economic aspect. We saw in the Portland festival the investor, the tourist, and the hobbyist all in one place that unites them with one common denominator, which is the motorcycle hobby. PA G E 7


ENTERTAINMENT

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

THE FACE OF DOWNTOWN

PDX SATURDAY MARKET: WHERE ART MEETS LIFE FOR THE WEEKEND Aurora Myers The Advocate

It would seem we are finally seeing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, which we have endured for the longest two years of our lives. As I walk through the neighborhoods and communities in and around Portland, I am becoming increasingly hopeful that our time with COVID is coming to an end – a gradual end, but an end, nonetheless. I see the cherry blossoms bursting to life as our spring has come upon us, serving as hope that we are finally getting our world back. And the cherry blossoms along the Portland riverfront and alongside the Portland Saturday Market are the blossoms I find myself most drawn to: As someone who grew up at the market, and has always called it my chosen family, I am increasingly motivated by its presence in our city. The Portland Saturday Market is back, holding over 150 vendors who sell their wares every Saturday to bring art, culture, and craft to all – locals and tourists alike – acting as the face of downtown Portland on the weekend. The market was heavily affected by the pandemic and threatened to go under from the economic crisis that affected all small businesses. But the members

of the small organization rallied and gave it a fighting chance to save hundreds of small businesses, not wanting to let go of the home and family they’ve known for so long. And so, it survived. What the market holds most dear is the passion and vigor of its many vendors. The market is the vessel for artisans and peddlers who have sold there for the duration of this beautiful market’s existence. In 2024, itwill celebrate its 50th anniversary as the longest-running and largest outdoor market in the country, and it wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for the members that kept it running. The market was first established in 1974 by two women, Sheri Teasdale and Andrea Scharf. Both were local artists who sold regularly at the Eugene Saturday Market. They got the idea to create a new selling place for local artists in Portland and pitched the idea to as many artists in the area as they knew. The participants soon accumulated to be sufficient to start a regular market in Oldtown Portland, with the goal of making locally produced arts and foods accessible to the people of Portland and the tourists that came to visit. A CIVIC TREASURE From the start, the market was open-air, as it continues today, with no plan for set-up. Vendors

would show up with their booths and products, communicating with other sellers to make sure they weren’t in each other’s way. The market started with about a dozen vendors and soon grew to where the collective had to hire staff and create a member-run committee to keep everything in order. Vendors would show up early in the morning to get first pick on spots, as some locations were better than others, and it soon became ritual – then, inspired the thoughtful “seven-oclock rule,” where no person could choose a spot before seven in the morning. The market grew quickly, becoming increasingly popular and truly becoming the face of downtown on the weekend. That made it necessary to create partnerships with the city and its ordinances, and soon gave it the opportunity to move underneath the Burnside Bridge in 1975. In May 2009, when vendor count had grown over a hundred, the market moved to the newly constructed, paved plinth in the neighboring Waterfront Park and the plaza next to the Skidmore Fountain, where it now operates. There are only a few original vendors left who still sell at the market, as most of them have long since retired. Still, several have left their businesses to their offspring

Above left: The Portland Saturday Market sign. Above right: Opening day circa 1974. Right: Present day Saturday Market. PA G E 8

to run, which makes this market all the richer, allowing it to keep thriving with the new blood, the youth who grew up drinking in the knowledge of everyone at the market who contributed to their lives. The market has a variety of arts to offer, solely the handiwork of its dedicated vendors – from the 2D paintings, drawings, and even CGI art that hangs on one’s wall, gorgeous pottery like that I find myself honored to sip my morning coffee from each morning, from a potter who has been there since the gathering was first established – to the stunning jewelry, clothing, and many unique forms of art, plus the variety of delicious cultural, creative foods offered. The skillfully shaped products you’ll find at the market and the experience you get purchasing them will be some of the most prized possessions and memories

you can obtain. When purchasing something there, you purchase a piece of history – a piece that holds the efforts and yes, sometimes, the blood, sweat, and tears, of the hands that made it. What I love most about the market are the people I encounter. Whether it’s customers or vendors, you will always meet diverse people from interesting places with positive dispositions, eager to experience the beauty of the market, the culture it attracts, all of Portland and everything it has to hold. You’ll never know what new treasures and lifelong memories you’ll find, what piece of history you’ll come away with, or the delightful people you will encounter. But you always know it will be one of the most genuine, happiest, and open places for you to ever visit.


ENTERTAINMENT

M AY 3 1 , 2 0 2 2

locs :

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE STYLE

Ashauara Espinoza The Advocate

There are millions of hairstyles in the world and each has its own story. The history fascinating, because each is a unique story. Our hair helps make us stand out, it makes us unique, but if we let certain styles fade out over time, not only are we losing out on a killer look, we are letting a part of history die along with it. So, let us take a look at the history behind the dreadlocks style. Dreadlocks are more than just a fashion statement. From Egyptians to Ethiopians, and from warriors to Islamic Dervishes, this hairdo is found all over the globe, not in just one region. That is because the style of “locs” were worn by people of power or people who were close to God. It is said that the style was originally founded in Egypt, or Crete. While in some cultures locs were the symbol of a warrior or of power, in Ethiopia they were the sign of unity or rebellion, so this style has more than one meaning behind it, depending on the culture because each culture has its own reasoning for wearing the style. You might be asking yourself, what exactly are dreadlocks? In ancient times, after taking vows or due to religious purposes, certain people would promise not to brush or even touch their hair, which would cause it to form locs – because the hair would keep growing and tangling, and even developing knots, and

over time it eventually would become matted. What was cool about the look was that it would begin to take on a snakelike appearance because of the texture of the hair. This look was referred to as locs , dreads or dreadlocks. Historians have actually documented primeval people (long before countries were formed) wearing long dreadlocks; again, this is a style not unique to just one culture, but to many. Hair is something a lot of us take pride in. We style it, spend hundreds of dollars on products to keep it healthy and looking its very best, and some of us even have a formal budget for haircuts and upkeep. Dreadlocks are a style that is rich in history, and I would be saddened to see such an awesome hairstyle slide into oblivion. So, the next time I see someone rockin’ this style, I’ll know there’s still a chance for this look to keep thriving! • • • After doing my research I managed to have a one-on-one Q&-A with a Thomas Singleton, a loctician based at Brenda’s Knotty Dreads in Portland’s Pearl District. Below are his responses: Q) How long have you been in the hair industry? Have you ever thought of doing something different? A) I started my career as a loctician in 2021. No. Q) What is your best memory of a style or client, and what is your worst?

A) My best memories at work come from clients that come in with incredibly messy hair. I love taking before/after videos to see the drastic differences after I work. My worst memories come from people on the outside of the business or potential clients that refuse to get their hair done by me because I’m half-Caucasian. It also pains me to hear clients tell me their stories of how they were shamed for having or wanting dreadlocks because they are Caucasian. Dreadlocks don’t belong to a skin color. Q) Do you feel like this style of hair is becoming less of a trend or do you feel like it is coming back in style now with the younger generation(s)? A) Dreadlocks are growing in Portland. I can’t speak for other parts of the country or world but I do see growth in Portland. My dream is to eventually normalize it as a hairstyle. Dreadlocks have often been misrepresented or believed to be a “dirty” hairstyle that is caused by neglect. There are some dreadlocks that fit that description, but they do not make up the entirety of the dreadlock community. There is another side of the dreadlock community that have entire hair care routines that ensure their dreads don’t look so “dreadful”. People go to see their loctician on a regular schedule to stay on top of their hair maintenance whether it be for a “professional” aesthetic in the workplace, or just to feel neat and put together.

Q) What are some tips you could give someone looking into getting dreads, or even just starting their journey? A) If you’re just starting dreads, especially with short hair, there is always a very awkward phase in the beginning where your hair looks pretty wild or “ugly”. Stick with it and get through the first couple months of having starter locs. They develop and mature as time goes by and they look better and better if you take care of them. Eventually you will end up with some glorious dreads as a result. Just gotta tough out the beginning. Q) What are some of the best styles you have ever done? Were they interesting to do, or more of a hassle? A) I don’t style dreads, I just create them based on the client’s desired thickness. I would say the most tedious dreads to create are the small ones. The smaller they are, the longer they take to do as a whole service because of how many you end up having to create. It’ll take me less time to create 50-65 medium size dreads rather than creating 100-plus smaller dreads. Q) Is this your main profession, or do you have any other jobs that you do on the side? A) Being a loctician is my main source of income. Q) Do you know how to do other styles besides dreads? If not, do you wish to learn at some point? A) Perhaps one day I’d like to learn how to braid.

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OPINION

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

BEING TRANS AND STARTING HRT Nell Little, They/Them The Advocate

As of today, April 7, 2022, I have started on my journey for Hormone Replacement Therapy. I have thought long and hard about this decision for months now, and to overcome my body dysphoria I have decided that this is the best choice for me, personally. That said, there is no right or wrong way to be transgender. You don’t need surgery or HRT to feel happy as you are, and anyone who thinks different has a problem. Trans people do not need politicians, peers, or family speaking for what their experience should be or what it is, because that’s our decision. Whether you wear a binder, walk around in a dress with a full beard, or don’t really show the label, I stand by you. Gender is a nuanced topic that no cis person can touch

upon to the extent that a trans person could, and gender is not as simple as pink or blue, XX or XY chromosomes, penis or vagina. For the cis people that read this and feel like I’m rehashing things that’ve already been said, then get ready to hear it again – because the world discriminating against us is very real and very lethal, and I’m not going to stop advocating for trans rights even if I die at the hands of someone who sees me as a threat. I’m no threat, and I think there’s much worse in the world than a person changing their gender, a choice that in no way affects another person’s function. Today, my doctors have prescribed me Estradiol in a 2-milligram pill to take daily. What I can expect from this is enlarged breasts, shrunken testicles, fewer erections, lower sex drives, mood swings, changes in fat distribution, and less muscle tone. These are all things I look forward to PA G E 1 0

and accept; however, there is risk. These include threats to the cardiovascular system, liver failure, and potential stroke. All of these are mitigated by the cessation of tobacco, exercise, and cardio – which I do consistently enough for this to not be an issue. Along with Estradiol, if I choose, I can also seek hormone blockers to make it so testosterone is not produced in my system. I have not thought about seeking these yet, because I’d rather start slow. All of this to say that this is my way of being trans. I am nonbinary, meaning I exist outside the spectrum of “man” or “woman.” Right now, I look like a man to those who aren’t in the know, and growing up this way made me uncomfortable in my own body. I take pride in my appearance and it’s hard to have pride when I look in the mirror and feel as though I am not within this skin that holds me. Estradiol may change that to the point of people thinking I am a woman, and that’s fine to me. I’d rather look the way I chose to look, just as cis people would. Just because I have different genitals means nothing: There are women with penises and men with vaginas, and if people really want to try and define gender by genitals, then they need to talk to actual, modern biologists rather than relying on simple biology from high school textbooks desperately in need of being updated. Not only this, but there are intersex people to combat this idea – persons born with varied anatomy – so if we were really to link gender only to genitalia, then people wouldn’t know where to put this differing factor. NOT AN ‘ENEMY’ Although I may now hold the privilege to be proudly out of the closet and seeking medical transitioning, the current state of America is one of disarray, over deciding whether or not people’s decisions are their own to make, yet again. As the powerful few try to talk over experiences they’ve never had, people find themselves entrapped into calling LGBT people “groomers” or pedophiles, despite the fact that any person in the LGBT community will tell you that we don’t align with these sickening criminals. This ideology is just spat out for the sake of creating enemies out of the people you likely share your work, classrooms, or home, with. What’s more, the banning of gender affirmation therapy will not stop people from being trans, but could lead to a higher suicide rate and deterioration of mental health because gender affirmation therapy is the therapy needed for transgender people. And by that I don’t mean that we stop being trans, but rather that we accept ourselves and feel brighter about our own future. I’m not going to stop being trans because a person tells me to, even if I got painful shocks into my head. This doesn’t stop something that is completely natural. That’s a fact, even if it only antagonizes further the people in power who try to talk over us and mitigate our chances of life.

Even within our “blue state” here in Oregon, there is still ignorance we need to combat, as too many people still fear their own children coming out of the closet as something awful. Too many parents refuse to do basic research on the subject and instead let FOX News or Newsmax do the talking for them.

TRANS AND LGBT RIGHTS HAVE YET TO FINISH COMING, BECAUSE UNTIL WE ARE SAFE TO WALK IN EVERY STATE AS OPEN AS WE WANT TO BE WITHOUT A BIGOT KILLING US, WE ARE NOT SAFE. Alongside this, some people like to give money to media that are often aligned against trans people – such as the work of famous author, known bigot, and loud voice in the fight to kill transgender people, J.K. Rowling. Rowling has been an advocate for “trans exclusionary radical feminism,” a flawed ideology that has played a key role in the passing of anti-trans and anti-LGBT legislation that seeks to define a woman solely by her reproductive property and nothing else, an ideology that many have described as hypocritical to feminism itself. Within this realm of media that secretly punish LGBT youth comes Disney, which has been caught donating to several anti-trans and anti-LGBT legislators and lawmakers in Florida. These transactions have caused outrage among Disney consumers and Disney workers that has led to various strikes at Disney parks. There’s even been the advocation by Disney higher-ups demanding that workers remove any LGBT pins sold in their own stores and, in some cases, the termination of employees who have spoken against the company’s terrible sense of decision-making. Trans and LGBT rights have yet to finish coming, because until we are safe to walk in every state as open as we want to be without a bigot killing us, we are not safe. Neither are we some scary boogeyman that’ll go away if you kill enough of us. We’re people that you likely have a lot in common with, and maybe instead, you should listen to us.


OPINION

M AY 31, 2022

OREGON’S FAILING ADDICTION TREATMENT Shalynn Robinett The Advocate

It isn’t a surprise to the average Oregonian living in urban areas to spot hypodermic needles when they are out and about: tossed in a corner at a MAX stop, stuffed in a crevice along a walking path, left on the side of a grocery store. Unfortunately, it is something that we see more and more often. What may come as a surprise is that Oregon ranked No. 1 in the entire nation in 2021 for methamphetamine and opioid abuse, fifth in alcohol abuse, and second in overall substance abuse. Even more disheartening is the fact Oregon sits at the bottom – in 50th place – for access to drug treatment services, according to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health.As personal and social stress levels have escalated due to the disruptions of COVID, people have had fewer options to cope with that stress. Physical activities and social connections haven’t been as easy or safe to participate in, which can lead to someone picking up drugs and alcohol, or using in more significant amounts. The pandemic exacerbated the problem for those individuals struggling with addiction before it started. New barriers to access to housing and health

care have compounded the challenges they already faced. Not having support has given birth to a perfect storm of loneliness, temptation, and relapse. According to the Oregon Health Authority, 700 people in Oregon died from a drug overdose in 2020, a 30% increase from 2019.You might remember back in 2018, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order declaring addiction a public health crisis. During this time, she signed two bills, HB 4134 and HB 4137. These bills tasked the state Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to create a plan to address substance abuse prevention and treatment. Later, in 2020, Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs. The supposed savings gained from not spending police or court money to enforce drug possession penalties, combined with new marijuana sales tax revenue, were to be used to fund new drug addiction treatment programs. My question is, just how exactly has the state money from these bills dedicated to addiction treatment been spent? The data show that Oregon has a deplorable amount of treatment options for people struggling with addiction, and clearly, the funding from these

THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION BEFORE IT STARTED. NEW BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE HAVE COMPOUNDED THE CHALLENGES THEY ALREADY FACED. bills was not appropriately allocated. We could instead take a page from the books of any of the other states on successful treatment options, and we would be better off. Turning a blind eye to this problem costs

lives. Hopefully, there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and the lawmakers of Oregon recognize and act on the need for immediate change.

THE STRUGGLE OF INVISIBLE DISABILITIES Nell Little

The Advocate This Christmas, one of my gifts is going to be my first tattoo. The tattoo I want will be below my right ear, and it will be an ‘audio off ’ symbol. This is significant to me because I am half deaf and I hope that this will act as a utility to let people on my right side know that I cannot hear them. The more time I spend contemplating this tattoo, the more time I reflect on my own life being half-deaf. It’s an odd thing to be, as it affects my relationships with people more than I thought it would. If I had one phrase to encompass my whole life, it would be “What?” and it does give off an effect with the people I spend time with, as most of them have to learn patience when it comes to conversing with me. Not only is it hard to hear what people say, but it’s hard for me to process what people are saying, making it so I will hear the sentence but not understand, thus asking again to have it repeated. Physical conversation takes a toll; I can only attempt to listen for so long, and this is why I mainly prefer texting. However,

some people think texting is not as personal and not as relevant as actual speaking, face-to-face or over the phone, so I am justifiably sucked into conversations that feel like an uphill battle. Specifically for my education, this is also why I prefer teachers to be less lecture-focused, as missing important details unfortunately becomes very easy with the minute lowering of the speaker’s tone. Sure, I could ask for that passage to be repeated, but I know I would hold up the class with the amount of times I want something repeated, as noting every vital detail can be taxing and bound for error. Not only is this issue attached to my deaf ear like an earring, but I was so used to having to accommodate for my own needs in an in-person class that returning to “normal” will require me to re-learn enduring this individual tax. This experience in an educational setting is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy – not only this, but I have to question how others feel with their specific disabilities. I remember seeing video after video of wheelchair users having excessive difficulty navigating college campuses as not only do the teachers/

administrators not make time for the wheelchair user to actually get to the class, but campuses themselves sometimes end up only claiming to be “wheelchair friendly” until they let the automatic door-opener go unrepaired for months on end or never consider the steepness of a ramp. For educational disabilities, each accommodation becomes individual and sometimes ignored by teachers asked to understand it because it’s “their class, their rules.” For me, I used to have a hearing aid during elementary school – arguably one of the worst times to introduce a bunch of immature adolescents to my disability, because “You seem so normal, why do you have that thing? Do you really need that? You’d be way cooler without it” was a common sentiment, something that can affect one’s selfperception for a long time. Now, I wish I had the chance to have a hearing aid in an effort to accept my self-image, but my insurance doesn’t cover it. For my minimum wage jobs outside this one, my managers demonized me and gravitated towards not trusting me with projects because I “took too long”

when it came to explaining the instructions for a project. Most workplaces do try to act as though they welcome anyone to work for them, but for me the most common sentiment has been liking my performance in the beginning and then gradually starting to dislike my effort more and more due to my “complicated method of understanding.” Workplaces say that they cannot legally discriminate, but all it takes is saying “no,” with no further explanation as to why they wouldn’t hire someone who’s “different.” My previous job involved me being a security guard, and I was required to wear an earpiece, meaning that not only could I not hear what was happening in front of me, but I also had to deal with trying to understand what was coming through the walkie while also attempting to monitor potential theft. Because of this, I had an extra difficult time trying to hear everyone, and the managers quickly started scheduling me less and less due to my “bad job performance” even though they wouldn’t accommodate my disability so that I could do my job more effectively. Discrimination usually isn’t

just flat-out insults, but rather a series of repetitive attitudes against someone, and the only reason why companies can claim to be inclusive is because that they don’t really care for minor or subtle attitude changes towards workers. The attitudes of this store’s managers were often very hostile towards workers, to the point of me having to repeat multiple times that they were on my deaf side and I couldn’t hear them, only for said managers to remain on that side and even switch to my deaf side when I tried rotating for myself to hear them. But it’s just a movement from one side to the other, it’s not a flat-out insult so, of course, the company is still deemed “inclusive” as they flick their lashes and show big innocent eyes before asking me why I didn’t hear their orders after they intentionally whispered them to me from my deaf side. As of right now, my tattoo appointment will happen soon, in early January, and I hope people will have an easier time trying to understand how to talk to me. It’s funny, I plan this tattoo as a utility for listening, but also I hope that it will really give a chance for people to hear me and others like me. PA G E 1 1


OPINION

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

FAST FASHION BREEDS GROWING HARM

Shalynn Rivas The Advocate

“Fast fashion”– a term used so often in the recent past that one might begin to think of it as a buzzword, instead of the business model that it truly is. And a highly damaging model, it turns out. Fast fashion is low-quality clothes made with cheap materials and sold at low prices. These clothing brands take ideas from high fashion and create replicas of the latest trends. The idea is to get these garments out to consumers quickly while they are at the top of their popularity. Unfortunately, these trendy clothes quickly phase out and are discarded, due to poor quality, after a few uses. The latest styles are sold right when consumers want them, and then taken off the racks when they don’t. These brands include Forever 21, Zara, Shein, Asos, Wish, and many more. This business model seems harmless, but a look at fast fashion’s impact on the planet tells a different story. NASTY IMPACTS Pressure to bring down costs and speed up production time comes at a steep cost to the environment. For example, these brands use cheap, toxic textile dyes that contain carcinogens. These dyes can cause

contact dermatitis, respiratory diseases, and irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. In addition, most of these garment factories are in low-income areas of China and Bangladesh, and these toxic dyes flood these communities’ waterways and contaminate their drinking water. Safety standards in these overseas garment factories are poor. Employees get lung disease caused by cotton dust and synthetic air particulates, while a lack of work breaks causes overuse injuries. Deaths have also resulted from these hazardous conditions, such as Bangladesh’s 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse. After cracks in the foundation of the eight-story Rana Plaza had been found, an immediate evacuation order for all building employees was issued, but the building owners neglected these warnings, and it collapsed the next day. Due to this negligence, 1,034 people were killed, and another 2,500 were injured. Fast fashion brands choose unregulated forms of manufacturing, which place affordability over safety. What’s more, these workers are also not paid a livable wage. One of the most used fabrics in fast fashion is polyester, derived from fossil fuels, and its microfibers

shed when washed, which adds to the rising levels of plastic in our waterways. But even “natural fabrics” can be a problem at the scale fast fashion demands. For example, conventional cotton requires an enormous amount of water and pesticides in developing countries, resulting in drought risk and creating stress on water sources, including competition with local communities’ needs. As a result, the fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water, producing 20% of global wastewater while generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all international airline flights and maritime shipping combined, according to the UN Environment Programme. PASS-DOWN PROBLEMS Fast production of these items causes consumers to dispose of more clothes than ever before, creating massive textile waste. When finished, people donate their used clothing, assuming that someone will reuse it. However, with the growing number of clothing items thrown out that are of poorer quality, less and less can be resold, and millions of garments are put into bales and shipped abroad every year. Whatever purveyors cannot sell in thrift stores gets sent to a salvage market in places such as

Ghana. One Ghana market receives around 15 million used clothing items from Western countries every week. Market traders upcycle these garments, but the process is becoming increasingly difficult, due to the poor quality of fast fashion garments. CBS News estimates that 40% of all the clothing bales sent to Ghana end up in landfills. Even worse, some unsold clothing washes out to beaches when it rains heavily, creating huge piles of clothes in the sand. A contributing factor to this overconsumption is that 1 in 3 young women who make up the bulk of fast-fashion consumers think garments worn once or twice are “old.” Online retailers use tailored strategies on social media that directly target young people and use influencers to promote their brand. Their followers can “swipe up” and instantly purchase an outfit worn by the media influencer. There is also an uptick in buy-now-pay-later options that do not require credit checks, making buying these items so quick and easy that it removes any moment for reflection and any barriers to purchase. NEW APPROACH NEEDED We need to rethink our fastfashion habits. We can’t continue to

make clothes that do not consider safety and the environment. Apparel brands need to take responsibility for the waste they’re creating by addressing the chemicals used, having transparent sourcing, using synthetic fabrics that don’t break down, and stopping the use of unsafe factories with unfair work practices. Moreover, as a global community we need to change how we consume fashion. We as consumers need to buy less clothing, and when we do, we need to make sure that it is more sustainable and of higher quality. Please, read labels before purchasing and look for natural organic fibers, nontoxic dyes, take-back programs, and ethical production. Reimagine your current wardrobe and upcycle something old to make it new, like taking old jeans and cutting them off to make shorts. There are plenty of free video tutorials on YouTube with great ideas and step-by-step instructions. Repair and keep garments that become damaged, or shop at local thrift stores and buy gently used previously owned clothing. These solutions will reduce the impact on the environment, reduce unnecessary waste, and promote safe working conditions for garment factory workers.

A TASTE OF ALOHA Kelley Chang

The Advocate Closing out the month of May, this a final piece on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, honoring those who paved the way for all of us to have a better life than we would’ve had in our countries of origin. We are no longer Asian Americans; due to our ancestors’ sacrifices over the centuries, we are now known simply as Americans. Aloha means hello, goodbye, and “I love you.” Taste of Aloha is translated into “taste of love” – and today our journey takes us to the restaurant Ohana Hawaiian Café. Ohana means family, which in the Hawaiian culture takes precedence over everything: Family comes first, even before our own individual ambitions and goals. Ohana Hawaiian Café (Ohana Café for short) has two locations in Oregon, one in PA G E 1 2

Milwaukie and the other, its flagship location on Northeast Sandy Boulevard near 63rd Avenue in Portland. I’ve often heard stories about the authenticity of Hawaiian cuisine at this restaurant, so I decided to try it. As you enter the restaurant you’re greeted by an employee, and this was a Hawaiian – for me, just the pure genuine feeling of meeting a person from the islands is refreshing. That familiar accent that I tried to lose over the years is what truly makes us people from Hawaii stand out. Our language, which we speak freely back home, is a mixture of English and Hawaiian that someone termed “pidgin” back in the day. Over the restaurant speakers, I heard a familiar Island sound called “Jawaiian,” which tunes Hawaiian music with a Reggae beat. The whole atmosphere just had a feel of Hawaii. In the distance, I could hear the patrons speaking our slang and lingo while carrying on with their meal.

We islanders love our food. In my experience all islanders, no matter from which part of the world, love our food and culture. Most often in Hawaii and the rest of Polynesia, food is used as a reward or celebration; it gives the village a chance to gather relatives or people you grew up with. I looked at the menu and I found familiar favorites you’d commonly see in every restaurant in Hawaii. Dishes such as Loco Moco, Hawaiian Barbeque ribs, Kalua Pig (Hawaiian pulled pork), Hawaiian mac salad, and the rice, of course. to name a few. And I haven’t gotten to the deserts yet (such as mouthwatering Haupia (coconut flan pie). One of the biggest favorites of Hawaiian people that’s on the menu is the Luau plate, which consists of a piece of pork wrapped in a taro leaf and roasted in an underground oven we call Imu. Luau in Hawaiian means to party, or gathering, and depending on how you use the word, to roast or cook. One of my favorites is the Loco Moco, which consists of a beef patty over rice with two eggs, over-easy, topped off by some kind of gravy. The mixture of flavors with egg yolk (what we call liquid

gold) is truly tasty. It’s described as “nutty,” from the yolk and creamy from the gravy. The Café owners were born and raised in Hawaii, which helps the authenticity of the cuisine, and have been in business since 2008. I can tell by the atmosphere that they bring Aloha to the workplace. Every employee (mostly Hawaiian people) has this air of welcoming and hospitality, giving me a feeling that I stepped back into Hawaii, when I lived there. Food will make or break a restaurant, but what is equally important is the service. Judging by the way the employees act there’s a sense of contentment with a little twist of fun in their attitude. As I once read (credit to hotel/casino entrepreneur Steve Wynn), “The greatest resource is a human resource” when dealing with how to treat employees. As we say in Hawaii, “No Pilikia” (no worries, no problems, tomorrow is another day). If you ever want to eat authentic Hawaiian food at decent prices stop by. You’ll get a true Hawaiian experience with your meal. Ohana Hawaiian Café is at 6320 NE Sandy Blvd. in Portland, open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.


ENTERTAINMENT

M AY 31, 2022

TWENTY ONE PILOTS: A CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER Ashaura Espinoza The Advocate

Do you all remember during the pandemic when concerts were strictly online as livestreams? I know you do. It wasn’t that long ago, but it certainly feels like it with everything going on in the world. Well, out of all those bands and artists I’m only talking about one, because they hold a special place in my heart and I know a lot of people feel the same: On May 21, 2021, Twenty One Pilots did their first and only livestream concert, where they pulled off a Las Vegas-worthy spectacle filled with different sets, amazing choreography and some awesome footwork from the leading man himself, Tyler Joseph. They had support dancers and singers, which is definitely new to see for a duo that normally does this stuff on their own. They even had Easter eggs thrown in for the fans that not only acknowledged their new album, but also brought a knowing nod from their fan base, the ever-knowing skeleton clique. Between the new songs and the fan favorites , the décor and the sets and just the overall energy, the band managed to bring to the table! It made you feel like you were right there with them, even though you were just watching through a livestream. Bringing us back to the present, with everything seemingly going back to a version of normal that’s not normal but as good as it gets – while back on tour the Pilots decided to take their livestream to the big screen in select theaters worldwide, for one night only

and an encore night in some theaters. It definitely was a gift from God, so to say, for some of us that missed that actual livestream. Not only were we getting to finally see the concert, but the band also included an extra 20 minutes of never-seen, behind-thescenes footage. I was lucky enough to score an early bird ticket for May 19, and it was definitely worth it! The moment I walked in, I was immediately immersed in energy. The theater was packed with fans of all ages, from small children to older adults, but in the moment age didn’t matter because we were all like children, giddy with excitement showing off various merchandise and talking about past concerts we had been to. When the lights dimmed, a loud cheer echoed off the walls before silence came. After the intro, as the movie continued people were quiet for sake of the enjoyment of others but that didn’t stop a soul from head banging and dancing around in their seats to songs we all knew and loved. It was almost magical in a sense of seeing one of my communities come together and being able to celebrate something like this with them. Even though this wasn’t a traditional concert, that didn’t stop anyone from having a good time. There was a

moment in the film, in one of the neverbefore-seen moments, where we got to take a look at Twenty One Pilots back when they were just starting out. They were playing side gigs and weren’t even sure if they were going to make it, but they knew that they wanted to and would do anything to make it happen. So, they gave this their all – and I can’t remember the exact quote from Tyler Joseph, but I remember he said that if it wasn’t for their fans, none of this would have been possible. It’s because of us that they continue to keep preserving and I thought that was not only so sweet but just amazing, that we, a fan base, helped make this possible. Being able to watch these two boys and to see their growth in this film and see how far they have come was truly inspiring. It shows that no matter who you are and where you start in life , you can always achieve your goals and nothing can hold you back from something if you truly desire it.

The Rose and the Wave Walking across a concrete bridge, waves crash against my heart. A flash of red,

a single rose on jagged rocks. Soft petals partially wilted, fragile. Momentarily beautiful, longing. Just out of reach from sprawling fingers of demise. The swift sheets of foam

flirt with thorns that pierce my soul. Gently, at first.

Sparkling and wild whispering promises. Salty tears rescind through

crevices. The gull stares, but doesn’t call. I surrender my heart. The ocean, shamelessly ascends. Lifting the rose, into the swelling sea. Shalynn Robinett

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OPINION

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

A CLOSER LOOK AT “CRY OF FEAR” Kevin Barth

The Advocate With Halloween approaching fast, there’s not a better time to indulge in horror in all its forms – old or new, slashers or zombies. As such, I’d like to share about my favorite horror game, one that doesn’t content itself with just scaring you but tries to sink its claws into your mind: a game called “Cry of Fear.” Finding its origins as a mod in 2012 before having a standalone release in 2013, Cry of Fear is a psychological survival horror game that has single-player and an optional multiplayer mode. The single-player mode will be the focus of this review, as it is the more interesting experience of the two. It should be noted that regardless of which mode you play through, gore and violence will be present, with depression, drug use, and suicide also playing notable roles in the game’s story. The single-player story follows a troubled young man named Simon as he tries to make his way home after getting caught in an accident and waking up in an alley. However, as he tries to make his way to the train station to return home, he finds himself coming face-to-face with monsters and a mad doctor, all the while having to question his sanity. The gameplay of Cry of Fear pulls on elements from firstperson shooters and survival horror games, with combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving being the main way you progress through the story. As you begin exploring the city, you’ll likely notice that, apart from the monsters, the dark streets are devoid of life. This helps foster a sense of loneliness and helps to get you in Simon’s head. The lonely quiet of the city streets and buildings is juxtaposed by the chaotic cacophony of the

“nightmare sequences,” where reality twists and contorts in horrid ways. As for the gameplay side of exploration, the first important thing to note is that the number of items you can carry around is limited to six items or weapons, with ammo being excluded from this. As such, there might be times where you must leave something behind and come back for it later. You can also set three items to quick slots, combine items in your inventory, or dual-wield some items, often a light source to help you navigate the dark city streets, for instance. The second big thing to note is that most items that can be picked up will usually pulse red or green, while readable notes are generally just pieces of paper lying on the ground, and both can be tucked away in alleyways or the corners of rooms. And with resources being limited, every item you can find helps. Lastly, to bridge the gap between exploration and combat, it is best to keep an eye out for tape recorders laying on the ground or other surfaces. These tape recorders serve as save points, and should you die in combat or fall to the environment, you’ll have to reload from a save, so make sure you save whenever you see one. Moving onto combat: You will mainly be making use of either melee weapons or guns. Guns are powerful, allowing you to kill the monsters you must face from more of a distance and a bit quicker. However, this power is curbed by the limited number of bullets that will be available to you. Furthermore, when reloading some guns, you will lose all the remaining bullets in the magazine, which makes the gravity of each bullet used even greater. Whether or not you end up saving ammo or not, melee weapons are something you will have to fall back on at some point, and that means the risk of taking damage. You can

double-tap the movement keys backwards or to either side to dodge in that direction, which can help you avoid damage when up close and personal with a threat. However, should you find yourself injured you might end up having to use a syringe to recover your health, hence why I made mention of drug use/abuse. And just like bullets for your guns, these tools are limited, meaning that combat is a balancing act of minimizing how much you get hit while making sure that you have the firepower to take down some of the nastier monsters and boss fights. A few other details worth mentioning: There are a couple sections that rely on platforming and certain parts of the game require you to make use of a technique called crouchjumping, which involves hitting the crouch button while you are jumping. Additionally, the game does have its issues. Certain sections of the game are brutal, with instant death being a constant threat that will send you back and you must do entire sections over and over until you do it perfectly. The limited amount of healing items and ammo combined with the limited number of save slots could very well make it next to impossible to progress in the single-player story and winding up with you having to restart from the very beginning. What’s more, the story within the multiplayer mode takes away from the single-player story’s strength. Despite such flaws, Cry of Fear is a solid horror game with a strong story and a fair amount of challenge. Its graphics are by no means pretty, but in my opinion do add to the game’s charm and help contribute to the feeling that something’s not quite right. If you are interested in playing the game and experiencing its chilling story for yourself, it is free to download and play on PC through the Steam game storefront, no strings attached.

POKEMON REMAKES A DISAPPOINTMENT Brad Le

The Advocate On Nov. 19, Pokémon released a remake of the fourth-generation games “Pokémon Diamond” and “Pokémon Pearl” – and the result is frankly underwhelming. Pokémon’s original fourthgeneration games remain one of the most important generations for the Pokémon franchise. Leading the charge were Diamond and Pearl, introduced in 2006. They famously featured the distinction of special and physical attack moves, which drastically changed the way Pokémon worked in battles. They also made many new Pokémon evolutions for several existing Pokémon, many of whom became iconic – such as Togekiss, which evolved from Togetic. Diamond and Pearl also introduced many of Pokémon’s most famous additions. Cynthia is widely considered to be the best Pokémon champion character, even to this day. Her ace Pokémon PA G E 1 4

Garchomp is also one of the most famous Pokémon in competition. Sinnoh’s legendaries are some of the most god-like beings, including Dialga and Palkia, who represent time and space, respectively, and Arceus, who might’ve created the entire Pokémon world – just to name a few. However, Diamond and Pearl were not perfect games and, in fact, had glaring problems, many of which were fixed in the third version of the game “Pokémon Platinum.” All that said, Pokémon’s current fourth-generation remakes, “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokémon Shining Pearl” (BDSP, as a whole) are ultimately a disappointment among fans. If the greatness of a remake is strictly measured in how closely the remake follows the original game with graphical improvements, then BDSP was an astounding success with its gorgeous redesign, though its return to Chibi style remains controversial. However, if you

measure a remake in capturing the spirit of the first game, then BDSP has proven to be a lazy remake. Pokémon BDSP’s most controversial decision was to not include the return of Generation Six’s mega evolution or to include any new evolutions for existing Pokémon. This generation was famous for its emphasis on Pokémon evolution, with Professor Rowan being specialized in Pokémon evolution. To not include mega evolutions or any new evolutionary forms is a waste of the original spirit. In addition, BDSP’s poor decision with the remake

was to use the weak Pokédex that was featured in the original games instead of the more robust Pokédex introduced in Pokémon Platinum. This only highlights the flaws of the original games. Some would argue that the purpose of a remake is to copy the original game on which it was based. However, Pokémon fans should not be advocating for this philosophy, as it contradicts the past history of Pokémon remakes. Pokémon’s “FireRed” and “LeafGreen,” its “HeartGold and SoulSilver” versions and its “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” versions famously

copied the original games they were based on and kept the features of the successor games. All three remake game editions allowed the transfer of Pokémon from succeeding generations, like how Swampert was available in FireRed and LeafGreen, and how Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire even kept the mega evolution mechanic. Pokémon fans were hoping that BDSP would follow the approach that made previous Pokémon remakes great, but instead the new version followed in the footsteps of “Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Let’s Go, Eevee!” games, where fans expressed similar disappointment in how they excluded many of the improvements the previous games have tried to make. In sum, Pokémon’s Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl ultimately prove to be a disappointment that only do the job of recapturing scripted accuracy at the cost of spiritual accuracy. We should expect better from Nintendo.


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SAINTS STARS SOAR AT NWAC TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP Kelley Chang The Advocate

Mt. Hood Community College is hosting the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) Track and Field championship meet this year – the first time since 2019, before COVID-19 struck. Due to the pandemic, many of these athletes have been idle for the last few years, when it comes to showing the NWAC and all the spectators what they’ve got. Everyone has got the taste for the big one, “NWAC champion” – and the bragging rights to say you are the best of the best and today is the day to make history, and be in the books for eternity. The favorite to win the women’s long jump is the Saints’ very own Ujunwa Nwokoma. It’s insanely criminal to talk about Nwokoma and the type of long jump numbers she’s putting out currently. The sophomore is a powerhouse and the one all other competitors are eyeing to beat. She is currently close to breaking the NWAC all-time record at 19.8 feet. This spring, she was marked at 19.5 feet, just 3 inches shy of the record. Specifically, in track and field a lot of times a tenth of a second, or in her case a few inches, are all what stands between being champion and second place. Nwokoma is no stranger to the Gresham

“MOST PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THEIR COMPETITORS’ TIMES AND NOT FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN PERFORMANCE.” Ujunwa Nwokoma womens long jump champion jumps for the win.

College and later he earned a pharmacy degree. Her mother is working as a nurse. Nwokoma has gotten track scholarship offers from a few four-year colleges, but is leaning toward Bushnell University in Eugene. As she puts it, she’s weighing options, but education is her main priority. She currently has a 3.7 GPA and is majoring in computer science. She aspires to be like her parents and get her bachelor’s degree. Asked if she had any nicknames, she said her teammates call her “Champ,” but added that “most people are always worried about their competitors’ times and not focusing on their own performance.” She prefers to look within herself, she said: “I don’t care what I did yesterday; I will show what I can do today.” Another of Mt. Hood’s dominating

Coach Steve Curtis and Mt. Hood womens hammer throw champion Alissa “Smash” McNutt.

“THROWERS DON’T HAVE FINISH LINES.”

Alissa McNutt warming up for her event.

area. At Clackamas High School, she and her teammates broke 4 x 100 meter, 4 x 200 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay records, while in college she’s currently dominating in the long jump. She comes from a long line of athletes. Her father, hailing from Nigeria, was a standout soccer player for Portland Community

athletes going into the NWAC meet is “Smash” Alissa McNutt, in the women’s hammer throw. You want to talk about “Beast Mode”: Smash is destroying all challengers, in her last meet throwing the hammer 21 feet farther then the second-place finisher. She enters the meet ranked No. 1 in the NWAC, throwing 165 feet.

As to why she’s throwing for Mt. Hood and not for a four-year school, McNutt said she didn’t throw the hammer in high school, and was a shot putter. Basketball was her true passion at the time and she spent most of her time developing her skills in basketball, rather than track and field – which was just something she did to stay active while not playing basketball. Fast forward to today and she is a force to be reckoned with. It turns out she comes from a family with history at Mt. Hood: Her mother threw the hammer here, and her father and uncle both were athletes, also. McNutt currently holds 3.7 GPA and is on schedule to attend Utah State University, majoring in liberal arts in the fall. The Aggies have already offered McNutt a scholarship to join their track and field team. Asked what inspires her, she quoted something her mom told her: “Throwers don’t have finish lines.” McNutt gives credit to her coaches, especially Saints hammer coach Steve Curtis. He has been at Mt Hood for the last five years, coaching the hammer throw, shot put, javelin, and discus. He was a “beast” in his own right, a three-time conference champ while competing at George Fox University.“I love working with kids. I try to help them get scholarships, so they can get an education and have a future,” said Curtis, explaining his desire to help students’ development. A ship cannot sail without its captain and the El Capitan of Mt. Hood track and field is Fernando Fantroy. Fantroy has coached the team for seven-plus years – four years as an assistant coach, two more as co-head coach, and now head coach the last two seasons. The 1984 Olympic hopeful was originally a football standout; like so many other multisport athletes, track was just something he

Photos by Aquilina Larkins

did on the off-season, he said.Fantroy says he makes time for all his athletes, waking at 4:30 a.m. most days and coming to Mt. Hood after he works a day job. He strives to treat all of his athletes fairly, whether they’re a champion or a

Head Coach Fernando Fantroy and Assistant Coach Kelly Holding.

freshman hopeful trying to make the team, he said: “I like kids. I make equal time for all that (are) on my team. I don’t play favorites.” That said, this chamionship tournament is the time for Mt. Hood’s favorites to give their best. This is the final event of the season; the competition is fierce. For some athletes, there’s always next year or the next level of competition; for others, it’s perhaps the last time they ever compete in track and field.

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” -Alan Armstrong PA G E 1 5


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A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

SAINTS SOFTBALL TAKES NWAC CHAMPIONSHIP! Aurora Myers The Advocate

The Mt. Hood softball team won the 2022 NWAC championship tournament last Sunday in Spokane, another proud moment in the Saints’ rich history. During their first full season back, after a forced pandemic hiatus, the Saints rose through the ranks of the Northwest Athletic Conference and clinched a playoff spot following a five-game win streak, which turned into a 10-game streak as they won each of their tournament games. They eventually beat the Bellevue Bulldogs in the final round of the championship 8-7 in extra innings (eight innings), after coming back from a 6-0 deficit. Saints players said they were nervous going into the playoffs. Mt. Hood had been in the final round of the tournament nine times since 2000, winning five of those, but the 2022 team has newer blood. All the women had yet to compete in this daunting tournament and have only been together at Mt. Hood for just six months, up to a year – including those who would end up being MVPs for the championship. Despite the nerves and anxiety going into this hard-earned experience, the team was also just thrilled and excited to be part of something so special. In the words of one player, the Saints rolled into Spokane last week “Pumped. Ecstatic. Loud.” Head Coach Brittany Hendrickson said it best: “I felt confident that our team would compete and were prepared as best they could be,” she said. And that’s all you could ask for. Even as terrifying as it may have seemed going in, the Saints knew they could come out on top. In the words of hard-hitting shortstop Leslie Main, “Our heart [was] unmatched,” and that’s what got them through. The energy and excitement of the team aided in increasing their level of confidence. They had special team events the week leading into NWAC tournament that increased the chemistry of the team, and their final practice on the field of their first tournament game helped them gain comfort in the environment. Their victory against Southwestern Oregon (SWOCC) in their third-round game – their South Division rivals were the tournament No. 1 seed – gave many of the Saints the confidence boost they needed. “After beating SWOCC,” explained centerfielder McKenzie Kosmicki, “we knew we could win the whole thing.” As the weekend in Spokane wore on, the team’s self-belief improved game-by-game. “[I] made the plays that needed to be made,” said Matlyn Leetch, second base/utility infielder. “I did my job in the lineup.” The final, title-winning game is something the Saints will remember for years to come. For perspective on their positive attitude, Leetch explained that after the first two Mt. Hood batters made outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, she had a feeling that she wouldn’t have to put her glove back. She just knew their last three batters would pull through for the win – and they did. Those batters being, Hope Burke, TRACK AND FIELD NWAC MEET RESULTS: Women’s long jump: Ujunwa Nwokoma, first place: 5.81 meters = 19 feet, 1 inch Women’s 100 meter dash: Ujunwa Nwokoma, third place: 12:59 seconds Women’s hammer throw: Alyssa McNutt, first place. 47.55 meters = 156 feet Women’s discus: Alyssa McNutt, second place. 40.16 meters = 131 feet, 9 inches PA G E 1 6

Photos: MHCC softball

Hailey Davis (the tournament MVP) and Kosmicki, the latter driving in Burke with a hit to right field to win the game.After their big win, the players couldn’t believe what they had just accomplished, many of them feeling like they were in a dream. One said that an outsider couldn’t have known they had just had a championship win, because of all their exhausted faces on the long drive home – it might have seemed like they had lost, instead. But big wins can take the life out of even the strongest players, and that’s just a testimony to the heart and soul that these players put into each play, against every team they went up against. That’s the feeling of victory. Some of the players and “Coach B” shared some of the most memorable parts of their trip. Leetch said her favorite memory was hugging her teammates and coaches after their final game and watching Coach B as she facetimed her parents at a Sonic drive-in after the game, with the biggest smile on her face as she told them about their win. For Main, it was seeing her family after winning the whole thing. “I started bawling my eyes out because I was so happy,” the shortstop said. “Hugging the people that have been there throughout this whole journey will forever lie as one of my favorite memories.” For Hendrickson, it was seeing pitcher/outfielder Marley Johnson – who pitched seven strong innings in relief in the Bellevue game, allowing the Saints to come back – participate in the Spokane Lilac Festival’s evening parade the night before. “After pitching us into the championship game, she was in a parade as the Happy Canyon Princess (on behalf of the Pendleton Roundup) representing her Native heritage (Walla Walla-Cayuse-Nez Perce),’ the coach said. “ It was such an amazing experience to get to have with our team.” Hendrickson said she’s proud to be the Saints’ coach, and not just as NWAC champions, but in her words, because “… they are also all amazing individuals who have represented Mt. Hood CC with such class, sportsmanship, and pride!” SOFTBALL HONORS/RESULTS Saints season record: 39-12 Tournament MVP: Hailey Davis, catcher All-Tournament Team members: DeLaney Duchek, utility infielder Marley Johnson, pitcher/infielder McKenzie Kosmicki, pitcher/outfielder Matlyn Leetch, second base/infielder

Their weekend in Spokane was no easy task – two games with major deficits, five different opponents, and ultimately only won champion of it all. The Saints took that win with everything they had. As their shortstop, Main, put it, “This sport is heartbreaking sometimes, but moments like these make it all worth it.”

TOP: Saints celebrate their victory. ABOVE: Alexia Geary at the plate. BELOW: Marley Johnson pitching.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Mt. Hood 15, Skagit Valley 0 (five innings) Mt. Hood 11, Everett 5 Mt. Hood 16, Southwestern Oregon 7 (five innings) Mt. Hood 8, Clackamas 5 Mt. Hood 8, Bellevue 7 (eight innings)


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