Volume 53, Issue 13 JANUARY 18, 2019 advocate-online.net
Seek your scholarship PAGE 3
Recognizing diversity PAGE 5
ASG: more than fun & games PAGE 7
DEAR TEACHERS, MY WALLET HURTS PAGE 2
Board votes, intends to restore KMHD PAGE 4
FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY SCAN FOR PLAYLIST
>>>>
2016 FIRST PLACE
General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association
OPINION | EDITORIAL
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
INSTRUCTORS TAKE NOTE – OER CAN HELP With the start of Winter Term, many MHCC students once again felt the burden of the cost of textbooks weighing on their wallet. Open Education Resources (OER) could help alleviate that burden, and more Mt. Hood instructors should embrace them. A study published by the Student Public Interest Research Groups (Student PIRGs) last year states, “Since 2006, the cost of textbooks has increased four times the rate of inflation.” And, due to the lack of textbook market competition, students are forced to purchase materials required for classes, meaning it’s essentially out of their control. The people who do have control are the professors or instructors choosing the textbooks for classes. The same PIRG study put the national average of textbook cost per course at $153; when compared to a course that uses OER, the average drops to $31. Students often turn to secondary markets to get the best deal for required texts. While some books are less expensive used or rented, publishers are getting around this by creating online software which allows them to have complete control over how long students can use their product, often making it a one-time use product. In terms of online methods of learning, publishers are ahead of the game compared to instructors. (This leads us to wonder if instructors will eventually become obsolete, due to online software which tracks student progress and gives instant feedback.) This software offers different ways to learn with video, audio, and visual components, as opposed to the traditional “read from this book, take a quiz, and
community college instructors to produce OER curriculum. HELP FOR INSTRUCTORS So: If students want there to be more no-cost-for-textbooks courses, it’s up to the educators to adopt OER. We understand that OER is not ideal for every degree program. However, most courses for general education could be transitioned to OER due to many resources already available. It will take work. The OER Commons website has just about 30,000 postsecondary resources available, but under a search for OpenOregon’s C om mu n it y Regional OER C o l l e g e / conferences, Lower Division, held at Mt. Hood. Curriculum/ There has been Instruction, Remix OER progress here. and Share, options Heather White, the quickly drop to 1,710 college’s technical results. Narrowing to services coordinator specific subjects cuts and co-chair for the down available content Textbook Affordability even more. Team (TAT) on campus, Graphic by Kevin Garcia De La Vega / the Advocate How, then, can Mt. told the MHCC Foundation Hood faculty create OER Board of Directors last This graphic is based off of an OER provided by the State University of New York. that fits their instructional year that from 2016 to goals? 2018, students saved about Luckily for those interested – This approach comes after the $350,000 due to OER. This led to the Foundation Oregon Legislature passed House and motivated – the TAT on campus donating $50,000 in grant funding Bill 2871 in 2015, which requires has been working on ways to make to be distributed over the next five all publicly funded universities the process easier. There is a Faculty and community colleges to label Start Up Checklist, which goes years to support OER at MHCC. During this Fall Term, 18 faculty courses that use OER or that offer through the steps of finding OER members applied for the grant, low-cost/no-cost textbook options. resources specific to instructional some grouping together. There were The bill also established the Oregon goals. The process also checks a total of nine grant applications, Higher Education Coordinating materials for accessibility, i.e., if Commission’s OER Grant the chosen text is screen readerseven of which were funded. At the same time, MHCC has Program and set aside $700,000 friendly, or if video and audio files worked to create a system to tell in grant money for university and have closed captioning. write a discussion post.” SAVINGS AT MT. HOOD One way to ease students’ heavy cost is OER. They offer free materials online that grant specific permissions to use the content, based on their creative commons license. These licenses often are referred to as the 5Rs, with descriptions that are broken down to a one-word description: Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix, Redistribute. This was explained by David Wiley, keynote speaker in 2015 during one of
students which classes offer lowcost (under $50) and no-cost ($0) textbooks when they register for classes online. The low-cost level of $50 was set by the Associated Student Government in the 201516 academic year.
By carefully remixing materials from multiple OERs, instructors can create a unique resource specific to their course’s learning outcomes. If no materials available meet their needs, there are grants available to create new OER. Along with the MHCC Foundation donation, there are also links available to additional outside grants available within Oregon, or nationally. For more information regarding the TAT efforts, go to mhcc.edu/ textbookaffordability. If you’re a faculty member, you might be thinking, “Where will I find the time to create such a thing?” Wiley, the OER expert who visited the college in 2015, has led a series of classes in which students helped in creating new OER. The process doesn’t have to be on faculty members’ shoulders alone; it can be a collaborative process. We at the Advocate understand that creating a body of work and sharing it is intimidating: We do that every week. The great thing about OER is that it takes away the barriers of learning for students who need it most. Community colleges in general serve students from low-income backgrounds. A costly textbook can be one more reason why a student can’t finish their degree program, let alone start. Secondary education is costly enough – why not try to help when you can? After all, as an educator you made the decision to share what you know with others so that they may learn from you. Our weekly editorial is designed to explore compelling issues that affect the community we serve. It has no attributed author because it represents the collective voice of the Advocate editorial board.
Advisers
Dan Ernst Howard Buck
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps
Opinion Editor Position Open
Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold
Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin
Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson
Graphic Design Team Angeles Ramirez Kevin Garcia De La Vega
Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias Arts & Entertainment Editor Mariah Getch PA G E 2
Photo Team Shyann Tooke Maysee Thao
Video Editor Andy Carothers
Social Media Manager Nicole Freemont
Video Team Drevsen Shadley
Staff Writers Sadie Klein Kurt Larson Jennifer Salazar Omar Saradi Chloe Collins Positions Open
Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open Ad Managers Darcy Hitchcock
Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald
@mhccadvocate
@theadvocateonline
@mhccadvocate Get Involved! Come visit us during our weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in our office, room AC1369.
OPINION | NEWS
JANUARY 18, 2019
A SHARED ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sadie Klein
the advocate Costa Rica is often considered No. 1 in the world for ecotourism – meaning it is a sustainable place that conserves the environment and has numerous locations that are protected and relatively untouched. Six percent of the world’s biodiversity is in Costa Rica, and roughly 25 percent of its land area is preserved as national parks, according to the Costa
Rican embassy. It is evident that this country is one of the best travel destinations. As someone who spent 10 years living there, I can vouch for the reality of what Costa Rica is truly like, and what a positive impact tourism has for the locals and on the environment. During my most recent visit I noticed nearly every single place where a beverage was sold, a recyclable straw was handed out. This is a great step in the right direction, in continuing to conserve the environment. Although Costa Rica is publicized to be such an “ecofriendly” country which in sense, it is, there is still not enough being done. Specifically, in educating its citizens on the importance of maintaining a clean environment. I lived in the coastal province of Guanacaste, in the resort town of Playa Flamingo. This area becomes
filled with tourists, especially during the holidays, coming not only from out of the country, but more significantly from different provinces. Costa Ricans from the cities flood the coast, causing a boost in tourism and an increase in population – such an increase that the phone lines become blocked, creating a loss of cellular internet for all users in the area. As the holiday season comes to an end towards the middle of January, the locals living near the coast are left with beaches full of trash left behind by the tourists. Beach cleanups are put in place. This issue has been going on for years; the problem is, fines are not being enforced for littering, giving free rein for citizens and tourists to do whatever they want with their waste. This goes as far as making it culturally acceptable to burn garbage, because waste disposal is
Photo provided by Sadie Klein / the Advocate
not readily available to everyone, and waste management is poorly organized. Because of this, highly toxic chemicals are emitted from burning plastic that not only affects the citizens and tourists, but also the environment. The importance of travelers cleaning up after themselves
and seeking to maintain the environment they are visiting is essential. Moreover, if future generations want to be able to visit this beautiful nation, and if we want to maintain Costa Rica as the most eco-touristic country, we must teach others the importance of preserving the Earth.
ATTN. SAINTS: SCHOLARSHIP SEASON IS HERE Omar Saradi the advocate
It’s the start of a new year, which means scholarship season is now open for MHCC students who will enroll during the 2019-20 school year. The MHCC Foundation will award money to over 100 students, based on certain scholarship criteria. For new (2019-20) students, you must first apply for admission and get your school email set up before applying for scholarships. For the best chance to receive a scholarship, apply by March 29. The results will be announced at the end of May,
which is close to the end of spring term 2019. The scholarship program is independent from FAFSA, so you don’t need to complete that paperwork, though it helps. For those who are awarded a scholarship, disbursement of the funds starts in Fall Term and will continue in the following academic terms, in $1,000 increments. For those students planning to transfer to another college next year, the Mt. Hood scholarship won’t transfer if you are awarded. The funds can only be used at MHCC. If you need help filling out applications, there are scholarship
workshops between now and March, where staff in the Learning Success Center (AC 3333) can help you out with everything from basic information, to tips for writing winning scholarship essays. These workshops are Jan. 22, Feb. 13, and March 7, 20, and 25. The times for these dates vary between mornings and afternoons and are posted on the MHCC website. Current students and students who plan to attend MHCC next school year are welcome at these workshops. An important note for students who feel they don’t have enough time to apply for a bunch of
scholarships: When you complete one application, the system will consider you for all MHCC scholarships, which saves you time and energy. To those familiar with the process of applying for scholarships and financial aid, the Mt. Hood webpage has resource links to other websites with more scholarship access and information. One listed is OSAC, which is a database with scholarship applications and information in Oregon (the Office of Student Access and Completion). The others are similar websites, such as fastweb.com. MHCC departments,
GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE
Cover by: Eli Rankin On the cover: A heavy load of expensive books rips a gaping hole in students’ wallets.
Contact us! E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030
including Accessible Education Services and the Diversity Resource Center, might also be able to recommend more specific scholarships for which you may qualify at Mt. Hood and beyond. Lastly, the webpage also provides a separate page for application tips and frequently asked questions; this tells you about information needed like transcripts, references, what some scholarship essays will cover and the minimum requirements to be considered for scholarships. To sum up: This money is out there waiting for 2019-20 students, but you need to apply to be considered to receive it.
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.
Photographer
Shyann Tooke is a second-year student at MHCC who is studying biology and hopes to become a veterinarian someday. Along with photography, she also enjoys spending time with her dog.
PA G E 3
NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
BOARD WANTS FM STATION BACK ON CAMPUS Cassie Wilson the advocate
It might not happen this summer, but Mt. Hood Community College is on track to get its radio station back. The MHCC District Board of Education on Wednesday voted to dissolve the current license management agreement between the college and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) regarding KMHD, MHCC’s FM radio station, with intent to negotiate a new, two-year contract with OPB, after which the station would return to campus. The 4-2 vote came after an initial motion to cut ties with OPB and bring the station back this August – when a 10-year contract signed with OPB in 2008 is due to expire – earned only a 3-3 tie vote (the seventh board seat formerly held by Michael Calcagno remains vacant). After an hour of passionate discussion, the majority of members appeared ready to take on the financial challenge of bringing KMHD back to Gresham, despite formal recommendation a week earlier from college President Lisa Skari to extend the OPB contract another five years. PUBLIC INPUT Prior to the vote, five people used the public input portion of the meeting to speak about KMHD. First up was Susie Jones. The former MHCC jazz band director and District board chair urged the board to bring the station back, describing its history of success at the college. She gave a similar
“
statement to the board in October. Dan Davey, current Mt. Hood jazz band director, said a station return would benefit not only broadcasting students in Mt. Hood’s Integrated Media (IM) program, but music students, as well. He said, “I feel very strongly that regardless of the outcome, KMHD can better serve our students, our programs, our college, and our mission” than under the current setup. Davey also submitted a written statement from one of his students, Jake Dale, who stressed the importance of returning the station, writing, “For the music program to truly return to what it was, we have to restore what is now missing. Having KMHD return to campus would provide many additional opportunities for aspiring jazz musicians and would serve to distinguish Mt. Hood as a place for music.” Ben “Benny King” Fitzhugh, current broadcasting student, explained why he came to MHCC. He’s worked in the music industry for over 20 years and came to the college because of KMHD and his dream to pursue a career in radio. He voiced support for bringing the station back. JD Kiggins, head of the IM broadcasting program, spoke about the historical importance of the station. He shared a packet of documents that show how hard the college worked from when it was founded to get an FM license to promote the college and support broadcasting students. When KMHD started here, the college was in a tough financial place as a young institution, but
THE RIGHT THING AND THE CONVENIENT THING ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT OBJECTS, BUT THERE’S ROOM TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE...” -JD KIGGINS
BROADCASTING ADVISER
PA G E 4
Photos by Megan Phelps / the Advocate
Board member Tamie Arnold discussing previous financial history with Jennifer DeMent, chief operations officer at MHCC.
administrators still made it happen because it was important, he said. “I think we can work within our constraints and bring KMHD back to campus, and make it work for the college as was intended by our original board,” said Kiggins. Finally, Devin Hardgrove, current KMHD2 voluntary program assistant and a graduate of the broadcasting program, noted how many students don’t know that MHCC has a radio station because it’s not being utilized by the college right now. He said, “Let’s make the right decision and bring back something that is already ours.” DISCUSSION AND MOTIONS Following the testimony, board member Kenney Polson motioned to bring KMHD back to campus this summer when the 10-year contract expires. Tamie Arnold seconded the motion, and the board began serious discussion. Arnold recalled that the board’s highest priorities in this decision were student impact and financial impact. She questioned the extreme variations in financial numbers presented to the board in meetings over the past several months, inviting Jennifer DeMent, MHCC budget director, to the table for discussion. Arnold said she worried the numbers provided were not an accurate representation of a bare-minimum operation to bring the station back to Gresham. She had met with Kiggins earlier in the week to tour the studio on campus and get a better understanding of the program. Given technological advances, she said she doesn’t think it would initially require a large number of staff to run the station.
Arnold invited Kiggins into the conversation to help answer board questions about volunteer involvement, which could reduce potential costs of returning the station. DeMent explained how broadening and growing the station to do fundraising would take extra support staff; Arnold said she believed it might require just one full-time and potentially a part-time employee, paring costs. Kiggins observed the station wouldn’t be starting from scratch, and staffing could look more like it did at the start (thinner) than when it left the campus for OPB. He reiterated the importance of putting focus on reintegrating KMHD into the IM program to serve its academic purpose, and how it strayed from the college a decade ago. “The right thing and the convenient thing are two totally different objects, but there’s room to do what needs to be done in order to make KMHD work based on what we already have, with some minor modifications,” said Kiggins. Arnold again emphasized her desire to bring the station back: “KMHD is part of this culture, of this history, and it still remains so, but not to the extent that it could be,” she said. “I would like to see KMHD brought back to Mt. Hood Community College. Ultimately, that is my goal.” Other board members expressed concern over dollars and time frame. Annette Mattson discussed the board’s responsibility with taxpayer dollars, and the college’s potential $4 million operating deficit in the
2019-21 state budget cycle. She also wishes to see KMHD back at the college, but would rather wait until after a five-year extension (rollover) of the OPB contract, so the college could have a business and financial plan prepared. Arnold expressed frustration with the board’s six-month-long discussion that could’ve been used as strategic planning time to bring the station back. ASG President Bob Hansen said a longer delay for the station would hurt students in related programs. “They’re missing five years of that educational process that they could be getting if we brought it back now,” said Hansen. “If we deny them that, that’s not doing our due diligence as a community college.” Diane McKeel, board chair, noted that she served on the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz board for eight years and recognizes the great history of jazz on the campus. She said she, too, wants to see KMHD return, but would rather have the next five years to plan how to bring it back sustainably. Polson pressed for moving quickly: “Let’s take care of business. Let’s get this thing started tonight, get the station back, and make a plan.” After Polson’s first motion failed to win four votes, Arnold laid out a new proposal, which was amended several times and led to more discussion. The biggest hangup became how many years would be needed to make a solid plan to bring the station back.
TO CONTINUE READING, SEE PAGE 7
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | NEWS
JANUARY 18, 2019
ART SHARED AS ‘A COMPULSION TO CREATE’ Mariah Getch the advocate
“In the Fool’s Garden” by Richard Cutshall, MHCC painting and drawing instructor, is the latest exhibit on display in the Visual Arts Gallery. Walking into the space, a visitor is immediately struck by the hauntingly beautiful complexity of his works: From sculptures, to graphite sketches, to an eclectic variety of medias, Cutshall conveys a deeper narrative with his works. In his artist’s statement, he explains that the collection depicts the “absurdity of life, destructiveness of ignorance, and madness” and that many of the “characters” from the works are archetypes, representing universal patterns of human nature. With a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s (MFA) in drawing and painting under his belt, Cutshall has been featured in many galleries throughout the U.S. He has explained that his work comes from the unconscious and takes him years to decipher it. Cutshall has known since childhood that he wanted to be an artist, and has been teaching since 2011. Everything inspires me,” he explains. “As an artist, you tend to look at everything around you. It’s a compulsion to create.” Cutshall’s works may be viewed through Jan. 31 during Gallery hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Artist Richard Cutshall poses next to one of his larger pieces from “In the Fool’s Garden” which has clumps of his hair from past haircuts used for texture.
Photos by Maysee Thao / the Advocate
MHCC ALUMNUS DISCUSSES PROGRESS BEYOND MLK JR. Cassie Wilson the advocate
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, informational programming took place on Wednesday and Thursday around campus to honor his life and work and that of other civil rights leaders. A highlight on Wednesday came when Larry Morgan, former MHCC student and ASG president, returned to campus to talk about the work he’s done in diversity and politics, and the ways that everyone can work towards a more inclusive future. MHCC President Lisa Skari first welcomed everyone Wednesday morning as the college began its MLK celebrations and discussions. She acknowledged the importance of diversity and inclusion on campus, and thanked those who put in a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the programming. She also thanked Gresham mayor Shane Bemis for attending. John Hamblin, MHCC executive dean of student development, introduced the keynote speaker, Morgan. A Mt. Hood alumnus, he became the college’s first African-American ASG President nearly a decade ago, winning by just two votes. He recently completed his term as Troutdale’s first African-American, and youngest, city council member. He’s worked around the country and beyond, leading conversations on diversity while
listening to and supporting the needs of the community around him. Calvin Walker, MHCC academic adviser, led the discussion with Morgan. Walker began by talking about how the two first met: Morgan came into Walker’s office with
gentrification, the education system, and the overall current political climate, Morgan’s thoughts come down to the way we communicate. He talked about how social media and the internet have evolved in a way where it’s easy to find support for any
Photo by Shyann Tooke / the Advocate
Larry Morgan, keynote speaker for the beginning of MLK celebrations on campus, has a conversation with Calvin Walker about the importance of diversity in a community.
his grandmother and Walker happened to mention that there had never been an African-American ASG president. Before he knew it, Morgan was campaigning and was elected. When addressing topics such as
perspective to validate one’s beliefs as opposed to learning about differing viewpoints. Morgan also talked about the importance of listening to each other and fully understanding one another, instead of just assuming things about people from a few self-
identifying labels. He highlighted the importance of local government because it impacts communities the most directly, and recommended that when people want to get involved with political campaigns, they look locally first. He said that often folks who are running for local government positions need the support more than do those in national campaigns. In terms of other things people can do to support diversity and inclusion, Morgan suggested breaking out of complacency, especially for those who are in a position of privilege. For students specifically, he said that he remembers there being a lot of issues with “PCP” – parking lot, class, parking lot – the way that a lot of students spend an average day on campus. He strongly encourages students to use the unlimited resources they have while they have access to them. In thinking of civil rights movements, he also reminded everyone that the college campus is really a strong symbol for fully utilizing our right to free speech. Overall, Morgan and Walker both want everyone to continue conversations, and, more importantly, to work to continue progress on diversity and inclusion beyond the holidays/celebrations that remind us of their importance. “Strive to be better every day,” said Morgan. PA G E 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
SCENIC SPACE IN 2019 Chloe Collins the advocate
The year 2019 is going to be out of this world, for those who enjoy watching our night skies. On Jan. 8 and 11, the MHCC Planetarium Director Pat Hanrahan hosted “A snapshot of upcoming astronomical events,” featuring information on where to look for planets, constellations, eclipses, and meteor showers in store for us all. There are so many things happening in space this year. Firstly, the sun will be down to very few sunspots this year, nearing the end of its periodic cycle. Over the course of roughly 11 years, astronomers monitor the number of sunspots on the sun as they increase and decline. These sunspots tell us where the magnetic energy on the sun’s surface is the strongest, and suggest places to watch for solar flares (explosions on the surface). While on the topic of stellar events we can’t see with the naked eye, 2019 will also provide an
PA G E 6
opportunity to witness a “transit of Mercury,” but with a catch. On Monday, Nov. 11, Mercury will appear to travel across the surface of the sun. The transit occurs only 13 times per century. Fortunately, it is possible to watch the transit, but you must have solar binoculars or a telescope that is equipped to protect your eyes. If you don’t have special equipment, not to worry: There will be plenty of stunning astronomic events you can experience with the naked eye. For example, just this Sunday, Jan. 20, there will be a total lunar eclipse, called the Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse. The moon will be completely covered by the Earth’s shadow beginning at 8:41 p.m., Portland time, lasting about an hour. This is the only lunar eclipse for 2019 that will be visible in North America. (If you happen to be in Chile or Argentina on July 2, however, you could catch a lunar eclipse with an expected totality of 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Lunar eclipses are stunning,
but meteor showers are a fan favorite. This year, you will have multiple opportunities to catch sight of meteors shooting through the sky. A few notable showers to watch out for are the Geminid and Perseid. The Geminid will reach its maximum activity rate on Dec. 14, and is expected to rain 100120 meteors per hour. The Perseid meteor shower will peak midAugust after the Earth intersects with a dust cloud left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. While it’s nice to have a specific date to go out and look for meteors, Hanrahan reassures his visitors that if he stays out long enough with his telescope, meteors are visible on almost any night. So, if you aren’t free on peak nights, not to worry. Get out there with your telescope (or just your eyeball), and enjoy the astronomical scenery this year. Graphic by Eli Rankin / the Advocate
Public planetarium shows are on the first Tues. of every month at 6 & 7:15pm.
NETFLIX: THE VIDEO GAME 4 out of 5 stars
Kurt Larson the advocate
Video games are the single most profitable sector of the entertainment industry, even outweighing the film industry by a sizeable margin, and Netflix knows it. While that’s probably got nothing to do with why Netflix decided to green light “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch,” the streaming service’s latest original hit is a literal video game. A choose-your-ownadventure movie, to be precise. The concept itself is nothing new and dates back to the gimmick era of 1950s and ’60s cinema, with films such as “Mr. Sardonicus,” and is still a prominent niche today, especially in the FMV (FullMotion Video) video game genre. If you’ve ever played a Telltale “The Walking Dead” game or anything from Quantic Dream, then you’re already used to this particular way of telling a story. Directed by David Slade, the story of Bandersnatch revolves around a young 20-something, Stefan Butler, played by Fionn Whitehead, who is an aspiring ’80s video game coder. After presenting his work-inprogress title, “Bandersnatch,” to a game development company, Butler is presented with the opportunity to work with the firm and even given the chance to work with his idol, Colin Ritman, played by Will Poulter, who is a fellow coder. The two have a series of very strange interactions and Stefan starts feeling that things aren’t quite right when the exact same events continue to happen to him. He begins to notice his evergrowing lack of free will as he
becomes obsessed with finishing his game, which is fittingly based on a choose-your-ownadventure novel of the same name, and he eventually spirals out of control. But what will his fate be? Obviously that’s up to each of you viewers to decide, but rest assured, whatever decisions you make throughout the course of the movie, there are multiple opportunities to go back and try another path, so your experience will be different every time. Overall, the experience is fairly seamless and presents a fun change in format that presents some interesting possibilities for the future of Netflix original content. While Bandersnatch isn’t overflowing with decisions, there are more than enough paths to take and choices to make that will affect the course of the story in either major or minor ways. Aside from the film’s main gimmick, the story, acting, and cinematography are all on par with the other three seasons of the show, which is to say, pretty stellar. The ’80s, neon, hypercolor beautifully accentuates the superb set design and sets a perfect tone for Stefan’s specific brand of 8-bit madness. Speaking of tone, this is probably one of the most accessible pieces of Black Mirror content as the film keeps its R-rated, bleak “Twilight Zone” tendencies, but still allows for a ton of fun, and even for comical moments. While not the best out of the series, the ideas and concepts presented in the 90 minutes you’ll spend toying with the characters of Bandersnatch is well worth the watch... or play. Bandersnatch gets a solid 4/5.
NEWS
JANUARY 18, 2019
ASG LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER TERM Jennifer Salazar the advocate
A game of pool? Maybe a turn on the Xbox? There could be more fun and games coming to Mt. Hood’s Student Union, as part of Associated Student Government efforts to improve student outreach. More studentfriendly activities are just part of the plan by the ASG leadership team for Winter Term, building on success from the autumn in making students more welcome at MHCC. ASG President Bob Hansen and Vice President Melanie Roberts say they want to continue working with the campus Student Outreach and Recruitment Team (SOAR) to engage more students
in their transition to college. Their mission would be to help students understand that there are many options to pay for college, and to help students in the preparation of continuing their education. One of the biggest goals the two have this term is to get more student involvement on the campus, both in the Student Union and at their ASG activities. The ASG has been working on making the Student Union a friendlier space. There is now a pingpong table there, and hopes of getting a pool table and an Xbox 360 installed. Hansen said, “We really want to make it a place where students feel welcomed and have more to do on campus. This way students can feel comfortable being here for a longer
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
The board took a brief recess and during which broadcasting student Fitzhugh said, “I pay to go to school here and I sit in a board meeting with people who are arguing over my education and not giving me the opportunity to do what I want to do. I’m forgotten about.” The compromise was to negotiate a new, two-year contract with the intent to bring the station back to Gresham. Following the vote, Marilyn Pitts, Part Time Faculty and Tutor Association president, said she worries about setting the two-year contract window. “I wish the board had given the administration and the negotiator more flexibility with that.” On Thursday, Skari said she gave Steve Bass, OPB’s CEO, a courtesy call to let him know of the decision and that the college will soon send a formal notice. FUTURE Mattson and McKeel are still concerned about the college having enough time to make a plan and worry that too much of the work will be placed on the already busy administration, they said. Arnold said she shares some concerns, but takes a more positive view. “Annette made some really great points, so did Dianne, with regards to needing a strategy,” Arnold said. “I couldn’t agree more that this does need to be sustainable. It definitely needs to pay for itself in an ideal state, but there’s so much value to the radio program.” As for the required fundraising, Arnold said, “I’ll take ownership and do my part as an individual to
help with the fundraising piece of it, but we have to kind of stay out of the weeds when it comes to the strategy.” She said that she’d love to see students, alumni, and community members come together to build a more comprehensive strategy. Kiggins has already mentioned using a sabbatical to help ease a station transition and do everything needed for KMHD, something not possible while still teaching. Davey also voiced interest in helping with strategic planning. He said he had wanted to begin that process at the end of last school year, but the board never got back to him after discussing KMHD at its summer retreat. There are still many hypotheticals, moving forward. MHCC can’t fundraise for KMHD under the current contract, and there’s a chance that OPB won’t negotiate a two-year contract with the college. However, if one thing was made perfectly clear at the board meeting, it’s that KMHD is now on a path to return to MHCC. “I’m excited that there’s some forward momentum and some obvious support from a lot of people about bringing the station back,” said Davey. Kiggins said, “[KMHD] is part of the institution, it’s part of our legacy. I think that was one of the things that I was encouraged about tonight. I really felt like the board totally agreed with that.” Megan Phelps contributed reporting for this story.
period of time.” Hansen and Roberts are reaching out more to first-year MHCC President Lisa Skari so she’s on the same level as students. The pair said they believe having Skari more involved in activities will allow students to be comfortable speaking to her on any issues they may be having. With the start of a new term, the Student Activities team is looking to fill two positions: It wants to hire a Design and Promotion Specialist and a Special Event Coordinator. Working with Student Activities can earn students a 12-credit per-quarter tuition waiver. Current students interested in these positions are welcome to speak to anyone in the ASG office about the hiring process.
The ASG office is also looking for two part-time positions available, for students to be the Barney mascot for MHCC. Fulfilling Barney mascot duties would require the person to attend activities and Saints athletics home games. This position gives students a six-credit per-quarter tuition waiver. Hansen and Roberts say that many of the goals they had for Fall Term were achieved, and some even exceeded. One goal was to have more community involvement in the different activities MHCC offered, and both noticed this target was achieved. For example, they said they expected 50 people, maximum to attend their Trunk or Treat event, but were surprised to have over 300 people show up, instead.
Hansen also said he was excited about partnering up with the Oregon Food Bank for Barney’s Pantry, a place students in need can go to for free food. Explaining ASG’s role on campus, Hansen said it is a place where students make sure the school is following up on its responsibilities, and on what it says it’s going to do for students. “We really try and make sure students are feeling comfortable in their classes, and we want students to know we are still here backing them up no matter what goes on. We want to keep this Winter Term flowing well,” he said.
NEWS BRIEFS Winter Club Fair Are you looking to try out something new, or get more involved? Check out the Winter Club Fair in the Student Union on Jan. 22-23 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Interview Tricks &Tips Need help prepping for an upcoming interview? Stop by Room 2057 on Jan. 23 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for some pointers and practice!
. Y L P P A . T I S I V . EXPLORE
1 P.M. SAT., JAN. 26 Come early! Optional campus tours begin at noon.
LEARN ABOUT
s • Academic program s • Application proces • Campus life • Paying for college
WE ARE WUE! Learn how you can receive a $10,000 award. vancouver.wsu.edu/wue PA G E 7
SPORTS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate
LEFT: Men’s basketball team talks over strategy during halftime. RIGHT: Lady Saints celebrating their third consecutive win at home.
SAINTS BASKETBALL EARNS SPLIT AGAINST CLARK COLLEGE Men fall to Penguins; women roll, extend home winning streak to three guins, 79-59. The team was led by sophomore forward Courtney Jackson, who had herself a night with 20 points and six rebounds. Another great performance came from sophomore forward Atalina Pritchard, who barely missed out from a dou-
Jonathan Zacarias the advocate
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, the Mt. Hood Saints women’s and men’s basketball teams hosted the Clark College Penguins at the Yoshida Event Center, each in their fifth South Region game of the season in the fight to make it to the NWAC Championship playoffs. The lady Saints played an outstanding game, outscoring the Pen-
Sophomore forward Atalina Pritchard staying strong as she battles three Clark defenders.
ble-double for the night as she finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. The women are now 4-1 in conference play, undefeated at home and looking to make a historic run this season. Their real test will be on Saturday (Jan. 19) in Eugene as they take on No. 1 in the South, the Titans of Lane Community College. This will be a very attractive game as Mt. Hood is currently second. No one should assume the Titans want to give up their current 12-game winning streak, yet the Saints will also want to show that they’re not to be messed with, either. Mt. Hood’s men, on the other hand, played a well-fought battle on Wednesday, after having trailed by 13 points at one point, but came up just short. The Saints were able to
Sophomore guard Kahlon Whitley laying it up against a Clark defender.
get locked in defensively in the second half to cut that deficit, and led
by 1 point late in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Penguins as they fell, 76-74. The Saints were led by 6 foot, 5 inch freshman wing Sevonyae Smith, who came off the bench to score 19 points on the night. Sophomore transfer guard Kahlon Whitley also had a great performance with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. The men are currently 1-4 in conference play but are not done for, at all. With 11 games remaining, they can still pull something off and make their way to the playoffs. Their next matchup will be Saturday, also against the Lane Community College Titans, in Eugene. Tipoff for the women’s game is at 2 p.m., followed by the men’s contest, scheduled for 4 p.m.
Featured Athletes
Advocate Men’s
Athlete of the Week: Kahlon Whitley #4 With excellent vision to find teammates and to create plays, putting himself on the board, freshman guard Kahlon Whitley earned himself Advocate Athlete of the Week bragging rights as he finished Wednesday’s game against Clark College with 14 points.
PA G E 8
Advocate Women’s Athlete of the Week: Courtney Jackson #23 Sophomore forward Courtney Jackson was a crucial part in the Saints’ whopping 54-point second half, where she was cold-blooded from the foul line, to keep Mt. Hood ahead throughout Wednesday’s game. With this, Jackson earns Advocate Women’s Athlete of the Week honors.