The Advocate, Issue 12 - Jan. 20, 2017

the

advocate

Volume 51 Issue 12

January 20, 2017

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Snow delays crucial Winter Term deadlines PAGE 4

DRC leader Melinda Bullen moves on after four years PAGE 6

Three shows to add to your watchlist PAGE 9

Blazers aren’t to blame for fans’ disappointment PAGE 11

Your phone can help you keep new year’s resolutions

PAGE 5

2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION

January 20, 2017

Editorial

More homework to be done on tuition aid program The Excelsior Scholarship Program, the free-tuition program currently proposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and heavily promoted by former presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is supposed to bridge the gap between the cost of college tuition and what state and federal financial aid gives students.

It could also be the blueprint for future student assistance in Oregon, and elsewhere – but it’s not without flaws.

The program would be available to students whose annual household income is less than $100,000 (rising to $125,000 by 2019). It would be available only toward New York’s state schools but would expand tuition assistance to cover both twoand four-year institutions, where previously only two-year schools have been covered.

This is what is referred to as a

Do you have an opinion on this topic or another? Send us your opinion and thoughts to: advocatt@mhcc.edu.

For more information, view the requirements in the grey box below.

“Are state schools able to handle the inevitable influx of students with “free tuition for all”? This could mean larger class sizes...” last-dollar scholarship plan – a plan that covers the last few dollars a student would need to go to college.

According to NBC News, New York state has the largest public university system in the U.S., with over 440,000 students spread among 64 college campuses. What’s more, the American Community Survey found that of the 7.2 million households in New York, almost 80 percent fall under the $125,000 income limit.

When most people, especially students, look at a program like this, is seems like a great thing. Who wouldn’t want help with their tuition so they don’t have to take loans to help with the cost of their schooling?

Upon review, though, the plan might not do what most people would think. The only people it seems to help initially are middle- and uppermiddle class students. That’s because this program only gives money to students after government and private grants and scholarships are taken into account. Most of the students who have an annual household income of less than $50,000 already qualify for enough grants and scholarships to go

to at least a two-year school.

In this light, we can see the plan is geared toward helping students whose annual household income falls between $50,000 and $125,000. So, it’s not exactly the all-encompassing program it seems to be.

Currently the average annual tuition for an in-state resident in New York to attend a two-year college is $4,664, and for a fouryear school, $7,403. In Oregon, the in-state average for a two-year school is $4,256, and for a fouryear school, $9,941 according to collegetuitioncompare.com.

These costs are pretty comparable, so assuming that this works in New York, this may be the foundation program states like Oregon would use to build their own last-dollar tuition legislation.

While there may be some great upsides for middle-class students, there are other factors to consider.

When you give free tuition to 80 percent of your student population to attend only state schools, private schools may see a huge drop in their numbers and could be looking at dark times ahead.

This would be like the government opening a grocery store and giving away free food: If that happened, how long do you think Safeway would stay in business?

“This would be like the government opening a grocery store and giving away free food.”

What about the other, smaller grocery stores?

Also, are state schools able to handle the inevitable influx of students that would come with “free tuition for all”? This could mean larger class sizes, and a strain on the infrastructure and facilities of the current state campuses.

What’s more, tuition is just one

“... New York state has the largest public university system in the U.S., with over 440,000 students spread among 64 college campuses.” portion of a student’s education costs. The plan doesn’t do anything to help cover housing, fees, food, textbook and other costs – which continue to fall more heavily on lower-income students.

Regardless, this could be a great help for students whose parents can’t or won’t help them with tuition.

Making sure that students can attend college without dragging themselves into crippling debt is the responsibility of any modern society.

For we live in a world that requires a college education to do much more than just scrape by, in most cases – that’s just plain and simple truth.

As American citizens, we need to

Could this be the blueprint for future student assistance in Oregon? make sure that we strive to make our country the best, and mosteducated, that we are able.

Programs such as this may be what are necessary to make that happen, but we need to make sure we don’t jump into anything headfirst.

We need to make educated decisions about education.

A jump in student enrollment would require more faculty, more classrooms, and more staff to run the school, which means tuition for everyone across the board may rise as well.

Is this the foundation for a plan to bring America to the forefront of higher education? Let’s make sure we do our homework first, so we don’t fail our future.

A similar program that occurs in Oregon is the Oregon Promise, which allocates some money to qualifying graduating high school seniors. The scholarship is distributed to incoming college freshmen students attending twoyear schools.

Oregon Promise is an experimental program, as this year’s qualified college freshmen recipients are the state’s first group to benefit from the program.

the advocate Editor-in-Chief Gloria Saepharn Opinion Editor Donovan Sargent Creative Director, Arts & Entertainment Editor Matana McIntire Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Megan Phelps Sports Editor Jamie George PA G E 2

Graphic Design Team Svetlana Meshcheryakova Prisma Flores Photo Editor Open Position Assistant Photo Editor Davyn Owen Photo team Porcha Hesselgesser Alex Crull Jessica Mitchell Video team Cory Wiese

Ad Manager Joseph Frantz Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst Staff Writers Kyle Venooker Greg Leonov Brody Mathews Maddy Sanstrum Glenn Dyer Erik Walters Otto Dawson

Cover Photo by Isaiah Teeny Cover by Gloria Saepharn

Contact us!

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Twitter: @MHCCAdvocate Facebook: facebook.com/TheAdvocateOnline Instagram: @MHCCAdvocate #MHCCAdvocate Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030

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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.

OPINION

Riding the bus encourages teacher to speak up Patricia Matteri

MHCC writing tutor Every school morning I jog to the bus stop to catch the 20 heading east to the community college. The long bus ride is my transit church and on the ride I am a little superstitious about saying all of my favorite prayers from the Knights of Columbus prayer booklet, ragged now with cut out prayer bits or quotes scotch taped to the inside back cover.

Meanwhile, my parish priest, with encouragement and direction from Pope Francis, has been weaving the theme of evangelism into his homilies. We Catholics are encouraged to share our faith by extending more of ourselves and offering invitations of friendliness.

Often the role of evangelizer does not connect with many of us. Take John the Baptist – perhaps the best

evangelizer after Jesus himself, who baptized our Lord and devoted his life to evangelism and humble living.

Yes, but he wore dreadlocks and sack cloth, evangelized in bare feet with an occasional soak in the river Jordan before a meal of grubs. Let me tell you, this does not easily connect with the Starbucks, Nikes, iPhone hipsters.

One morning, heading east on Bus 20 at 8:08 a.m., I stumble right into a better evangelist fit. Somewhere between SE 145th and 187th, I fell in love and put down my prayer book. About two feet tall, he sat on his mother’s lap and rhythmically bopped as the bus swayed, stopped and started. With laughing olive eyes he looked right into my heart. Regal in her motherhood, his mother was beautiful, too. I smiled, but unlike her son, she avoided eye contact. We were separated by our age, race, and assumptions.

Evangelize.

That night, remembering the little boy’s joyful dance, I slipped three of my grandchildren’s cardboard picture books into my school backpack.

Then I added another prayer to my list: Please, Lord, let me meet the mother and child again. A few days later, after my school day, on Bus 20 heading west, mother and son boarded after a few stops. I moved to a seat beside them and offered the mother the books. This time we were united in our motherhood, not separated by our differences. Now when I occasionally see her and her son, we are Bus 20 friends. She tells me the book her son enjoys the most, and I invite her to stop by the college to see me if she has time.

Evangelize. No dreadlocks or sackcloth required. Meals of grubs optional.

Another ride. Another chance.

A rider sits right behind me and makes violent, repetitive retching noises. If he throws up on my back, I wonder whether I can find a clean college T-shirt to wear when I arrive at school. No other riders look up as all eyes remain glued to smart phones, ears plugged with earbuds.

Evangelize. What can I do? “Are you OK?” I ask.

He glares at me. “Are you?” he answers.

“Anything you need?” I ask.

He ignores me. I’ve learned that small steps of evangelism aren’t always successful and many attempts don’t have immediate gratification, if any at all. The rider behind me had a form of Tourette’s Syndrome (involuntary expression of sounds or expletives often accompanied by ticks). Evangelism that day was simple acknowledgment of another’s presence.

Mother Theresa wrote, “If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

I have ridden Bus 20 for three years now, and part of my prayer routine is often to put away the frayed prayer booklet. Sometimes my students are on the bus and I sit beside them to know them better.

Other times I simply say hello to the stranger who sits next to me.

Riders board with pink hair, tattoo masterpieces, ferret cages, decorated motorized wheel chairs, skateboards and Veteran of WW II hats, and on Bus 20 I see the infinite variety of God’s creation. Evangelism can begin by postponing the prayers, looking up, and saying “hello.”

Different perspectives can make you who you are Gloria Saepharn the advocate

Some people forget all about perspective when it comes to their own excuses, opinions, or situations. Everyone has their own personal feelings about home, work experiences, and interacting with people, each that have their own outcomes. Without thinking, some people may offend others through emotion or words and never think about apologizing – is it right or wrong?

Admittedly, there’s a sense of superiority that some people give off and sometimes without a care in the world. Is it due to background or is just the way they want to live their life?

In reality, I never wanted to spend time to think that there are selfish people who don’t care about others, the environment, or places in the world, but like I said before – it’s reality. No one wants to talk to the person who closes themselves

off, or the guy that stands at the corner asking for money for himself and his dog. There are people who some may never know and probably never will, due to the lack of compassion or care in their life. It reminds me of “old Portland.”

Without thinking, I’ve passed by people and offered food or whatever I could; there’s still the bias of people thinking that some have more than others, due to their spending habits. Yes, people take things for granted and (uncommonly) there are those who

hate what they have and choose to give as much as they can. Through experience, some don’t like to believe that other people just might be telling the truth when it comes their lives. Some choose to belittle those they don’t really know behind their backs and sometimes right to their face. Whether it’s a friend, co-worker, or acquaintance, there are people who like to create drama and it becomes an uncomfortable environment.

It’s not the fact that people are greedy; nowadays, there are just

people who lack compassion and perspective when it comes to any given situation. I honestly feel that people are a bit numbed, due to the overwhelming amount of technology that surrounds them.

No one wants their feelings hurt, but people purposely or inadvertently do it to others, anyway. What’s the meaning or point of that?

Some people just want to help, and others may perceive that and choose to take advantage. On the other hand, there are those who

appreciate it and show it through words, actions, and emotion. People who understand are, quite honestly, underrated and unappreciated.

The kindness of others shows from time to time and it’s so rare, that the journalistic world chooses to publicize it as a rarity or an uncommon event.

Due to the craze of social media, the minimal amount of education for children about the internet, and the “rarity” of small acts of kindness, some people have become immune to the real world.

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NEWS

January 20, 2017

Adjusted MHCC financial aid winter schedule We understand students are concerned with what’s going on with Mt. Hood and how Winter Term is starting – a snow-delayed scramble.

Here’s what you should know after the extended winter break: Today (Jan. 20): Financial Aid will be disbursed.

Monday, Jan. 23: Last day to add or drop a course, at 11:59 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 23: Bookstore refund deadline.

Monday, Jan. 23: Refund deadline for students wanting to

drop a course by 11:59 p.m. Any later date will result on charges you will be responsible for.

Tuesday, Jan. 24: Financial Aid census. All attendance/participation records will be locked, and financial aid adjusted for courses for which you have registered and been recorded as attending. If you drop a course after your financial aid has been paid, you must pay the unearned funds back to the college.

Be sure to check in with your instructors or advisers to double-

check that you’re on track with your assignments and are properly registered for classes. Don’t forget to check your Saints email for messages from any faculty and staff.

Questions?: Advising: Advising@mhcc.edu Financial aid: Finaid.mail@ mhcc.edu Registration and Records: A&R@mhcc.edu Student Accounts and Financial Services: CustomerService@mhcc. edu

Stalking awareness month Stalking Awareness Month has crept up on us in the new year. It’s important to recognize the signs and how to deal with it, and on Tuesday, Jan. 24, MHCC’s Public Safety and Title IX teams and Associated Stu-

dent Government will host a seminar on “Stalking: Connecting the Dots.”

The guest speaker will be Michele Scholl, parole and probation officer with Washington County,

who specializes in supervising parolees convicted of stalking.

The seminar will be from noon to 1 p.m. in Room AC 2059. Pizza will be provided to attendees.

- Maddy Sanstrum

UPDATED

FINANCIAL AID SCHEDULE Friday, Jan. 20:

Financial Aid will be disbursed.

Monday, Jan. 23:

Last day to add or drop a course by 11:59 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 23:

Bookstore refund deadline.

Monday, Jan. 23:

Refund deadline for students wanting to drop a course by 11:59 p.m. Any later date will result in charges you will be responsible for.

Tuesday, Jan. 24:

Financial Aid census. All attendance/participation records will be locked, and financial aid adjusted for courses for which you have registered and been recorded as attending. If you drop a course after your financial aid has been paid, you must pay the unearned funds back to the college.

Graphic by Prisma Flores

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NEWS

advocate-online.net

Tax season also means FAFSA and scholarship season Barney’s briefs Kyle Venooker the advocate

Ah, the new year. For many, this means drinking less coffee, hitting that treadmill, not texting your ex after that third glass of wine.

If you’re like me and have no life, however, the first of the year means two things: taxes and financial aid.

If you made the same amount of money in 2016 that you made in 2015, doing your taxes is less time-sensitive. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) allows you to use your tax information from 2015 to save time and get that sweet, sweet federal aid sooner.

If, however, your level of income has changed, you should fill out a new FAFSA. This means reaching out to all your employers from 2016 (that barista job you worked for two weeks before deciding it wasn’t

a “good fit”? Get ahold of them!) and verifying they have the correct contact information for you.

Once you get your W-2s back, it’s tax time! I personally use Turbo Tax because I’m both lazy and taxilliterate, but use whichever method works for you.

And when your taxes are done, it’s FAFSA time! Filling out the FAFSA sucks. I know. I recommend a cup of coffee, a good playlist and a high tolerance for pencil-pushing.

Ultimately, however, it’s worth it: In 2012, the average two-year community college student received $4,600! That’s serious money – that’s a car, that’s a tour of Europe, that’s a down payment on a house. FAFSA doesn’t seem quite so arduous now, does it?

Anyway, once that’s all filled out, the feds will send it to Mt Hood Community College, which will work to decide how much federal

money you qualify for, based on your income and tuition costs. You may not be able to get the whole school thing paid for, but, depending on your income, you should be able to get a good chunk taken care of.

For everything else, I highly recommend pursuing grants and scholarships.

OSAC (Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion) is a phenomenal resource -- you enter in things like your grades, a couple other tasty bits, and they match you up with dozens, sometimes hundreds, of potential grants and scholarships for which you may qualify.

These are great, because you don’t have to pay them back (read: free money). Just make sure to check with your Financial Aid office before jumping into them headfirst, because in certain cases, scholarships can affect the financial aid you

receive.

In fact, regardless of what you do, checking in with the Financial Aid office isn’t going to do anything but help you. Mt. Hood’s Financial Aid department is located on the upper level in the main mall, in Room 2253. I have no doubt it’s gonna be packed these first couple weeks of the term, but the help is so valuable.

Though it may seem like a lot of work, securing federal money to help offset the cost of college is definitely worth it: 1 in 5 community college students do not apply for federal financial aid, and 1 in 3 doesn’t apply for any financial aid at all!

The money is there – just waiting for you to fill out a couple of measly forms.

To complete a FAFSA application, visit oregonstudentaid. gov/. To apply for OSAC scholarshipe, go to fafsa.ed.gov.

Deadlines: *OSAC private scholarship deadline is March 1. *Oregon Opportunity Grant money available starting Jan. 1; awards offered until funds are depleted. *Oregon Promise funding (for 2017 graduating high school seniors): Application deadline for early notice of approval is April 1.

Former college president passes Mt. Hood’s longest serving president, Paul Kreider, who led the college 1985 to 1996, passed away on Dec. 17. He was 85 years old. Kreider, who was first hired at MHCC in 1980, was a board member of the American Association of Community Colleges. In 1993, he was an award-winning CEO of the year. He retired to Las Vegas in 1996.

-Greg Leonov

Car break-ins welcome students Three cars were broken into on Jan. 3 in parking Lots A and F. The incident happened at 3 p.m., each with vehicle windows being broken to gain entry. The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties who is 5 feet 8 inches and about 150 pounds. The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a newermodel, light-colored sedan with a temporary permit and no license plates.

-Greg Leonov

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NEWS

January 20, 2017

Melinda Bullen leaves MHCC to train water bureau employees

Photo by Porcha Hesselgesser

Diversity Resource Center coordinator Melinda Bullen (center) saying goodbye at her farewell gathering on Thursday.

Greg Leonov the advocate

After four years, Melinda Bullen, the first and only coordinator of MHCC’s Diversity Resource Center, has decided to leave her position at the college and move on to the City of Portland’s Water Bureau.

Bullen gave her notice in early December, and will be working as a training and development officer.

Her responsibility will be “training and education of the whole of employees at the Water Bureau with

a specific focus on equity as it pertains to diversity and inclusion,” she said.

Jan. 13 was her final day with MHCC. A farewell celebration scheduled that day was postponed to Thursday, when Mt. Hood coworkers and students gave her a proper sendoff.

Bullen was hired shortly after the DRC was founded in 2013, created after strong support from Mt. Hood student government leaders. She accepted the job and moved to Portland directly from a work assignment in Chile, in South America.

“I came here just for this job and, as you can imagine, this work and the Diversity Resource Center are very personal to me because I made a huge life change to come and build it,” Bullen said.

Before she accepted the DRC position, the room at the rear of the Student Union sat empty. “It was like, ‘Okay, make this, buy the furniture, and decorate it, and create programing that students are interested in, and figure out how to market it, and set up all of the social media pages,’ ” she said about getting started.

It was the first time she ever had that type of DIY job, she said. “It’s allowed me to see what I’m capable of when you’re starting from scratch.”

Meantime, Bullen had no personal social connections when she first moved to Portland.

“This was not my community, it was totally new to me. That made it incumbent on me to right away go out and start engaging people across campus,” she said. “That’s something I think I’ve done well outside of the (DRC).”

Creating relationships is one of the most important things Bullen takes away from her job at Mt. Hood.

“One of the things I’ve learned

Winter brings beauty and delay The Advocate’s publishing schedule affected by weather

Photo by Alex Crull

Second-year MHCC Integrated Media photography student Alex Crull went exploring during the “extended break.” School was closed, so he and a friend decided to go take some exciting wintery photos.

PA G E 6

Due to snow, ice and MHCC’s many closures, the Advocate wasn’t able to publish our 12th issue of the year in what would have been the first week of Winter Term.

We chose instead to make this issue the first issue back, replacing Issue 12. Coverage from last week, as well as over the winter break, is included within this extended issue in an attempt to catch up along with all Mt. Hood students, staff and faculty at this moment. We will have 30 issues this school year, rather than 31.

Thank you for supporting our student-run paper.

and continue to learn here is, ‘never underestimate the power of relationships.’ One of the things I will absolutely take away from this place are some of the relationships that I’ve built here,” she said.

Before coming to Mt. Hood, Bullen had worked in higher education for 15 years. Even though she worked with four-year institutions before, and helped to support marginalized groups, it was here that she first worked on a campus that was available to all community members, she said.

“This was the first time that I was really working with students that were truly home-insecure, foodinsecure… really high-achieving students, and students that really are challenged academically.

“So (when) we talk about the full spectrum of the student experience, I’ve had that here in a way that I’ve not had in other places,” she said.

Bullen’s advice to whoever succeeds her at the DRC is clear.

Coordinators should remember that “the face and voice of students must be your first thought because the Diversity Resource Center is here because of students and it’s needed by students and it’s charged with helping

develop students,” she said.

Bullen also said that it’s important for the next coordinator to be as engaged with the community beyond Mt. Hood as well. “We’ve been able to create connections with community groups and other resources that ultimately benefit the campus and our students,” she said. “If we become too insular and become too focused on campus and forget about all these other partners in the community, we’re cutting ourselves off from such great opportunity.”

Besides bringing many intercultural events to the MHCC campus, Bullen takes pride in making the DRC a welcoming, safe place for students – such as a small group of Muslim students who gather to pray daily.

While much of its colorful artwork belongs to Bullen and will leave with her, she said the Center will remain open, perhaps with limited hours, until another leader is found.

Meantime, she’s confident the DRC will remain inviting to students. “This is a designated space that says ‘This is for you,’ and how great is that – for all of us?” she said.

STUDENT SUCCESS SERIES WORKSHOP WORKSHOP

DAY

DATE

TIME

CAMPUS

ROOM

Math Mid-Term Success

M

Jan 23

2:10 – 3 p.m.

Gresham

AC 3313

How to Succeed in a Science Class

T

Jan 24

11:10–Noon

Gresham

AC 3313

OSAC Scholarships Overview by Rho Theta

W

Jan 25

12 –12:30 p.m.

Gresham

AC3333

MHCC Foundation Scholarship Overview & Essay Help

W

Jan 25

12:30–1 p.m.

Gresham

AC3333

How to Succeed With a Research Paper

W

Jan 25

2:10–3 p.m.

Gresham

AC3316

OSAC Scholarships Overview by Rho Theta

W

Jan 25

5 – 5:30 p.m.

Gresham

AC 3333

MHCC Foundation Scholarship Overview & Essay Help

W

Jan 25

5:30 – 6 p.m.

Gresham

AC 3333

“But I Hate___.” Tackling the Subject That Scares You

R

Jan 26

12:10 –1 p.m.

Gresham

AC3313

OSAC Scholarships Overview by Rho Theta

Sat.

Jan 28

11:00– Noon

Gresham

AC 3333

MHCC Foundation Scholarship Overview & Essay Help

Sat.

Jan 28

Noon – 1 p.m.

Gresham

AC 3333

People requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact the Disability Services Office at 503-491-6923. Please call two weeks prior to the event.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

advocate-online.net

FEATURE

Bold strokes and a philosophy to her art

Hilarie Couture pulls from a wide breadth of experience

Matana McIntire the advocate

Looking at Hilarie Couture’s work currently displayed in Mt. Hood’s Fireplace Gallery, you could say it evokes a sense of effervescence.

It features lots of brush strokes, mixes of colors that are bolder than the structured state of color in real life. Rather than take a detailed and realistic route to her paintings, Couture chooses to maintain her pieces’ “painterly” form “where you can see the brush strokes and you see a nuance of color that maybe the regular eye doesn’t quite notice,” she said, describing her technique.

Speaking with Couture, it becomes evident that she has a philosophy to her art. She refers to most of her work as “painting from life,” i.e., painting from live subjects rather than photographs, if she can.

Her style – romantic impressionism, she states – reflects her idea of painting from life. Her choice to tell a story through the environment of her subject and its relationship with the same, also does this.

Couture was a creative child, drawing and illustration being a prevalent part of her life until she was a young adult. After high school, she went to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, for medical illustration and fashion design. The university being a pre-med school, she felt it wasn’t what she wanted and left after only about a year.

It was her next experience in life that defined her understanding

Photos by Matana McIntire

TOP: “Sleeping w/ Polar Bear” oil on a 20x40 inch canvas. ABOVE, TOP to BOTTOM: “Why Did You Leave ME” oil on a 20x24 inch canvas. “Lazy Hazy Daze” oil on a 24x48 inch canvas. RIGHT: “Mirror Mirror on the...” oil on mirror.

of art.

At the age of 18, Couture hitchhiked to San Francisco where she met a woman who sold handmade puka shell necklaces on the street. After disclosing her fondness for drawing, the woman suggested that she get her street

artist license and sell her work on the streets of San Francisco. And that’s what she did.

“When you’re on the street like that, you only have a person’s attention for maybe 45 minutes, max,” she said. “It forces you to be able to get it down quickly.” Couture

did this every day, employing a technique of zero guarantee – if you didn’t like it, you didn’t have to purchase it. It was how she built up her skills, but it was also how she made a living.

“If I didn’t have that life experience I don’t think that I would have the understanding that I do,” she said, recalling that time. It was then that her philosophy of painting from life was truly born.

However, it was another 40 years or so before Couture came back to portraiture. After her days selling artwork on the streets of San Francisco, she became a hairdresser, which she continued to do until recently. “It was sort of like sculpting. Working with hair was my medium,” she said.

In 2010, Couture went back to college and received a degree in historic preservation. She credited the many opportunities her classes posed as the groundwork to taking up painting. But it was an instructor who told her she should be doing it. “He said, ‘You’re a hairdresser?’ And I said, ‘Yes,’ ” she recalled. “He said, ‘Well, I think you’ve missed your calling.’ And that was a wake-up call.”

After finishing her degree,

Couture took a oil painting community education class at Clark College, in Vancouver, Washington.

It was in that class that she fell in love with oil painting – now her favorite form of painting – and made the decision to pursue it with fervor. From that point forward, she took every free moment to practice.

“I would try to take a workshop or I watched YouTube videos, and did whatever I could to continue,” she said.

As of 2017, it’s been four years that Couture has been painting in oil. Looking at her work in the MHCC Fireplace Gallery, one would think she had been painting for longer. One thing is for sure: Her work pulls the viewer in with a vivid range in story, style, and even subject, despite the majority of pieces being women, in various poses.

When asked what her goal is for her art moving forward, she replied, “My goal is to get it out there and to keep improving. To keep creating and coming up with new ideas.”

You can see Hilarie Couture’s work in the Fireplace Gallery through Jan. 30.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

January 20, 2017

Fitness app could help with 2017 goals Megan Phelps the advocate

3/5 on the fitness scale

So, it’s another new year, and some of you may feel the motivation to make some changes in your life. For me personally, before the new year even started, I decided to try and be more physically active.

Last term I learned about the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle as well as built-up stress. So many health problems can be avoided by an active lifestyle and healthy diet. I hadn’t really started on a “path to fitness” until I stumbled across an app on my handy-dandy cellphone.

One leisurely day, I was scrolling through the Google Play App store, looking for appealing games and apps, and I stumbled across a fitness app called 30 Day Fit Challenge Workout, created by Leap Fitness Group. All of the exercises can be done at home, and there is no equip-

ment needed; for a poor college student, this seemed ideal.

There are six different intensity workouts – easy, medium, and hard, with two separate plans for each intensity. Being so out of shape, I chose Easy Plan 1 as my starting point. I have to admit I am proud that I’ve made it to 13 days so far. I’ll also admit I’m not perfect; I have already skipped a few days. I feel that it’s okay, as long as I come back to it the very next day.

Each workout plan spans for 30 days, and each day you have the option to focus on multiple areas. Areas include abs, arm, leg, butt, and full body. I myself do all areas every day because I want to improve my overall body strength and physique.

There is a range of exercises for each area, and for each movement there is a set amount of reps or time given to complete the activity. You can rest between movements if you need to.

There are also great visual graphics of a person doing the exercise as well as a description of how to do the movement, underneath the graphic.

You have the option to track your weight as you go and the app keeps track of how long you work out each time, as well as the days you worked out on a calendar within the app.

You can also set up daily reminders on your phone so that you have an extra nudge to get at it. I’ve had the same reminder since I set it up: Every day at 5 p.m. I get a notification saying “Only 10% of people make it to day three, can you?” (A little more variety would be appreciated.)

After the first several days I was really hurting, sore muscles galore! I have a friendly common-sense tip for y’all, if you choose to become more active: Make sure to drink plenty of water, especially during your workout, as well as to stretch out after the workout. My levels of soreness decreased significantly after I decided to do this.

This particular app doesn’t factor in hydration or diet, which are vital components if you want to see and feel results. My workout after New Year’s Eve felt torturous, which I

Screenshot from the App

A screen shot of the app in action, demonstrating how to execute an exercise.

figured was due to the poor diet choices I had made the night before.

Those party snacks are killer!

I’m sure there are many different fitness apps out there, so feel free to browse around if you feel like this could be for you. Sometimes it’s hard to plan a whole workout when you have a lot going on; this app does it

for you! Another feature of this app is that it connects to Google Fit, yet another way to keep track of the amount of physical activity each day.

This seems redundant, but if you have other apps which are also compatible with Google Fit, all of your health will be tracked and connected in one place. This is especially convenient if you have the Google Pixel phone.

If you’re looking for an easy and cheap way to start the year off on a healthy note, this may be an option for you. I strongly encourage you, if you feel motivated to do something, to not wait. You never know how long it will take until that motivation hits you again, or if you will ever start a positive change in your life. As the famous quote goes, “Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.”

If a cellphone app doesn’t seem appealing to you, there are several fitness classes available at MHCC, as well as free open gym (for all students/staff/visitors) from noon to 1 pm on weekdays.

Final Fantasy 15 brings rewarding satisfaction Otto Dawson the advocate

Square Enix has been my favorite game development company for over a decade now and one of its most well-known games is the Final Fantasy series. Sure enough, the newest release of Final Fantasy XV has been a major hit.

The stunning visuals; complicated, yet very real, interactions between characters (especially the main four); the combat system; and the story come together to provide an amazing piece of art.

The primary character you control is Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, the skinny, black-haired, edgy, emo teenage boy we all knew back in high school. The Prince is on his way to wed The Oracle, and childhood friend Lady Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, and to finalize a peace treaty between the nations of Insomnia and Niflheim. Noctis and his three closest friends and companions for his adventure run into some problems booking a boat to take them where the wedding is to be staged. During PA G E 8

this time they also find out that Insomnia has been attacked and taken over by Niflheim and Noctis’s father has been killed. Now out to avenge his father’s death, reclaim his throne and wed his true love, he must seek the power of the Lucis bloodline and the royal arms used by his ancestors during their rule.

Graphic by Svetlana Meshcheryakova

On to actual gameplay: It’s a real-time combat system similar to Final Fantasy XII and the Kingdom Hearts series. You don’t have much time to plan an attack once a fight

begins. Promoting quick thinking and planning any sort of strategy before a fight feels extremely rewarding. If you came prepared for a hunt, you were rewarded; if you weren’t prepared, you’ll probably either die or end up running away to avoid dying.

Leveling up is also different this time around. You still gain experience points for defeating enemies and completing tasks, but you hold on to those points until you decide to cash them in at a campground or inn. Staying at an inn grants a bonus amount of experience gained, depending on where you stay. For example, if you stay in a fancy hotel on a beachfront you will earn two times the amount of experience you gained. Staying at an inn will also cost Gil, which is the game’s most common form of currency. Gil is also acquired through different methods than before in the series, as well. Instead of receiving Gil after defeating enemies you encounter, you have to accept hunting contracts from tipsters, defeat the hunted enemy, and then return for your reward.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed playing Final Fantasy XV. There are four downloadable content packages planned for the game. The first three will give us more information and story related to Noctis’ three traveling companions, and the fourth

is to include a multiplayer option.

Besides a few plot holes in the story that I hope are explained in the DLC and which I won’t get into because of spoilers, I truly believe this is a Final Fantasy to greatly enjoy, for veterans and first–timers.

Web Photo

Final Fantasy characters Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum and Lady Lunafreya Nox Fleuret striking elegant poses, ready to tackle any probelms they may face in the Empire of Niflheim.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Three shows you need to watch in 2017 you been waiting for the next big story that thrills your heart and fills you with unbridled, childhood-like imagination? That’s what this is, with the addition of graduate-level college students as the main characters, and with prolific curse words, awkward moments and sex scenes worked naturally into the storyline.

I won’t spend too much time trying to

Matana McIntire the advocate It’s a new year, and hopefully you’ve spent your (endless!) winter break wisely– and, no, I don’t mean applying for scholarships and working your part-time job (though, perhaps that is where your loyalties should lie).

Instead, I mean welcoming the glorious gifts Netflix has bestowed on us all this past month, plus one show released nearly a year ago that is still worth the view.

Fret not, if you actually spent your time adulting this winter break-- I have done the legwork (eyework?) and come bearing recommendations.

Here are three TV shows on Netflix that you should spend the next month vigorously viewing:

1. “The OA,” a Netflix Original You’ve probably heard of it since its release on Dec. 16, as its popularity has quickly risen in the weeks afterward. You’ve also probably heard of its comparison to “Stranger Things,” another Netflix original. I admit, there are a few parallels: Both are suspenseful mysteries that revolve around a female character who has access to another world; both have a ragtag group of individuals working together to complete a mission.

While both have strong elements of a realworld setting, The OA seems to surpass its peer in this respect. For one, the villain of the story is realistic and dark – I can’t give away exactly how, as it would spoil the intricate

The main protagonist, Prairie (left), being locked into a device by the main antagonist, Hap.

mystery weaving of the creators but, for now, just take my word.

Additionally, the main protagonist, Prairie, is constantly portrayed in a conflicting light. Even after finishing the series (it’s a oneand-done series, though the creators have alluded to a possibility of a second season), I still question whether what she believes is intended to be real, or if it’s all in her head.

Though, I still want to believe.

I can’t say much more without spoiling the mystery, but I recommend you queue it up and watch it unfold yourself.

And, I truly implore you to give her a chance, because it may not be easy to like her character.

In fact, there is a bit of an online following who dislike her, and I simply don’t understand.

Perhaps people don’t like the reality in what she is – that is, a complete mess. She’s selfsabotaging, brusque, and, when she’s cornered, she seems to make things worse on reflex rather than think logically.

Mickey is all of our worst selves, which is why I love her for it, and relate immensely.

Throw in a hilariously quirky Australian roommate, Bertie, the comedic trials of her

Three main characters Kady Orloff-Diaz (Left), Quentin Coldwater (center), Alice Quinn (right).

Above is their instructor.

convince you, but I do recommend trying it out. The first season is available on Netflix and Season Two premieres on Syfy on Jan. 25.

2. “The Magicians”

3. “Love,” a Netflix Original

You might not have heard of this show before. That’s okay; I didn’t, either, before I saw it on the new releases list on Netflix. My first impression was, “what a corny name.”

Oh boy, was I wrong. Well, I still think the name is corny – the show, however, is far from it. Throwing aside the obvious parallels to “The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe,” the story and the characters presented in The Magicians is a breath of fresh air. Have

“Love” is a comedy brought to us in part

by Judd Apatow, an acclaimed producer and writer who is known for his work on “Knocked Up.” And let me tell you, Love is awesome.

I was first turned onto this show by my best friend, and ended up ‘bingeing’ it within a few days. I’ll tell you why it’s great: the flawed, abrasive main character, Mickey, and the peculiar circumstances she finds herself in with her counterpart and love interest, Gus.

All photos from web

The two main characters, Gus (left) and Mickey in their first scene together.

relationship with Gus, and the beautiful backdrop of Los Angeles and you have a great show. I highly recommend it, even as Season Two is rumored to be released coming in February or March.

Golden Globes proves a bore for Advocate critic Glenn Dyer

the advocate There were many films this past year – some good, some bad, most completely forgettable. So at the beginning of the new year, it is important to award recognition to all those great movies that touched our hearts and broke new ground.

That honor, of course, goes to the Oscars – the Academy Awards.

But since that recognition will take about another month, let’s instead look at the choices and nominations of its slower, stupider cousin, THE GOLDEN GLOBES, taking place Jan. 8.

Every year the GG show has its own slew of problems when it comes to selection. Such notable ones from last year were the nomination of not just one, but two actors, from “The Big Short,” not giving a single award

to “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and accidentally putting “The Martian” into the Musical or Comedy section while the “The Revenant” was in the Drama section.

However, this year one could offhand pick out at least eight things wrong, off the bat. The first thing was nominating Andrew Garfield for “Hacksaw Ridge,” despite him easily being the worst thing about the film. The other seven things are all the awards “La La Land” won.

Dear, sweet La La Land: Surely no movie deserved better. I mean, it IS a musical homage to old Hollywood; what a unique idea that nobody could ever do better. Sure, the style of the film varies from vague 1960s to vague 1980s, with musical numbers so uninspired it makes the covers in “Trolls” look like the work of Mozart, but at the very least we got to see Emma Stone

and Ryan Gosling enact the most by-the-numbers romantic drama of all time. Complete with a tackedon conflict at the climax simply because the writers realized nothing has happened in the past. Oh well, how often do the Globes really get to use the “Musical” portion of that “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” award?

There were some other, more reasonable picks in different categories, though. Congratulations are in order to the best Drama picture, “Moonlight.” Personally I would have preferred “Manchester by the Sea,” but the decision is really more of an apples-and-oranges thing.

There were also plenty of good picks in the animated film category, with thankfully no mention of Trolls anywhere in sight...until you look at the best original song section. I

guess that is one win we should be television soon.

Overall, this Golden Globes thankful to La La Land for. I will always cherish that great song of selection was the same quality theirs that earned the win for “Song normally seen: a bunch of highthat is replayed and remixed so often quality films that nobody saw, in the movie that you want to fill awkwardly combined with largebudget Hollywood films to keep your own ears with hot glue.”

Finally, there’s all the the teenagers interested, and then selected with all the nominations and wins for television prestige and authority programs. Sadly, as I have not of the Kid’s Choice watched TV since 2010, I Awards. am a little out of touch with It does what people watch these serve at least days. Can somebody please one purpose, explain to me what a “Mr. though – it Robot” is? Is that a spin-off makes the of the “Six-Million Dollar Man” or something? Also, how Academy Awards come Doctor House is no longer look good by Doctor House? And why isn’t comparison.

Kelsey Grammer getting anything for his portrayal of sitcom psychiatrist Frasier?

Glenn Dyer, the Advocate’s resident movie Maybe I should buy a critic.

Photo by Glenn Dyer

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SPORTS

January 20, 2016

Oregon adds highly praised ’Bama coach Ducks hope new class means better times ahead Jamie George the advocate

The Oregon Ducks appear to be on the right track after a football season they hope they can soon forget.

New head coach Willie Taggart has filled all nine of his open coaching positions, most recently hiring special teams coordinator Raymond Woodie on Thursday.

Just a few days before that, he hired Alabama’s offensive line coach Mario Cristobal as Oregon’s co-offensive coordinator, working along side David Reaves. Cristobal will head the Ducks’ run game, and

Reaves, the passing game.

It came as a bit of a shock to some that Oregon could rope Cristobal in, considering he’s been one of the most sought-after coordinators for the past three years, due to the job he’s done with Alabama. He’s most known for his recruiting ability and is expected to bring a new style of thinking to the Ducks’ run game.

With Alabama last year, Cristobal helped bring in two of the Tide’s six five-star commitments.

The question is, will that translate over to Oregon? It’s much easier to recruit the top linemen when you’ve got the backing of the top-

If you missed it...

The Chicago Cubs visited the White House Monday, in honor of their World Series victory. They were the last team seen by President Barack Obama, before Donald Trump takes over the White House.

NFL Hall of Famer Bo Jackson made headlines late last week in talking about concussions. He said, “If I knew back then what I know now, I would have never played football.

Never.” Then, on Monday, he made them again while talking about star quarterback Cam Newton, saying, “… every time he takes a hit to his head, that scares me, it scares the hell out of me.” Interesting quotes from arguably the greatest pure athlete of the last 30 years.

The Dallas Cowboys fell to the Green Bay Packers Sunday in an unbelievable game, 34-31. Despite the loss, rookie QB sensation Dak Prescott was impressive. So impressive it feels like this may have been the icing on the cake to his formally replacing Tony Romo with the Cowboys. Prescott threw 24-38, passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns, and one interception.

On the other side of the field, Aaron Rodgers re-solidified his place as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Early in the season Rodgers received much criticism as the Packers were 4-6 and the playoffs seemed to be slipping away. His critics pointed at his leadership for the downfall. Now, Rodgers is one win away from taking his team to the Super Bowl. Oh, how the tide has turned.

ranked college football program and have notably the best head coach, Nick Saban, leading the team. He also had the ability to pick out of the South, where it seems most of the top college athletes emerge. Now he’s going to attempt to recruit out of the West, where a much different style of football is played.

But that may be what Cristobal is most excited about: the new challenges that await him. He says this will only help him become a more experienced and wellrounded coach. It’ll be interesting to see if his Alabama success will translate to Oregon, a team coming off a 4-8 season.

The Ducks have more to be excited about with the recent announcement that four-star quarterback Braxton Burmeister will join them next season.

Burmeister originally planned to attend the University of Arizona but flipped to Oregon on Jan. 6.

He’s the third four-star recruit who has committed to Oregon so far.

The Ducks other four-star recruits are defensive backs Thomas Graham, who’s 5 foot 11 inches and 175 pounds, and Jaylon Redd, who is 5 foot 9 inches and 180 pounds. Oregon is currently ranked 33rd in recruiting for 2017 by 247Sports.com.

Oregon also has the good news of returning running back Royce Freeman and offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby.

Both are key veteran starters for the team, as long as Crosby can stay healthy. He dealt with a tough foot injury for

Web photo

Mario Christobal coached four years at Alabama as the offensive line coach.

Before that he was head coach at Florida International University for six years.

the first half of the season before he had surgery and missed the entire second half.

The Ducks will miss a few key players next season. Speedy receiver Devon Allen will focus instead on track and field. Sophomore wide reciever Jalen Brown plans to transfer somewhere else. And wide

NFL PLAYOFFS WILD CARD

DIVISIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

SUPER BOWL

CHAMPIONSHIP

DIVISIONAL

WILD CARD

JAN 07 - 08

JAN 14 - 15

JAN 22

FEB 05

JAN 22

JAN 14 - 15

JAN 07 - 08

AFC vs. NFC MIAMI

DETROIT 6

12

PITTSBURGH 30

-Jamie George

PITTSBURGH 18 KANSAS CITY 16

OAKLAND 14 Web photo

HOUSTON 27

SEATTLE 26

SEATTLE 20 PITTSBURGH

GREEN BAY

NEW ENGLAND HOUSTON

PA G E 1 0

reciever Dwayne Stanford and offensive lineman Cameron Hunt were seniors, now moving on.

It’s hard to lose some key players, but that comes with the turf in football.

Now its time to see how Taggart choses to rebuild this squad.

16 JAN 22 - 6:40 p.m.

ET - CBS NEW ENGLAND 34

ATLANTA 36

ATLANTA FEB 5 - 6:30 p.m.

ET - FOX

JAN 22 - 3:05 p.m.

ET - FOX

GREEN BAY 34 DALLAS

31

NEW YORK 13 GREEN BAY 38

SPORTS

advocate-online.net

Blazers fail to meet unreasonable expectations Jamie George the advocate

After much excitement and talk, the Blazers’ season so far has been nothing short of a disappointment for fans. Through Wednesday’s games – just three games past the halfway point of the 82-game season – the Blazers are 18-26 and they sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. They are only three-anda-half games ahead of the last-place Phoenix Suns in the West.

What’s driving so many Portland fans crazy is the fact that on paper the Blazers stars are performing as well as expected. Damian Lillard is averaging 26 points per game and six assists, which is nearly identical to last season. C.J. McCollum is averaging just over 23 points per game and four assists, compared to last season’s 21 points per game. Leading rebounder Mason Plumlee is pulling down almost eight rebounds per game, just like last season, and is even averaging two more points. Statistically speaking, the numbers are similar for almost all the Blazers players. So why is it that last season the Blazers

were two wins away from the conference championship and this year they are a sub-.500 team?

The answer is, Portland was never as good as fans believed it was. The Blazers had a similar record entering the mid-way point last year, at 15-24. But then they got hot, going on to win 17 of their next 21 games. For a couple weeks the Blazers were the hottest team in the NBA, only behind the Warriors. If it weren’t for the Blazers’ hot streak, they never would have finished fifth in the conference.

Then, in the playoffs the Blazers faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, a series the Clippers would have had much more likely won but their two star players went down with injuries, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. So, the Blazers squeezed through that round and faced a Golden State Warriors with a worn down and hurting MVP, Stephen Curry.

Curry sat out the first three games and was not the same player he had been and Portland took advantage of that, nearly tying the series at 2-2 before falling in five games.

But how quickly fans forgot all

Web photo

Point guard Damian Lillard (left) and shooting guard C.J. McCollum (right) are averaging a combined 49.5 points per game.

But the team is struggling, sitting eight games below .500.

those key factors.

The fanbase mentality quickly became one that thought the Blazers were one of the best teams in the West, when in reality they were a fifth-ranked team that saw all the dominoes fall in place for their impressive playoff run.

Fans set the goal for this season to reach the conference finals and

compete to reach the NBA Finals, when they should have set the bar much lower. It should have been simply hoping the Blazers could reach the second round again.

Its still very possible Portland could finish in fifth place again, if they were to catch fire like they did last season. They are nine-and-ahalf games back of the fifth seed right

now, with 38 games remaining.

So don’t give up on Portland, yet.

Remember, heading into last season they weren’t even expected to make the playoffs. But they shocked us all, and Lillard proved what a leader he can be. Be patient with this young team; it has a lot of talent and with the right pieces may be the team you hope for sooner than later.

Saints women hope to turn slow start around Jamie George the advocate

After a fairly up-and-down preseason, the Saints women’s basketball team has pushed into its regular season schedule.

Mt. Hood came into the season excited about the prospect of a full roster, compared to last year’s squad where there were only five healthy players most of the year. The “Fab Five” were forced to play every minute of every game, with no one to come off the bench.

So, with a full lineup, this year’s Saints appeared to have a competitive season ahead. Then, after a few weeks of play, Mt. Hood found itself with just seven healthy players and a bench full of injuries.

Impressively, the Saints played well through the rough patch and now sit just three games below .500, at 6-9. With post player Katlin Farris back in action this week, Mt. Hood now is missing only guard Alexa Mulford. Both were sidelined due to concussions.

With a relatively healthy roster again, the Saints started off league play with a gritty 67-65 overtime

win over Clark College in Vancouver on Jan. 4. It was a big victory to kick off their NWAC South Region play at 1-0.

Since then the Saints have lost two games and had one rescheduled due to the snow –- the Jan. 11 game against Chemeketa Community College. They fell to Umpqua Monday, 89-53, at home, then to Clackamas, 64-37, on the road.

The Saints will play their makeup game against Chemeketa Monday at 5:30 pm in Salem.

The Saints have a lot to be proud of, so far.

Freshman point guard Jessica Parker is leading the team in scoring, averaging a little under 14 points per game. One of MHCC head coach John Hawley’s goals on the year was to see Parker become a key scorer for the team. So far it appears to be working.

Sophomore forward Chloe Cummins is second on the team in scoring, averaging just over 12 points per game. She is also leading the team in rebounding pulling down just shy of six rebounds per game.

Freshman guard Alicia Owens

has been a solid contributor, providing seven points, shy of six rebounds, and one steal per game. And second on the team on the boards is post Courtney Bay, averaging a little than six rebounds.

Ideally, if the right pieces can continue to contribute and with the return of their bench, the Saints can be real contenders this year.

Brooke Plecker, starting freshman point guard who leads the Saints in assists with nearly twoand-a-half per game, is impressed with the team’s recent success and pointed to the work it has put in.

“We have improved a lot since our first practice in early September.

We are starting to really scout out our opponents,” Plecker said. “We watch film and take notes on every team. We are focusing on better execution in our offensive game.”

Plecker has set her eye on postseason play. “We are looking to make it to the NWACC tournament later this winter. And to do our best each game and work to improve ourselves every day,” she said.

Cummins said the Saints have greatly improved their defense, and need to keep at it. “I would say we

have definitely improved on our defense – as far as rotation and help the helper – we can always get better, especially with communication,” she said.

The goal is the NWAC tournament, and “that means we need to play each game as if it were our last

because every game matters,” Cummins added.

Now it’s time to see if the team can stay healthy and make a strong run.

The Saints next play tomorrow, Saturday, at home against Linn Benton Community College at 2 p.m.

Don’t mind writing?

PA G E 1 1

SPORTS

January 20, 2016

The Hall of Fame steroid dilemma Jamie George the advocate

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) announced its newest inductees on Wednesday. Three players made it this year: first baseman Jeff Bagwell, left fielder Tim Raines, and catcher Ivan Rodrigues.

If you’re like many casual baseball fans, you may only know whom one of those players are, “Pudge” Rodriguez, and recognize the names of the other two. Which is a bit surprising in a year with so many well-known players hoping to be awarded with the HOF honor.

This year’s nominees also included the second-greatest relief closer of all time, Trevor Hoffman; the home run king* (asterisk) Barry Bonds; Roger Clemens, with 354* career wins; Manny Ramirez, with 555** (he was caught ‘roiding twice, hence the double asterisk) career home runs. The list goes on, but a few things stuck out this time around.

If you juiced but your numbers are so good they’re impossible to ignore and you were never technically caught, you’re likely getting in the HOF. If you juiced, got caught and your numbers don’t break records, you’re probably not getting

Web photo

Long time San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds is the home run king with 762 career home runs. Yet due to the steroid stigma that follows him he has not been elected into the Hall of Fame in his five years of eligibility.

in, yet. If you dominated your position during the steroid era and it was rumored you may be on steroids, you’re likely not getting in, yet. And if you were a standup player but your numbers don’t speak, Adios, amigo.

Bonds and Clemens headline the impossible-to-ignore category. It’s always been rumored they ‘roided, but concrete evidence isn’t there. They each received around

55 percent of the 75 percent of the baseball writers’ vote they need to get in. It’s likely they’ll be elected in the next couple of years.

Ramirez falls into the second category. His numbers are clearly HOF-worthy but he was suspended twice for steroid use. He received 23.8 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility. It’ll be interesting to see where his numbers head in the future.

In the third category is where the majority of this list of players fall – dominant players who just weren’t quite Bonds or Clemens.

Jeff Kent, Sammy Sosa, and Gary Sheffield lead this category. Kent is the all time home run leader at second base, yet he only received 16.7 percent of the vote. Sosa received just 8.6 percent of the vote, yet he has over 600 home runs.

Sheffield totaled 13.3 percent of the

vote and he has 509 home runs. All these guys numbers shout HOF but their vote percentage indicates they aren’t reaching the Hall anytime soon.

The final category is led by Edgar Martinez and Curt Schilling.

They each played through the steroid era and haven’t had the ‘roid stigma stuck to them, but their numbers are shy of HOF numbers.

Martinez received just shy of 60 percent of HOF votes in his eighth year on the ballot. He ended his career with over 2,200 hits and 300 home runs. Schilling, on the other hand, earned 45 percent of votes, having finished his career with 216 wins and over 3,000 strikeouts. But these men will likely not reach the HOF. Leaving the question; how will these categories change in the coming years? A few years ago it appeared maybe no ‘roiders would get in. Now Bonds and Clemens appear to be a few years away.

Will that trend move Ramirez, Kent, Sosa, and Sheffield up, in likelihood, over the next few years?

Obviously it’s impossible to say right now, but with big names like Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz recently heading into retirement, the questions must be answered.

Mt. Hood Saints set eyes on big season

Men eager to build off their 7-6 start Jamie George the advocate

The Mt. Hood men’s basketball team has set the bar high for itself heading into division play, with the high hopes of winning a championship.

The Saints were off to a solid start, at 7-4 overall early this month, but have lost their last two games – bringing them to 7-6 and 1-2 in NWAC South Division play.

Mt. Hood lost to Umpqua, 98-91, in a Monday makeup game, then to Clackamas Community College, 6862, on Wednesday.

Despite the two losses, the goal is clear with this unit: The team wants to win the South and fight its way into the NWAC tournament Final Four.

The Saints say they’re jelling offensively, and defensively they’re PA G E 1 2

Photo by Davyn Owen

Freshman guard Steven Fair is averaging nine points and one steal per game.

coming together.

They believe they have the talent, especially on offense. Sophomore forward Cody Thompson said, “Our goal is to make it to NWACs and win. Most important is to just keep working hard and staying focused.” He’s definitely someone to

listen to considering he’s leading the team in scoring, with more than 17 points per game and a little over five rebounds. He’s doing so with 46 percent field goal shooting.

Third in scoring is sophomore guard Elijah Fuller, with 13 points and a little under two steals per

game. Fuller sees no reason this team can’t win the title this season.

“Championship or nothing. If we don’t get the NWAC ring, then the season was a fail,” Fuller said.

On the boards, forward Luke Anderson is getting the job done, pulling down a team high of seven-plus rebounds per game. He’s also scoring over 13 points while shooting a team-high 59 percent from the field.

Freshman point guard John Tibbs leads the team in assists, averaging just shy of five. He is also tied on the team in steals with Anderson, having grabbed 23 away so far. He’s really impressed with how unselfish the Saints are playing.

“Everybody is unselfish. We all want to learn, grow and win,” Tibbs said. “On the court we love each other and have each other’s back.”

Because of that, he’s got big goals

for the team. “Our expectations are honestly to come first out of the South and make it to the final four of the NWAC tournament,” he said.

Tibbs knows it won’t be easy, adding, “We are a guard-oriented team with no true bigs, so we are looking for major upsets with NIC (North Idaho College) and Spokane to be able to take the crown.”

Fuller seemed to agree, saying Mt. Hood constantly has something to work on. “Defense and rebounding. We can always can get better on defense and rebounding,” he said.

The Saints’ next game is tomorrow, Saturday, against Linn Benton Community College at home. Tipoff is at 4 pm.

Mt. Hood then plays Chemeketa Community College Monday, as a makeup game for the contest snowed out on Jan. 11. It will be played in Salem at 7:30 pm.