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

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

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

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

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 (

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

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

Chris Woods The Advocate The Advocate recently stopped in to talk with Rachel Dillard, coordinator of Barney’s Pantry at Mt. Hood Community College. Barney’s Pantry provides emergency food and other essentials to students in need. The pantry is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, one of the longest weekly schedules of any area food bank. A student ID is required, and students are limited to one visit per week, with item limits clearly marked on the shelves. About 500

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

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

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

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

Christian Ilechukwu The Advocate As many students wonder how to stretch their grocery budgets, one student is making it her mission to lighten the load. Promise Funchess, an MHCC student with a warm smile and a drive to help others, has stepped into the role of peer navigator for the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC). “I became a peer navigator for a few reasons,” Promise said. “Mainly, I enjoy helping and supporting others. Additionally, I believe students—especially at M

Kaung Sat Han The Advocate International students, tasked with future planning often face navigating school, finances and strict visa rules. Recently, a proposed U.S. immigration rule could end or restrict Optional Practical Training (OPT) which is a program that allows students to work in their related studies field after graduation to gain work experience. OPT currently allows international students to work in the United States for up to 12 months in their related studies f

Hannah NEWMAN ART Exhibit  Location:  MHCC Visual Arts Gallery  Exhibit Display: Feb. 2nd - 29th   Opening Reception:  Feb. 5th, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.   No RSVP needed  Coffee Hour Presented by ISP x MDRC Location: MDRC, 1050 (Student Union)  Feb.  5th | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM  Valentine day candy heart keychains Feb. 5th | 12PM-1:30PM  Location: MHCC Ceramic Studio (VA 06)  FREE OF CHARGE  Wildside Kayaking Feb. 9th | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM  Location:   Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic

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

Adeola Ade-Serrano The Advocate I didn’t grow up with vision boards. I only started using them two years ago, after moving to another country for school and noticing people creating collages of their future. I wondered whether they worked or if it was just Pinterest being Pinterest. It turns out they do work — but only when you build them with intention rather than aesthetics. If you’re ready to shape your year, stay disciplined and put in the effort, you may be surprised by

Events calendar: January Vanport Mosaic: History, Memory, and Justice Location: Student Union Exhibit Display: Jan. 8 - Jan. 15 Film Screening & Speaker Conversation: Jan. 15 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Honoring the Life and Legacy of MLK, Jr. Film Screening Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Student Union No RSVP needed Everybody Reads: Black History 101 Mobile Museum Jan. 16, 12 - 5 p.m. | North Portland Library, 512 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217 Free to Attend Multicult

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, AND WHERE TO GO FOR WATER INSTEAD Tim Grassley The Advocate It’s that time of the month when January temperatures drop at a surprising rate, ice slowly freezes and slight chances of snow cloud the minds of many weather forecasters. Around this point, most folks — including myself — let sinks and faucets drip overnight to avoid breaking water mains. Not shockingly, technicians at Mount Hood Community College have done the same. MHCC has closed all outsid

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