The Advocate, Issue 13 - Jan. 27, 2017

the

advocate

Volume 51 Issue 13

January 27, 2017

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Every step you take every move you make Stalking most prevalent on college campuses

PAGE 4

Oregon graduation rates get failing grade PAGE 2

Add this restaurant to your must-try list PAGE 6

Saints women lose fifth straight battle PAGE 8

2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION

January 27, 2017

Editorial

Oregon high school graduation rates are a failure The new numbers have recently come out: Oregon’s high school graduation rate has climbed one percentage point over the last year, but unfortunately, it has only reached a total average of 75 percent.

This means one of every 4 people in Oregon who start high school will be a dropout.

While any upward momentum is obviously a good thing, this shows that Oregon’s graduation rates aren’t near where most people think they should be, and signals a long, uphill battle to improve Oregon’s educational future.

At the other end of the spectrum, we see states such as New Jersey and Iowa, with 90 and 91 percent, respectively. With an overall national average of 83 percent, this puts Oregon almost

10 percent behind the average at 74.8.

As recently as 2013, Portland had an average graduation rate of 68.7 percent, absolutely dismal by any stretch of the imagination. The most recent figures show Portland’s rate at 75.5 percent, for which Portland Public Schools deserves some credit, and shows that Oregon is at least pushing the needle in the right direction.

However, Oregon as a whole remains as 48th in the U.S., ahead of only Nevada and New Mexico, in graduation rates.

There are several factors that can contribute these low numbers, from funding issues, administration failures and measurement criteria inaccuracies. This is the second system used for measuring grad rates in recent history; within the

last system used Oregon repeatedly ranked dead last in the nation.

There is some new hope on the horizon with the passing of Oregon’s Measure 98 in November 2016. This measure, when fully implemented, will support dropout-prevention programs and combat absenteeism, as well as support vocational, technical, and college readiness programs in Oregon high schools that can be critical in keeping students in school For the 2012-2013 school year, Oregon spent $9,543 per public school student. The average across the United States was $10,700.

Across the U.S. that year, reported graduation rates averaged to about 81.4 percent, while Oregon had the second-lowest public school graduation rate at 68.7 percent.

But the it’s not just about the money being spent.

We need to do more than funding if we’re going to ensure that the average Oregonian student is finishing their education.

According to the graduation data from the state, groups such as special needs students, AfricanAmerican or Native-American students, and English as a Second Language (ESL) students are among those struggling the most.

It seems there are distinct groups suffering under the current system, and as a state, we need to put a focus on making sure that these groups are nurtured and educated correctly before these students become further disenfranchised.

Oregon school districts need to make sure any new money they receive from Measure 98 goes to

ensure that everyone is getting the education they are due, and that no one is left uneducated.

If graduation rates remain low, then it’s really a low grade for all of us Oregonians as a whole. When students fail to graduate, they can’t contribute as much economically, and are more likely to be a drain on public resources, causing higher taxes for the rest of us. And, of course, the students aren’t at fault if the educational system is setting them up for failure.

Giving our children the best education we can, and making sure that they finish that education is a test that Oregon can’t afford to fail.

Oregon must do all it can to help it’s students learn what they need to graduate, and succeed in life.

If we can’t do that as a state, then we truly do deserve an F.

Portland protests Trump and supports women Kyle Venooker the advocate

For our Amish readers out there, this past weekend saw two significant protests in Portland: one protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump, which took place on Friday, and a march taking place Saturday in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington.

I attended both, and I gotta say, they couldn’t have been more different.

Let’s start with Friday. I got there, more curious than anything else. I saw some signs in solidarity with Standing Rock. I saw anarchists, anti-fascists, pro-labor unionists, and many signs declaring their disdain for our newly-elected

president, a significant number using Nazi symbolism.

The anarchists started burning flags, drawing cheers, shortly after I got there, and I watched kids who couldn’t have been more than 15 laughing and taking selfies with the burning flags in the background.

I’m all for the First Amendment – it’s what allows me to write for this paper – but I gotta say, watching kids burn flags for Likes on Facebook was one of the more surreal things I’ve seen. Seriously, guys? Oh, for the days when smoking pot under a bridge was considered edgy.

Once the speeches got underway, however, I found myself growing more enthusiastic. There was some really good stuff in there! Mostly about how, like, The

Man is, um, bad and stuff? Like, really bad. Mostly Donald Trump, but definitely City Hall, too. And the police. And landlords. And transplants. And my old roommate, Steve. Steve, if you’re reading this, you still owe me $20 for October’s utilities.

As the sun went down and the march got underway, the energy remained pretty high. People were laughing, joking, chanting, and generally having a great time.

You got the sense that it was the first chance a lot of the people in attendance had gotten to protest.

A marching band joined up with us, for crying out loud. I’m pretty sure they play at the PSU Farmer’s Market. They did a killer rendition of “Caress Me Down.” Daps were

most righteously exchanged.

Police pushback It definitely got less fun when I watched a dude get maced. It DEFINITELY got less fun when I got assaulted by a police officer.

When our crowd got to Waterfront Park, we found a line of bike cops stretched across the park, riot police across the street. There were gaps in the line, so a small group of people moved there, myself included.

We got through successfully, and whistled and shouted and clapped, attempting to direct the main body of protesters toward the gap in the line.

It was at this time that the police announced that Waterfront Park was closed. I moved back toward

the line, found an officer in my face, moved to step around him, and found myself in a puddle. An officer had grabbed me by the backpack and thrown me onto the ground, forcefully enough for my glasses and hat to go flying. I crawled in the mud for a minute, searching for my glasses and feeling exactly like Velma, until a fellow protester got them for me. I looked at the police and said, “I really don’t appreciate being thrown on the ground.” The officer nearest to me smiled and replied, “You should have done what you were told.”

To view the full unabridged story & news coverage, visit: advocate-online.net

the advocate Editor-in-Chief Gloria Saepharn Opinion Editor Donovan Sargent Creative Director, Arts & Entertainment Editor Matana McIntire

Graphic Design Team Svetlana Meshcheryakova Prisma Flores Photo Editor Open Position Assistant Photo Editor Davyn Owen

Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Megan Phelps

Photo team Porcha Hesselgesser Alex Crull Jessica Mitchell Fadi Shahin

Sports Editor Jamie George

Video team Cory Wiese

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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 Fadi Shahin Cover by Prisma Flores

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

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.

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NEWS

January 27, 2017

Stalking: a psychological assault Greg Leonov the advocate

College campuses have been the most dangerous places in America when it comes to stalking, according to a local expert on the crime.

On Tuesday, Mt. Hood’s Public Safety office and Title IX team held a talk about stalking, and defensive measures, in the Town & Gown room.

The featured speaker was Michele Scholl, a probation and parole officer and hearing officer for the General Crimes Unit of Washington County.

The presentation was meant to inform students about the threat of stalking on and off campuses, how to identify instances of stalking, and how to deal with stalkers. It’s important information since records show students between the ages of 18 and 24 are most likely to be victimized.

Scholl said that generally, stalking is any unwanted behavior that a stalker persists in. Legally, stalking is “when a person knowingly alarms or coerces another person or a member of that person’s family or household by engaging in repeated and unwanted contact with the other person,” she explained.

She followed up by asking how female members of the audience would feel if they came home to a dozen roses. The general consensus among the audience was feeling flattered.

Scholl then told a story of a woman who divorced her abusive husband, but he kept stalking her. He told her that the day he kills her, he will leave a dozen red roses.

“The history that you’d gone through is gonna change that perspective,” Scholl said of the reaction to such actions.

Stalking consists of more than just following someone around, said Scholl. It includes anything from unwanted texts and voicemails to “coincidentally” showing up to the victim’s workplace or at daycare facilities.

According to Scholl, stalking is a crime in all 50 states, in Washington D.C., and also in most U.S. territories.

It usually is a Class A misdemeanor, meaning that a conviction can land a one-year jail sentence, or up to $6,250 in fines. It’s a Class C felony if the offender has a prior conviction, which comes with a maximum of five years in prison or up to $125,000 in fines.

“In Oregon, we have a sentencing guidelines grid. Every felony is assigned a number, based on seriousness,” said Scholl. “Aggravated murder is an 11; stalking is an 8. It is very high up there because of how much of a risk”it is, she said.

According to Scholl, 7.5 million people are stalked yearly in the U.S. Fifteen percent of women and six percent of men report each year that they or their families were in danger because of stalkers.

Types of stalkers Scholl described five different types of stalkers: the intimacy seeker; predatory stalker; incompetent suitor; resentful stalker; and rejected stalker.

The intimacy seeker is usually the celebrity stalker or a mild acquaintance of the victim. The seeker be-

lieves that the victim is a “soul-mate: and that they belong together. They misinterpret casual greetings and niceties as positive signals or affirmations of love.

Predatory stalkers are methodical. They “observe and study” their victims, said Scholl. They know their victims’ routines well, and are often planning a sexual attack. The predatory stalker doesn’t usually make contact with a victim before an attack.

An incompetent suitor often has a “fixation or a sense of entitlement to an intimate relationship with those who have attracted their interest,” said Scholl. They recognize that the victim is disinterested, but feel that their behavior will change the victim’s mind.

An incompetent suitor is usually not very social, and has a lower IQ, she said.

Resentful stalkers want to scare and distress their victims. They are often paranoid and delusional, and they believe they have a responsibility to pursue specific victims or groups of people. The Unabomber (a man found to have mailed several letter bombs to authorities) was a resentful stalker.

The rejected stalker is attempting to fix a broken relationship, Scholl said. Stalking behavior usually starts at the end of a relationship. The rejected is the most persistent and invasive of all, she said. They often seek to coerce their victims and are particularly dangerous because they personally know their victim.

Often, a stalker will use digital methods to trail their victims. They

“Legally, stalking is ‘when a person knowingly alarms or coerces another person or a member of that person’s family or household by engaging in repeated and unwanted contact with the other person.’ ” follow victims on social media and often use the GPS on their victims’ phones to keep track.

Scholl said there are services like flexispy.com and mspy.com that sell software that can be installed on a smartphone so that the stalker gains access to calls, texts, contacts, location services, and everything else on the phone.

How to respond There are a number of things one can do if threatened by a stalker. For immediate threats, the best thing to do is call 911 immediately. Scholl said to “trust your instincts,” and “don’t downplay danger if you feel you are

not safe.”

Any threat a stalker makes is to be taken seriously. “If they threaten to kill you, believe them,” said Scholl.

When a stalker makes threats of suicide or murder, the victim’s risk is especially high.

Victims are encouraged to keep evidence of stalking, saving emails, texts, calls, and voicemails, as well as keeping a log of encounters. Obtaining a restraining order or Stalking Protective Order are good ways to help keep victims safer.

“We know that these are just pieces of paper... but what it does do is it gives us a tool,” said Scholl. “It’s not guaranteed; that’s why the victim has to be the one to make that decision (to obtain a restraining or stalking order).”

Set a clear boundary, urged Scholl.

“Do not communicate with your stalker or attempt to communicate with them after that point. If you do, you’re breaking your own boundary, so do not communicate with them you’re giving them what they’re seeking, and I guarantee you they’re gonna continue with that,” she said.

The effects of stalking on a victim are usually more psychological than physical, Scholl said.

Victims are generally more fearful and sometimes begin to display symptoms of PTSD. A 2013 study from Washington and Lee University found that psychological trauma on victims was almost the same as those of victims of sexual assaults. Stalking victims get traumatized even when a perpetrator never makes physical contact.

Anyone who feels threatened by a stalker on the MHCC campus is encouraged to call 911, and to notify Public Safety in Room 2330. Victims may call Public Safety at 503-491-7310 for non-emergencies, and 503-4917911 for emergencies.

First instructor brought German culture to MHCC Gerda Matthias Obituary Provided by Karin Pearson-King

MHCC’s first German language instructor, Gerda Matthias, died peacefully in her home in Battle Ground, Washington on Dec. 29.

She was 93.

Gerda was born on May 4, 1923, in Falkenburg Pomerania (now Poland) Germany. At the end of World War II as the Russians neared the city, she and her family fled to Schleswig, Germany. Shortly thereafter she found work with the Americans in southern Germany where she met and married a U.S. Army soldier, Lawrence Pearson. A year later, twin daughters Karin and PA G E 4

Patricia were born.

In December 1952, Gerda boarded a naval ship in Bremerhaven, Germany with her 6 month-old babies to join her husband in Hoquiam Washington. She returned to Germany to visit family five years later and upon her return the couple divorced. She found work teaching a German night class at the “Y” where she met one of her students, Jim Matthias. They married in Aberdeen, Washington in 1959. She often joked, “It was a good thing he married me; he never would have passed!”

The family moved to Portland in 1962 where she followed her ambitions for a teaching career.

Gerda attended Portland State and later Marylhurst University where

she received her master’s degree in education. While she waited for a full-time job she substituted at various Portland high schools in German, French and even one time at Benson Tech in shop class.

Among the initial faculty members at the brand-new college, Gerda was the first German instructor hired at MHCC, where she taught from 1966 to 1988.

Beyond class, her students were actively involved in outreach activities in the community, including: • Teaching German to children at the Powell Valley Elementary School in Gresham by putting on puppet shows and singing German songs

• Cutting down a Christmas tree and hauling it by horse-drawn hay wagon through the streets of Gresham while singing Christmas carols as they made their way to the MHCC campus; • The annual event each Easter morning where they would meet at the campus and drive to Multnomah Falls without speaking a word to one another.

German Club members hiked to the top of the falls in the dark before it was light, to drink out of the stream. This was an old German tradition, that by drinking water from a stream that ran from east to west, it would bring good health for another year.

Photo provided by Karin Pearson-King

To view the full unabridged story, visit: advocate-online.net

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Amazing stories behind the art Megan Phelps the advocate

With the cold, slippery snow finally melting away from campus, you can now freely and safely roam.

Hopefully on one of your daily strolls you’ll come across the Visual Arts Gallery here on campus, nestled on the east side of campus. You can tell you’re in the right place if you see lots of colorful murals.

The current artwork being presented is a mishmash of pieces from the students at the Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC).

Upon arrival you will see two large-scale sculptures on the floor, as well as a set of twin chairs. The chairs were crafted by Cole SicoraFriesen, a second-year transfer student at OCAC currently working to attain his bachelor of fine arts degree in wood. He tells me of his inspiration, and how the chairs were constructed. They are modeled after Gary Reitveld’s Steltman chair and the chairs are piston fit joints, meaning no wood glue joints hold them together.

Explaining the reason for two chairs, Sicora-Friesen says, “As a response to the Steltman chair I began to think about my twin brother and how we have been living 1000 miles away from each other for almost four years now.

So, I feel fractured and this theme of fracture or separation has been reoccurring more and more in my practice as time moves forward and I see less of my twin brother.

“I made two chairs as reflection of my brother. I am left-handed and he is right-handed; we’re not mirror twins nor identical, but nobody can really tell us apart,” he adds.

Photos by Fadi Shahin

ABOVE: A general overview of the works in the Visual Arts Gallery, specifically the west corner of the gallery.

RIGHT: A closer look at the work titled “If she is Young & Pretty Everything Else is Profit” by Danielle Gannett.

These exceptional seats are not for sale. They are sturdy, yet uncomfortable and impractical for everyday use, as stated by the artist who frequently uses them in his apartment. I myself could see a coffee cup resting on the end square of the arm of each chair, but if it were me trying to use one, I might add a cushion. I really enjoy the open geometric and linear concept of this set. (I cannot definitely judge on comfort level because I didn’t want to get kicked out of the gallery!)

One of the eye-catching pieces that immediately stands out in the gallery is the vertical arm sculpture, left-center in the exhibit, created

by Matthew Branham. The piece is titled “Delude.” Just left of the fading porcelain hand is an overflowing

pink bathtub titled “Being Charlotte Corday.” This is an interactive piece where the viewer has the option to add water to the piece. Prior to my visit I had no idea who Charlotte Corday was; she was a French noblewoman and the assassin of the French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat. After a brief online search, it seems Corday was a conservative in support of the monarchy and Marat was in favor of more democratic means of power.

Looking into the underlying meaning of artistic works makes me appreciate their creation even more.

As I passed through this gallery each piece piqued my interest; there’s variety here, from crafted geometric chairs to fibrous textiles on display.

I took the opportunity to talk to another of the artists, Rachel Barker, a metals major at OCAC. Her work displayed here, however, is not metal: Instead there are four neutral, spandex garments hanging on the back wall titled “Tuesday Afternoon” (Series of 4).

To my questions about the purpose and inspiration for these transparent garments, Barker responds, “I was really interested in minimalism and German constructivists, particularly their take on design and architecture.

“The material and the pieces are intended to be decoration to the human form; ideally, the body would be the work of art. These are intended to be displayed on the human body, but you can’t really

have people hanging out in the gallery at all times,” she explains.

It is clear there are many talented artists at OCAC, and I strongly encourage you to go check out the pieces on display at MHCC before they’re gone.

There will be a reception today (Friday) in the Visual Arts Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. and the final day to view the artwork will be Thursday, Feb. 2. The Gallery is open weekdays for visitors, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you’re interested in looking into the Oregon College of Art and Craft, there is an undergraduate open house at 2 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 28) where you can learn about the admission process, hear about scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and apply for Fall 2017 courses.

Be sure to bring your artist portfolio to show instructors what you have to offer at OCAC. You will also need to RSVP online. The campus is on Southwest Barnes Road, near the Providence St. Vincent hospital.

For more information about the OCAC, visit: ocac.edu.

Horror Scopes Gemini

- Forget what your therapist says. If whispering Paul Simon lyrics in the ear of the stranger in front of you on the bus isn’t right, then maybe I don’t want to be right. Also, maybe get a new therapist.

Taurus

- Car and Driver magazine says changing the oil and checking tire pressure are the No. 1 things you can do to increase your car’s lifespan. Hey, if you want a real horrorscope, why don’t you get a real sign? Howbowdah?

Scorpio - The universe sends

mixed signals often, so this week try not to take things too literally.

Unless someone says, “Bite me.”

Then bite them. Believe me, they’re going to thank you for the fresh perspective.

Aries

- Existence is pain, so drop out and get high as soon as you can and as much as you can. There’s no joke. Do it right now.

Virgo

-Listen to me very carefully because this has been the point of every horrorscope put in the Advocate for the last three years: Stop reading horoscopes. They’re

stupid, and you shouldn’t be reading them. Still not a joke. Have a week.

Sagittarius

- Well, I guess whatever I tell you would feel kind of empty after Virgo’s prediction. So I’ll leave you with this: Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee from pokemon are named after Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Don’t say you didn’t learn anything today. You’re welcome.

Aquarius

- If you read any of the previous ones and are still here, you’re clearly a glutton for punishment. A fried mayonnaiseball eating, self-esteem-having,

smooth-breathing wad of biological mechanisms functioning in society.

Also, you’re really not that bad, stop acting like a skid. I bet if your childhood pet were reanimated just to see you, he would still run away.

Cancer

- If you could tell an Aquarius that... I’m sorry, I would really appreciate that. They might need a hug, too. When you do, I need you to tell them for me, very gently: “I’m sorry about your childhood pet; have a mayonnaise ball.”

Leo

- By now you might be thinking to yourself, “I can feel my

breathing getting more steady by the second.” Good. Read all the horoscopes you want so the rest of us can let natural selection do the work. Don’t hurt yourself trying to remember what natural selection means – they have a place for people who can’t figure that out, and they hang out every Sunday.

Capricorn - Oh, but I’m sure

your week is going to be just peachy.

You beautiful, unique, naive ray of sunshine, happiness, and kittens, you.

>> To continue reading the “momentous” zodiac predictions, turn to the bottom of page 6.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

January 27, 2017

Spinella’s, hidden gem on Main St in Gresham Seriously good food, an atmosphere of playfulness and live music Maddy Sanstrum the advocate

5 out of 5 on the flowerpot bread scale

Inside one of the best restaurants in downtown Gresham, there are two TVs hooked up to speakers and playing a variety of music – either indie folk or recordings from concerts. One side of the room has a small stage set up for karaoke and visiting bands, and the walls are covered with paintings made by customers. As the night goes on, more people come in and get their meals and brews, either alone of in groups sitting, talking, listening to the music, or digging into the food where everything is made from scratch, from the sauces to even the cheese.

Above the kitchen and bar counter, watching it all, sits the mannequin mascot of Spinella’s Off the Wall – Woody Spinella.

The spectacle at Spinella’s doesn’t stop there, though: It just keeps getting better, both the fun and the food.

The menu is full of variety and play on words, ranging from salads, burgers, and brews, to traditional Sicilian food. Best example for one of the menu’s wackily-named foods is the “Seize her while she’s hot” – grilled Caesar salad with dressing and a side of shrimp.

But trust me, the food’s no joke. Especially when it comes to the Sicilian food, specifically, Spinella’s “Legendary Mac” – a dish with Brie cheese, shell macaroni, bread crumbs to top it off, and even your choice of add-ons if you so desire. Even without add-ons, the dish is silky

smooth with a bit of a crunch from the bread crumbs, making this dish truly legendary. This also comes with their main staple, flowerpot bread – a small treat baked inside the flowerpot it’s served in, with a side of butter.

Another food item to talk about is one of Spinella’s special items, the Wallowing Ranch.

This hamburger has homemade ranch, sautéed onion, provolone cheese, and a well-cooked patty. To quote my friend roughly, the burger had a soft and almost creamy texture that “mixed several variations of savory.” In other words, the patron is wallowing in the wake of its savory taste.

And, of course, the appetizers are just as mouth-wateringly delish. The one we had this go-round was the “You No-Wanna Nachos”– which consists of marinara sauce, with meat and peppers, atop tater tots. I cannot describe my love for these little morsels other than that the two blend together perfectly, rivaling the restaurant’s mozzarella stickmarinara sauce combo.

Apart from the food, a few things Spinella’s is best known for is its karaoke nights with the owner, Michael Spinella, taking part; paint nights, in which people age 21 and up come and paint; and, of course, the music and bands that come play. A few groups playing later this month and next are Saturated Phats, Champagne Sunday, and Pretty Gritty.

In the end, if the rating was based off flowerpot bread, I’d give it a five out of five, even if I’m still a minor (and can’t hang out for some of the adult-only options later in the evening).

The atmosphere is great for conversation, listening to music, and coming across the unexpected. True, when it first opens, business is slow, but if you wait long enough something awesome just might happen.

“Trust me, the food’s no joke.”

>> Continued from page 5

Pisces

Horror Scopes

- Look, if you want to reach transcendence you need to get serious about steady breathing. This week you need to stop pooping. After a few thousand years your butt PA G E 6

hole will naturally close up and you will obtain enlightenment.

Libra - I quit. You don’t get one.

Photos by Matana McIntire

TOP to BOTTOM: Legendary Mac, loaded with extra grilled chicken; Seize Her While She’s Hot, without shrimp; The Wallowing Ranch with housemade potato chips; and interior shot of Spinella’s, with the mascot, Woody Spinella, perched on the railing above the bar.

SPORTS

advocate-online.net

Mt. Hood excited to host Tracktown USA Jamie George the advocate

Mt. Hood has been honored with the opportunity to host a professional Tracktown USA Summer Series meet on July 2, pulling the best of the nations top athletes to one Summer competition.

It will be one of two regional team track meets held across the country, with San Francisco hosting the other on June 29. The championship will be held in New York on July 6, and will be televised on ESPN. It’s a great opportunity for Mt. Hood to host an event for Tracktown USA. A nonprofit organization based in Eugene, Tracktown USA has won the right to host major competitions in Eugene and Portland recently.

Tracktown USA’s Summer Series is a new concept that brings together some of America’s best track and field athletes. It is comprised of four professional teams that will be drafted, representing Portland, Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco.

The group organized the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships

and 2015 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships (both in Eugene), the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships (Portland),

director, is pleased to land the event.

“We believe this is a very exciting opportunity for the college and the community to have a track and field

Photo by Davyn Owen

Mt. Hood renovated its track in 2014 for the first time since 1994, at a cost of $280,000. That allowed Mt. Hood to host major track and field events again.

the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Eugene), and is organizing the 2021 IAAF World Track and Field Championships.

Kim Hyatt, Mt. Hood athletic

meet of this caliber,” Hyatt said.

Last year a regional meet was held at Hayward Field, the Oregon Ducks’ track and field venue. But Hayward is undergoing a major

remodel to prepare for the 2021 World championship meet, leaving organizers with the need to find a new home, for at least the time being.

That’s where MHCC came in.

This isn’t the first time Mt. Hood has had the opportunity to host a big event. In fact, it used to be considered one of the top tracks in the Northwest. But by 2013, the running track was in such poor condition the school couldn’t host such events. Finally, in 2014 the school resurfaced the track for the first time since 1994, part of a $280,000 renovation.

With the track again in great condition, MHCC hosted the NWAC track and field championships last May – just like they had several times before.

The Tracktown meet offers Mt. Hood more opportunity to regain its reputation as a “fantastic facility” and a top track and field in the Northwest, Hyatt noted.

Thanks to the 2014 renovation, it doesn’t appear any more major improvements are needed for the event.

She also pointed to Saints staff’s

“This is a very exciting opportunity... to have a track and field meet of this caliber.”

-Kim Hyatt MHCC Athletic Director

year-round work. “Our past and current track and field coaches have always gone above and beyond to work with meet organizers to provide a first-class experience for everyone involved,” something she believes drew the attention of the Tracktown leaders, she said.

It is not yet clear what ticket prices will look like, or if MHCC students and staff will be receiving a discounted price.

It’s also unknown if MHCC students will be involved at any point, such as the setup, takedown, or even running the snack shack during the event, Hyatt said.

PA G E 7

SPORTS

January 27, 2017

Saints women ‘turnover’ fourth quarter lead Jamie George the advocate

Photos by Davyn Owen

Freshman point guard Jessica Parker is leading the team in scoring averaging 13.3 points per game. Her season high is a 22-point game against Big Bend on Dec. 17.

If you missed it...

The New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, 36-17, sending quarterback Tom Brady to an NFL record seventh Super Bowl. Brady will look to win his fifth championship when the Pats face the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 5. Brady also tied Joe Montana’s record of the most three-touchdown passing games in postseason history, at nine.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin returned Tuesday following knee surgery that took him out of action five weeks ago. He scored 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the Clips’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was averaging 21.2 points and 8.8 rebounds before the injury.

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Toronto Raptors on the road Tuesday, 108-106. It was the Spurs’ 20th win in 24 road games this season, making them just the eighth team in NBA history to win at least 20 of their first 24 road games. Of course, the last team to do it was the Golden State Warriors, only last year.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is starting a weekly pickup basketball game within the U.S. Senate. He’s using it as way to repair relationships that were hurt over the past year, due in part to a bruising campaign for president. His hope is that as colleagues come together to play, they will fix broken relationships in the senate.

Among senators said to have joined in are Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Tim Scott, R-S.C. - Jamie George Sen. Ted Cruz

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The Mt. Hood women lost their fifth straight basketball game Wednesday night, this one to Portland Community College, 57-47.

It was a rough loss for the Saints as they played a game they felt like they could have won. At halftime they even led, 32-25, after a big second quarter. Mt. Hood put up over half its total game points in the second quarter alone – 24 points.

After that, though, the offense seemed to run into a wall. It’s a wall that has become all too familiar for the Saints of late, as they are averaging 24-point losses over their winless streak.

Saints forward Chloe Cummins was disappointed that Mt. Hood didn’t pull out a win. In fact, Mt. Hood led by six after three quarters, only to

get pounded in the fourth, 23-7.

Cummins said, “I would definitely say that we could have won, we are definitely capable of competing with PCC. We just have to find it within to prevent large runs, like the one that PCC got in the (fourth) quarter.”

Mt. Hood’s offense just hasn’t seemed to be clicking lately. Freshman point guard Jessica Parker, who came to the team as a pass-first minded guard, is the team leading scorer. She’s averaging just over 13 points per game.

That was true Wednesday, as well.

Parker led the team with 18 points, while only one other player joined her in scoring double digits. That was forward Courtney Bay, who scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The Saints also struggled to hold on to the ball against PCC. They committed 33 turnovers, compared to PCC’s 19. For a team that’s al-

ready struggling to score, with a 22 percent field goal percentage, turnovers are a deadly problem. To date, Mt. Hood has committed the third most turnovers in the NWAC, out of 34 teams.

Cummins agreed turnovers are a problem.

“We definitely need to focus on taking care of the ball, and not allowing teams to score a majority of their points on second-chance buckets and fast breaks,” she said. “Those are all things we can control and once we focus on minimizing our own errors, I feel things will most definitely turn around.”

MHCC plays Saturday at home against Southwestern Oregon Community College at 2 p.m.

It’s the first of a four-game home stretch in which the Saints will hope to change their luck, having lost seven of their last eight games.

Men hope to find their stride Jamie George the advocate

because we knew it was a big game for us but we are going to have two good practices the next two days and have a good game on Saturday.”

MHCC will host Southwestern Community College in Gresham, the first of four straight home games, a chance for the Saints to get right.

Tipoff is at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Fuller said the Saints believe they’re a much better team than how they’ve been playing. “We have dropped the last three games, to teams that we should have beaten,” adding that as team they didn’t prepare correctly for the Portland game.

Fuller isn’t ready to erase the

possibility of winning the conference, however. “We set very high goals to win conference and win the NWAC this season. Obviously we have to get back on track and play how we were before Christmas,” he said. “We as a team know that we have to win every game now to have a shot of winning the conference.”

The overwhelming sense from Saints players is they won’t let the rough start knock them down. They believe in their talent on the court.

“At least that is our mindset – we have to stay positive and be together as a team,” Anderson said. “We can’t do it individually but together as a team, a family, we can.”

The Saints men lost Wednesday night to Portland Community College, 87-80.

The defeat dropped Mt. Hood to 2-4 in NWAC South region play, and 8-8 overall on the season.

It wasn’t a bad day for everyone: Saints sophomore forward Cody Thompson had a good game, scoring 17 points and pulling in nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Elijah Fuller scored 13 points, and had two steals. And freshman point guard John Tibbs came away with five steals.

The team has struggled, though, not just Wednesday but their last few games. They’ve lost four of their last five, all of them South contests.

Considering that this team set high goals, the recent struggle hasn’t been easy.

Sophomore forward Luke Anderson described the team’s mood.

“We haven’t been playing well lately. But that’s the thing – we know we are a good team; we just haven’t reached our potential yet,” he said.

“We did set high goals because we have high expectations for ourselves and we wanted to set these goals to push ourselves to get better.”

Anderson pointed to how the team can rebound from the loss.

Photo by Davyn Owen “We were pretty bummed last night Sophomore guard Elijah Fuller is averaging just shy of 13 points per game.