The Advocate, Issue 17 - Feb. 24, 2017

the

advocate

Volume 51 Issue 17

February 24, 2017

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Human trafficking plagues PDX

Snapshots of Costa Rica Study Abroad program

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

Former MHCC student guides nurses at Providence Portland PAGE 5

Advocate sports editor dishes on his job PAGE 8

‘Pretty Gritty’ lifts music scene at local venue

2016 FIRST PLACE

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General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION

February 24, 2017

Editorial

Secretary of state is not in a party mood

T

he office of Oregon secretary of state is one that most of us don’t give too much thought to. Even for those of us who do consider the position, it’s a job the majority of us know very little about.

Our current secretary of state is Republican Dennis Richardson, a former lawyer and state legislator who took office in Oregon on Jan. 2. And he’s got a major change in mind already: Turning the job into a nonpartisan position.

“There is no real sweeping policy being made, no funding assignments, no real reason that this couldn’t be done by someone the state just plugs into to do the job.”

Richardson won the 2016 general election against Democratic candidate Brad Avakian. He succeeded Democrat Jeanne Atkins, who took over the job for two years when then-Secretary of State Kate Brown was abruptly elevated to governor when John Kitzhaber resigned that post in early 2014.

The secretary’s job is pretty clearly defined. According to the state’s “Blue Book” website (Oregon’s

official almanac), the secretary of state is “the auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, chief records officer and custodian of the Seal of the State of Oregon.”

When you read this job description, the reason why this is a partisan political office isn’t exactly clear to the average person. There is no real sweeping policy being made, no funding assignments, no real reason that this couldn’t be done by someone the state just plugs into to do the job.

The fact that this position is one that doesn’t seem to call heavily to the right or the left, politically, in its duties doesn’t take away from the fact that the election battles for them are just as partisan, politicized and expensive as any other political office in Oregon.

According to numbers from the Register Guard newspaper in Eugene, Richardson and Avakian spent over $3.5 million in their 2016 election race.

That the public might be better served with a nonpolitical position is something a lot of people are aware of – even the current occupant himself.

During his campaign, Richardson claimed again and again that he would be running the position as a nonpartisan.

At one point, he even said “As a secretary of state, I will be functioning as an Oregonian. It is my commitment that you will not know whether I have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ by my name.”

It was a key selling point for the conservative Republican – since no

Illustration by Megan Phelps

GOP candidate had won statewide office in Oregon since 2002. For years, Democrats have held the upper hand.

And it’s important since as “chief elections officer,” the secretary of state is overseer of the elections process across all of Oregon. Giving

“...an elected official in charge of officiating elections where his own party is nearly always one of the two finalists practically screams ‘conflict of interest.’ ”

that kind of position to a highly partisan official is kind of like asking a child to manage a candy store.

You can’t guarantee that there will be some shenanigans going on, but there is a large possibility for trouble to arise.

Looking at the recent presidential election tells us that if there is any whisper of a doubt when it comes to vote tampering, there can be major implications and widespread outrage.

When we look at this particular position at face value, an elected official in charge of officiating elections where his own party is nearly always one of the two finalists practically screams “conflict of interest.”

On the flip side, a possible reason in favor of keeping this position as it is might be as clear as looking at our

current governor. The secretary of state is the next in line if the current governor is unable to continue his/ her term, and making this an office that isn’t filled through the party system might cause unforeseen problems.

This leaves us with some thinking to do. We have a political position in charge of elections, and that could be tempting for many of us. At very least, we need to be vigilant – we need to make sure everything stays on the up-and-up for all involved.

In short, as a state, we need to decide what is best for Oregon. Is that a change in the policy? That’s not clear at the moment, but we need to remember that our government is fluid. We the people have the right, and the duty, to change what doesn’t work and we owe it to ourselves to take a long, hard look at things as they are and ask ourselves: Is this where we need to be?

Do you have an opinion on this topic or another?

Send us your opinion and thoughts to: Advocatt@mhcc. edu.

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

the advocate Editor-in-Chief Gloria Saepharn

Sports Editor Jamie George

Video team Cory Wiese

Associate Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor Matana McIntire

Graphic Design Team Prisma Flores Seneca Maxwell

Ad Managers Joseph Frantz Carlena Ascensio

Photo Editor Open Position

Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst

Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Megan Phelps News Editor Kyle Venooker Opinion Editor Donovan Sargent PA G E 2

Assistant Photo Editor Davyn Owen Photo team Porcha Hesselgesser Alex Crull Fadi Shahin

Staff Writers Greg Leonov Brody Mathews Maddy Sanstrum Glenn Dyer Logan Hertner Maegan Willhite

Erik Walters Ryan Moore Cover photo/design by Prisma Flores

Contact us!

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

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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.

NEWS

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Human trafficking embedded in Portland culture Greg Leonov the advocate

Human trafficking is an international issue, but more to the point and closer to home, it is prevalent in greater Portland and Multnomah County.

It is an embedded part of the culture here, and victims are often trapped in a pattern that unfortunately becomes normal for them. Every year, the Advocate prints some sort of coverage of this plague, and will probably continue doing do so as long as human trafficking continues to be a problem in our own backyard.

Last Friday, Mt. Hood’s Public Safety department, Title IX team, and Associated Student Government hosted an illuminating, and sobering, talk in the Town & Gown Room.

Guest speaker Sarah Nedeau, human trafficking program specialist from the Multnomah County community justice department, spent the majority of the lunch hour addressing the issue. Local trafficking was her focal point.

The federal definition of sex trafficking, is “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act,” said Nedeau. “It’s induced by force, fraud or coercion to engage another person into sex work.”

Made in Portland In Portland, the trafficking industry has three main characteristics, she said: It’s local, it’s generational, and it’s culturally embedded.

It’s a local issue because

purchasers and victims are usually members from our community.

“They were born here, they were raised here, they’re being trafficked here, they’re looking for sex here,” Nedeau said. It’s generational, too, because mothers who entered ‘the life’ early sometimes raise their kids to become involved as well, she said.

Among U.S. cities, Portland has the most strip clubs in relation to the local population, said Nedeau. These places are sometimes trafficking hubs. “Either strip club owners are not enforcing age guidelines around who they’re employing, or there’s a gradual expansion of boundaries and maybe the owner of the strip club is also encouraging folks to engage in more expansive forms of sex work,” she explained.

For any such “worker” under age 18, prosecutors are not required to prove force, fraud, or coercion, she said. And the federal definition (listed above) applies to adults, children, women, men, boys, girls, LGBTQ individuals, foreign nationals, and citizens.

Lured into ‘the life’ Even though the forced nature of sex trafficking is commonly embellished, the truth is more subtle.

“How folks get involved and why folks stay involved in what’s called ‘the life,’ or the commercial sex industry, is more about fraud and coercion than it is brute force,” said Nedeau.

She referred to the “Taken” film series as an example of international forced sex trafficking, and explained that “what we’re seeing in our community is much more subversive... there’s a culture around

it and at times it’s popularized and normalized in our pop culture.”

Individuals usually enter ‘the life’ in their early teens. Girls usually start at ages 12-14, while boys start anywhere between 11 and 13, Nedeau said. “That is really alarming, in and of itself. Our society has this perception that anybody who is working in the industry, specifically around street prostitution or online advertisement, is somebody who is an adult.”

Sadly, that’s not the case.

Even though popular locations like 82nd Avenue are known spots for prostitution, Nedeau said sex trafficking also happens along major transportation lines, transportation hubs, malls, and other places where people congregate.

Sex trafficking is more prevalent online than it is on the streets. “That’s where the majority of folks are being bought and sold,” Nedeau said. Sties such as the back pages, craigslist, social media platforms, and dating websites are common avenues for traffickers.

Online, individuals advertised as “young” and between 18 and 25, are often underage.

Grasping for ‘support’ When referring to individuals who are being trafficked, Nedeau stressed the importance of correct terminology. “We really want to be intentional about the language that we’re using so that we are supporting and not minimizing folks’ experience, especially related to force, fraud and coercion.

“I often just say ‘folks who have experience in the life,’ or ‘youth who have been trafficked...’ generally.”

Individuals get snared in ‘the life’ in various ways. Kidnapping and violence are usually assumed methods of recruitment, said Nedeau, but that’s not always the case. Perceived romantic relationships are common methods. “The fraud component of the trafficker is pretending to be a boyfriend (or) potentially pretending to be a father figure – a safe, supportive adult individual who’s going to take care of you.

“Portland has the most strip clubs in relation to the local population.”

- Sarah Nedau

human trafficking specialist “For a 12- or 13-year-old, that’s a really compelling force for somebody who wanted to get involved in the life and they may not even know this person is trying to traffic them,” she said.

Often, when a victim in ‘the life’ turns 18, the pimp will allow some autonomy. “They manipulate victims to take on more responsibility that could cause legal ramifications, so (it becomes) ‘You put the hotel room in your name, you recruit me another girl for my stable,’ ” said Nedeau.

Pimps often have their adult victims take on these responsibilities so that they can take a “back seat” in their own operations. Such criminal charges as compelling or promoting prostitution are aimed at traffickers, “but if a trafficker can take a backseat and just receive the money, that puts them in a much safer position,” Nedeau said.

Deadly consequences She honed in on the use of the term “survivor.” She said the average lifespan of a person after entering the life is seven years. “Survivors are not only overcoming all the trauma they’ve experienced, but that is a really shocking number when you think that average life expectancy is about 20 (years) for somebody who enters the life.”

These individuals often fall to drug overdose, suicide, or even murder by clients or their own traffickers.

Exiting the commercial sex industry is difficult and often complicated. “Leaving the life means leaving a culture that is kind of all you’ve known, if you got involved at age 13,” said Nedeau. Psychological and emotional issues often set in.

Survivors have “complex trauma,” in which they are in a constant state of fear. They have a difficult time assimilating to normal society.

Numerous services are available for victims caught in ‘the life.’

The Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) operates 24 hours a day, and offers support and counseling to ‘survivors.’ Information is available online at http://www.sarcoregon.org/ and at 503-640-5311.

Numerous other services are available. For immediate help one should call 911; contact MHCC’s Public Safety at 503-491-7310 for non-emergencies and 503-491-7911 for emergencies, if something suspicious is happening on campus.

Local author to talk about her work at MHCC Kyle Venooker the advocate

Local author Megan Kruse will discuss her craft and her awardwinning 2015 novel “Call Me Home” at the upcoming Mouths of Others speaker series event at MHCC. The reading and forum will run noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Visual Arts Theatre.

A Pacific Northwest native, Kruse teaches fiction at Eastern Oregon University’s Low-Residency MFA program (only two weeks of residency are required). Call Me

Home is “a story of a family that’s being torn apart,” said Michele

Megan Kruse, writer of “Call Me Home”

Hampton, MHCC English instructor

who helped arrange her visit.

The novel features an abusive father “and an impoverished mother on the run dependent upon him, so she’s always struggling to make ends meet,” Hampton said.

Kruse will put her teaching experience to work after the presentation, joining one of the Fiction Writing classes and leading a student workshop.

These MofO workshops “are great for students to get their own writing done with a writer they’ve just heard,” said Hampton.

The initial reading and discussion

is open to anyone interested.

Hampton noted that Kruse excels at “handl(ing) so many points of view in her writing. She has a lot of strengths as a writer, but that’s (a big) one for me. I think I will learn a lot... in how she is able to see the same instance from multiple perspectives and have very defining voices for each of her characters.

Point-of-view is so tricky.”

Hampton emphasized that the reading is for students of all types, not just those who enjoy writing: “Any time you encounter somebody who’s living their dream and being

an artist it taps into your creative side, no matter what your creative side is.

“It shows you, you should put your attention there, too. I think when writers come (to Mt. Hood) they’re so energetic and positive about living life, practicing their art... that’s a big inspiration across the board, no matter what.”

Students who wish to suggest local artists for the MofO series are encouraged to contact Hampton, or any faculty member in the English Department.

PA G E 3

NEWS

February 24, 2017

Mt. Hood’s Costa Rica Study Abroad program Students soak in sun, culture and language Kyle Venooker the advocate

Close your eyes. Picture a beach – tranquil sand, the gentle lap of waves against your toes, the sun warm against your eyelids... Now, open them and look outside.

Sure sounds nice, compared to Oregon’s weather, right?

Twenty Mt. Hood students studying abroad in Costa Rica this Winter Term undoubtedly agree. Based in the city of San Isidro, a city in central Costa Rica near the capital city (San Jose) and not far from picturesque ocean beaches and tropical rainforests, students enrolled in first- or second-year Spanish or international studies are eligible for the term-long trip, which takes place once a year.

“This is our fifth consecutive year with the program in Costa Rica,” said Paul Eckhardt, Spanish instructor at MHCC and director of the school’s Study Abroad program. Previously, Mt Hood had a similar program located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for 18 years, he added.

Web photos

Apart from warm weather and a chance to check Central America off their personal bucket lists, what’s in it for Mt. Hood students?

“I think studying abroad is an amazing experience that can be life-changing for students,” said Eckhardt, checking in by email from San Isidro. “It empowers them in that they learn to communicate in another language and they learn so much about another culture, and about themselves.

“I am always amazed at how well students adapt to a new culture, and how much Spanish they learn during their time here!” Eckhardt added.

Once a week, the Costa Rica visitors have a cultural experience/field trip.

“This week, we had dance class... It is so much fun, and great exercise,” said Susan Zalokar, an MHCC student participating in this winter’s program. “Last week we took PA G E 4

a day trip to visit the indigenous village of Bribri. We participated in a cultural exchange with the community and shared a lunch and cake. We also toured a working permaculture farm of one of the tribal members.

“It was simply fascinating,” Zalokar said.

Though it does sound like a wonderful opportunity, the Costa Rica extended stay is not cheap, unfortunately.

The estimated cost, as the MHCC program flier explains, is $5175, which includes: airfare; a family stay with two meals per day; Mt. Hood tuition and books; registration at the school where (participants) study in Costa Rica; a three-day beach trip; and access to “a full-time language instructor who goes with the group for tutoring and advising.”

There is a scholarship available totaling $750, and all Financial Aid money a student receives can be used for this program, so the term abroad may not be as costly as it seems at first glance, according to Eckhardt.

Regardless of the material cost, the chance to visit another country, and another culture, is one that does not come often, and students will have the opportunity to more than just improve their Spanish.

“I have learned about the importance of connecting with people from other cultures – people with other languages and worldviews that are different from what I have known in my own life,” wrote Zalokar.

“In this way, we can strengthen our understanding of people who are different from ourselves and work together to make it a better world community,” she said.

While the current Costa Rica program is well under way, there will be another taking place Winter Term of 2018, as well as a three-week visit to Japan in Summer Term for students interested in studying Japanese, seeing that part of the world, and learning new things about themselves.

“One of the best lessons I will bring home with me is the mantra of Costa Rica – not ‘Pura Vida’ (pure life) as everyone says, (but) rather: ‘Tranquilo,’ ” Zalokar wrote.

“It is kind a catch-all phrase but it is often used much like we say, ‘No worries.’ Watching what is happening in our country from afar these past 30 days or so, I have adopted this mentality as best I can,” she said. “It has improved my mental and physical health and my outlook on life.“

Photos provided by Paul Eckhardt

TOP: The view of the mountains from school where the students study. MIDDLE, LEFT to RIGHT: A photo of the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica; a photo of a Bribri elder grinding corn in the traditional fashion. BOTTOM: Two students and an instructor in class; Rashelle Carpenter (left), student; Glenda Jiménez (center), instructor; Johanna Hampton, behind water bottle.

Correction: In last week’s issue, Issue 16, we made an error on Page 5. In the headline of the top story, we misspelled the name ‘Neivert,’ of Matteo Neivert, the artist currently featured in the Visual Arts Gallery.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A

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I where your studies can take you

Finding satisfaction in helping others advance Plamondon’s aptitude for leadership was present during his time at Mt. Hood. In 2006, he attended Portland Community College to complete prerequisites before applying to nursing programs in the area. “Mt. Hood was the only school that asked me to come in for an interview,” he said about why he landed here.

The interview process was “tough,” as he put it. After submitting a written interview, he was called back for an inperson group interview. “It was intimidating, but it was important to me because that’s what I wanted to do.” he said.

Plamondon quickly stepped into a leadership position in the Mt. Hood program. The two years that he was on campus, he was class president. “Part of my job was to act as the liaison between staff and the nurses,” he said, describing his duties.

Matana McIntire the advocate

“I’m kind of just a normal guy,” said Jason Plamondon as he talked about life outside of his nursing profession.

Plamondon is a Mt. Hood alumnus who graduated in 2009 with an associate of applied science degree in nursing. He explains that he found his love for leadership and management well into a nursing career with the Providence healthcare system.

In 2015, he transferred to Providence Medical Center in Milwaukie, working as an interim manager while the permanent manager was on maternity leave.

After about a year, he applied to a manager position on the respiratory cardiology floor at Providence Portland Medical Center, and won his current job.

Looking back, it’s clear

“She’s one of the reasons I got into management, what I’m doing now. I saw what she was doing and what joy she gets from developing these students.”

– Jason Plamondon MHCC nursing graduate

He fondly spoke of Monterey Anthony, the nursing instructor who nominated him for an alumni interview with the Advocate.

“She’s one of the reasons I got into management, what I’m doing now. I saw what she was doing and what joy she gets from developing these students and helping them

grow,” he said.

That thrill of helping peers succeed was a strong part of what Plamondon loves about nursing, and his current position in Providence management.

“I love working with the nurses,” he said. “I enjoy being able to help them find out what

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direction they want to go and help them get there. There’s just a lot of satisfaction in that.”

As for Plamondon’s education, he’s still pursuing it. Through his employer, he earned his bachelor’s degree. Now, he is working on his master’s degree in nursing leadership, which he’ll complete in August.

Though nursing wasn’t Plamondon’s first career – it’s actually his third – it’s evident that he has found his niche at Providence Portland Medical Center.

When he’s not working, he does what any Portland dweller does: He drinks with friends, hangs out with his two basset hounds and his wife of over 20 years, and he works out to keep himself sane.

“Helping the hospitals provide better, more efficient care” is where Plamondon sees his career heading, he concluded.

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PA G E 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 24, 2017

Netflix series is a ‘mind-bending experience’ Maegan Willhite the advocate

Graphic by Seneca Maxwell

4.5 out of 5 stars

Imagine that you are in a world where everyone is rated; the more stars you had, the more popular you were. Now, imagine that you ran out of stars: No one would pay attention to you, and you wouldn’t be qualified to own nice things. Think of the rating system as “poor credit vs. good credit.”

No one would want to live life in that situation, unless you were a 4.2 or above. Seems like a horror story, doesn’t it?

I hope all of you who decide to watch this interesting Netflix series, “Black Mirror,” think so, as well.

Let’s plug in and delve deeper into this British television series, created

by Charlie Brooker at Zeppotron production studio. The series began in 2011, and it is still airing despite a lengthy hiatus. In this anthology of technology and life, the show follows a multitude of seemingly normal people such as Bing (Daniel Kaluuya),

Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear), Victoria Skillane (Lenora Crichlow), Matt (Jon Hamm), Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard), and many more.

Each of these characters endures an individual grueling storyline each episode.

This is a very interesting series: Each episode is a unique gem, having its own storyline apart from the other episodes. Not one episode relates to another. Generally, the basic thread here for the anthology’s purpose is, its aim to aesthetically please the viewers by scaring them into the “What if?” realm.

What if each of these scenarios were real? It’s a good thing the stories are just on the small screen.

While there’s no correlation betwixt episodes, there is one prominent theme, which is technology and how humans interact with it. Each episode is laced with some form of oppressive beings taking the form of technological “entity,” making or breaking the characters’ lives.

During the one episode described above, Lacie is a 4.2 star, but is almost reaching 4.5 star status, which is considered an elite. Gaining stars or “ratings” as the characters call

Web Photo

Arguably the most popular episode of the first season of Black Mirror, “Fifteen Million Merits” is about the two characters Bing (left), played by Daniel Kaluuya, and Abi, played by Jessica Brown Findlay. Both characters are menial workers who bicycle to provide power for the greater public, with only one chance to escape: compete and win in a talent competition like that of the X-Factor.

it, means being almost “too sweet.”

The characters’ moods are verging on being faked, simply for the sake of ratings. This episode has an Orwellian vibe, mixed with “Twilight Zone.”

I definitely recommend this

series; however, it is not for children under age 13. There is graphic content throughout this series, from nudity to violence.

Watching each episode is like unwrapping a gift for the eyes and soul, however. Each episode sends

us on a mind-bending experience, from the screen to our eyes. I give this series a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Am I being a bit ‘too sweet,’ myself, sucking up with a 4.5 rating, I wonder? In any case, you all should consider watching this life-altering series.

Americana duo ‘Pretty Gritty’ comes to Gresham Ryan Moore the advocate

It was a pretty busy Saturday night at Spinella’s in downtown Gresham. Just outside there was a sign that read the name of a band performing that night, called Pretty Gritty.

As I walked up the steps and entered the building, the band was finishing setting up and doing a sound check. Lots of people filled the tables inside, making for a pretty good turnout. Several groups ordered food and drinks while the two performers checked up on their guitars, banjo, and the drums they controlled with their feet.

The chatter continued amongst the crowd as the duo began playing their first song. Simultaneously, the house lights were dimmed and LED lights were pointed to the stage, filling it with changing colors. Looking around the venue, I noticed a balanced mix of people PA G E 6

Photo by Alex Crull

Sarah Wolff (left) and Blaine Heinonen on the small performance stage at Spinella’s Off the Wall.

engaged with the performers while others simply enjoyed each other’s company.

The band consists of Blaine Heinonen and Sarah Wolff, who originate from Rockville, Maryland. Each of them played

music in their school’s bands, until a friend asked them to perform together at an open mic. After that, the two began performing music labeled as “Americana” with a soulful and bluesy sound.

In any case, the music being

played by the band created a comfortable and fun atmosphere.

Pretty Gritty has been touring to promote the release of their EP, titled “Lonely Road.”

The duo originally recorded the EP in Nashville, Tennessee, so it was cool to see their music travel and end up at such a local setting.

Initially, the pair’s performance gave me the impression that they have been playing together for quite a while. After they had finished their first song, they made this even more clear when they thanked the people from Spinella’s for hosting them once again, indicating that they had played there previously.

Both performers were very talented, each showcasing multiinstrumental abilities.

Each musician performed vocals, and their chemistry was noticeable in their stage presence and in their harmonies.

Unfortunately for me, however,

I was not able to stay for much of the band’s performance since the venue did not allow for those under 21 years old to stay past a certain time that night.

Despite my visit being cut a bit short, I still did enjoy the service and the atmosphere of the room.

Even though I live nearby, this was surprisingly my first time at Spinella’s and during my brief stay, I figured I would have to come back and enjoy seeing more live music there when I am of the proper age.

If you are of the proper age to attend Spinella’s live music nights, they have a list of events on their website: www.spinellasoffthewall. com.

They also have live music Thursdays, which is all ages, as well as happy hour events, one being painting on Sunday evenings.

Be sure to check out their events calendar to verify upcoming activities.

SPORTS

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Saints women on receiving end of blowout

Dominant Lane hands MHCC 12th straight loss Jamie George the advocate

The Saints’ entire basketball season was on the line Wednesday night, and they came up huge.

Mt. Hood’s men knew if it they were to have any chance to make the playoffs, they were going to need to win, and they did, downing lastplace Lane Community College, 9480, in Eugene.

The win puts Mt. Hood in seventh place, and just one game back of fourth place in the NWAC South division, the last spot for playoffs, with three games remaining.

The team was ecstatic after the victory, but knows the battle has barely begun.

“We’re excited. We know our backs are against the wall, and that we have to win the rest of our games,” said Saints forward Luke Anderson. “So, we’re just focused on taking it one game at a time.”

Wednesday night, Anderson played a huge role in the win, scoring 17 points, pulling down nine rebounds, grabbing four steals, and adding a block. He was a beast out there, in a game that was vital for the team.

Photo by Davyn Owen

Fresham forward Katlin Farris had a season-high 22 points on Dec. 2 vs. Columbia Basin.

Guard Elijah Fuller pointed to the team’s ability to move the ball as a key in their victory.

“We made most of our free throws and hit the open man. We played very unselfish,” Fuller said.

The team hit 16-of-19 free-throws, compared to Lane’s 8-of-19. That’s an eight-point difference, half of the Saints’ 16-point winning margin.

Fuller also played a big part in the win. He hit four threes, scored 17 points, and came away with four

steals.

The game was tight at halftime, all tied at 38. But the Saints got going in the second half and were able to run away with it.

Anderson pointed to the Saints’ second-half defense as the main reason they won. He said, “We picked our defense up. We created some turnovers which allowed us to get out in transition and get some easy buckets. We applied some fullcourt pressure, which sped them up,

Beavers finally bag Pac-12 win Logan Hertner the advocate

Well into Sunday evening, it appeared likely Oregon State would remain winless in league play for the year and make history, and not in a good way. Yet, somehow OSU rallied and topped the Utah Utes, 6867.

The Beavers were down to the Utes, 63-54, with 3:23 to play in their home game against Utah.

KenPom, a college basketball analytics site, had a forecast chart for the game and the Utes at that moment – believe it or not – had roughly a 99 percent chance of victory.

Well, let’s just say the Beavers took that 1 percent and turned it into a victory. OSU went on a 14-4 run to close out the game, led by sophomore guard Stephen Thompson Jr., who scored a careerhigh 31 points and also hit the game-winning shot.

It seems as if Thompson is the front-and-center of attention

when it comes down to memorable moments recently in Oregon State’s men’s basketball history. Just last season, the freshman hit the winning shot against Washington with less than a second on the clock. Which was a key win for the Beavers, as that victory led them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 26 years.

Thompson was interviewed after the Utah game and was asked how OSU was able to come from behind and grab its first league win.

“I think the main thing was remaining confident in our abilities,” he replied.

The Beavers attempted another big comeback against Stanford, but lost 79-66 on the road on Wednesday night.

Oregon State now has two games left this regular season as they travel to Berkeley tonight to play Cal, and then return home against Oregon in Gill Coliseum on March 4.

The Beavers have not won a road game all season. And last time

they played the Ducks, they lost by an embarrassing 42 points in Eugene on Jan. 14.

Sunday’s victory snapped a 14-game losing streak for OSU, and if they would’ve gone 0-18 in conference play, it would have been only the second time ever since Arizona and Arizona State were added to form the Pac-10 in 1978.

The first time a team went 0-18 in conference, it was no other than Oregon State, in 2007-08.

That season, OSU finished with an unbearable school-record 21 consecutive games lost.

Coach Wayne Tinkle spoke about the current Beaver team following the upset victory over Utah: “Our guys deserve to taste some success. Not one of them has gone south on us,” he said.

So, you can tell that Tinkle has a lot of respect for his team and understands the hard work the players are putting in. Now it’s time to see results and see if the Beavers can get hot, going into the Pac 12 Tournament that starts March 8.

forcing some turnovers.”

Point guard John Tibbs said, “Huge win tonight and even though we see the other teams we are neckand-neck with winning as well, that’s just giving us more and more motivation to keep grinding.

“We have been emphasizing that playing team basketball is our best way to achieve our goal, and that each individual’s sacrifice is essential to success,” he said.

In the playoff chase, Mt. Hood is in a four-way race for the fourth spot. Linn-Benton, Chemeketa, and Portland are currently tied for fourth with a record of 7-6. The positive news for Saints fans is that Mt. Hood plays Linn-Benton Saturday at 4 p.m. in Albany, then they host Portland at 7:30 p.m. on

Wednesday.

Even if they win both those games, they’ll still need Portland to lose one more game, and Chemeketa to lose two of their last three games.

While it’s unlikely to all fall into place, the Saints know there’s still a chance.

“We feel really good since we know Linn-Benton had one more win on us right now, and we play them Saturday,” said Fuller. He pointed to how Mt. Hood can win that game. “They like to shoot threes so we need to close out hard on them and also we need to force them to drive,” he said.

“We need to play solid team defense and hit free throws and whatever happens after that we will deal with.”

If you missed it...

Major League Baseball changed its intentional walk rule Wednesday. The new rule for 2017 takes the ball out of the pitcher’s hand when he intentionally walks a batter. Teams will now just signal to the umpire the intentional walk, and the batter will automatically take first base.

The Sacramento Kings traded their star center DeMarcus Cousin and small forward Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday for a 2017 first-round draft pick and a second-round pick, plus shooting guards Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway.

The Dallas Mavericks traded for center Nerlens Noel on Thursday, sending their future first-round pick, veteran center Andrew Bogut, and small forward Justin Anderson to the 76ers.

The Los Angeles Lakers fired General Manager Mitch Kupchak and removed Jim Buss, their president of basketball operations, on Wednesday. They brought in Magic Johnson to replace Buss, and hired Kobe Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka, as their new general manager.

-Jamie George Magic Johnson, Lakers president of basketball operations

Web photo

PA G E 7

SPORTS

February 24, 2017

Mt. Hood men keep playoff hopes alive Team’s second-half surge keys critical win Jamie George the advocate

The Saints’ entire basketball season was on the line Wednesday night, and they came up huge.

Mt. Hood’s men knew if it they were to have any chance to make the playoffs, they were going to need to win, and they did, downing lastplace Lane Community College, 9480, in Eugene.

“We’re excited. We know our backs are against the wall, and that we have to win the rest of our games” -Luke Anderson Saints forward

The win puts Mt. Hood in seventh place, and just one game back of fourth place in the NWAC South division, the last spot for playoffs, with three games remaining.

The team was ecstatic after the victory, but knows the battle has barely begun.

“We’re excited. We know our backs are against the wall, and

Photo by Davyn Owen - The Advocate

Saints sophomore forward Cody Thompson is averaging just over 17 points per game this season.

that we have to win the rest of our games,” said Saints forward Luke Anderson. “So, we’re just focused on taking it one game at a time.”

Wednesday night, Anderson played a huge role in the win, scoring 17 points, pulling down nine rebounds, grabbing four steals, and adding a block. He was a beast out there, in a game that was vital for the team.

Guard Elijah Fuller pointed to

the team’s ability to move the ball as a key in their victory.

“We made most of our free throws and hit the open man. We played very unselfish,” Fuller said.

The team hit 16-of-19 free-throws, compared to Lane’s 8-of-19. That’s an eight-point difference, half of the Saints’ 16-point winning margin.

Fuller also played a big part in the win. He hit four threes, scored

17 points, and came away with four steals.

The game was tight at halftime, all tied at 38. But the Saints got going in the second half and were able to run away with it.

Anderson pointed to the Saints’ second-half defense as the main reason they won. He said, “We picked our defense up. We created some turnovers which allowed us to get out in transition and get some easy buckets. We applied some fullcourt pressure, which sped them up, forcing some turnovers.”

Point guard John Tibbs said, “Huge win tonight and even though we see the other teams we are neckand-neck with winning as well, that’s just giving us more and more motivation to keep grinding.

“We have been emphasizing that playing team basketball is our best way to achieve our goal, and that each individual’s sacrifice is essential to success,” he said.

In the playoff chase, Mt. Hood is in a four-way race for the fourth spot. Linn-Benton, Chemeketa, and Portland are currently tied for fourth with a record of 7-6. The positive news for Saints fans is that Mt. Hood plays Linn-Benton Saturday at 4 p.m. in Albany, then

they host Portland at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Even if they win both those games, they’ll still need Portland to lose one more game, and Chemeketa to lose two of their last three games.

While it’s unlikely to all fall into place, the Saints know there’s still a chance.

“We have been emphasizing that playing team basketball is our best way to achieve our -John Tibbs goal.”

Saints Point Guard

“We feel really good since we know Linn-Benton had one more win on us right now, and we play them Saturday,” said Fuller. He pointed to how Mt. Hood can win that game. “They like to shoot threes so we need to close out hard on them and also we need to force them to drive,” he said.

“We need to play solid team defense and hit free throws and whatever happens after that we will deal with.”

Get to know your sports editor: Jamie George broadcaster and I know journalism and broadcasting go hand-inhand. So I decided to push myself by joining the team to learn the journalism side.

Who are you? (One sentence that describes you.)

I’m a loud, outgoing, sarcastic 21-year-old who loves giving my opinion.

What made you want to join The Advocate?

Obviously my love for sports played a huge factor, but that’s not why I actually joined the team. I’m going to Mt. Hood to become a PA G E 8

was younger I was definitely biased towards the Lakers, Dodgers, USC, and the Rams. I was the worst to watch a game with when my team was losing. Oh, and Kobe’s the greatest player of all time, obviously.

WHAT: Favorite sport?

Baseball, with out a doubt!

Favorite baseball team?

The Los Angeles Dodgers Favorite basketball team?

The Los Angeles Lakers

Have there been any differences between what you thought about sports before you started writing for the newspaper, and now?

I don’t necessarily see sports differently, but I’ve found enjoyment in sports I didn’t think I would. For example, volleyball. I started watching volleyball for the first time this year and by the end of the season I was sad it was ending!

Your biases?

Wow, that’s assuming I have biases. In all seriousness, when I

Do you feel that the sports world is growing, changing, or shrinking?

The sports world is changing, and not for the better. Professional sports used to be about the rivalries and the competition. But with all the money in sports, that’s fading away. Now it’s about making sure everyone has their paycheck and stays healthy, especially in the NBA. The NFL and the MLB are changing rules, but the competition is clearly still there.

Would you change anything about a certain sport?

Two things: In the NBA I would either take away the max player contracts or I would take away team salary caps. The problem with having both is it leads to players like Mike Conley having the biggest contract in the NBA, and it’s a joke. In the NFL, I’d bring back touchdown celebrations.

What advice would you give to people that aren’t as interested in sports?

Understand that to a sports fan its more than just a game, or a ball and a stick. Sure, you can see anything in life at its most basic form and mock it. But for sports fans it becomes a part of our identity, it’s who we are.

When our teams lose – it’s not the Lakers losing, it’s us losing.

Have you enjoyed being the sports editor?

I really have. At first it was fairly overwhelming, but thanks to the Advocate team they’ve made it really easy for me. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all of the athletes and finding out their stories. It’s also grown me into a much better writer and I’m really thankful for that.