The Advocate, Issue 8 - November 9, 2018

Volume 53, Issue 8 NOVEMBER 9, 2018 advocate-online.net

Political polarization PAGE 2

Diving deep into our archives PAGE 6

AVID, an academic resource hub PAGE 7

SATURDAY STRIDE, ROAD TO NWACS PAGE 8

Local efforts to restore Gorge PAGE 4

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2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION EDITORIAL

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

THE SPOOKIEST THING IN AMERICA: POLARIZED BIPARTISANSHIP The ballots are out, pumpkins are carved, and proselytizing, fear-mongering ads play on every commercial break. Don’t watch TV? Well, lucky you, they play on YouTube as well. Such is the scene in October (and early November) on even-numbered years.

You don’t have to go to a haunted house for a good scare; just wait for a borderline slanderous ad to come on and take a look at the state of American politics.

Many people might even be truly horrified at the state of the union.

Pew Research Center has reported that a majority of people describe themselves as politically independent, while expressing a lean to one major political party or the other. It also found that among self-identified Republicans and Democrats almost half say that they feel anger, frustration, and even fear due to the opposing party – to the point that almost half continue on to say that the opposing parties policies are highly misguided and even harmful to the nation.

Even so, research out of Stanford University suggests that extremist nominees decrease

NEWS BRIEFS

a party’s own voter turnout in elections, which steers the general electorate towards the opposition candidate instead. It would seem that moderate candidates can be more beneficial to a party, as party extremists seem to activate the opposing party’s base more than motivating its own side.

More so, even though control of the White House has alternated by party over the last few decades, public trust in the government has been on a steady decline.

So, if Americans don’t like extreme candidates from either side, even going so far as to say they fear opposing candidates, why aren’t our politics gravitating towards moderation?

Well, that may be in part due to the two-party system, which is continuously reinforced by the Commission on Presidential Debates: An unelected group of people that decides which candidates get to reach the American public through participation in the presidential debates, and which candidates should fall through the cracks.

A political scholar by the name of Larry Diamond goes so far as to

insist that without access to these debates – which are such a huge national focus when voters are forming opinions leading up to an election – no candidate, regardless of party affiliation, could attain presidency.

This narrow access may allow partisan candidates to run further and further away from each other, ideologically, because their only competition is on the opposite side of the spectrum. The idea behind that is: Republican partisans want a red candidate and Democratic partisans want a blue one, so to keep adherents voting within their party nominees should be the deepest hues of red and blue, respectively, and should not deviate from party ideology.

However, as was previously noted, that is the opposite of what most Americans want. So, why do we keep sending extremists to the general elections?

It could be in part due to our voting system. More than half of the states in our country do not allow party affiliated citizens to vote across party lines in primary elections (with some caveats), and nine states do not even allow

Veterans Voices and Resources Session

“Shot of Reality” Alcohol Awareness Event

Mt. Hood’s veterans association will host this event in the Fireplace Lounge from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday following Veterans Day, to allow former and current military serving students to share their experiences with the campus. Free food will be provided, along with exhibits displaying a history of military uniforms.

ASG’s Student Activities Board will be partnering with Bass/Schuler Entertainment to host a comic duo as they present the alcohol awareness show they’ve named “Shot of Reality” from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 15 in the Fireplace Lounge, inside the Student Union. The presentation is rich with intellectual evidence and will touch on the dark truth related to alcohol abuse as well as ways to safely use the substance, with the necessary humor and lightness for such a serious topic.

unaffiliated voters to have a say in primaries. This encourages strong partisanship and allows strongly partisan citizens to choose who advances to the general elections.

Seeing as declared independents are the majority of voters, and often the deciding votes in elections, it could be very balancing to allow them to vote in primaries and across party lines – the “open primary” system. More moderate candidates may surface under those circumstances.

In fact, according to the nonprofit public policy group, the Brookings Institution, no Democratic candidate has put his caboose in the president’s seat without winning at least 60 percent of independents’ votes since 1976. This means that things may be looking grim for Democrats hoping to gain footing as they continuously move to the left, rather than the center, of the political spectrum.

This could also be a source of public dissatisfaction, as moderates feel they must evaluate and choose the lesser of the two partisan evils presented to them during general elections. Then they’re stuck with

a choice they may not have truly endorsed for the next four years, specifically with regard to the presidency.

These factors haven’t only affected the presidential race.

Polarized partisanship has infected Congress as well, which has led to political instability and congressional paralysis and incoherency as a legislative body.

At times it can be nearly impossible to move any sort of legislation through a split, polarized body of people, for better or for worse, as – Oh, the horror! – such teamwork might entice Representatives and Senators to produce more moderate legislation.

Is moderation the be all, end all of American politics? Probably not, but neither is extreme polarization or ideological intolerance, which we see far too much of nowadays.

Our weekly editorial is designed to explore compelling issues that affect the community we serve. It has no attributed author because it represents the collective voice of the Advocate editorial board.

Student Movie Night

School Closures Wednesday, Nov. 21, will be a faculty non-service day, and there will be no classes. School also will close Nov. 22-23 in observance of Thanksgiving.

-Darcy E Hitchcock

On Wed. Nov. 20, MHCC students can see “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” at the Regal Stark Street Stadium 10 theater to help raise money for Barney’s Pantry. Tickets are $3 and are available at the Student Union before the movie on a first come, first served basis.

-Cassie Wilson

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps

Arts & Entertainment Editor Mariah Getch

Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold

Graphic Design Team Sheila Embers Angeles Ramirez Eli Rankin Kevin Garcia De La Vega

Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias Opinion Editor Deniqua Adams PA G E 2

Photo Team Shyann Tooke Maysee Thao Video Team Andy Carothers Drevsen Shadley

Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open Ad Managers Darcy Hitchcock Chloe Collins Social Media Managers Positions Open

Staff Writers Jennifer Salazar Thomas Fornoff Kurt Larson Sadie Kline John Persell Positions Open Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck

@mhccadvocate

@theadvocateonline

@mhccadvocate Get Involved! Come visit us during our weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in our office, room AC1369.

OPINION

NOVEMBER 9, 2018

LET’S TALK GOALS: AMENDED

Deniqua Adams the advocate

You may recall my previous column discussing goal-setting. I still endorse that column; however, I think now is a good time to readdress goals, as I’ve acquired new information I believe needs to be shared.

Your goals can relate to anything in your life, but this column will be specifically about health and nutrition goals.

In my previous column, the initial step listed was to first, establish a goal. That is a fine tactic, however, now the first step is self-evaluation. Why do you want to set this goal? What are your current habits that you desire to change? Do you exercise daily?

Weekly? Do you have nutrient deficiencies?

Do you eat out, or cook at home? Are you over- or underweight? What is the healthy weight range for your height? Do you have access to being able to identify your fat vs. non-fat mass?

These are just some examples of questions you should ask yourself.

Once all of these questions have been answered, it is finally time to begin creating a game plan. At this point I will give an example to help with explanation.

Sally is 5 feet, 5 inches and weighs 180 pounds. Her goal is to lose weight, which must include both fat and lean tissue. The goal of ‘losing weight’ is not good, as is, because there is no specificity. Does Sally

want to lose 20 pounds or 80 pounds? That will greatly affect her plan, and the quality of her goal.

Because Sally is 5 feet, 5 inches, she should not lose any more than 65 pounds to achieve a healthy weight. Goals should be specific and measurable. A measurable goal for Sally, then, might be “I want to lose 50 pounds in 10 weeks.”

The next key aspect is achievability.

Because healthy weight loss is, at its fastest, 2 pounds per week, Sally’s goal is not attainable. Sally alters her goal to be “I want to lose 50 pounds in 25 weeks.”

Sally then takes time to reconsider her goal, yet again. Is it realistic? Sally has an active social life, so she eats out a lot, and she doesn’t partake in regular exercise.

While it might be easy for Sally to begin to exercise more, it would not be as easy to exercise more and cut down on friend time. This could hinder Sally’s weight loss, so she alters her goal again: “I want to lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks.”

Because of Sally’s lifestyle this goal is much more realistic, and therefore more attainable.

Lastly, Sally must set a time frame.

Because 50 weeks is almost a year, Sally decides to begin setting healthy habits in October – such as being more calorie- and nutrition-conscious, and exercising three times a week – and to begin her weight loss after New Year’s in January. She calculates that she should reach her final goal right before the next Christmas.

Sally has now set a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, with a Time-frame. Because Sally has assessed all of these qualities and is not just jumping into a crash diet, she is much more likely to achieve and maintain her success.

Big changes like these are lifestyle changes. Like I said last time, you can’t change your life overnight, and in this case, you can’t change your body in a day.

IN HONOR OF MILITARY VETERANS, VETERANS DAY WILL OCCUR ON SUNDAY; CAMPUS WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, NOV. 12. THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS.

SUBMISSION NATIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DAY Kim Sharer

Administrative Coordinator, Integrated Media Classified Association, President Wednesday, Nov. 14 is the National Education Support Professionals Day, and Gov. Kate Brown just made a proclamation to make it an official day in Oregon. What exactly does that mean? It means that this is a day that public school employees who are Education Support Professionals (ESP) are recognized for the amazing work they do every day.

ESP staff members are the people behind the scenes that keep everything running.

They are the first point of contact for our students at Mt. Hood Community College.

Without them, students would not receive assistance with an orientation, advising, financial aid, purchasing their textbooks or course materials, registering for classes, applying for graduation, etc.

Have you ever had the need for your dead car battery to be charged? That would have been an ESP Public Safety Officer who saved the day for you. Were you lost and could not find your class or your instructor? That would have been an ESP Administrative Coordinator in Instruction who helped you find your way. Did you ever think about who filled the paper towel dispenser when you were washing your hands? That would have

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE

Cover by: Flectcher Wold / the Advocate On the cover: A majority of the MHCC Cross-Country team for the 2018-19 season getting into their NWAC mindset.

Contact us!

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

been an ESP Custodian who saved you from drying your hands on your pant leg.

Have you ever attended a student activity in the Main Mall? That would have been an ESP Student Activities Coordinator who helped scheduled the event, and an ESP Facilities Engineer who hooked up all the electricity, and a Custodian who set up tents and chairs.

Listed above are just a few examples to show that we are an integral part of this campus community, and the college could not operate without us. We take pride in our customer service, and, as employees, we want to see our students succeed. When students come to thank us for doing our jobs, it means the world to us!

As the president of the Classified Employees’ Association, I am very proud to serve along with the amazing Education Support Professionals at this college. I see how hard they work, and I want to say, Thank you. Not for today only, but for all the days that you do not think anyone recognizes the value in what you do.

I also want to acknowledge Nicki Belnap, as our Oregon Education Association ESP Director.

Please tell an ESP staff member that you appreciate the contributions that they make to our students, faculty, administration, campus and community!

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.

Video Editor Andy Carothers is a returning student who is finishing up the Integrated Media program this fall. He likes nature, has a passion for growing exotic plants and collects rare cacti. Drawing has always been a hobby of his; he enjoys creating art but doesn’t like being referred to as an artist. His favorite movie is “American Pop” directed by Ralph Bakshi and his favorite band is Tool. He currently resides in Gresham with his domestic partner Sid, who is a 6-yearold ferret and their love is stronger than any you’ve ever seen.

PA G E 3

NEWS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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

AFTER THE FIRE: A TRAIL TO RESTORATION John Persell the advocate

After a year of waiting and uncertainty, hikers are slowly regaining access to the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, one of the state’s top recreation destinations.

Getting trails reopened after the Eagle Creek Fire has required a lot of hard work and collaboration between parties.

On Sept. 2, 2017, sparked by a teenager’s carelessly tossed smoke bomb, the Eagle Creek Fire took off.

The fire raged across nearly 50,000 acres on the Oregon side of the Gorge before crews fully contained the blaze nearly three months later. Driven by powerful winds, smoke and ash blew into Troutdale, Gresham, and Portland, causing poor visibility and air quality. Due to their exhaustive efforts, fire crews kept the loss of man-made structures to a minimum, and thankfully there were no human casualties.

However, the Gorge landscape has been dramatically changed, and the vast network of trails that supported day hikers and backpackers experienced significant damage.

Over a year later, many trails on the Oregon side of the Gorge remain closed to the public due to hazards caused by the fire, including

rockslides, fallen trees, and snags (standing dead trees) that could fall without warning. In some places, trails were covered in debris or washed away by subsequent winter rains, making them difficult to find on the forest floor.

Yet much work has been accomplished since last spring, with several trails once again open to the public, including the approach to Latourell Falls and the Pacific Crest Trail.

COLLABORATION HAS BEEN KEY The Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge comes under a patchwork of different ownerships, with much of the lower elevation land closest to the river managed by Oregon State Parks.

Higher up, the lands to are mostly part of Mt. Hood National Forest, overseen by the U.S. Forest Service.

Some privately owned parcels are interspersed, as well.

Because of this patchwork, collaboration has been necessary between multiple public and private entities in order to repair trails and restore access to hikers.

Along with the state and federal governments, one of the key players has been the nonprofit volunteer group Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO).

TKO was established in 2007, in

“

THIS ‘MOSAIC’ PATTERN PRODUCED SOME BENEFITS FOR THE FOREST’S LONGTERM HEALTH...”

response to concerns that the Forest Service would close many trails due to lack of funds to address a long backlog of needed maintenance.

The Forest Service currently has a trail crew of just two-to-six staff to cover more than 100 miles of trails on the Oregon side of the Gorge.

Now, TKO has been able to harness the energy and support of the many hikers who wanted to help out after the Eagle Creek Fire. First, though, TKO had to earn the trust of the state and Forest Service by showing its crews had the collective skill and expertise to tackle the complex challenges presented by the fire.

“It was a bit like a dating process,” says Steve Kruger, TKO executive director, as he described gaining the agency’s trust. The

mutual effort started out cautious and tentative, then later, all sides felt confident enough to commit to longer-term endeavors.

Kruger remembers a specific instance last March when a Forest Service supervisor got a chance to see firsthand the restoration work of Kruger’s crew on the state-managed lower sections of the highly used Angel’s Rest Trail. After seeing how the TKO cleared, repaired, and improved those lower sections, the supervisor said, “You guys are good.” TKO got the green light to continue its work all the way to the federally-managed upper portions of Angel’s Rest.

Now, with multi-year cooperative agreements and work plans in place, TKO has helped rebuild many trails on the Oregon side of

the Gorge. Kruger credits the Forest Service trail crew for its efficiency at addressing hazard trees, downed logs, and bridges that need repair. As for TKO’s own work, “We bring thoroughness,” he says, with enough volunteers to delve further into trail maintenance.

TKO crews direct runoff water away from trails, consider improvements to the tread, build retaining walls to keep trail switchbacks in place, and pay attention to the fine details.

The volunteer work will easily be noticed as trails reopen: Despite the altered views produced by the fire – in some cases, unfortunate changes – hikers will likely find the paths themselves in the best condition they have ever been, as many routes had not seen such

CERAMICS PROGRAM BRING Chloe Collins the advocate

PA G E 4

The uniqueness of Mt. Hood’s art program is largely due to the talented artists in the program.

Each student brings hard work, individuality, and talent into the classroom. In return, they get an encouraging space where they can grow and produce as artists.

Perhaps that is what drew Kate Vincent to continue her education at MHCC after earning her first art degree.

Vincent, 29, is a third-year

student at Mt. Hood. Her journey with art began at the young age of 2, while growing up at a small farm in Troutdale. She loved to draw at first, and then moved through to painting at age 3. As an adult, she decided to pursue an art degree in New Zealand, but that school did not have a ceramics course.

Eventually Vincent found MHCC’s ceramics program and decided to complete her art education. Asked why she chose Mt. Hood, she points out the style of the art department, saying, “You just don’t get this anywhere else.”

NEWS | ART & ENTERTAINMENT

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Patrick Aitchison, a Trailkeepers volunteer, recently attended work parties focused on the trails that loop to Devil’s Rest and Angel’s Rest. He describes a typical TKO meet-up: “We get a safety briefing, an overview of the plan for the day, then head up the trail with tools like Pulaskis (a combination axe/hoe hand tool favored by firefighters) and hand saws.”

Water bars are constructed to help reroute and drain rainfall, vegetation is cut back, and rocks might be moved or placed in an optimal way. Crew members must wear hard hats at all times, and if wind or weather makes conditions too dangerous to work in, leaders call off the work party and save that

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WHAT HIKERS WILL SEE IN THE GORGE AFTER THE EAGLE CREEK FIRE The Forest Service’s Columbia River Gorge web page contains a lot of information about the role of fire in natural ecosystems, as well as the specific story of the Eagle Creek Fire.

That story gives hikers an idea of what they will see when they next visit the Gorge. Most of the area had experienced aggressive fire suppression since the early 1900s, leading to a fairly uniform forest with even-aged trees and fewer open meadows and breaks in the tree cover than during historical times. Although last year’s fire stretched across 48,000 acres, not all of those acres burned at a high severity. This means that while some trees are visibly charred black and dead, other parts of the fire area still contain swaths of live, green trees or intermixed green and dead trees.

This “mosaic” pattern produced some benefits for the forest’s longterm health, despite the fire’s unnatural origin. The scope and mixed severity of the blaze means the Oregon side of the Gorge is less likely to burn for decades to come, because much of the fuel on the forest floor has been consumed. As it recovers over the next several decades, there will be

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trail for another day.

One thing that surprised Aitchison: “How much vegetation has started growing in and over some trails, due to the lack of foot traffic over the last year,” he says.

Oregon’s wet winter climate allows quick regrowth of certain plants in the absence of human impact.

Larch

NOVEMBER 9, 2018

R. 9 E.

This map was revised as of Sept. 27 and is subject to change as trail work continues. For more information contact Columbia River Gorge NSA at 541-308-1700 or Mt. Hood National Forest at 503-668-1700.

more diversity in the age and size of trees, as well as opportunities for browsing animals such as deer to find forage in openings the fire created. Meantime, woodpeckers and other birds will make use of the dead snags to nest and hunt insects, and hikers will find different views through the burned forest they did not have before.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO What should hikers know before heading into the Gorge?

Sharon Steriti, public affairs assistant for the Forest Service’s Columbia River Gorge unit, recommends people check the Forest Service website at www.

fs.usda.gov/crgnsa for the latest updates on trails that are now open and those that remain closed.

She said the Forest Service has a goal to have more trails on the west side of the Gorge, closest to Gresham, open by the end of the year. That is dependent on the weather and how much progress trail crews can make over the next few weeks, as the rainy season kicks into high gear.

Some trails, like those to/on Larch Mountain, likely will not be open until well into 2019. The most severely burned areas, between Multnomah Falls and Cascade Locks, have no estimated repair or re-open date. Keep in mind

that even if a trail is open, the surrounding forest remains closed to off-trail travel, as many hazards will remain indefinitely.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN TRAIL RESTORATION Trailkeepers of Oregon posts work party events for different trails on its Facebook page. Log on to find out when and where the next work crew is heading out to the Gorge at www.facebook.com/pg/ TrailkeepersOregon/events.

Be prepared to work hard and get dirty with others who also love trails.

NGS ART STUDENT HOME The collection of smaller studio buildings in the art department, just off the main Academic Center wing, sport a rustic aesthetic and look inviting and homey.

Along with sculpting, firing, and working with clay, Vincent especially enjoys screen printing.

Her favorite styles of art are anatomical (centered on the human body) or nature themes.

She said she enjoys finding beauty in things that others might not find necessarily beautiful.

Vincent has had some of her art displayed in galleries. One of her

favorite pieces is a ceramic sculpture which shows the torso of a woman.

On one side is her skeleton, and on the other side is her body’s exterior.

The artist wants her art to make people think. To her, the piece says, “Everyone has a skeleton. How different are we, really?”

Vincent would encourage everyone to try some form of art: “Get involved! It’s therapeutic (and) you will find something” that was missing in your life, she said.

Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

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NEWS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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

KMHD: THROUGH THE ADVOCATE’S ARCHIVES Cassie Wilson the advocate

Learning from the past is a big part of why we study history: It can help inform decisions made about the future.

The Advocate is in its 53rd year, and after digging through our newspaper archives, previous reporting on Mt. Hood’s KMHD FM radio station was uncovered from the 1980s when it first went live on, as well as articles from 2009 when the station moved to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) offices in Southwest Portland.

More context has also been uncovered from board meeting minutes from the spring of 2009, when the MHCC-OPB partnership was initially proposed.

KMHD’S FOUNDING In the Jan. 13, 1984 issue of the Advocate, it was reported that KMHD went live on Jan. 2, following the many years of planning and learning that went into getting approved for an FM license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The jazz format was chosen to complement the college’s annual Festival of Jazz and, according to John Rice, then KMHD manager, also to avoid competition with other local radio stations. However, this formatting didn’t reflect the listening habits of students at the time, who reportedly preferred variations of rock.

In the April 24, 2009 issue, Rice said that the station was founded in 1977 as an assignment from then-MHCC President R. Stephen Nicholson to help promote MHCC beyond its service district in east Multnomah County.

Rice also mentioned in the

May 1, 2009 Advocate that part of Nicholson’s assignment was for broadcasting students to work for KMHD. Students were involved from Day One, and outside volunteers weren’t needed the first few years. The Jan. 6, 1984 issue of the Advocate referred to KMHDFM as the “live laboratory” for MHCC radio students.

MANAGEMENT STRUGGLES Before KMHD moved to OPB, the station was without a true manager for the 2008-09 school year, and as reported in the April 24, 2009 issue, tensions were high between volunteers, staff, and students.

According to the article, one volunteer DJ, Tom D’Antoni, wanted the whole staff fired and a major overhaul made in order to solve personnel relations. This falls in line with what former KMHD employees have recently said about the differences between how volunteers thought the station should be run, and how the college thought it should be run. Without a manager, the tensions weren’t resolved.

It’s unclear why that management position was never filled following Doug Sweet’s departure in the summer of 2008.

Despite strained relationships and a lack of leadership, KMHD continued to have student involvement through its last term on campus.

PAST PROCESS The proposal to partner with OPB came at the April 8, 2009 MHCC District Board meeting where 29 people addressed the board, both for and against the proposal.

Included in those meeting minutes is a letter dated April 1, 2009 from Steve Bass, president and CEO

of OPB to then-MHCC President John “Ski” Sygielski. It summarized the main goals of the partnership, which included a paragraph about Mt. Hood students.

Bass wrote, “We are eager to engage MHCC students as interns in various areas of OPB, including television and radio production, web design, journalism, interactive and educational services and other areas. These avenues will give them significant real world experience which will help in their employment prospects.”

The letter concludes with Bass looking forward to “working with MHCC to enhance its core educational mission to the East County region.”

As explained in recent Advocate articles on the matter, MHCC students have in fact had no involvement with KMHD since its move to OPB. Also included in the board meeting minutes was a ‘Challenges’ and ‘Benefits’ table regarding the partnership. “Lack of integration with academic programs” is listed as a challenge, while its counterpart was the internship opportunity potential at OPB. Another challenge listed was, “Lack of adequate physical space for operations (at MHCC).” In the April 3, 2009 issue of the Advocate, Mary Burlingame, KMHD development associate (a fundraising position) said the radio station had been made to give up more and more campus space over the years until it was “located in the smallest amount of space possible.”

That said, the operating space still exists on Mt. Hood’s campus and is fully functional to run KMHD if it were to return to campus, said JD Kiggins, who heads the Integrated

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

Previous issues of the Advocate with coverage of KMHD, MHCC’s radio station.

Media broadcast program.

In the April 3, 2009 issue of the Advocate, it was reported that Burlingame and Gregory Gomez, then-KMHD music director, met with Sygielski, who told them he’d come to them for input if the proposal failed.

Gomez told the Advocate last month (October 2018) about another meeting in 2009, where Sygielski told KMHD staff what was happening with the relocation and why it was happening, without much choice.

Burlingame and Gomez spoke during the public comments

portion of the April 2009 MHCC board meeting, but were denied the opportunity to speak at the May board meeting, according to the May 15, 2009 issue of the Advocate.

Before the latter meeting, the board announced that anyone who spoke in April would not be allowed to speak again at the May meeting.

CURRENT PROCESS Currently, Mt. Hood’s board members are giving time and consideration in how to move KMHD forward. The history of the station is just one of the many things they will need to consider in shaping its future.

REGIMENT HORNS COMING TO MHCC Mariah Getch the advocate

The Regiment Horns, a brass band consisting of three Berklee College of Music alumni, will perform and conduct a masterclass at Mt. Hood’s Visual Arts Theatre from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

The trio is comprised of Sean Erick on trumpet and flugelhorn; Kevin Lloyd Williams Jr. on the flute, tuba, and trombone; and Leon Silva Jr. on the saxophone.

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The masterclass/performance combo is free and open to all Mt. Hood students and musicians.

Viewers can enjoy an authentic array of winds and brass played by famous musicians. There will be a joint performance with MHCC music instructors Dan Davey on the keyboard, Ryan Meagher on guitar, Tim Gilson on bass, and Gary Hobbs on percussion.

The Regiment Horns have performed or recorded with a huge variety of artists, including Andy Grammer, Solange Knowles,

Coldplay, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and Tori Kelly. The trio toured with Justin Timberlake on his 20/20 Experience world tour and Legends of the Summer stadium tour.

They have also performed and recorded theme songs for multiple television programs, among them “The Boondocks,” “Sinbad,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Graphic by Eli Rankin / the Advocate

NEWS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 9, 2018

AWARD-WINNING POET TO VISIT CAMPUS Samiya Bashir, next speaker in “Mouths of Others”

Photo by Nina Johnson Photography

Kurt Larson the advocate

Nationally recognized, awardwinning poet Samiya Bashir will hold a special poetry event on the Mt. Hood campus on Thursday, Nov. 15.

She will read selections from her poetry book and discuss these and other works from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Visual Arts Theatre. Her visit is the latest in the “Mouths of Others” speaker series hosted by the MHCC

humanities department.

Bashir is currently an assistant professor of creative writing at Reed College in Portland, and is held in high regard in the modern poetry community at large.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of CaliforniaBerkeley and a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Michigan. She’s a founding member of Fire and Ink – an AfricanAmerican-centric, LGBT, writers festival and advocacy group.

Bashir’s works focus on countless varied and complicated topics, ranging from the daily melodrama and insanity of life, to reflections of her existence as an African-American in the world today.

Her latest book, “Field Theories,” takes a hint from the laws of thermodynamics and plays with double meanings surrounding scientific vernacular and terminology, such as “Blackbody Curve” or “Blackbody Radiation.”

She contrasts the jargon with the primarily white-dominated field of science, and much of the world as a whole.

Besides her writing, Bashir has produced works in the form of various multimedia projects, ranging from short videos and audio clips to photos and art installments.

To help promote the release of her new book, she teamed up with visual artist Roland Dahwen Wu to create an impressive series of short, spoken-word re-imaginings of her poems.

Her work has been described as psychedelic and even “mindwarping,” and her performances are powerful.

DRC AQUIRES NEW COORDINATOR Jennifer Salazar the advocate

The Diversity Resource Center (DRC) at Mt. Hood has gained a new coordinator with the goal of helping all students thrive.

Ernesto Vasquez III is originally from Dallas, Texas, but achieved his undergraduate degree at Concordia University in Northeast Portland. He double-majored in music and business administration and also has a master’s degree in psychology.

Vasquez became the coordinator of the DRC on Oct. 30, following the departure of Gaby Lunasco earlier this year. He spent a lot of his time working with students in the Evergreen School District (east of Vancouver, Washington) and Parkrose High School. His focus there was to educate and prepare students for college.

He began his master’s studies after working with Mt. Hood and its Future Connect program to assist low-income/first generation students. He started his position at the DRC after he graduated.

In his new role, Vasquez says he is still trying to figure out what the wants and needs of the MHCC community are. His goal is to provide the resources the community may ask for.

More directly, he said he wants the Diversity Resource Center to be a place where students and staff can go to for help and to explore the resources it has to offer.

“I want this office to be a place where students can explore their lives and the lives of others. I also want people to know that I am here and I am a person they can come to if they need any help,” he said.

One of the biggest goals Vasquez lists is to provide more education to students.

AVID, HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED Sadie Klein

the advocate The MHCC AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Center is a place on campus for current students to find crucial academic support, especially through their first few years as a college student.

“It takes support to be your best success in college, and we are your first stop support system,” said Denise Tischler, one of the learning specialists at the center.

Many students are unaware of where the AVID Center is located, and what it offers. It’s in Room 3315, near the Tutoring Center on the upper (mezzanine) level above the campus Library.

This center focuses on writing; however, it offers much more than that. Students can use this space to do any of their class work, and staff can help with just about anything related to school – such as where to look for scholarships, planning class schedules, registering for classes,

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

Photo by Shyann Tooke / the Advocate

how to correctly format essays, and more.

There are also learning specialists available for inquiries on finding the best ways for each individual to study.

AVID at MHCC is unlike the AVID class found in many high schools, with which it is often times confused.

Any student can receive help – there are no eligibility requirements.

Recent changes in the

employment contract status of AVID staff – they’ve become members of the MHCC Part-Time Faculty Association – have reduced the Avid Center hours this Fall Term, mostly affecting night students.

The Center is open for students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, but is now closed on Fridays.

The Writing Center will still be open Fridays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“I believe it’s the responsibility of the institution to educate students and to provide a variety of diverse issues. I want education to be a big component to this office,” he said. “I am really excited to be here and to start making connections. I want people to know they belong in college and I want them (to) thrive in college.”

On the job for a little over two weeks, Vasquez said that as of right now, his focus is to plan the long-term goals for the DRC and then continue with the short-term goals. He said he really enjoys the community college setting and how friendly the people he works with are.

The DRC also works with Student Life (including the Associated Student Government) in organizing campus events. Many other events around the campus are something the DRC also arranges.

The Diversity Resource Center offers Federal Work Study for students to be more involved. Vasquez said his door is always open for students who have interest in being a part of the DRC, and he is always available to listen to ideas students and staff may have for the Diversity Resource Center.

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SPORTS

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

MHCC CROSS COUNTRY READY FOR NWACS Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

The stage is set: This Saturday, Nov. 10, the Mt. Hood Saints cross country team will compete in the 2018 NWAC championships, to be held at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

We headed down to the track to see how the Saints runners were preparing.

A TEAM PLAN On the men’s side, team leader Tyler Tenny has hopes of a good performance going into this weekend. He spoke with us, saying, “At this point (in the season), I’d rather support the team so that we can do well as a team.”

He is happy with his new personal record (26:58:30 for an 8K course), which he achieved at the Warner Pacific XC Classic in October. It was a bit surprising, as he wasn’t feeling very good and felt unprepared during that race, he said. While excited, he’s keeping his head on the ground this weekend: He plans on finding his pace at the start and going from there, and if he gets another personal best it would be great, but he isn’t worrying too much about that.

Chris Garcia has been a great addition to the team since he joined halfway into the season. Garcia is a sophomore transfer from Treasure Valley Community College and is glad to be helping the team out. He

Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Men’s Cross Country team members, left to right. TOP: Tyler Tenny, Collin Humphreys, Tim Lottis, Emanuel Ibarrah BOTTOM: Dyrrel Francisco, Micah Gandara, and Chris Garcia.

wasn’t able to finish the most recent meet as he slipped and fell during the race, injuring his knee and causing him to drop out of the competition.

Garcia says he’s all good now and ready for NWACs, hoping to perform at his best.

“I don’t really have an individual plan. We have a team plan, and it’s just to place well,” he said. “We have a shot to do really well at NWACs for the first time in a while for Mt. Hood.

As for Emanuel Ibarrah, he’s looking to improve his time. “I feel good going into NWAC’s; out of everyone, I feel like I’m the one that hasn’t raced to my potential,” he told the Advocate. “Just because I opened up second-to-fastest and everyone in their second race PR’d (set a personal record) by over a minute, I haven’t PR’d by a minute since my first race,” he explained. “I’m just hoping to PR at NWACs... and hopefully that will help us do good as a team.”

SEEKING A BREAKTHROUGH For the women, freshman Hana Alvarez is determined to do great at Saint Martin’s. Through the three meets she ran this season, she has been able to cut down her time in each. She currently stands at a 22:53 (for 5K) and is very close to breaking her personal best of 22:32, which she set in high school three years ago.

Alvarez is determined to reach this goal over the weekend, but admits she feels very nervous about it.

Women’s Cross Country team members from left to right: Faith Richards, Amber Herman, and Hana Alvarez. (Not pictured: Christa Anderson, Allison Gilliam, Makenzie Smith, and Addison Werner)

She suspects she has had a mental barrier along the way, causing her times to be slower.

“So, for me, getting to this PR is more than just a PR. It’s like me saying I am back to my healthy mental state,” she said. Asked about her confidence in her goal, she said, laughing, “Every meet I always believe that I’m going to get it, every single time. Even when I’m 5 minutes away or 2 seconds away, I’ll always believe I’ll get it. That’s just kind of the way I go at it.”

Sophomore Amber Herman is looking forward to the NWACs but is trying to take it like any other

race, she said. She just hopes to have an overall good race, as she’s been focusing on her pacing this season.

“In practice it seems to go really well but then in the meets my pace is really off,” Herman said. “I think if I’m able to do really well at that this race – go out more conservatively, and then feel better towards the end of the race – I think that will help a lot.”

The Saints are excited for this final road trip as a time to bond as a team, and look forward to competing on Saturday. They are set to leave today (Friday) for Lacey, and give their best effort.

THREE-POINT SHOT AFFECTING YOUTH PLAY

Thomas Fornoff the advocate

The Portland Trail Blazers took care of the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night, 118-103, behind a 40-point performance from CJ McCollum. I had the pleasure of watching the game in person at the Moda Center, and a few things stuck out to me.

The first is that the atmosphere in the arena just wasn’t as electric as PA G E 8

it has been in the past. In my previous visits, there always seemed to be that excitement that came from just being around thousands of other fans supporting the team against whoever the opponent was, whether it was a top-seeded Golden State Warriors squad, or a lackluster Phoenix Suns team struggling to keep it together. But when it came to this game, it just seemed to be missing. Fans only really cheered when something superb happened, otherwise they were more focused on socializing than actually supporting the team.

This seemed odd to me, because it wasn’t as if the Blazers were playing a throwaway game against a scrub team. They were playing an 8-1 Milwaukee team with a beast of a superstar, in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though the game was mainly in Portland’s control, it was still an exciting game to watch. But it

seemed the only time the fans really cared was when trying to get a free T-shirt and cheering on McCollum when he was flirting with a 40 piece.

The other thing I realized was that the three-pointer is killing basketball.

The Blazers are no stranger to letting role players torch them, so it came as no surprise when Brook Lopez, veteran center for the Bucks, had 16 points at the half. The only problem here was that Lopez was four-of-seven from three-point land. Again, this isn’t the biggest of surprises, because centers have been expanding the floor more and more often recently.

My only problem with this was once the teams came back from the locker room at halftime, I watched as a 7-foot starting center did not even take a single step inside the three-point line for the remaining 9 minutes of game time. This is just

proof that the arc has taken over the NBA. Teams are short-circuiting fast breaks to try to get a three, teams are taking upwards of 40 shots from behind the arc, and no one seems interested in taking it to the rack or pulling up for a mid-range jump shot.

Watching this just makes my heart sink. Children look up to these players and they see that the three-pointer is popular, so that’s all they want to do now. Jacking up shots that take every ounce of muscle in their bodies just to get it to the rim, time after time after time.

Meanwhile, they can’t even get down which foot they are supposed to jump off in order to shoot a layup.

One part of the Blazers that I really enjoy watching is what I see in McCollum, Evan Turner, and Zach Collins. The one thing these three have in common is that they are not

afraid to go inside. Though CJ falls in love with the three at times, his real bread-and-butter is the pull-up, mid-range jumper. Turner, though he is not a good three-point shooter by any means, is an absolute assassin when it comes to the 15- to 20-footer.

As for Collins, he has expanded his game to behind the arc, but that is mainly to adapt to the era we are in. Zach is not afraid to muscle around in the paint. Though night after night his body will take a toll from the rough play of being a big man, he still sticks to his roots and holds down the paint as big men like Lopez should do, instead of floating around the arc all night.

The only way I see this issue being fixed is to move the three-point line back. But even then, with how kids are playing nowadays, the three ball isn’t going anywhere and has completely taken over the game.