The Advocate, Issue 29 - May 25th, 2018

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Volume 52, Issue 29 MAY 25, 2018 advocate-online.net

An open letter to Lisa Skari PAGE 3

'Delicious' feeling in fiction PAGE 5

ASG candidates share ideas PAGE 6

FAREWELL, PRESIDENT DEBBIE DERR Saints Track and Field shine PAGE 11

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2016 FIRST PLACE

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NEWS

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

PRESIDENT DERR RECOUNTS CAREER IN ACADEMIA Overcoming prejudice, finding success, and coming home to Oregon

Photo by Lisa Sellers // the Advocate

Bethany McCurley the advocate

Mt. Hood Community College’s first female president is retiring after five years.

Ever since a young age, Debbie Derr has fought gender biases and exceeded expectations for her success.

She was born into a family that for two generations passed down the family business (one that builds hydroelectric power plants in Canada) to the first-born, a son – so, when Derr was born those plans were turned on their heads.

Being determined by nature, Derr exceeded such expectations, and she graduated as a first-generation college student with a bachelor’s degree in business from Linfield ColPA G E 2

lege at just 21 years old. She didn’t stop there. She would earn a master’s degree in counseling from Portland State University, and later, a doctorate degree in education from Oregon State University.

Through the years, Derr would try her hand as a businesswoman, teacher, counselor, advisor, college vice president, and finally she worked her way up to college president.

When she became its president in 2013, MHCC had already been a “home away from home” for Derr, she noted.

She had worked as a vice president, Transition and TRIO counselor, and advisor at Mt. Hood for 15 years before leaving in 2002 for other colleges.

Derr said during her first stint

at Mt. Hood, her children used to swim at the aquatic center, go to the school-provided preschool, and every employee in her office recognized them. They would always drop by her office to say Hi and talk, and she said it was a place where she saw her kids grow up.

Derr left to become vice president at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin, then, six years later, entered one of her most controversial jobs: president of North Iowa Area Community College, based in rural Mason City.

As that school’s first female president, she met a lot of resistance, she said. Even after she was chosen, staff members came to her with their grievances about a woman leader, she recounted. Despite the early pushback, she spent the next five

years leading the community college.

Derr said Mt. Hood was much more welcoming to its first female president, and that there was never a time when she felt disrespected or disapproval for being a woman.

During the hiring process when she spoke at the introductory public forum, she was able to be more at ease with familiar faces in the crowd.

Because of so many memories with staff and her children at MHCC, taking the position and moving back to Oregon was like “coming home,” she said.

One of Derr’s most admirable qualities is that she is so personable and always puts family first, said Craig Kolins, a longtime friend and colleague and current Mt. Hood chief of staff/executive dean of arts and sciences.

Kolins also previously worked at MHCC, when Derr was filling her many roles, and she was the main motivating factor for his return: When she took the president job, she asked if he would return to work as her VP. One of her most valued traits is also the reason Derr is retiring, on June 29: family first.

Due to an illness in her family, she decided to retire and turn her full attention to support, she said. Her successor, Lisa Skari – Mt. Hood’s 11th president and its second female leader – will take over the job on July 23.

“The decision to leave the college has not been an easy decision for me,” said Derr. “But it is a decision that supports how important my family is to me.”

EDITORIAL

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DEAR LISA SKARI:

O

n behalf of the student body of Mt. Hood Community College, we at the Advocate would personally like to wish Lisa Skari, incoming president of the college, the best of luck in her years to come at MHCC. She’ll need it.

Her predecessor, outgoing President Debbie Derr, put in a great deal of effort striving to streamline numerous aspects of the college, most notably its administrative organization, while simultaneously marketing the college to a rapidly growing east Multnomah County population, one becoming more diverse than ever.

In this respect, Skari’s previous post will hopefully help prepare her for the realities of heading a community college in East County. She is coming from Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, a suburb that is significantly more diverse than Seattle or Tacoma, the urban centers it abuts.

One of the main tenets of Skari’s tenure at Highline, as chief advancement officer, was reflecting that community diversity. We at the Advocate anticipate her continued support of the MHCC administration’s investment in student resources, such as the Diversity Resource Center (DRC) and the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Other aspects of Mt. Hood may be a little different for the new president.

In a presidential candidate forum held on campus in March, Skari said, “Through generation of external dollars, both grants and foundation... and stable enrollments, we are

steady” at Highline, referring to that school’s budget stability. As anyone who’s spent some time at this college could tell you, “Mt. Hood” and “stable” rarely appear in the same sentence, financially.

Now, it’s not as if we’re expecting Skari to come in, snap her fingers and solve all of the problems Mt. Hood is struggling with (some of them for decades, now). Finding an approach to our budgetary issues that leaves the college financially solvent, its programs fully funded, and its staff adequately compensated (all while setting tuition at a rate community members can reasonably afford without incurring too much student debt) might not actually be possible.

Deciding which of these issues – institutional solvency, instructor compensation, and student affordability – is the most important, and which can be compromised instead, will define how Skari’s presidency is received. It also will illustrate who she feels she is accountable to.

Seeking a voice Luckily, she doesn’t have to tackle these issues alone. Mt. Hood is, by and large, filled with caring, passionate, hardworking individuals, be they student, instructor, administrative staff and everything in between.

And Derr and her managers have succeeded in keeping labor peace during her five years, avoiding bitter contract battles with MHCC’s three main employee groups – full-time and part-time faculty members, and classified (support) staff workers – that have experienced plenty in previous eras.

If Skari’s presidency is to be effective, however, she’ll need to figure

First year issue Editor-in-Chief Photo Editor Fletcher Wold Associate Editor Cassie Wilson Copy Editor Position Open News Editor Greg Leonov Opinion Editor Kyle Venooker

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Continue push to recognize, act on, input of students, staff, and faculty out how to foster an environment where the people who make up this college can have a greater voice in shaping it.

Many faculty members feel that, historically, this hasn’t necessarily been the case. Often they feel powerless when change comes, sometimes abruptly. As Janet Campbell, longtime social sciences instructor, notes, “We’ve had a really big problem… with the turnover of mid-management [positions], and that’s really destructive to what we [as instructors] do on a day-to-day level.” She adds that in the 20 years she’s taught here, she’s had 12 deans: “With each new one, you kind of get more cynical.”

Suggestions from the faculty on how to improve the situation has

fallen on deaf ears, at times. For instance, the social sciences faculty worked along with the administration to produce a new pilot plan to shift more day-to-day oversight to faculty members and help ease the load of their dean. All seemed set, then Derr and the administration backed off this past September, Campbell said.

“I think the administration [was] nervous about the model. And I can’t blame them; it was something different,” she said. “But the team put a lot of work on it and really came up with a solid plan and the administration kind of back(ed) out on it. It was really disappointing.”

(Craig Kolins, MHCC chief of staff, said a redesign of instructor/ dean structure remains a possibility

Each spring term, the Advocate encourages first year staff to try out new positions. This is their work.

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Cover Photo by Lisa Sellers

Arts & Entertainment Editor Ryan Moore

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soon, pending further review.)

In any case, establishing a culture where instructor needs (not to mention those of the students and of support staff) are heard, appreciated and considered with respect to policy will be of paramount importance, then, if Skari wants to make new headway among the faculty at Mt. Hood.

How best to truly accomplish this, of course, isn’t quite as straightforward. There’s only so much a single person can do to represent the myriad needs, each of them equally valid, of all those who make up an institution as large as Mt Hood. But Skari, in taking on the position of president, has signed on to do exactly that.

As we said, we wish her the best of luck.

Ad Managers Megan Phelps Twesiga Disan Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst Staff Writers Kente Bates Matana McIntire Lukas Brito

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

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OPINION

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

WE CAN'T DUCK THE FEAR OF GUN VIOLENCE Cassie Wilson the advocate

Where will you hide when it happens? It almost feels inevitable now, and not a day goes by when I don’t analyze a classroom and figure out how to best protect myself if our campus were to become victim to the next mass shooting.

It’s not that I feel like schools aren’t doing a good enough job at protecting students, but instead the fact that people in positions of power in the U.S. government keep looking for every possible reason these tragedies are happening, but refuse to admit that the actual

common factor is easy access to guns, and in a lot of cases that’s combined with white male privilege and entitlement.

That being said, I’m not here to get into the nitty-gritty of politics, gun control, or to begin to act like I’m an expert when it comes to making big legal changes.

I am an expert in fear and overthinking when it comes to safety, however.

It started in high school. School shootings were growing more frequent, and I was more in tune with what was happening outside of my own little bubble of the world.

The last semester of my senior year of high school (2016), in a span of 48 hours, I heard two shooting threats stated aloud by students in my classes. I and several classmates reported them and those students’ home lives were looked into. One returned to school, the other never did, to my knowledge, but I never really felt safe after that despite my principal meeting with me to talk about safety as much as I needed.

When I sat in the school hallway doing homework, it was like clockwork planning what I would do if I heard gunfire or if we went under lockdown. My solution? Hide in a trash can. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s how thoroughly I’ve thought about these hypothetical scenarios.

I don’t feel the same stress at Mt. Hood that I felt in high school, but the thoughts and anxieties are still very real. I move more quickly passing through the courtyards, and don’t care to be around the center of campus much. I want to be thankful for classrooms with windows looking out to the beautiful scenery, but instead feel too exposed.

This shouldn’t be our normal.

I want to go back and volunteer at my high school, but the fear of what could happen prevents me from doing so. I want my elementary school-age cousins to spend their time learning and making friends instead of trying to understand why someone would want to come into their classroom

and hurt them.

This shouldn’t be our normal.

It’s why I can never become desensitized to these tragedies.

They will always hit close to home even when they’re states away because I never feel fully safe on a school campus – knowing a mass shooting can happen anywhere – and because I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

This shouldn’t be our normal.

Previous generations practiced how to duck-and-cover in the event of nuclear war, but now we’re all practicing for how to hide from being killed by people from our own communities.

This shouldn’t be our normal.

To all of you reading this, who have run lock-down drills in your mind every day outside of the required ones, you are not alone.

This shouldn’t be our normal, but it’s important that we talk about it because we’re never alone in our fears, it turns out.

FOR VET FORMERLY STATIONED AT BORDER: UNITED KOREA STRIKES CHORD Kente Bates the advocate

This article is my personal take on the potential peace accords between North and South Korea.

Since I served a year with the U.S. Army helping to protect South Korea, here is my view: In 2010, after basic training and A.I.T. (Advanced Individual Training), my first duty station was Camp Casey in South Korea. I was apprehensive at first, but I went.

I fondly look back on that year because of the impact it had on me.

The people of South Korea are about as advanced as we are here in the States, especially once you get to the bigger cities. Since I was stationed in the countryside, I got to know the history of this nation. They are a proud people, with a history stretching back over 8,000 years.

This nation has had its ups and downs as all nations do, but with its extensive time-line (and me being a history buff) I soaked up a lot of it.

The countryside is peaceful, with grand, majestic scenery – mountains, lakes, streams – the kind of stuff you’d see in CGI-generated films.

The people are gracious, kind and humble. Working alongside Korean soldiers, you get the impression of strength, pride and honor. Some of those ROK (Republic of Korea) soldiers are some very fierce fighters with training that rivals our military training. The cities such as Seoul, Busan and Incheon are as metropolitan and diverse as New York, Los Angeles and Boston.

TO CONTINUE READING, SEE PAGE 8 PA G E 4

NEWS

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CELEBRATE STRUGGLE 2018 PERCEPTIONS PREMIERES Lukas Brito

the advocate “If you have an imagination, you can imagine a future for yourself.”

These words are not only spoken by Rene Denfeld, but lived by her.

From hard living on the streets and getting paid just $10 for her first article, Denfeld by night has become an author of acclaimed novels such as “The Child Finder” and “The Enchanted,” as well as writing published works for The New York Times. By day, she continues to work as a licensed investigator here in Oregon.

Photo by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Rene Denfeld, speaking at Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood’s humanities department was lucky to host to host Denfeld at its last “Mouths of Others” speaker series event for the school year, held at the Visual Arts Theatre on Wednesday, where she shared insights from her personal journey.

Denfeld started in her discussion, “The older you get, the more comfortable you become with yourself,” which allowed her to speak with complete openness about the subject matter. She captivated her audience with the inspiration she was able to assemble from the adversities of her life. Given the fact she spent some of her early life living on the streets, and having a pimp/convicted sex offender as a stepfather, she told audience members that instead of being

ashamed of who they are, or their past, they should embrace it.

That view frames Denfeld’s most recent novel, “The Kid Catcher” – a story of an investigator search for a missing girl who is presumably dead, but survives by living through her imagination.

Now, the author lives in Portland with her three adopted foster kids, and described the payoff. “Being the parent I never had allowed me to experience childhood,” she said.

Libraries can be a spectacular place, she added. For sure, a place where knowledge and ideas can grow or be shared, but for her, it was much more: The library was her sanctuary. The books there, and the stories, were her sanctuary.

“The secret to good writing is good reading,” she declared. The library offered her an opportunity to grasp the essence of morality and values from stories, stories that would help her imagine the characters to be the parents she never had.

Within her line of work as an investigator, Denfeld explained how the longer she works, the more optimistic she has become, because of her firsthand view of the changes that can happen in people, and hearing how they work through the adversities in their lives.

Not only does it create a sense of optimism, but the stories and the people she worked with fueled her inspiration for writing.

Denfeld has written numerous nonfiction pieces, but when it comes to her work, she said, “You can tell more truth with fiction, rather than nonfiction.” She described it as “the most delicious feeling imagined.”

When developing the characters for stories, she finds that she’ll end up writing the truth about the characters without even knowing it. She said writers are able to find themselves in the characters they write. “All the characters have some role of me.”

Denfeld told Mt. Hood students and staff attending to not underestimate life’s hardships, but rather acknowledge and celebrate them. “What we do in our lives is immensely important... Go out, learn things about other people,” she said.

Greg Leonov the advocate

Staff, students, and anyone else interested is invited to the celebration of the release of Mt. Hood’s annual literary publication, Perceptions.

The annual event will be start at

6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, at the Elks Lodge at 3330 N.E. Division St. in Gresham.

Contributors will read some of their published work. Printed copies of Perceptions will be available for $15 each. All proceeds will help fund next year’s publication.

Usually the magazine includes a

CD and DVD with music and short films, but this year only the printed work is available for purchase. Videos and music will be posted online at perceptionsmagazine.org.

Free food will be available. Alcohol can be purchased at the event.

ADVOCATE BRINGS HOME AWARDS Greg Leonov the advocate

On Friday, May 18, the Advocate staff traveled to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany to participate in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) Collegiate Day seminar and awards ceremony. They returned with numerous honors for work published during the 2017 calendar year.

Following breakout sessions with professional journalists sharing advice, the Advocate joined 15 other teams of newspaper staff from both two- and four-year colleges and universities. Competing against other non-daily publications at two-year institutions, the Advocate earned 20 category awards, eight of which were first-place awards.

The Advocate also won third place honors for general excellence.

Individual/category awards for 2017 include: Second and third place for best house ad – Matana McIntire.

Photo by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Advocate editorial staff and advisors showing off thier awards last friday, May 18, at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon.

First, second, and third place for best cartooning – Amy Welch; Prisma Flores; Amy Welch.

Second place for best graphic – Prisma Flores.

First place for best photography – Fletcher Wold.

First place for the best feature photo – Fletcher Wold.

Second place for best columnist – Dusty Sargent.

First and second place for best sports story – Jamie George; Brody Matthews.

First place for best editorial – Donovan Sargent.

First and second place for best series – Greg Leonov, others; Donovan Sargent, others.

Second place for best news story – Greg Leonov.

Third place for best writing – Greg Leonov.

First and second place for best special section – Gloria Saepharn, editor (both).

First place best section – Matana McIntire, editor.

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Author finds ‘delicious’ inspiration in life stories

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NEWS

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

ASSOCIATED STUDENT GOVERNMENT Greg Leonov the advocate

On Wednesday, six pairs of Mt. Hood students gathered in the Student Union to talk about why they are best suited for the position of ASG (Associated Student Government) president/vice president.

Candidates for the 2018-19 school year are Antonio Edwards (with Refugio Leyva as vice president); Barry Morganti (with Xanthys Rose); Bob Hansen (with Melanie Roberts), Joshua Hall (with Red Burkett); Kenneth Mendoza (with Aye Chan May); and Wakely Wolf (with Isaac Chura).

Each opened by introducing their ticket’s platform, then current ASG President PonyBoy Peterman asked what some of their initiatives and goals are, if elected.

Edwards said he would like to maximize student involvement in various clubs and activities on campus. Running for president is a form of empowerment, offering the privilege to serve students, he said. Levya said he would like to add a school garden to grow vegetables for students, and also start a rugby team.

Morganti said he would make it his responsibility to make sure ASG continues to function as it does with current projects continuing through the summer until completion. He would like to see increased communication. “I felt it was a job that simply needed doing. I have no other cause other than serving my fellow students’ interests,” he said.

Hansen stressed the importance of Barney’s Pantry. He would like to open a pantry at the Maywood Park campus.

He also would like to see more student involvement on campus, hoping to generate student enthusiasm and pride in attending MHCC. “I love this campus to death, and I love the students here, and I want to serve you guys for the whole entire of next year to the best of my opportunity,” he said. “Booyah!”

Burkett said he wants to see the Mt. Hood website be more user friendly, and would make better wi-fi connections and software updates on computers a focus.

Student involvement was also a priority, and he also would like to see more food options, along with more signage directing students to activities and services.

Mendoza proposed a year-end celebration of ASG accomplishments with students, while May said she would like more multicultural events.

Wolf, who lost last year’s ASG election to Peterman, named improved communication and safety on campus as his PA G E 6

top priority.

Thoughts on diversity Peterman asked the candidates to define diversity, equity, and inclusion and how they would support those initiatives if elected.

Leyva quoted Forrest Gump, saying everyone “is a piece of chocolate in life’s box of sweets,” and said he admires Mt. Hood students. Edwards said he was initially drawn to Mt. Hood because of the diversity he saw on campus. “Diversity is inevitable. As president, I’ll strategize ways for everyone of all races to have a voice and a platform to be heard.”

Morganti agreed with Edwards’s view. “What’s even better is people around here don’t seem to have a problem with it. They’re always happy to celebrate it, which is a wonderful thing,” he said.

Hansen also called the campus diverse. “I love it, I feel it everywhere, I’m lovin’ it, I’m livin’ it, I’m dreamin’ it,” he said. He’s seen people from many different backgrounds while working at Barney’s Pantry, and it’s important to continue the trend.

Hall also said the school is diverse, and he would like more “equal” and fair opportunities when it comes to food and activities on campus. “It’s important that we reach out to all people in our community, including the students who go to school here later in the day,” he said. “We have a lot of nontraditional students and there’s a lot of people who don’t show up on campus until a lot of the rest of us are going home or just tucked away in the library studying.”

May equated diversity with the mural outside the Student Union. “That picture indicates a lot of different kinds of trees, houses, mountains and everything in there. It’s the flowers, it has potential to grow, still, just like in our community.”

Mendoza said he wants all students to be proud to be Saints, and to make lifelong friendships and stay connected.

Chura referenced the building itself: “This is the Student Union, not the student division,” he said. “That’s a good attitude to carry when talking about diversity.”

Wolf noted, “We all know that the (ASG) system is broken” because most students aren’t even aware of student government’s existence on campus. But he said it is rewarding when he gets the opportunity to talk to students and instructors about student involvement. “It is important that everyone has equal access and they should be included... That’s what we’re all about,” he said.

THE SIX TICKETS RUNNING FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, FOR MORE CANDIDATE INFORMATION, SCAN HERE:

Antonio Edwards and Refugio Leyva.

Barry Morganti (Xanthys Rose not pictured).

Bob Hansen and Melanie Roberts.

Kenneth Mendoza and Aye Chan May.

¡Bienvenido!

Located at the MHCC campus Above the Library, Room 3308A College of Business & College of Education (503) 491-7000

NEWS

M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 8

T PRESIDENTIAL FORUM

IMPORTANT DATES 29

Vote here: www.mhcc.edu/vote forum audio

1

candidate bios

May 29-31 – voting period open online (12:01 a.m. 05/29 to 11:59 05/31) June 1 – Presidential announcement Noon in the Student Union

PORTLAND.

OREGON STATE’S NEW HOME FOR BUSINESS.

Joshua Hall and Red Burkett.

Isaac Chura and Wakely Wolf.

Photos by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Earn your Oregon State business degree in Portland. With classes in-person at OSU’s new downtown location by Pioneer Square and online, we’ll help you thrive as a student and prepare like a professional.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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

PHILANTHROPIC ROCKSTAR STEALS THE SHOW Cassie Wilson the advocate

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness played a sold-out show at the Hawthorne Theatre on Saturday, May 19, and the production alone made it a night to remember.

For those unfa- miliar with McMahon, he typically headlines the Crystal Ballroom, which holds about 1,500 people. But, for this special, intimate, acoustic tour he opted for smaller spaces, with the Hawthorne being the smallest of them all, holding only 500.

Upon entering the venue, everyone was quick to notice that as opposed to random music playing over the speakers, there was specially curated theme song music for this tour. Being younger than most of the audience members, I recognized only the “Full House” theme.

Between these songs came gentle reminders for patrons to respect all those around them. There also were recorded promotional messages in which McMahon talked about his nonprofit foundation, Dear Jack. He is 12-year leukemia survivor, and Dear Jack’s mission is to serve adolescents and young adults in their own cancer journeys, including supporting survivors.

At the Hawthorne, there was a table with volunteers who were signing folks up for bone marrow donation lists if they met the health, height, and weight requirements.

There was a constant stream of people swabbing the inside of their cheeks, right there in the venue, as they selflessly agreed to donate bone

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

And I saw technologies there that we’ll probably never see, stateside.

But just as I saw great things there – city living, technology, history, food – bulgogi (Korean BBQ beef) Big Macs for the win! – I saw atrocities, too. Poverty: soul-crushing, mind-blowing poverty. Defections of North Koreans are very common.

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marrow to any cancer patient with which they were a match.

Later in the show, McMahon explained that his sister’s bone marrow is what lead to his survival.

There were no openers on this tour since it was obvious he had enough draw to sell out shows within days of the tour being announced.

So, an hour after doors opened, the lights went down

everyone into the night with “Love and Great Buildings” from his latest record, “Zombies On Broadway.”

Then he hopped over to his grand piano and began playing music from different parts of his career as a musician. The set was a great mix of his current project, as well songs from his previous bands, Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate.

Before playing “Canyon Moon,”

set with beautiful harmonies and soft instrumental layering that they built together. Occasionally, McMahon would take a break and Clark and Oxblood would play their solo songs, and promote the tour they’re doing together at the end of this summer.

My favorite parts of the set were the theatrical scenes, and McMahon’s stories.

At one

and the show began.

McMahon had an actual backdrop built for this tour that looked like something that would be used in a theatrical play, and in a way it was used that way. We were in his living room, so he entered the stage through his front door (to the Mister Rogers theme song) as if he just got home from a day job. He sat on the entry step, took off his dress shoes and blazer, threw on his sneakers and sat criss-cross-applesauce on a box towards the front of the stage.

With only a desk lamp for lighting, he played a little keyboard or synth sort of instrument as he eased

a doorbell rang on stage, and McMahon opened the door to invite keyboardist/vocalist Zac Clark to the stage. Clark currently tours with him as part of his band, so he was on stage for most of the night.

During the next song, “High Dive,” the doorbell rang a bunch as the song built up, and Bob Oxblood, formerly of Jack’s Mannequin, came out on stage and joined in on acoustic guitar right where the song left off.

The rest of the night featured different combinations of the musicians playing through McMahon’s

point when he was talking between songs, the stage lighting flashed bright white and thunderous noises played as the ghost of Babe Ruth appeared in the window of the backdrop. He shook his bat in the air and nagged McMahon about needing to play new songs, saying, “I’m a hundred-twenty-three years old: For crying out loud, play something new, Andrew!”

So then, McMahon played his new song, “Ohio.”

Singer/songwriter Allen Stone is scheduled for the rest of the current tour, but had a wedding to attend on the Portland date, so the night ran

Human trafficking is a major problem; in fact, Southeast Asia is one of the hotbeds of human trafficking on Earth (see attached link). This country, this region is full of potential and simultaneously full of pain, hardship and regret.

I think of my time there often and I know I had a great time there, on-duty and off-. When I got the news of there potentially being peace

between the two nations and what could finally be a unified Korean peninsula, I was overjoyed (and yes a little misty), yet apprehensive.

In my opinion, this would have about the same effect on Asia as the reunification of Germany did for Europe. To have this holdover from the World War II/Cold War era finally come to an end would be something we would all love to see. We can

hope and pray that South Korean President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will be able to come to some sort of understanding and reunify the peninsula.

From the time I stepped near that 38th Parallel itself to the time I said goodbye to the Peninsula in 2011, I was in awe of the people and the nation as a whole. I, for one, want the peace process to happen. It’s long

Graphic by Cassie Wilson, Sheila Embers // the Advocate

a little differently than usual. From my understanding, this included McMahon and friends deciding to play “Something Wild,” which he wrote for the movie “Pete’s Dragon” and likely took the place of Stone’s solo song performances.

There was another number that was supposed to be for a movie but didn’t get picked, and while McMahon was singing he decided to hop off the stage and walk through the crowd and sway around with fans.

His crowd is mainly folks in their mid-tolate twenties (some even brought their kids), and everyone really connected over his mention of concerts being a safe space to escape all the shit going on in the world.

The most special moment of the night, by far, was when McMahon told a story leading into “Cecilia and the Satellite” – his biggest hit as Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and a song he wrote about his daughter.

When the singer was diagnosed with leukemia and preparing for treatment, his doctor insisted that he bank his sperm because it wouldn’t be the same after harsh cancer treatments. At the time he didn’t want to do it, he just wanted to get better, but his doctor didn’t really want to treat him if he wouldn’t do it, so he did. And, now he has his daughter Cecilia because of that decision, he explained.

McMahon is one of the most humble musicians I’ve seen perform in some time. The thoughtfulness he put into creating this tour paid off, and he did it all out of sheer love for playing music.

overdue. I want the South Koreans to keep rising and thriving. I want the North Koreans to emerge from Communism and join the rest of the world in the 21st century, so they can evolve into a productive, vibrant people, as well.

Peace in our time is a possibility: What better place for it to start than on the Korean Peninsula?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Graphic by Matana McIntire, Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Elohim (left), The Glitch Mob, and Anomalie (far right)

OPENERS AMPLIFY THE GLITCH MOB'S EXCELLENCE Ryan Moore the advocate

The floor was rumbling at the Roseland Theater from all the extraordinary sounds coming from The Glitch Mob’s concert last Sunday, May 20. The trio brought enough bass to be heard for miles, but I got to hear a few pleasant surprises long before the headliners of the night ever took the stage.

The first opener was a keyboardist by the name of Anomalie. My party and I arrived just in time to catch the end of his set. His real name is Nicolas Dupuis, and prior to the show I had the chance to ask a few questions about his tour experience leading up to the Portland appearance.

Anomalie’s music certainly showcases his impressive skills on the keyboard, especially when seen live, but it’s put together with a lot of both jazzy and electronic elements. “The goal was always to blend styles, but it definitely started as something that was way more electronic than jazz,” he explained.

Before performing solo in support of The Glitch Mob, Anomalie toured with a live band, first tour ever for that group, and they sold out every venue they booked. Once I watched his fingers fly across the keyboard that was tilted towards the crowd, it was easy to see how talented this guy really was.

Soon, another act named Elohim came on stage and definitely made some new fans through her performance. Her set was mystifying from the beginning, but once she threw her oversized coat to the side, things quickly blossomed into a bouncy, playful show.

Elohim’s straight black hair

remained over her face and sunglasses even while she commanded the stage popping her body to the rhythm. My favorite part was that her set jumped to so many styles of music. There were sounds of indie, dance, pop, tropical house, and trap, most of which stemmed from her self-titled debut album, just newly released in April.

I could tell members of the crowd around me were all left with a good impression once Elohim had finished, and were likewise all primed and ready for Glitch Mob. The group’s crew unveiled the massive three-part set piece, called “The Blade 2.0.” Since the Mob’s last tour in 2014 they have used this futuristic contraption that was custom-built by a movie set designer to play their songs with drums and touch pads all in sync with each other, with display lighting that matches the music.

From beginning to end, The Glitch Mob awed the crowd with music from their latest album “See Without Eyes,” even bringing out Elohim to sing their collaboration, “I Could Be Anything.” After fans cheered heavily for an encore, the notion of one more song turned into a half hour of freestyles on the Blade and throwbacks to their early hits from 2010.

I asked Anomalie if he enjoyed interacting with the other artists on this tour.

“Absolutely, they’re great people. The whole team is amazing, as is Elohim’s!” he said.

“The bus hangs are lots of fun and it’s been fantastic getting to know them.”

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SPORTS

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

TIMBERS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO FIVE

Photos by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Portland Timbers' Cristhian Paredes celebrating his first MLS goal a day after his 20th birthday.

Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

The Portland Timbers defended their home turf against newly added Major League Soccer expansion team Los Angeles Football Club, facing them for the first time last Saturday, May 26, at Providence Park.

Kickoff was set for noon, and boy, did the Timbers Army let its presence be known. The supporters group was up and running early as they cheered on the Timbers during the warm-ups, and also let LAFC know why they’re simply one of the best fan bases in the MLS. This was one of the most attractive games MLS had last weekend, as both the Timbers and the LAFC entered in really good form. Los Angeles came into the match with a six-game unbeaten run, while the Timbers were also on fire with a four-game winning streak, the last one being a huge win (considering bragging rights) against their archrivals, the Seattle Sounders.

And these two teams sure gave everyone a show that was full of excitement.

Right at the beginning of the game, Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell appeared to pull a muscle, and he was forced to leave. It didn’t seem too serious, as he left the field walking (he was diagnosed later with a quad muscle pull). So, in just PA G E 1 0

the 5th minute of the match, Julio Cascante replaced Ridgewell.

Three minutes later, Timbers striker Fanendo Adi had an open shot on goal after a beautiful pass from Andy Polo, but unfortunately his attempt rattled off the crossbar. But this got the fans going, and wanting that first goal. That had to wait, but the first half was a very en-

one of the key elements for Portland’s outstanding run. Head coach Gio Savarese has found a solid back four – Ridgewell being a key figure in all four matches – and Cascante was able to adapt quickly in his absence on Saturday and take that central defense role. It was an impressive performance from the Costa Rican defender, as this was his home

Julio Canteras shuting down LAFC's Vela.

tertaining back-and-forth between the two sides. The Timbers kept on knocking; LAFC also had two great chances in the 30th and 46th minutes, but the Timbers’ defense was able to push those shots away.

The Timber defense has been

debut with Portland.

The goals didn’t come until after the break. The Timbers again knocked on the door early, with another attempt from Adi. But LAFC’s goalkeeper, Tyler Miller, came off his line to make the stop.

Finally, Portland opened up the scoresheet in the 52nd minute with a goal from Cristhian Paredes, who was able to put it away after a freekick attempt from Diego Valeri that Miller had saved but couldn’t clear away.

This marked the first MLS goal for the Paraguayan midfielder after he joined the Timbers last summer.

And it came as a birthday present, of sorts, as Paredes had just turned 20 the day before. “My father, my two sisters and my girlfriend were all here today,” he said afterward. He added that performing well in front of his family “was maybe equal to scoring my first goal” for the club, in his mind.

LAFC responded late in the game with a “touch of magic” from star forward Carlos Vela in the 74th minute. Vela only needed a small opening and a simple touch before curling a marvelous shot over Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. It was a beautiful individual effort from the Mexican international, and snapped Portland’s run of 404 minutes without allowing a goal, the longest MLS streak in 2018 and the longest shutout streak ever by a Timbers goalkeeper in MLS. But the game wasn’t over yet as Timbers forward Samuel Armenteros would also score his first MLS goal, in the 81st minute. This came as a counterattack where he dribbled

from way behind the midfield stripe, taking it forward himself and scoring on an absolute screamer.

This would give the Timbers their fifth straight win, 2-1, (a new club record since joining MLS in 2011) ending LAFC’s own unbeaten

Timbers celebrating opening goal.

run. After the goal, Armenteros ran straight up to the Timbers Army to celebrate the game-winner.

Portland remains unbeaten at home, with a current record of 4-00. Things are looking great for them as they keep climbing the ladder in the Western Conference standings. The win put them in third, right behind LAFC, with only three points separating the two. However, the Timbers have a game in-hand (having played one less game than LAFC).

Portland’s next match will be this Saturday, May 26, at 6 p.m., available on KPDX (Fox 12+: broadcast Channel 49/703 Comcast) as they hit the road to face off against the Colorado Rapids.

SPORTS

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MT. HOOD SAINTS FINISH STRONG

Saints athletes soar to success at NWAC Championships

Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

The Saints put their talents to the limit against the best in the NWAC Track and Field Championship meet, held at Mt. Hood on Monday-Tuesday.

Several Saints athletes competed, hoping to improve their personal record, achieve that season-long goal they set for themselves, or simply be able to place and wind up on the winners’ podium for their event. And with such a young team this year, the MHCC athletes battled with nerves and excitement, but showed they were ready to perform.

Saints women shine First up, the women’s team, which really had a little bit of everything.

Therese Nahimana took part in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, and though she didn’t place in the top three (for All-American honors), its safe to say that she had a good performance. She PR’d (set a personal record) not only in the preliminary stage, but then bested that in the finals, on Day 2. She entered the meet with a season

Mt. Hoods' Austin Dewolfe finishing third in the men's 110-meter hurdles.

best of 1:07.57 minutes, got third in the prelims with a time of 1:06.63, and finished in the finals with time of 1:06.24, good for seventh place.

In that same fashion, Taylor Presley ran her season best in the prelims of the 100-meters with a time of 12:82 seconds. It was enough to take her to the finals, where she also finished seventh.

An outstanding athlete to watch was dual-sport competitor Makenzie Smith. She was part of this year’s successful Saints women’s basketball team which reached the NWAC playoffs for the first time in years. Then, the 5-foot, 8-inch point guard took part in the women’s high jump where she was came just shy of Achieving All-American honors.

She finished with a jump of 1.55 meters, which was good for a tie for fourth place.

Those who did get AllAmerican honors were sophomore Erica Veltkamp in the 10,000-meter race and freshman Grace Buchanan in the javelin. Veltkamp also participated in the 5,000-meter race where she wasn’t too happy as she didn’t run as well as she would’ve wanted. She did have a great 10k, where she PR’d with a time of 41:54 minutes (breaking her previous PR of 42:09) which had her finish in third.

Buchanan also did well in the

javelin. Though she didn’t PR, she finished with a throw of 128 feet, 6 inches, good enough for second.

In all, member of the Mt. Hood women’s team showed great heart and pride during this championship meet.

Photos by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

he was initially posted as finishing seventh, with a much slower time.

He huddled with MHCC co-coach Fernando Fantroy and they got it straightened out with meet officials – and that’s when he got the good news, that he’d broken 11 seconds.

Botchway also ran in the 200-meter dash which he again got another personal best of 22.25 seconds. But his Day 1 success affected him the next day in the finals, where he finished sixth in the 100m and seventh in the 200m.

Freshman Tayton LaPointe had an unbelievable performance

in the 800-meter final, which Fantroy called his highlight of the championship meet. With 200 meters remaining and being in fifth place, LaPointe pushed himself to third, with a season best of 1:57.08 minutes. LaPointe had only run in five meets this season, due to hip and foot injuries and just last week at the Lewis and Clark College Twilight Meet, he was disappointed with a 2:09, which by his standards was not acceptable. It was truly admirable how the Clackamas High School graduate finished strong at the NWACs and obtained All-American honors.

Another Saint who left it all on the track was freshman Austin Dewolfe, who finished third in the 110-meter hurdles with AllAmerican honors. He also ran an incredible 400-meter hurdle race, where he was leading over the last 39 meters but got edged out right at the finish by Spokane’s Austin Albertin. It was a great finish that had everyone in the MHCC stands up on their feet, wondering who had won.

Overall, the Saints had strong performances in the NWACs, full of season bests, All-American honors, and achieving season-long goals.

The good news is that most of them are freshmen, who will be returning next year much stronger.

The Saints’ season motto was ‘FINISH STRONG’ and Fantroy already has a new motto in mind for next season: “We’re ‘RAISING THE BAR’!”

ABOVE: Michael Botchway striding toward the finish line. LEFT: Erica Veltkamp happy with her All-American award in the 5k..

Men’s highlights On the men’s side, there were also strong finishes.

Mt. Hood freshman sprinter Michael Botchway took part in the men’s 100-meter race. He had a great prelim run, where he finally broke under 11 seconds, a season goal.

He finished with a time of 10:99, but there was a bit of confusion, as

Photo by: Jeff Hinds

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Photo by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

Mount Hood’s Taylor Presley focuses as she competes in the NWAC Championship this past Tuesday.

She ran the 100- and 200-meter dash, finishing seventh in the 100m.

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To view more images of NWAC coverage, advocate-online.net