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Chris Woods
4 days ago


Chris Woods
4 days ago


Chris Woods
4 days ago


advocate19
4 days ago
SPECIAL


GRAMMY ARTISTS SPEAK OUT ON ICE
Chiderah Edeh The Advocate This year, the Grammys became more than an awards show. Immigration, equality and human rights were central themes of the night. Pins, speeches and statements worked together to ensure artists’ voices were heard. The event reminded viewers that music and activism are often connected, and that small gestures can spark conversation and inspire change. It started on the red carpet: artists wearing “ICE OUT” pins — small symbols carrying a powerful mes
Chiderah Edeh
Feb 11


MHCC Policies If ICE Were To Potentially Come to Campus
Malikaih Mulloy The Advocate With recent activity in our communities involving ICE, many students, staff and faculty members may be increasingly concerned about the potential presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on campus. While MHCC Public Safety has indicated that there has not been ICE activity on campus to date, the college recognizes these concerns and has provided information on what to do if ICE were to come to MHCC. Illustration by Leo Decklar (
Malikaih Mulloy
Feb 11


ICE RUN-INS REPORTED IN GRESHAM
Adam Elwell The Advocate In December 2025, three Gresham residents were detained after being lured out of their home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Federal agents cannot enter a home without a warrant; however, this has not deterred ICE or Border Patrol from using deceptive practices to contact residents. Tactics have included fake license plates, Mexican flag bumper stickers and, most recently, posing as utility workers. Despite multiple reports from resident
Adam Elwell
Feb 11


STUDENT VOICES REFLECT FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ICE
Malikaih Mulloy The Advocate Reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Gresham area have drawn increased attention and concern within the Mt. Hood Community College community. Several MHCC students say the presence of ICE, along with uncertainty surrounding its operations, has created a growing sense of fear and distress, even for those who have not directly encountered agents. In interviews conducted by The Advocate, students described a heightened sens
Malikaih Mulloy
Feb 11
The Latest
News


Honoring Avel Gordly, First Black Oregon Senator
Chris Woods The Advocate Avel Gordly, 1947–2026 Avel Louise Gordly, born Feb. 13, 1947, was an activist, organizer and politician in Oregon, and the first Black woman elected to the Oregon State Senate. She served from 1997 to 2009. She grew up on Williams Street in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Northeast Portland and later became one of only 20 Black students at Girls Polytechnic High School (later Washington-Monroe High School). The school tried to st
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Civil Rights Activists, Jesse Jackson, Peacefully Passes Away.
Chris Woods The Advocate Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist, politician and Baptist minister, died Feb. 17, 2026. Born Jesse Louis Burns on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, to single mother Helen Burns, he later had good relationships with both his biological father, Noah Louis Robinson, and his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson. A high school honor student and class president at racially segregated Sterling High School, he attended the University of Illinois i
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Turning Point USA Organizes at MHCC: What You Should Know
Jennifer Childers The Advocate Students may have noticed individuals affiliated with Turning Point USA gathering in the Main Mall courtyard in recent days, speaking with students and collecting information. Turning Point USA is a national nonprofit student organization founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012. The group describes its mission as identifying, educating and organizing students to promote conservative principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty.
Jennifer Childers
4 days ago


ICE RUN-INS REPORTED IN GRESHAM
Adam Elwell The Advocate In December 2025, three Gresham residents were detained after being lured out of their home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Federal agents cannot enter a home without a warrant; however, this has not deterred ICE or Border Patrol from using deceptive practices to contact residents. Tactics have included fake license plates, Mexican flag bumper stickers and, most recently, posing as utility workers. Despite multiple reports from resident
Adam Elwell
Feb 11


BUDGET REVELATIONS ESCALATE: MHCC to face looming budget cuts, uncertain FINANCES?
Adam Elwell The Advocate Mt. Hood Community College may be between a rock and a $5 million hard place. In an email to MHCC faculty on Feb. 6, President Lisa Skari wrote that “even with careful planning, the college is still facing an estimated gap of nearly $5 million that must be addressed in the coming fiscal year’s budget.” Earlier this week, Oregon released its economic forecast, revealing a $15 billion budget shortfall driven in part by federal cuts to Medicaid and SNA
Adam Elwell
Feb 11


MHCC Board Appoints Interim Member Ahead of 2027 Election
Morgan McCarraher The Advocate MHCC is unlike most community colleges in the state of Oregon in its geographic reach and unique and specialized programs. However, like the other state community colleges, it is locally governed by an elected board. State laws and policies, along with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission — as defined in ORS 341.015 — guide how Oregon’s community college districts are determined. Because of this, MHCC’s district includes eight high schoo
Morgan McCarraher
Feb 11
Community


Navigating Immigration and Black Identity in Portland
Chris Woods The Advocate MHCC hosted a screening of the documentary “Priced Out” in the Student Union, Feb. 18, 2026 “Priced Out” explores the intertwined histories of Vanport and Albina, highlighting how exclusion laws, wartime migration and redlining shaped the lives of Black Oregonians. The event will included a short discussion following the film, offering students and community members a chance to reflect on how this history connects to present-day Portland. Albi
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Honoring Avel Gordly, First Black Oregon Senator
Chris Woods The Advocate Avel Gordly, 1947–2026 Avel Louise Gordly, born Feb. 13, 1947, was an activist, organizer and politician in Oregon, and the first Black woman elected to the Oregon State Senate. She served from 1997 to 2009. She grew up on Williams Street in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Northeast Portland and later became one of only 20 Black students at Girls Polytechnic High School (later Washington-Monroe High School). The school tried to st
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Civil Rights Activists, Jesse Jackson, Peacefully Passes Away.
Chris Woods The Advocate Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist, politician and Baptist minister, died Feb. 17, 2026. Born Jesse Louis Burns on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, to single mother Helen Burns, he later had good relationships with both his biological father, Noah Louis Robinson, and his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson. A high school honor student and class president at racially segregated Sterling High School, he attended the University of Illinois i
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Slice of Life: Growing Pots
Photo by Aung Pyae Lin Jamie Teigen , a MHCC ceramics student, poses with some of her work. If you have a photo you would like to submit for our slice of life section, email us at advocate@mhcc.edu
advocate19
4 days ago


Saints '26 March Softball Schedule
The 24-25 MHCC softball team in the NWAC championship where they came up just short. The Saints have appeared in the past two championships Columbia Basin College Location: Pasco, WA Mar. 1st | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Centralia College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 14th | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Umpqua Basin College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 20th | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Southwestern Oregon Community College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 21st | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Grays Harbor College Locatio
advocate19
4 days ago


MHCC Observes Black History
Civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jesse Jackson Chiderah Edeh The Advocate Walking through Mt. Hood Community College during Black History Month feels different. In the Student Union, posters of influential Black leaders sit on tables. In the library, quotes line the walls. Faces look back at you — activists, educators, organizers, artists, people who sacrificed, who led movements, who poured into their communities so others could live safer and fu
Chiderah Edeh
4 days ago
Features


Behind Closed Curtains: Inside A midsummer night’s production
Photo By Elijah Camacho Timothy Grassley The Advocate Imagine the thunder of applause echoing through a packed theater, the stage bathed in golden light and the pulse of live piano filling the air. That’s exactly what greeted me at Mt. Hood Community College’s new production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—a performance so bold and ambitious I left the theater breathless. A twist of fate landed me face-to-face with Mt. Hood Community College theater director Zach Hartley on W
Timothy Grassley
4 days ago


NEW YEAR, NEW NEWSPAPER
Faithful readers, This winter marks a new chapter for The Advocate—and, unexpectedly, a new chapter for me as well. When I returned to MHCC after a decade-long hiatus, I did so with the practical goal of learning the technical skills needed to stay relevant in my field. I never imagined that journey would lead me to serve as editor-in-chief of a paper I’ve been reading, on and off, for nearly 30 years. It’s an honor and an opportunity I don’t take lightly. I’ve always been a
advocate19
Jan 27


MEET THE ADVOCATE - Aung Pyae Lin
Aung Pyae Lin came to MHCC from Myanmar as a computer science major with no plans to become a photographer. Last spring he walked into The Advocate with nothing but an old childhood camcorder and curiosity. One assignment later, everything changed. “I didn’t expect to love it,” he says. “But framing a shot started feeling like debugging – except the result is something people actually want to look at.” What began as a side gig quickly turned into passion. His photos sharpened
Christian Ilechukwu
Dec 8, 2025


MEET THE ADVOCATE - Adeola Ade-Serrano
Hello!, I’m the writer behind the “Frugal Living” column for The Advocate. I share practical money tips, budget-friendly hacks, and everyday strategies to help students stretch their dollars and still enjoy life.
Adeola Ade-Serrano
Nov 24, 2025
Funding for Student Support Program: TRIO at Risk
The TRIO program was established by the federal government as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue and succeed in higher education. Originally launched with three programs – Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services – TRIO was created in response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. It aimed to provide academic support, college access, and retention services for low-income, first-generation
advocate19
Jun 6, 2025


My Friend, a Three Time Stand-Up-Paddleboard World Champion, Fiona Wylde
A few words shared from a 3x SUP World Champion, Wing Foil Champion, Waterwoman, Student, Coach, Wylde Wind & Water Founder, and Type 1 Diabetic. Surely each of us has experienced feeling adrift and lost in the sea of life, moments when it seems the last drops of our motivation are drained, making room for weariness and a gnawing sense of frustration. What do you do? Do you allow yourself to rest by letting go of everything and surrendering to the waves of worries and anxieti
advocate19
May 23, 2025
Sports


Saints '26 March Softball Schedule
The 24-25 MHCC softball team in the NWAC championship where they came up just short. The Saints have appeared in the past two championships Columbia Basin College Location: Pasco, WA Mar. 1st | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Centralia College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 14th | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Umpqua Basin College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 20th | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Southwestern Oregon Community College Location: Gresham, OR Mar. 21st | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Grays Harbor College Locatio
advocate19
4 days ago


Cougars Claw Past Saints
The perennial grudge match leaves the saints teetering at 7-7 Clif Wegner, FORMER coach OF MHCC AND CLACKAMAS, Remembered SeaJay McConville The Advocate The evening of Jan. 7 was chilly with light rain outside, but inside Yoshida Events Center, the Mt. Hood Community College men’s basketball team was warming up for a heated rivalry against the Clackamas Cougars. The game was special for both colleges as they played in honor of Clif Wegner, who died July 22. Wegner coached at
SeaJay McConville
Jan 28


LEGENDARY SEASON RECOGNIZED AT LAST: 2014 Softball Team Inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame
Adam Elwell The Advocate The 2014 MHCC Saints softball team was one of the most dominant in program history, and this year the NWAC Hall of Fame committee voted to recognize their accomplishments. Alongside the entire team, standout athlete Teauna Hughes is also being inducted for her exceptional performance during the 2014 season. The Saints went 40-3 that year and captured the championship. It was possibly the high-water mark of then-head coach Meadow McWhorter, who has al
Adam Elwell
Jan 28


MHCC VOLLEYBALL - Interview with Taylor Young & Peyton Ochoa
This 2025 season was quite a journey for Mt. Hood volleyball team. After training hard the whole year and giving everything they had on the court, the Saints finished their year with a thrilling 3 sets to 1 win against visiting Chemeketa Community College on Nov. 5. Both teams battled, point after point, but the Saints showed great teamwork and energy in their final home game. The whole season was full of growth, great moments and a strong effort put in by each and every play
Kaung Sat Han
Nov 24, 2025


MHCC Softball Team Eliminated Before Championship Round
Photo by Catherine Green Last year, the Mt. Hood Community College softball team had an incredible championship season. I’ll admit – I knew nothing about softball at the time. But when I heard the Saints had a shot at another title run this year, I knew I had to be there to see it for myself. On the first day of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) championship tournament – played in north Portland’s Delta Park – I was hooked. The energy coming from the Saints’ dugout was
advocate19
May 23, 2025


Basketball is Coming
Women’s Basketball Preview The MHCC women’s basketball season has started off swiftly: The team has a handful of games under its belt so far, while its first Northwest Athletic Conference league game is still roughly a month away, on Jan. 4 at home against Umpqua Community College. Saints team captains – sophomores Savanah Burke, a forward, and Laci Pentzer, a guard, and freshman center Joselyn Scammell – all had positive things to say about the young season. Asked how they f
advocate19
Dec 6, 2024
STUDENT LIFE & Culture


Navigating Immigration and Black Identity in Portland
Chris Woods The Advocate MHCC hosted a screening of the documentary “Priced Out” in the Student Union, Feb. 18, 2026 “Priced Out” explores the intertwined histories of Vanport and Albina, highlighting how exclusion laws, wartime migration and redlining shaped the lives of Black Oregonians. The event will included a short discussion following the film, offering students and community members a chance to reflect on how this history connects to present-day Portland. Albi
Chris Woods
4 days ago


Slice of Life: Growing Pots
Photo by Aung Pyae Lin Jamie Teigen , a MHCC ceramics student, poses with some of her work. If you have a photo you would like to submit for our slice of life section, email us at advocate@mhcc.edu
advocate19
4 days ago


MHCC Observes Black History
Civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jesse Jackson Chiderah Edeh The Advocate Walking through Mt. Hood Community College during Black History Month feels different. In the Student Union, posters of influential Black leaders sit on tables. In the library, quotes line the walls. Faces look back at you — activists, educators, organizers, artists, people who sacrificed, who led movements, who poured into their communities so others could live safer and fu
Chiderah Edeh
4 days ago


MDRC Hosts Screening Talk
ChrisWoods The Advocate MHCC hosted a screening of the documentary “Priced Out” in the Student Union, Feb. 18, 2026. Cornelius Swart’s 2017 documentary explores the history of housing and the African American presence in the Portland area. A sequel to 2001’s NorthEast Passage: The Inner City and the American Dream, Priced Out follows up with Nikki Williams, the subject Swart has filmed since the late 1990s, as she searches for solutions to the dangers and lack of opportunity
Chris Woods
4 days ago


THEATRE SWINGS INTO NEW PRODUCTION
Timothy Grassley The Advocate MHCC’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is taking Shakespeare to new heights—literally—as actors lift the classic comedy off the stage with use of aerial choreography. The Advocate had the opportunity to speak with MHCC’s aerial director and choreographer, Andee Fischer, who shared insight into the process behind both dance and aerial work for the actors participating in the upcoming production. What makes this play stand out is how A Mi
Timothy Grassley
Feb 11


Big Studios Swipe Golden Globes
Leydi Perez The Advocate On Saturday, Jan. 11, 2026, the Golden Globes returned as one of Hollywood’s biggest stages. From my perspective as a college student watching from home, this year’s ceremony felt like a mix of celebration, reinvention and genuine emotion. The night’s biggest winners reflected that shift. Streaming-backed projects and fresh voices were front and center, reinforcing how much our own viewing habits as students — binging shows between classes, watching
Leydi Perez
Jan 28
Opinion


JOURNALISM HAS A FUNCTION
In the age of clickbait and advertorials, community service still matters more than numbers and sales Morgan McCarraher The Advocate Writing—especially in the age of constant content—can begin to feel like output for the sake of output. Articles are produced, posted, shared, scrolled past, replaced. The speed creates an illusion of importance. Movement becomes mistaken for meaning. But journalism was never meant to be performance. We don’t write to write. We write to inform


COMMUNITY ISN’T AN AUDIENCE; IT’S A RELATIONSHIP
Morgan McCarraher The Advocate Community is a word used often but rarely examined. It appears in mission statements, donor appeals and analytics reports, usually as a vague abstraction—an audience to reach, a group to engage or a set of numbers to grow. But community is not a metric. It’s a relationship built on trust, care and continuity. A community isn’t simply a group of people living near one another. It’s a network of shared concerns, histories and responsibilities, bu


THE QUIET PATH TO CHANGE: What Activism Really Looks Like
Jennifer Childers The Advocate It has become increasingly clear that the world we live in is not what many of us once believed. The idea of stable, righteous, benevolent systems quietly working to keep people safe has proven to be a carefully constructed fiction — an illusion collapsing under the weight of lived experience. The programs and institutions we were conditioned to trust are not only failing; in many cases, they are actively causing harm. We’ve been taught that if


The Weight of Constant Comparison
Morgan McCarraher The Advocate Comparison has always existed. People have long measured themselves against neighbors, coworkers and peers. But in recent years, comparison has shifted from an occasional habit into a constant background condition of modern life. It is no longer something people do from time to time; it is something many people live inside. And in some cases, it becomes a need. Everywhere we turn, we are presented with curated versions of others’ lives. Achievem


The Vanishing Art of Compromise
Morgan McCarraher The Advocate When it comes to problems and disagreements—whether something small, like deciding what color a living room should be, or something as consequential as geopolitical tensions—there was once an approach that felt both ordinary and essential: the art of compromise. It was understood as a skill, even a virtue. To compromise required the ability to see the full picture, to acknowledge multiple perspectives, and to approach disagreement with a measure


Exhausted, Overworked, Unpaid: The Reality of Student Teaching
Adam Elwell The Advocate I’m tired. I’m taking 19 credits this term. I bartend on the weekends, and I work on the student newspaper, time permitting. I would like to see my family and my dog and clean my house and keep up with my friends, and not have to bump every doctor’s appointment because I double-booked it, time permitting. In just a little while, though, I’ll be expected to put in more than 40 hours of labor every week. Is it paid? No. I’m actually paying for it. I’m t
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