The Advocate - Issue 10 - April 30, 2021

Volume 55, Issue 10 April 30, 2021 advocate-online.net

FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS

Possible solutions for Portland's homeless crisis PAGE 2

Police shootings in the U.S PAGE 4

STEPS INVOLVED IN GETTING THE VACCINE PAGE 3

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Jazz Festival 2021 PAGE 4

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OPINION | COLUMN

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

PERMANENT SOLUTIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR PORTLAND’S WORSENING HOMELESS CRISIS Brianne Burgess The Advocate

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic The Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program (HUCIRP) reported between 40 to 60 campsite removals per week in the city.

After the onset of the pandemic in 2020 these sweeps performed by HUCIRP have been much less frequent, at a number closer to three times a week. Halting these sweeps has highlighted Portland’s homeless crisis. The increase in visibility of the city’s unsheltered community has become immensely apparent, and the garbage surrounding these areas is overwhelming.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon reported that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual survey concluded “One out of every ten unhoused people is a military veteran. One-inseven has been identified by HUD as having a serious mental illness. A fifth of unhoused Oregonians reported being a victim of domestic violence. And nearly a third are families.”

Homelessness is a complex issue that requires varied responses on how to incorporate long-term solutions.

These can be reasons why a person chooses the streets over shelter, each experience individual to that person. Some feel safer with their community on the streets; some are unable to stop drug use. Some are experiencing low income and high rent; a lack of mental health resources; or credit issues

“IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO BECOME ACTIVE IN A CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE, VOLUNTEERBASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE PLANNING MASS CLEANUPS.”

or past debt issues and/or criminal history.

All of these make finding permanent housing in a traditional sense a challenge.

A program called Housing First by Join PDX, a nonprofit organization, prioritizes permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness.

In their mission statement, the group suggests that housing is a foundation for life i mprove me nt .

Data has shown that those who receive permanent housing have a decrease in substance use, suffer fewer instances of domestic abuse and are more likely to continue living in stable housing. Housing First provides support services to the tenants they house. In addition to being a solution for the rehomed individuals, permanent housing is known to cut taxpayer costs for public services such as jails, hospitals and emergency shelters.

The findings from a similar nonprofit providing permanent housing to those seeking refuge documented an overall reduction in emergency service costs totaling over $31,000 saved per housed person.

Providing permanent housing can be the compassionate and affordable solution to our growing homelessness issue in Portland and across the U.S. The city seems to be finger pointing at whose responsibility

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is whose, in terms of the trash accumulating around Portland.

If you’re looking to become active in a change you want to see, volunteer-based organizations are planning mass cleanups.

Solve Oregon organizes volunteers to help clean up the city while being mindful of what is personal belongings and what isn’t, when clearing out trash and litter.

While the issues of Portland’s homelessness and trash problem are tangled in public opinion and the approval of state officials, various forms mutual aid will continue to benefit our varied communities.

for the students by the students Co Editors-in-Chief Daniella Young Brad Le News Editor Brad Le Opinion Editor Omar Carrillo Assistant News Editor Marin Thorsen

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Assistant Opinion Editor Brianne Burgess

Web Editor Daniella Young

Photo Team [Positions Open]

Arts & Entertainment Editor [Position Open]

Broadcast Producer Naethaniel Lile

Ad Manager [Position Open]

Graphic Design Editors Hannah Hart Mariah Johnson Mae Cossu

Broadcast A.D. [Position Open]

Copy Editor Chris Barney

Broadcast Hosts [Positions Open]

Staff Writers Ash Espinoza Marin Thorsen Omar Carrillo Brianne Burgess

Social Media Manager [Position Open]

Distribution Specialist [Position Open] Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck

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EDITORIAL

APRIL 30, 2021

THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND THE STEPS INVOLVED Already not exactly a stress-free group, college students in Multnomah County continue along an education path long revered for its social aspect entirely digitally instead – the result of a pandemic unparalleled in this century, and within an online infrastructure essentially nonexistent barely more than a year ago.

With well over half a million COVID casualties in the United States to date, it

simply be a disagreeable instructor.

As a publication having always been “the student voice of MHCC,” now is the time to wield a voice of collective experience toward those yet to receive their critical COVID vaccine dosage, several among us now being recipients ourselves.

It is also very much the time to take a clear, assertive position in the present debate regarding COVID-19 immunization.

is safe to say a great number of MHCC students have now lived through the trauma of a family member dying of a relentless disease, as well.

However, the nationwide vaccine development process, highly documented and anticipated, has reached its peak in the Portland metro area in terms of its availability: As of April 19, all residents age 16 and above can make an appointment for a shot. And college students must be among them, should we expect to see meaningful progress against the virus anytime soon.

While, yes, young adults (the primary age group of collegians) are comparatively at low risk of serious COVID complications, it is nevertheless in our collective best interest to seek immunization if we ever hope to return to a state of ‘normalcy,’ when the greatest curricular stress in our lives might

The vaccination rollout did not initially include the traditional college student age range, 18 to 22. Students diagnosed with high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 had early access to the vaccine, while others expressed a fear of supply becoming too limited before they were able to receive theirs, a concern shared

by Advocate contributors.

As the eligibility tiers opened to larger groups, such as food service workers and other frontline employees, labor categories our Advocate staff spill into, it created an ethical debate of whether or not Oregon was prioritizing our economy over the health of our communities. For instance, Oregon was one of the last states to begin vaccinating its seniors, in February.

We at The Advocate also shared a fair bit of curiosity and concern regarding the

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abundant conflicting information regarding the vaccine, how it actually operates within the body, and its purported harm.

What to expect Regardless, a highly systematic process awaits new vaccine recipients within the Oregon Convention Center (or the drivethrough site near the Portland airport, for those with mobility issues). Designed for maximum efficiency and minimal risk of exposure, long but quickly-moving lines guide adults from all walks of life toward numerous different specialists ready to begin administering the shots. It’s relatively a rather fast affair, taking less than an hour.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require a 15-minute monitoring period directly after one receives a dose, and a three- or four-week waiting period before the second dose (much different from the single-shot Johnson & Johnson, reapproved on April 23 for use in the U.S. after investigation of very rare, but serious complications.) Varying levels of fatigue for a few days, up to the feeling of “being hit by a truck” were among

and the medical practitioner, and the spread of unjustified mistrust of immunization has made the pathway out of this global crisis more problematic. It’s a terrible reality given that in relatively so little time innumerable lives have been destroyed by a now far-more combatable catastrophe.

No one guilty of fear-mongering fabrication or its dissemination will ever admit responsibility of doing so, and it is clear that merely attempting to counter false claims with correct ones is a futile effort when trying to reach groups living in a digital isolation. The deplatforming of nondebatably false, expert/researcher-rebutted ‘information’ is an all-too-necessary component of any successful fight, here.

Hundred of thousands of lives, in America alone, are the consequences of not having already done so.

It is quite natural to be skeptical of new and grand technological developments, but it is irresponsible to willingly remain ignorant of their function and purpose.

Disagreement toward anything and everything is inevitable, but it is selfish to deny others their safety chiefly in the interest of one’s own stubborness.

The immunized Advocate staff, our publication dedicated to the student body in particular, value the well-being of others just as much as our own, the very reason why seeking and receiving the COVID vaccine is something we consider a must for those who are able.

“IT IS ALSO VERY MUCH THE TIME TO TAKE A CLEAR, ASSERTIVE POSITION IN THE PRESENT DEBATE REGARDING COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION.” the symptoms commonly experienced by our staff before subsiding.

Mistrust, misinformation Meantime, we have come to accept, to a degree, the abundance of misinformation during an era in which it is especially easy to transmit – though, arguably, we really shouldn’t.

Vaccination is surely a step requiring a certain level of trust between the patient

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE

Cover by: Mariah Johnson On the cover: COVID-19 Maze Graphic.

Contact us!

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

Brad Le Co-Editor-in-Chief 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.

Brad Le serves as the Advocate’s Co-Editor-In-Chief in his second year at MHCC. Brad is always looking to create new niche hobbies and continue pursuing his existing hobbies outside of school such as his love to collect pens and shining his shoes. With a drive to be a mentor and a passion for helping out his community, Brad is in a dilemma between becoming a teacher or becoming a public servant for the state.

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NEWS | OPINION

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

JAZZ FESTIVAL 2021: WHAT TO EXPECT Daniella Young The Advocate

The 2021 Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, entirely free to the public and entirely online, will take place from this Friday, April 30, through Sunday, May 2.

Sessions will run 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with musical performances scheduled each day at 1 and 6 p.m.

Masterclasses, presentations that include a Q&A and webinar session for musicians and others with an interest, will be at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m all three days.

“It’s gonna be awesome,” said Dan Davey, coordinator of the Jazz Festival and music instructor at MHCC. There will be local and regional artists represented

during the festival, including MHCC faculty groups (with Davey among them, at 1 p.m. Friday) and groups from across the country.

One of the top military bands in the country, the U.S Army Blues, will perform at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Popular local groups the Charley Porter Quartet, and the Mel Brown Sextet, will perform

on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, respectively, both at 1 p.m.

Among the masterclass artitsts are trumpeters Trent Austin and Ingrid Jensen, and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.

“I wanted to bring them to the event,” said Davey, who said he’s excited about the lineup.

Access to the event can

be found at https://www. mhcc.edu/jazzfestival/.

Performances will be available over the weekend on the site and on Mt. Hood Jazz Festival social media accounts (Facebook and YouTube). Davey noted that some performances will most likely be taken down after the weekend, due to copyright law.

“IT’S GONNA BE AWESOME”

“DON’T SHOOT!” SHOOTINGS BY POLICE IN AMERICA Ashaura Espinoza The Advocate

I’m sure you have all seen the news, seen the names on social media and have mixed feelings.

Some of you may feel these deaths are justified for reasons or opinions of your own, but a lot of you are most likely like me: Horrified and angered by this ever-growing list, yet not surprised, because this isn’t a new story– just another new name and a new face, because police shootings/police brutality are nothing new.

I want to lightly address a topic that’s split right down the middle, the racial aspect of the issue, and I do feel race plays a huge part. As a person of color I have had, as have many of us, probably, “the talk” regarding how to act and behave if you are ever stopped by the police or are in a situation where police are involved, in order to make sure you make it home – not just alive,

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but safe.

My mom always used to say, “It doesn’t matter what you did; we can always address that later, just do as they say and get to the police station so we can make sure you get home.” And those words always stuck with me as I grew up because I have seen how police act when they feel a situation is “out of hand.”

It wasn’t fun, and it does stick with you. I don’t feel comfortable going into detail, nor do I feel it would be appreciated or appropriate, but as previously stated, the violence we’re seeing today is not new and it’s far from the first time it’s been caught on camera. According to Statista. com, in just the first three months of the new year (2021) there were a total of 213 fatal shootings by police in the U.S.: 50 of those shot were identified as Caucasian , 30 were African-American, 20 were Hispanic, and one was “other,” while 112 were classified as unknown. But the most troubling

part is a continued trend of African-Americans being shot at a much higher rate, based on population totals, than other groups – as the Statista data show for the years 2015-21.

Now, even though I feel race does play a big role in these shootings, do I think all cops are bad? Absolutely not, because for as many bad cops that I have met I have also met that many good cops – and they are unique, just like any other person. A badge doesn’t automatically make them different from us; it just means they are supposed to be looking out for our well-being and protecting us, and while a lot of them aren’t, that’s just what the media is showing us. We aren’t being shown the cop that helps the single mother by buying her groceries for her family, or the ones that take time to deliver presents to low-income kids and neighborhoods during Christmas time.

There are amazing police

officers out there that wear their badge with honor and pride, and take care to care for us and our families, and all they want is to make it home safely to their families.

And I feel that at the end of the day, we should take the phrase “lead by example” and run with it in this instance. Think of it like this: If a restaurant had a few “bad apples” it would be shut down immediately, so why do we allow these bad apples to roam our streets, using that badge as a shield?

I’m tired of seeing another hashtag made of a life that was taken because of something that could have been avoided. So, say these names and take care to remember them, because these persons’ suffering could have been avoided if we’d just been more mindful and taken care of a few bad apples.

“God Bless America” by Faith Ringgold