The Advocate Vol. 49 Issue 17 - Feb. 14, 2014

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The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College

MHCC will be open on Monday for Presidents Day

February 14, 2014

Volume 49 Issue 17

The last day to withdraw from a class is Friday

Spring registration begins Wednesday

Snow days

Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

MHCC shut down at noon on Thursday, Feb. 6 and remained closed until noon on Tuesday. They encouraged students to take public transportation because snow continued to fill some parking lots.

Clockwise from left: Piles of snow filled the middle of walkways all through the Gresham campus Tuesday. A downed tree floated in the MHCC pond on Thursday. Melting ice dripped off trees as the campus opened its gates Tuesday. Caution tape marked off paths down to the pond.

Student lives lift new dean

by Greg Leonov The Advocate The “job of a teacher is to give you the opportunity to figure out what you’re supposed to be,” said Sara Rivara, Mt. Hood’s new dean of humanities, who assumed the full-time position on Feb. 1.

Rivara began teaching at the age of 22. She spent most of her career at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, Mich., and greatly enjoyed her experience there.

“The thing I love most about it was my students,” she said. “I love my students, I love teaching. I love community college students.

“I went to an elite private school myself, and it was just a bunch of rich kids and me. And here, you’re (seeing), like, an 18-year-old guy next to your grandma,” she said, praising the

Sara Rivara

their stories, and I fell in love with school as an English student.”

During a rough patch after graduate school where Rivara “got married, had a baby, got divorced and had to put my life back together,” she said it “was really my students that sustained me – just the fact that in a class, everyone can become friends, if you do it right.”

She drew from students’ energy and unique circumstances, she said.

“I feel like everyone in that classroom is an expert at something. You’re all coming into it with a life story that’s interesting,” she said. “I mean, I have a lot of fun, and I think my students end up having fun in my classes.”

broad diversity at community colleges.

Teaching English classes helped her connect with her students, she said. “You get students, and you learn

Dean

Continued on page 3

is Disco really dead?

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Opinion

Feb. 14, 2014

Let’s go retro:

Talking about the music we love Disco will always be with us

by Greg Leonov The Advocate

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“Like the legend of the phoenix…” begins the first line of lyrics in Daft Punk’s widely popular single “Get Lucky.” This phoenix is an excellent allegory for the disco influence of the song, and to disco as a genre in general.

“Disco is dead, and it should stay dead,” is what someone told me after I mentioned that I want to see it come back to prominence. And, after I started to pursue the topic through some basic research, I discovered that disco is not exactly dead.

About a year ago, I started to stray away from my EDM (Electronic Dance Music) roots. I dove headfirst into the world of swing music, and I also began listening to country music. As I became familiar with the genres, I started to get bored with them, and I felt like I needed something new.

I had been listening to tracks off of Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories,” and I watched an interview about the album, and the mention of disco being a big influence caught my attention. So, I decided to check out this unfamiliar territory to see if it was something that I could vibe with.

As I immersed myself in the genre, learning about the way (uh huh), and how to like it (uh huh uh huh), I began to realize this was something that I have always been exposed to, but in an indirect way. So, as I baptized myself with the soothing vocals of Barry White, and I synchronized the

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syncopated patterns of the fouron-the-floor beats to my own pulse, I discovered that this was the voice of a generation that

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needed a positive and relatable way to express its personality that was just too groovy and funky for the mainstream world.

Disco is the product of the frustrations faced by those who needed to unleash the dance and funk in their hearts. The black, Latin, and, especially, gay communities all gathered and partied to a soundtrack that made anyone that wasn’t dancing look like a square – similar to a rave setting of our time.

During the ’70s, as disco caught fire (“Saturday Night Fever,” the BeeGees), many record labels started to take notice and did what they could to incorporate it into their music. Groups such as Blondie, The Rolling Stones, and KISS released singles and albums that either had elements of disco or were straight disco records.

As disco swept through the music industry, the industry did all it could to profit from the genre as much as it could. Just like any style of music, disco became a packaged, mainstream redundancy. All anyone would hear on any radio station or club was disco.

This abuse of a single genre led to the horrific events at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1979 where radio personality, Steve Dahl, a discohater, incited a memorable outburst of anti-disco fever. He encouraged fellow disco-haters to bring their vinyls to a White Sox baseball game for destruction, and blew up a pile of these records between games of a double-header. The crowd went wild, throwing more records into the blast. This scene is comparable to a book burning where the community is so caught up in its narrow-mindedness, it forgets it is destroying evidence of a piece of history.

All hell broke loose at that historic baseball game, foretelling what many would consider the death of disco.

But, while the baseball fans were cheering and destroying their music, disco took one final breath for the decade, and inconspicuously rose from the ashes in Comiskey Park. Instead of staying dead, instead of disappearing into the obscurity of the strange ’70s, disco imbedded itself into the future of music.

Today, many artists are releasing music with elements of disco that breeds a sense of familiarity with the seventies.

The most obvious example is Daft Punk, and the group’s aforementioned Grammy-winning single and album, whose other songs also incorporate disco. More artists who have songs with a disco vibe are Justin Timberlake with “Rock Your Body,” from 2003, and Bruno Mars with “Treasure,” from 2013.

Disco doesn’t need to be “brought back.”

It might gain enough momentum to being blatantly present on mainstream radio, but until then, disco will continue to breathe. It will nurture our music, and it will survive.

Disco never left us, and it never will. It is present in the background of the R&B of today. It’s a genre that doesn’t ask to become a lifestyle; it feeds the soul, and inspires the inner funk. Everyone should find his or her groove, and recognize the influence disco continues to have on music today.

What happened to guitar solos?

by Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate

Guitar solos used to be a mainstay of rock, and most pop music in general. Now they are almost nonexistent. And on the rare occasion there is a solo, it’s usually only a couple of notes that are tucked in at the end of a song, like the band is smuggling illegal contraband. On the other end of the spectrum, there are headache-inducing speed runs that are meant to display a guitarist’s speed, and not to compliment the song and create a narrative with the notes.

This is a real shame because guitar solos, if applied correctly, can add so much depth and enjoyment to any and every song. And they need to come back.

I’ve never listened to a song where a solo of some kind would not improve it. It doesn’t have to be a face-melting screamer (they’re awesome, though). An acoustic arpeggio can be a sweet chocolaty center to a smooth melodic song. A twangy string-bender can get any cowboy to stomp his boots. And a slick blues solo can lull you into musical nirvana.

A great guitar solo is like an event.

When the “Stairway to Heaven” solo comes on, everybody shuts up and listens. And great guitarists can find a way to include a solo into any song. Eddie Van Halen was a master at this. There are very few, if any Van Halen songs in the David Lee Roth era that lacked solos. And each of them feels appropriate and unique.

The thing that truly baffles me with the lack of solos today is the immense group of talented guitar players who litter our fine planet. Guitar playing has come so far, and there are so many avenues to learn, that it has given birth to thousands of aspiring axmen. Just look up “guitar solo” on YouTube, and you will find a smorgasbord of people who have some serious chops. They may not be totally original, but they can seriously shred. Even the mediocre guitar player today can do things that experts of yesteryear couldn’t even fathom.

If a band or artist were able to incorporate solos, they would have a million people ready and willing to play for them. And most would probably do it for free. Sadly, these disciples of rock are born into a world that no longer wants to hear them.

Music has been moving towards more

simplistic pleasures and electronic beats that don’t appeal to those with high-musical IQs. Solos now require too much thought for the common listener to comprehend.

This has seeped over into rock, or what I like to call “wuss rock”: rock with whiny lyrics, monotone singers, simplistic melodies and no freaking solos. Popular bands like Fun., Imagine Dragons, Kings of Leon and One Republic fall into this category.

The lack of solos is also stagnating the evolution of the

instrument. What’s the point of redefining the guitar if nobody is listening? As a result, we don’t have universally acclaimed trailblazers like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton for our generation. The last batch of greats debuted all the way back in the late 1970s and 80s, virtuosos such as Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Buckethead, John Petrucci and others.

I know that there are a few modern guitarists who are very talented, including Mark Tremonti and Andy James, but they aren’t taking the instrument to new places or making noteworthy music.

I’m worried that when the last remaining greats fade away, the art of guitar will totally stagnate and start to wither. We’ll always have the old material, but nothing to look forward to.

Let’s stand up for guitar solos, and not let one of the greatest pleasures in music die. Support musicians who encourage intricate solos, and ignore those who don’t.

!nO kco

What are you doing for Valentines Day?

“My plan is to watch Woody Allen movies, and cry. ” Comment from Mt. Hood Student, Steven Hawle

“I’m going to play a song for my girlfriend that I wrote. ” Comment from Mt. Hood student, Danny Goodman

the Advocate Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Katelyn Hilsenbeck Hilsenbeck

Living Living Arts ArtsEditor Editor Rebecca Rebecca Gaulke Gaulke

Opinion News Editor Editor Danny KatelynPerez-Crouse Hilsenbeck

News Assistant Editor News Editor Katelyn Greg Leonov Hilsenbeck

Sports Sports Editor Editor Aaron Aaron Marshall Marshall

Copy Copy Editor Editor Rebecca Rebecca Gaulke Gaulke

Photo Photo Editor Editor Carole Carole Riggs Riggs

Ad Ad Manager Manager Cameron Cameron Miller Miller

Submissions Submissions Opinion Editor ReDanny Perez-Crouse Missy

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Lindsay Frost Q Quarterman

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Video Team Melissa Casey

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News

Feb. 14, 2014

Guest article: How

by Darlyn Chester Public Safety Intern Harassment can be defined as: “the act of systematic and/or continued, unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group, including threats and demands.” (http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/harassment).

Harassment can come from a stranger, friend, family member, coworker, significant other, supervisor, etc. Unlike rape, robbery and kidnapping, actions that are considered as harassment can vary from individual to individual – as long as the action can be deemed as systematic, and/or is continued and unwanted.

Harassment is something that will affect most people at some point in their lives. This is because harassment can occur anywhere, and be anything from bullying to workplace or sexual harassment. In most cases, harassment is sexual — this includes lewd jokes, uncomfortable comments, gender or racial slurs and actual unwelcome physical contact. Both men and women can suffer from sexual harassment, either verbal or nonverbal. Any behavior that creates a hostile learning or working environment may be considered harassment.

to combat harassment

There is a common misperception that men are only initiators of harassment towards women, but that is not the case. Harassment can be maleto-female, female-to-male, male-tomale and female-to-female.

On college campuses around the nation, 62 percent of females and 61 percent of males report being sexually harassed, according to documented research. And, 66 percent of college students report personal knowledge of someone who has been harassed.

The most common harassers of college students are other students: 80 percent of students who reported being harassed said another student was perpetrator (http://www.aauw.org/ what-we-do/legal-resources/knowyour-rights-on-campus/campus-sexual-harassment/#stats).

It’s easy to try to ignore the person who is harassing you, but most of the time, if that person is ignored, the harassment will continue and get worse.

According to harass.stanford.edu, the best thing to do if you are being harassed is: 1.

Speak up! Tell the person you feel uncomfortable with their actions/ jokes/attention and ask him/her to stop. This should be done as long as you feel safe enough to do so.

2.

If you feel unable to ask the

Magic of Love

harasser to stop, face-to-face, write a written message to him/her—be sure to keep a copy of it for your own records.

3.

If the harassment still continues, keep records of events — this includes dates, places, times and what was said, and how you responded. Records will come in handy when you seek outside help by reporting the harassment.

It’s very common for victims to delay action and to wait to seek help. Most of the time, this is because they blame themselves for the unwanted attention or feel like it will stop on its own. This doesn’t help anything: When it comes to harassment, never blame yourself or wait to get help. It is not your fault, and you did not ask for that kind of behavior!

Reporting harassment is very important. If the harassment is happening at work, a manager or owner of the business needs to be notified of the undesired behavior. In the case the harassment continues, law enforcement needs to be notified by going through proper channels and filling out a report. In the case that the harassment is taking place on a college campus, a few departments should be made aware of the situation — Human Resources, administrative members, counselors and Public Safety, for example.

By first contacting the Public Safety department at Mt. Hood – either at the office in Room AC2330 or by calling 503-491-7310 –Public Safety officers will be able to assist you in contacting the other departments.

Counselors are available at 503491-7432 if you need any type of advice, or just want to talk and set up an appointment. If needed, the Public Safety department can help with reporting the harassment to local law enforcement officials. Once everyone is notified, actions can be taken to stop the harassment and make you feel safe.

Harassment is not something that should be taken lightly.

In more than half of all types of harassment, the victim suffers lasting negative effects. These can cause the victim to be scared, self-conscious, embarrassed or angry. The victim might be forced to change his or her life, such as switching schools or quitting work because of the trauma.

Don’t let someone dictate your life.

If you are being harassed, get help immediately. If someone you know is being harassed, strongly encourage him or her to seek help.

- Daryln Chester is a MHCC student doing an internship with the Public Safety Office on campus.

3

ASG honors MHCC employees as heroes MHCC’s Student Activity Board is recognizing three MHCC employees as “Unsung Heroes” for their service to students.

This year’s recipients are Shannon Valdivia, speech instructor and forensics team adviser; Christy Weigel, Orientation Center coordinator; and Craig Marks, audiovisual technician.

The SAB will host an event from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Union paying tribute to the trio.

Jordyn Anderson, SAB receptions coordinator, said the award is for “MHCC employees who students feel go above and beyond the call of duty and consistently provide service to students without calling attention to themselves.”

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Dean

Continued from page 1

Collaboration, communication

ASG hosted the “Magic of Love” Thursday with magician James David in the Jazz Cafe. One lucky giftbag contained a key for a romantic Valentine’s date for dinner for two at the Ringside Restaurant. MHCC student Olga Bazhinova received the key.

At Kalamazoo, Rivara was the English and Transitional Studies department chair. She taught a full class load and handled the duties required of a dean. “I had to wear two hats at the same time, and that was tough, ’cause I was the supervisor [of] my colleagues, but I was also their colleague and that got a little dicey,” she said.

Given that administrative experience, Rivara is confident in managing her duties as dean at Mt. Hood. And, because of her tenure as a faculty member, she encourages instructors to voice their grievances.

“They (administrators) might not always agree with you, but you need someone who listens to you,” she said, describing faculty member desires.

“Teachers need good administrators

who have their back.

“I was really active in my union back home. I think I could be a good advocate for the faculty, which, in turn, is being a good advocate for students,” she said.

Outside of teaching, Rivara loves music. She started playing the piano at the age of 3, but considers her talent “really embarrassing.”

Instead, it’s her voice that shines. In Michigan, she sang for the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo, was part of a professional quartet, and sang with an opera company and a symphony.

“I’ve never not sung,” she noted.

While not yet affiliated with any singing projects in the Pacific Northwest, she said she might get involved with one. “Portland is a big choir town, so

we’ll see.”

Rivara is a published poet. A number of her former students are also published, and some of them are awardwinners. “That’s not my doing,” she said, deflecting any credit.

As a department head at Mt. Hood – following Eric Tschuy and Jim Kline, who recently served as interim Humanities deans – she feels confident she can ably serve both faculty and students here.

“I believe in collaboration, and I believe in communication,” Rivara said.

“I’m here to be of service to others. I absolutely understand, coming from faculty – the weird relationship faculty and administration has. I’m hopeful that I can be good to the faculty (and) be good to the students.”

Photo by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

Student Success Seminars “How to Concentrate and Remember” Monday 12:10 to 1 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

“Job Search Strategies” Thursday 3:10 to 4 p.m.

“Study Smarter, Not Harder” Tues. Feb. 25 3:10 to 4 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

Bob Scott Room (library) AC2307

“Overcome Procrastination” Tuesday 12:10 to 1 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

“Smart Preparation for Math Exams” “End the Semester Strong” Mon. Feb. 24 2:10 to 3 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 26 12:10 to 1 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

Bob Scott Room (library)

“Visual & Hands-On Learning: Secret Weapon” Wednesday 1:10 to 2 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

“Social Media and Your Job Search” “How to Write a Resume” Tues. Feb. 25 1:10 to 2 p.m.

Bob Scott Room (library)

Thurs. Feb. 27 2:10 to 3 p.m.

AC2307

4

Living Arts

Feb. 14, 2014 Graphics by Heather Golan - The Advocate

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Find something else to see this Valentine’s Day

by Rebecca Gaulke The Advocate Sitting in the theater awaiting the start of the Valentine’s Day movie “Endless Love,” it became clear to me that it would certainly be no blockbuster. The majority of seats remained empty, while usually people wait in lines for hours and have to push their way in to get a seat at the free prescreenings of highly anticipated movies, designed for members of the press and promotional ticket winners.

“Endless Love” didn’t have that buzz, and after seeing it, I know that it didn’t attract larger crowds for a good reason.

There were perhaps three men present, total, probably dragged in by their girlfriends or wives.

While I will fully acknowledge that I love a good chick flick every once in a while, I have to say this isn’t one that I would be excited to see again, such as the great movies “The Notebook” or “Dirty Dancing.”

This “Endless Love” is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name. How original: Is it really that hard to come up with a new love story and slap a different name on it? Apparently so.

The film features two teenagers the summer after they graduate high school. Actor Alex Pettyfer plays “David Elliot” and actress Gabriella Wilde plays “Jade Butterfield.” They make an interesting pair with good on-screen chemistry.

But, individually, David was a character worth rooting for (and looking at), while Jade’s “good girl” act was stripped away (literally) at the first sign of attention from a boy. Jade’s character seemed extremely phony in the beginning, and when she found her own voice towards the end, she hardly became any more likable.

The movie is full of cliché plot and story lines: the overprotective father trying to protect his only daughter after experiencing the loss of a son; the young lovebirds so caught up in their love they spend every moment of the summer by each other’s side; the pretty girl in high school that has everything going for her, yet is still shunned by her peers; and the snobby ex-girlfriend who does everything she can to be a villain to the new girl in her ex’s life.

Sound familiar? You’ve probably heard at least one of these storylines in a love story you’ve seen over the years.

What’s different about this mov-

ie is that while Jade is beautiful and would seem like she would have tons of friends, the reason she doesn’t is explained by the loss of her big brother, something her whole family is still try-

HHIII Movie Review ing to recover from. Their backstory gives the characters something that interests the audience.

Jade is portrayed as a girl trying to find her way out of a dark spot in her life, and that’s when she finds David, who is also overcoming his own trials from the past. He helps her become herself again at just the right time.

The real conflict in the story line came from Jade’s close relationship with her father, who has more than one problem with the new man in her life. A medical doctor, of course he expects his 17-year-old daughter to blindly follow in his footsteps.

While Jade spent most of her high

school years with her nose in a book and seems to be very bright, the expectations her father has of her at 17 are completely unrealistic, even for a movie. Before she even enters her freshman year of college, she is expected to start medical internships and prepare for medical school. It bothered me that she was held to such high standards when she wasn’t even of legal age yet. He couldn’t handle the thought that her daughter may choose love over having a career as a doctor.

What made the conflict even worse were his schemes to turn his daughter against David. The audience certainly grows to hate him as a person, especially seeing the harm he is causing his surviving children and wife because of his inability to come to terms with his own pain over losing a son. In the end, there is only a small sense of redemption, but I think he remains the character you will love to hate.

Overall, I think my favorite parts of the film were the true spirit of young love and adventure that it captured, mixed with some funny moments. The couple truly makes the most of their last summer after high school, and Jade begins living her life like she should have been. (Although I don’t believe

Looking for something to do tonight? Check out our

calendar for some fun, valentines day themed TO BE ideas!

DETERMINED 3

“Romance-a-thon” Today, 4 to 11 p.m.

Day Party

Tonight, 9 p.m.

The East Burn, 1800 E. Burnside St, Portland This sounds like the perfect event for all the single people out there.

It includes drink specials for singles and will feature music from DJ Cupid Killer.

For more info, visit theeastburn.com.

Viral Vid of the Week

80s Valentine’s Day Prom

2 1Anti-Valentine’s

this redeems her annoying character traits, including the fakey “Daddy’s little girl”and “good-girl-turned-badovernight” acts. Her character just isn’t believable.)

The movie’s funny moments — a true bright spot among all the intensity and emotions — came from the character of Dayo Okeniyi, who plays David’s best friend, “Mace.” Mace is the typical sidekick who always has something witty or hilarious to say, and occasionally gets David in trouble. He was a nice change-up to the typical, more boring characters of love movies.

I also loved the soundtrack. The dancing montages, fun in the sun, and love scenes were accompanied by music that set that tone perfectly. Featuring songs by Tegan and Sara and Franz Ferdinand, it’s a soundtrack worth a listen.

While I believe this movie might be enjoyable for some who have low love-movie standards, I’m not sure I would still think so if I had to pay $10plus to see it in theaters on Valentine’s Day. Save yourself some money and frustration and wait until it’s available through RedBox, or even better, Netflix (because it should be there in no time).

“Endless Love” opens everywhere today.

ABC Family Whether you’re single or taken, take advantage of the Valentine’s Day movie marathon and spend a night in watching all the romance you can handle. It’s free (if you have cable) and you won’t have to brave the two-hour wait tonight at your favorite restaurant.

Tonight, 8 p.m.

Night Light Lounge, 2100 SE Clinton St., Portland This event is free! A live DJ will be playing classic ’80s hits.

There will be a prom photo booth and prizes will be awarded to those dressed in the best outfits. Ages 21 and up. For more info, visit nightlightlounge. net.

M BE IN E

Texts That Prove Valentine’s Day Is Overrated In the mood for a laugh? As part of our weekly feature, we will show you one awesome video and tell you why you should watch it.

We’ve all been guilty of accidentally sending a text to the wrong person at some point, but these text fails take it to the next level. This week our video is a simple one, made up of text messages that are funny in an awful sort of way. If you hate Valentine’s Day, maybe this will make you feel a little better, in that you don’t have to go through what some these people do.

Living Arts

Feb. 14, 2014

5

Footloose Graphics by Heather Golan - The Advocate

- Play coverage part 4 of 5 -

Check back next week for continued coverage

‘Urleen’ a sassy country girl

by Rebecca Gaulke The Advocate Becca Cheadle plays tough country girl “Urleen” in Mt. Hood’s Winter Musical Theatre production of “Footloose.”

Cheadle described Urleen as “one of the two friends under Rusty and Ariel,” the play’s two lead female characters.

“She’s a little bit more rough than the others, and probably just a bit more country,” she explained. “She’s just got a little bit more sass-a-frass than the others do.”

In her first year at Mt. Hood as a theatre major, Cheadle came to the area from Spokane, Wash. She attended Central Washington University for two years as an opera major until she decided it just wasn’t for her.

“Singing is something I love to do;

(I have) always done it,” she said. Regardless, “I love being on stage, it’s very addicting to me,” she said. “It’s just the adrenaline rush. It just feels supernatural, I love being up there.”

Becca Cheadle

As for the dancing in Footloose, “I kind of just like to have fun with it,” Cheadle said. “I feel like if you just go out there and do what you wanna do … nobody really notices how terrible you could be.”

With the play’s opening night just a week away, last week’s snowstorm that interrupted practice several days could have created huge problems for the cast.

“We just recently had to cancel three rehearsals because of school closures and the weather, so that was kinda crazy,” Cheadle said. “But, we should be back on track. Now, we’re just down to the wire.”

She said she enjoys hanging out with her castmates, and enjoys the chemistry, on-stage and off.

“Our ‘burger blast’ scene is my absolute favorite,” she said. “It’s just

us... it’s me and three other girls. It’s the time where the girls really get to be girls and talk about boys and make fun of each other, and we all have really good chemistry and we all really get along that way.

“Sydney (Hope, who plays Ariel) and I are always laughing during that.

Always,” she said. “She laughs at everything. It makes it a lot more fun, ’cause it’s just easier, more natural to keep laughing.”

Cheadle compares the group of girlfriends in the play to the girls in the film “Mean Girls.”

“I think of the four girls in general as like the ‘Mean Girls.’ Ariel would be like ‘Regina George,’ ” she said. “Those girls, you hate them, but you kinda love to hate ’em. I like to think that she (Urleen) has a little bit of lovable-ness to her, but if I (actually) knew her, I

would think that she was obnoxious.”

Although the play is based on the 1984 feature film, Urleen was created just for the play version. That allows Cheadle to “do what I want with her, which is fun… I kind of add a little bit more sass to her,” she said.

“She’s pretty funny, so I try to bring that out of her more. And I think I make her rougher than it’s intended, but I figure she’s kind of an old country girl from back home,” she said. “So, she doesn’t mind getting down and dirty and fightin.’ ” Cheadle says if anyone enjoys watching “fun,” they should come and see the Mt. Hood play next weekend.

“We have a lot of good talent, and a lot of great people, and it’s literally just a ton of fun on stage,” she said.

Footloose opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the MHCC College Theatre.

Left: students arrange furniture on the main theatre stage. Right: The play cast rehearses music in the band room at play practice on Wednesday night.

‘Chuck’ the villain of Beaumont

by Greg Leonov The Advocate “I feel like everyone has a little bit of darkness in them. I get to embrace it,” said Drew Pierce about playing the role of a villain, “Chuck,” in the Mt. Hood musical theatre production, “Footloose.”

“Chuck’s a bully,” said Pierce.

“He gets off on making fun of others, he doesn’t get any pleasure in himself, so the shortcomings of others make him feel better about himself.”

Pierce describes Chuck – nemesis of, Ren, the play’s lead character – as being there “to mess with everyone’s good time.” In a town council scene where the community gathers to debate Beaumont’s no-dancing law, Chuck takes the side of supporting the law just to spite Ren, who attempts to end the ban. “He doesn’t really care if you can dance or not, he just doesn’t like Ren.” Chuck despises Ren because he’s the new kid in town and is admired by everyone. What’s more, Chuck’s girlfriend (Ariel) leaves him for Ren. Ariel was drawn to Chuck mostly “to

ruffle Dad’s feathers,” said Pierce, and partly because “he’s kind of the bad boy.

He breaks a lot of the rules, kind of has that gruff rebellious charm to him.”

Pierce said Chuck is “a little bit of a narcissist, (but) he doesn’t really love himself.

He looks in the mirror every day, kind of making himself look the way he does, and I can relate to that. I look in the mirror more than I’d like to admit.”

There is another side Chuck’s, however. “He’s very uncomfortable with who he is and that’s why he belittles the other people,” Pierce said.

“He’s a lonely, lonely dude. Another part of a back story I thought of, is his relationship with his father, and his father’s relationship with his mother. I think that his dad was abusive, and that’s how he thinks he can operate around people – through an exer-

Drew Pierce

tion of power,” Pierce said. “This guy is a really angry, lonely, sad dude, but you only see that through his expression of anger.”

Acting in Footloose was not something on Pierce’s agenda this term. “I was not planning on auditioning at all,” he said, but friends encouraged him.

Pierce earned his associate of arts degree last term and hopes to be an actor. He is currently dual-enrolled at Portland State University, along with Mt. Hood.

Aside from acting, he is a big metal music fan and calls himself as a ‘metal head.’

He said he’s had to adjust his clothing style over the years: “I’ve kinda toned it down, ‘cause I don’t like to scare people.”

“I kind of realized this about myself: that I look angry,” Pierce said. “I’m a nice guy. I’m a teddy bear; but I still love going to (metal) shows.”

Pierce said playing the part of Chuck really makes him appreciate his friendships.

“It makes me want to devote stronger relationships with the people around me. If you do the kind of stuff that Chuck does and the self-destructive behavior, you become a sad, lonely – just poor sap really,” he said.

“I feel like I have pretty nice friends and pretty nice interpersonal relationships, but I want to strengthen those so they don’t fall apart.”

Photos by Carole Riggs - The Advocate

THEATRE

A Winter Musical Theatre Production

SHOWTIMES February 21st, 22nd, 28th & March 1st 7:30 p.m.

February 23rd and March 2nd TICKETS

2:00 p.m.

Buy advanced tickets at mhcc.edu/theatre

Advance: $10 Students, $12 Adults Door: $12 Students, $15 Adults

6

News

Feb. 14, 2014

News Briefs

Outstanding staff profile

Jessica Ruiz

by Greg Leonov The Advocate “I’m always excited to help people, and I’m always wanting to be available to teach people the skills that they need to be successful in the future,” said Jessica Ruiz, coordinator of Mt. Hood’s Student Outreach And Recruitment (SOAR) program.

Ruiz started working at Mt. Hood in academic advising, and was moved around to different positions in the area.

“I had kind of a split role,” she said. She realized that she really loved academic advising and makes sure she continues some advising, no matter what her official position is. She finds it “just another blessing because you’re able to help people, and give them different options, and help them feel really educated,” she said.

Working as a student recruiter

and adviser, Ruiz calls herself as a “double threat.” Not only does she convince students to come to Mt. Hood, “but once they get here, I can actually take them to the next process.”

As she helps students make their decisions on academic ambitions, Ruiz taps into experience she calls her “master’s in explaining.” She can elaborate “in five different ways, including color and song,” she said, relishing the chance to take extra time to lay out options so that students can understand.

Before coming to Mt. Hood, Ruiz attended Western Oregon University to study business.

While at Western, she joined a multicultural student union club on campus. “I was kind of a quiet, shy person, and that club got me to break out and I ran for (a position on) an executive board.”

Ruiz enjoyed working on the campus. That passion showed, and she received job offers in the admission center at Western. She took on some recruiting work and soon realized she had found her calling.

“I loved every minute of it, and that’s kind of where I thought, ‘I really enjoy helping students and I think that’s what my career path is going to be,’ ” she said. “Pretty much after I graduated with my business degree, I decided to clock into education.”

After she graduated, Ruiz did some tele-counseling work before attending Warner Pacific University to pursue a master’s degree in management and organizational

leadership. She describes the program as “teaching you coaching and mentoring, how to be an effective leader, and how to manage as a leader.”

Her Warner Pacific training helped groom her leadership skills. “It kind of worked out really well for my SOAR team because it’s teaching me how to coach and mentor them to be successful leaders,” she said.

Beyond her work for MHCC, Ruiz owns two businesses, a convenience store in California, and a car lot in Idaho.

She is also a professional singer.

“My husband and I have our own band,” said Ruiz. The two sing exclusively in Spanish, and have a published CD. “We call it religious Spanish music,” she said.

She and Koren, her husband, play many local concerts. They’re working on their second CD and have posted a few videos on their website (www.korenyjessica. com).

As for her service at Mt. Hood, Ruiz said, “I feel like I’m a lifer.

“I’m gonna be here, probably, until the end of my days, or until I can retire, just ’cause I love the college and what it stands for,” she said.

Students need an education to achieve, and Mt. Hood plays a vital role, Ruiz said. “(When) they go into our society, and our communities, they are successful in their jobs because of their background that they got from us. They’re able to enhance our society.”

a.m.

According to Michele Hampton, Worldview presentation coordinator, these presentations are being put on so “all members of the MHCC community can share their experiences traveling abroad,” and showing how people in other cultures live. It “not only reveals cultural differences, but also the many similarities that exist among cultural traditions.”

There will be quite a few topics covered during each of these presentations, including pictures that

Why is voting sexy?

Visit the Student Union from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday to find out.

Mt. Hood’s Associated Student Government will host the event, “Why is Voting Sexy?” Its purpose is to “inform students of their right to vote, why they should bother with it, how it affects their tuition and classes, what issues are coming up on the ballot,” said Elsie Praeger, ASG chief of staff.

Voter registration will be offered at the event, along with a free nacho bar for MHCC students.

Current and former MHCC students, including ASG President Laura Aguon, will speak, followed by a Q&A session.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Dinner, auction, fundraiser

show landscape, living conditions, city life, food, sports, countryside, language, entertainment, history, and politics.

The presenters this term will be SEED students (Scholarships for Education and Economic Development), and they will be presenting on their home countries. The March 6 presentation will be led by German instructor Aaron Choate, and will be covering several different countries.

The 23rd Annual Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, themed “Far East Meets Northwest,” will be held Feb. 22 at the University Place Hotel in downtown Portland.

Festivities begin with the auction and wine reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner, served at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $70 per person. There are overnight hotel packages available.

Proceeds for this student-planned event go to the annual Mt. Hood hospitality program field trip that alternates between in-state and out-of-state locations. Hospitality program students will travel to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. this year.

Executive chefs Caprial and John Pence will prepare the meal and treats for the event.

To ask about or make a reservation for the dinner and/or auction, call the Gala Dinner Reservation line at 503491-7698 or email htrpt@mhcc.edu.

To ensure entry, guests should make reservations two weeks before the event.

For overnight hotel packages ($89 per room), contact the Reservations Department at 503-221-0140.

University Place Hotel is at 310 S.W. Lincoln St. in Portland.

- Alexandra James

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Travel the world with “Worldview” This term, MHCC is putting on another “Worldview” series of presentations, which aim to educate students about different countries. The dates for each of these presentations are as follows: Feb. 27 will be Guatemala, March 6 will be Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and the last presentation will be on March 13, covering Haiti.

All of these presentations will be held in room 50, in the lower level of the College Center, from 10:30 to 11:30

Voting.... sexy?

Board to ratify faculty contract at retreat The MHCC District board will hold a planning retreat when it meets in the Diversity Resource Center starting at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

The board will begin the open session by voting on approval of a fulltime faculty work contract that was ratified by faculty members this week.

It will then receive a report on “Access, Success and Completion: A Primer for Community College Faculty, Administrators Staff and Trustees,” presented by MHCC President Debbie Derr.

Board members also will discuss the school’s budget and a potential bond measure process.

The next regular board meeting is on March 12.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

FAFSA Friday If you need financial aid to continue your studies, but the FAFSA form looks daunting, Mt. Hood can offer detailed help.

MHCC welcomes any student in need of assistance to its third annual FAFSA Fridays series. The goal is to help students prepare to meet the upcoming 2014-2015 FAFSA deadline.

FAFSA Fridays begin today and will run through June 13. The lone exception will be March 28, during the spring break at MHCC. The weekly sessions will be hosted 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the campus Orientation Center, in Room AC1002.

Students should bring their 2012 IRS tax returns, end-of-year pay stubs (if 2013 tax returns are not completed), current value of assets, social security information, and individual ID. Financial aid adviser Tracy Marshall listed three reasons students should fill out a FAFSA even if they think they are not qualified: Students should not assume whether or not they will qualify; scholarships might require FAFSA completion; and everyone qualifies for at least some type of loan.

Marshall and the Mt. Hood Financial Aid department advise that students should be as conservative as possible when filling out applications for college loans, but also leave the door open to financial aid that might become available.

- Emily Wintringham

Mock funeral exercise On Feb. 18, Funeral Service Education students at Mt. Hood will counsel “grieving” volunteers through a mock funeral planning process.

The annual mock exercise runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Town and Gown Room. Anyone may volunteer to participate, as a grieving family member, by contacting Maximilian Bodzin, second-year FSE student, at mockarrangements@hotmail.com or at 503-4319613 (text and phone).

Volunteers would craft a scenario and fake person (deceased) before attending the event, then work with a FSE student on making funeral arrangements for that individual.

The drill features a room full of caskets and other funeral necessities.

- Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Sports

Feb. 14, 2014

7

Women’s comeback falls short against PCC Saints look toward matchup against Lane Community College Monday night

by Q Quarterman The Advocate On Wednesday night in the Mt. Hood gym, the Lady Saints chased the Portland Community College Panthers with an earnest effort.

But the first half sealed the fate for MHCC once again, as the team fell behind the Panthers by a 33-20 score. Despite outscoring PCC by three points in the second half, Mt. Hood fell short and lost, 58-48.

The Panthers held on with poise, despite the Saints’ defensive pressure.

Photos by Carole Riggs- The Advocate

Left: Freshman Taylor Scott goes up for a shot in the paint against PCC Wednesday. Right: Freshman Marley Yates attacks the rim against a PCC defender.

With the defeat, the Saints remain winless in South region play with just four games remaining in the regular season.

Mt. Hood’s overall play continues to show improvement, but turnovers remain a problem.

PCC scored 20 points off 23 MHCC turnovers, compared to the Saints’ eight points off 18 Portland turnovers.

PCC featured a 6-foot, 2-inch forward and two 5-foot, 11-inch players. Still, the smaller Saints were outrebounded for the game by only 43 to 35, a much better effort on the board than in most games this season.

The real Achilles heel for Mt. Hood came in the fact the Panthers had five players score in double figures, while the Saints had just one.

Sophomore Whitney Warren led MHCC with 13 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 3-for-11 from threepoint range.

Head coach Tyler Rose explained why the Saints rely on their guards for outside shooting, even though their percentage has stayed low for as many as 10 three-point attempts per game by those players. (That contrasts to the 9-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc, for the season, from freshman forward Taylor Scott.) “(Post players) have a higher percentage because they don’t take as many shots from the outside,” Rose said. “When they do step out, they have the ability to knock down one or two a game. Our team only has (two) true post players in (Marley) Yates and (Megan) Nelson.

“Scott is more of a wing who had to play post for us a lot of the season. She is now moving out to the wings to get more opportunities,” he said.

The Saints (0-9 South region, 2-20 overall) get four more chances to break into the divisional win column.

Next up is a makeup game in Eugene at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, against Lane Community College.

Mt. Hood plays at Clackamas at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, then hosts Umpqua at 2 p.m. Saturday in its season finale.

Sport

SC

entral

NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Aldridge and Lillard represent Blazers this weekend

by Brandon Raleigh The Advocate

This weekend looks to be an exciting one for Trail Blazer fans, with Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard participating in the NBA All-Star Weekend events.

Both Aldridge and Lillard will play in the main All-Star game on Sunday.

Aldridge, who has been in the mix for League MVP, missed out on a starting lineup spot this year due to what many believe a flawed AllStar voting system.

Fans vote for 10 All-Star starters (five each for the Western and Eastern conference teams), while the remaining seven reserve players for each side are voted in by NBA coaches.

Kobe Bryant, who has spent most of the year sidelined while

battling various injuries, made the starting lineup. Bryant has played in only six games this year, averaging 13.8 points (nearly 12 points less than his career average).

Kobe is one of the greatest players of all-time, but shouldn’t more deserving players get a spot on the team? A spot for their play, and not just their popularity?

The All-Star Game is for the fans, but fans are not voting in the right players. The only logical alternative I can think of is having the coaches vote. If this route were taken, we would see Aldridge starting, instead of Blake Griffin.

Besides that controversy, this All-Star Weekend will be one Portland fans will not soon forget.

For the first time since 1994, the Blazers have two players representing them in the All-Star game.

And Lillard will make history, as the first player to participate in all five All-Star events. He begins his quest Friday night when he plays in the Rising Stars Challenge. Saturday night will be busy for him, as he competes in the Skills Challenge

(defending his title from last year), the Three-Point Challenge and the Dunk Contest.

In the latter, Lillard will compete against Paul George, John Wall, Ben McLemore, Harrison Barnes and last year’s winner, Portland native (Jefferson High School) Terrence Ross.

It will be interesting to see what Lillard has up his sleeve. Sunday night, he joins Aldridge in the 63rd NBA All-Star game. It’s the first one All-Star Game for Lillard, while Aldridge makes his third straight appearance.

I expect both Aldridge and Lillard to perform well.

I believe Lillard will dominate in the Rising Stars game, Skills Challenge, and the Three-Point Challenge. The Dunk Contest will be a challenge, but I am confident he will surprise many with his athleticism.

I see Aldridge having a strong performance in the All-Star Game.

He’ll show the voters that they made a mistake leaving him off of their ballots.

NBA All-Star Weekend Events

Tonight Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 4 p.m., ESPN Network

BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge 6 p.m., TNT Network

Saturday State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (Sears Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest and Sprite Dunk Contest) 5:30 p.m., TNT Network

Sunday 63rd NBA All-Star Game 5 p.m., TNT Network

8

Sports

Feb. 14, 2014

Second half sinks Saints; fall to fourth in region

by Aaron Marshall The Advocate The men’s basketball team suffered a critical loss Wednesday as Portland Community College defeated the Saints at home, 85-77.

The defeat evened the season series against PCC at one apiece.

It also left the Saints (6-4 in division play, 17-6 overall) tied for fourth place with Clackamas Community College in the South region of the NWAACC. Both teams trail PCC, Chemeketa and Southwestern Oregon, with just four games remaining and the fourth and final playoff slot up for grabs.

Mt. Hood struggled from the field, shooting just 39 percent compared to the Panthers’ 53 percent. Some tighter PCC defense and a sub-par MHCC offense both played a role.

“I would say that PCC plays physical and that may have had some impact on us making some shots, but we also missed some shots we normally would make, or should make,” said Geoff Gi-

bor, Mt. Hood head coach.

“We are always trying to get the ball inside, but after that you just have to play basketball,” he said. “Our main emphasis is we want to move the ball from side to side on the court to make the defense work. When we do that, we are pretty good offensively.

“If we stay on one side it is not as effective. Typically, when more people touch the ball the shot selection gets better,” said Gibor.

On the season, MHCC has averaged 47 percent shooting.

Saints sophomore center Mac Johnson continued his strong inside play.

Johnson, who averages 19 points and and 10 rebounds, finished with gamehigh 29 points and seven rebounds. He shot 11-for-16 from the field and added seven free throws.

“Mac plays a huge role for us. He has a presence that can open things up for other people as well as getting us high percentage baskets. Mac does a great job,” Gibor said.

Sophomores Landon Rushton and Brock Otis each had 16 points. Sophomore Blake Updike came off the bench and added eight points, hitting two of three attempted three-point shots.

MHCC led 36-32 at the half, but the Panthers came alive offensively, shooting 65 percent and outscoring Mt. Hood 53-41 in the second half.

The Saints finished better in almost every statistical category, but just couldn’t hit shots as they couldn’t keep up.

The loss raised the stakes on the Saints’ remaining four regular season games.

They include a makeup game Monday against Lane Community College, postponed from Feb. 7 due to poor weather.

That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. in Eugene. It will be sandwiched between a home game against Linn-

Photos by Carole Riggs- The Advocate

Left: Sophomore Landon Rushton drives to the hoop against two PCC defenders Wednesday. Rushton finished with 16 points hitting 4 of 8 three point shots. Above: Sophomore Brock Otis dribbles to the hoop with a PCC defender on him. Otis also finished with 16 points.

Benton this Saturday, and a road game at Clackamas on Wednesday.

“Anytime (you’re) playing a lot of games in a short period of time it takes a lot out of a team, but everyone in the (South) region is in the same boat,” Gibor said.

“We just have to take one game at a time and focus on that first. We will likely meet on Sunday to go over Lane’s scouting report,” he said.

First, the Saints host Linn-Benton, who they already beat by 36 points on the road. The matchup comes at 4 p.m. in Gresham. They will then travel to play Clackamas at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Gibor said he believes his players will respond to the home-stretch pressure.

“I have great confidence in this team. This last week-and-a-half will

not be easy, but we are capable of so much,” he said. “I feel like we will step up and get the job done. Our guys are hungry; we just have to finish strong.”

Upcoming Games Saturday at 4 p.m.

MHCC vs. Linn-Benton

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

MHCC @ Clackamas

Monday at 7:30 p.m.

MHCC @ Lane

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m.

MHCC vs. Umpqua

Web Photo

Sam faces toughest battle yet

by Edgar Valencia The Advocate Former Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam, the 2013 co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year, publicly announced on Sunday that he is gay and so could soon become the first openly gay player drafted into the National Football League.

Sam was interviewed by ESPN on Sunday and revealed he had told his Missouri teammates he was gay much earlier, during the 2013 season. Rumors were circulating in the media about his sexuality and that is the main reason why Sam decided to finally announce it to the world, he said.

There have been more positive reactions from the public than negative, so far, but Sam’s world is about to get pretty crowded. Extended coverage by the national media is sure to continue, as they watch to see how he’s accepted in the ultra-masculine world of the NFL. Sam adds his name to the growing list of current athletes who have come out as gay, including the WNBA’s Brittney Griner, WWE’s Darren Young, UFC’s Liz Carmouche, Major League Soccer’s Robbie Rogers and the NBA’s Jason Collins.

Of those athletes, Collins made the biggest media impact as he made his announcement last April. He received a

lot of support from former players, fans and even from President Obama.

Collins was a free agent at the time, and has since not earned a new contract from an NBA team. Many analysts say it is mostly because of his age (35), but we all know that his being gay is another reason why not a single team has taken a chance with Collins.

Sam stands in a somewhat different situation, as he broke the news prior of going pro, which could hurt his chances of being picked high in the upcoming NFL draft in May. He might slide lower than the third round, where some experts had put him.

The big question is, what team in the NFL would put aside his sexuality and focus on his proven abilities on the field and draft him?

In a sport that is considered among the most “manly,” Sam faces a long road to success, not so much on the field but in acceptance from the world and future teammates.

With Sam poised to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, I believe this will open the doors for other gay athletes in the league to announce their sexuality, without fear.

Personally, I respect Sam’s decision and that of every other gay athlete who has been strong enough to let the world know who he or she is. I judge an athlete based on skills, and not by their sexuality.