The Advocate, Issue 5, October 19, 2012

Gresham, Oregon | October 19, 2012 | Volume 48, Issue 5

advocate the

The independent student voice of Mt. Hood Community College

WWW. ADVO CATE -O NLI NE . NE T

Backers of the proposed Wood Village casino suspend their campaign

Mike Mata The Advocate

Fold.

That’s what the backers of the proposed casino in Wood Village, “The Grange,” said Tuesday evening.

In a press release from www.thegrangeoregon.com on Tuesday, The Grange backers said, “We knew when we began this process it would be a challenge to break the existing political and gaming monopoly in Oregon, but we also knew there was a great opportunity to create a unique entertainment destination in Wood Village that provided jobs and new revenues for schools and public services.”

The campaign for The Grange will no longer run paid advertisements for state ballot Measures 82 and 83 and has put all operations on hold, the press release said.

By Wednesday, the office space for the proponents of The Grange was closed, with a note taped on the door saying, “Thanks for your support and enthusiasm for this project. We are sorry that we weren’t able to cross the finish line together with you. God Bless, – Wood Village Staff, Peter & Chuck.”

A copy of the press release also was posted.

Hot

 25 percent of revenue goes back to the community, with 12.5 percent going to schools.  Would provide 3,000 construction jobs and 2,000 salaried full-time jobs.

MEASURE 80:

STONER’S PARADISE? page 7

The press released continued, “In the end, the final decision is up to voters, and we will continue to hope for the best on Election Day. We believe we have made a positive, compelling case for a casino and entertainment center that truly would be fun for you and good for Oregon.”

Stacey Dycus, press representative for The Grange, was unavailable for comment.

Cynara Lilly, spokeswoman for an opposition effort, It’s Still a Bad Idea Committee, told the Oregonian newspaper on Tuesday, “We still think it’s really important to educate voters about the reality of these measures.”

Her group continues to run media advertisements that pan the casino effort.

The Grange, the proposed privately owned casino complex is still on the ballot under Measure 83. There also is Measure 82, which would allow for new, nontribal casinos elsewhere in Oregon if not within 60 miles of an existing tribal casino.

Another Oregonian story from Monday showed the Yes on 82 & 83 Committee has spent $5.4 million, while the It’s Still A Bad Idea Committee has spent $1.6 million.

In the proposal for The Grange, 25 percent of annual gross revenue from See “Grange” on Page 6 the establishment would’ve gone

Cold

 Would take away revenue from Oregon State Lottery, the second biggest source of income for the state.  Financial backers have a checkered history of investments in other states.

WINTER CLASSES

GRAB YOUR BALLOTS

The class schedule for winter term goes live on the MHCC website today. Registration begins next month.

Oregon election ballots will be in mailboxes statewide today. Don’t forget to vote.

Photo by Tyler Heyl/The Advocate

All in turns to All out

2

Opinion Oct. 19, 2012

Editorial: elusive parking spaces discovered program was in place, its revenue helped to add two new part-time officers, resulting in a decrease of auto thefts from 2010. The number went from 31 in 2010 to 14 in 2011 with the increased security.

But the program’s cons outweighed its benefits.

Jennifer Dement, MHCC director of finance, said the school charged students close to $40,000 in parking tickets, and “that’s just not what we wanted to be.”

Above all, the parking program was expensive: The application process, printing and delivering the passes and enforcement all cost additional money.

The Access fee charges every enrolled student a flat. Dement said a sub-committee of the budget review team, tuition/fee analysis, is investigating options of limiting the fee to students enrolled in at least three credits. Any student with further questions about the access fee is encouraged to visit MHCC’s website, locate the ‘parking info’ link in the lower right of the page, and go to the Access Fee FAQ. So, for everyone who was with us in blaming the access fee – or the lack of the parking fees – for making the parking lot

too full, are only half right.

While there is a noticeable and even alarming increase in spots taken, there are spots available. You just need to know where to look.

One place we have wanted to see more parking available is around the modules near the existing “J” lot. Both Blessing and Dement acknowledged a plant to turn that area into parking was indeed an idea at one point, but the fact of the matter seems to be that, “when considering the condition of the parking lots, removing and repairing that space (is) not a top priority” said Dement.

For now, it looks like we will have to make do with what we have. And so we have taken the liberty of highlighting some options that can help reduce the stress that comes from trying to find parking.

Blessing explained how Public Safety employees did walking studies and found that walking from the middle of the “S” lot to the 1500 buildings takes five minutes.

Not bad for what would be like walking from the Matterhorn to Indiana Jones at Disneyland, a trek that would take even the most experienced Mouseketeer at least 15 minutes.

Dement also suggested that students familiarize themselves with alternative routes from less popular lots, such as the “AM” lot.

“I usually draw a line on the map for visitors,” she said.

Another helpful study that Public Safety has done is record how many spots are taken in the morning and afternoon of the first Monday and Tuesday. These numbers are not posted but we feel they should be.

We also think studies like these should be done more frequently and are urging Public Safety to do so. According to their records – L, M, N, P, H and all of the south side off Southeast 17th Street (the PE area) are some of the more regularly vacant lots.

Could it be that there are a whole lot of undiscovered spots just as convenient – if not more convenient – than the coveted front three (lots H, G, F)?

Although the initial shock, parking way, way back by the buses, a few days of walking from the PE parking lots, and remembering to bring an iPod, are helping make what seemed like a total waste of time and energy become more natural.

The walk gives us time to wake up and time for our coffee to cool down.

Photo by Tyler Heyl/The Advocate

Our luck has run out. There is no parking anywhere. Foreign territory on campus has been explored and dismissed as an inconvenience. We know MHCC’s decision to revoke the parking permit program is at the heart of the problem. But some of us have found ourselves actually wishing the permit program was still in place, so we wanted to find out why MHCC decided to open up its parking lots to the public again.

In spring of 2010, a task force, comprised of students and faculty members, weighed two options that would increase security presence in MHCC parking lots while increasing school revenue, said Gael Blessing, MHCC director of institutional safety and security.

The options were implementing a parking fee or an access fee. As you may already know, the board implemented the parking fee in fall 2011.

When making its choice, Blessing said the board considered a number of factors.

Two were that both PCC and local high schools charge a parking fee, and the board also took into account that many students didn’t drive to school, she said.

Blessing said while the parking permit

“On average how much time do you spend looking for parking?”

0 - 5 mins 5 - 10 mins 10 - 15 mins 20 + mins

Dark days ahead As daylight slants to south and the moon wanes to new, a curtain of fog lowers and signals the change of scene. Shifting winds and forecasts of rain add atmosphere and broadleaf trees bring new colors to the set as summer’s actors change costumes and leave the stage for warmer latitudes.

A new act is upon us and the players who remain are busy preparing.

Squirrels dash from tree to tree, hoarding winter stores of seeds and nuts. Birds, small and large, gorge on insects slowed by morning chill, filling crops and building fat to fuel their bodies during the dark days ahead. In their silent way, trees and other plants are shifting too--cutting off leaves and stems no longer productive as the days shorten and light energy fades.

As the curtain lifts the scene before us is bittersweet, one filled with contrast and contradiction--passage and renewal, crisp air but sunny skies, brilliant colors with low-angled light. Whether feeling resigned or excited, the audience waits. The set is ready, the drama has begun. Autumn is on stage again.

www.advocate-online.net

With an eye on nature,

Wally Shriner

Web exclusive; checkout the Mad Scientist’s biweekly science column. the advocate Co-Editors-in-Chief

Sports Editor

Reporters

John Tkebuchava & Mike Mata

John Tkebuchava

Photographers

Daniele Caldwell

Tyler Heyl

Associate Editor

Copy Editors

Katelyn Hilsenbeck

Jonathon Long

Kylie Rogers

Kylie Rogers & Dorothy Ocacio

Living Arts Editor

Webmaster

Shelby Schwartz

Logan Scott

Assistant Living Arts Editor

Advertising Manager

Dorothy Ocacio

Jen Ashenberner

Opinion Editor

Photo Editor

Jeff Hannig

Jeff Hannig

News Editor Mike Mata

Brandon Kissir Shaun Lutz Aaron Marshall Danny Perez-Crouse Lisa Sorenson Kayla Tatum

Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst Bob Watkins

E-mail advocatt@mhcc.edu 503-491-7250 (Main) 503-491-7413 (Office) 503-591-6064 (Fax) www.advocate-online.net

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

Submissions

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information.

Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission.

Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board.

The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length.

Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print.

Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

3

News

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

Photo by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate

the advocate

“It’s just a lot of duct tape.”

- Jordan Green, engineering student Cardboard for the bridges lays waiting for students to put it to use on projects.

Engineering students Jordan Green and Joe Teters prepare for next weekʼs bridge building contest.

Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate

Spectators are invited next week to watch about 120 MHCC engineering students test the strength of 22-foot cardboard bridges they have designed and built.

The bridges will span the gap between planter boxes of the 1400 and 1500 wings of the Academic Center, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26.

It’s a stiff exam: The test requires two team members to walk into the middle of the bridge, one from each side.

The bridges are a product of the Intro To Engineering class for first-year students, participating in the fourth annual cardboard project.

Student teams must construct a bridge solely out of cardboard, duct tape, glue and rope and are limited to $25 in supplies. One team has been picking up cardboard pretty much anywhere it can find it.

Bridge components, or modules, cannot exceed 8 feet in length and must be assembled during the competition.

About five years ago, MHCC engineering instructors decided they wanted “a more project-based learning experience” for students, said engineering technology instructor

Troy Donaldson. They now attempt to assign a project to each engineering class.

Donaldson says first-year students have questioned if the project is even feasible, as this is their initial bridge-building attempt. “We’re always fearful if it can be done,” he said.

“Twenty-two feet is a long way for cardboard.” “I think it’s a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun,” said student Jordan Green.

Design of each bridge is up to the teams. They must be able to securely join the pieces of their bridge together without walking into the center of the distance it must span.

There are several strategies for design and assembly. Creativity is encouraged. Students may paint their bridges, adding artistic flavor. Rain is also a factor they must consider in the strength of their bridge.

One team plans to wrap its bridge almost completely in duct tape. “That was the first thing we thought of, rain and wind,” said student Jacky Wong.

The two-student weight test adds drama, but won’t account for the majority of the team grades.

“I think it will definitely hold weight,” said engineering student Joe Teters. His team, which includes Wong and Green, plans to test its bridge early in the week. If it doesn’t hold, there is still time to make adjustments, the members said.

Donaldson has emphasized the importance of team function, not only in this project, but in an engineering career.

“You’ve got to be able to function in a team. We are really replicating reality,” he said.

Teters said his team has done well: “We all work together well, no big conflicts.”

The first year a team cardboard project was assigned, the challenge was to build furniture able to support 200 pounds.

Donaldson has both a cardboard bookcase and chair in his office, while a teaching colleague uses a cardboard desk fashioned by students.

“If they take time and effort, (the results are) really quite nice,” said Donaldson. “It’s chaos down there right now... cardboard everywhere,” he said.

Students will move onto a second project for the rest of the term. They may switch up the teams, offering a different dynamic.

The second project requires students to develop a solution for something that bugs their group. They can work on most anything, from a toothbrush to a toaster or cell phone, Donaldson said.

He said he hopes students learn from the first project and “value that experience for the second project.”

Chances are good it will stick them much longer.

Former MHCC engineering students have told Donaldson the cardboard project is “one of the biggest things they remember,” he said.

District board approves grant and OCCA contract during meeting John Tkebuchava The Advocate

The district board approved a $16,000 grant request Wednesday night to help replace outdated lighting in the Studio Theatre and approved a new Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) contract, which allows expenditure of funds in excess of $150,000.

As a part of the OCCA contract, maximum expenditures have been set at $250,000.

Daryl Harrison-Carson, who made the presentation on the grant request, said the $16,000 Reser Foundation Grant will be used to replace the 25-40 year old lighting system.

The OCCA represents the 17 publicly

chartered community colleges and assists the colleges on topics such as appropriation and college funding and educational policy.

Upon the calling of a quorum, Michael Viera, part of the Community College Search Services that the college has hired to search for a new president with Michael Hay retiring in June, provided a search update.

In the update, Viera highlighted the following dates that were a part of the process of hiring a new president.

On Oct. 30, the Search Advisor Committee, which is comprised of various employees of the college, a student and other representatives, will hold their first meeting, an orientation session.

The following week, the committee

will meet on Nov. 6 to gather information on what kinds of individuals the college is looking to replace the president with.

Viera said the position be closed on Jan. 4 and interviews will begin in February before holding public forums and board interviews sometime in the middle of March.

David Minger, the vice president of Student Success and Enrollment Services, announced MHCC disbursed 52 percent more financial aid in fall of 2012 versus fall of 2011 with a total of $6,441,999 disbursed.

Minger also said with the new financial aid system, which has gone entirely online, whereas last year it 10-12 weeks to process financial aid documents, it now takes 3-4 days.

“We have one of the fastest financial aid delivery (systems),” said Minger.

When asked why a new board member was not elected as per the original agenda, District board chairman Dave Shields said, “The board is still in the process of evaluating the applications.”

Asked when he thinks the board will elect the new member, Shields said they would most likely do so at the next board meeting.

There are five applicants for the position, including Catherine Baker, Andre Wang, Paul Capell, Katherine Kralj and James Zordich.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2012.

Find the news that matters to you Fridays in The Advocate.

Find us online @ advocate-online.net

4

Living Arts Oct. 19, 2012

Former college radio station Chil wins award for best jazz station

the day tripper your weekly event planner

Shelby Schwartz The Advocate

Sunday 10.21

Downtown Portland

“Run like Hell” is a Halloween-themed race that takes place downtown. The event starts at Pioneer Square at 6:30 a.m. and will feature a half marathon, a 10k, a kid’s halfmiler, and 5k, all of which are run/walks. Participants are free to dress in costume as they run through Portland’s parks and along the waterfront. For more information and to register for this event, visit www.terrapinevents.com.

Monday 10.22

MHCC

As a part of Associated Student Government’s (ASG) Halloween celebration, “The Freaks Come Cut @ Night,” the group will host a “Harvest Day” that includes a pumpkin patch where students will be able to pick a pumpkin of their choice and cookie decorating on the lawn behind the Student Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday 10.22

MHCC

ASG will host a blood drive in the College Center/ Student Union today and on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students, staff and community members are welcome to come and donate blood anytime within these hours.

Tuesday 10.23

MHCC

ASG will host a “Tombstone Contest” in the Main Mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students may decorate a tombstone and be judged on the most creative, scariest and funniest. Each category will have the opportunity to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore.

Wednesday 10.24

MHCC

ASG will host a “Graveyard Dash.” Students will meet inside the Student Union, with a scavenger hunt taking place on the lawn behind the room. Students can compete to win a movie or dinner, for two, two twenty-five dollar gas cards and a twenty-five dollar bookstore gift card. The event runs from noon to 1 p.m.

Thursday 10.25

MHCC

ASG will host the “Freaks Come Out @ Night Dance” from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Vista Dining Hall. There will be a free photo booth, a prize giveaway for two Fright Town tickets, a contest for best costume with prizes of $100, $50 and $25. Door prizes will include an iPad2 and $50 iTunes gift card. Admission is free for MHCC students with a current ID and $3 for non-MHCC students.

Former MHCC-owned and operated radio station KMHD was recently named best jazz radio station of the year, leaving campus employees with mixed emotions.

Oregon Public Broadcasting, or OPB, now operates the station.

Greg Gomez, communications dispatcher at MHCC, worked at the station as a volunteer coordinator, music director and program and production director when KMHD was still operated by the college. “(On paper) MHCC owns the station, but OPB operates and manages it,” Gomez said.

The station was given this award by JazzWeek at a JazzWeek summit held Aug. 30 in Detroit.

In an MHCC website report, KMHD “was competing against radio stations in the top 25 metropolitan areas of the country. The category included stations in New York, Los Angeles, Denver and San Diego.”

A partnership between MHCC and OPB was formed in 2009 so that KMHD would be operated and managed by OPB and would no longer have a campus presence, although MHCC still holds ownership.

Gomez said KMHD was used as a marketing tool for MHCC. KMHD is a full-service FM radio station, whereas most other college radio stations signals do not reach beyond their campus.

“There was a big divide when I worked for the station when the president (former MHCC President John Sygielski) and board members voted to move the management of the station to OPB. The divide was between the paid professional staff and the volunteers. Some of the staff wanted to operate it in the professional manner in which it was designed as a lab for the broadcasting students,” Gomez said. “I felt as the volunteers were in it for self-indulgent reasons.

They wanted to play their personal version of jazz without regards for audience development,” he said.

“Some of us embraced good practices and professional qualities, but some managers thought it should be operated by volunteers,” Gomez said.

Gomez said there’s no doubt that OPB is managing KMHD to a professional broadcasting standard.

“I think KMHD could have achieved this if we had managers who followed professional practices,” Gomez said. “The large majority of the on-air hosts were members of the community who had no professional experience,” he said.

Both Gomez and Mary Burlingame, who is now a bookkeeper for the college, went through MHCC’s radio broadcasting program before it was part of the integrated media program, and before working on the KMHD staff as paid employees.

According to Burlingame, the station was a separate entity and never part of the integrated media program.

Burlingame said the station was about to celebrate its 25th anniversary before the partnership was formed.

“We had put together a proposal for the board, ‘This is what KMHD does for you, this is how much money we would be willing to pay to stay here’ and the board wouldn’t even look at the proposal,” Burlingame said.

“At that time we warned them in radio, when you make a programming change you’re not really going to see the outcome till about three years down the road,” she said.

“And we warned them, ‘you have a really important advertising tool with the station and you will see it’ and three years later their enrollment is down,” she said.

When the JazzWeek award was announced, MHCC posted a website press release. It explained the award and the partnership OPB and MHCC have, although the release features quotes about the award from current MHCC President Michael Hay, who was neither the president or a board member when the partnership was formed.

The post also featured comments from the CEO of OPB, Steve Bass, and current KMHD Program Director Matt Fleeger. It failed to recognize the many former employees who are still at MHCC , although working in different areas of the college, however.

“I think it is insulting that it was put up on the website without any recognition of the people that were the foundation for 25 years that got the station off the ground,” Burlingame said.

Gomez said of the award, “It is not surprising to me that they won it, KMHD always had the potential to be a great station. It’s just regrettable that the management didn’t embrace good theories and practices.”

“It was my career, so I was unhappy to lose my career,” Gomez said. “From a selfish standpoint, yeah it was (a bad decision to move it to OPB) but three years later I would be curious to see how this has benefitted the college,” he said.

When the partnership was formed “It was proposed as a way to increase enrollment by gaining access to OPB’s 1.5 million listeners and viewers,” Gomez said.

According to Gomez, OPB gives MHCC on-air mentions and has MHCC’s logo on TV. The station declares MHCC is a good school to attend.

“They are doing what they said they would do, but the question is, has it increased enrollment?” Gomez said.

‘Go Purple’ is a day of awareness for GSA youth Today is National Spirit Day, a day dedicated to supporting gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals who are bullied and persecuted.

To show support, break out some purple clothes, make your Facebook picture purple, paint your face purple, paint your car purple – just do something purple.

Get the Spirit Day app on your iPhone to turn your pictures purple and find links to anti-bullying resources and calls to action. For more information, head over to www.glaad. org/spiritday. - Danny Perez-Crouse

Giorgi

They wan too far and th So goes t dren’s Theat a theater ma playing the year’s “Lege “It was fu theater as po While Gi ment for his probably stil The movi of George Meryl Streep Murray, put cus on the ships within family. The produced by Enterprises a an Paintbrus believes th took a lot o transferring to film. The November more closel on the book

by Roald Da 1970.

Mr. Fox hero of the ing animals explained. W Fox’s thievi three farmers far, the farme it is time to out. It is a point the sto said Giorgi.

“Everybo Fox. “Everyb when he out all the anima “The cha One of the p

Living Arts

the advocate

5

Photos by Kylie Rogers/The Advocate

ldren’s Theatre production of ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

The cast of the Childrenʼs Theatre production of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” rehearses the dinner scene in the College Theater at an Oct. 12 rehearsal using temporary props.

Below, left: Alex Giorgi gets into his peculiar character of Mr. Fox during the same rehearsal.

Below, right: Ali Weiher rehearses with her scene partner Zack Lewis (not shown.)

entertains young minds

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ will perform six shows, five of which are only open to elementary school students and will take place during the school day.

A Nov. 17 performance for the general pubic will take place at 2 p.m. in the College Theater for $2.

i channels peculiar Mr. Fox in children’s play Second year student stars in MHCC show Dorothy Ocacio The Advocate

nt him dead: He has finally pushed them hey aren’t going to take it anymore. the plot of “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” the Chiltre Production for this year. Alex Giorgi, ajor in his second year at MHCC, will be sly Mr. Fox. He also performed in last end of Sleepy Hollow.” un,” said Giorgi, “and I want to do as much ossible while I’m here.” iorgi thinks the yearly play is a requiretheater class, he said, “even if it wasn’t, I’d ll do it.” ie version of the story, featuring the voices Clooney, p and Bill t the forelationn the Fox film was y Regency and Indish. Giorgi he movie of liberties the story play this will be ly based k written ahl back in

x is the e burrows, Giorgi When Mr. ing from s goes too ers decide take him about this ory starts,

ody knows him,” Giorgi said about Mr. body thinks he’s awesome.” Especially tsmarts the farmers and saves the day for als. aracter Mr. Fox… he’s weird,” said Giorgi. peculiarities Giorgi points to is his habit of

saying “My Darlings” and “Dearie”, which is probably due to the age of the book.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Giorgi said of the show. “It’s kind of nice because it’s not as stressful (as a more serious genre), because it’s a children’s play.”

The play has added attraction because it is directed at young children, he said.

“We usually focus on audience interaction,” said Giorgi. “You know, things that kids would just love to see on stage.”

The plan this year is for even more audience interaction, Giorgi said. There will be “Blue’s Clues”-type participation and the cast will be taking the play into the stands, as well.

Because theater requires exaggerated movements and facial expression, Giorgi said he believes kids respond more to a play than a movie, which involves more subtle gestures.

Giorgi himself first became interested in theater around second grade. He was attending a private school that offered summer camps.

One was Drama Camp.

“My parents just went, like, ‘We should have you go do something during the summer,’ and they picked the drama camp,” he said. “I ended up going, and it was awesome! I fell in love with (acting) and never let go.”

While later switching to public school, Giorgi still returned to the drama camp as a counselor.

While a career in film is not one of Giorgi’s goals, he said he would be willing to give it a try.

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” will open Nov. 5 and through Nov. 17 in the MHCC College Theater.

The play will primarily run for elementary school students in the area who will attend on field trips. Only the Nov. 17 performance is open to the general public.

Tickets are $2.

Kylie Rogers The Advocate

With six plays and a few skits under her belt, a second-year Theater Arts major will be playing three parts for the upcoming Children’s Theater production of “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Ali Weiher said, “I’ve definitely been an actress since I was little. Basically, I was born an actress. I’ve been the drama queen in my family for forever.”

The self-proclaimed drama queen, 19, will take part in her first MHCC production with “Fantastic Mr. Fox” playing the roles of Bunce, Mrs. Badger and the offstage voice of Mrs. Bean.

“Sometimes it’s a challenge of how the characters are portrayed to me but once I really look into them, then I can be like, ‘Oh yeah, I know how this character might walk or might talk,’ or even be pigging out on donuts” (a Bunce obsession in “Fantastic”), said Weiher.

There are similar characteristics between Weiher and the roles she plays. For Bunce, they’re both short. “I’m a couple inches over being a dwarf,” said Weiher, who stands 5 foot 2 inches. She said she’s sarcastic like Mrs. Bean and that, at times, she can be a worrywart like Mrs. Badger.

This isn’t Weiher’s first time performing in a children’s play. But it is the first time she’s been part of a children’s play that isn’t directed at teenagers.

“If we know what our audience is going to be like, we can adapt to their attention

span and put in jokes the kids might get.”

As far as acting styles are concerned, Weiher said she will be “giving it a little more comedy so I can make the kids laugh, instead of being all serious and trying to be in the zone of what the character is. With this play I can act a little more silly and interact with the audience more. That’s always fun.”

Weiher knew she wanted to be part of the play but wasn’t originally planning to audition. “I just kinda stumbled across the auditions.”

Her decision to audition didn’t come until the director of the play, Jesse Merz, mentioned it was “Fantastic Mr. Fox”.

“I was like, ‘I’m in! I’m doing it!’ so that’s how I got into the play,” Weiher said about finding out what the production was actually going to be.

Weiher is offbook (meaning she has her lines memorized and is no longer reading from the script) but she is nervous about messing up.

“Especially the one line that I haven’t even memorized yet, which is Mrs. Badger’s line,” she said. “I’ve memorized all my other lines and then there is this one part…where I’m just like, ‘Crap. What’s my line?’”

To combat forgetting lines she is focusing extra hard. “One of my teachers last year gave me the idea of memorizing my lines backwards,” she said. “It works.”

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” opens in November.

For show and ticket information contact the Theatre Box Office at (503) 491- 7154 or tickets@mhcc.edu.

6 Grange: Hall of fun or money pit News

Oct. 19, 2012

Continued from Page 1 behind the Wood Village Fred Meyer store.

Opponents of The Grange raised concerns of increased crime and traffic in the area and a decrease in funds for state-funded programs.

They also cited the aforementioned Wichita, Kan. affair as an example of “broken promises,” according to the opposition website.

Another argument against The Grange resulted from an analysis that was obtained and published by Willamette Week on Sept. 12 that showed four of six scenarios resulting in a net loss for the state. The loss was calculated at $63 million, even with the casino’s 25 percent payment.

The scenarios were run by an economist in the state’s Legislative Revenue Office at the behest of the Financial Estimate Committee.

According to the supporters’ press kit, The Grange would bring in 3,000 construction jobs and then 2,000 fulltime jobs with salary, health care and full benefits.

In November 2010, Oregon voters shot down Measure 75, which was a proposed casino in Multnomah County by many of the same “Grange” backers, 68 percent to 32 percent.

So, with the chips and cards on the table, it remains to see how Oregon voters tackle the issue of privately ownedcasinos and The Grange.

Will it be a flush for the casino, or a bad hand?

Photo by Tyler Heyl/The Advocate

back to the community and the state. If revenue hit an estimated $250 million, $62.5 million would have gone to Oregonians, with half that amount going to grades K-12 public education. At $400 million in revenue, $100 million would’ve gone to communities and the state, with $48.8 million going to K-12 public schools.

According to its press kit distributed on Aug. 16, The Grange also would have paid $19 million a year in local corporate and property taxes.

The opponent’s site, www.stillbadfororegon.com, claims that The Grange would divert gamblers from the Oregon State Lottery’s video poker machines and thereby cut into Oregon State Lottery revenue and the state’s general fund.

According to the Oregon State Lottery Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2011, the Lottery transferred $547 million to Oregon’s Economic Development Fund. Total sale of all lottery products last year, including video poker, Keno and Scratch-it games, was reported to be $1 billion.

The Oregon State Lottery remains only second to income tax in raising revenue for the state.

The opposition website also claims that the two companies behind PDX Entertainment Company, the company that would run The Grange, Clairvest Group Inc. and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, were behind a similar project in Wichita, Kan. but pulled out a few weeks before a final determination was due. The companies cited an uncertainty in the market for their reasoning to pull out of the project.

The entrance to the Multnomah Kennel Club, the proposed site for The Grange.

They also requested the return of a $25 million application fee.

The Grange would have taken over the former grounds of the Multnomah Kennel Club dog racetrack, where the abandoned main grandstand still stands.

In the proposals, the complex would’ve included a pool, a slot for a farmer’s market, a restaurant showcasing Oregon chefs and local cuisine, a music venue, a movie theater, a hotel and the casino that would include 2,200 slot machines and 100 table games.

The old grandstand would have been repurposed for a multi-level parking structure, behind the existing Kohl’s department store. The existing road entrance off Northeast 223rd Avenue would be the same, as with the other entrance

ASG registers 711 new voters on campus, beats goal mark Danny Perez-Crouse The Advocate

With the presidential race in full swing, the Associated Student Government (ASG) played a role in getting MHCC students registered to vote.

ASG President William Miller said many politicians believe students do not care about issues and are unaware of how the decisions that are made effect them. However, this is not true because students are the most affected by financial aid decreases, tuition hikes and the mounting cost of pursuing a post-secondary education, he said.

“Students are a very important part of a politician’s constituency and we want to dispel the myth that students are not voting. (That is) not possible if we do not continue to encourage student voter turnout across the state,” said Miller.

ASG has worked since the start of the term to inform students about voting and get them registered. They have shown presidential and vice-presidential debates in the Student Union, and have had all student government members visit classes and host tables in the Main Mall and across the campus to target students.

The number of new registered voters has hit around 711 this fall term, with the goal set at 500, the ASG reports.

Laura Aguon, ASG director of state and federal affairs said, “Our goal was right on par with what we needed to do… This term’s (registration effort) was not a staffed event, there was no full-time OSA (Oregon Student Association) employee, it was completely student-run.”

“Last spring term, we got 805 registered voters with an OSA employee. This term we did 711 voters without an OSA employee. That’s no small feat,” said Aguon.

The Student Voter program started in 1993 with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), signed into law

by President Clinton. The Act requires states to offer voter registration at motor vehicle departments, disability centers, public libraries and public schools.

Political parties were hoping that the NVRA would reduce racial disparities in participation by reaching minorities, low-income earners and individuals reluctant to vote.

Then, in 1998 with the federal Higher Education Act, colleges and universities were required to distribute hard copies of voter registration forms to students prior to their state’s registration deadline.

That requirement for colleges and universities applies to all federal and gubernatorial elections, and special elections.

Voter registration forms also are now commonly available via the Internet for downloading and printing.

Wand goes head-to-head with Gorsek for State Rep. seat John Tkebuchava The Advocate

Running to keep his 49th District State Representative seat in November, former MHCC student and incumbent Matt Wand is going head-to-head against MHCC criminal justice instructor Chris Gorsek.

A Reynolds High School graduate, Wand attended MHCC before transferring to Portland State University, where he earned a political science degree.

Wand, completing his first two-year term in the Oregon Legislature, campaigned over the summer to help his cause.

During conversations Wand has had with citizens throughout the district, the subject of “The Grange,” a proposed nontribal casino in Wood Village, came up the most.

“Lots and lots of people were talking about the casino measure,” Wand said.

“The Grange” is something on which Wand and his opponent, Gorsek, share common ground, in that they are both against it.

More recently, Wand said the possible abduction case of Whitney Heichel, a 21-year-old reported missing on Tues-

day by Gresham police, has raised voters’ worries.

Wand said public safety is among his priorities.

“These sort of things bring to mind the importance of criminal violence and public safety,” he said.

Wand said this is particularly of concern because the way the Oregon parole board for violent criminals works. CurrentMatt Wand ly, violent criminals can apply for parole after two years, he said.

To combat this, Wand said he is working on a bill that would revise the parole system.

Two additional obvious focuses of Wand’s campaign have been job creation, to help “create more local jobs” specifically, and education, he said.

“I am strong on the issues of job creation and higher education. It is important for me that MHCC students know

Photo contributed by Anne Wand

Wand seeks to reform parole system, local job market, touts ‘proven track record‘ with certainty that there is a future for them in East County,” Wand said.

“I want the students of MHCC to have the opportunity to have a job and have a family here.”

Wand said rising tuition and decreasing government funding of schools are also of concern to him.

“The way we get to a place where tuition doesn’t have to increase involves bettering the economy as a whole,” he said. “We have to get started on fixing the Oregon economy.”

Asked why he feels he is most qualified for the position, Wand said, “I have a proven track record.”

He said he is open about his priorities and has strong convictions for his goals.

“I’m confident that East County will select the appropriate candidate,” Wand said.

Wand served on the Troutdale City Council from 20082010 and was elected into the state House of Representatives in November 2010.

For the story on Wand’s opponent, Chris Gorsek, see last week’s Advocate or www.advocate-online.net.

News

the advocate

Political forums offer party insight On Wednesday, political science instructor Janet Campbell discussed “what it means to be a Democrat” in the second in a series of political forums at MHCC. Next Wednesday she will portray third-party voters in the final forum.

Campbell contrasted liberals’ beliefs with conservatives on several topics such as human nature and how liberals are more concerned with individual rights rather than moral framework; the economy and how to ideally regulate it; safety nets and who should provide them (the community or the government); foreign policy; and finally, what political rights should be based on.

This Wednesday, Campbell will take the position of third-party voters, such as libertarians and Socialist Democrats. The discussion runs 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. in the Bob Scott Room, located in the north end of the MHCC library.

-Daniele Caldwell

Janet Campbell during the political forum Wednesday portraying the views of liberals.

7

Legalizing pot: Oregon looks at the pros and cons of Measure 80 Cameron Miller The Advocate

Ballot Measure 80 attempts to navigate the Oregon political waters and legalize marijuana use for all adults.

This voting season, Oregon voters will be able to determine if marijuana use will be legal for residents who are 21 and older. The new measure is also known as the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA).

The latest campaign for legalization puts a lot of emphasis on the idea of regulation and taxation. The idea is to replicate craft beer and wine industries that are successful in Oregon.

Janet Campbell, head of the MHCC political science department, said, “People are kind of excited because it’s going to be taxed, so it will probably raise (state) revenue. But the market is going to set the price, so it’s hard to estimate what those taxes are going to look like.”

In November 1998, Oregon voters passed a law legalizing the medical use of marijuana. Oregon allows the most use and cultivation of the cannabis plant compared with other states that have legalized medicinal marijuana.

According to oregonmeasure80.org, backers hope to achieve several goals by passing the measure. As described by the Oregon voter’s pamphlet, one goal is to reduce costs of marijuana law enforcement under current law. Resources would be redirected to curb illegal use by minors and to fund education and research on uses of cannabis and hemp.

Supporters also propose shifting law enforcement focus to heavier drugs and other crimes.

Pat Casey, MHCC history instructor, said the campaign has some merit but will face resistance.

Supporters say that law enforcement should focus on things other than marijuana “and this is one way to get that to happen,” Casey said. “But, as always, the argument really is that the people who oppose this, I think, do not believe that marijuana is a safe drug.

And the people who want it, I suspect, are going to argue that ‘Yes, this is safe’, and will probably have evidence to back that up.”

Measure 80 backers claim the marijuana industry will create jobs and taxation of the product could help fuel the Oregon economy (90

What will

percent of taxes levied would go directly to the state’s general fund).

If the measure wins approval, Oregon adults could cultivate their own marijuana or purchase it from a legally licensed store, much like a state-sanctioned liquor store.

As to the impact of widespread availability and use of marijuana, Campbell said, “In countries that have sort of legalized it, use rates haven’t gone up but there are all sorts of cultural things associated with that. “ He predicts a different outcome in Oregon, however.

“American culture is kind of unique like that; we are sort of bingers,” he said.

Medicinal marijuana use would continue to be legal and laws would remain unchanged. With larger availability, there may be chance of increased traffic violations, including driving under the influence.

Casey addressed this by saying, “It just seems logical if marijuana use goes up because of this, that would be more people using, and a percentage of them will go too far.”

Meantime, federal laws still ban recreational use and authorities may step in to stop expanded production and distribution, Casey points out.

“That’s the question I have, how these (proponents) figure state law is going to get the feds to come along and fall in line. You can’t expect that,” Casey said.

Campbell agrees that serious conflict over enforcement would arise. “When you start legalizing growing and selling operations, there’s tension there” between state and federal authorities, she said.

Under the proposed law, open marijuana use would remain illegal. Adults could only use marijuana in private, which could include “pot shops” that would also have to obtain licenses or some kind of state regulation.

Campbell said pressure also might build from relaxed marijuana laws outside the U.S., but doesn’t see that happening soon. “When you have a series of countries starting to talk about it, it might get there.

But I think that we have a ways to go, countrywide,” she said.

Should Measure 80 go down in defeat, Casey is among those who speculate another legalization effort would arise, before long. “It might be that this is an idea whose time has come,” he said.

do?

If approved Measure 80 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2013

Individuals looking to become licensed marijuana growers would need to pay a fee to the Oregon Cannabis Commission.

Marijuana would be available for use for individuals over 21. It would only be permitted for use in private or at designated locations where minors are not allowed.

The measure would allow individuals to become licensed to grow marijuana. Licensed growers could then sell their crop to state-licensed stores where the stores would sell it at a cost determined by the newly created Oregon Cannabis Commission.

The measure does not regulate production of hemp.

The newly created Oregon Cannabis Commission would be in charge or promoting Oregon cannabis products in legal markets on a national and international level.

Information from the Nov. 6, 2012 general election voterʼs pamphlet

The financial breakdown of revenue collected from the measure looks like this: -90% to the state general fund -7% to the Department of Human Resources for drug treatment funding -1% to make a new committee to promote Oregon hemp fiber and related industries -1% to make a new committee to promote biodiesel production from hemp -1% to state school districts to fund drug education programs

8 Sports

Oct. 19, 2012

Cameron Miller/The Advocate

Cross country swings back from bye at Mike Hodges Invite

Freshman Vlad Ishenin kicking it in at the Mike Hodges Invitational meet last Friday. Ishenin was the top performer on the menʼs team, placing 14th overall in the 4-mile with a time of 22:32.

Aaron Marshall The Advocate

Sophomore Christa Collmer had a top-10 finish in the women’s 5k at the Mike Hodges Invitational last Friday, as the MHCC cross country team kicked back into ac-

tion after taking a bye week.

Collmer finished in seventh overall at 20:15, and was followed by freshman Monica Amaro, 25th, at 22:03, and sophomore Molly Scoles, 33rd, at 23:10.

The men’s team, which ran a 4-mile race instead of the 8k, had

two top-25 finishers. Freshmen Vlad Ishenin placed in 14th, at 22:32, and Alex Seymour placed 24th, at 22:56.

The last three spots on the men’s team were filled by freshman Nathan Geiter, who placed 37th, at 23:23, sophomore Brian

Hoglund, who placed 50th, at 24:09, and freshman LT Avants in 58th place, at 25:22.

Though the men’s squad was able to field a full team with the return of Avants, the women’s team was again left wanting.

“We are expecting two additional women to get eligible by the Southern Region Championships,” said Matt Hart, cross country head coach.

“That being said, there is a strong likelihood that we will have a complete team at the Beaver Classic (today),” said Hart. ”Whether our women’s team is complete or not, I’m excited to see the individuals improve,” said Hart.

Asked whether his team is playing with a load on his shoulders because of smaller teams, Hart said, “I really don’t feel a load on my shoulders with any of this as we have a great group of individuals who are all training at a high level and are improving.”

“Whether we have a complete team or not, I will focus on providing opportunities to the studentathletes as individuals,” he said.

With the Southern Region Championships coming later in the month, Hart said the team will use its time to prepare mentally and physically.

“We are really emphasizing quality training in practice,” said Hart, pleased by the high effort level.

“I am confident Mt. Hood will compete with complete men’s and women’s teams but all I ask is that the individuals compete to the best of their abilities,” he said.

Hart said this year’s group of athletes are intrinsically motivated to improve, which makes it easy for the coaching staff.

“The men and women have a lot of drive so all the coaches need to do is keep them moving,” he said.

Any students interested in running on the cross-country team should contact Hart at 503-4917455 or by e-mail at Matt.Hart@ mhcc.edu.

The cross-country teams resume action today at the Beaver Classic at Avery Park in Corvallis.

The meet starts at 4 p.m.

SC Solo project for Sport�����entral Re-

Detroit dominating as MLB season comes to a close The Major League Baseball season is coming closer to a spectacular finish. This year saw more excitement near the end of the regular season due to the addition of two more wild-card spots in the playoffs.

The addition lived up to expectations as both the American League and National League had exciting divisional races as well as huge upsets.

We are now on the brink of the World Series. After a rainout on Wednesday night, the Detroit Tigers eliminated the Yankees on Thursday. It was the first time New York was swept in a post-season series since 1990.

In the National League, the last two World Series winners are battling to move on once again. The St. Louis Cardinals won last year in a hard-fought postseason after winning a playoff spot in the last game of the regular season, edging out the Atlanta Braves. They find themselves here again after defeating the same team, Atlanta, in the new one-game wild card playoff, two weeks ago.

The 2010 champion San Francisco Giants are continuing to ride their consistent pitching staff deep into the postseason. This is the key to how this season’s World Series will be decided.

Justin Verlander, starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, looks like a candidate for the playoffs MVP and has brought them to the doorstep of their first World Series appearance in six years.

Surely the Tigers seem like a team of destiny. The Giants and Cardinals are set to fight tooth-and-nail for a World Series return.

-Cameron Miller

view:

Gibbard, ‘For-

- Winterhawks Kylie Rogers The Advocate

“This all sounds like something I’ve heard before,” was my first reaction upon hearing the Death Cab for Cutie front man’s debut attempt at a solo album, “Former Lives.”

Ben Gibbard, who is going by Benjamin Gibbard for the upcomPortland Winterhawks vs. ing album, has a very iconic voice but I don’t think that’s the reason I found “Former Lives” so similar toSeattle his workThunderbirds with Death Cab. on 7 p.m.

Honestly, I was looking forwardSaturday, to an awesome break-up album Garden from Gibbard. Looking at the early DeathRose Cab material, Gibbard writes amazingly miserable songs when he is upset or drunk. Not that I wish ill will upon him, but, seriously: he divorced Zooey Deschanel. The most perfect indie-alternative couple ended. Now where is my break-up album?

There are songs here that touch on relationships but Gibbard won’t spill the beans on who, or what, they’reWinterhawks about.

Portland vs.

Just like Death Cab’sTri-City music, Gibbard’s solo music does Americans on Oct.well 28,in the background but still offers pleasant surprises with his lyrical arrange5 p.m. ment when your ears perk up to listen.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum There are some differences between Gibbard’s solo career and Death Cab’s. “Former Lives” offers variety within its own indie/alternative genre with its use of a capella, steel guitar and a mix of instrumentation – including a mariachi piece.

It’s the instrumental variation that makes “Former Lives” stand out to me as something separate from Death Cab, which kind of bums me out. Most side projects or solo adventures turn out to be so different from the main band’s sound and this one is really quite similar. It’s not a bad thing, it fits Gibbard’s style, but it still isn’t what I was expecting. personal favorite is “Bigger Love,” onThe Blazers and Wells Fargo This My Sunday at the Rosefrom atthe anyalbum Wells Fargo bankthan branch which Gibbard collaborated with Aimee Mann. Their is based offencourage of Garden, the Portland Trail Blazin Oregon and duet Southwest fans to help those in lovewill letters between legendary couple F.Fans Scott also and Zelda ers host their annual Fanflapper Washington. will beFitzgerneed keep warm this winter by ald.

Fest. admitted if they show a Wells bringing new mittens, scarves The album maintains good pacecheck/credit throughout.card It’s never fast stocking caps to the event Doors open at 5 p.m. and the Fargo at anytoo and and it’s not too slow. It’sstarts veryatmellow andentrance. not too show-offy. intra-squad scrimmage arena Rose Garden to benefit The Salvation Army.

“Former comes out on Tuesday.

6 p.m. Free tickets Lives” are available parking is free. If you’re looking for a -Aaron Marshall mellow fall ear worm, give it a listen.

Trail Blazers to host annual fan fest on Sunday