The Advocate, Issue 3, Oct. 5, 2012

Gresham, Oregon | October 5, 2012 | Volume 48, Issue 3

advocate the

The independent student voice of Mt. Hood Community College

WWW. ADVO CATE -O NLI NE . NE T

Wanted: Cyber-warriors

MHCC students can learn how to be on the frontline of Web security John Tkebuchava The Advocate

MHCC has started producing its own “cyber warriors” for the first time this year, with the launch of the new CyberSecurity and Networking Associate of Applied Science Degree.

Launched this fall term, enrollment for courses within the program have already exceeded 100 percent, according to president Michael Hay’s president’s report in the September district board meeting.

“We ran two cybersecurity-specific classes.

Both of those classes (are) waitlisted,” said Wayne Machuca, CIS instructor and also one of the developers of the program.

Machuca said the new program is being closely worked together with the existing networking courses.

“There is a lot of crossover (between cybersecurity and networking),” he said.

Machuca said the reasoning behind combining the two programs is that the subject of cybersecurity is very broad.

“When we look at the topic of cyber security, it’s absolutely huge,” he said. “We can’t attack all of (the parts of cyber security).

There’s just too much to try and take a bite out of,” he said.

“It (combining networking and cyber security) seemed to make the most sense mostly because the networking program was already established,” Machuca said. “We took the fundamentals of the networking degree and completely rebuilt it from the cyber security perspective.”

See “Cyber” on Page 3

OP-ED:

TWO YEARS

VS.

MANY YEARSpage 2

Prez search forums look for feedback Jen Ashenberner The Advocate

Approximately 35 members of the college community attended this week’s four presidential search forums, according to Maggie Huffman, director of communications.

“We are trying to engage all types of people,” said district board member Dave Shields at Wednesday night’s forum held in the Visual Arts Theater.

The search for a new college president was officially launched last week. Michael Hay, who is retiring in June, was selected to serve as interim president in June 2010 after then-President John Sygielski left to take a similar position at Harrisburg (Pa.) Area Community College.

A list of ideal characteristics were handed out to people attending the forums. Outlined on the list were: “able to foster trust and respect among all members of the college community, student centered and personally interacts with students, and highly visible in the community.”

One person in the audience Wednesday asked if Hay will play any part in the candidate selection process. “The board has absolute authority,” said Shields.

Shields said the board is hoping to have the selection process completed and a new president chosen by April and the forums, which were held Wednesday and Thursday, are a way to collect community feedback before the interviews begin.

According to the MHCC website, the board selected a search firm to compile a list of candidates for the position. Community College Search Services (CCSS) is handling the search. The company’s top consultant, Michael Viera, will be liaison. He was unable to attend this week’s forums due to a family emergency, according to Shields.

The college is preparing a survey for students, staff, faculty, and community members to fill out online at the MHCC website in order to submit their feedback if they are unable to attend forums.

Get to steppin’:

VOLLEYBALL STEAMROLLS OVER LINNBENTON AND REMAINS

UNDEFEATED

page 8

MHCC will engage in evacuation drills on the Gresham campus Wednesday, Oct. 11 (at 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.), and Thursday, Oct. 12 (9:40 a.m. and 10:10 a.m.). Students and staff should evacuate to perimeter areas, and should not attempt to drive vehicles during the drills.

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Opinion Oct. 5, 2012

The optimist and the realist sound off. MHCC: a two-year school? ously wonder how some students have managed to make it this far in life without basic skills. An optimistic attitude and some patience are much needed.

Much reading is expected. Every high school teacher of mine seemed to say that we had better get used to reading because, it’s all we would be doing in college. Thus far, they have been right.

I have yet to experience the madness of the bookstore, yet I expect to waste much time and money on overpriced items there. It makes no sense to wait in a large line for multiple hours, when books can be obtained in other ways, before school begins. However, I’m sure there will be a time when I cannot see this logic.

When interviewing other first-year students about their reason for attending MHCC, the answer I most often received was for “financial reasons.” Therefore, I expect most students to not be especially pleased at their enrollment or want to be here at all.

I do not expect to be greeted on campus with smiling faces enthusiastic about their majors. Rather, I expect people of a wide variety of ages just doing what they need to do to get a degree or transfer to another school. On the other hand, I expect to find the rare person who is enthusiastic and passionate about what they are doing.

I hope to fall into this category.

Those who expect their instructors to treat them like children, I find foolish. I do not expect instructors to monitor my every move.

Realistically, I expect to change my major; according to MSNBC, over 50 percent of college freshmen that declare a major will change it at least once.

To me, college is a time to figure out if what you want to do now is actually what you want to do for the rest of your life. It’s a time to branch out, try new things and see what results.

Who knows, maybe after two years I will be heading in a completely different direction and my stated expectations will be proven on the contrary to what I experienced at MHCC.

Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

I’m two weeks into the first of two years, hopefully, at MHCC. I have heard that a student’s planned timeline usually turns into a couple additional terms, which results in the “I have to get out of here” attitude that many third-year students possess.

So far, the faculty has been pleasant and helpful and I have managed not to get too lost.

The only unusual happening I have observed so far was the music in the Main Mall during New Student Orientation and the atmosphere that resembled a high school dance. I was not sure why dancing is required in an orientation for a place of academics, yet it was.

What do I expect from my time here?

“College will be more interesting than high school because you get to take classes that interest you” is a phrase I have often heard and believed. The majority of the courses I will take should be interesting to me, or so I hope.

I expect my courses to challenge me. I understand that all of them may not, but hope that they pose more of a challenge than high school courses that I so hurriedly departed from in my three years at Sam Barlow.

Thus far I have been disappointed and anxiously anticipate the day we progress past subject matter I previously learned during middle school. Sometimes I seri-

Correction Janet McIntyre’s as the dean of Integrated Media. To clarify, Barker is now the dean of Business, Information Systems and Integrated Media.

In the “McIntyre leaves Integrated Media for Social Science” story in Sept. 28 issue of The Advocate, it states that Rodney Barker is the former dean of Business and Information Systems and will be replacing

A note of thanks...

The Advocate would like to thank Klara Perez, a second-year Graphic Design student. Earlier this year, The Advocate staff worked with the GD 153 “Concept, Creativity and Unity“ class for a weekly

poster template for Advocate issue promotion. After viewing all of them, the editorial board of The Advocate chose Perez’s template.

Shelby Schwartz The Advocate

When I started at this institution of higher learning over two years ago, I was a mere bright-eyed and ambitious “first-year,” so to say.

I thought I had my entire two years at MHCC planned out. My plan of action was to take 16 to 18 credits each term, work on the newspaper as a staff writer to help build my skills and work 30 hours a week.

My plan quickly unraveled as I realized there was no way in hell I would be out of Gresham and working on my last two years at U of O after two years at MHCC. Now in my third year and a slightly more cynical student, I have almost come to terms with the fact that I wanted to have my associate’s degree by last spring and here I am two weeks into my third year and guess what? The sad truth is I’m most likely going to be here next fall as well. I never thought I would be a community college student this long. By my personal standards, I should be a junior at a four-year university.

When I made my two-year plan for community college, I also made a two-year plan for when I entered a university. I had every single class I would take at MHCC planned out. No joke. But then something really unfortunate happened. I failed a class, and then I failed another class, and then I dropped a few classes here and there and then I started being a part- time student, and then I was a full-time student again but some really crappy stuff happened and I dropped some classes. All of this contributed to delay my degree progress.

I am noticing through a lot of friends and acquaintances that many people are no longer finishing their associate degrees in a mere two years. Because let’s face it, life happens. Family tragedies, bills and general living expenses make it hard to keep up as a full-time student. Most people are making their way through college as full-time students, but students who work part-time and are involved in a school activity or have a family to take care of have an even harder time keeping up with all the demands of life as well as being a student.

the advocate

When I entered MHCC I had to take prerequisite courses in order to qualify for some of my math and writing courses because I placed lower than I should have. So I’m not really sure who MHCC is trying to fool because most people I know do not place directly into Math 111. Most people’s proficiencies are much lower than that, considering many community college students are starting school for the first time in 10, 20 or 30 years or after being laid off from their jobs or needing to provide for a family or maybe go to school for the first time so that they may get a promotion or a higher paying job.

Colleges are no longer just for fresh-outof-high school students and, as a community college student myself, I feel that we are very different than university students. For starters, I live at home and although I don’t pay rent I also don’t ask my parents for anything. I mainly provide for myself and my expenses for right now, as well as saving money so that moving out and attending a university can be possible.

I often wonder what my life would be like if I had gotten good grades in high school. Would I have gone off to college and finished my bachelor’s in four years? Or would I have taken the same path I am on now? I’m not disappointed with my life as a community college student. I’m disappointed that I will have spent four years at a twoyear school and I will still only be halfway done with my degree.

The point in all of this is figuring out if MHCC is really a two-year school.

According to the 2011 MHCC fact book, in the fall of 2011 18 percent of MHCC students were employed full time, which is a lower percentage than during 20072010. During those years, the percentage of students who were employed full-time dropped slowly each year.

A similar pattern with part-time working students happened during the years of 2007-2010. At the same time, the numbers of students who were employed part-time also dropped. Right now the percentages of employed part time students are at 30 percent, which is down from previous years.

The average associate’s degree or transfer degree is lined out as two years or six terms, possibly eight terms if that student takes summer courses and each term is 16 to 18 credits on average. But if you think about your personal plan, whether you are a beginning college student or you know your way around campus like me, I want everyone reading this to think about your plan to get an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or beyond. Did you start here thinking you’d be done in two years? Did you or are you finishing in two years? How many years have you been a student and what is holding you back from that degree? We want your feedback on our website www. advocate-online.net.

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News

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Cyber: MHCC offers new security program

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Continued from Page 1 Asked if he believes the college may expand the program — given that enrollment for the program has been high — he said, “Absolutely we do and that’s just from the enrollment perspective.”

“The other reason we should look to expanding is quite frankly this is an area where there’s some real potential,” said Machuca.

Those who complete the two-year cyber security program receive an associate’s degree of applied science.

Machuca said the college is looking into creating a oneyear certificate as well.

For students who feel intimidated by the words cyber security or feel that they don’t know enough about computers to succeed in the program, Machuca says they could not be more wrong.

Asked whether students should have a background in computer information systems before joining the program, Machuca said, “If you asked me in 1995, we would say ‘you got to make sure everyone has some background.’ But one of the things we are seeing that’s different in the students going into the program is that there are many people walking in the door with technical skills already,” he said.

He said that in schools nowadays, students are taught as young as middle school about how to use numerous computer programs.

“You guys have more computer experience than you realize,” he said. However, he added, “Can someone come in through the door with zero (experience with computers)? Yes. Will they be challenged? Yes.”

According to Machuca, students who finish the program are looking at a career in an expanding marketplace for computer information and a high demand for people with their set of skills.

“When we look at the marketplace right now, where are the jobs? The answer is, in spite of how bad the economy is right now, we are experiencing the greatest amount of growth and opportunities in two places: one, in nursing, and two, in the computer sciences,” he said.

“For information technology (IT), there are many ways you can get to a successful opportunity,” he said.

The program was brought into development after a national initiative was pressed by President Barack Obama to provide more cyber security education at colleges to help strengthen the cyber front.

This initiative is being brought about in the midst of major hacking events in recent years.

Last week, major banking companies such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo were subject to cyber attacks in what was called the biggest cyber attack in banking history.

Even the White House itself is not safe from cyber attacks. Tuesday morning, White House representatives announced one of its unclassified networks was attacked.

According to a New York Times article “Cyberwarfare Emerges from Shadows for Public Discussion by U.S. Officials”, up to 12 of the world’s 15 largest militaries are taking steps toward building cyberwarfare programs.

Machuca said he’s happy that the White House announced they were attacked because “it keeps us aware

of the importance of cyber security.”

“If you’ve got a medical clinic, a small business, or if it’s just you at your home on your own networks, you’re vulnerable,” he said.

“We’re all vulnerable. When we’re talking about cyber security, it’s not just some kid in his mom’s basement.

It’s more important than that,” he said, adding that the Chinese government was one of the primary suspects of the White House attack.

Beyond your run-of-the-mill “basement” hackers looking for monetary gain, there are numerous other vigilante-like “hacktivists” that have risen up in recent years.

One of the more famous hacktivist groups, “Anonymous”, which often symbolize itself with a Guy Fawkes mask popularized in the film “V for Vandetta,” can be credited for taking down several child-porn websites as well as attacks on U.S. government websites belonging to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in protest of the Stop Online Pirating Act (SOPA) and the Protect Internet Privacy Act (PIPA).

Though the MHCC cyber security program is still in its infancy, Machuca said that there is plenty of room to grow.

“We are grateful to (MHCC President) Michael Hay and the administration for developing this new degree.

There is a whole lot yet to come on that horizon for us,” said Machuca.

“It’s more than firewall. This goes way beyond firewall at this point.”

Photo by Cameron Miller/The Advocate

Seminars offer topics to aid with schoolwork Kayla Tatum The Advocate

Starting Monday, the MHCC Learning Success Center will hold “Scholarship Week: Free Money for College,” a workshop series where students can receive guidance in finding the right scholarships to further their education.

The first workshop is called “Successful Scholarships,” from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday in the Town and Gown Room (adjacent to the Vista Dining Hall).

In addition, on Oct. 19 the Learning Success Center is offering a one-on-one personal statement review about scholarships, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room AC50. The one-on-one review gives students help in filling out scholarship applications.

The Learning Success Center also holds a Student Success Seminar series that is designed to help guide students towards success in school. The seminar runs through the fall term of the school year and everyone is encouraged to come.

Many of the seminars are held in AC2307 and there are a variety of topics that are designed to help students with schoolwork and lifestyle. The knowledge learned allows students to express their college work challenges openly and helps them brainstorm ways to help balance schoolwork and personal life. The seminars involve interaction with others and helpful exercises that inspire students to think outside the box and set different goals for themselves.

Two seminars this week in AC2307 are “Better Test Scores with Better Notes” from 1:10 to 2 p.m. on Monday and “Get the Most from your Textbooks” from 2:10 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The entire list of seminars for the fall term can be found on the MHCC website, on the Learning Success Center web page.

Many instructors direct students toward the Student Success Seminar, which has raised interest. “We encourage instructors to give their students extra credit for attending,” said Larry Gilius, Learning Services coordinator, involved with the seminars at MHCC for many years. “I want to give them one or two more things that they can use to be better students,” he said.

“A better student is a student who studies comfortably and effectively without strain or struggle,” Gilius said. “I want them to realize that there are simple, effective ways to make studying easier.”

For more information about the Student Success Seminars or Scholarship Week, contact Gilius, the Learning Services coordinator, at 503-491-7507.

“I donʼt think the federal government spends nearly enough on education. About 6 percent of the federal budget on education is, to me, just hard to believe when in an era when we are competing with China and the Euro-zone. So Iʼm hoping if the president gets reelected that we really beef up our investment in our school system. I mean, as you well know, very few jobs are available without at least a technical certificate or an associate degree and thatʼs what community colleges do,” Gov. John Kitzhaber said during his Thursday visit to the MHCC Gresham campus.

Kitzhaber, pictured above in the Town and Gown room, toured the campus and interacted with students.

For a full Q & A with Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and other exclusive web content go to our website at

www.Advocate-Online.net

Oct. 5, 2012

Web Photo

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Living Arts the day tripper your weekly event planner

Friday 10.5

N. portland

Portland’s Scream Park will open tonight and will run on selected nights through Halloween. Events include haunted houses, scary carnival rides, trick or treating, various special events and live music. Prices are $40 for an All You Can Scream pass, $25 for a Haunt-Only pass, $20 for a Ride-Only pass and $8 for a Single Haunt pass. On Oct 5-6 and 12-13, a $5 discount will be given to students and teachers with school ID. Weekend Little Screamer Fairs family friendly. These events are $3 per person, ages 6 and up. Dates and details for the various events can be found on the web at www.screampdx.com. The park is located at 1940 N. Victory Blvd., Portland.

N. portland

Friday 10.5

Review:

Fright Town opens tonight. It includes a Museum of Horror and several haunted houses. There will be 2-for-1 and $10 tickets on select nights, with regular admission at $20 to enter.

Additional information can be found at www.frighttown.com. Fright Town is held in the Portland Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, Portland.

Saturday 10.6

yamhill

Shelby Schwartz The Advocate

Race the Reaper is an adventure race happening Oct. 6-7. The event will benefit the Oregon Mission of Mercy, which provides free dental care to Oregonians. The cost is $75 for Regular Heats, $85 for the Elite Heats races. Starting times, registration and more information can be found at www.racethereaper.org.

The races will be at the Flying-M-Ranch, 23029 NW Flying M Road, Yamhill.

sunday 10.7

SW portland

First Thursday concert

Photo by John Long/The Advocate

The new exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, The Human Body in Ancient Greece, opened last night. The exhibit comes from London’s British Museum’s renowned collection of Greek and Roman sculpture, of which many have never been seen in the United States. It will contain more than 120 objects of marble and bronze. General admission for the museum is $15 for adult and $12 for students with ID. It is an extra $5 for the exhibit. The Portland Art Museum is located at 1219 SW Park Ave. For more information, visit www.pam.org or call 503-226-2811.

David Gerow and Cheddar of Sneakinʼ Out performing at the Fireplace Gallery

A capella comedy offers audience many laughs If you wanted a movie with an exciting twist, a suspenseful plot or an original story line, Pitch Perfect your movie.

But if you are looking for a good laugh and you don’t care that most of the acting is sub par and the story line is pretty much what anyone would have guessed then here you are.

Anna Kendrick, of “Twilight” fame and Oscar nominated actress for “Up in the Air” stars as the movie’s rebellious heroine.

Most of the supporting cast of actors are not well known; they add to the script but do not enhance it.

However some of the movies main characters, Rebel Wilson (Brynn of “Bridesmaids”) stars as the hilarious Fat Amy, Anna Camp as Aubrey and Brittany Snow as Chloe.

The actors and actresses who are mostly in their mid to late twenties are playing 18-22 year old characters. It would be nice if actors could play characters that matched their aged groups for once. But that is a minor detail that does not hinder the movie.

The story centers at the fictional Barden University where Kendrick’s Beca is starting as a freshman. Beca is unhappy starting college because she dreamed of moving to LA to become a DJ. During a club fair Beca meets seniors Aubrey (Camp) and Chloe (Snow) the leaders of the all girl a capella group the Bellas.

Angsty Beca initially does not want to join the Bellas or any other campus activity. So her dad makes her promise that if she joins a campus group and after a year, if she is still unhappy and doesn’t want to go to college he will allow her to move to L.A. and try her hand at a music career.

The university has 4 a capella groups, two of which are irrelevant

to the story. The Bellas are enemies with an all boys group, The Treble Makers, who always win the singing competitions. The Treble Makers are led by Bumper, he’s pretty much a tool. You want to slap him for being such a jerk but many of the film’s laughs should be credited to him.

The Bellas were formerly made up of the quintessential “pretty girls” but after a humiliating scene at a competition the year before they lost respect and most of their members leaving only Aubrey and Chloe and during auditions they are given a group of misfit outcasts to reform the Bellas with.

The Bellas only sing songs made famous by women, usually older hits that they sing at every competition. Desperate to win and stop the humiliation, Beca suggests that they sing more current upbeat tunes. But Aubrey will not allow it and the argument between the two girls literally spans throughout the entire movie up until there is ten minutes left of the movie and the Bellas are about to compete against the Treble makers and other college a capella groups at the international championship for college a capella (ICCA). This argument should have been something that was resolved early on but then the script wouldn’t have been long enough. My main issue with the ridiculous arguing was how immature it was, it was silly and unbelievable.

The characters are hilarious, the singing is pretty good, some of the jokes are raunchy but not so inappropriate that kids couldn’t see the film and oh and there’s a forbidden romance.

“Pitch Perfect” is a dumb movie with great laughs that entertains the audience throughout the entire film. I would suggest seeing this if you are into silly comedies.

The film releases today and runs for 112 minutes.

Living Arts

the advocate Club Feature:

Photo by Dorothy Ocacio/ The Advocate

Dorothy Ocacio The Advocate

Being a good writer can open the door to many fields. One MHCC instructor who teaches writing is also using her talent in the art of story telling.

MHCC English instructor and published writer Lidia Yuknavitch has proven she knows her material.

Her latest work, “Dora: A Head Case,” has been well received since its release Aug. 7.

There is an introduction in the book by Chuck Palahniuk, author of “Fight Club” and several other novels.

It is “a contemporary comingof-age story based on Freud’s famous case study—retold and revamped through Dora’s point of view, with shotgun blasts of dark humor and sexual play,” says the description on Amazon.

“Well, in part it’s a reclamation story of Freud’s original patient Dora, yes,” Yuknavitch said, “but it’s not necessary to know that to read the book.

“Dora is a compilation character.

She’s a little piece in all of us. Teen rebel. Aberrant young adult. Or just our id,” said Yuknavitch. “And the form of the book is farce, so that let me construct absurd and symbolic actions that are funny on the surface and serious underneath. It’s my love letter to misfits, nerds, introverts and art outcasts.”

Yuknavitch had her first book, a collection of short stories titled “Her Other Mouths,” published in 1987. “Liberty’s Excess” and “Reel to Reel” were both released in the early 2000s and are also collections of short stories.

Last year, she diverted from her fiction writing and took on the task of writing “Chronology of Water:

Lidia Yuknavitch, Instructor of English and author of “Dora: A Head Case”, in her office on the MHCC campus

A Memoir.” The book is her life story, from the bad to the good. It has gotten good reviews from most critics, is a finalist for the 2012 Oregon Book Award, where she won the “reader’s choice award” category and won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award.

“It was both a radical crucible — writing that book nearly killed me — and a healing; experiences and emotions moving through me instead of me drowning in them,” Yuknavitch said about writing “Chronology.” “But I didn’t do it for just me. I wrote if for an imagined ‘us’ — a tribe of people I know are out there who feel like they are messing up or want to give up or are just lonely in their experiences.

Our stories count, too,” she said.

An admitted introvert, Yuknavitch said she has found the attention she’s received from her works somewhat overwhelming, but she is adjusting.

She has done interviews with The Rumpus, Bookslut, National Public Radio (NPR) and The Oregonian. Cheryl Strayed, another writer from Portland, also recommended “Dora” in People Magazine.

Yuknavitch has several upcoming dates for readings: Wordstock at the Oregon Conventional Center on Oct. 13; What Where Series at Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics on Oct. 23; Olympia Timberline Library on Dec. 6; and Richard Hugo House on Dec. 13.

Besides her published works, Yuknavitch teaches several classes on introduction to college writing and a creative writing class. She is also an adviser for Perceptions and women’s studies, according to the MHCC website.

Yuknavitch has been teaching for 25 years.

Asked if enrollment has increased recently, Yuknavitch said, “Not really. The classes I teach have been full for the most part since I started here (at MHCC) 12 years ago -- but more writers show up at my door, which is cool. And people who are having a hard time know how to find me. I had a hard time, too, so I get it.”

“Every year I wonder how I can keep balancing wife/mother/teacher/practicing writer,” Yuknavitch said. “But teachers helped me once in my life when I was in community college — they helped me claw my way back from the gutter — so I’m trying to give back, help others see their own value and paths.”

“Writing gave me a life,” said Yuknavitch. “It saved me when I wanted to check out, it gave me the freedom to express rather than self destruct —and even now, it keeps me tethered to the world and to people. Otherwise, I’d float away.”

As for her parting words, she said, “Keep writing. Never surrender.”

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New forestry club helps students branch out and ‘get dirty’ Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

The MHCC chapter of the Society of American Foresters is working on a presentation for the Salmon Festival in November, an event that links forest conditions and water quality.

The third Annual Salmon Festival will be Nov. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Multnomah Falls.

The function of the club, which opened in January, “really has to do with if ever you touch, look at, or think about trees,” said club Chair Kitt Jennings. This is a student chapter of the national organization that was founded in 1900.

Most chapters are made up of working professionals.

The MHCC chapter’s first meeting will be on Tuesday from 12-1 p.m. at Geno’s Grill on the corner of Stark and Kane.

Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month during fall term. The club hopes to have a speaker at each meeting, including the first. The speaker will be a professional with information relevant to its projects.

“We knew about the organization and had a good idea of the benefits they had to offer,” said Jennings.

Jennings said networking is one of the biggest benefits the organization offers. “The connections that you make mean a lot. It’s definitely helpful in the long term,” she said.

“There are lots of places where forestry intersects other things. I think that’s where the stuff we do is most important,” said Jennings.

The chapter currently has eight SAF members on campus. However, Jennings anticipates up to 40 active members this year.

Due to the changing industry, SAF recently opened membership to any students in the Natural Resources program.

To join the group, paid dues are required. Any student can attend the club meetings without being a member of SAF. With SAF membership, students receive voting rights within the chapter as well as benefits from the larger organization, such as a graduation ring and scientific journals.

The chapter will aim to host the Portland SAF chapter on campus each year. The Portland chapter is made up of professionals, and club adviser Jason Pinkerton is a

member.

The MHCC chapter also hopes to attend the state convention annually.

“One of the best things that happened to us at the last state convention was meeting some of the well-established chapters,” said Jennings. She hopes seeing other chapters will show MHCC chapter members how their club could develop here.

Members hope to have joint meetings with other student chapters, such as the one at Oregon State University.

Service-related projects that benefit MHCC and the community are where the club wants to aim its focus.

Jennings hopes to gain permission to clean up and maintain the overgrown planters throughout the campus. Cut firewood and spring native plant sale fundraisers are also in the process.

One of the goals of the chapter is to become self-sufficient through advertising in order to stage more interesting campus events on campus.

Jennings believes the chapter increases interest in the Natural Resources program. “It’s a little gold star for MHCC,” she said.

Jennings already holds a natural resources degree from MHCC and a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject.

She is working toward the graduate program at OSU for plant physiology and pathology.

“Our program here is great,” she said. The research work she hopes to pursue requires a master’s degree, however.

As a first-year student, Jennings worked for companies at the state level. After becoming an SAF officer, she was offered jobs at the federal level — so many offers that she was able to turn down jobs in favor of ones that sounded most interesting.

“Especially if you like getting dirty and want to help out on campus, I think we would be a pretty good club to stick with,” she said. “We are really proud of the work we put into getting a chapter going.”

Those interested in attending the chapter’s meetings or events should contact Jason Pinkerton at Jason.pinkerton@ mhcc.edu. If interested in joining the SAF, they can visit the website, and Pinkerton has paper applications and can assist in applying.

6

News Oct. 5, 2012

Middle East talks Dorothy Ocacio - The Advocate

News briefs Three car thefts occured during September Three car thefts — on Sept. 10, 27 and 28 — have been reported on the MHCC Gresham campus.

All incidents occurred on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in parking lots A, F and J. The vehicles stolen were Honda Accords: a 1991 model and two 1992 models. No suspects have been identified as of Wednesday, according to the Public Safety department.

Public Safety encourages staff and students to watch and report suspicious activity as well as to take precautions against theft.

“The best advice we have is to install anti-theft devices; they seem to be deterrents,” said Gale Blessing, director of public safety. “The Club” is an anti-theft device available for purchase in the campus bookstore.

Do not leave anything of value inside your vehicle, urges Public Safety. Also, immediately report missing or stolen vehicles.

To report suspicious persons or activity on campus, call Public Safety’s non-emergency number (503)-491-7310. In case of emergency, call (503)-491-7911.

The Historiansʼ Roundtable discussion Wednesday, “Why all the anger in the Middle East?” covered how past wrongs and misinterpretations of cultures have caused the current anger in the Middle East. The forum, led by Pat Casey, consisted of MHCC faculty members Janet Campbell, Judit Szentirmay, Jennifer Snoek-Brown, Anne Schultz, Elizabeth Milliken, Joe Cavalli, Rick Knight, Jesse Merz and Chris Jackson. Several have lived in the Middle East while others teach about aspects of the Middle East in their classes. The floor was opened to audience questions during the last 15 minutes. Roundtable discussions are typically scheduled once per term.

Above: Janet Campbell gives her views while Pat Casey looks on.

Dr. Seuss can teach you about politics, too Danielle Caldwell The Advocate

A new seminar is being offered at MHCC about the political issues and themes embedded in the children’s books written by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel).

“Politics through Dr. Seuss” will be held during fall term at 3 to 3:50 p.m. on Tuesdays in Room AC1609 on the Gresham campus. The class began on Oct. 2 and will run for nine weeks. MHCC political science instructor Janet Campbell will run the seminar.

“All are welcome to attend for fun, extra credit or one credit,” said Campbell. (Today is the deadline for students to register to earn one elective course credit.)

Students who are just curious about how “Cat in The Hat” is considered political or interested about the subject may attend and participate in the seminar without receiving credit.

Those who have read the best-selling author’s books might question how he may have channeled the future generation through his imaginative places and characters. But, this aspect of Dr. Seuss’ work has been discussed in the documentary released in 2004 (the year Geisel would have turned 100), “The Political Lens of Dr. Seuss,” featured on PBS’s Independent Lens. According to DiscoveryNews.com, the documentary explored how he subliminally taught kids to be better people and readers by embedding political themes within his books, dealing with democracy, consumerism, environmental awareness, prejudice, power and diversity.

In Campbell’s class, students will explore these issues through Seuss books such as “The Butter Battle Book,” which references the Soviet Union and the United States and the arms race; “The Sneetches,” which addresses racism and discrimination; “The Lorax,” which angles against monopolies; and, “Yurtle the Turtle,” said to have been modeled after once-powerful dictator Adolf Hitler.

New, relatable material will be drawn from books “Cat in The Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham,” and for the final project, students will write a children’s story of their own.

Fall into a club at the club fair Around 15 student clubs are expected to take part in this year’s Club Fair, which will be held in the Main Mall from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

The list of active clubs on campus has been updated through the summer term, said Student Events Coordinator Meadow McWhorter.

Among them are the Alpine Racing, Gamers and Ceramics clubs.

This list may change if new clubs become active or current clubs become inactive during the fair, themed “Fall into a Club.” The list can be found at www.mhcc.edu/clubs.

“Clubs help students get involved at MHCC,” said Leksi Lizotte, the Associated Student Government (ASG) director of the Student Organizational Council (SOC). “Some even offer scholarships and field trips,” she said.

Lizotte said the SOC table will give index cards to students to track the different club tables they’re visiting. Students who visit 10 tables can enter their index card into a drawing for “Back to School” themed gift baskets.

SOC also will award a prize to the best-decorated club table at the fair.

Lizotte represents clubs by “providing direction, handling funding requests, helping clubs to advertise themselves, and organizing the club fair,” she said.

Anyone interested in starting a new club at MHCC can pick up a How to Start a Club packet from the SOC table at the fair, or at the Student Union.

College center experiences name change This fall, the MHCC College Center has officially been renamed the Student Union.

It initially was named the College Center because it is technically at the center of campus. However, Associated Student Government members suggested the space acquire a more fitting name.

The new name describes what happens there: It’s a place where students come to eat, listen to live music, look at art and meet up -- overall, the “union” of students.

College Center Director David Sussman (his title remains unchanged, for now) said the switch was inspired by how students view the space, “like a living room, a place for students to come and hang out.” He said he hopes the new name will be “more fitting and inviting for students.”

For information on the MHCC presidential search visit www.advocate-online.net

Sports

the advocate

7 Photo contributed by Matt Hart

Depleted cross country squads continue to struggle Forced to compete without complete teams, MHCC cross country is hoping to find some new recruits as it heads into its first bye week of the season John Tkebuchava The Advocate

Competing against a small horde of nearly 200 runners, Saints cross country freshman Christa Collmer managed to place in the top 60 of the women’s 5K race at the Charles Bowles Invitational last Saturday in Salem.

Collmer was the highest MHCC finisher, placing 56th with a time of 19:43.

Though the women’s team ran without a complete team for the second week in a row, the team was able to snag a new member in freshman Monica Amaro, giving the women’s team its third member; they are now two away from a complete team.

In the women’s 5K, Amaro was the second MHCC finisher,

placing 138th in 21:31, and was followed by sophomore Molly Scoles, who placed 180th in 23:31.

In a bit of a change from last week, the men’s team ran their first 8K race (5 miles) of the season, whereas at the opener they ran in a 4-mile race.

Freshman Vlad Ishenin once again led the Saints, placing 157th in 27:55, with his fellow freshmen coming in close behind with Nathan Geiter in 165th (28:05) and Alex Seymour in 168th (28:08).

The men’s team was without freshman Lt Avants at the meet, which brought them down to four runners, making both the men’s and women’s team incomplete and left out in the cold as far as team scoring is concerned.

Head cross country coach Matt Hart said Avants had an unspeci-

“We are hopeful that we will have more people interested in being a part of our team and participating in a great sport .”

- Matt Hart, cross country coach

Preview

Day

fied personal issue but should be participating in the next meet.

With both teams competing without full teams this last weekend, Hart, asked why recruiting has been as tough as it is, said, “Recruiting is such a big issue this year because without actively recruiting individuals to compete as team, we were at the mercy of whether or not people would walk onto the team.”

“We did have great luck with the people we have returning and the couple individuals we did re-

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Find Agenda, directions and RSVP at vancouver.wsu.edu/preview Ask about the Border Bill—it lets Oregon residents pay in-state tuition.

cruit but we could have a much larger team if we were more active in recruiting,” he said.

The cross country team is taking this weekend off in their first of two bye-weeks this season.

With this extra time off, Hart is looking to bring that roster list up a bit more.

“We are hopeful that we will have more people interested in being a part of our team and participating in a great sport,” said Hart.

“There are definitely men and women on campus right now

that could help our team but they may not know about the opportunity or don’t think they are good enough,” he said.

As such, Hart encourages any students who may be interested in running on the cross country team to contact him. Those interested can contact him at 503-491-7455 or at Matt.Hart@mhcc.edu.

The team’s next meet is the Mike Hodges Invite on Oct. 12 at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City. The first race will begin at 3:30 p.m.

‘Fall Ball’ provides insight for expectations in the spring Aaron Marshall

Join us 1 p.m. Saturday, October 13 Academic programs Paying for college

Above center: Sophomore Christa Collmer right in the middle of the pack at the Charles Bowles Invitational. Collmer was the highest placing finishers on the team, placing 56th out of 199 runners at the meet last Saturday.

Practice takes time and effort and the softball team is starting now.

As annual fall-ball sessions start, the Saints look to build from last year and become a better team than before.

According to Head Coach Meadow McWhorter, 27 women are participating in this year’s fall-ball.

Even though scores are not counted in fall-ball, it is a good time for Coaches to see how the players look before the season in the spring.

“From what I have seen so far, I can see we have stronger pitching this year,” said McWhorter.

“Our players are progressing

well this year, I am excited,” she said.

Coming into this season, the team conspicuously knows how to win, winning three NWACC titles in the past four seasons. They have also made the playoffs in the conference the past ten years.

Coming up tomorrow during the day, the fall-ball team is scheduled to play a double header, playing Portland State University at 10 a.m. and Corban

University at 2 p.m., both games is at home.

Last September, four Saints players were chosen to play in the Sophomore All-Star Game, which included Shortstop Kali Van Cleave, Catcher Courtney McCarthy, Left Fielder Heather Jett, and Third Baseman Lola Ciu. The team will conclude its fall schedule on Oct. 14 in Medford, for the South Valley Tournament.

“From what I have seen so far, I can see we have stronger pitching this year.”

- Meadow McWhorter, head softball coach

8

Sports Oct. 5, 2012

Volleyball remains undefeated after 5-set win over Roadrunners Shaun Lutz The Advocate

The Saints’ volleyball team continued to roll through the Southern Region of the NWAACC last Friday.

A five set victory over the Linn Benton Roadrunners (25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12) kept Mt. Hood undefeated in the South, improving to 4-0 on the young season.

After sweeping their way through their first three wins, the Saints were pressed for the full five sets last week.

Alternating wins throughout the first four games, MHCC ultimately earned a hard fought win.

Asked who played well, head coach Chelsie Speer mentioned sophomores Tori Kemper (27 kills), Alyssa Hall (32 assists) and Kelsey Merritt (33 digs on the evening),

as well as a notable contribution by freshman setter Morgan Entze, aiding the Saints with 27 assists.

Only returning six players from last season, two redshirts and four players who got playing time, the team has collectively stepped up as a unit to continue their reign at the top of the South.

However, Speer did mention the returners as team leaders. “Kelsey Merritt, Alyssa Hall,

both Kylie and Kaycie Kitzmiller, and Maycee Abendschein have all done such a nice job enforcing our tradition of hard work leading to success.”

With a strong start the team looks to repeat last year’s great finish. “Our expectations each year end with the same decisive goal: win the Southern Region and consecutively winning the NWAACC title,” said Speer.

With the road only getting tougher, Speer noted that their toughest competition outside the South seems to be Blue Mountain, Highline, Spokane and Walla Walla (who they’ve already played and beaten this season: 25-20, 1825, 15-11).

The Saints put their undefeated record on the line as they welcome the Clackamas Cougars to MHCC for their “Dig Pink” match tonight at 7 p.m.

“We are hopeful that we will have more people interested in being a part of our team and participating in a great sport .”

- Matt Hart, cross country coach

Sport New NBA rule aims to end “flopping” The NBA announced that after years of players “flopping,” or taking exaggerated falls to the floor to draw a foul, it would now be a violation for players who intentionally flop during games.

According to the new rules, players will get a warning the first time they get caught flopping; on the second time they will be fined $5,000. Then it increases to $10,000 for the third violation, $15,000 for the fourth violation and then $30,000 for a fifth time. Six or more violations for flopping can lead to a suspension.

The new rule has been met with uncertainty among players in the league. Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin seemed unsure what to think about the new rule, according to an interview posted on the ESPN website.

“I guess it’s good in the sense that it stops any of that from happening but, at the same time, you’re telling me if it’s game seven of the NBA finals and a guy has a chance to make a play, he’s going to be like, ‘Well, do I want this $10,000 or do I want a championship?’ Do you know what I mean?” Griffin said. “It’s one of those things that’s after the fact and not going to win or lose games for anybody.”

With the new rule, there come other questions as to how the violations will be handled.

For example, how will they know if they are taking a charge or flopping on soft contact? What does the NBA really consider flopping to be?

With the new season officially starting at the end of the month, it remains to be seen as to which floppers will choose to remain floppers and which players will help bring some more honesty back into the game.

In any event, floppers better have their checkbooks ready.

Former MHCC player named top pitcher in minor leagues Nick Struck, a former MHCC pitcher and a Clackamas High School graduate, was named minor league pitcher of the year after an impressive 14-10 record and posting a 3.18 ERA. Pitching in the Chicago Cubs system, he “struck” out 123 batters through the course of the season. His 14 victories lead not only his Double-A Tennessee Smokies, but it also led the entire Southern League.

Struck compiled a perfect 8-0 regular season record for the Saints and was named an All-NWAACC pitcher in the same season before being drafted in the 39th round of the 2009 amateur draft after spending one season at Mt. Hood.

— Shaun Lutz

SC entral - College Football Saturday, Oct. 6 #2 Oregon Ducks vs. #23 Washington Huskies, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN Network

Keith Price and the new look Huskies (3-1) come into Eugene after upsetting than #8 Stanford Cardinals last week. Their eyes will be on the prize, beating the powerhouse Oregon Ducks (5-0). The Ducks coming off a win Vs Washington State (51-26) will have plans otherwise as they look to stay undefeated and look

towards the future to the BCS championship game. Look for it to be a close game in the first half and the ducks will pull away in the second half. Are the Huskies prepared for Autzen Stadium?

Score Prediction: 42-28 Ducks

Saturday, Oct. 6 #14 Oregon State Beavers VS Washington State Cougars, 3:00PM on Pac-12 Network

The Oregon State Beavers look to keep their streak going as they host the Washington State Cougars. Last week the Beavers defeated the Arizona Wildcats to stay undefeated (3-0) after quarterback Sean Mannion threw for a career-high 433 yards. The

Cougars are hoping to bounce back after losing to the Ducks in a blowout. Prediction: Look for the Beavers to win this game handily and for Mannion to throw for another 300 yards or more.

Score Prediction: 35-14, Beavers.

Below: Oregon St. threw for a careerhigh 433 yards in a 38-35 win over Arizona.