News briefs

Forum discusses moral character and goodness in politics

The February political forum Wednesday will pose two questions: “How much should moral character matter in politics? Do people have to be ‘good’ to be a good leader?”

The forum will be in the Bob Scott Room of the library from noon to 1 p.m.
MHCC’s debate team will showcase their argumentative prowess for the first 20 minutes. Discussion, questions and comments from the audience will follow.

Dead Mathematicians presents on alternative formulas

In “Completing the Square,” presenter Rob Hauss, a math instructor on campus, will present on alternative methods to solving equations of the form Ax2 + Bx +C = 0. The talk will be held in room AC2608 February 9 at 3:15 pm.

“We will develop a technique that can be used to solve any quadratic, without having to memorize the Quadratic Formula,” said Hauss.

The talk will be accessible for students that have completed Math 60, but Hauss encourages anyone who has ever used the quadratic formula and wondered where it comes from and why it works to attend the presentation.

Board to take action on Automotive program

The Wednesday MHCC District board meeting will begin with a moment of silence for the passing of student Taylur Dewolf.

Following the moment of silence for Dewolf, who died in a snowboarding accident Jan. 27 on Mt. Hood, the board will take action on an Automotive Light Repair and Maintenance program.

The program is “less than one year program,” according to Dennis Mattoon, dean of instruction for industrial technology and apprenticeship, adding it would take three terms to complete. The program would be an entry level program, and as the college moves to a “completions” oriented model of state reimbursement, the program would be projected to show 18-20 completions annually as compared to 12-15 every other year in the other programs offered under the AAS degrees.

Also on the agenda will be the monthly reports on personnel, Head Start and the finances of the college. Interim President Michael Hay will also present the Outstanding Support Staff awards at the meeting.

Director of Facilities Management Dick Byers will present a fourth quarter energy report, followed by a budget update by Director of Finance Jennifer DeMent and Senior Budget Analyst Mark Denney.

UThe penultimate report will be about online learning, given by Rodney Barker, dean of instruction for business and information systems.