Art by Leo Decklar Our Public Safety team here at MHCC has its hands reached out all over the campus, watching over the safety of the students and staff who attend the school. But what does that all mean? The Public Safety office has staff on campus 24/7, patrolling the campus, watching out for any unsafe behaviors or people, and making sure students and staff are comfortable at all times. They respond to all sorts of calls, ranging from someone feeling unsafe in an area, to

Did you know that by being associated with MHCC, you are participating at the forefront of community innovation? In fact, we are a part of a community movement that has potential to change our country. The opening of the Abigail Court residences last autumn marks not only a first in student housing for our local community, but a first in the nation. College students don’t traditionally qualify for off-campus housing support, even though 20% of those enrolled in community coll

Shari’s Shutters its Doors for Good Will Oregonians ever recover from losing their beloved Shari’s? The Beaverton-headquartered restaurant chain officially and abruptly closed all of its Oregon locations on Oct. 21, leaving regular customers and employees at a loss. That includes the Gresham outlet on Northeast Burnside Road, at the Oregon Trail Center shopping center. The downfall of the largest family diner chain in the PNW began even before the COVID-19 pandemic. According

Photo by Laramie Oedell If you live near any kind of water, be it a small creek or the Columbia River, you will find the water level rises in the winter. Many things affect this, mainly heavy rains, or snow melting from the hills, causing the water to run into surrounding streams. For the ocean, the tides also just change year-round, due to the moon’s gravitational pull on the sea. During winter, when the moon is closer to the earth in our Northern Hemisphere, the tides beco

Inflation in the restaurant industry …What’s really going on here? Inflation is a hot topic across the nation, especially with the looming U.S. presidential election, and it seems that the food industry has been hit especially hard, piggy-backed on the near-dissolution of the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the USDA Economic Research Service the “average annual food-at-home prices were 5 percent higher in 2023 than in 2022. For context, the 20-y

Supporting survivors of violence This month, Mt. Hood has displayed decorated T-shirts in the Library lobby as participation in the nationwide Clothesline Project. Though these shirts may seem to be simply an expression of art, it’s also a way for those affected by violence to speak out against their abusers anonymously. The first Clothesline Project event was hosted by the Cape Cod’s Women Defense Agenda in 1990 after a member discovered that while 58,000 soldiers lost their

While high school students can be ahead of the curve, traversing bureaucracy can disproportionately affect them. At Mt. Hood Community College, nearly 23% of students are high-schoolers from a variety of area schools and districts. Through dual enrollment programs like Middle College and College Now, MHCC offers these students an incredible opportunity to get a head start on college by taking college-level courses – sometimes even working toward an associate degree before the

Student Body President Candidates Share Vision On October 29, we had the chance to meet the candidates for the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC). Our three contenders—Christopher Tronolone, Isaias Figueroa, and Peyton Annamarie Hull—shared their reasons for seeking our votes and their visions for MHCC’s future. This year’s presidential race began later than usual, as the previous president stepped down. Below is a summary of each candidate’s platform.

Photos by Ken Perez Anyone who has been on campus recently has likely noticed a poster or two calling for a “fair contract now” or a lanyard worn by an MHCC employee that says: “Stronger together” followed by “fair contract.” And it’s probably a somewhat familiar sight for many returning students from last year. But these posters aren’t being put up by members of Mt. Hood’s full-time faculty, who after a lengthy negotiating process finalized a new contract with the college. R

Looking to relax at Dabney Park? Or perhaps take a scenic drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway? Unfortunately, you might hit a roadblock. The Stark Street Bridge crosses the Sandy River just east of Troutdale, not far from the Mt. Hood main campus. Opened in 1915 after the previous wooden bridge collapsed, the bridge is still standing strong. But the same thing can’t be said about one of the supporting stone walls that has partially collapsed, and the bridge has b

Look Out Transfer Students! Portland State University has been awarded $7.8 million to fund the Access, Connect, Complete, Engage program, or the ACCE. In partnership with MT. Hood Community College and Clackamas Community College, this money is being put Pooled to help students looking for grants. The program is still in the works, and will be underway soon. So be on the lookout. Comic by Ethan Oliver

The ongoing Boeing Co. machinists stike began Sept. 13, after the union voted to reject the company’s offer of a 25% wage increase over four years, among other things. Union members had asked for a 40% raise, believing this is fair for the amount of work they do. Boeing workers also feel frustrated by safety conditions and the loss of certain pension benefits, dating back to 2016. Photo from Pixabay Over 33,000 workers throughout Oregon, Washington, and Southern California ha

Winter is coming, and with it, the chilly winds and longer nights. As the temperature drops, we must ensure our students have what they need to thrive both academically and personally. Mt. Hood Community College has always been more than just a place of learning; we now provide essential resources like food and clothing to support students in need. Many families face financial challenges that make it difficult to provide the necessities for their children. We recognize that d

Fall has returned to Oregon, and with it, the impending gloom of flu season. All the usual fall signs are appearing on store billboards announcing the arrival of vaccines. There is also an updated COVID vaccine available. As young, healthy college students, many of you must wonder why you would need to roll your sleeve up and take the poke. Too much misinformation has intertwined itself into the conversation, spreading fear and lies about a process that has been proven to wor

Photo by Prisma Flores Here’s one item area voters won’t see on their Nov. 5 election ballots: A proposed $131 million bond measure to fund much-needed Mt. Hood Community College campus repairs and upgrades. Over the summer, the MHCC Board of Education held a series of meetings focused on getting just such a measure before voters this fall. But by the July 17 Board meeting, the panel chose not to put the issue forward until next spring, citing a lack of community awareness a

Nvidia, a tech giant known for its graphics cards and more recently its role in AI, has hit a rough patch in the stock market: After enjoying a huge rise over the past couple of years, its stock price took a big hit in September, dropping about 25% from its yearly high. For a company that’s been riding high on the success of its AI and graphics chips, this sudden drop has caught many investors off guard, leaving them wondering what’s behind the decline. A big part of the prob

Fred Meyer Strikes. Source: OPB.ORG A loyal Fred Meyers employee who wished to remain anonymous talked about the tough reality of big corporations being driven by money concerns, at the expense of their employees. On Aug. 28, about 4,500 Fred Meyers employees filed an unfair labor complaint against Freddie’s and walked out… beginning a weeklong strike for all those employees. This strike affected 28 stores across Portland. Several employees said in interviews across the news

Portland International Airport (PDX) is on the verge of wrapping up its ambitious, multi-year renovation, and if you’ve wandered through the newly unveiled spaces this summer, the transformation is impossible to miss. Combining enhanced functionality with signature Pacific Northwest charm, PDX is gearing up to serve over 20 million passengers annually, all while staying true to its local character and eco-conscious values. Photos by Prisma Flores A key feature of the $2 billi

Photo by Leo Fontneau Starting May 20 and continuing through this Friday (June 7), MHCC and its Multicultural Diversity Resource Center have collaborated to host an exhibit and forum by the Wholistic Peace Institute and Hiroshima’s Ground Zero Museum called “Never Again” – that helps to vividly document and explains the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, through a collection of large posters and a public forum. The commemoration includes a live pre

Image sourced from istockphoto.com Summer is upon us! Soon we will be loving the long days and short nights – especially those of us with air conditioning at home, or who live in basements where the temperatures stay cool for sleeping. For those of us who lack these amenities, here are some tips and tricks for keeping your house cool when the temperatures become too hot to handle. Most notably, staying ahead of the heat is always best. So, if you can plan for it, here is an e