The Advocate, Issue 25 - April 26, 2019

Volume 53, Issue 25 APRIL 26, 2019 advocate-online.net

ASG election results PAGE 3

Recognizing outstanding staff PAGE 6

Fans on edge as 'Game' nears end PAGE 7

MORE THAN MEETS THE HAIR

PAGE 4

Baseball doubleheader ends in victories for MHCC

PAGE 8

FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY SCAN FOR PLAYLIST

>>>>

2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION

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

A SUSTAINABLE PATH TO THE FUTURE?

Sadie Klein

the advocate The proposed “Green New Deal” is a revolution of sorts, for it would cause a major shift of the economy in the United States.

This would include more focus renewable energy, job programs and much more. This resolution is forcing politicians to think about climate change, and actually giving the conversation momentum as we celebrated Earth Day again this week.

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) proposed the Green New Deal (GND) in the House of Representatives, describing this “deal” as a House resolution, and not a legislative bill – it doesn’t go to the Senate or the president right now for approval.

“It puts forward the large scope, the overall vision that we want to be able to accomplish,” said Ocasio-Cortez in an interview with television talk show host Seth Meyers.

What the GND entails is 100% reliance on renewable energy, Medicare health care coverage for all, and tuition-free public colleges,

as well as investing in technology, more renewable resources and electrical vehicles. This is the vision on what should be, and needs to be, accomplished in the next 10 years.

Many other bills can be passed

by Congress regarding smaller pieces of this vision, for it to one day be fully endorsed, and implemented.

As many know, President Trump says he does not believe in climate change, despite scientific consensus that it is occurring. He has gone as far as to attempt to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement reached in 2015. By late 2016, United Nations representatives from countries all over the world came together to sign an agreement to collectively combat climate change – including the U.S..

Some of the goals of the agreement are to strengthen global response to climate change, and to prevent Earth’s temperatures from rising as much as 2 degrees Celsius. Nationally determined

contributions were made by each country that signed; the U.S. agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing a variety of environmentally directed programs.

Although the U.S. agreed to contribute the most money for the proposed changes, it is not alone.

Japan, the UK, France and Germany are some of the other countries that have pledged the most. But by all accounts, Trump does not want the U.S. to be part of the agreement because he says it’s not in the best interest of America. He would rather spend that money elsewhere, especially since he doesn’t believe climate change is happening.

The Green New Deal is similar to the Paris Climate Agreement, in the sense that there is a mutual understanding that change needs to happen in the very near future, to avoid catastrophic climate changes.

It is time for real change to take place. As citizens of the world, we must be concerned for the future of our home, the Earth.

“

IT IS TIME FOR REAL CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE. AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, WE MUST BE CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR HOME, THE EARTH.

Web Graphic

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 Arts & Entertainment Editor Chloe Collins Sports Editor Position Open PA G E 2

Opinion Editor Position Open Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin Graphic Design Team Angeles Ramirez Svetlana Meshcheryakova Photo Team Bethy Lynn Maysee Thao Zarah Escutia

Video Team Andy Carothers Naethaniel Lile Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open Ad Manager Darcy Hitchcock Social Media Manager Position Open

Staff Writers Benjamin Anctil Corwin Benedict Julia Empleo Sadie Klein Kurt Larson Kaleb Moring Jennifer Salazar Omar Saradi Positions Open Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald

@mhccadvocate

@theadvocateonline

@mhccadvocate Get Involved! Come visit us during our weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in our office, room AC1369.

NEWS

APRIL 26, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS

PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

with Omar Saradi

GRESHAM SATURDAY MARKET

Saturday, April 27 will be the third Gresham Saturday Market event this year, running 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the MHCC campus. The market will set up in campus parking Lot W, near the corner of Northeast Kane/257th Drive and Southeast Stark Street.

MHCC BASEBALL VS. LANE CC

The Saints will face off against Lane CC’s Titans at Oslund Field, here in Gresham. Two games are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Concessions stands will be open.

General admission for adults is $5; for children 12 and under and seniors, $3; and for military members and school students, $4. Mt. Hood students with ID get in for free.

MHCC FOUNDATION DINNER & AUCTION

The MHCC Foundation will host its annual fundraising dinner and auction on Saturday, April 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Yoshida Event Center on the Mt. Hood campus. This year’s theme is “The Sneaker Ball,” so guests are encouraged to wear their favorite sneakers with their formal or business attire.

RHO THETA INFORMATION MEETING

Rho Theta, the local chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society for students, will host an information session in the ASG council chambers at the rear of the Mt. Hood Student Union. Rho Theta officers will be there noon to 1 p.m. to answer any questions people have regarding the honors program and the benefits of joining.

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

Cassie Wilson the advocate

Collin Kazu Lewis was elected and will be Associated Student Government (ASG) president for 2019-20, it was announced on Thursday, April 25.

Lewis edged out Kenneth Mendoza, 529 votes to 445 votes – roughly a 54-46% split, among 974 votes cast by

MHCC students on Tuesday-Wednesday.

Chelsea Allison, who was unopposed, collected 592 votes and will serve as vice president.

The two winners thanked those who voted and pledged that they will be a voice and open resource to students next academic year, and look forward to working together.

GLOBAL BREAKFAST

MHCC SOFTBALL VS. CLACKAMAS CC

The Saints will go against the rival Clackamas Cougars on their home Oslund Field in Gresham on Saturday, May 4. The doubleheader games will start at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The 5th Annual Global Breakfast was held on Wednesday, April 24, in the Vista Dining Hall. Attendees enjoyed food from around the globe and live musical performances. College President Lisa Skari spoke briefly, thanking all those who contribute to the diversity to the Mt. Hood campus, recognizing the challenges students face and ensuring the college’s commitment to provide a brighter future and stronger community while supporting students to achieve their dreams. Elizabeth Perry (of Transitions/Transiciones) translated Skari’s speech in Spanish for attendees.

Photo provided by Mt. Hood Community College

Cover by: Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE

On the cover: Cosmetology students Brianna Pond and Keely Fetters showing off styling and makeup done by Pond.

Writer

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.

Ben Anctil is a third-year student, pursuing an associate transfer degree since junior year of high school. He hopes to be a youth counselor one day either in his church family or in his old high school community of Parkrose. He enjoys mentoring youth, watching movies, and going on dates with his high school sweetheart (and 2018 Portland Rose Festival Queen), Kiara Johnson. He plans to take a gap year to work after finishing his associate’s this summer.

PA G E 3

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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

COSMETOLOGY: A HIGHLIGHT OF MHCC Chloe Collins the advocate

Have you ever been served by cosmetology department students at Mt. Hood?

Many students have no idea that the cosmetology department actually brings business to Mt. Hood each year by running the MHCC salon. The Gresham campus salon offers more than 50 services, including nails, aesthetics, and hair. Customers can receive anything from a basic haircut to a toe wax – not to mention, Mt. Hood students receive a 10 percent discount.

Image Makers club President Brianna Pond said she believes many people think the salon is just for cosmetology students practicing on one another. Instead, program participants are responsible for arranging appointments, running the reception desk, performing the services, and maintaining a clean work space.

Instructors check all the work being done by the students while they perform services.

Pond also believes that cosmetology, as a career path, is viewed in an unflattering light.

Based on comments people have made to her, she said, “People think we’re settling for this career because we aren’t smart enough to do anything else.”

This couldn’t be farther from the truth for most cosmetology students, who enter a twoyear path of training for a career.

In order to graduate, each student must work 2,140 hours at the campus salon. This means students have to clock in for roughly 30 hours a week, for two academic years, to meet the requirement. This adds some financial burden to students in the program: Because they have to be on campus for 30 or more hours per week, some students in the program find it difficult to

PA G E 4

maintain a paying, part-time job.

They do not get paid hourly for work performed in the MHCC salon, but they do get to keep the tips they receive.

The education itself is far deeper than “playing” with hair, too. As part of their training, the students in the program also learn chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. These aspects are important because as aestheticians and hairdressers, they will be altering physical appearances during their careers. Running the reception desk helps the students develop their customer service skills, also, something sure to be important in creating good client connections in the future.

In spite of the workload, the cosmetology program is not all work and no play.

The program even formed a club (Image Makers) open to cosmetology students interested in exploring shows, events, and conferences outside of school. The goal of the club is to help new graduates know what to expect in their career.

For the last four years, the club has represented MHCC at a significant cosmetology conference in Long Beach, California. While it was denied college funding for the cost to attend this year, Pond said she hopes the group will attend again next year. The event offers a good opportunity for students to network and take seminar classes not offered at Mt. Hood, she noted.

If you’re interested in supporting Mt. Hood’s cosmetology students in their training, all basic salon prices are listed on MHCC’s website: mhcc. edu/CosmetologyClientsService/ RIGHT: Second-year cosmetology student Brianna Pond.

BELOW: Pond putting makeup on first-year student Keely Fetters.

Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

“

THE EDUCATION ITSELF IS FAR DEEPER THAN “PLAYING” WITH HAIR.”

NEWS

APRIL 26, 2019

BUDGET APPROVAL, AWARDS, UPDATES Cassie Wilson the advocate

On April 17, the MHCC District Board – acting as the college’s formal budget committee – approved the proposed operating 2019-20 budget for Mt. Hood.

In the following regular session, one board member received their associate’s degree; the MHCC Head Start program provided updates and training to the board; and board members gave updates on their recent work.

BUDGET COMMITTEE Jim Zordich, budget committee chair, moved to adopt the MHCC operating budget, totaling $165.5 million, including the general fund budget in the amount of $77.9 million, and all other budgets in the amount of $87.6 million.

The motion was adopted with only brief discussion. Mt. Hood President Lisa Skari said there were no updates on state funding (which could affect the budget cycle), and budget director Jennifer DeMent said an administrative budget team is working to fill the college’s funding deficit. The board approved the budget unanimously.

The budget committee then approved the 2019-20 MHCC District property tax levy, which must go through an additional public hearing process over the next 60 days.

BOARD MEETING John Hamblin, executive dean of student development, entered the board room carrying a cap and gown. He pretended to start prepping the board for commencement protocols in June, and had board member Annette Mattson model the cap and gown.

But then, he began explaining the idea of reverse transfer for students.

The Reverse Transfer program allows students who have transferred to a fouryear university, to apply for graduation to

receive their associate’s degree once they’ve completed all required credits, even if those credits to fulfill the two-year degree requirement were finished at a university.

It turns out that Mattson, a former MHCC student, had applied for her degree through the reverse transfer program. And so she received her diploma at the meeting. Mattson said when she was a student, she was just focused on finishing her education, but in retrospect one of her biggest regrets was not formally graduating at MHCC. Zordich got to do one of his favorite things: hand out an MHCC alumni pin, this time to Mattson (he can always be found with them in his shirt pocket to pass out). Mt. Hood’s mascot Barney arrived to celebrate the occasion and pose for photos with her.

(To learn more about the reverse transfer program, visit mhcc.edu/ReverseTransfer.)

Skari then recognized this year’s outstanding MHCC support staff award recipients.

Angelique Kauffman, career pathways career coach with WorkSource Portland Metro; Kelly Gernhart, administrative coordinator with the Performing Arts department; and Graham Phillips, adviser in the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, were each recognized and honored with a $500 stipend from the MHCC Foundation.

The board then received a briefing from Head Start representatives. They reviewed funding rules, how many families the campus branch serves, and explained the board’s oversight role. Minutes later, the board approved the ratified 2019-20 Head Start contract.

In closing reports, Mattson said she emailed the district’s legislative representatives in Salem to advocate for more community college funding. She also complimented the Foundation’s recent alumni fundraiser at the

The MHCC Performing Arts Department presents

A classic drama by Arthur Miller

Photo provided by Mt. Hood Community College

Board member Annette Mattson receiving her MHCC degree at the April 17 board meeting.

Mt. Hood Planetarium.

Zordich congratulated Heather White, library technical services coordinator for MHCC, being accepted to the Open Textbook Network’s inaugural cohort for formal certification in OER librarianship.

Bob Hansen, ASG president, highlighted upcoming events and announced that there’s going to be an end of the school year celebration on May 30 called Barney’s Bash. It is scheduled to be a daylong event, including a movie showing and a dance to end the night.

Kim Sharer, classified employee union head, said there will be a new online course catalog for the 2019-20 academic year by the end of April. It was presented as easy to use, always correct, and saving 150 hours of work per year on mass publication of a print version.

Skari shared her continued efforts to advocate for more community college

WITCH HUNT COMES TO MHCC THEATRE Chris Barney the advocate

May 10,11,17,18 At 7:30pm

May 12,19 At 2pm

Advanced Tickets All tickets - $6

Tickets at the door

Student/Senior/Staff - $8 General - $10

MHCC College Theater Tickets and information at MHCC.edu/theaterboxoffice 503.491.7154

Produced with special arrangement from Dramatists Play Service, Inc. MHCC Student Union Poster Approval Pull Date May 20th Checked By

Students requiring accommodations should contact Accessible Education Services at (503) 491-6923 or aes@mhcc.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.

funding from the state. She also said she attended the ASG presentations for the 201920 president and vice president positions, and was very impressed and proud.

Near the close of the meeting, board member Tamie Arnold suggested the board look further at the potential of adopting OER resources at Mt. Hood, after seeing other colleges work towards becoming 100% OER schools. Skari said administrators can work to come up with a comprehensive discussion to address the proposal.

The board’s May work session is May 1 at 6 p.m. and its regular meeting is May 15 at 6:30 p.m., both set for the MHCC board room.

District board elections for the upcoming 2019-23 terms are May 21. Zone 3, Zone 5, and both at-large positions in the district are to be voted on by the public.

The act of piecing together any stage play is a challenge. The MHCC Theatre Department is once again taking on that challenge with its spring production of “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller.

The play is described by Mt. Hood Theatre Director Mace Archer, as “complicated, [with] so many layers.”

Based on the 1950s period in U.S. history shaped by “McCarthyism” – the hunt for alleged communists/sympathizers by U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy – The Crucible is about the “witch hunt” in a 1600s Puritan community in New England and the mass hysteria that ensued thereafter.

It was selected as the spring production, Archer said, because we are “once again in a time in America where we’re victimizing certain groups be it immigrants... etc.” He said the play connects to current political issues because “over the past two years (President Trump) has been using the word “witch hunt” all the time, so I thought it would be a good time to do a play about what an actual witch hunt looks like.”

The show’s cast is led by veterans of MHCC theatre, including Wyatt Fisher as John Proctor, Cathryn Kellett as Elizabeth Proctor, and Sable Van Meter as Abigail Williams.

Rehearsals began on the 1st of April, also known as April Fools’ Day (and the first day of Spring Term). When the

coincidence was mentioned to Archer, he replied, “That’s very funny. I wish this play was a joke.

“I wish this witch hunting we seem to continually do as a society… I wish it were a joke,” he said.

The Crucible is intense but deeply important in this time of political turmoil.

The play will be performed in the Studio Theatre because it’s more intimate. Archer said he wants the audience to get to feel like a part of it.

Performances will be on May 1012, and May 17-19. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays, at 2 p.m.

PA G E 5

NEWS

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

HELPING STUDENTS REACH THEIR DREAMS Corwin Benedict the advocate

Last week, the Advocate caught up with Graham Phillips, one of three winners of Outstanding Support Staff recognition at MHCC announced this month.

Working in the Academic Advising and Transfer Center (AATC) at Mt. Hood, Phillips is an adviser who has helped many students find the right path within this convoluted secondary education system.

But he’s also had quite an interesting life outside of his time at MHCC. Phillips was born and raised in Kansas, where he dreamed about someday being a stunt double in the movies. He reminisced about how he “would jump out of trees, create ramps and jump over creeks and things like that,” he said, ending with a number of broken bones.

He also wanted to be a forest ranger – a dream that was later fulfilled when he moved to Alaska.

He worked with a nonprofit youth corps, where he would live and camp with others in the woods anywhere from 60 to 90 days.

“Kansas is a pretty flat place, and Alaska is pretty wild, wooded and mountainous. So it was quite a transition,” he said.

Alaska was where Phillips met one of his biggest influences, an adviser who coached him out of a time where he had made many poor choices, he said. One lesson sticks with him to this day: “(The adviser) recognized that he couldn’t help others, unless he was helping himself first... He was very conscious about being very supportive of himself… so that he could be the best at what he did,” he said.

“I think he is part of the reason why I am an adviser now, because his role in advising me was that strong.”

Phillips moved south to Portland in 2003. At the time, he had no bachelor’s degree and doubted his ability to go through

with college. Luckily, while living in Alaska, he had met many people with good things to say about their college experience, planting the seed of “Maybe I do want to go back and get my education,” he said.

Unable to find comparable work in Portland without a degree, he decided to go back to school, initially pursuing nursing because “I was attracted by the occupation of helping people,” he said. He then discovered that he could help people best by changing his major to education.

Once he earned his bachelor’s, Phillips found a job at Portland Community College. When that opportunity didn’t work out, he found that Mt. Hood had a similar program, and was able to transfer over.

This eventually led to his work as academic adviser. He has now been working at Mt Hood for 11 years.

“It’s been a really enjoyable process,” he explained, “I’ve met some wonderful people and have

Photo provided by Mt. Hood Community College

Academic adviser Graham Phillips.

really appreciated seeing the college go through the transitions it has.”

Phillips said he sees himself accomplishing something each time his students advance.

“I try to help everyone to the best of my ability every day… and I may only meet with one person, one time, in their life,” he said. “What I need to do is bring myself 100% to that appointment, so that whatever

they need at that moment, I can provide to the best of my ability.

“That is what brings meaning to my day.”

Phillips wants to encourage Mt. Hood students to get the most of their opportunity here, by seeking available help when needed.

“Come in and see an adviser, whether it is here (the AATC) or a faculty adviser. Come in and make sure that you’re checking in with somebody,” he said.

“An education is an expensive process, we want to make sure that students aren’t throwing their money away. If coming in and talking to somebody about what your plans are will help, we want you to know that that’s an option.”

The other two Support Staff employees recognized for their work are Angelique Kauffman, career pathways career coach with WorkSource Portland Metro, and Kelly Gernhart, administrative coordinator with the performing arts department.

STUDYING TRAUMA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS Cassie Wilson the advocate

MHCC counselor and instructor Eden Isenstein will be headed on sabbatical next year to better understand how trauma affects the brain, to better support Mt. Hood students in their healing journeys.

Isenstein has worked at MHCC for seven years. The seven-year mark is when faculty members become eligible to apply for sabbatical. Seeing it as a unique and awesome opportunity that not many jobs allow, Isenstein is eager to learn more to have more tools to support students, she said.

Teaching primarily within the Transitions program on campus, which provides support to students who have faced barriers in accessing education, Isenstein works with many students who also are parents. Along with learning about interpersonal neurobiology and neuroplasticity, she will be going through a practitioner’s training program through Hand in

PA G E 6

Hand Parenting to support parents in healing from their trauma, to prevent passing it down to their children.

Isenstein was born and raised on the East Coast. She started college right out of high school, but then took a year off to travel, which led to 10 years off. By the end, she and her husband moved to Portland for a change of scenery.

“I didn’t go back to school right away because I just didn’t know what I was wanting to study and it felt funky,” said Isenstein. “I think working lots of jobs and getting to a point where I was really limited in the work I could do made me realize that I kind of needed to go back to school if I wanted more career opportunities.”

Her mother was a therapist in private practice, and she knew that wouldn’t be her path, she said. But she also knew that she liked people, helping others, and was interested in the general idea of counseling.

She got her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and master’s in counseling from Portland State

Photo by Bethy Lynn / the Advocate

MHCC counselor Eden Isenstein, going on sabbatical during Fall and Winter terms.

University.

Isenstein said, “I think there’s sort of this mythology of everyone kind of magically knowing their passion... that just wasn’t me. I

had things I was interested in, but I didn’t know how those translated into a career.”

After toying with the idea of being a middle school counselor,

she stumbled upon community college counseling and found her perfect fit. Ease of access to counseling is important to her, as well as feeling part of a community and having some variety in the job. She currently teaches human development classes for the Transitions program, advises undecided and exploratory students, provides mental health and crisis counseling, and has also taught women’s studies online.

Isenstein said the most rewarding part of her job is getting to see those students she meets in classes, counseling, and Transitions successfully graduate.

“I also really just appreciate the community at Mt. Hood – some of that being my relationships with students, and then also I just have great colleagues and I just really like a lot of the people that I work with,” she said.

Isenstein will be on sabbatical during Fall and Winter terms of the 2019-20 academic year.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 26, 2019

SUSPENSE BUILDS FOR GAME OF THRONES FINALE 4 out of 5 stars

Kurt Larson the advocate

“Game of Thrones” Season 8 is finally here!

After nearly two years of waiting, the finale season to the current biggest show in television has finally arrived, and with it, the accumulated expectations and criticisms of fanboys the world over.

So does it live up the hype?

Well, judging by the season premiere, it’s still difficult to say whether the series wrap will be any good, but things are looking up.

Directed by David Nutter, this first episode continues the frantic pace of the previous season, condensing time to cram in as much crucial plot as possible before the inevitable final battle between Jon Snow and the Night King.

Nearly a decade after the show’s initial airing, all of the disparate plots and disconnected characters that have appeared throughout the series are finally coming together this episode, as Daenerys and Jon arrive at Winterfell to prepare for

Web photo

the coming war.

It seems nearly every fanfavorite character still relevant to the story has finally met and all of the major plot lines from last season are swiftly moving forward, taking new and interesting turns that will deeply affect the outcome of the last episode.

But as some observers pointed

out last season, this lightningquick pace, while satisfying to an extent, may prove to be somewhat detrimental. So much plot has been rendered, and yet so much is left to be told.

While HBO assured followers that Season 8 would have longer episodes to make up for its overall shorter length (at least in

comparison to previous seasons), the first two episodes are still only 50 minutes long, with the final four being around an hour-and-a-half to two hours in run time.

This season premiere was quite satisfying, paying off on a lot of long-awaited character interactions and plot reveals. But the current pace has taken a toll on the quality

of storytelling, forcing the writers to cram in important arcs and tie up loose ends without providing enough time to communicate all of the intricacies required of the story they’re telling.

It just doesn’t seem like there’s enough time to tell all that needs to happen before the last episode airs.

Previous seasons were heralded for being more of a witty, dialogueheavy political drama than a tale of swords and sorcery. In recent years, however, Game of Thrones has been criticized for losing its spark and falling into the typical fantasy tropes.

But Game of Thrones is no typical fantasy story and HBO is no typical TV network. It’s unlikely the series finale will be anything but a total surprise. This first episode brings the intensity up to 11 on the scale, and proves to have some really solid writing despite the rushed pacing. It also leaves on a fantastic cliffhanger.

No matter how this story ends, there remains an undeniable mark of quality throughout every episode that makes this series worth watching till the end.

PA G E 7

SPORTS

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

SAINTS HIT HARD IN DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST LAKERS Megan Phelps the advocate

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Trace Hokkanen, leading the team in RBIs, connects with the ball during a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Saints return to Oslund Field Saturday, April 27, for a doubleheader against the Lane Community College Titans.

On Wednesday, the Saints baseball team took on the Southwestern Oregon Community College Lakers in a doubleheader, winning both games. Stellar moments included stolen bases and two home runs at the start of the second game.

The first game had some close calls, with the Saints ahead at 3-1 by the third inning. The Lakers tied the game 3-3 in the fifth. No one scored in the sixth, but the Saints had a strong seventh, bringing in two more runs and then added one more in the eighth to end the game ahead, 6-3.

In the top of the eighth inning, Lakers pitcher Javier Jauregui was hit in the right leg on a ball off the bat of Saints third baseman Trace Hokkanen, and had to leave the game.

The second game started strong for Mt. Hood with a single from

catcher Ezra Samperi and a home run from right fielder Brian Rice.

Right after, Hokkanen singled and stole second while Dawson Day was at bat. The bases were then loaded after shortstop Adam Stevens singled. The Saints then racked up three more runs by the end of the first inning.

In the second, Day scored another home run for the Saints. And after racking up two more scores in the bottom of the fourth inning, the team went on to bring home a strong win, 16-6.

Through games on Thursday, Mt. Hood is second in the South Division with a 9-3 record, and 19-8 overall for the season.

The Saints will play a doubleheader at Lane Community College in Eugene today (Friday), then return to Oslund Field on Saturday, April 27, for two more games against Lane, set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

THE ADVOCATE NFL MOCK DRAFT 2019 (TOP 13) Naethaniel Lile the advocate

The 2019 NFL draft was held Thursday evening in Nashville, after the Advocate press deadline.

But here is one fan’s look at the needs of several teams drafting early in the first round (who could trade their picks); their 2018 season record and projected 2019 season strength-of-schedule; and discussion of some of the most likely college players for them to select.

TEAMS AND NEEDS: ARIZONA CARDINALS Record: 3-13 (.527 strength of schedule) Biggest needs: OL, WR, TE, DL, CB The biggest needs haven’t really changed here since the end of the season. There’s plenty of work to do on an offensive line that ranked dead last in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus, and whether quarterbacks Kyler Murray (draft pick) or Josh Rosen (currently on roster) are under center next season, the Cardinals’ QB1 will need an improved collection of pass catchers.

San Francisco 49ers Record: 4-12 (.504) Biggest needs: WR, S, CB, DL, OL There’s still a need for a true No. 1 wide rePA G E 8

ceiver in San Francisco, although there are some nice complementary targets in place (and a true WR1 isn’t easy to find, including in this year’s draft). On defense, the secondary would benefit from more young players who can challenge for starting spots, and another pass rusher wouldn’t hurt, even after the addition of former Kansas City defensive end Dee Ford.

New York Jets Record: 4-12 (.506) Biggest needs: Edge, OL, CB, TE, WR Anthony Barr’s last-second change of heart in free agency means the glaring void at edge rusher remains. However, Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan needs to invest in the O-line, too – he must give Sam Darnold a better front five in Year 2. We haven’t even mentioned this club could use a corner or two. It all adds up to the feeling that Maccagnan, who doesn’t hold a second-rounder, needs to trade down from No. 3 overall to acquire more picks.

To continue reading, visit our website at: advocate-online.net