The Advocate - Volume 57, Issue 10 - May 12, 2023

Volume 57, Issue 10 May 12, 2023 advocate-online.net

Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson served justice PAGE 4

Lampshade artist brightens lives PAGE 6

Woman rolls in Auto Tech program PAGE 11

JAZZ FESTIVAL JAMS AT MT. HOOD PAGE 5

Writers Guild of America on strike PAGE 9

FOLLOW US @mhccAdvocate 2019 FIRST PLACE

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Pacific Northwest Assoc. of Journalism Educators

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STUDENTS VOICE CONCERNS AT TOWN HALL Food Options and Staffing Shortages of Concern Andrew Hull The Advocate

On Monday, May 8, the MHCC District Board of Education and President Lisa Skari held a Town Hall session in the Student Union, which offered students a direct pipeline to voice their concerns about the college to the administrators in charge.

Issues raised by students who attended included the lack of food options on campus, the condition of facilities, and the instructor shortage in specific departments, especially the Computer Science and Head Start programs.

Several students were concerned with food options at MHCC. Ever since the COVID shutdown, options have been lacking on campus with the long pause of services at the Vista Dining Hall and the minimal hours the campus café is open for business.

Andrew Speer, District Board chair, noted that with increasing labor costs and the lack of vendors wanting to come on campus, opening and maintaining food options is a challenge that will require a further look.

Acknowledging the lack of dining services, one student mentioned that a planned

community garden on the Mt. Hood campus would hopefully open by the end of 2023.

The garden’s mission is to provide fresh food to Barney’s Pantry and increase the range of healthy food options on campus.

Another concern discussed was the need for more maintenance of campus bathrooms and other facilities. Students described the number of bathrooms with non-working stalls or sinks. Skari responded that the Mt. Hood Facilities Department is working on a master plan, which will take months to complete, but should help with improving maintenance and other facilities needs.

Staffing shortages have plagued many college departments, and students were especially concerned with the lack of instructors in certain programs.

Board members said that administrators have been aware of the staffing shortages and have been vigorously trying to fill vacant positions and increase the number of instructors in specific departments.

As for the Head Start program, members Annette Mattson and Diane Noriega noted that its federal funding leaves little room to increase compensation for teachers, leading

to a lack of candidates for open positions.

They said another contributing factor is the recently added Multnomah County program “Preschool for All,” which pays workers significantly more than Head Start.

Overall, to help resolve these problems, Skari and the Board members expressed the

need for a new MHCC bond measure to be approved by county voters and for state legislators to help fund repairs at the aging college and help reduce staffing shortages. They said they will continue to focus on an ongoing bond campaign and work to lessen the debt the college is incurring.

SELF-SERVICE GAS SURVEY RESULTS: 55% OF SURVEY RESPONDERS

82% OF SURVEY RESPONDERS

SAY THEY DON’T MIND PUMPING

SAY IT’S SAFE FOR MOTORISTS

THEIR OWN GAS

TO PUMP THEIR OWN GAS

Advocate online survey: 15 responses

SUNRISE AT CHANTICLEER POINT Lindsay Leeman The Advocate Recently I decided to wake up at 5 a.m. and go watch the sunrise. It was an amazing experience.

I went to Chanticleer Point at the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, just west of Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge. To me, that is the best place to watch the sunrise around here. The layers of the Gorge are like a sea of colors – orange, purple, dark blue, yellow and many other hues. It was a beautiful, priceless painting you could only

experience through your own eyes.

I am a Christian and experiencing this sunrise just gave me more hope that for every bad thing that happens, there are a thousand more happy things to counteract them. And I hope that everyone who goes through hardship knows that it will not last forever.

This sunrise was special, not only spiritually for me, but I got to experience it with my best friend, Rachel, and take beautiful pictures to share with others. This sunrise was gorgeous! Although I wasn’t there for a long time, it was an awesome way to start the day.

Photo by Lindsay Leeman

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Guest Column:

ADVOCATING FOR OUR STUDENT ASSOCIATION Im ag e

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Alessandra Dante Sciarratta

General Psychology major/ASMHCC support staff As the name of your publication is the Advocate, I would like to take a moment to advocate on behalf of our student government.

While I make no claims of impartial or nonpartisan opinions, I do aim to set a series of inaccuracies straight. More specifically, I write to respond to Kane Finders’s “ASMHCC’s Lack of Candidates” article, recently published in the April 28 issue of the Advocate.

In his column, Finders critiques the student government, claiming a lack of access for

participation in elected roles, strenuous time commitment, and minimal compensation for said positions. Quoting unknown sources for complaints and creating hypotheticals to support his protest against ASMHCC, he constructs a clear argument against our student association. However, readers should note the superficial basis of this argument. Maintaining a student-run government certainly is not without its obstacles, but Finders’s points fall flat with misinformation. I seek not only to refute these accusations, but call into question the weight behind his criticisms.

One must speak for the character of the ASMHCC first and foremost. It must be clear that the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College operate under the intent to best represent and serve the student body of MHCC. Any position within a government, even a student-run one, should be filled by those who are able to take on the responsibilities and commitments that come with a governing role. Should we not want our representatives to uphold these values? I consider Finders’s hyper-focus on the financial aspect of filling roles in the ASMHCC to be discrediting of the work-ethic held by our student government,

and even dismissive of the many positive changes they have created on campus.

Additionally, despite Finders presenting otherwise, students here at MHCC do not need to hold a position in ASMHCC to participate within the student association. Simply looking at the description of the Associated Students page on MHCC’s website, an open invitation to join the ASMHCC’s discussions and contributions is extended to any student enrolled at Mt. Hood. Whether it be attending cabinet meetings in an accessible, virtual setting, or dropping by their office in the Student Union to speak directly to an elected member, the ASMHCC is wide open to any and all inquisitive students.

We should consider the fact that filling these elected positions, where students hold the utmost responsibility for representing their campus and community, is not a simple matter. It certainly should not be granted to students solely drawn to the station by thoughts of offered money and compensation.

Furthermore, readers should consider that in order to pay ASMHCC members, it would require students to pay additional fees in tuition or take away funds used in student aid and on campus activities, creating more financial

problems for our student body instead of resolving them.

So rather than thinking of a role in ASMHCC as a job, where wages are owed in turn for hours worked, I encourage students to consider working in ASMHCC as volunteer work, a donation of time and effort to improve the school around them.

Students in the ASMHCC dedicate their effort to organizing events and bettering life on campus, not because of a desire for ‘compensation,’ but because it genuinely benefits both fellow students and community members.

A role in ASMHCC is not a paid position, it is not easy. And nor should it be. It’s a role of public service, requiring dedication and even sacrifice, in the name of making our campus a better place. In light of Finders’s criticisms, I ask fellow students to consider their contributions on campus, and what we can achieve by donating a bit of time and effort.

ADVOCATE SHINES IN OREGON COMPETITION Returning to publishing and posting full issues in 2022, The Advocate again scored a strong showing in the annual Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) competition for student-run newspapers.

In results announced during the May 5 Collegiate Day seminar and awards ceremony online by the ONPA, Advocate staff won four first-place awards and 17 staff or individual awards overall – capped by a clean sweep in the Best Section category.

The Advocate’s work was judged against that of peer two-year colleges across Oregon.

Other first-place awards came for Best Design, Best Columnist, and Best Feature Photo.

No award for General Excellence was given by

the ONPA, a departure from previous years.

The following awards are for Advocate published during the 2022 calendar year:

Best Feature Story: 2nd Place, Kelley Chang 3rd Place, Kelley Chang Best Sports Story: 3rd Place, Aurora Myers

Best Photography: 2nd Place, Jennifer Wilhoite 3rd Place, Aquilina Larkins

Best Columnist: 1st Place, Nell Little 2nd Place, Shalynn Robinett (Rivas)

Best Editorial: 2nd Place

Best Sports Photo: 2nd Place, Aquilina Larkins

Best Headline Writing: 2nd Place

Best Feature Photo: 1st Place, Martell Meacham

Best Design: 1st Place

Best Website: 2nd Place

Best Section: 1st Place, Entertainment 2nd Place, Opinion 3rd Place, Features

Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

Lindsay Leeman

Staff Writer | Photographer Hi, I’m Lindsay! I work with The Advocate as a writer and photographer. I was adopted when I was 5 and since I was a little kid, I have always loved anything artsy. This is my second term here at MHCC. I am 18 years old, and after I graduated from Clackamas High School,

I decided to focus the next few years getting my AAOT, and one day I hope to be an art therapist for foster and disabled kids.

Aside from school, a few things I enjoy are hiking, playing my guitar, making greeting cards and visiting my friends and family.

indsey Leeman

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E-mail: advocate@mhcc.edu

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication.

All submissions must include the writer’s name and contact information. 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.

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.

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OPINION

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Column:

MEDIA MELTDOWN SPELLS CHANGE (OR NOT) Kane Finders The Advocate

From Fox News to CNN, scandals are plaguing the world of cable news recently.

Dominion settled its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit with Fox News for $787.5 million, and shortly after, host Tucker Carlson was ousted from Fox. On the very same day, “CNN This Morning” anchor Don Lemon also was let go.

This may represent a pivotal point in the land of cable news and a turn towards more factual reporting – or just another scandalous week dotting the history of cable media.

Here I’ll examine the Dominion case and why I think the company shouldn’t have settled, and explain why I believe Lemon and Carlson deserved it. And I will speculate about the future of cable news and whether it has a place in our current society.

The lawsuit by Dominion Voting System was filed in December 2020, alleging that Fox News defamed it by promoting claims the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged and that Dominion voting machines were used to do so. Dominion’s attorneys argued that these statements were made with Fox leaders knowing that they were false.

As the case neared trial in April, Fox News was hoping to seek protection under the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, New York Times v. Sullivan. In 1964, the Court ruled that media companies can only be successfully sued for defamation if they show “actual malice” in the publishing/ broadcasting of false information: reckless disregard for whether the information might be false, or, in fact, actual knowledge the information is false.

Dominion presented strong evidence.

Such as when Fox News’ Sean Hannity said in a formal deposition, “I did not believe it for one second” about a show segment he hosted spreading baseless election-stealing claims.

It’s also convincing evidence that Fox settled the case for $787.5 million on April 18. While only half the original amount at stake, it made sense for Dominion; a fullblown trial would have cost a lot of money, along with the chance of losing.

LOST OPPORTUNITY However, the settlement also meant the Sullivan ruling wouldn’t be challenged and Fox News anchors wouldn’t be put on the witness stand.

In the battle against misinformation, it would have been better for a trial

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to proceed.

The Sullivan ruling provides protection to media outlets, allowing them to report on hot-button issues and not fear making (innocent) mistakes and getting sued.

However, some critics believe it provides too much protection, letting the media report whatever they want, with no repercussions.

This trial could have set a valuable precedent on whether or not media organizations have to tell the truth. Current standards protect media from lawsuits when they provide negative press that may be inaccurate but also discourage them from blatantly spreading lies.

I believe we need to set new precedent so that we can address growing misinformation.

Another part of a trial that would have been good for that fight is if Fox News executives and personalities were called to the witness stand. They would have been required to tell the truth. Once it came out that the organization spread lies, their reputation would have been ruined. While perhaps some Fox viewers wouldn’t have cared and would keep on tuning in, this would have been a starting point in addressing misinformation.

One condition of the settlement I believe should have been required was an on-air retraction by Fox. While money does fix some (Dominion) problems, it doesn’t show the believers of the election-stealing lies the truth. Maybe it’s just as likely that Fox viewers would keep watching or just switch to other channels spewing misinformation, but Dominion should have gone to trial to draw the line in the sand to force accountability onto Fox.

SUDDEN CHANGES Just six days after the settlement, Fox News removed Carlson from its lineup of hosts, on April 24. Fox did not provide a reason, other than to say the parties “mutually agreed to part ways.”

Much speculation has followed. One possible reason was the settlement: Maybe Fox News decided it was not worth the risk of airing more misinformation and other controversial opinions. It could have been allegations of sexism and misogyny against the Carlson production team. Abby Grossberg filed a lawsuit alleging rampant sexual harassment. Or some troubling texts from Carlson that have leaked.

While we probably will never know all the decision details, these factors were definitely the final straw.

In my opinion, Carlson does not belong on the airwaves. From his rampant postelection lies to his hate for “woke” M&Ms, he’s made a name for himself with his blatant misinformation and outlandish opinions.

We don’t need extreme opinions based on misinformation in our media. Carlson has presented himself as the truth, and when he does, millions of viewers believe this. This has tangible, real-world impacts. I don’t think it is hard to say Fox’s election lies may have contributed to rioters showing up and breaking into the U.S. Capitol.

His opinions also fuel hate in this world.

You can see this in his promotion of the white replacement theory. In one broadcast, he said that Democrats are replacing the current American voter base with “new people, more obedient voters from the Third World.” He presents this as the truth, and at least some of

$787 MILLIO N

his audience buys it.

This is fueling more fear and hate towards minorities. This kind of rhetoric only divides us as a nation and has no place in today’s society.

Then we have Don Lemon, the former CNN News host. CNN also said it “parted ways,” but Lemon tweeted out that he was fired. This comes after reports of misogyny and sexism against him, along with lower viewer approval and interviewees reportedly not being comfortable with him.

Last December Lemon said that men’s athletic teams should make more money than women’s teams. Two months later, the New York Post reported that he screamed at one of the co-hosts, Kaitlin Colins, for interrupting him. Also in February, he made the comment that Nikki Haley, a GOP presidential hopeful, wasn’t in her “prime.” He went on to say that “a woman is in their prime in (her) 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

No matter the context, this is a hurtful comment, insinuating that women lose their worth to society as they age (while our current, male president is in his 80s, following another who was in his 70s). In April, Variety magazine outlined Lemon’s history of similar misogyny, dating back to 2008. However, his spokesperson said these claims are false.

Besides all this, Lemon has continued to voice very strong opinions. While I may agree with some, there’s an argument to be made they don’t belong on a news network. While we all should have opinions and express them, they shouldn’t spill over to places we go to get factual news.

It was fine when Lemon shared opinions on his primetime, opinion-based show, but not in the morning show that is advertised as a news show.

TWO PATHS AHEAD? What is the future for television news? I see two main options. One is having a news network that focuses on the news, with little-to-no opinion mixed in. I believe opinion shows have their place, when not sold as the news.

The other is, we stay on our current trajectory: We stick with the same biased news sources we have.

Honestly, I don’t see Fox News changing. Over time, I have seen CNN shift towards the center. We will have to wait and see how the landscape of the media changes. But these shakeups in cable news serve as a much-needed wakeup call that we need to focus on the truth and less on hurtful opinions. I hope we see a shift towards the more-factual reporting we need, to become a less-divided country.

Graphic by Kane Finders

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JAZZING IT UP AT MT. HOOD Lindsay Leeman The Advocate

Never say you don’t like something if you have never tried it.

I have never been one to listen to jazz, but on May 5 I attended the opening night of the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, staged right here on the MHCC campus through the weekend.

I must admit I was not expecting much because in my past, in grade school when they would have showcases, it was not great, I recall. But as I was walking up to the College Theatre, I immediately knew this was going to be different.

I arrived and saw the first act playing, the Mt. Hood Jazz Collective with guest saxophone player Mark Zaleski. These guys were amazing! They had so much enthusiasm for the art of jazz, the immense joy they all emitted to the audience was very contagious – and to think, the Jazz Festival has been doing that for decades.

It is insane to think that since the 1980s, Mt. Hood has host-

Photos by Lindsay Leeman

Pictured below and lower left, the Mt. Hood Jazz Collective with visiting saxophone artist Mark Zaleski (in white shirt).

ed hundreds of thousands of people and kept jazz alive. Everything I saw that night, I knew, took so much hard work and dedication to bring to life. So, a big thank you to all those who had a hand in this amazing festival.

The Ignacio Berroa Trio was amazing, too. Its members made you feel what they were playing. Their sound was not too loud, but not too quiet – it was perfect. They were very professional in the way they delivered their music. Watching them practice before their show was super-cool because I got to see them all work as a team figuring things out about the music, and it goes to show how hard and how intense it is to play jazz even though they are professionals.

I am grateful that I got to go the Festival and now I can say I do like jazz, and I plan to listen to it a lot more than I did. And I’m so happy that MHCC has this opportunity for the community to come together in a shared interest. It is amazing what music can inspire us to do.

Pictured directly below: members of the Ignacio Berroa Trio.

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THE ILLUMINATING ART OF POLLY MALBY

Photos taken by Wes Jensen

Shalynn Robinett The Advocate

Polly Malby has lived a remarkable journey in the U.S. and beyond, working as a midwife and teaching midwifery to the next generation with a balance of science, art, and faith weaved into her story.

Now she channels her passion to create into unique custom lampshades and light fixtures. Her art pieces are displayed at the Red Trillium Gallery in downtown Troutdale and additional locations.

The Fairview resident said love for the arts has always been a part of her life, even while teaching nearly two decades at the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland.

“I have always had a sense of creativity and desire to make things beautiful and fun,” she said.

“When I did midterms and final exams for my students, I made them like screenplays, and the students had to figure things out – not just regurgitate information, but show they had critical thinking skills. I had former students come up to me many years later at conventions and say they still had those exams.”

She often made special gifts for students, such as hollowed-out eggs on which she inked an image of a baby in the womb, or a young child with a mother. She made a golden speculum award for one faculty member. “Then, of course, my daughters were getting older, and they needed prom dresses, wedding dresses, and wedding cakes,” which she was glad to craft, she said.

By 2015 Greg took a secondary job at Hippo Hardware in Portland, which sells antique hardware and salvaged goods. One day he brought home a broken lampshade and asked if Polly could do something with it. She quickly replied, “Are you kidding? Silk, ribbons, colors, beads... Yeah!” And since that moment, her custom lampshades and fixtures have come to brighten many lives and earn renown.

Besides at Red Trillium, her works are displayed at the Café Delirium in Gresham and The Pendleton House Historic Inn, in Pendleton. More can be seen at McMenamins properties, such as Edgefield in Troutdale, the White Eagle Saloon & Hotel in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood, and the Blue Moon Tavern & Grill in northwest Portland. Two of her lamps were purchased to be featured in a hotel scene for the television show “Billions.”

Polly lists artists William Morris, Maxfield Parish, and Duffy Sheridan, as well as the Art Nouveau and Craftsman eras, as inspiration.

But her favorite type of lampshade project is creating heirloom and memorial lampshades, as well as shades to commemorate special events such as weddings or anniversaries.

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create a shade in remembrance of a child who died in a tragic accident. The mother had taken many years to unpack or dispose of any of the belongings. Finally, the mother gave her some clothing and charms, and a newspaper clipping with a poem on it that the mother read at the funeral.

“I designed the lampshade thinking this mother would never be able to attend that child’s wedding, to see them graduate, or welcome that child’s children,” said Polly. “I used strips of a blue dress to create a pocket for the mother to tuck in her child’s student body card and display that treasure, if she wished.

The child’s soccer number was 2, so I included No. 2 charms with the others along the trim. I printed the poem from the newspaper clipping on a ribbon and incorporated it at the base of the shade just above the trim.

“And it was very subtle, but you could see the beautiful words from this poem as they ran around the shade. It was a very special project for me because I knew I was being helpful to that family.”

Polly loves to create shades that incorporate a bride’s colors, flowers she picked out, the style of the wedding invitation, or the type of lace on her dress.

“People having a wedding spend a lot of time and money shopping for the right flowers, the right atmosphere and theme. And then the event is over, and all the tablecloths get re-

turned, the flowers wilt, and everything gets thrown out. If I make a lampshade that incorporates all those beautiful elements, it helps to preserve the memory in a beautifully unique way.”

Always there is a story attached to how she comes about her lamp-making supplies, how each piece comes together. At the Oregon Coast she encountered a woman moving her own antique shop, and in the stash was a Chinese gentleman’s wedding skirt from which a large square had been cut out from the middle.

To most people, the garment would be considered ruined and unusable, but not to her.

“It was made of this crispy, gold silk with perfect pleats and gorgeous hand embroidery throughout, and I’ve used it in several projects.”

Polly loves repurposing old neckties because they come in beautiful colors and silks.

She has a collection of Czech glass buttons that she uses in the shades as a little “window” to great effect.

“I’m always looking for antique crystal and glass beads. They are so brilliant when the light shines through them it excites me, and I think it excites the people who appreciate my art.”

She explains the Baha’i faith she shares with Greg plays directly into her appreciation for beauty and possibility within objects large or small. Take her love of vivid colors. “Why does a hummingbird look for a red flower?

Why do we like butterflies?” she said. “It’s the color and vibrancy and marveling at the incredible creative energy in the world and trying to reflect that harmony, beauty, and joy because the world is full of darkness and sadness.

“Creating helps me feel whole, healthy, and connected to the community.”

Recently Polly was asked to join a study group researching the importance of the arts on a spiritual level, and became one of three facilitators in the U.S. for this program.

Among the first topics covered was that art is a gift from the divine.

“We are looking at the role of art in society.

When we have a body of knowledge, whether it’s midwifery, education, or business, and we study it, it is just a body of knowledge; but when you put that knowledge into practice, it becomes art,” she said. “It’s not just about how we use our knowledge but also about brightening the world with beauty and creating harmony.”

“Art takes your mind to these meditative spaces, and you become more open to the divine light we’re all capable of accessing. If more people did art, I imagine that society wouldn’t be so crabby with each other, and we

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would find other things to do with our time other than hurt each other.”

For years, Polly has sponsored a monthly ladies’ tea meeting at the Corbett Grange.

She brings an expert to teach the group an art form such as improv, cooking, quilting, painting, or even estate and financial planning. She currently has two lamp-making apprentices whom she meets with weekly and may add a third (readers here are invited to inquire). A YouTube channel that includes instructional videos may be in the works.

“My apprentices are young in spirit, mind, and energy. They are skilled and talented, and it thrills me to pass these skills along.”

Polly advises students looking to enrich their lives through art to do it, and keep doing it: Grab a piece of paper, start doodling without expectation, and see what shows up. If you hit a creative block, you should put their work down, take a walk, and return to it again in the morning.

“See everything as art. See it as a way to express not just what you know, but what you love about it. You never know who or what may bring you inspiration.”

•

For a full, unabridged story of Polly’s amazing life, visit:

https://www.advocate-online.net/artist-births-lampshades-with-creative-passion/

•

For more about Polly and her work, visit:

https://shadestoremember.com/

FULL UNABRIDGED STORY OF POLLY MALBY:

Ink-pen drawings on hollowed eggs are among Polly’s favorite crafts.

VIEW POLLY MALBY’S WORK:

Unique lampshade created by Polly Malby.

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LOCAL ARTS

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MHCC CREW BRINGS ‘BURIED CHILD’ TO LIFE Andrew Hull The Advocate

during rehearsals, demonstrating their commitment to learning the intricacies of directing.

Technical aspects of the play are masterfully handled by other MHCC students specializing in professional theatre technician skills. Both the lighting and sound designers for the show, AJ Brazile and River Jackson, respectively, are bringing their expertise to create the perfect atmosphere and sound for the audience. Moreover, students enrolled in Mt. Hood’s technical theatre workshop class contribute to building the play’s set, hanging lights, and assisting with costumes, including Brielle Cabbages, who oversees the props.

Buried Child is a must-see play, not only for its award-winning status but also for the remarkable involvement of college students in both acting and production.

For further information about the play’s schedule and ticketing, visit https://www. mhcc.edu/TheatreBoxOffice/.

WELDING PROGRAM

RE-LIGHTING THE KILN

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Magazine Coming This Spring

Today (Friday) at 7 p.m., the Theatre Arts department at Mt. Hood Community College is set to stage the highly anticipated play “Buried Child” in the intimate Studio Theatre.

A compelling stage production, it offers an opportunity for MHCC students to gain invaluable experience in theatre production.

The majority of cast and crew are current students, showcasing their talent and dedication to the performing arts.

Set in rural Illinois during the 1970s, Buried Child follows the struggles of a poverty-stricken family as it navigates challenging times. Plagued by a dark secret that fractures family bonds and strains relationships, the characters must confront their own secrets.

While further details are best experienced firsthand, this captivating work has garnered

widespread acclaim. In fact, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1979, evidence of its impact in theatre.

What sets this Spring Term production apart is the prominent involvement of MHCC students. While one professional actor and an MHCC alumnus join the cast, it is otherwise entirely students who bring the play’s characters to life for the audience.

Behind the scenes, numerous students contribute to the well-oiled production. A key role is that of the stage manager, expertly executed by Mojo Russ McCoy. Responsible for coordinating lighting, sound, and scene changes, the stage manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless performance. They also collaborate closely with the director, assisting in rehearsals and maintaining the production’s overall vision.

Another crucial position is the assistant director, currently filled by Jayce Jennings.

This individual actively supports the director

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FORESTRY CLUB REVIVED Graphic by Kane Finders

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HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTIONS PUT ON PAUSE Ellen von Fortune The Advocate The U.S. entertainment industry is huge, making an ongoing strike by the writers of television/movie/streaming content so prominent in our society this month.

On May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The union represents 11,500 writers and without them, new shows can’t begin filming, while others are put on pause.

Every three years, the WGA negotiates new contracts for their writers, but this time

the negotiations were expected to be long, and be tough. As of Advocate press time (May 11), there is still being reported a big gap between what the writers are asking for and what the studios are willing to offer.

Both sides say that the other needs to make the first move to start talks again, leaving the strike at a standstill.

Writers want to secure improved compensation. Residual pay is a type of royalty on reruns and other showings, and the writers are fighting for more of it, claiming that better pay is critical for middle-class (modestly paid) writers. These content producers have been upended by the streaming industries and claim

they should be getting this royalty, since those platforms are where a lot of TV series are being played and then replayed now.

WRITERS STRIKE FOR BETTER PAY Writers are further arguing that streaming services have disrupted their working conditions. Shows that premiere on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more usually have eight-to-12 episodes per season, and typically the entire season will drop all at once. That is unlike traditional (broadcast) TV shows that often have over 20 episodes per season and drop once a week (or, at least, on a regular schedule and not all at once).

The writers also are fighting so-called mini-rooms, calling it “abuse”. One example of a mini-room is a small group of writers who have been hired by studios before the show is approved to start filming. The studios use that as justification to pay the writers less, because is it not a formal “writer’s room.” Sometimes the writers work for about 10 weeks (about two-and-a-half months), then are forced to look for the next writing job quickly.

Due to the writers’ strike, many shows and

movies are being affected. Late-night shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” are shutting down. “The Daily Show,” which airs on the Comedy Central network, is going to be airing repeats. NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” also shut down last week, before former cast member Pete Davidson was able to host an episode.

Shows on streaming platforms have also shut down filming due to this strike. Netflix’s hit show, “Stranger Things,” that first arrived in July 2016, has postponed filming for its fifth and final season. This production delay will mean there will be a bigger gap between season four and five. This is something that the cast and crew is no stranger to (!), considering they had to delay production due to the pandemic back in 2020.

This strike is also taking a toll on Marvel Studios, which shut down production on “Blade,” the franchise update scheduled for 2024, starring Mahershala Ali. The studio will restart production once the strike is over – which might not be very soon.

The last time WGA was on strike was in November 2007. The stoppage lasted until February 2008 and cost the entertainment economy an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion.

And it is anticipated that this current dispute could also remain at a standstill for another three months.

MHCC STUDENT ARTWORK ON DISPLAY Lindsay Leeman The Advocate

CLAUDIA COOPER

BELLA BILYEU

C.A. GRAY

FERN MINER

Claudia’s niece was the inspiration because she and Claudia have a deep connection: They bond through the arts. It took Claudia the entire term to create this beautiful sculpture. She first learned how to form the skull and facial features. She said it is a process, “But you learn a lot from it.”

She said she loves 1800s-period clothing (top painting), and really wanted to paint a Greek girl in pretty clothes (lower).

“I grew up with a Protestant family on the East Coast. Being raised around an ancient death cult will do things to you…”

Fern likes Eldritch Horror and wanted to create a scary celestial being. She had started out with a traditional drawing but turned it into a sculpture.

On Thursday, Mt. Hood Visual Arts students joined a reception to celebrate their student exhibit in the Visual Arts Gallery.

Their impressive work is on display, free and open to all, in the Gallery 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Friday, June 2.

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‘DUNGEONS & DRAGONS’ IS FUN FOR ALL Sabrina Kuhlmann The Advocate

In 1974, in a small city in Wisconsin, what could be considered the world’s most well-known tabletop game was born.

For a few years, Dungeons & Dragons was an instant, then expanding hit, but after the rise of digital games, it seemed to disappear.

That is until 1996, when Wizards of the Coast relaunched the role-playing game.

Today, D&D has moved from being a tabletop game that only the

coolest of nerds played, to a global hit that nearly everyone has heard of. And in late March, geeks and nerds all over the world shared their excitement as Paramount Pictures released the film “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”

As someone who has been playing D&D since I was 12 years old, I had extremely high hopes for the movie. And I’m very happy to say that it very much fulfilled my expectations.

The story follows Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a Bard with a tragic

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past, as he and his party try to outrun their criminal past and reunite him with his daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).

His party includes Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), a human Barbarian with a complicated romantic past; Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), a half-elf Sorcerer suffering from poor self-esteem; and Doric (Sophia Lillis), a Tiefling Druid striving to bring peace to the peoples who took her in when she had no one else.

Together, they embark on a journey filled with danger, hilarity, and strangely, an impressive number of baked potatoes.

I originally faced a bit of skepticism because there are people who have never played D&D, and I worried that they wouldn’t understand the film. However, one of the best aspects of the movie is that it’s extremely easy for everyone to enjoy.

The banter between four adventurers makes it a barrel of laughs for all involved, and knowledge of the game is not needed. The characters do a really good job of setting their

scene in a way that helps non-D&D players understand, and forces them to laugh.

I think the actors do an incredible job portraying the often-mischievous characters most D&D players create, and the storyline is good.

As a D&D connoisseur, it was so fun to pick out the little things thrown into the movie, touches that were clearly meant for D&D players to recognize.

Immediately, I recognized that the story is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign, one of the most well-known modules in the game.

I also was able to recognize several common spells, such as Thunderbolt, Fireball, Detect Magic, and Prestidigitation. I was pleased to discover some of my favorite monsters are included and their presence makes the movie the masterpiece it is. D&D players can expect to see Displacer Beasts, Mimics, Gelatinous Cubes, and yes, dragons.

I was also pleased to see a variety of the diverse races in D&D on the screen, including Aarokocras

(bird people), Tabaxi (cat people), Halflings, Dragonborns, Elves, and Dwarves.

All in all, I think that the movie is well thought-out and enacted. The plot is humorous and unexpected at times, as a D&D campaign should be, and I was very satisfied with it.

There are only a couple of things I would change, and that would just be that spellcasting would be more consistent. I saw a few times that component-based spells are cast without the use of components, and more disturbingly, Wild Magic is cast without the random consequences that are supposed to come with it.

I also would have felt like the movie would be more complete if it was portrayed as being a campaign that was currently being played.

Even an end scene showing that this adventure has all been a game would really wrap it all together.

Despite those few negatives, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys humor mixed with action.

BEHIND THE CURTAINS OF SHEN YUN Avery Diep

The Advocate Have you ever seen an advertisement for the traditional Chinese dance performance Shen Yun? For many, it is impossible not to be bombarded by Shen Yun advertisements if you live in the vicinity of one of the 130 cities that the dance troupe tours every year, one of which is Portland.

In fact, we have advertisements for Shen Yun right here on the Mt. Hood Community College campus. I first noticed this very poster (shown here) a few months ago, pinned onto the bulletin board directly below our Library’s entrance.

The poster that depicts a graceful dancer soaring across the stage immediately piqued my interest. I thought it looked like an intriguing performance – but that was all there was to it. I was never much of a traditional dance person, so I never considered actually watching it. And so, over time, I walked right past the poster and forgot about it.

I had thought that would be the last I heard of Shen Yun, but I was wrong.

Months after I had first seen the poster, an inconspicuous video about Shen Yun appeared on my YouTube feed. But to my surprise, the PA G E 1 0

video wasn’t about Shen Yun’s dance performance. The video was about the dance troupe’s ties to the controversial religious movement Falun Gong.

What is Falun Gong? Founded in China in the 1990s by Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong, also known interchangeably as Falun Dafa, is a new religious movement focused on ascending to higher spiritual planes. Followers of Falun Gong believe it is possible to ascend spiritually through good karma and a series of breathing exercises.

In 1999, China began persecuting Falun Gong due to its growing popularity, which the country claimed was a threat to its “social stability.” Following Falun Gong’s persecution, the religious movement largely relocated to the state of New York, where it remains headquartered today.

A group of Falun Gong practitioners founded Shen Yun Performing Arts in New York in 2006. According to Shen Yun Performing Arts’ official website, the group’s “mission [is] to revive a culture that was once almost lost.”

The interesting part of this whole story is the teachings of Falun Gong that are shared by Shen Yun. Falun Gong condemns homosexual and interracial relationships. It also preaches

that human evolution is a falsehood. These views have been perpetuated in the performances of Shen Yun. According to an article from The New Yorker magazine published in 2019, during one performance of Shen Yun, it was sung that “Atheism and evolution are deadly ideas. Modern trends destroy what makes us human.”

These themes have drawn significant criticism from many attendees of the performances. According to Chron (online platform of the Houston Chronicle in Texas), in an article from 2018, many attendees felt “blindsided by the political content.” Several Yelp reviews of the performance accused it of being a “religious sermon” or “cult propaganda.”

But how does a dubious religious dance troupe generate enough revenue to advertise itself so extensively? Well, in truth, it does not.

Shen Yun Performing Arts does not directly pay for its own advertising: Rather, it is paid for by local groups in each area it visits that are related to Shen Yun and Falun Gong.

These groups spend enormous amounts of money to advertise the Shen Yun tours. According to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, these “groups spent at least $39.3 million on advertising across the [United States] from 2015 to 2017.”

Although the poster at Mt. Hood mentioned earlier has been taken down as the Portland shows passed in January, in its place is yet another Shen Yun advertisement. It is a small advertisement for Shen Yun Zuo Pin, Shen Yun’s video platform.

As of now (early May), it remains pinned on the backside of the bulletin board beneath the Library entrance.

Go check it out, or maybe do not – if dances of religious doctrine are not quite the entertainment you are looking for.

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FEATURE + SPORTS

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OPEN ROAD FOR WOMEN

Student enjoys Auto Tech program Ellen von Fortune The Advocate Inside Building 18 on the Gresham campus is MHCC’s automotive program, where students learn how to work on and fix different cars.

This two-year program runs through all four academic terms each year. Mt. Hood’s

automotive shops are set up with the most up-to-date training supplies and equipment to help students thrive.

One thing hasn’t changed over time: The automotive industry is a male-dominated field. I mean, go to any body shop and count how many females there are that aren’t working reception.

There is a stigma to being a woman in a male-dominated field. That goes for a lot of areas of society but with something like cars, the industry can be intimidating. There can be more judgment when a woman gets something wrong, and something as simply are not being as physically strong as their male counterparts is something that is often judged negatively.This list can go on and on.

Fortunately, that shouldn’t stop any-

“MY TEACHERS ARE INCREDIBLE”

one from signing up for the Mt. Hood auto tech program if it’s something you are interested in pursuing as a career.

Take it from current automotive student Emma Marie Kennedy, who says she’s doing just fine. “I was definitely intimidated going into the program be-

cause I knew I would be one of the only women in our class.

It made me feel like people were going to expect more from me in order to respect Photos by Martell Meacham me in the field,” she Emma Kennedy working on a car’s transmission said – that feeling so shop after my first term… but I think that it’s common of women working in similar conone of those things that you are never going to ditions. feel 100% ready for,” Kennedy said. Now she’s However, it’s been a smooth road so far for thankful and believes she learned a lot.

Kennedy, nearing the end of her third term.

The shop she currently works for spe“My teachers are incredible. I haven’t ever cializes in serving European vehicles, a nice experienced any sexism... making the school match for her. Her first interest in cars came environment more comfortable,” she said. from when she got a 1996 Volvo 850 turbo There’s also been support for her outside wagon and she “immediately fell in love with of Building 18. Part of this program is going it,” she said. That led to her and her dad workout into the field and working at a local body ing on it together and realizing how much she shop for a term. Out of the eight total quarters loved working on cars. of study, students spend quarters two, four, Back in the classroom, Kennedy said she is six, and eight working in their assigned shop, more comfortable than her first term last fall, away from Mt. Hood classmates. Kennedy and continues to gain confidence. was the only female tech in her shop, but had After she completes the program, “The no issues. “It was weird being an 18-year-old plan right now is to potentially work for woman surrounded by 40-year-old men, but BMW or Porche. I really like the cars they they were all very kind. I had really good time make,” she said. in the shop, (although) it was definitely hard,” she said.That last part is natural, and by design. “I definitely did not feel ready to go to the

MHCC SPORTS UPDATE Jackson Hamelund The Advocate

SOFTBALL On Tuesday, May 2, the Saints welcomed the No. 1 softball team in the Southern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference, the Lakers of Southwestern Oregon Community College.

After being swept in Coos Bay, including a 1-0 heartbreaker in 10 innings, Mt. Hood was looking for vengeance and to keep rolling – especially after a walk-off win against Lower Columbia. The Saints would not get that vengeance in Game 1, being shut out 4-0, but they released all their energy in Game 2, starting with a 2-run shot to left center by Lexi Geary to jump out ahead. The Lakers didn’t go just away, and tied things in the fifth inning, but Mt. Hood also scored in the 5th to retake the lead then absolutely blew things open in the

sixth, adding six more insurance runs and sealing a 9-2 victory.

The Saints host Centralia College today (Friday, May 12) in their final regular season games. Then, it will be onto the playoffs. The defending champion, Mt. Hood (33-7 overall) currently holds the No. 5 overall seed and would be matched against No. 12 and Southern foe Lower Columbia.

The NWAC championship tournament will be held at north Portland’s Delta Park this coming Thursday-Sunday (May 18-21).

will be at Lower Columbia College in Longview on May 2529. As of May 11, the Mt. Hood squad sat just outside of a playoff berth.

TRACK & FIELD IN THE HOOD Mt. Hood will once again be hosting the NWAC Track and Field championship meet on Monday and Tuesday, May 22-23. Several Saints athletes will be competing.

BASEBALL NEARS A WRAP As for baseball, the NWAC championship tournament

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SAINTS SOFTBALL Q&A:

BASEBALL RECAP Jackson Hamelund

Brittany Hendrickson Coach:

Matlyn Leetch Utility Player:

Kenzie Kosmicki Outfield:

Q: What have been the team’s biggest strengths this season?

A: The team’s chemistry, family atmosphere, pitching staff is second in the NWAC in ERA and has kept us in a lot of games, our defense has been strong, working on our offense and how to produce runs, learning how to hit situational.

Q: What’s been your favorite memory this season?

A: Every day of practice or just Slurpee runs, travel days, every game, every “Hell Week.” Best program that I’ll and the best one I’m ever going to have. Every single day I’ve been here, honestly.

Q: What’s been your favorite memory this season?

A: My favorite memory from this season would be bringing a stray dog home from our games in Yakima, Washington. He ran around the complex for a couple says and it was obvious he didn’t have a home. Savannah decided to drive the pup home in her car where they gave him a bath and a comfy house to sleep in!

Q: What’s been your favorite memory this season?

A: The little moments, day inand-out practice with this group. I’ll miss them once the season’s over.

A lot of bonding on our away trips, staying in hotels, going to team dinners. Last year’s championship run with the sophomores have brought us close together.

Q: Summarize this season in three words.

A: Chaos, Anarchy, Fun. Q:What team would you want a rematch with or play in the tournament with?

A: Obviously the Big 2: South Western Oregon CC and Bellevue CC. And also Clackamas CC.

The Saints baseball team played against Chemeketa Community College last Wednesday, May 3, and got off to a slow start.

Mt. Hood got one run in the bottom of the first inning, but there was a little controversy next time the Saints took the field: Chemeketa’s dugout was claiming a balk should’ve been called that wasn’t.

The umpires came together, but nothing changed except for the fact that afterward they lost track of the ball-strike count on the batter at the plate (it was 0-1).

Q: Summarize this season in three words.

A: Quirky, Close, Everlasting.

Q:What team would you want a rematch with, or to

Q: Summarize this season in three words.

A:Family, Fun, Forever.

Q:What team would you want a rematch with, or to play in the tournament?

A: No one specific. When it comes to playoff time, it doesn’t really matter. We have seen a lot of the South but if we match up again it becomes a whole new game in a different enviroment. Beat the best to be the best!

The Advocate

The Saints added a couple more runs in the seventh, and went on to win game one 3-0, but lost Game Two, 7-5. They then traveled to play Chemeketa again two days later and won both games in Salem.

Mt. Hood started a four-game set with Southwestern Oregon, playing here on Thursday (May 11) and resuming action on Saturday in Coos Bay. The Saints (13-17 overall through May 10) return home for one final double-header on Monday against the Lane Community College Titans.

WATCH THE MOST RECENT BROADCAST OF MHCC SOFTBALL ON THE

Dog rescued by softball team

Image provided by Kenzie Kosmicki.

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