HOW MHCC ARTIST OVERCOMES HER DEMONS While steadily powering through the arts program in my second year here at MHCC, one particular artist has caught my eye. While seeming to be a bit timid when you first meet her, seeing her art shouts prominently of Megan Albertine’s journey through life.Pursuing art has been intertwined with Megan ever since she could collect memories. She became entranced by the freeing sensation art brought with how many ways you could tackle it, and gr

I’ve really loved the work the team has been doing. I’m always excited to pick up the latest edition and see what wonderful works, drawings, and articles are waiting inside. Unfortunately this recent edition has made me feel very conflicted. In the advice column, there’s an image generated by Chat GPT. (Thank you for being transparent about that, I do appreciate that.)As an artist, images generated by AI are the bane of my existence. If you feel I should elaborate on why that

Clear Advice for Real Problems Student engagement is something we believe the Advocate can help strengthen — and that’s why we’re launching a brand-new advice column!This space is for YOU. Whether you’re facing a challenge, looking for guidance, or just want to share your story, we’re here to listen and respond. How it works:Use this link to submit your questions or stories. Everything is completely anonymous — your identity will not be shared, and responses will remain anony

MHCC Barney’s Pantry Photo by Leo Fontneau Mt. Hood students who use Barney’s Pantry are already feeling the effects of recent Trump administration budget reductions. At the beginning of April, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture reduced the amount of food it supplied to food banks nationwide through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which included the Oregon Food Bank, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Steve Herff, coordinator for Barney’s Pantry, said the cutb

Ducky picket line forms! As the trail risks growing cold, the campus community remains committed to solving the mystery of our missing friends.Blue and White Ducky have not been seen in the defunct Visual Arts fountain since mid-March.This past week, a picket line came together. Tiny signs voiced the shared concerns.“Find our friend!”“Justice for Blue & White Ducky!”“Who plucked our ducky friends???”As our nation continues to reel in response to the dictates coming from the W

Where Local Vendors Grow There are a lot of curveballs being thrown at Americans, whether it is tariffs or inflation. It has never been tougher than ever to tighten up your bootstraps and create something that is your own.That is why it’s awesome to see so many people hustling and see lots of consumers support local entrepreneurs in the Portland metro area. And while on most days the MHCC northeast parking lot is just a parking lot, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sund

WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED APRIL 24 I have high hopes for the 2025-26 student body leadership, as there are two candidates running for both president and vice president of the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College (ASMHCC):· Jeffery Erickson and Heart Pham as student body president· Rhuan Carneiro and Elaria Salibas as student body vice presidentErickson said he is running because he’s passionate about making a real difference on campus. One of his top priorities is

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Are you looking for something to do after classes are done for the day? Perhaps you want to go watch something funny with the added benefit of learning something new?Well, the Planetarium on the MHCC Gresham campus is the place for you. The director, Will Blackmore, balances humor and education very well, making for quite the amusing show for visitors. Each month he hosts shows on a different topic. It can be anything, from black holes and supernovas to the Fermi Paradox – wh

The long–sought Mt. Hood Community College bond measure (following a handful of unsuccessful attempts, the most recent in 2017) is finally going to have its moment on the ballot, again.Oregon’s May 20 special election will include the $136.4 million tax proposal for all property owners in the college’s far-reaching district, which was formally adopted on Jan. 15 by the MHCC District Board of Education.The summary submitted to explain the bond proposal to voters mostly focuses

One of the best things the 20th century had to offer was space exploration. I find it incredibly lucky today to live in an age where space exploration is even possible – especially as someone who wants to make astronomy my career.However, I have always felt that going to space needs to have a purpose. What purpose does sending six people into space for only 11 minutes have? I’ll answer that, none!Blue Origin is a spacecraft company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. On April

A school with ample facilities and a community of passionate, high-quality students, Mt. Hood Community College carries with it an appearance that is truly weird, feeling like it’s not what it’s supposed to be.As an MHCC student, you might have the same feeling as I that this place is missing something, right? Perhaps you’re also puzzled, not quite sure what I’m referring to here, because maybe we haven’t spent enough time lingering around the college after each class to trul

What is the “Let Them” Theory? It’s a mindset or approach to life that says: If people want to do something – talk behind your back, exclude you, not support you, act unfairly – let them.Instead of wasting your energy trying to change others, prove yourself, or control how people act, you just let them act out and focus on what you can control: your peace, your goals, and your values. Right now, I’m going through a difficult situation, a messy, uncomfortable one. There’s a gr

Project Red Workshop Fentanyl is a public health crisis that has landed on the doorsteps of unsuspecting families across America and in our own backyard here at MHCC. Guest speaker Ellen Wirshup from Project RED reported that more than 70,000 persons are dying of opioid overdoses each year in the United States, and east Multnomah County is not immune. During an educational workshop at Mt. Hood on Feb. 11, she gave a brief history of how she helped established Project RED, an

LOCAL CLIMBING GYM DOWN HILL OF MHCC Located in Gresham, Oregon, Rock Haven Climbing Gym is a vibrant hub for climbing enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Since opening in August 2022, the gym has become a place where passion, determination, and a strong sense of community come together. Founded by four climbing enthusiasts who sought to bring the sport to a new area, Rock Haven offers more than just a place to climb—it’s a welcoming space for anyone looking to challeng

RESPONDING THROUGH RESCUE AND RELOCATION Photos by Brian Moua In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) has been playing a crucial role in rescuing and relocating displaced animals. While the wildfires have brought intense media attention to the issue of animal welfare, OHS has been quietly working behind the scenes to make a real difference for shelter animals in California and beyond.During a recent visit to OHS’s Portland location,

PRESERVING OUR MOMENTOUS ACHIEVEMENTS What drives humanity to advancements and development is curiosity. Humans are curious about everything, from the birds in the sky to the stars thousands of light-years away. And it was curiosity that took me about an hour’s drive southwest of Portland recently.The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum stands in McMinnville, Oregon, and is divided into two main buildings. One is the aviation center, with the famous Spruce Goose as the centerpi

CortlanSouders The Advocate Going to a concert is a mystical experience that everyone should go through at least once in their life. Waiting in anticipation for your favorite artist to play in front of you, feeling the music pump through your veins, and becoming one with hundreds of fans as you harmoniously dance to the beat are key components to the event. But is there a drastic difference when it comes to the location and venue where the artist plays? Is there a definitive

JennyMendoza The Advocate Looking for community service opportunities but don’t know where to volunteer? Here’s a list of possible local options with brief descriptions. If any of them capture your interest, simply go on their website and sign up to volunteer. Or, email/contact them directly! Meals on Wheels People https://www.mowp.org Meals on Wheels People and Meals 4 Kids focus on delivering food to seniors and families living below the poverty line. Another service they

Understanding Digital Distraction It took 22 million years for humans to develop their brains in order to think more wisely and respond to their environment for survival. And guess what? Within just a decade, with the remarkable development of social media platforms, humans have succeeded in reversing the above process to get closer to their ancestors from millions of years ago. Sounds stupid, right? And that is exactly what’s happening with this generation: We call it “brain