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Asian-Pacific American month highlights accomplishments
May 25, 2012
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Track brings home four NWAACC titles from Spokane
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‘Perceptions’ magazine of the arts now available for sale Volume 47, Issue 29
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Instructor spurs cycling awareness
Laughter and henna abound during Hoodstock
by Kayla Tatum The Advocate
While Bicycling Magazine has again named Portland the “#1 bike friendly city in the United States,” Gresham has room to improve spurring economics instructor Ted Scheinman to organize on-campus events for Biketo-Work month. Scheinman registered MHCC for Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s Bike-To-Work Month in order to encourage students and staff to walk and bike to work for the entire month of May. Scheinman also coordinated a Biker Commuting Workshop and Information Center event Wednesday. The event was in cooperation with Linda Hoppes, ASG director of public safety and campus sustainability, the City of Gresham and the Gresham Transportation Management Association (G-TMA). (G-TMA) is funded by Metro Regional Government and focuses on “the use of walking, biking, carpooling, transit, and other modes (of transportation), rather than driving alone,” according to it’s website.
With final exams coming up, the Student Activities Board takes students’ minds off the stress of studying with a week of events
Photo by Logan Scott/The Advocate
Above: Magician and comedian Joseph Tran (left) entertains a student crowd with Senator of Student Life Shannon Graalum during Wednesday’s Hoodstock afternoon event. Right: Kaniz Shah of Silk & Stone, a henna, body art, jewelry and bridal spa shop on SE Belmont street, tattooing a student during the free henna tattoo portion of Wednesday’s Hoodstock event.
Photo by Mike Mata/The Advocate
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Tuition and fee increases lead to widespread student response by John Tkebuchava The Advocate
Students have reacted with both understanding and discontentment after the MHCC district board moved to approve increases in tuition and fees for the 20122013 academic year on May 11. The new increases include a $5 increase in tuition per credit hour, a college service fee increase from $30 to $40, a distance learning fee increase from $40 to $55 as well as an access fee of $35 for each student enrolled in at least one credit class, which will replace the current parking permit system. With the new increase in tuition and other fees, total tuition for a full-time student (12 credits) taking non-distance learning courses at MHCC will be $1,161
per term. In comparison to nearby colleges, students enrolled full-time at Portland Community College pay $1,077 per term, $1,105 per term at Clark College, $1,082 per term at Clackamas Community College and $2,177 at Portland State University. District board chairman Dave Shields said at the budget committee on May 9 that given the reduced funding MHCC has received throughout the years, that tuition may have to continue increasing. “It’s (increase tuition) one of those things that unfortunately [we] might have to continue to do,” said Shields. The college faces a two-year deficit projection of $7.8 million, up from $5.5 million that was estimated for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Given the deficit, Shields said that the budget was constructed under a notion of “shared sacrifice.” Asked what his thoughts were on the new tuition and fee increases, Kyle McGann an education major at MHCC, said, “I’m against the increase in tuition for one singular reason in that we are getting to the point where we are almost at the price of universities at a community college.” McGann added, “As far as the access fee, I’m totally okay with it. Service costs money.” He said he understands the fee. Eric Panner, a first year business major said his main concern is the access fee. “I think they realize that the parking permit system isn’t working. It just bothers me that I would have to pay the access fee even though I walk to school,” he said. Kimberly DeAnne, a first year mental
health student, was also displeased with the news that tuition would rise, “First of all, it’s going to be hard on people who have to rely on financial aid to pay for school, especially with the financial aid money running out. Some people who can barely afford college wont have enough money to go.” Members of the Associated Student Government (ASG) had a similar take on the new fee and tuition hikes. ASG president Jackie Altamirano said, “It’s difficult for students for another increase to happen. I mean this is altogether, these last two years, it’s been a 13 dollar increase. For students, that’s a huge burden to place on us.” “The administration has really talked about those shared sacrifices to insure that everybody is equally affected and it will
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