The Advocate - Issue 3 - November 13, 2020

Volume 55, Issue 3 November 13, 2020 advocate-online.net

FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS

Possible breakthrough in identifying COVID-19 symptoms PAGE 2

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Netflix original series: 'Queen's Gambit' PAGE 3

2020 race: democracy and divide between parties PAGE 4

Transitions ASG PRESIDENT BIDS FAREWELL PAGE 6

Luis Arce wins Bolivia election

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

NEW AI MAY HELP IDENTIFY COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES BY SOUND OF COUGHING Terris Harned The Advocate

I recently had a dental examination. Before allowing me to make an appointment, I was asked a series of questions: Have you recently been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? Have you had a COVID-19 test in the past 14 days? Have you experienced any COVID-19 symptoms? Have you recently travelled abroad?

Then, when I went to the appointment two days later, I had to answer all the same questions, and then they used a digital no-touch thermometer to check my temperature.

“97.3,” the volunteer announced.

“You’re free to go on in.”

But what if I was an asymptomatic carrier? Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients display no symptoms of the coronavirus infection. They can, however, spread the disease to healthy people, who in turn may spread it to others, whether they become symptomatic themselves or not. This has been one of the biggest issues facing the control of COVID-19 and is why social distancing regulations are as severe as they are.

Now, there may be a dramatic innovation to help solve this problem.

Thanks to a new, artificial intelligence (AI) test engineered by researchers at MIT, it may soon be a simple matter indeed to discover asymptomatic COVID-19 positive cases. The best part of this new test? It could be free to administer. A paper recently published in the IEEE Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology shows that an AI model has been created that seemingly can accurately distinguish between healthy and asymptomatic but COVID-19 positive individuals, through forced-cough recordings.

Tens of thousands of people submitted forced-cough recordings – i.e., when your doctor says, “Cough for me” and listens to your chest through a stethoscope. Instead, people voluntarily submitted recordings through web browsers, cellphones and laptops. Researchers discovered

that the new AI could identify 98.5% of coughs from people who were confirmed to have COVID-19. Of people who were asymptomatic but tested positive for the virus, the AI model was able to identify with 100% accuracy.

This could turn out to be a massive breakthrough in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Take, for example, the quantum leap in checking on elementary school students – tens of millions who have

been stuck at home for months, now. Imagine if every student at their school were required to do a home check-in, before even leaving the house every morning.

That check in could be a simple cough into a phone-app.

No temperature reading, no series of questions, just a quick “cough, cough.”

And, should the quick test find a “hit,” instead of that pupil exposing hundreds of students and staff to potential infection, they instead would stay home and schedule a doctor’s appointment.

“The effective implementation of this group diagnostic tool could diminish the spread of the pandemic if everyone uses it before going to a classroom, a factory, or a restaurant,” Brian Subirana, a co-author of

for the students by the students Co Editors-in-Chief Daniella Young Brad Le Arts & Entertainment Editors [Positions Open]

Graphic Design Editor [Position Open]

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Copy Editor Chris Barney

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Staff Writers Laura J Clement Ash Espinoza Carson Koch Kandy LeFebvre Terris Harned Marin Thorsen Tyrnan Mcgivney Melanie Roberts Christopher Prado

the research paper, told MIT News.

Hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved and containment of the virus could begin in earnest.

The simple, immediate check could be especially helpful in plugging the hole in America’s testing approach, to date. People who are asymptomatic do not typically get tested unless someone in their immediate proximity is diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. For one thing, testing supplies are simply too limited. Also, each test performed on someone who is diagnosed as COVID-19 negative is a test that, in theory, could have been used to test someone who, indeed, is found to be positive and could then have quarantined themselves to prevent further infections.

This is especially good news, given the New York Times reported Friday that the United States has set an allnew daily record for number of coronavirus cases, with two dozen states reporting their worst-ever weeks for increased cases and no states reporting improvements.

Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator to the virus for the White House, told governors Friday that a full one-third of Web Photo. the country, over 1,200 counties, are considered coronavirus hot-spots.

Using AI technology to diagnose respiratory ailments isn’t exactly new. An article posted to docwirenews.com on June 7, 2019, reported that AI technology developed

by Curtin University and The University of Queensland, Australia, was used to accurately diagnose pneumonia, croup, asthma, and other lung ailments in patients.

The MIT team responsible for the research paper is currently working on creating a user-friendly app, which will need FDA approval. Once that is achieved, we could all be breathing a little easier in regards not only to the coronavirus pandemic, but future outbreaks as well.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2020

‘QUEEN’S GAMBIT’: IT’S MORE THAN JUST CHESS Allston and Alma Wheatley. Here, she rediscovers both forces that drive her – chess and Librium.

The Advocate Beth eventually enters her first chess WARNING: This review contains some slight to tournament, where moderate spoilers. she meets many characters who will Queen’s pawn to d4: In chess, this opening move (for become lifelong white) is known as the “Queen’s Gambit.” It is the oldest friends.

Harry Beltik recorded opening for the game of chess, dating back to the (Harry Melling) falls 1490s. It didn’t gain widespread popularity until a chess to her chess prowess tournament in Vienna, in 1873. and her charms, alike.

On the other hand, the Netflix original “The Queen’s Twin brothers Mike Gambit,” based upon the novel of the same name by and Matt (Russel and Matthew Lewis, respectively) are Walter Tevis, is a limited series rapidly gaining popularity also impressed by her acumen with the game. right now, and for good reason.

Chess becomes Beth’s entire world and is inseparably Some would argue that Queen’s Gambit is a series linked with her drug and eventual alcohol abuse. Many about chess. While chess is a very popular characters of the series subject in the show, I would say that challenge her mental state, it is more about coming of age, facing concerned with her singleadversity, and finding your family. minded focus on the board and Elizabeth Harmon, or as she prefers recreational pastimes. As with to be called, Beth, is played by Anya any good story, the protagonist Taylor-Joy, who took the role of the titular must hit the bottom before she character in the 2020 release of “Emma,” a can reach the top. film based on the novel of the same name And reach the bottom she

by Jane Austen. Her younger self is played does. Thankfully, those people

by Isla Jonston. she has encountered over the Beth is orphaned at the age of 8, in years rally around her, though the late 1950s, and is delivered unto the many of them have been hurt Methuen Home for Girls. It is here at by her distance, brusqueness, Methuen that she encounters two things or even outright dismissal. that will form who she is for the rest of her Even still, the lesson learned life: chess, and drugs. here is that families stick The orphanage lines girls up every together. Even those families morning to take “vitamins.” One of these formed from bonds of love, so-called vitamins is the tranquilizer and not by blood.

Librium, or at least a fictional version This is the charm of Queen’s called Xanzolam (Beth later specifically Gambit.

The relationships that asks for Librium by name). Her first Beth forms, the losses she experience with the drug frankly knocks endures, and the adversities she her on her rear. overcomes.

Fans of chess will Under the advice of one of Methuen’s Web Graphic. The Netflix original series “The Queen’s Gambit” is based on the novel by Walter Tevis. likely appreciate the finer details fellow residents, a colorful young black that went into the story, but even woman named Jolene (played by Moses Ingram), those who have no knowledge of the game will find plenty night and envisioning the chess board on the ceiling of the Beth begins to take the tranquilizers only at night, and to enjoy about the journey she travels. dormitory where she and the other girls sleep. sometimes even stockpiles them to take several at once.

Things take a turn for the worse for her after she One day while cleaning chalkboard erasers in the basement, she encounters the orphanage’s janitor, Mr. overdoses on the drug and is forbidden to play chess by Shaibel (Bill Camp) playing chess against himself. She Methuen’s headmistress. Time goes by for the girl, who is at the orphanage until she’s adopted at 15 years of age by

Terris Harned

watches the man play for a while, mystified by the game, but eventually returns to class. Later, she sneaks back into the basement and beseeches Shaibel to teach her the game. He initially refuses, telling her that chess isn’t a game for girls.

Through tenacity and spunk, young Beth does convince Shaibel to teach her. In the first game he plays against her he uses the fourmove chess win called “the Web Graphic. scholar’s mate.” Her reaction is priceless indignation, and she demands to play again.

Time progresses, and Shaibel discovers that Beth is a chess prodigy. Meanwhile, she is using the tranquilizers at

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Chris Barney, The Advocate’s copy editor, is a second-year student in Mt. Hood’s Mechatronics program. When he isn’t in class or copyediting, he likes to spend time with friends, do creative activities, and play games of (almost) all varieties. While this virtual setting has been more challenging for him, he enjoys a good challenge – but truly looks forward to the day when things can reopen and be in person again.

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OPINION | COLUMN

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

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS Omar Carrillo The Advocate

In many ways, besides literally being the very next national election, the 2020 presidential race has followed the disillusioning tone of the 2016 race, for many voters.

One needs only to immerse themself in present-day political discourse for a second to realize just how much collective trauma we are still reeling from, after almost four years.

It is easy to assume this feeling is exclusive to one side of the major-party spectrum, but looking into the reactions of prominent Republican politicians and everyday voters’ immediate reactions following the 2016 result (and even now) shows that, for them, to say Donald Trump wasn’t/isn’t their first choice is an understatement. In the same way, for an innumerable amount of Democratic and politically-progressive voters, Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden wouldn’t have been their first choice, either.

Being a representative democracy, American politicians as currently elected will never fully satisfy the extremely varying and specific political viewpoints of the people they serve. The reality is, if any two

individuals are so rarely aligned in their perspectives, any leader who is meant to speak for thousands or even millions simply cannot match everyone’s personal standards.

The situation is made even trickier when one takes into account just how much a politician’s actual decision-making rarely exactly aligns with the attitudes they have so boldly and proudly expressed on the campaign trail. However, voting for someone with whom you may not completely agree is a far different situation than reluctantly simply voting for the “lesser of two evils” – a phrase infamously heard over and over again during those crucial months in 2016. Feeling so forced to support an individual you otherwise wouldn’t take a second glance at, because the alternative is that much worse, is antithetical to the purpose of democracy.

The U.S. is constantly criticized by its own citizens about how restricting an insistence on a primarily binary voting system is. Alternative parties do exist, of

“ALTERNATIVE PARTIES DO EXIST”

course, but the trouble is just how small their voices ultimately are in the great debate of American politics. That being said, there is a very relevant reason why the liberal/ conservative dichotomy has existed so long: This particular duel between ideologies is evidently the one being battled by the most people. Democratic and Republican candidates often have practically identical policies when pursuing their party’s nomination, and it is not at all uncommon for their voters’ decisions to be based around these politicians’ general attitudes and histories. This is certainly justified given the circumstances, but these are arguably the most subjective parts of their perceived “character,” things that will inevitably disappoint so many voters at one point or another.

There is a clear reason for the polarizing divide between these two parties in the American voting system, but it doesn’t make the bad taste in one’s mouth after voting for someone you have so little faith in go away any better.

The widespread disappointment felt by many Democrats, Republicans, and alternative-party voters after seeing the names printed firmly onto their ballots is a troubling sign of the true lack of control

so many citizens feel so heavily. Our lives depend on such a relatively small amount of people; the least the process could do is make us feel like we actually have a say in their selection.

It is the entire point of the democracy to know that a collective, though not uncontested, decision is being made. Being forced to take the side of the “lesser of two evils” with no meaningful choice otherwise is a destructive assault on this idea.

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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY REFLECTIONS Daniella Young The Advocate

World Mental Health Day took place a couple weeks ago, on Oct. 10, and I reflected on some moments this year that have been both positive and challenging.

Motivation for school and talking with peers has always helped me, as I’ve always been more of a shy person. The end of last year (my first at MHCC) was a little more challenging, as I missed seeing my friends, especially at The Advocate. I also feel for the high school seniors who didn’t get to spend as much time together at the end of their final year.

Since the pandemic began, it’s been interesting transitioning into online classes and a remote model. I definitely miss seeing peers and friends at school, as I think this

is an important part of the learning process.

Since the spring shutdown, I’ve used a few techniques for my mental health. I enjoy working out and listening to music, and those two things help me a lot. I also really

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enjoy writing, and expressing emotions through written work makes me feel good, too.

Growing up, I didn’t feel that I had that much anxiety, but I think it reached its peak

when I was in high school. It was harder to make friends at times, but I’m grateful for the friends I made along the way and the ones that will stay with me throughout my life.

I’ve found methods to cope with such anxiety, and talking with friends and keeping motivated with school and enjoying every moment has helped me a lot. I’ve also found hobbies that I enjoy, and in my free time I enjoy playing guitar and going for walks with my dog.

I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the past year since I’ve entered college about finding things to focus on, outside of school, at times (like The Advocate newspaper, which is super fun!) and this has motivated me both during, and beyond school.

I hope you can do the same and find similar methods and techniques to help if you’re feeling anxious or stressed, as well.

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

OPINION | COLUMN

LUIS ARCE’S VICTORY IN BOLIVIA

A WIN FOR DEMOCRACY Marin Thorsen The Advocate

On Oct. 18, a miracle happened in South America: Despite severe political tension in the country, the authoritarian tendencies of the Jeanine Añez administration, and the expectation of violence following the election, Bolivia had a clean and fair election.

Moreover, all candidates respected the results of the election and many of the international observers reported the election in favorable terms. Not only was it a decisive victory for the Movement of Socialism party (MAS), it was a victory for democracy in Bolivia.

The outcome is a reverse of a trend found so commonly in Latin America. From Chile’s Allende regime, to Argentina’s Perón era, to the removal of Brazil’s Goulart administration, all of these countries have seen democratically elected, populist governments fall under the crushing weight of their militaries, oftentimes backed by the CIA or more openly by the U.S. government.

The United States enjoys the privileges of having a military that doesn’t invade domestic policy Web Photo making. But in Latin America, it Former economy minister Luis Arce took office as president of Bolivia, inheriting was, and to an extent, still is, rare a nation struggling with pandemic and economic hardships. for the military to not be actively constitution was amended after candidates run in the first round; involved in the country’s politics. he took office. The court obliged – if it is a close race, all but the top The recent political crisis in Bolivia agreeing that he was sworn in with two candidates are eliminated and proved that this trend is still alive an outdated version, the justices those two compete in a second found that his first term legally did round. However, if the leading and well. not count in accordance with the candidate receives a majority of the votes (at least 50%) or receives current constitution.

SEEKING FOURTH TERM Morales was able to run again between 40 and 50% of the vote The l crisis began in November of last year, when general elections in 2019 because of a separate while being at least 10% ahead of supreme court decision where the the nearest contender, that person were held.

Prior to then, Evo Morales justices ruled that denying him to wins the presidency outright, and had been the president of Bolivia run in the general election was a no second round is held.

To complicate matters, Bolivia since 2006 and was running for violation of his human rights.

The controversy fueled by the also has a quick-count system, his fourth term. The Bolivian Constitution initially only allowed second court ruling, particularly in which results are surveyed to the non-indigenous give analysts a rough idea of the for the president to hold two among consecutive terms. However, Bolivian population, was further results of the election before ballot Morales had managed to garner exacerbated on the eve of the counting is complete. The quick count showed Morales ahead of three terms, with a potential election in November.

In Bolivia, there is a two-round his top rival, Carlos Mesa, with fourth term ahead. He achieved his third term by appealing to the election cycle for president. This 45% percent to Mesa’s 38%. Based nation’s Supreme Court, since the essentially means that multiple on the rules of the election, it

seemed that the election might enter a second round. Yet after the formal ballot counting concluded, Morales had won 47% of the vote, compared to Mesa’s 36%, handing Morales the immediate victory.

MILITARY STEPS IN Suspicious, the opposition demanded a second round, anyway.

Shortly after, the Organization of American States, or OAS, audited the election results under the request of President Morales. The audit report was critical of the election, alleging that election fraud and tampering took place.

The OAS called for new elections, along with a new election commission. Later investigation of the election would criticize the OAS report, finding various flaws in its methods of reporting. To this day, experts are divided on whether there was really enough evidence of election fraud.

Regardless, within hours Morales would oblige and announce a fresh election, with a new election commission. But this did not stop opposition protesters calling for him to step down and, two hours after the declaration of new elections, Bolivian military leaders “recommended” that he resign from office.

Morales would resign that day, following the resignation of most of his cabinet. With the collapse of the Morales government, the next person in line of succession for president was a senator, Jeanine Áñez, an outspoken opponent of the ruling MAS party.

SURPRISE TURN For the past year, she led a right-wing, caretaker government intent on silencing dissidents, suppressing protesters and her political opponents, and attacking journalists. With the military behind her and the delay of elections that were supposed to be held earlier this year, Bolivia never seemed so close, in recent times, to slipping into an authoritarian regime.

Then, this month’s election was held without serious incident, something that caught me off guard. The runaway winner was socialist Luis Arce, economic minister under Morales, gaining more than a 20% lead and thus avoiding a second round of voting.

Bolivia’s luck is not universal in Latin American countries, and the country should count this as a blessing. Many left-wing, populist governments have been overthrown in military coup d’etats, sometimes under the direction of the CIA or other American institutions.

This is because left-wing, and particularly, left-wing, populist governments have been known to be uncooperative to American interests in the region (including business interests). Especially during the Cold War, the U.S. was known for supporting coup d’etats that favored our own interests in the name of “democracy.” This, despite many of these engineered governments being significantly more authoritarian than the “undemocratic” leadership from which they were claiming to rescue the country.

History has told us to be extremely skeptical of the military’s role in politics. From Caesar’s Rome to Pinochet’s Chile, military involvement often comes at the price of democracy. Whether identifying as left-wing or rightwing, we must acknowledge when the military “recommends” that you resign, it is not a mere request – it is a threat and prelude to a coup.

And if that threat is legitimized by allowing the opposition to bypass election results that were unfavorable to them, what is to stop neighboring country’s militaries from similarly installing regimes favorable to their interests?

Hence, MAS’s victory was in part a message to the Bolivian military that its people do not condone military intervention into domestic politics. And as supporters of democracy, we should see that this recent outcome is as it should be.

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NEWS

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

ASG PRESIDENT RESIGNS; WHAT’S NEXT WITH ASG? the 2020-21 school year this summer.

However, she resigned shortly thereafter, before this Fall Term began.

Efforts by The Advocate to contact Moir have gone unanswered. But an official statement from the MHCC District Communications office said the departure was due to “personal obligations that limited her ability to take on additional responsibilities at this time.”

The statement concluded, “We wish her the best in her studies at MHCC this year and beyond.”

In a successive move, the school administration has decided to again pursue a selection process for the position of ASG president and vice president, rather than a new election.

This was due to the lack of candidates, according to official correspondence

by ASG adviser Rozina Lethe: “Due to a small number of applications coming in the department made the decision to hold a selection process for the positions,” Lethe wrote.

Lethe said the advertisement for the vacant offices were spread through social media, student emails and wordof-mouth in (remote) classes by ASG members. Candidate applications were due on Oct. 9, but the response was determined to be too low. While the move to bypass an election remains controversial to some, ASG activities do continue – for instance, the virtual “Be Kind to your Mind” stress-reduction discussion on Nov. 5, and the upcoming virtual Town Hall session with MHCC President Lisa Skari hosted by the ASG team, set for Nov. 24. And leaders hope that there Photo provided by LilyBelle Moir and taken by Elle Moir.

LilyBelle Moir says goodbye to ASG as she embarks on a new journey. will be more applicants for several other remains vacant this autumn. In a controversial decision vacant ASG offices, such as academic Brad Le in the Spring Term of 2020 – called anti-democratic by affairs representative and vice president. Any enrolled The Advocate some past ASG leaders – MHCC Student Life decided student who is interested should contact Lethe at Mt. Hood’s Associated Student Government (ASG) to select the ASG president by an application process, rozina.lethe@mhcc.edu. president, LilyBelle Moir, has resigned and her seat instead of an election. Moir was named as president for

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