Volume 55, Issue 9 April 9, 2021 advocate-online.net
FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS
Louden Miller: Student Spotlight PAGE 4
Controversy over Dr. Seuss PAGE 3
STUDENT LOOKS FOR SOLUTIONS
PAGE 2
4
'Judas and the Black Messiah'
PAGE 4
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STUDENT ACTIVIST FIGHTS AGAINST COLLEGE STUDENT HOMELESSNESS Brad Le
The Advocate Homelessness continues to be an issue for many college students, with a recent #RealCollegeSurvey stating that over 52% of students across 17 Oregon community colleges reported being “housing insecure” during the COVID-19 pandemic – the biggest problem being paying rent and other expenses when they’ve lost their means of income. In an effort to solve those issues, MHCC student and TRIO ambassador Bakr Alkarawi has taken steps to help fight against student homelessness by pushing new state legislation in Salem to publicly support the Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS) program. ARCS is a pilot program that aims to solve homelessness for college students by giving a 50% subsidy to students that effectively caps monthly rent at $500-$525, helps pay off other household bills, and provides free access to the internet. Based on a model program out of Tacoma, Washington, Oregon collaborators in the effort include Portland State University, Portland Community College, MHCC, New
Avenues for Youth and College Housing Northwest. Funding so far has supported just under 20 students locally – and now the emphasis is on gaining new public money, through a proposed bill Alkarawi and others are promoting to state legislators. (At press deadline, no measure had yet been formally introduced in the 2021 Oregon Legislature.) According to Alkarawi, “ARCS was created by our community leaders who have observed a lack of state and federal response to the expanding issue of college student homelessness… It is cold right now and there are students who are sleeping in their cars.” While he hasn’t had any legislator openly reject the proposal to increase funding for ARCS, he knows the argument of a lack of resources (state money) is the main barrier. But Alkarawi said there is a “fundamental flaw” in that way of thinking, the message being Oregon lawmakers are “prioritizing something else over education, safety and the health, of the future of our humanity.” Alkarawi is a current Mt. Hood student who aims to become a physician, through Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Alkarawi became aware of ARCS when he faced eviction himself. With that assistance,
his own issue was resolved, but he became a passionate advocate, seeing many students like himself in housing jeopardy. Born in Iraq, Alkarawi came to the U.S. six years ago. ARCS takes special note of immigrant students such as himself, and other underrepresented minority students, who are particularly vulnerable to the COVID impact on their housing situation. “ARCS knows the needs of our students better than our government because they were created by the leaders of our local educational institutions and nonprofit organizations,” he said. Alkarawi has been able to survive with the help of many at Mt. Hood. He credits instructors Catherine Creech (biology), Jonathan Spindor (math), and Grace Richardson (reading) for being supportive in his efforts and encouraging him to continue in his endeavors, even going as far as to work with him individually on his assignments. He singles out Stephanie Haas (student resource specialist) for providing him with housing resources and continued support since earning his GED at MHCC, and John Sheehan (community resource coordinator) for his tailored approach to helping students and for helping him find housing security.
As far as his activism to reach legislators about ARCS, he credits his success to the MHCC Board of Education, Al Sigala (MHCC communications director) and college President Lisa Skari, who have all “amplified” his message, he said. He also thanks Mt. Hood instructor and state Sen. Chris Gorsek for his continued advocacy for homeless college students. “I think that our politicians can learn a thing or two from Senator Gorsek’s exemplary leadership. (He) truly represents our student needs and interests,” said Alkarawi, who insists that ARCS is a critical need in Oregon, and continues his own lobbying efforts to help those trying to become first-generation college students and create a better life, he said. “There is nothing more important than the safety, health and education of our children, which is exactly what ARCS is giving to our homeless students,” said Alkarawi. “We are the future of humanity and where humanity is taking its next step, which is why we are worth every bit of this investment.”
DEADLINE APRIL 9 FOR STUDENTS TO REGISTER FOR APRIL 22 ADVOCACY EVENT Daniella Young The Advocate
This Friday, April 9, is the deadline for Mt. Hood students to register and for a Zoom meeting with their state legislators during an April 22 Advocacy Event.
It is important for legislators to understand the challenges and reallife experiences of college students wth regard to proposed solutions such as Oregon HB 2835 (requiring and funding a benefits “navigator” for each state university and college to assist students). Hearing from
students helps to focus on key issues and how important certain programs and benefits are to their success. The April 22 Advocacy Event is coordinated with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and the Oregon Student Association, as well
as being involved with Pathways to Opportunity and the Hunger-Free Campus Campaign. Sign up here to register for, and then receive the Lobby Day Zoom session invite. For any questions or concerns, contact Kate Kinder (Dean, Career Pathways and Skills Training at
Portland Community College) at skinder@pcc.edu or Emma Kallaway (Government Relations Director, PCC) at emma.kallaway@ pcc.edu.
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OPINION | COLUMN
APRIL 9, 2021
DR. SUESS FIASCO OVERBLOWN Omar Carrillo The Advocate
There is no artwork that could ever truly exist in isolation. In fact, perhaps it is mostly a work’s deep, inherent connection to the world within which it was born that gives it the ability to compel a response as much as it may. But never has the world been entirely free from flaw. If a work is to be understood at least in part relative to the artist, with each being inseparable from their environment, then their prejudices must be inevitably confronted, as well. The eccentricity of the brightly saturated universes of Dr. Seuss (iconic pen name of children’s author Theodore Geisel), unable to be contained yet fully organized in rhyme, will always exist in the psyche of millions among us, his stories consistent favorites within the popular canon of children’s literature. Any reader who has experienced his short, whimsical narratives can tell you exactly the shape and texture of his hard-cover bound classics, even a pleasure to just hold. And it is exactly when one bears such fondly recollected moments when sharp criticism of those, or even merely related works, can be particularly difficult to address – no matter how rational said criticism may be. In early March, the Suess family estate announced its intention to cease the printing of several of Geisel’s books, including his pen name debut, “And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street,” specifically citing present racially insensitive content within the stories’ illustrations, particularly recurring caricatures of Asian characters. Thanks to the aforementioned reverence placed upon Suess’s works, this information simply could not have been publicly received without a substantial amount of “concern,” especially from a certain political demographic constantly panicked over a hypothetical “cancel culture”-led downfall of
civilization. However, cancel culture, as highly contentious the concept may be across the entire ideological spectrum, appears to have had nothing directly to do with the decision made by Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ decision. That being said, Geisel’s clear personal prejudices – obvious in quite a few of his works – has never exactly been a well-kept secret. His World War II-era political cartoons, infamously full of slant-eyed, buck-toothed Japanese and Japanese-American characters, are fairly commonly encountered in curriculum on the period. Sure, these drawings were no doubt “of their time,” even easier for white Americans to digest thanks to the war in the Pacific, but wildly inappropriate they remain. Inappropriate enough even during that period that the author would eventually express later in life his regret in having perpetuated such dangerous stereotypes. As troubling as it may be to contemplate, the man who so visibly held such a flawed perspective then had, and continues to have, an immeasurable influence on literary history. And while we shouldn’t let this reality induce hysteria, it shouldn’t be something to attempt to simply shrug off, either. Nobody is obligated to completely accept an artist as they were, and perhaps no one ever should. Geisel’s depictions surely existed, and it is for the best that we acknowledge and choose to learn from his greatly unfortunate perceptions of entire populations of people. Maybe it would have been best to continue to publish these works with the addition of a heartfelt disclaimer instead, better ensuring that an enlightening experience takes place within new readers. Regardless, the Suess estate’s choice on the matter has been made. One can only hope it is seen as an expression of compassion for marginalized peoples, rather than a thoughtless book burning. Web Graphic.
“NOBODY IS OBLIGATED TO COMPLETELY ACCEPT AN ARTIST AS THEY WERE, AND PERHAPS NO ONE EVER SHOULD.”
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Ash Espinoza Staff Writer 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.
Ash loves music. It’s a passion that she loves to indulge in almost as much as she loves writing. She hopes to not only travel the world and see all it has to offer but she wants to also make a living writing different genres of books such as fiction, thrillers and children’s literature. Ash loves to try to new things and see new places and especially loves to be by the water.
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‘JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH’ SHOWCASES EVOLUTION OF BLACK PANTHER PARTY Omar Carrillo The Advocate
The Black Panther Party, an organization considered a relic of a lost epoch, joins many other historical groups in carrying the burden of having existed in a culture highly opposed to their ideological objective. Remembered as an intimidating militia of fiery radicals, an interpretation they would have no doubt proudly agreed with, the party perfectly represents the particular brand of highly aggressive (yet immensely humanitarian) advocacy for political progress that was born and flourished in the 1960s civil rights era. While the Party no longer exists in its original form, its unyielding spirit evidently continues pushing on, alive and well, regardless. Released in theaters and onto HBO Max (for a limited time) simultaneously on Feb. 12, “Judas and the Black Messiah,” just as the community around which this new film revolves, is both inherently tragic, yet undeniably compelling: As the Party itself was born and died amidst suffering, there is little unconditional happiness present in the dramatization of the final
years of its chairman, Fred Hampton, and his betrayal by undercover FBI informant William O’Neal. Through a performance just recently earning him a Golden Globe award, actor Daniel Kaluuya’s Hampton holds a supernatural resolve, conveying unwavering faith in his comrades in every breath, expression, and determined action. As the film’s titular parallel clearly intends to highlight, Hampton’s position as “messiah” to followers incapable of seeing any wrong in his wisdom contrasts perfectly with a constantly self-doubting, shame-filled O’Neal (also portrayed brilliantly by Lakeith Stanfield) – a “Judas” destined to reluctantly condemn his savior to true doom (and
succumb to his own guilt afterward as a result). The principal visions behind Judas and the Black Messiah are obviously highly sympathetic to Hampton and his Black Panther chapter’s plight. It may prove slightly distracting to those with differing opinions, but these passions ultimately only serve to enhance the narrative being explored and examined. After all, at least some amount of admiration for a character’s cause must be necessary when attempting to inspire others, including viewers, to identify with them. While, yes, highly timely in its depiction of political strife, Judas and the Black Messiah is just as valuable as a masterful encapsulation of an ageold, legendary narrative, one centered around a man and his disciples, walking a cursed Earth, only salvation Web Graphic. on the mind.
MHCC SPOTLIGHT: LOUDEN MILLER A STUDENT OF MANY TALENTS Brad Le
The Advocate The world is full of accomplished and ambitious young people. Alexander the Great became king of Macedon at 20 years old, Michael Phelps swam his first Olympic race at age 15, and Sergey Karjakin became the world’s youngest chess grandmaster at 12, just to name a few overachievers. Perhaps it is an overstatement to compare Louden Miller to those young achievers, but being a college student here at MHCC at 16 years old, he has accomplished more than most of us had when we were his age. Raised in a household very conducive for academic rigor, he grew up being a very gregarious child, but possessed an academic maturity that outpaced many of his peers. “I was a very social kid and I knew a lot but I had trouble communicating the importance of those issues because my peers didn’t see the extent of how important those topics could be,” Miller PA G E 4
says now. Having trouble being able to share those thoughts, he ended up wanting to see himself improve by joining speech and debate competition – which would eventually lead him to become a prominent member of M HC C ’s speech and debate team (Forensics). Inspi re d by his father’s background as a coach and wanting to take advantage of his extroversion, M i l l e r dedicated himself to the craft. He has already Photo provided by Louden Miller. achieved much both for the Saints forensics team, where
he successfully advocated for further program funding, and for his personal and professional life. Specifically, the first-year Mt. Hood student has developed an expertise in the topic of bees, focusing most on the issue of colony collapse disorder, which he has discussed in After-Dinner Speaking matchups. Miller also chose to emphasize his interest in impromptu speaking because of his sociable personality, which enables him to converse on unexpected topics in his personal life, he said. He also favors IDPA debates (formal one-on-one debates under International Public Debate Association guidelines), “where they give you five topics to debate in the simplest way possible,” he said – a fondness likely attributable to his past difficulty getting points across to his contemporaries.. It’s been a successful run: He has earned a gold (medal) in After-Dinner Speaking – addressing a serious topic, with some humor mixed in – plus a bronze and other high scores in speaking categories during this debate season.
Just as speech and debate has prepared him to communicate in his personal life, Miller knows it will help him in his professional life, too. He hopes to pursue a career in epidemiology, where he aspires to work for the federal CDC in order to fix future public health issues. “Communication is very important in epidemiology because you may have to talk to multiple people of a variety of backgrounds,” he said. “That’s how forensics benefitted me.” Despite his achievements, Miller remains humble, noting that his younger siblings have scored particularly high on their tests and he imagines that they will achieve as much as he has. For him, learning and serving is the point, not personal glory. “I love to see myself grow,” he said. “I’m not interested in self-fulfillment but instead, I’m more interested in seeing how I can be of service to the people around me.”