The Advocate, Issue 23, April 9, 2010

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Track & field prepares to host Multi Meet at MHCC

dvocate Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, Oregon

Sports p. 7

www.advocate-online.net

April 9, 2010

MHCC's money pit

Photo by Brett Stanley/The Advocate

Two MHCC maintenance workers divert water from electrical conduits that provide power for the college. A water leak forced the campus to shut down April 4 at 5 p.m. and April 5.

Volume 45, Issue 23

Students likely to face delay in receiving financial aid Ron J. Rambo Jr. The Advocate

Mt. Hood Community College students will likely see a delay in their financial aid payments starting summer term as the college develops a new disbursement plan, according to Dean of Student Services Robert Cox. Avoiding unnecessary costs — which may total as much as $500,000 this year — is a key reason why financial aid disbursement will be reformed, Cox said.

Cox sent an e-mail Monday to all staff outlining four options for streamlining financial aid, and asked for feedback by today (the four options are summarized in the sidebar). All the options require delaying financial aid disbursement until at least week two of the term. Currently, students receive their aid as soon as the first day of the term.

Jennifer DeMent, interim director of finance and auxiliary services, said in a Wednesday e-mail that although financial aid funding comes from state and federal resources, the college is forced to pay when students receive aid and stop attending class.

“The current federal financial aid regulations require us to document that students began attending classes in order for them to be eligible for financial aid,” DeMent said. “When a student receives financial aid and stops attending (or never began attending) classes, the college is required to repay 100 percent of all grants and loans that the student received.

“For the current academic year, through February, this amount is $322,267,” DeMent said. “We expect the number to be at $500,000 by the end of the school year. This amount is placed on the student account, creating additional hardships for students, most of whom do not have the resources to pay.”

Delay continued on page 8

Financial aid disbursement options Option 1:

Disburse aid on the first regular business day of the second week of the term. Faculty would have to drop all students who did not attend classes by the end of the first Friday of the term.

Add/drop period would change from two weeks to one.

Option 2:

Disburse aid on the first regular business day of the third week of the term. Faculty would have to drop all students who did not attend classes by the end of the second Friday of the term.

Option 3:

Disburse a portion of the aid on the first day of the term and the remainder on the first business day of the third week of the term. Faculty would have to drop all students who did not attend classes by the end of the second Friday of the term.

Option 4:

Disburse aid for new students on the first day of the term, and for returning students, the first business day of the third week of the term. A college official said Wednesday this option would not work due to financial aid regulations.

Electrical repairs may cost $3 million Budget-balancing plan comes under fire Brett Stanley

Ron J. Rambo Jr.

The Advocate

MHCC President John Sygielski said Wednesday that Portland General Electric officials estimate that replacing the college’s electrical system could cost upwards of $3 million.

A water leak April 4 allowed several gallons of water to enter the main electrical cabinet that houses the equipment that maintains and regulates power to MHCC and forced a shutdown of the system and a closure of the Gresham campus.

Sygielski, speaking to 80-plus staff members at a budget forum, said the PGE officials recommended that the work be done ”soon” and that it might occur this summer.

According to Dick Byers, director of facilities management, workers are still working between the College Center and the Visual Arts Center to implement both temporary and permanent solutions to the problems that almost led to a catastrophic failure of MHCC’s electrical system.

The leak could have caused a “flash-over,” an explosion that could have been potentially dangerous for students, staff and faculty, according to Byers.

Though the danger has passed, workers are still making repairs to the conduits that bring electricity into MHCC, including a drainage system that will allow water to flow away from electrical equipment should more flooding occur, according to Russ Johnson, associate director of facilities management.

There is no word yet on how much the temporary repairs will cost. “It will take another month to get an invoice from Portland General Electric and EC Electric,” said Byers.

“Typically, it takes 30 days,” said JoAnn Zahn, vice president of administrative services. “That’s sort of standard business operation.”

The Advocate

Mt. Hood Community College faculty members whose areas were put on a list of programs that could potentially be eliminated to help relieve a $5.8 million deficit responded with shock this week in a town hall meeting Wednesday.

Eleven programs, including engineering, theater, and geology, were mentioned in a financial bulletin created by MHCC President John Sygielski on MHCC’s website along with a variety of other options to raise revenue or decrease expenditures in an effort to balance the 2010-2011 budget.

Many of the faculty present at the meeting spoke of the potential damage that could be done by publicizing information possibly detrimental to enrollment. Others questioned the dollar figures used and the

method used to select programs for the list.

Sygielski, asked how the list was constructed, said there was “nothing scientific” about it and said that considering programs with less than 40 fulltime equivalent students “was a good place to start.”

Pam Shields, co-president of the full-time faculty association, suggested that Sygielski should have spoken to the faculty association about creation of the list.

“You should have spoken with us internally before going external,” Shields said.

Faculty association copresident Jack Schommer said, “Historically, we did a (elimination) list. Four or five years ago, there was a list and we are paying for it now. It didn’t work and we drove people away.

Can we please stop doing this?

Instead, can we work to grow

our programs? The damage is done. I hope we can learn from this.”

Theater instructor Rick Zimmer, whose program represents the third highest savings according to Sygielski’s financial report ($239,000), said this was not the first time this has happened to him.

“There will be collateral damage by publishing this,” Zimmer said.

Eliminating all 11 programs on the list would save around $2 million, according to the information provided on the MHCC website.

There are 29 options on the proposed list of trade-offs for balancing the 2010-11 budget, and Sygielski said he wasn’t sure how much would have to

Deficit continued on page 8 Index

Check www.advocate-online.net for exclusive coverage of the Symphonic Band Festival

Artist finds the beauty in unlikely objects A&E p. 6

Check the calendar for upcoming April events News p. 3

Student finds 'natural fit' as Perceptions music editor Music p. 5

Opinion

p. 2

News

p. 3, 8

Music

p. 4-5

A&E

p. 6

Sports

p. 7

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OPINION

The Advocate

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April 9, 2010

dvocate

Sanne Godfrey Editor-in-Chief Ron J. Rambo Jr. Executive Editor, Design Jake Fray Sports Editor Brett Stanley Photo Editor Chelsea Van Baalen A&E, Web Editor M. Michael Rose Advertising Manager Jen Ashenberner Music Editor Jordan Tichenor Opinion Editor

Could the possible delay cause bread lines to form?

Editorial

Ollie Barker Reporter

Revamping financial aid may jolt student budgeting

Devin Courtright Reporter Chealsey Fischer Reporter Jon Fuccillo Reporter David Gambill Reporter David Guida Reporter Chanel Hill Reporter L. John King Reporter Thelma M. Lucas Reporter Mario Rubio Reporter Bob Watkins Adviser Dan Ernst Assistant Adviser 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.

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mong the budget issues the college is facing – including a shortfall for the 2010-2011 budget of $5.8 million – are difficulties in the financial aid area that will result in a delay of payments to students.

Starting summer term, student financial aid disbursement will be changed in order to help the college reduce a potential cost of $500,000. According to Jennifer DeMent, interim director of finance and auxiliary services, the college is already facing losses of $322,267 due to the current financial aid system, a number that may grow to half a million dollars. How does this happen when aid funding comes from the state and the federal government?

“When a student receives financial aid and stops attending, the college is required to repay 100 percent of all grants and loans that the student received,” DeMent said.

So essentially, MHCC must eat the cost of students who drop classes but still receive aid for those particular classes.

The solution, according to Dean of Student Services Robert Cox, is to delay disbursement of financial aid until after the add-drop period has ended. Unfortunately, this creates a time period in which students may have no

money to buy books or pay bills, or other things that must be purchased.

The book problem, Cox said, can be solved via a credit that will be placed on the account if books are purchased at the bookstore. But in a sense, the college may be forcing students to pay more money for their textbooks than they might pay when purchasing online or buying from an alternative seller. The bookstore problem is one that equates to a monopoly, but the loss of cash from the hands of students is equally troubling.

Of the four options Cox gave in an all-staff e-mail on Monday (which can be found on page 1), the first option would be the best. Rather than having to wait until the start of the third week to receive aid, as in option two, students would have to wait only one week – long enough to use the books in the library if needed until a cheaper book can be purchased. This may also help relieve some issues in paying bills. It won’t be perfect, and students should be angry the college was put in this position in the first place, but sacrifices will have to be made by all parties – including students – to relieve massive budget shortfalls.

A Molly Ringwald for a new generation Chelsea Van Baalen The Advocate

Michael Cera is the Molly Ringwald of our time.

Aside from gender, there isn’t much separating Cera from Ringwald. They’ve reached their career highlights in their 20s, play roles filled to the brim with adorable teenaged angst and lead a pack of similarly branded actors.

For those who don’t know, Ringwald starred in ’80s gold such as “Sixteen Candles,” “Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.” She managed to encompass being a teenager in the ’80s as the misunderstood (insert teenage stereotype here) who just wants to fit into (insert popular crowd here) and date (insert romantic interest here) even though their love is completely against the odds. Ringwald also led the pack of likeminded young actors deemed the “Brat Pack.”

Cera fits into a similar formula. Cera is the adorably messy haired (insert teenage stereotype here) who doesn’t ever want to fit into (insert popular crowd here) and date (insert obvious romantic choice here.) Meanwhile, his character and his acting bounces off whatever more charismatic female actress is playing the role at the time.

I first became aware of the Cera-Ringwald connection when a series of publications announced the potential of a “Gilligan’s Island” movie. Ideal picks for the Skipper, Mary Ann, and virtually every other castaway varied, yet the pick for Gilligan was nearly unanimous: Michael Cera.

After all, who better to play the bumbling, lovable Gilligan than an actor who’s already proven himself to be bumbling and lovable in every role he’s played? Exactly.

Perhaps Cera is the symptom of a larger problem, just as Ringwald was. The disease, of course, is a string of repetition aimed at young adult theatergoers, an attempt to tap into the cinematic goldmine that is young adulthood.

And as more and more films are being aimed toward the underdogs and the “alternative kids,” the characters are getting to be more and more blurred from one film to the next.

Somehow George Michael Bluth (“Arrested Development”) is Paulie Bleeker (“Juno”) who then transforms into Nick O’Leary (“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”) who then becomes Nick Twisp (“Youth in Revolt.”) And yet, it seems that at the end of the day, we’re still left with George Michael Bluth.

Just as Ringwald went from Samantha Baker (“Sixteen Candles”) to Claire Standish (“The Breakfast Club”) to Andie Walsh (“Pretty in Pink”), at the end of the day we were left with a mixture of Samdie Stanakeralsh, one character

just being transferred from film to film.

And while I don’t dislike either Cera or Ringwald as actors, or the films they star in, as someone who is asked to shell out $8 for a movie ticket (during a matinee time, no less) and then $20 for a DVD, it’s not too much to ask for a little variety.

Until then, Michael Cera seems to be the crown price of the newest Brat Pack.

Photo illustration by Jordan Tichenor/The Advocate

Together, Michael Cera (left) and Molly Ringwald (right) represent the ultimate awkward teen with an obvious love interest.

April 9, 2010

news

LaRouche Democrats come to MHCC campus

The Advocate 3

Foundation fete to raise funds for scholarships Mario Rubio The Advocate

Photo by David Gambill/The Advocate

Visitors from the Seattle, Wash., branch of the Worldwide LaRouche Youth Movement talk to students on campus Tuesday.

Members distributed pamphlets containing information published by the LaRouche Political Action Committee and circulated a petition to have President Barack Obama impeached.

The MHCC Foundation will host its annual fundraising dinner — the Garden Party and Auction — on May 1 to support MHCC student scholarships.

This year’s event, based on the theme of “Seed our future- help us grow,” will begin at 8 p.m. at the Portland Waterfront Mariott, 1401 SW Naito Parkway.

Anyone in the community may attend. Reservations for the event are available for $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. Items up for bid include a wine tasting and vineyard tour, garden items, art and jewelry, and trips to Hawaii, Africa, Italy and Mexico.

Grammy-nominated saxophonist and MHCC alumnus Patrick Lamb will perform beginning at 8 p.m. when the live auction begins. “None of the songs he will be performing have been mentioned but a great performance is expected,” said foundation coordinator Sunny Klever.

Cassie McVeety in the Office of College Advancement said, “Last year we met our goal of raising $150,000. This year we hope to raise about $200,000. The objective is to raise money for those who cannot afford to go to college and donors have usually been generous enough to give.”

Local businesses sponsoring the event are The Gresham Outlook, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center and Riverside Community Bank, among others. To make reservations or for further questions, contact Klever at 503-491-7206 or visit mhcc.edu/foundation.

Red Cross calls on students to 'donate life' The American Red Cross will be at MHCC Tuesday and Wednesday for a blood drive sponsored by the Student Activities Board.

The event will be held in the College Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Students who wish to donate can make an appointment up to the day of the event in the College Center or online at www.givelife.org/index.cfm?group =registration&hlc=MHCC. Dan Moe, the SAB Health and Wellness Coordinator, said, “It’s easy to do and is a great way to help save lives. The whole process takes approximately 45 minutes, including an interview, blood withdrawal, File photo by Ollie Barker /The Advocate and time to chill out.” The amount MHCC employee Graham Phillips goves blood during January’s Red Cross blood drive. of each donation is one pint.

“Donating Blood” tab at the top of the page, “to get the blood sugar back up,” he said.

Most people meet the eligibility The school’s goal is to have 100 donors and, requirements of weighing at least 110 lbs and then click “Eligibility Requirements.”

Those wishing to donate should drink “at based on sign-ups, that goal had not been met feeling healthy. Those who are taking medication to fight infections or use IV drugs are not least two bottles of water the morning of dona- as of Tuesday, April 6. Those who don’t have eligible. A complete list of requirements can be tion,” Moe said. There will be apple and orange an appointment may show up in case someone found at www.redcrossblood.org. Click on the juice, as well as snacks provided after donating, does not show or cancels.

Rock club to host a hunt for Oregon's official state rock The Mt. Hood Rock Club is holding its spring show in the MHCC gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday, which will include a thunder egg hunt.

The thunder egg hunt, starting at 10 a.m., will be similar to an Easter egg hunt, but instead of candy the children will receive polished rocks.

Softball vs. Clark Starts at 3 p.m. at the softball field Track and Field John Knight Twilitght Western Oregon University in Monmouth Last day to drop individual classes

Saturday, April 10 Mt. Hood Rock Show From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gym Softball vs. SWOCC Starts at noon at the softball field Baseball at SWOCC Starts at 1 p.m. in Coos Bay

Sunday, April 11 Mt. Hood Rock Show From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the gym

Monday, April 12 Track and Field Mt. Hood Multi Meet at the Earl Klapstein Stadium Strings Benefit Concert At 7 p.m. in the college theater

Tuesday, April 13 Baseball vs. Clackamas Starts at 1 p.m. at the baseball field Track and Field Mt. Hood Mlti Meet at the Earl Klapstein Stadium Blood Drive From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the College Center

Blood Drive From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the College Center

The Advocate

The Advocate

FRIDAY, April 9

Wednesday, April 14

David Guida

Sanne Godfrey

Calendar

The event is named after the Oregon state rock and takes place the week after Easter.

The egg hunt will be divided into three age groups: five and under, 6 to 9 and 10 to 12. Each group will get around 15 minutes to look for eggs.

The admission is free and the rock show will include several events for children that will be educational and fun.

The rock show will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Student Success Seminar “Degree Options” From noon to 1 p.m. in the College Center Student Success Seminar “Succeeding in College While Raising a Family” from noon to 1 p.m.

Student Success Seminar “Beginning Web Searching Workshop” From 3 to 4 p.m. in Room 2307 MHCC District Board Meeting Starts at 7 p.m. in the board room

Thursday, April 15 Student Success Seminar “Research Bootcamp” From 2 to 3 p.m. in Room 2307 Student Success Seminar “Advanced Web Searching Workshop” from 3 to 4 p.m.

Student Success Seminar “Unit Conversions from Chemestry” From 4 to 5 p.m. in Room 2307

Friday, April 16 Student Success Seminar “Learning from Lectures” From noon to 1 p.m. in Room 3315

4

MUSIC

The Advocate

april 9, 2010

Award-winning harmonica player asks to join MHCC group for jazz show Jen Ashenberner The Advocate

The MHCC Jazz Band will add another performance to their resumes when take the stage at Jimmy Mak’s Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Portland.

The performance is part of the jazz club’s effort to help showcase up-and-coming local artists in a series of shows every Tuesday in April headlined “Partners in Jazz.”

The Jazz Band will open for the Mel Brown Septet, which is set to go on at 8 p.m. according to Jazz Band Director Susie Jones.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to perform at Jimmy Mak’s,” said Jones.

Local harmonica player Joe Powers will perform a few sets with the Jazz Band as well, Jones said.

Winner of the Belgian Crystal Harmonica Award in 2008 according to his website, Pow-

ers has continued to tour around the world. Powers heard that the MHCC Jazz Band was scheduled to perform at Jimmy Mak’s and requested to accompany them on stage.

“He contacted Jimmy Mak’s, then he got in touch with me to find out if we would be willing to perform with him again,” Jones said.

The Jazz Band had played with Powers a couple of years ago at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival and Jones said, “We enjoyed playing with Joe.” Some of the tunes that will be featured with Powers on harmonica are “Libertango,” “Cherokee” and a Ray Charles piece, “What’d I say.”

The club will be open to all ages until 9 p.m. and then will only allow the 21 and over crowd, Jones said.

Jimmy Mak’s is located at 221 NW 10th Ave. in Portland. Tickets are $3 at the door.

For video and more photos of this and other music events, log onto www.advocate-online.

com.

Photos by David Gambill/The Advocate

The Reynolds High School Band performs at the Mt. Hood Conference Symphonic Band Festival Thursday in the MHCC College Theater.

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MUSIC

april 9, 2010

The Advocate 5

Music editor strives to produce first-rate Perceptions album

CD Previews Natalie Merchant Leave Your Sleep

Natalie Merchant, former lead singer for 10,000 Maniacs, releases her fifth solo album “Leave Your Sleep” on Tuesday.

Story by Jen Ashenberner

D

MGMT

Congratulations

Neo-psychedelic group MGMT released “Congratulations,” the followup album to their debut, “Oracular Spectacular.” Greg Kot of the Chicago Times says MGMT mixes orchestral splendor and fragile intimacy.

Coheed and Cambria

eciding to be the music editor for Perceptions Magazine was an easy call for George Lewis III because it was a “natural fit.”

“I have always been involved in music,” said the second-year psychology major. “My favorite toy when I was a toddler was the Fisher-Price record player.”

Lewis’s involvement with music didn’t end with the batteries dying in his favorite toy. His current projects include playing drums, guitar, keys, and vocals for bands such as International Grey, The Other Also and Underwater, all under his record label Predator Friendly Records.

The goal for the Perceptions CD compilation: “Try to reach out and broaden the base of where the music is coming from while still keeping the independent spirit.”

Lewis used his music industry contacts to

Year of the Black Rainbow

The deluxe version of New York progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria’s “Year of the Black Rainbow” will be accompanied by a 352-page hardcover novel written by lead singer Claudio Saudez and novelist Peter David.

George Lewis III

“put feelers” out to musicians in LA and locally for the CD and said past issues didn’t provide the quality that people really wanted to listen to.

Lewis said the overall quality of recording, musicianship, and songwriting, compared to other literary journals, will exceed anything else out there.

“There’s going to be some really good music on there,” said Lewis. “It should be the most cohesive album. There’s a variety of music but it’s a collection that will really flow.

“The CD as a whole will be a really satisfying collection of music,” he said. “People will really be surprised.”

While Lewis couldn’t list any specific favorites on the CD, he said he will be featured on it with The Other Also. The song titled “Letters” is described by Lewis as alternative pop.

The best part about working on Perceptions has been working with the editorial staff.

“It’s been good working in an environment where we’re trying to put together the best version of Perceptions we can,” he said.

“I want to see this as a standard bar. So the people who do Perceptions next year see this year’s magazine and say, ‘Wow, that’s really fantastic work.’”

Lewis said MHCC puts a lot of resources into producing Perceptions, adding that others “pale in camparison.”

Lewis said this will probably be his last year

working on Perceptions and would like to leave future music editors with a tip: “Put quality over quantity. We could have 25 songs on this CD but we’ll probably end up with 10 or 12. Who wants to listen to 25 average songs when they could listen to 10 good songs?” he said. “I would encourage them to put their ear to the ground and listen to the pulse of the city and not to limit themselves to putting up posters just around campus or in Gresham.”

As for what’s next, Lewis said he will be graduating this year from MHCC and transferring to Washington State University in Vancouver. His bands do not have any scheduled gigs but those interested in sampling their music can do so at www.predatorfriendlyrecords.com.

For updates check out Lewis's Twitter page at www.twitter.com/ theotheralso

Orchestra to hold benefit for David Douglas program

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Mt. Hood Community College’s Orchestra will be hosting a Strings Benefit Concert in the College Theater Monday at 7 p.m.

According to Marshall Tuttle, the orchestra director, the benefit is an annual event held for the purpose of “serving the local music education community.”

Featured in the ensemble are violins, violas, cellos, bass, and harps.

The David Douglas High School will be performing as

well as the MHCC Orchestra.

Tuttle said there will be solo performances, including a vocal performance of a melody from Mozart’s “Magic Flute.” The MHCC tenor soloist is in the opera workshop program and will also be featured in the music department’s June production of the “Magic Flute.”

Suggested donation for the concert is $5 and all proceeds go to help support the David Douglas Orchestra.

For more information, interested parties can contact Tuttle at 503-491-7010 or the music department at 503-491-6969.

Call Academic Advisor

Ryan Madden

Want your name in headlines?

503-413-7166 or email rmaddenc@linfield.edu

Are you in a local band operated outside of school?

or log on to linfield.edu/dce

Then we want to talk to you!

E-mail the music editor with your name, your band’s name, type of music you play, and a phone number you can be reached at to advocatt@mhcc.edu.

LIN9025N_CreateMarketAd_MtHood.indd 1

1/11/10 2:26 PM

6 The Advocate

A&E

April 9, 2010

Artist Vicki Hammond interprets "HerStory" through her art Devin Courtright & L. John King

think rust is really cool.”

Hammond said she never intended to become a professional The journey to becoming a professional artist is not some- artist and her path there has been anything but direct. She grew thing one navigates with a map and a compass, at least not ac- up in the Los Angeles area and attended Santa Monica Comcording to Vicki Hammond, this month’s featured Fireplace munity College where she earned an associate’s degree in music.

Hammond then ventured to the wine country north of San Gallery artist.

Hammond refers to her body of work as “Herstory,” a fact Francisco and attended Sonoma State University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in physical edushe was pleasantly surprised to find in comcation and nutrition in 1986. mon with the name MHCC has given to its Asked about the creative process, Ham21-year tradition of celebrating women’s mond said, “I can lose track of time on a contributions to history. great creative day. I come upstairs, I start Following a desire to remember women early with a cup of coffee and wake up and who have gone before, Hammond has built just go up for 15 minutes and just fiddle for a body of work using old photographs of a while. If I get on a roll and things start women and then material including wire, flowing, I think, ‘Oh, I haven’t eaten today!’ watch parts, jewelry and scraps of metal and I lose track of anything else and it’s a wonfabric. Hammond calls this “found-object derful feeling.” collage.”

Hammond views loss, life’s transitions Hammond said she was interested in and the process of self-realization all to be showing her work at the Fireplace Gallery opportunities for artistic expression. because it is an opportunity for a solo art Describing her thoughts when deciding show. to pursue her art full-time, Hammond said, “The biggest interest for me was that this “I can’t do that j-o-b (as a receptionist) foris an opportunity to have a show that’s just ever. It’s numbing out my head. me, which was really exciting,” said HamVicki Hammond “If you are thinking of doing something mond. “Honestly, that was my big driver for risky, consider what is the absolute worst doing it. It was a nice opening invitation to thing that could happen. In my life experitry.”

Hammond said she was “thrilled” when she found out that ence, almost all the time, if I follow my gut I end up at the right she would be featured in the Fireplace Gallery this year via a place, meeting the right people. The worst-case scenario is never letter she received from Pam Kuretich, MHCC’s administrative all that bad. It has always been worth it.” assistant in the Student Life Office.

Hammond created and sold her first piece of art in 1992, a year she describes as being pivotal in her life. It was at that time that Hammond found, and continues to find, beauty in the “most ordinary things” such as lamp parts, metal pipes, and a scrap of wood.

“A friend went to New York and she was at a construction site and there was all this gnarly barbed wire stuff just sitting on the sidewalk,” Hammond said. “She picked it up for me because she was thought, ‘That is so Vicki.’ I love it and I just find it really intriguing and interesting. I’m always drawn to metal. I The Advocate

Photos by Chelsea Van Baalen/The Advocate

Vicki Hammond’s art work is on display in the Fireplace Gallery until April 29.

Graphic design duo takes on Perceptions Jen Ashenberner The Advocate

Although their lives have been somewhat consumed by their work on Perceptions magazine, Erin Johnson and Zoe Lowney wouldn’t give up the opportunity to be the graphic design team for the publication for anything.

“It’s been an eye-opening, real world experience that we haven’t gotten in class,” said Johnson.

With a degree in fine art from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Johnson came to MHCC not sure of what she wanted to do.

“I applied to the graphic design program and got in,” said Johnson. “I fell in love with it.”

Lowney started as a general education major but has always loved the arts.

“I was really nervous about sitting in front of a computer, staring at a screen all day,” she said. “But it’s really not all about that and I actually do love it.

It’s addicting — you can sit there for eight hours and not realize eight hours have gone by.”

After being told that working well together would be important, Johnson and Lowney decided to apply for the position on Perceptions as a team.

“We chose each other,” said Johnson. “We were warned that if we didn’t get along, it would be hell.”

The two agreed that persistence and initiative were what made them stand out from the other applicants.

“We were on it right away,” Johnson said. “We wanted it, so we were there the next day, put every-

thing together and showed it to them as soon as we could.”

Megan Jones, editor-in-chief of Perceptions, said, “They’ve produced consistently awesome work since their first assignment.”

The details of the designs have yet to be finalized but Johnson said, “We’re coming up to the stressful part right now so were going to have to be working on things right up to the deadline.”

Inspiration for design concepts come from reading the submissions and looking at the art that will be put into Perceptions, according to the duo.

“We show them (the editorial board) what we’ve designed and they tell us whether they like it or not or what we need to change, if anything,” Lowney said.

“Then we come up with new ideas for them. It’s kind of back and forth between what they like and what we want to portray in the magazine.”

Jones said, “They have been very willing to go back to the drawing board multiple times.”

The pair said the magazine cover will consist of a fabric material that is soft to the touch, “not at all like paper,” which they are excited about using.

“It’s different,” said Johnson. Lowney said, “We hope they love how it feels in their hands.”

To aspiring Perceptions graphic designers, Johnson said, and Lowney agreed, “Keep an open mind with the Perceptions staff and what their ideas are for the cover but make sure you love your overall product in the end. Don’t give in.”

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April 9, 2010

SPORTS

The Advocate 7

Track and field prepares for two meets in four days "I know our relays can and will compete against anyone they go up against, including the fouryear colleges and universities."

Sanne Godfrey The Advocate

The MHCC track teams are at Western Oregon today to compete in the John Knight Twilight and then will return home to host the Mt. Hood Multi Meet Monday and Tuesday.

“I am hoping for some performance-friendly weather for the John Knight Twilight meet this Friday,” Head coach Matt Hart said. “Markus Stevens and Chris Zeller are the only ones competing in the Mt. Hood Multi Meet next Monday and Tuesday. Luckily they will have all of Saturday and Sunday to recover enough to get in a good performance for the Multi Meet.”

Last weekend the team competed at the Shotwell Invite at the University of Puget Sound where the team was without Brian Howelton, who is still recovering from a severely sprained ankle. Hart hopes Howelton will be able to compete at the John Knight Twilight.

Mt. Hood Community College entered two teams to compete in the men’s 4x400 relay. The first team came in ninth with a time of 3:38.95 and the second team came in 15th with a time of 3:49.06. The 4x100 was run in 43.15, which earned the men a third-place finish behind Central Washington and Western Washington.

“I know our relays can and will compete against anyone they go up against, including the four-year colleges and universities,” said Hart. Hart also said the team experimented with the 4x100 during the Shotwell Invite, which slowed them down initially but could make them faster in the future, and that the 4x400 was run in frigid, wet and windy conditions. Hart said he expects all of the relays to be run well this weekend.

Zach Young came in first in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.02. “Zach is a consistent hurdler. His strength seems to be his patience on the early part of the race and maintaining a strong

Matt Hart Track and field head coach

Contributed Photos by Matt Hart

Sophomore Anaiah Rhodes runs her season personal record in the 100-meter dash in the rainfall during the 2010 Shotwell Classic at Puget Sound April 3.

pace at the end of the race. Some hurdlers come out fast and die at the end. A more mature intermediate hurdler will stay in position but relaxed for the first 200 meters then build and finish strong on the end,” said Hart.

In the 100-meter dash, Micah Strong came in eighth place with a time of 11.33, while Chris Zeller came in ninth with a time of 11.46. Zeller came in fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 22.37 where Micah Strong came in tenth with a time of 23.14.

“At all levels of competition, athletes battle back and forth in how they place,” Hart said. “This is the exciting thing about sport — the outcome is often unpredictable and fun to watch. We have several athletes this year that compete against each other with unpredictable outcomes. The bulk of our men’s team is geared around the sprints. I anticipate a lot of dynamics occurring in the 100m,

200m and 400m. We also have an opportunity to field two pretty good 4x400m relays where any of the eight competitors could challenge to earn a spot on the ‘A’ team and compete at our championship meet,” said Hart.

Jr Velasquez came in third in the shot put event with a distance of 14.78 meters and Adrian Webber had a lifetime personal record (PR) in the discus throw with 43.20 meters and a fourth-place finish.

Kelsey Strot who has been at the top of the leader board all season in both discus and shot put, only competed in the discus throw event where she came in 19th place with a distance of 23.63 meters.

Hart said, “We were told by meet management that the field events were inflated and that we should pick one event for each of our athletes. Throws coach (Nik) Kay wanted Kelsey to have the opportunity to improve her season mark for the discus throw. Un-

fortunately, the weather this Saturday was horrid. She had some huge throws but stepped out of the ring, which scratched her mark. Though the scoreboard indicated poor performance, her actual effort was encouraging as we know she has the skills to throw big.”

Anaiah Rhodes came in fourth in the 100 meters with a time of 12.65 and ninth in the 200 meters with a time of 27.04.

The women’s team is in a rebuilding year, according to Hart.

There are very few women competing this year, which leads to low team scores. “We have already recruited and signed several women for next year so we are excited to get our team scores up again next year,” said Hart.

Ard takes a seat for rest of season

Saints split doubleheader with Chemeketa Jake Fray

The Advocate

The Saints baseball team has lost its clean-up hitter Taylor Ard for the rest of the season but will get to keep ace pitcher Nic Fowler.

Ard has been suffering from a nagging left wrist injury that has kept him off the field this season.

Ard broke his hamate bone in the preseason during batting practice.

Saints Head Coach Bryan Donohue said Wednesday the team has officially shut down Ard for the season and that they will have to rethink what type of team they are for the rest of the season.

“This definitely makes us a different club,” said Donohue. “He made us a team that could turn a game around with one swing of the bat.

Now we will have to scrape out runs.

“He protected us because they would pitch around our leadoff hitters and then they would have to face Taylor, who could change the game with one swing of the bat,” Donohue said. “It will be difficult to change. We are a completely different team without him.”

As for Fowler, he is able to play but won’t be able to pitch until the tail-end of the season after getting used to throwing again from the infield.

“He is definitely not going to

have surgery,” said Donohue. “He is starting to feel better so we are going to work him back in before he starts to pitch for us. He will play second base and we also want to get him in the lineup to hit as well. We just want to get him ready before he goes back out on the mound down the road in the season.”

Fowler was suffering from a left elbow issue the past few seasons starting in high school for the righthanded pitcher. Fowler was close to having Tommy John surgery before the news on Wednesday from Donohue he would not need the procedure.

The Saints took on Chemeketa Community College Tuesday, winning the first game 7-2 followed by a 9-0 loss.

“It was a good win for us to pick up on the road,” said Donohue.

“The first game was a lot closer then it should have been. It was good to pick up a win against a team that is expected to finish in the top of league.”

In the second game, freshman pitcher Jon Yearout didn’t bring his “stuff,” according to Donohue.

“Jon just didn’t have his best stuff,” said Donohue. “Their pitcher (Grady Wood) did a great job of shutting us down and we just couldn’t produce. They got a

couple early hits and the game was close up until the fifth inning when they brought the lead up to 5-0.”

The Saints were scheduled to play a make-up doubleheader Thursday at Oslund Field starting at 1 p.m. against Lane Community College but was canceled due to swampy conditions on the field.

“I have no reservations about saying that if we show up to play, we will be fine,” said Donohue.

“They do have a good pitcher in (Scott) Allred. I don’t know too much about their hitting, but they have been a .500 team the past few seasons, so we should be fine.”

The Saints will play two doubleheaders Saturday and Tuesday against SWOCC in Coos Bay followed by Clackamas on Tuesday at home. Both games start at 1 p.m.

“I know Clackamas has a lot of ineligible players and injuries,” said Donohue. “As for SWOCC, their program wasn’t very good but it is definitely getting better with their pitching. If we want to beat them, then we can’t look past them.”

As for the Saints continuing their woes of splitting doubleheaders, Donohue could only say it is because of the match-ups in each game. “In preseason we would win the first game and not show for the second,” he said.

Adrian Webber throws his lifetime personal record with a distance of 141-9 in the discus April 3 at the 2010 Shotwell Classic at Puget Sound.

Softball hopes to touch dirt after two weeks of rain delays David Gambill The Advocate

After nearly two weeks off, the Lady Saints softball team is looking forward to opening league play at home today against the Clark College Penguins.

If the weather holds up, the field should be ready for the scheduled doubleheader, according to Head Coach Meadow McWhorter.

She said the field is covered with a tarp and using drying agents Quickdry and Turface should make the surface playable.

McWhorter said the team should be ready for the opener despite the long break between games. “We’re blessed because we have 18 players, so we’re able to scrimmage,” McWhorter said.

“With us being defending NWAACC champions, we must bring our ‘A’ game because everyone will play us hard,” McWhorter said.

“They are a scrappy team hungry to prove themselves in the Southern Region, and so there’s nobody better to open up then us," McWhorter said

about playing Clark.

McWhorter sees these games as an opportunity to challenge her team not to coast through games. “We should work to score runs every single inning instead of just the first two innings and then sit on them,” she said.

The Inter-Regional Tournament that was scheduled for April 3-4 was canceled due to rain and will not be made up. The game scheduled for April 6 against Lower Columbia was postponed until May 14 to alleviate a long break in the schedule between the end of the season and the NWAACC tournament.

MHCC is ranked second in the polls behind interregional rival South Western Oregon Community College.

The two teams will face each other in Gresham on Saturday.

The first game of today’s doubleheader against Clark starts at 3 p.m. The doubleheader against SWOCC is scheduled to start at noon Saturday.

April 9, 2010

Budget continued from page 1:

College: No 'sacred cows' when balancing the 2010-11 budget be implemented.

Elimination of other programs, such as Transitions, geology, and political science, were on the list of ways to cut costs or raise revenue. Other possibilities include tuition increases, fee increases, annual parking fees, elimination of tuition waivers, use of furlough days, and termination of vice presidents, administrators and classified positions.

Heidi Franklin, a budget consultant to the college, said there were “no sacred cows,” and that all programs would be reviewed.

In an e-mail prior to Wednesday’s meeting, Shields said no faculty were involved in creation of the list.

“The option to discontinue a program, coupled with a random list of program titles, we see as being counterproductive and potentially damaging to those faculty members and program enrollment,” Shields said in an e-mail Wednesday. “Our concerns are how that information is processed by the internal and external communities and that this option will be given greater weight than any of the other options in the fourpage document.”

Schommer agreed with Shields’ assessment.

“Incremental raises to faculty pay and benefits do not present the kinds of spending increases that have propelled us to this point,” Schommer said in an e-mail Thursday morning. “More importantly, there is really only one way to overcome the current budget crisis and that is to increase revenue. The faculty represent the revenue stream for this institution; we are not going to make up shortfalls with facility rentals or personnel cutbacks. We must teach our way out of this problem. That cannot be accomplished with fewer instructional positions, programs or class sections.”

Asked how the college got to the point of having such a large deficit, Sygielski and Heidi Franklin, a budget consultant hired by the college in February, said a willingness to “dip into our savings account” in part led to the problem. The college’s reserve fund, which is now at zero, is a need to be filled, Sygielski said.

“We had a large savings account,” Sygielski said. “We went into it again and again, and now it’s gone.”

Sygielski said Wednesday after the forum that each faculty member would have an opportunity for input.

“Every employee, no matter if they are a member of a collective bargaining unit or not, will have numerous opportunities to help me and the leadership team develop solutions on how we can address not only next year’s budget situation but the next several years which, according to our legislators, may see decreased funding to educational institutions,” said Sygielski.

Criminal justice and geography instructor Chris Gorsek said Tuesday he was “quite surprised” to find his programs were on the list. According to the financial report, the potential savings by eliminating those two programs are $215,000, fourth highest on the list of 11 programs.

“I do not in any way believe that my program is that expensive to run,” Gorsek said. “In fact, how can it be? I am the only full-time person for not one but two disciplines. That means I teach in both and I do all of the administrative reports, other paper work and advising for both programs.

“My enrollments are high in both programs and they provide students with the skills necessary to work in living wage jobs when they graduate.

Believe me, there are low-enrolled programs on this campus that require lots of high tech equipment to operate but mine are not among them.”

Marilyn Pitts, the president of the part-time faculty association, said at the forum that the list felt “like a threat,” and asked that it be removed from the college website, where the list of trade-offs can be accessed.

Sygielski agreed to take it down.

Faculty and administrators gave up four days this year in an agreement to give back salary to help relieve a 2009-2010 budget deficit.

Sygielski said a tuition increase was a decision to be made by the district board, but added that “the board has consistently spoken about the need to ensure we are accessible to all students. Therefore, I am confident they will remain very thoughtful about considering tuition increases to help balance our budget.”

Sygielski and Franklin said the college would use the month of April to continue to gather input in town hall meetings. There is a meeting today at 11 a.m. at the Maywood Park campus, followed by a Thursday, April 15, meeting in Room 1005 on the Gresham campus.

The board must approve the 2010-2011 budget by June 30.

news

The Advocate 8

Hospitality students bring fine dining to campus Students and staff try the Hospitality and Tourism program’s Italian cuisine Thursday, which featured antipasto, parmesan chicken, and mocha and lemon mousse, among other options. The dining concept will take place every week starting at 11:30 a.m., alternating Thursdays and Tuesdays week by week, with each week featuring a different style of dining.

Call 503-491-7230 for reservations.

Photo by L. John King/The Advcoate

Delay continued from page 1:

Cox: Most colleges do not distribute financial aid first day of term not have the resources to pay.”

Maria Monroy, a general studies major, is one student who finds the possible changes troubling.

“I prefer having the money up front, that way you know what you have,” Monroy said. “Plus I use it for other things, like bills. I was thinking of buying my books online next term, but I guess I can’t.”

In the e-mail, Cox listed several pros and cons for each option, including what students would do about purchasing books. Cox said textbooks “can be purchased in the bookstore by placing the charges on the account regardless of what option we go with.”

“Unfortunately there is no solution to this complex problem,” said Cox Tuesday. “I do know that no option, including the method we currently use, is perfect for all students.”

Cox said the problem is something the staff is taking very seriously.

“Each student has a unique situation and I cannot assume that changing our disbursement date would unilaterally eliminate any textbook options for all students,” said Cox. “Currently students get their aid

on the first day of the term. If they wait to purchase books online the first day of the term, they will not likely have their books by the first class session. The delay could be even longer if the books are back ordered or there is a shipping delay.”

Cox said Christi Hart, the college’s director of the Office of Financial Aid, is examining how other colleges are “eliminating barriers” for students to get whatever help they need. Most colleges, Cox noted, do not distribute aid on the first day of the term.

Hart said making changes to financial aid disbursements would likely not affect how many staff work in the financial aid office.

“Dr. Ski (MHCC President John Sygielski) has made it clear many times that he wants to try to either raise revenues or reduce costs without having to cut staff so I am hopeful that no positions will need to be cut,” said Hart. “However, sacrifices will need to be made to balance the budget for next year so nothing has been determined yet.”

Still, Monroy said, there are students that truly need the money.

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