The Advocate, Issue 25 - May 5th, 2017

the

advocate

Volume 51 Issue 25

May 5, 2017

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Forensics team talks growth and gold PAGE 3

Black holes on campus PAGE 6

The spirit of ‘Aus’ PAGE 8

Kehlani concert proves a show of positivity

PAGE 5

Who’s hot, who’s not: your board candidates

PAGE 2

2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION

May 5, 2017

Editorials

Government is trying to neuter net neutrality

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What is Net Neutrality? et neutrality: This is a buzz word we hear lot about in the media, but a lot of people don’t really understand what it means, and even less, why it’s important, and why the advocate thinks that changes the federal government is pushing for can be detrimental for the average person.

According to Webster’s, net neutrality is defined as “the idea, principle, or requirement that internet service providers should or must treat all internet data as the same, regardless of its kind, source, or destination.”

Basically, this means that ISPs such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc. can’t change your internet experience by giving their subsidiaries and the people who pay them preferential treatment online.

This also means they don’t have the ability to speed up downloads for their own services, or throttle speeds for competitors, or charge massive or excessive fees for certain websites or blogs that contain downloadable content.

What the rules are now?

Right now, we have laws in place that say the internet companies can’t change the internet before you get it.

If that were to change? For example, if you search for the newest movies coming out, and you have Comcast for your internet, Comcast could put all the movies made by Universal Studios (which they own) to pop up, front-and-center, on anything you search.

Or, they could just sell that slot to the highest bidder, so no longer would you be getting the closest, most intuitive information brought to you by an algorithm that gives you information based on your past searches and other data-based information. Instead, you would just get whatever advertising or company information your ISP wants to show you.

What the Government wants to change Right now, Washington D.C. lawmakers, including the Senate and the current president, are trying to remove many, if not all, of the current net neutrality laws. These proponents

say that the businesses in question – Comcast, Verizon, AT&T – should be allowed to do what they want because it’s their service.

But there is not much mention of the fact these companies have a nearmonopoly on internet service, and the average consumer won’t have the ability to just choose another company that doesn’t clog their internet with ads, or give certain companies online priority.

Change #1 If these laws are revoked, the internet can, and will, turn from the melting pot of freedom and ideas that it is, into pages upon pages of advertising and marketing that you are forced to look at.

Do you know how annoying it is to get an app on your phone that has way too many ads? We are looking at that, except instead of an ad on candy crush, we would be looking at ads on every piece of internet that comes our way.

Change #2 Another part of these proposed changes would mean that the internet companies can charge streaming services, such as Netflix, YouTube

or Spotify, for users downloading information.

Which, in turn, will lead to Netflix raising its prices, and YouTube and Spotify no longer being available for free, because they will have to be paying out-of-pocket in order for you to see that random kitten video.

Some people might say, “So what?

I’ll pay a little more for my Netflix; I don’t have TV anymore.” Well, a lot of people switched to Netflix because it was a cheaper option to get their entertainment and if these laws are repealed the big fees and charges that these companies charge companies like YouTube and Netflix, like any other charge is going to make its way onto the bill of the consumer, making those cheaper services not so cheap.

Change #3 From time to time you hear something about this on the news, or on a random website, but it doesn’t get nearly the attention that it deserves: This policy reversal is tantamount to an attack on freedom of speech, and most people don’t even understand the term.

This can lead to the ISPs pulling shenanigans against certain competitors and small businesses. If net neutrality laws are pulled, Verizon could bury search results for cell phone competitors at the bottom. And I highly doubt that AT&T is going to let a new digital media business made by an up-and-coming college duo claim the top spot, as long as they own a few of their own digital media companies.

Closing We at the Advocate say people need to stand up against these changes the government is trying to make, before the only voice we have is drowned out in a sea of advertising.

This is a big deal, ladies and gentleman – most of us don’t want to see the internet turned into a giant commercial, and that’s what’s happening.

Call your state legislators, and U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and make sure they are fighting for keeping net neutrality. Make sure we aren’t choked to death by the ads of corporations, because we don’t have another option!

The Advocate backs choices in board elections

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Annette Mattson: his one was easy.

Sonny Yellott’s continued dedication to obstruction of progress, his difficult disposition, and a history of board conflict due to racist online behavior pretty much ensured this endorsement.

We at the Advocate are hoping to fill this slot with someone able to streamline changes rather than add more obstacles. That being said, we hope Mattson brings the three

Rs of her campaign – restoration, resources and respect – to the Mt. Hood District board.

Jim Zordich: After lengthy and careful deliberation, the Advocate staff chooses to endorse Jim Zordich to keep his board position. He’s a good guy. He’s also running unopposed.

Jack Kondrasuk: This one was, by far, the hardest of the three to decide. On the one hand, Dianne McKeel’s credentials are impeccable: two-term

Multnomah County commissioner, and former executive director of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce, to boot. Kondrasuk, by contrast, has little experience serving directly on a board. He also seems a little unsure in comparison with McKeel’s savvy.

It is this exact quality, however, that ultimately swayed our vote to Kondrasuk. McKeel just feels a little fishy. Her husband, a Gresham real estate developer, reportedly pressured some Multnomah

County officials on land deals over which she held some sway, and another family conflict of interest over a health outreach program raised ethics questions (for details, see our Page 4 story).

McKeel is a fine candidate, but we have seen some things happen in the past that haven’t yet been explained to our satisfaction and that make us hesitant to give our seal of approval.

Kondrasuk doesn’t seem like he’s ever read a college budget, by

contrast. To us, that’s okay. He doesn’t seem to be in it for any other reason than because he thinks that colleges play a really important role in society, and wants to do whatever he can to further that mission. We’ve got some excellent faculty who can bring him up to speed on budgeting.

In short, we’re endorsing Kondrasuk because savvy, we’ve got – it’s heart that we need.

the advocate Editor-in-Chief Gloria Saepharn

Sports Editor Open Position

Associate Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor Matana McIntire Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Megan Phelps

Assistant Sports Editor Logan Hertner

News Editor Kyle Venooker Assistant News Editor Greg Leonov Opinion Editor Donovan Sargent

Graphic Design Team Prisma Flores Seneca Maxwell Photo Editor Open Position Assistant Photo Editor Davyn Owen Photo Team Alex Crull Fadi Shahin Jessica Mitchell

Porcha Hesselgesser Video Team Elizabeth Nguyen Ad Team Yen Le Web Editor Dusty Sargent

Glenn Dyer Maegan Willhite Ryan Moore Noah Guillen Sebastien Oaks Tyson Gaylor Contact us!

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net

Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst

Twitter: @MHCCAdvocate Facebook: facebook.com/TheAdvocateOnline Instagram: @MHCCAdvocate #MHCCAdvocate

Staff Writers Jamie George Brody Mathews Maddy Sanstrum

Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030 Room AC1369

Cover Design By Prisma Flores 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.

NEWS

advocate-online.net

Henderson, Garcia take gold as Forensics sends it Noah Guillen the advocate

With the end of the trip to Washington, D.C. and with a threehour time difference, jet lag was imminent.

“We decided we would stay up all night,” said Sara Cass, a debater with MHCC – especially given the flight departure was scheduled for 3 a.m.

“Obviously not all of us made it,” said Cass. “The competition was awesome, but that night was my favorite part of the trip,” she said about a send-off dance organized by Phi Rho Pi. Phi Rho Pi is a large championship tournament for community college debate teams. This year, it was held in Northern Virginia, just outside the nation’s capital, over a week of competition and activities ending April 15 – and Mt. Hood returned with a national championship for two team members, plus some other medals.

The forensics competition at the college level can be split into two specific categories: IPDA and NPDA.

Photo provided by Shannon Valdivia

LEFT to RIGHT: Danner Marshall, Shannon Valdivia (MHCC forensics coach), Sara Cass, Kevin Henderson, and Tyler Garcia.

IPDA (International Public Debate Association) focuses on prepared speeches which can be delivered by individuals to persuade or inform the judges and audience of specific concepts or ideas.

NPDA (National Parliamentary Debate Association) is more along the lines of what comes to mind

when considering “debate” – a backand-forth organized sharing of ideas, essentially a direct competition.

“Phi Rho Pi is normally a dog fight,” said Shannon Valdivia, or “Shark” as her team knows her.

She has been the MHCC’s debate coach for the last 19 years, the second longest tenured director

Newly formed Mechatronics program accepting applications Greg Leonov the advocate

Starting this fall, Mt. Hood will offer an associate degree program for Mechatronics to students who apply and get accepted.

Looking to cutting-edge technology, the program would train individuals to maintain and care for automated systems and the machinery involved in those systems.

The main class will be located in Room 1658, but will move to the new Applied Technology building if Mt. Hood’s upcoming bond measure passes.

When starting, students will learn the basics of electricity. “The program really starts with a basic fundamental knowledge of AC/DC circuits, so electrical circuits and mechanical drive systems,” said Andy Dryden, transfer adviser and instructor of engineering at MHCC. “Then, building on each of these, we look at things like pneumatics and hydraulics, so that’s air-powered tools, and hydraulically powered tools and systems.”

Students will learn the workings of motor drives and conveyor systems. Then, during the last few terms, “students will learn about programmable logic controllers, which is essentially an industrial computer that interfaces with motor drives and sensing systems and things like that on a factory manufacturing line,”

said Dryden.

To get accepted into the program, students have to place into Math 60 and be able to read and write at a college level.

Currently, the college has a few robotic arms that are used in manufacturing settings.

Planning for the MHCC program started a few years ago.

“The college president and administration went out to industry and said, ‘How can we serve you better?’ said Dryden. “And a lot of area manufacturers said, ‘Hey, we really need people that can maintain and troubleshoot our manufacturing facilities.’ ” In setting up the program, Mt. Hood officials worked with local businesses to set up an advisory committee, according to Dryden.

Businesses on the committee are: Microchip, ON Semiconductor, Leatherman Tool Group, Teeny Foods, GrovTec, and Boeing.

“It’s interesting, because each of those are a separate industry – like, Boeing is airplanes, Teeny Foods is a commercial baker, and Leatherman makes small multi-tools, so (they’re) pretty diverse in what they’re actually manufacturing,” said Dryden.

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

in Mt. Hood’s history. “The best community colleges come to (compete), and sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it doesn’t,” she said.

Often debaters will focus on a specific style or subcategory within either of the two styles.

Student Danner Marshall thrives

predominantly on a variation of IPDA known as Interpretation of Literature, where competitors take portions of literature and poetry and compose a theme to convey a core idea that binds the selected pieces.

“Shark wants us to do something else to expand and break outside of your norms. So, poetry was my main focus all year,” he said.

Marshall was alongside Kevin Henderson, who also made it to the silver round of IPDA, and Tyler Garcia who took a bronze award.

In NPDA, MHCC dominated.

Henderson and Garcia took gold, making them national champions.

“When we saw our match up for the bronze round, we were debating a good team from a school that has traditionally done NPDA and has been really successful at it… we ended up winning,” said Garcia.

The moment was especially surreal for Marshall, who recalls feeling insecure when first rejoining the debate team last year.

“I had a really big self-esteem To view the full and confidence issue at the end of unabridged story, visit: the year,” he said. “It was a full 180, advocate-online.net examining myself where I was and

Registration for Fall and Summer term is now open to all students Tyson Gaylor the advocate

Have you seen those huge posters all around campus talking about Summer and Fall term enrollment?

Well, there is a very good reason. Starting on April 20, priority enrollment has begun for Summer Term. Enrollment opens on different dates for different students, depending on how many credits the students will have under their belt at the start of the new term. Students with 75 or more MHCC credits became eligible to register on the 20th while registration for students who are new to MHCC or are transferring from another school opened on April 27.

As for Fall Term: Enrollment opened up in quick succession, with registration for students with 75-plus credits eligible to register on April 27 and new students eligible as of today – May 4.

As you prepare to register for a new term, you might be tempted to tackle the task yourself, but Graham Phillips, a general academic adviser at MHCC, would have it another way.

Phillips said, “Let your advisers advise you, because when your friends and family are doing it they are doing it from their perspective and

a family member may have come through this process or a friend may have come through this process but it was different for them.

“Times are different, classes are different, requirements are different, and so a lot of that misinformation happens from peer to peer,” he said. If a student is looking for clear and accurate information, there is no better place to look than straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Phillips said advisers can be especially valuable. “When students come in... we can kind of be their bumpers and they can go this way and explore something and come back this way and explore something, and as long as they don’t go outside of certain boundaries they are going to keep moving towards their ultimate goal and I think that that’s a large role that we play,” he said.

One important thing to know, is where you go for help depends on exactly what you are studying. Students classified as general studies majors, one of the largest groups on campus, should visit the advising office.

To view the full unabridged story, visit: advocate-online.net PA G E 3

NEWS

May 5, 2017

Head-to-head for Zone 1 seat

Former UP educator hopes to give back to colleges Kyle Venooker the advocate

One of two candidates for the MHCC District board Zone 1 position – to replace outgoing Chair Susie Jones – is Jack Kondrasuk.

A former educator at University of Portland and Portland Community College, Kondrasuk is running for the board because he said he “want(s) to make a difference, and make this a better world. Most of my life has been in education.”

What has he enjoyed most about teaching?

Kondrasuk explained how he saw the job: “The students were coming from a lot of different areas and I thought it was important to try to help them understand psychology. I think it’s helpful to people regardless of what they go into, whether it’s being a

Jack Kondrasuk

Photo by Kyle Venooker

technician or a Ph.D. or all kinds of other things, so helping them was important to me.”

Kondrasuk worked at UP in varying positions for 38 years, where he taught students transferring from Mt Hood. He said that community colleges, specifically Mt. Hood, deal with “a huge spread of activities. You’re

dealing with people in technical roles... and society needs that.

At the other end, you’re helping people get pre-university courses so they can go on to get bachelor’s (degrees). There’s a huge difference in there.”

He said the board must reflect the college itself. “It’s got authority to do things. But without the faculty and without the students, it’s nothing... it needs to know what the faculty can provide and what they think they should provide for society, and it needs to know what the students want,” he said.

“The people in the (college sub-) districts, what do they want? What do they want for education? What do they want to learn more about?

This is a learning institution; what can it provide?” he said.

Kondrasuk was quick to identify MHCC’s primary challenges. “The

bond measure. That’s one,” he said.

“But whether it passes or not, you want to stay in existence and you want to provide the best you can.

Hopefully it will fly and we get the money. And money is needed, to upkeep things and to change (as) our society changes, our world changes.

“I don’t have as long a future as you do,” he joked. “You’ve got a lot to look forward to and a lot of changes. So how do you stay up on those changes, so you can be the best person you can be, and can contribute the most you can to this world, and can be happy?”

Kondrasuk discussed the uncertainty that undocumented MHCC students may be feeling.

“I don’t know how to reassure them. I’d like to help them,” he said. “Reassuring them that they would not have a knock on the

door at 10 o’clock at night from an ICE agent… I don’t know how to (reassure students in the face of) that...

“Training, understanding, short courses in what they’re up against and what their alternatives are would he helpful because that’s a real need for those people,” he said.

“I don’t have all the answers for all that... but I don’t think you should prejudge countries based on some of the things we’re reading in the news; there’s a lot of good people (out there).”

The main things that Kondrasuk would like to bring to the board are availability and accessibility, he said.

“I think it’s more than just making decisions about other people. The board needs to understand what the students want, and what the constituents for this area want. It’s their money.”

Former county commissioner brings experience Kyle Venooker the advocate

Diane McKeel, a former two-term Multnomah County commissioner, is running for Mt. Hood’s District board.

An Oregon native, McKeel says she is running for the board because she believes in education: “I think community colleges have a very important place within the education spectrum, and I think…

(Mt Hood) is a gem out here in East County. We’re very lucky.”

Prior to her work as a county commissioner, she served as the executive director of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce for a decade, where she “worked closely with the county on some of the issues that the county is responsible for.”

Concerns regarding Mt. Hood Regarding her Mt. Hood board campaign and challenges the school is likely to face in the next four years, McKeel replied that it is “like the county – stable funding is always a challenge. That’s some place we really need to work with our state legislature on, and make sure that we have that funding for PA G E 4

the community college. I think the other challenge is the aging (campus) infrastructure.” She said she is “so hopeful” Mt. Hood’s proposed $75 million general obligation bond also passes on May 16. “(A)s you know a bond hasn’t passed since 1974, and there are significant upgrades that need to be made to the buildings in the area of security and seismic issues,” she said.

While hoping for the best, McKeel says in a worst-case scenario there are other options: “I think we have to look at partnerships, as well.

I believe strongly in that, I saw the partnerships we had at the county” that included businesses, she said.

“It could be partnerships, it could be grants, as well.”

With budget pressures comes the chance of MHCC staff/faculty layoffs in coming years. McKeel said she would focus on searching for alternative revenue sources “first and foremost... keeping always in mind the mission of the college and the priorities and the students.

There’s outstanding faculty and staff that work here (and) certainly we’d want to keep them.”

McKeel said she considers herself “committed to (MHCC)

being a sanctuary institution,” pointing to her previous track record. “At the county we (voted on sanctuary status) and it was a unanimous vote by our board.

We’ve always been inclusive. “(Mt Hood) has a policy that they put out about being inclusive and I certainly support that and would support that point of view so hopefully the students feel very supported here,” she said.

Family influence questioned McKeel said one of the main reasons she got into politics at the county level is because “East County has the largest inventory of developable land that exists in Multnomah County, and to me that meant a lot of opportunity for our county, and for the people that live out here in East County.

It was important to me that we were really deliberate about how we develop(ed) these lands and make sure (we got) those really good paying jobs for our people out here.”

Land development issues have brought her some criticism, connected to her husband, Mike.

He is a developer who recently closed on a “$3.27 million deal,”

Photo by Fadi Shahin

Diane McKeel purchasing an entire block of downtown Gresham, according to the Gresham Outlook newspaper (http://p or tlandtribune.com/ go/42-news/354765-234077changes-coming-to-downtowngresham) and is “negotiating with four Portland breweries who are interested in expanding into the area.”

While she served on the Multnomah County board, he reportedly pressured county land use officials in a manner that raised ethics concerns, according to the Willamette Week newspaper (http://www.wweek.com/portland/ article-23888-fired-up.html).

That’s not the only controversy

regarding the level of involvement of McKeel’s family in her government work.

In 2015, the Oregonian newspaper wrote several articles decrying her push as thencommissioner for an HIV outreach and education campaign. The campaign’s price tag totaled $200,000, and advocated, among other things, using PrEP, a medication that “lowers the chances of getting infected” with HIV, according to the CDC. Her son, Ryan, was employed by Gilead, the sole manufacturer of PrEP (labeled as Truvada). After the Oregonian ran these articles, she recused herself from further deliberations on the matter.

“In a nutshell... ...I do believe in the college,” McKeel said. “I have seen the really good work that the college does, and I’ve seen how the community supports our college. The best thing about the college is the people that are here: That’s the strength of your institution. I’m excited for the opportunity, and I’m committed to helping support the mission of the college, the students and the community.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

advocate-online.net

Kehlani headlines at the Crystal Ballroom “Can we take that out of this concert and promise to move forward only with love?”

- Kehlani

With her came youth ingenuity and dope music Matana McIntire the advocate

Kehlani, an Oakland-raised, L.A.-based singer and songwriter, set camp in Portland on Tuesday night to perform a leg of her SweetSexySavage world tour at the Crystal Ballroom.

Headlining the event, she was accompanied by London-based R&B artist Ella Mai, and singer/ rapper JAHkoy, as well as her longtime DJ, Noodles.

Definitely, a huge sense of community hung in the atmosphere at the Crystal Ballroom.

Camaraderie was established for half of the audience who stood in line for upwards of three hours in the cold, drizzling rain. They wrapped around the Ballroom block nearly to where the line started. My friend and I stood in line with a group of middle schoolage super fans who traded favorite songs, hopes, and excitement for the upcoming show with us. We too were excited for Kehlani, but we had huge heart-eyes for the opening artists, as well. When the doors opened, we ran up the three flights of stairs to the ballroom.

I loaded us up with two G&T’s immediately while my friend held our spot at the front of the over21 section. We seemed to buzz with excitement, screamed with the rest of the crowd at every hint of someone coming on stage.

First on was a young artist of just 16 I did not know of, nor have been able to find about online since the show. With my arguably poor hearing, I gathered that his name was ’Tine, I think short for Martine, though don’t quote me on that. And he was good – enlivening, passionate, able to pull a response from the crowd. Certainly more accomplished than I was at 16 years. And when JAHkoy followed him, even Ella Mai after that, both made sure to take a moment and

Graphic by Prisma Flores

Photos by Matana McIntire

LEFT, TOP: Cover graphic of Kehlani, inspired by the cover art for her latest album, SweetSexySavage. LEFT, MIDDLE and RIGHT: Kehlani on stage at the Crystal Ballroom, as she stood to sing a ballad (left); Kehlani mid-dance as she performed.

BOTTOM: The crowd of fans in general admission hold their hands up to cheer for Kehlani, their phones up for photos.

invoke applause for the younger artist.

I think that’s what stood out to me most: Each person on stage was hands-down positive, talented, and head-to-toe gracious. Kehlani herself being a 22-year-old, it was clear that this was a show of youth power and ingenuity.

Musically, the show was heaven, in sound and style. My only disappointment is that we didn’t get to hear more of JAHkoy and Mai – though, this may have been the tradeoff necessary for the blissful, nearly two hours of Kehlani that were served up.

As mentioned above,

the concert was really about community. I think, generally, this is an ideal close to Kehlani’s heart: “I’m talking about how you act towards each other,” the headliner said to the audience in a pause between songs. “In person, online, at the workplace. Maybe it’s at the grocery store, maybe you’re just

looking at somebody – don’t look at nobody crazy for no reason, it ain’t worth it.

“So, can we take that out of this concert and promise to move forward only with love?” she asked, the response being rolling cheers from the crowd. “Good to know,” she concluded, then launched into a performance of her song “Undercover.”

These themes cropped up more and more throughout Kehlani’s heart-to-hearts with the audience.

Not too far out of left field, as much of her music is centered around love, self-worth, and self growth.

In the middle of her dialogue about self-confidence and mental health self-care, she stopped to fetch a bottle of water for an audience member who was front center. She told the audience to stay hydrated at concerts, before segueing back to one of her songs, “Piece of Mind.”

For me, this truly cemented my love of Kehlani. Here was a young woman who cared for, uplifted, and celebrated her fellow youth, fan or not.

This fun-loving, sweet atmosphere was reflected in the crowd. Fans who were otherwise strangers to each other serenaded across the security aisle, reaching from general access to the over-21 section and almost touched hands as they sang along with Kehlani.

When I ventured through the crowd to use the restroom and refill on drinks, the girls I encountered were sweet and immediately helpful when I tentatively said that I was trying to get back to my friend up at the front, clearing the way and ushering my two-drink self on.

The concert was an experience to be a part of. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m more of a fan than when I walked in, and I urge you to pull up your chosen music app now and play SweetSexySavage.

PA G E 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

May 5, 2017

Exciting and forgetful, but with a disconnected purpose Noah Guillen the advocate

3 out of 5 stars

It’s not often one band makes up the entirety of a genre. However, if you’ve ever had to struggle through the experience of trying to describe the Gorillaz’ sound to anyone, you’re aware of its possibility. The latest from Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett is a jumbled mess of many influences that clash and cavort together. The jumbled mess feels thrown together and frantic, at times even difficult to make sense of.

Possibly most confusing of all, it’s actually fantastic.

The long anticipated followup to “Plastic Beach” doesn’t feel as iconic – or even as polished as – the band’s sophomore album, “Demon Days.” The starting of “Humanz” is a recording and intro that would normally preface a total of three interludes, a similar model to past albums. However, there’s no solid structure to Humanz. Instead of sharing a narrative, Humanz plays like a doomsday party with an open mic. There is a theme, but it takes a second to grapple with, and not by fault of the listener.

We’ve seen it in horror flicks: The lone survivor stumbles out of the haunted mine with what remains of their car in the hand, takes a deep breath and begins waddling their way back to town. You can’t help but

Web Photo

think “…How will things ever be the same after tonight?”

This is the theme of Humanz.

Albarn attributes the night of the election as the influence of Gorillaz, but in a nonpolitical sense. Rather, his focus is on the betrayal of humanity as he perceived it: The society-defining shift in reality, that moment when a generation stumbled out, picked up their car part, and began waddling back to town.

The title itself, “Humanz” was originally intended to be “Transformerz,” but Albarn didn’t want to risk being mistaken for the popular Michael Bay movies.

“Transformerz” plays thoroughly into the shift of reality; however, “Humanz” more effectively calls into

question the current state of being, so the switch better matches the intention in the album.

The trouble is, the theme isn’t met by material.

The lyrics hit and miss, and it’s every bit intentional. There are moments from contributing artists where you can pick up on a general attitude. Vince Staples starts it off right: “The sky’s falling baby, drop that ass to the floor.”

Somewhere between helpless and doomed, and not concerned with either. There’s political jabs, but the overall sense received is that nothing really matters. “Momentz” solidifies this notion by reminiscing on the important aspects in life. It’s not unlike a party anthem, with bizarre baritones to back it up (easily my

favorite song on the album). The next handful of songs follow suit.

It’s actually a little overwhelming, like starting a meal with three consecutive deserts. Humanz really only feeds one specific energy, and though a good one, the tone seems wild. The trouble is that any heart that might have been prevalent with the emotionally driven contributions from the band (such as “El Manana” and “Melancholy Hill”) are in turn drowned out in favor of this energy.

What’s left is more or less senseless.

Albarn’s contributions specifically are often cryptic or vague (though he’s admitted he doesn’t write intentionally).

There’s some notable substance found in the latter third of the album, between “Let Me Out” (with

the magnificent Mavis Staples) and the hauntingly beautiful (yet still peculiar) “Hallelujah Money.”

The album even closes with a contribution to the two contrary perspectives of the album with “We Have the Power,” an exciting and heartwarming rally piece. However, the trouble is that so much of the album is spent disregarding purpose that the late contribution to that cause falls flat.

It’s Gorillaz, in their entirety: It’s fun, it’s unique and often thrilling. So, purpose isn’t their strong suit. So what? It’s music to blast when the world is on fire. It’s exciting and forgetful.

Planetarium sucks in viewers with ‘dark’ topic Ryan Moore the advocate

The Planetarium at MHCC just hosted its latest monthly presentation, titled “Black Holes, Pulsars, and Gravity Waves (Oh My!).”

I attended the Tuesday evening show, and since it was my first time inside the planetarium on campus, I was amazed just walking in the door.

The room gave the impression of a movie theater, but instead you shift your focus up to the ceiling where there is a giant illuminated dome that simulates looking up into a PA G E 6

night sky full of stars.

This show was guided by Mt. Hood astronomy instructor Will Blackmore, who provided a very informative discussion on the highlighted topics. Given the dazzling display of the stars overhead, he began by talking about the light emitted by stars and what that can mean in regards to their location in space. This portion featured an analysis of the life and death of stars, as well as colorful images of supernovas, that are a part of that cycle.

Next came discussion on the development of black holes:

Blackmore even referenced the space-themed movie “Interstellar” to show some misconceptions about them.

The show then took a look at what we know, and don’t know, about gravity. To illustrate this, Blackmore shared a slideshow of scientists throughout history and explained all of their past perceptions of the way gravity played a part in our solar system.

Blackmore also reminded the audience of an historical astronomical event coming this summer, and that is the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse that will reach Oregon.

What makes this solar eclipse so rare is that the moon will completely block the sun; it is exclusive to the U.S.; and the first contact of the eclipse will take place on the northcentral Oregon Coast, continuing east with Madras, in Central Oregon, directly in its path.

Oregon is among the limited number of states that will have the best view of the eclipse, and because of this the state is expecting about a million visitors to travel here and be among the first to witness the event.

The many topics covered in the May 2 show served as a snapshot of what is taught, in much more depth,

in the astronomy classes at MHCC. Blackmore said those who sign up for his summer astronomy class might be in for a special field trip to see the total eclipse.

There will be another show by Blackmore on Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m. as well as a matinee at 1 p.m.

General admission is $5; MHCC students with a valid ID and children 17 and under are $2.

The Planetarium will be hosting its final astronomy shows specially dedicated to the summer eclipse, on June 6 and June 9.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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MHCC to host local jazz competition Megan Phelps the advocate

All day Saturday, from 9 a.m. to roughly 6 p.m., the Mt. Hood campus will be jumping with 45 jazz ensembles from high school and middle schools from the surrounding region, performing in the Northwest Jazz Band Festival.

These bands are classified into six different divisions, and are all competing in the name of jazz. The group that wins the highest score will be invited to perform at the Cathedral Jazz Festival, a professional jazz festival organized by the Jazz Society of Oregon and held July 1416 in North Portland.

Both events are free and open to the public.

The organizer of the Mt. Hood festival for a second straight year is none other than Daniel Davey, the MHCC jazz director.

This year he has invited six talented individuals to host workshops here for students.

Workshops in the Jazz Café include Tim Gilson, teaching Constructing Bass Lines; Collin Wilson, leading a Saxophone Clinic; Dan

Balmer, teaching Keep It Simple: Simple solo ideas to make you sound great!; and Ben Medler, teaching Rhythm Section Tips for Big Band.

Two more workshops feature Ryan Meagher, who will lead “Brazilian Beat: A Clinic in the Rhythms and Culture of Brazilian Music,” in Room 2104, and Clay Ciberson, who will head a Jazz Piano Clinic in Room 2103, a piano lab.

Davey’s initial goal for the event was to create the environment that was inspirational for him as a student, he said. He began his jazz musical journey in sixth grade when the high school band teacher invited him to play piano for the jazz ensemble.

From this, Davey fell in love with jazz. “Having that opportunity opened up to me as a sixth-grader kind of fueled a passion that I didn’t even know I had.”

From there, he studied at the Berkley College of Music, in Boston. He savored the high-energy jazz atmosphere there, he said.

“When I was in high school we used to go to the

Photo by Megan Phelps

Graphics found on flaticon.com

“... that’s what I’m trying to create here for this festival, is that inspirational environment for students...”

- Daniel Davey MHCC Jazz Director

Berkley Jazz festival. That was the biggest one on the east coast,” he said. “We could see college bands, Berkley bands performing, faculty bands, go to workshops to learn about how to play jazz.

“You were just hit over the head with all of this inspirational cool stuff. As a student that was amazing, so that’s what I’m trying to create here for this festival, is that inspirational environment for students that they’re just like ‘Oh my god, I love music!’ ” he said.

Plans for next year are already in the works. Davey has been in contact with PDX Jazz Festival leaders and Susie Jones, the chair for the MHCC District board of directors, who was the last president of the board for the now-dormant Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz. He said he hopes to bring together the elements of the legendary Festival of Jazz as well as the educational element of the current middle and high school competition.

Without a doubt, the event on Saturday will reach prospective students for the music program at Mt. Hood, Davey said.

The Mt. Hood Jazz Ensemble will play from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the College Theatre, and will open for the faculty performance with guest artist, noted trumpet player Dominick Farinacci.

Farinacci is the Global Ambassador to Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. He personally started at a community college in Cleveland before he transferred to Julliard for serious music studies. He also will host a workshop after he plays with the Mt. Hood ensemble.

A full schedule of Saturday’s festival is available online at danieldavey.net/ schedule. More information about the event as a whole can be found at www. danieldavey.net/nwjbf.

The event is free and open to the public.

There are bound to be over a thousand students and faculty alone coming to the Jazz event. Visitors should keep in mind there will also be the Gresham Saturday Market in Parking lot “W,” in the northwest corner near Northeast Kane Drive and Southeast Stark Street.

Melodrama with a haphazard message is laughable Glenn Dyer

the advocate

2 out of 5 stars

Some movies are good, some are bad, and some are so inept that you can’t help but laugh. There isn’t much to say about this movie, but it is certainly “UNFORGETTABLE.” From the famed writer of “Shut In” (Christina Hodson) and the legendary director of a recent episode of “Bones” (Denise Di Novi) comes this humble tale of

loss, adversity, and surprisingly easy identity theft.

Julia (Rosario Dawson) is the new fiancee of a recently divorced entrepreneur, David (Geoff Stults), and is adjusting to life with him and his daughter. However, things are complicated by his ex-wife (Katherine Heigl), who will do anything to get her family back.

To state it clearly right off the bat, this is pure melodrama and I love it. Much like in a soap opera, the antagonist reaches greater and greater heights of ridiculousness seemingly just to cause harm to the good guys. One of the more offthe-wall plans involves setting up

a fake Facebook profile for Julia, contacting her abusive ex-boyfriend and pretending that she wants to get back together, then sending him over to Julia’s house in the hopes that extreme violence will ensue.

Need I remind you, this is all for the crime of agreeing to marry her ex-husband. The climactic scene of the film is a fantastic example of how not to stage a dramatic finale. I refuse to spoil it here, but it is littered with bad acting, silly dialogue, and a haphazard “believe in yourself” message.

If this reminds me of anything it would be “When the Bough Breaks” from last year, which was also

about a melodramatic and obsessive person attempting to break up a happy family. Although, believe it or not, that movie was much worse.

Homicidal ex-wife is pretty crazy, but a homicidal baby mama who has fallen in love with the father is downright insane.

I honestly hope they make more of these. Ten more at least.

Heck, let’s make a quick-to-insanity cinematic universe. You could probably include the “Purge” movies in that thing.

If you are interested in having a good laugh at some people who have no idea what they are doing, then gather your friends and check

this out on DVD. Otherwise, save yourself the hassle.

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SPORTS

May 5, 2017

Player profile

'Aus'tralian import a hit with Saints softball Jamie George the advocate

Sports are more than just a game to Maddy Newkirk, first baseman for the Saints softball team: They’re part of what makes her.

Newkirk goes by the nickname “Aus,” being from Australia. No one on the Mt. Hood team calls her Maddy, and it has even affected her game log (statistics log). Her coaches have become so used to calling her Aus that when they fill out their lineup card for the other team they write “Aus Newkirk.”

This leads the other team to write her name in the box score as such, and when NWAC officials record the stats they go by the name in the box score, so she currently has two stat records on the NWAC web page.

It’s the cause of some confusion.

According to NWAC, Maddy Newkirk is batting .214 on the season (entering play on Wednesday), with 28 at-bats and one home run. Aus Newkirk is hitting .294 in 34 at-bats with no home runs.

This wasn’t a problem last season, as all her stats went in under Maddy Newkirk. The Mt. Hood team contacted the NWAC, but the problem has not yet been resolved.

(Combining the two stat lines, Newkirk’s numbers through Tuesday work out to a .258

batting average with one home run and nine RBIs.) Aus moved to Oregon last year so she could play softball, a sport that just five years ago she had never played. GrowWeb photo ing up in WauMaddy Newkirk chope, New South Wales, Australia, the nearest softball team was about six hours away. Her older brother had played baseball so she knew she liked the game, but just hadn’t gotten to play herself. That was, until she moved to Olympia, Washington, for her freshman year of high school.

At Olympia she had to decide whether to play tennis, a sport she loved, or try softball, a sport she always wanted to play, she said.

The part of her that wanted to play softball also knew she might not be very good and worried she might get cut. But she decided her freshman year was supposed to be fun and she decided to take the risk.

Much like most sports Aus played, she

loved it. And it’s a long list of sports she’s played: rugby, basketball, golf, tennis, cricket, surfing, water polo, and soccer. Tennis, soccer, and water polo were her three favorite sports when she moved here, she said. They have played a major factor in shaping her.

“Sports are what makes me Aus; I wouldn’t be me without sports,” she said.

Thanks to all that experience, she said the transition to softball defensively was fairly easy, due to the similarity of cricket. Hitting, on the other hand, has been a different story.

“It’s hard to figure out a good softball swing… because I played golf and cricket and tennis in Australia so I have all these different swings,” she said.

Despite her love of softball, this will be her last year playing. Next year she is heading to Hawaii to begin her career in the U.S. Coast Guard, by going through the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) program. She couldn’t be more excited to begin her career in the Coast Guard, she said, noting her desire to perform at a high level.

“For every athlete sports are what shapes who you are. It builds character, it teaches you hard work, drive, and it gives you something to look forward to,” she said. “It gives you something you have a drive for.”

Hospitality Management Program

MHCC baseball aims to catch Lane in the standings Logan Hertner the advocate

Mt. Hood squared off against Linn-Benton last Saturday and if you like offensive games, there was quite a leadoff game for you: extra innings, 11 innings, to be exact.

It was an interesting one, for sure, with a total of 28 hits between both ballclubs, and pitching almost nonexistent, before the Roadrunners finally edged the Saints, 9-8.

The Saints’ hitting was impressive and kept up with the standard of how they have been performing at the plate all year. Mt. Hood batters collected 12 hits and scored eight runs.

But Linn-Benton hacked away at the plate, too, and tallied an impressive 16 hits.

Of those 16 hits, two came in the clutch, in the top of the 11th inning. Logan Meadows led off with a double. Then came a crucial error by Saints third baseman Dru Fitz that allowed Meadows to advance to third and batter Alex O Rourke to make it to first.

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

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