The Advocate, Issue 17 - February 15, 2019

Volume 53, Issue 17 FEBRUARY 15, 2019 advocate-online.net

Barney's Pantry upgrades PAGE 3

Alumni ceramics exhibit PAGE 7

MHCC lobbies in Salem PAGE 7

SPARKING HIGHER ENROLLMENT PAGE 4

Ready, set, dance! ‘Music Man’ coming soon PAGE 4

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OPINION

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

MEASLES... HOW?

Omar Saradi the advocate

Vaccinations are one of mankind’s greatest inventions: Polio, smallpox, cholera, and even the measles have been vastly reduced with new vaccine discoveries. However, the latter of those is making a very unexpected comeback: In Southwest Washington, specifically the Vancouver area, an outbreak of the measles virus has spread to several dozen people, with cases popping up in Oregon and other states, such as Texas.

This is really frustrating since measles, like polio or smallpox, is an old disease that modern society has mostly overcome through vaccinations. But we have a strange trend of people not vaccinating their children for fear them developing autism and I’ve never understood the logical reasoning for that. There is no scientific link to this claim, and the only people saying it’s true are celebrities, it seems.

If you aren’t vaccinating your kids, only for them to get an easily curable disease and live through the detriments of that, then what are you doing? Just leaving them to suffer – and maybe even succumb to it.

The more concerning part is how medical research for this is going to go, considering this

is a developing situation. More cases are on the rise in other states and it won’t stop anytime soon. This can easily become a small pandemic since cases of the measles are more widespread in parts of Eastern Europe and Africa.

All of this leaves me scratching my head on how we let this happen. It sounds like the stuff of apocalyptic nightmares, letting a borderline, ancient disease evolve and overcome the antibiotics we use to treat it.

However, measles isn’t as strong a disease as the swine flu that popped up a decade ago, and it certainly won’t become the deadly epidemic of the Bubonic Plague.

Considering how fast the CDC (the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) comes up with solutions and inventions, a major measles outbreak wouldn’t likely to be as concerning as, say, the Ebola virus coming to America.

But it doesn’t take away from the fact the we’re talking about the measles right now, when we shouldn’t be. I’ve seen plenty of Twitter jokes about anti-vaxxers, but who would’ve known it would get to CDC levels of seriousness.

That in itself should show us that we shouldn’t value celebrity opinions as authority higher than the people who classify the facts.

I, you, and many others should listen to doctors researching vaccinations instead of what Jenny McCarthy has to say on the “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

After all: You can doubt medical science all you want, but when it’s flu season we all know the first thing we’ll do is go for that vaccine shot.

COMBATING ANXIETY, STRESS AT MHCC

Teela Bright the advocate Mt. Hood Community College is not your normal college.

In my eyes, it’s small; smaller than my school in 8th grade, in fact.

It’s green, literally. Not only is there an amazing pond, surrounding woods, and a view of Mount Hood that will take your breath away, but it is also the first community college in the nation to get certified as “salmon safe.” We are lucky to have access to programs as beautiful and complex as the surrounding flora and fauna: Forest Resources, Fisheries Technology, Cosmetology, Funeral Services, and Integrated Media are a few of the programs offered that are out of this world.

We also have a planetarium.

Students here are like the school – diverse, and not at all what we might seem on the surface. And with so many options for education, one’s head can spin. Even with outside help, anxieties can still get the best of us. Our minds and our body chemistry affect how we interact with the world around us.

Anxiety can cause problems, such as retaining what you learn, and health problems are among the negative repercussions of stress.

Mental health is a crucial aspect of success. And, just like us students, it comes in many varieties of flavors.

Being a student with mental health differences, then, I had to make sure to do my best to keep stress down.

In this column, I want to share how we all have tools, helpful programs, and people at Mt. Hood to help us succeed. I believe we can all graduate; the low graduation rate for MHCC does not have to be.

Stress, anxiety, and taking on too much without proper help can set a person up for failure, however.

I am as diverse as can be, internally, and have my own sets of anxieties. But I did everything I could to make sure I achieve success, with less stress.

Here’s how: The summer before my first year, I visited the MHCC Career Counseling service to help me get started. I started classes halftime, to make sure I was not overwhelming myself. I also signed up for a math class below what I tested into, knowing I could learn better and get the concepts down.

Knowing I could not do this alone, I made sure to use the school resources, aware that not all colleges offer the same. In not just academics, but also in other areas of life, I have benefited from the programs offered, such as free counseling services. Although scheduled appointments are preferred, there were a few times I just walked in and was seen right away.

The Diversity Resource Center in the Student Union offers calm places to sit. The DRC allows you to be the different you that you can be, as well as offer a safe, calm place for prayer and other spiritual needs.

Part of mental health and success requires places where individuals can just “be,” and be safe in

their differences, without fear or judgment.

There is also a SNAP program on campus (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) that not only helps students apply for food stamps, but also offers TriMet bus tickets and grants for the financially strained. I am classified as a disabled individual (I prefer the term “different” over disabled) and have been getting amazing help through the Accessible Education Services (the former Disability Services) office on campus.

The Veterans Services staff are amazing. Although I myself am not a vet, I have interacted with them and they kind of blew my mind with the resources and support they offer to vets.

Academic Advising can help students with class placement, developing education plans, oneon-one advising, and other various support.

The AVID center offers free tutoring, quiet space, college resource connections, and scholarship help, just to name a few remarkable services.

The Orientation Center helps with starting the school journey at Mt. Hood: Just take your college placement test and pay them a visit, to get started.

Not all services or programs offered to students at MHCC are mentioned here. There is way too much help than can be covered in one article, but the services I did mention can connect you to more.

This school is amazing, with an amazing amount of support from all the resources and people here.

Thinking of the inspiring posters on campus, I know together we can all achieve the dream, and “be” it.

Advisers

Dan Ernst Howard Buck

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson Assistant News Editor Chloe Collins Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias PA G E 2

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 15, 2019

BARNEY’S PANTRY UPDATE

New fridges allows for perishable items

NEWS BRIEFS with Megan Phelps

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 On Tuesday the Diversity Resource Center will be hosting a workshop in the Student Union titled “Moving Forward – How to Navigate College.” The event will focus on various subjects to help students understand their degree. There will be two sessions available, from 11 a.m. to noon and from noon to 1 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Megan Phelps

Fardwosa Duale, ASG Campus Safety & Sustainability Representative helping stock the pantry after the acceptance of the Foundation donation on Jan. 24.

the advocate

Mt. Hood’s Barney’s Pantry in the Student Union offers free food and toiletries to current students. With recent donations, the pantry was able to purchase two industrial-type fridges to store fresh food items for students.

On Jan. 24, the MHCC Foundation presented a check of $26,000 to Associated Students of MHCC (the Student Life division at Mt. Hood) for the purchase of a new refrigerator to be housed in Barney’s Pantry. Half of the money came from Foundation donors; the other half was matched by the Foundation itself.

The following day, two fridges, shelving, and a new microwave were delivered by Riegelmann’s Appliance of Gresham to the pantry, costing $4,925 altogether. The rest of the funds will be used to purchase upgrades to the pantry, and packaged goods from Cash&Carry (recently rebranded Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores) that offer more inclusive and easy-to-make food options.

For now the new priority is to remove carpeting from the pantry, reducing fire risk and creating a more sanitary, easy-to-clean area. Other future planned purchases include Bluetooth thermometers that would alert Student Life officials if the fridge fails, and additional shelving.

After major priorities are taken care of, the remaining donated funds will be used to fund the pantry items from Smart Foodservice. The purchase of other items is in part due to the fact that supplies donated by the Oregon Food Bank are targeted towards food to be prepped at home, and the ordering system isn’t especially specific.

Cassie James, Student Union assistant and fiscal manager, offered an example where the order will say “can of soup” with no further details indicating what kind of soup it is.

Currently, food is ordered about once a month.

With the new microwave at the back of the Student Union,

students can now enjoy heated items.

Currently, there are plans to work with Riverview Café to clean utensils such as can openers.

The pantry is always accepting donations. Popular items include peanut butter, grab-and-go meals, snack packs, and microwaveable items. Feminine hygiene items and other hygiene items are also needed.

There will be another campus food drive next month, with dates to be determined.

If you are a current student looking to utilize the pantry, all you need is a student ID. If you don’t have a student ID, you can have one made for free in the Student Union or in the Library at the front desk.

Staff will be going to Oregon Food Bank on Monday to gather more food items, including perishables.

The pantry is open Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From noon to 2 p.m., guest speaker Theo Wilson will host “Addressing Campus Hate Crimes” in the Student Union. Wilson has been featured on numerous media outlets addressing how and why college campuses have been targeted with hate propaganda.

The Career Planning and Counseling center will host another “Interview Tips and Tricks” workshop in the Town & Gown Room, from 1 to 2 p.m. This workshop is aimed at helping students prepare for school program interviews, but is also open to those wishing to improve interviewing skills for job seekers.

The MHCC Foundation will host a scholarship workshop in the Learning Success Center, Room AC3300 (above the Library), from 3 to 4 p.m. The workshop provides detailed guidance through the MHCC scholarship application process, including tips for essay writing. All current and future MHCC students are welcome. For more information, go to mhcc.edu/scholarships.

A meeting of the MHCC District Board of Education will be held in the board room at 6:30 p.m. Board meetings are open to the public.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22 The first showing of the musical play, “The Music Man,” will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the College Theatre. A special alumni reception will take place at 5 p.m. Advance tickets for seniors, staff, and students cost $10; for adults, $12. At the door: $13 for seniors, staff, and students; $16 for adults.

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE

Cover by: Fletcher Wold / the Advocate On the cover: Day cohort student doing an overhead weld with flex core (FCAW) process.

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Contact us!

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

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.

Chloe Collins is a first-year student here at MHCC. She enjoys reading and going to Dave and Busters. She is pursuing a career in journalism, looking to focus on world news in the future.

PA G E 3

NEWS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WELDING PROGRAM

“

ANYBODY CAN DO THIS. ALL THEY HAVE TO HAVE IS A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN.”

-RICK WALTERS

WELDING TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Day cohort student grinding excess convexity to prepare for next weld pass.

“THE MUSIC MAN”: A Mariah Getch the advocate

Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Director Mace Archer during rehearsals for “The Music Man,” MHCC’s spring musical.

PA G E 4

Are you a fan of classic musicals?

Are you looking for something that everyone can enjoy?

Well, look no farther, because MHCC’s theatre department will be putting on Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” on Feb. 22-23 and March 1-2 at 8 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 and March 3 in the College Theatre.

With a total of about 30 actors, 15 pit orchestra musicians, and a tech/ design crew of 30, this production is definitely an elaborate one. MHCC Artistic Director Mace Archer estimates that with intermission,

the performance will be around two-and-a-half hours. However, he assured that the musical will be nothing close to slow-moving.

With about 16 songs, two big dance numbers, and full-blown costumes, “it’s definitely a full-scale production,” said Archer.

Leads Chandler Duncan, as Harold Hill, and Michaela George, as Marian Paroo, spend around 15 hours a week at rehearsals – they began rehearsals at the start of Winter Term – and that doesn’t even include the at-home practice that they do for the show.

Key members of the cast will have put in a whopping 90 hours or so of rehearsal by the time the show

opens.

George has b musicals, but th MHCC. She explain was excited abo production that production crew larger budget than about having an a because she has with live music b “I grew up wall community George. Her – an daughter’s – favo show is “Madam her favorite part ‘Music Man’ is t

.

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

BONDS STUDENTS TO A CAREER PATH Cassie Wilson the advocate

Mt. Hood’s Welding Technology program is on a hot streak.

It has the highest enrollment in a decade, as a result of recruitment efforts, a high demand for skilled workers in the welding trade, and through conscious efforts to make it a barrier-free program.

Program leaders say they’re ready to take in even more students to train.

Rick Walters, welding instructor and coordinator for the program, said, “Anybody can do this. All they have to have is a willingness to learn.”

ENROLLMENT The welding workforce is in need of new workers, said Val Gilbert, an MHCC alumnus and now a full-time welding instructor. “The AWS (American Welding Society) is saying there’s 250,000 people over the next five-10 years that are going to retire,” said Gilbert.

In recent years, she and others from the campus Integrated Metals programs have frequently gone to local high schools to promote the program. Walters explained that MHCC has a working agreement with some high schools to allow students to earn one credit of welding lab time toward the Mt. Hood certificate program while still in high school.

This has led some eager students to join the Mt. Hood program before they’ve even graduated high school.

The other big thing that has changed is the welding program having open entry. This is the second year of the change, and Walters and Gilbert agree that it’s helped enrollment.

Before, students had to meet certain prerequisites and apply to get in, but now people can pick and choose which welding classes they want to try out. The program

also works with Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) students, so they can learn English and learn new welding skills simultaneously.

The program is home to students of all ages and backgrounds. About 75 students are in welding classes currently, with 45 enrolled in the Welding Technology program. The nine-month program gets students the certifications they need to get to work by learning the AWS’s D1.1 steel structural welding code, which gives them an advantage when applying for jobs.

As Gilbert pointed out, “A welder touches everything: The planes that fly over our heads, vehicles, boats – everything is touched by a welder in some way, shape, or form.” She also explained welding is a skill someone can take anywhere in the world and use to get a job.

GETTING TO WORK The Welding Technology program has an advisory board with industry leaders who communicate the needs of the industry and local companies to make sure MHCC students are developing the skills needed to match the jobs available to them.

Walters shared the story of a past student with a passion for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, or GTAW. The student did double the number of projects compared to the average program student because his desire to learn was so strong. Within a year of the student graduating, Walters received a call from a foreign number and when he answered, it was that graduate calling from the Middle East about how he got a job welding boiler plates for nuclear reactors in power plants, and was making roughly $100 an hour.

Gilbert explained how another alumnus who still comes and volunteers to help current students has a job doing seismic upgrades on buildings, another huge area

of high demand for welders. Everyone talks about preparing for the big quake, and welders are a big part of making sure our Pacific Northwest buildings and bridges are as stable as possible.

DISCOVERING TEACHING Neither Gilbert nor Walters expected that they would become teachers after discovering their love for welding at two very different points in life.

When Walters was growing up in California, his father started teaching him to weld at age 11. By the time he was 15, he was in business as a welder and said he did all of the steering and gear box reinforcements for the Land Rover Club in Anaheim.

“I discovered at an early age that this could be lucrative, and was excited about it immediately,” he said.

Walters didn’t have plans to teach, but someone else suggested it to him based on his passion and natural skill in showing others how to weld. He pursued that idea and got his degree and lifetime teaching credential from California State University-San Bernardino, and began teaching at Victor Valley College in Victorville, California. There he taught for 20 years part-time, then moved here for the opportunity to become a full-time teacher.

He is in his 15th year teaching at MHCC. Gilbert worked in the lumber industry for 30 years. When the cabinet shop she worked for was going out of business, she realized she needed a change. She lived in the area, so she joined Mt. Hood’s general welding program while still working at the cabinet shop. Walters recognized how interested Gilbert was in welding and asked if she’d considered teaching.

“I just kind of changed gears and started focusing on welding,” said Gilbert. “Got an Associate’s degree here in Integrated Metals, and at Clackamas Community College for

Welding instructors Rick Walters and Val Gilbert.

welding, and haven’t looked back since.”

She’s in her fourth year of teaching at MHCC, with this being her first year fulltime. Walters, on the other hand, is starting to think about retirement.

Asked about her favorite part of teaching, Gilbert said, “Watching the students grow.”

Walters agreed: “The students are where it’s at,” he said. “Many times, an institution may get absorbed in the politics, in the mechanism by which the college grinds onwards, but we always focus on the students, their needs, how they can excel, how they can be just a better person to the people around them.”

He said he’s learned a lot about the needs of people, especially young folks, who really need a mentor or role model as much as they need someone to teach them the skills they need for a job. “We try to be everything we can for what their needs are,” he said.

Walters and Gilbert hope to see new technologies develop in the Mt. Hood program moving forward, because it’s important for students to learn on the most current technology being used in the industry.

As for prospective welding students, Gilbert said, “It looks scary, there’s sparks, there’s flames, but it’s also safe. Once you learn the safety part of it, it’s far less intimidating.”

HIT FOR ALL AGES

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ned how she out the levels of t the cast and can reach, due to a n she’s used to, and actual pit orchestra never performed efore. in hole-in-they theaters,” said nd her own young orite song from the me Librarian,” and of being a part of the choreography,

she said.

George has been learning dance since she was 7, but hasn’t been in a show that required it since she was in “Chicago” about a yearand-a-half ago. “I’m actually really enjoying getting back into it,” she said.

The only person who seems more excited about the show than the cast is her young daughter, who has seen the promotional posters and chants “My mommy’s Marian!” to anyone who listens, she said.

Duncan, who plays the male lead, isn’t as keen – or experienced – with the choreography as George, but he said that choreographer Jamie Pryde makes the MHCC

experience fantastic. ‘Music Man’ will be Duncan’s seventh musical, in total, and his second with MHCC. His favorite song from the show is “Light a Rose/Will I Tell Him?” and he’s excited for performing on his favorite night, opening night, on Feb. 22.

“Bring your friends,” said Duncan.

“The Music Man” has something for everyone. The two leads explained that “it’s like the Disney version of musicals”: It has moments that the kids can enjoy and references that the older audience can enjoy.

Don’t forget to get your tickets in advance!

“The Music Man” leads Michaela George as Marian Paroo, and Chandler Duncan as Harold Hill.

PA G E 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

LEGO MOVIE 2: JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL Kurt Larson the advocate

3 out of 5 stars

It’s another dreary February, and while it might still be about four months ’till summer is here, “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” might be just what you need to brighten up your day.

Being just as seizureinducingly colorful as the first Lego movie, The Second Part somehow manages to up the ante with its glitter pop aesthetic and insidiously catchy original soundtrack, as Emmet, Lucy, Batman, and their new friend, Rex Dangervest, team up to save Bricksburg from the evil Duplo invaders and their queen, Watevra Wa’Nabi.

Directed by Mike Mitchell this time around, but still written and produced by (Phil) Lord and (Christopher) Miller, the film retains the lightningfast pace and quick sense of humor that made the original so fun.

Web photos

PA G E 6

Once again, the cast is made up of every Warner Brothers property worth caring about, and then some.

The Justice League, Gandolf, Lex Luthor, and Velma are just a few of the many assorted characters you’ll find in the background of the film, or even in some more prominent roles.

Our hero, Emmet, played

by Chris Pratt, is, of course, the primary focus of the film again, with Elizabeth Banks (Lucy), and Will Arnett (Batman) still having a solid amount of screen time, along with Tiffany Haddish as the evil queen.

Considering how good everyone was the first time around, it’s no surprise that the voice acting is superb.

Pratt remains just as enjoyably naive and overzealous as in the original, and is complimented perfectly

by Arnett’s gravelly, narcissistic portrayal of Batman.

The real star of The Lego Movie franchise, however, is Lord and Miller’s unique comedic stylings... at least, for the most part.

While pacing plays a fairly big issue in the first third of the movie, which moves at a breakneck speed, the duo’s bubbly and biting meta humor makes up for the lack of quality time spent developing the primary conceit of movie during its first 30 minutes.

Lord and Miller aren’t just a pair of pun-happy comedians though, as their wit reaches beyond their comedic chops and reveals itself in this unique Lego version of a coming-of-age story.

They do pull a bit of a “Toy Story 3,” though, hitting a number of the same beats and themes as that movie.

As far as sequels are concerned, this one is about average. There are so many convoluted subplots and characters that are thrown at the screen every second that it can be a little overwhelming and comes across as a crazy, rainbow sugar high at times.

It’s certainly no “Terminator 2,” but on a cinematic level it is impressive. The distinctive mix of stop motion and CG animation in this film never ceases to amaze and is practically worth the price of admission in and of itself.

There may already be two other Lego movies shot and released in this style, but truly the timeless charm of Legos and their iconic aesthetic makes for some of the most wonderful and inventive visual design to be seen on the big screen.

Suffice it to say, if you’re a fan of the first movie, a fan of crossover films, or of interesting animation in general, then you should probably go see this, despite its issues.

It may be a “kids’ movie,” but it has more than enough jokes and fun moments for parents and children alike, and I’d wager even the most dour of individuals would have a hard time not enjoying themselves at least a little.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | NEWS

FEBRUARY 15, 2019

ALUMNI BRING FIRED FORMS TO GALLERY

Inside interviews with two artists’ inspiration behind the craft Sadie Kline the advocate Current or previous students from MHCC who have continued their artistic career were invited to showcase their art in the college’s Visual Arts Gallery for the ongoing “Fire Formed” exhibit this month.

A reception was held Thursday, Feb. 7, in the gallery, where artists met viewers and interested buyers, and snacks and coffee were provided. All of the showcased pieces were fire formed – meaning they were clay-based pieces placed in a kiln at a high temperature to be hardened.

Molly Anderson, from Estacada, is a former Mt. Hood student at MHCC now supplying technical help for sculpture classes on campus. She began working with clay at age 7, when she took community classes out of Estacada High School. She has always had a tendency for art, and practices art on a daily basis, taking a more

disciplined approach by drawing at least 15 minutes a day.

In her piece named “Ripple,” Anderson experiments with thin, flexible clay bodies. It allows her to have a more loose and organic form, rather than working with clay more technically as it has been done before, she explained.

“I haven’t seen people throw clay down on a board and let it be how it wants to be,” she said. “I am barely tampering with the clay; I’m just allowing it to take shape.”

The meaning behind this ripple is a “loose feeling of letting go and the beauty that can come from that, with all the colors and growth and advancement,” Anderson added.

The face of the man represents the initial drop of water in some kind of body of water, which then expands into a ripple effect.

Her self-portrait took about six months. She worked on the piece in her room during the winter every chance she got.

“It was just me and a mirror”

until she got to the back of the head, Anderson said. “It was an intense focus. A lot of people look at this piece and say, ‘You look so angry,’ but in reality, I was so peaceful making this piece. This shows a lot about how outward expression doesn’t always come out how you expect it to.”

It follows that in Anderson’s work, she maintains a theme of unexpectedness, in the sense that the physical aspect of it may not represent the true meaning behind the piece.

Another former MHCC student whose work is being showcased, Julie Chura, is now a

Photos by Maysee Thao / the Advocate

LEFT: Molly Anderson’s self portrait. ABOVE: Julie Chura’s functional piece, “Drink in the View.”

tutor for ceramic and sculpture students, helping them in their artistic pursuits. She started out as a landscape artist and grew up in southern Oregon, by the Pacific Flyway “where all the migrating birds are,” she said.

In her piece “Drink in the View,” Chura said she tried to combine landscaping into functional pottery.

Where she grew up in the country, she would get flocks of a thousand geese in her backyard, “so I like them flying across my work.” All of

her pieces are functional and can be used in the dishwasher, she noted.

She has been working with clay for seven years and it is now her preferred medium, while she does have experience with painting and drawing.

The work of these two artists, along with 10 others, will continue to be displayed through Feb. 28.

The Visual Arts Gallery, located just behind (east of) the Student Union, is open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

STUDENT VOICES NEEDED AT STATE CAPITOL Jennifer Salazar the advocate

A couple months ago, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown proposed a new budget plan for the 2019-21 state spending cycle. This proposal would effectively reduce funding for all schools, including K-12, community colleges, and universities. The budget plan would cause deep cuts to career technical education (CTE) programs and could result in a 17.5 percent increase in student tuition costs the next two years.

The Oregon Promise grants program would also be eliminated if the needed funding isn’t obtained.

While the Oregon Community College Support Fund is requesting $787 million in state support, current funding is at $575 million. Community colleges need an additional $72 million, at a minimum, to meet true current service levels and allow their budgets to be balanced, advocates say. The additional requested funding

would double the number of graduates in CTE programs each year and support efforts to help more students graduate from college.

To make their voice heard on these needs, a delegation from MHCC traveled to Salem on Feb. 1 to ask for help from state legislators who will vote on a final state budget plan.

The Mt. Hood group is hoping to build more support in additional visits.

The MHCC group that traveled to the state Capitol building included Al Sigala, executive director of development and communications; Melanie Roberts, Associated Student Government (ASG) vice president; Chelsea Young, ASG executive assistant; and Aye Chan May, ASG diversity, equity, and inclusion representative.

The four of them had one principal goal: to get their voices heard and for legislators to understand the importance of school funding. MHCC

was one of the 17 schools that lobbied legislators with student representatives that day.

“I did not know what to expect,” said Roberts. The three ASG members who attended say they were all nervous at first, but at the end of the day, felt relieved. Their goal was to share their stories with legislators about how and why they are able to attend Mt. Hood, and hopefully persuade them to see the importance funding has for the future of students.

Roberts said, “If tuition goes up higher, our concern is that students may not want to attend Mt. Hood, or any other college.”

Students really count on financial support to pursue community college programs: About 45 percent of students are unable to meet expenses with expected resources, 35 percent receive public grant aid, and 33 percent are eligible for Oregon Opportunity Grant, according to the Oregon Community College Association.

Young also discussed the importance of CTE programs,

and how they should also be taken into consideration when deciding state funding.

“We thanked the legislators who have already put their support in, and we reminded those who supported but didn’t put their vote in, of our stories,” Young said. She said she thought, overall, that a lot of the legislators they talked to were strongly in support. “I think it’s important for students to know that there are legislators out there that are willing to truly listen to us students,” she said.

There’s another upcoming opportunity to help.

On Monday (President’s Day), a statewide rally organized by the Oregon Education Association is expected to draw educators and students to a rally at the state Capitol. Students and educators from K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities are highly encouraged to speak up at this event.

On March 7, a team of Mt. Hood students and MHCC District board members will

make scheduled visits to local legislators working in Salem, to make the same points.

Sigala said, “If the state doesn’t fund us, unfortunately the only way the college can make revenue is by raising tuition. We don’t want to raise tuition, so students really need to talk to legislators so that they understand this is going to affect students.”

For ASG member Aye Chan May, this whole issue is an important piece of her life. Even though she is graduating this spring, she’s doing whatever she can to represent the voices of Mt. Hood. She says, “I am trying to get us students heard so that when I graduate, this school will be a school with more possibilities for all those future students.”

The legislators are due to make their final votes on a state budget by June. Sigala says that this (budget discussion) is a critical time for students, and a better conclusion can come if students put their support in and get their voices heard.

PA G E 7

SPORTS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

SEASON RECORD 9-3 CONF. 18-7 OVERALL

TASHA BECKETT

Center - Freshman

Min: 12.9 FG%: 51.4 Points: 6.1 Reb: 5.2

THE LADY SAINTS SHOOT TO FINISH THE SEASON STRONG WITH 4 GAMES REMAINING UPCOMING GAMES...

SAT. | 2/16 | 5:30 PM YOSHIDA EVENT CENTER

VS.

HUNTER BOSKE Guard - Freshman

MADISON ALLEN

Min: 20.6 3%: 41.9 Reb: 2.6 Assists: 1.3

Guard - Sophomore

Min: 30 Points: 8.1 Assists: 2.6 St: 1.8

WED. | 2/20 | 5:30 PM PCC CASCADE GYM

VS. RACHEL WATSON Center - Sophomore

SAT. | 2/23 | 2 PM YOSHIDA EVENT CENTER

Min: 24.1 FG%: 70.5 Reb: 7.0 Blk: 2.2

COURTNEY JACKSON

WED. | 2/27 | 5:30 PM YOSHIDA EVENT CENTER

KASSIDY ELLETT

Forward - Sophomore

VS.

Guard - Sophomore

Min: 26.2 FG%: 47.7 Reb: 4.2 St: 1.3

VS.

Min: 23.2 3%: 38.8 Assists: 2.2 St: 1.3

Design by Jonathan Zacarias // The Advocate

NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND TIPS OFF TONIGHT

Julia Empleo the advocate

The full list of participants for the upcoming NBA All-Star weekend was announced on Jan. 31, and the stage is set for Charlotte, North Carolina.

This is the second year that the league will have the new AllStar Game format where two team captains coming from each of the Western and Eastern conferences will have a chance to build their own roster from 20 players, all chosen by the fans and NBA coaches.

These captains are the two players who received the most All-Star fan votes in each conference, in this case Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.

PA G E 8

Both captains drafted 11 players, from either conference, to complete their roster. LeBron’s roster runs small, while Antetokounmpo’s roster is filled with size. With the news of New Orleans star Anthony Davis wanting to be traded, LeBron took advantage and drafted the big man to play next to him on Sunday, alongside Kevin Durant of Golden State. Preview of a new Big Three in the future? Maybe. Giannis went with the Warriors’ point guard, Steph Curry, and the big man, Joel Embiid of Philadelphia.

This match-up will take place Sunday night, after a two-night buildup.

All-Star weekend actually begins at 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, broadcast on the TNT network from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The evening begins with

the All-Star Celebrity Game. The home team will feature names like Jay Williams, an ESPN college basketball analyst, and WNBA Rookie of the Year A’ja Wilson, representing the Carolina area, who will face reigning Celebrity Game MVP and rapper Quavo and his teammates.

Next will come the Rising Stars game, an event where 20 first- and second-year NBA players are selected by NBA assistant coaches.

Activity renews the next day, with All-Star Saturday Night, which consists of exhibitions where several players are competing with each other to earn titles, a night many NBA fans enjoy watching. It begins with the Skills Challenge. Some players that fans are eager to see in this event include Luka Doncic of Dallas, Trae Young of Atlanta, and Nikola Jokic of Denver.

Following is the Three-Point Challenge that will consist of 10 players this year. They will show off their range by shooting balls from the five ball racks set up around the 3-point line, each player given one minute to make as many shots as they can. Defending champion Devin Booker will be participating, while Steph Curry and his younger brother, Seth, playing for Portland this year, will compete (along with Seth’s Trail Blazer teammate, Damian Lillard.

Saturday night ends with the Slam Dunk contest. Four players will try to impress five judges, scoring on a 6-10 scale per attempt, showing off their athleticism and their high hopes. Only one of the four is back for second straight year; Dennis Smith Jr. of the Knicks, will face three first-time participants.

Finally on Sunday we get to the main event, the 68th NBA All-Star Game.

With the NBA trade deadline passing (on Feb. 7) and Anthony Davis still with the New Orleans Pelicans, for now, we can still see a preview of what both All Star players – LeBron and the Brow – can do in the court together playing in the same team. Both players will most likely play together most of the start of the game, but expect LeBron to be playing alongside his former Miami teammate, Dwyane Wade, at the end. After Wade announced this season that he will be retiring this year, it will probably be the last time we’ll see the dynamic duo playing together.

Television coverage will begin at 4 p.m. Pacific Time Sunday, on TNT.