Portland State Vanguard, Vol. 74, Issue 5

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

VOLUME 74 • ISSUE 5 • OCTOBER 1, 2019

WELCOME BACK! Shit you should know

NEWS Controversial SFC member denies ties to Proud Boys • OPINION Portland Police is out of control • INTERNATIONAL French soccer games ban homophobic chants

THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF JUDSON RANDALL DYLAN JEFFERIES Judson Randall, the former Portland State Student Media advisor, who served in the role for 14 years, passed away in September 2019.

Randall will always be remembered at PSU for his passion for journalism, his commitment to student media and the inspiration he gave to students.

In honor of Randall, past editors-in-chief of Vanguard reflected on their time with Randall and the impact he had on their lives.

“Year after year, Jud believed in the students that came through the Vanguard, and helped them to believe in themselves,” said Eric Bengal, editor-in-chief of Vanguard from 2011–12.

“When I chose to try my hand at journalism, he was the friend and mentor I needed, and

it’s hard for me to conceive of a world in which I can’t turn to him for advice anymore. I am lucky to have had him in my life, and I miss him.”

“Every day, I’m reminded of Jud and what he shared with me,” said David Holley, editor-inchief from 2007–08. “When I am challenged as a leader or in any other situation, I always think about the way [Jud] helped me learn to remain calm when stressed and how to lead through collaboration, curiosity and compassion.”

“Jud had such a wonderful impact on my professional and personal development...but it boils down to this: Cheers, Jud. I miss you,” Holley said.

“Jud saw potential in me that I was unable to see for myself,” said Whitney Beyer,

JUDSON RANDALL (CENTER) COURTESY OF SHERI PITCHER editor-in-chief between 2012–13. “...Jud gave me permission to believe that I could be a leader without the shield of a higher ranking individual to hide behind.”

“To say I’m grateful would be an understatement,” Beyer said. “Being EIC of Vanguard shaped me in ways I will never take for granted.

It opened doors that I never thought would be

available to me. I owe so much of my success in student journalism and post-graduation to Jud’s belief and encouragement in who I could be.”

“It’s always sad when someone we admire passes on. But in Jud’s case, I’m comforted by the impact he had on so many. Jud was a great man, and I am better for having had the opportunity to learn from him.”

CONTENTS COVER BY JOHN ROJAS

NEWS OREGON UNIVERSITY WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS REACH AGREEMENT P. 3

INTERNATIONAL WALLACE MONUMENT CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

P. 11

FARIBORZ MASEEH HALL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS NEUBERGER HALL, P. 3 OFFICIALLY OPENS OCT. 2

DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAKS INCREASE WORLDWIDE

P. 11

HOMOPHOBIC CHANTS HALT FRENCH SOCCER GAMES

P. 12

OPINION PORTLAND NEEDS ACTION AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE

P. 13

ASPSU JUDICIAL BOARD VOTES NOT TO IMPEACH CONTROVERSIAL SFC MEMBER

P. 4–5

INTERNATIONAL THIS WEEK AROUND THE WORLD

P. 6

MINI GUIDE SHIT TO KNOW ABOUT PSU

ARTS & CULTURE GARBAGE DAY: ‘CHOPPING MALL’

P. 14

P. 7–10

COMICS

P. 15

HIRING SPORTS EDITOR

P. 16

STAFF

EDIT ORI A L EDITOR IN CHIEF Nada Sewidan MANAGING EDITOR Marta Yousif NEWS EDITORS Sophie Concannon Dylan Jefferies INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Madison Cecil ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR HIRING OPINION EDITOR Anthony Montes SPORTS EDITOR HIRING

ONLINE EDITOR Sangi Lama COPY CHIEF Hannah Welbourn CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Gaines Emily Price Quinn Stoddard FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS Chloe Dysart–Scotland Emma Sage–France PHO T O & MULTIMEDI A PHOTO EDITOR Alex Wittwer MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HIRING

PRODUC TION & DE SIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Rojas

A DV ISING & ACCOUN TING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Reaz Mahmood

LEAD DESIGNER Sam Person

STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR Corrine Nightingale

DESIGNERS Brandon Pahnish Dana Townsend DIS T RIBU TION & M A R K E TING DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING MANAGER Dylan Jefferies T ECHNOL OGY & W EB SIT E TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS Juliana Bigelow Tien Pham John Rojas

STUDENT MEDIA ACCOUNTANT Sheri Pitcher To contact Portland State Vanguard, email info@psuvanguard.com

MIS SION S TAT EMEN T Vanguard ’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-onjournalismeducationand a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market.

A BOU T Vanguard, established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us in print Tuesdays and online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @psuvanguard for multimedia content and breaking news.

NEWS

PLANNED STRIKE FOR FIRST DAY OF CLASSES AVERTED OREGON UNIVERSITY WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS REACH AGREEMENT

FARIBORZ MASEEH HALL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS NEUBERGER HALL, OFFICIALLY OPENS OCT. 2 QUINN STODDARD

OREGON PUBLIC UNIVERSITY WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS REACH A CONTRACT AGREEMENT ON MONDAY, SEPT. 28.

COURTESY OF THE SEIU WEBSITE

NADA SEWIDAN A new contract agreement for Service Employees International Union workers comes after months of negotiations between Oregon Public university workers and administrators. The tentative agreement reached on Saturday, Sept. 28 covers higher wages and stable healthcare costs, as well as other workplace benefits.

A strike by university workers planned at Portland State for the first day of classes will no longer commence.

“I am pleased to announce that Portland State and Oregon’s six other public universities have reached an agreement with SEIU to avert a strike,” stated PSU President Stephen Percy in a press release. “It’s great news that on Monday our full campus community will be here to welcome our new and returning students on their first day of class.”

Negotiation victories include a larger cost of living adjustment—up to 5.10% raises over two years—as well as stable healthcare costs with no proposed increases as planned and paid leave for inclement weather.

“This is a win for the 4,500 workers who dedicate their lives to Oregon universities,” said Executive Director of SEIU Local 503 Melissa Unger via the SEIU website. “Together, we fought back take-aways proposed by management on wages, health care, steps and personal days and won higher wages for all workers.”

Benefits such as healthcare and leave such as personal, bereavements, holidays and sick days remain unchanged.

The agreement covers the six public universities in Oregon, including PSU, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Western Oregon University and Southern Oregon University.

“We were only able to come this far because you [and] your coworkers were ready to stick together and walk out on Monday,” read a statement on the SEIU website. “This hardfought victory is a testament to the strength and solidarity of you and your coworkers. We have never built a campaign this strong, which is why we won the best contract we have seen in over a decade.”

After beginning renovations in January 2018, the new Fariborz Maseeh Hall—formerly known as Neuberger Hall—will conduct its grand opening at 9 a.m. on Oct. 2.

Until then, the first floor is currently available for students to access Portland State’s new epicenter of student services, including the Financial Wellness center, the Office of the Registrar, the Veteran Certification center and the Office of Information Technology help desk. The Student Advising Center, located on the third floor, is also available to students.

FMH will include a variety of departments and classrooms, including Art and Design, World Languages, English and the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art— which will open on Nov. 7 and will be located on the first floor—will showcase artwork from PSU faculty, students and artists from the Pacific Northwest, as well as national and international exhibits.

Both the facilities and the building itself have undergone extensive renovations. The new common area features a massive skylight allowing natural light. “[FMH] provides everybody a nice, new building to collaborate in,” said Cameron Patterson, project manager of Capital Projects and Construction, who oversaw the renovations within FMH. “A lot of open areas

and common space for students and faculty alike to enjoy.”

“One of the main goals of the university should be to foster and promote learning,” Patterson said. “With the new classrooms, better lighting and amenities, it should make it that much more conducive to having a nice space to be in rather than some dark and dingy classroom.”

The renovations began in January 2018 and cost nearly $70 million, which was raised thanks to $60 million in public bond funds and $10 million in philanthropic contributions, according to a press release.

“It’s a part of my department’s job—we go through reviewing each building on campus to determine what buildings need the most attention,” Patterson said. “[FMH] was flagged as one of them, as it was a 50-year-old building with a lot of the mechanical and electrical systems failing, which is why this project was identified as the next major renovation on campus.”

“This remarkable new facility that now stands at the heart of our student success mission would not have been possible without the generosity of these two incredible philanthropists and a big commitment from the state,” stated PSU President Stephen Percy in a press release. “This building will help transform the student experience and serve as an important new connection point between PSU and the city we serve.”

LOBBY OF THE NEW FARIBORZ MASEEH HALL, WHICH REPLACED NEUBERGER HALL IN THE BUILDING RENOVATION. ALEX WITTWER/PSU VANGUARD

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NEWS

ASPSU JUDICIAL BOARD VOTES NOT TO IMPEACH CONTROVERSIAL SFC MEMBER DYLAN JEFFERIES The Judicial Board of the Associated Students of Portland State University voted to deny pursuing articles of impeachment against Student Fee Committee member Philip Arola.

Arola was accused of being a white supremacist and a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys by members of the student body and student government. The impeachment hearing is a result of an ongoing controversy that began with a contentious argument concerning lack of diversity in student government on an Instagram photo posted by ASPSU. Fouad Mohiadeen, another SFC member involved in the controversy, has completely resigned from his position within ASPSU as of Sept. 19.

The Judicial Board’s decision about Arola and the resignation of Mohiadeen marks the end of weeks-long debates concerning the future of their positions within the SFC. It is unclear whether members of the student body and ASPSU will continue to fight to have Arola removed from the SFC, but for now, his position is secure.

Arola said he’s happy with the decision. “I don’t think there was anything that was impeachable, whether you like it or not,” he said.

“You can think it was as bad as you want or not, but in terms of impeachable: no.”

“As I’ve already said, I disavowed the ideologies, so I’m not upholding any oppression...nor do I intend to.”

Mohiadeen said he stepped down for personal reasons, not because of the controversy. “When

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I thought hard about it, I realized the only reason I’d be staying on after my personal reasons would be out of spite for a few toxic people,” he said.

JUDICIAL BOARD VOTE: SEPTEMBER 23

The ASPSU Judicial Board convened on Sept.

23 for a final vote regarding the impeachment of Arola. They voted 2-2.

Alexandra Modjeski, chair of the Judicial Board, voted to affirm the articles of impeachment. “I hesitate to step the line between silencing opinions because we don’t like them versus genuine concern about whether those actions and opinions of those individuals impact the ability to do their job,” she said.

“Not that I think Arola is a white supremacist or a bad person or think that Republicans don’t have a voice within ASPSU—because they do represent a fraction or a subgroup of the student body, and they should be heard—but in a way that allows us to act democratically and allows us to do our jobs politically,” Modjeski said.

Judicial Board member Hanna Anderson also voted to approve the articles of impeachment.

Members Tiffany Cummings and Luis Alvarez voted to deny the articles of impeachment. “My heart aches for the frustration and pain that marginalized people feel,” Cummings said, “but I cannot in good conscience say that there is—according to our constitution—cause to move forward with the articles of impeachment.”

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

“I feel like we’ve all gotten to know Philip during his time here,” Alvarez said. “And I feel like it would be unfair to disregard our experience with him on a personal level, because his agenda is not violence and all this. I saw no indication of that at all before this.”

According to Modjeski, unless the Judicial Board votes unanimously or 4-1, the board cannot move forward with impeachment proceedings.

“I don’t think the burden of Philip Arola’s past should fall on the shoulders of the student body,” said ASPSU Senator India Wynne following the verdict. “They shouldn’t have to set their pain aside so that he can have a teachable moment.”

“This all is so much larger than Philip Arola,” said PSU student and activist Angeline Booth.

“This represents so much more. The system that he has upheld is killing people.”

Arola said he feels like the board made the right decision.

Mohiadeen stated in an email that he regrets ever engaging with the argument on Instagram but said he feels no regret for what he said in anger after seeing what he said were “racist” and “nasty” comments directed toward him and the SFC. In terms of Arola’s verdict, Mohiadeen said, “Why should Philip be impeached? Philip has already denounced any involvement with the Proud Boys. So what is this really? Let’s just be honest here: He’s a Republican and that is a sin at Portland State.”

When asked about his opinion of PSU following the controversy, Mohiadeen said, “I personally couldn’t encourage anyone to come to Portland State University. It’s a toxic place. I filed no-contact orders against a few of the students I find to be extremely toxic and it is in effect now.

I don’t want to have anything to do with them, and I find them to be dangerous. These are people who will spread false allegations against others they don’t like for simply not agreeing with them.”

THE INSTAGRAM ARGUMENT

The photo that sparked the controversy featured all seven members of the SFC standing with their arms crossed and was criticized in the comments for lacking diversity.

Multiple members of the SFC and ASPSU responded to the comments and engaged in an argument that quickly devolved into namecalling, divisive language, accusations and threats, according to some members of the student body involved in the argument.

A photo of Arola seated at a table with multiple members of the Proud Boys and political consultant Roger Stone in March of 2018 began to circulate online. In the photo, everyone is flashing an “okay” hand gesture, which has become widely considered to be a white nationalist symbol. According to a report by the anti-defamation league, the symbol is regarded as a white nationalist symbol after a 4chan hoax in 2017.

Mohiadeen attracted further scrutiny after engaging in the argument and for refusing to

NEWS

SFC MEMBERS DELIBERATE ON THE DISMISSAL OF PHILIP AROLA (PICTURED LEFT). AROLA WAS PHOTOGRAPHED DRINKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PROUD BOYS, WHICH LED TO HEATED ARGUMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ALEX WITTWER/PSU VANGUARD apologize at an SFC open public forum occurring directly after the argument took place.

Following the Instagram argument and the circulation of the photo, many members of the student body and ASPSU began to demand Mohiadeen and Arola be removed from their positions.

OPEN PUBLIC FORUM: AUGUST 27

An open public forum was held by the SFC on Aug. 27 where Mohiadeen and Arola addressed the situation.

At that meeting, Arola said that his “brief interest in the Proud Boys was not because of an interest in white nationalism,” and he apologized for his “error in judgement” and for “associating with unsavory people.” However, he said he would “not apologize for [his] political beliefs.” Arola is both an SFC member and the president of the PSU College Republicans.

As for the “okay” hand gesture being made in the photo, Arola said: “I hate to resort to cliche, but it was a different tim e. At that point, not a lot of people, not a lot of extremely bad people—I won’t say their names because they’re people who crave attention—they hadn’t used that sign.

They hadn’t appropriated that sign at that point, so I didn’t have the same trepidations that I do today about using that hand gesture.”

Mohiadeen apologized to some community members involved in the situation who he felt he had treated unfairly and to condemn others who he thought treated him unfairly.

“I allowed my own feelings of pain and frustration to steer the social media discourse,” Mohiadeen said. “I made responses in anger, and however much that is not an excuse for my actions, I believe it touches on a common thread between both my own comments and the comments I was responding to.”

Voicing his frustration for what he said were “racist and sexist remarks” made toward the SFC, Mohiadeen asked, “How can a group of students be so aware of hurtful stereotypes placed unjustly upon themselves and yet perpetuate these base stereotypes on other students?”

Following Arola and Mohiadeen’s remarks, many members of ASPSU and the student body called for them to step down.

JUDICIAL BOARD MEETING: SEPTEMBER 9

A Judicial Board meeting was held on Sept. 9 to hear testimonies from the student body and members of ASPSU after an attention request was filed by Grace Hagemann, the Equal Rights Advocacy Director of ASPSU, to have Mohiadeen and Arola impeached from ASPSU.

Mohiadeen was absent from the meeting, and testimonies focused largely on Arola’s alleged involvement with the Proud Boys and white supremacism.

Emotions ran high during the course of the meeting as attendees implored members of the Judicial Board to either retain or impeach Arola from ASPSU. Critics of Arola pointed out that at the previous meeting, he had said that his involvement with the Proud Boys “began and ended” with the photograph. However, he later said that he had gone drinking with them “a couple of times.”

“You may ask, how could this be the first, last and only interaction Philip has had with the Proud Boys that he’s said on the record many times?”

Angeline Booth asked. “If it is, in fact, not his first, last and only interaction with the Proud Boys, why did he lie on the record to constituents?”

SFC member Gabe Trumbley said Arola compromised his role as the liason to the Queer and Women’s resource centers for the SFC. ASPSU Senator Alessandra Peraza-Ahuillon said that, as a member of a marginalized community, she is afraid to be in the same room as Arola and stressed the importance of students feeling safe when other students have power and influence over them.

Some attendees at the meeting attested to

Arola’s character and rejected the notion that he is a white supremacist.

“The so-called evidence against [Arola and Mohiadeen] is so utterly underwhelming that I shudder to think that anyone would find it enough to consider judicial action against them, let alone push for it,” said ASPSU Senator Mallory Hawke in a written statement.

Some attendees also criticized the political climate of PSU. “What is being requested of this body by a very small group of radical students and ASPSU members is that the judiciary of our organization engage in emotion and subjectively based mob justice with the intention of impeaching political opponents,” said Tristin Crum, executive staff director for ASPSU in a written statement.

“As a Black woman, I do not think that [Philip] is a white supremacist,” said ASPSU President Violet Gibson. “I’ve had conversations with him and with other people of marginalized communities and never once has he made me unsafe.

All he has ever done is try to understand my point of view.”

“I believe in restorative justice, and this whole thing about cancel culture and just essentially exiling people from a community that they want to be in, I don’t necessarily find that to be the correct action,” Gibson said.

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

THIS WEEK

around the

WORLD

Sept. 23–29

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Sept. 23

NAIROBI, KENYA

The collapse of the two-story Precious Talent Top School resulted in the death of seven children and injured 64 others. “I had just dropped my son to school and heard screams on my way back,” said Margaret Muthoni, whose 4-year-old son was injured in the collapse, in an interview with BBC. “I am just lucky my son survived.” School Director Moses Ndirangu blamed the construction of a nearby sewage drain for the collapse, claiming it weakened the school’s foundation structures. According to BBC, the school has over 800 students under the age of 14.

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Sept. 24

AL-DHALEA, YEMEN

An air-strike, which is currently being blamed on the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen, killed 16 people, including seven children, while injuring nine others. The attack came four days after Houthi-rebels agreed to stop

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missile strikes on Saudi Arabia if the coalition agreed to do the same. Reuters reported Abbas Mouvasi, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, called the coalition’s attacks “war crimes,” and Houthi-rebels condemned the coalition for the “continued aggression” despite attempts to create a peaceful solution between the two groups.

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Sept. 24

PUNJAB, KASHMIR

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir killed at least 37 people and injured over 500 others. The earthquake caused cracks in roads that are several feet deep, according to The Independent. It also overturned dozens of cars and buses that were driving at the time of the earthquake. Experts reported the epicenter of the earthquake was near Jehlum, but most of the damage is near Mirpur. “Our whole concentration right now is to accelerate the rescue operation,” said Prime Minister of Azad

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Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider, according to The Independent. “There are people who are stuck there and who need immediate help. We are putting in all our resources to get people the best of our help.”

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

The most recent protest after months of demonstrations against Haiti’s food shortages, failing economy and political corruption allegations was reportedly the most violent, according to Al Jazeera. Angry protest crowds raided banks and stores in the country’s wealthier regions of Delmas and Petion Ville while others blocked roads in the capital city.

“We did not want the police to come out of their base, because this is a unit that fired real bullets at the people, that uses tear gas grenades when all people want is to be respected,” protester Steven Edgard told Al Jazeera. “Now people are taking whatever they can to make

their houses better because they are tired of getting soaked when it rains.”

Reuters reported four people were killed during demonstrations between Sept. 16–25.

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Sept. 29

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Over 20,000 people took to the streets of Moscow during a protest calling for the release of the remaining political prisoners who were arrested in July. While the majority of the 1,000 political prisoners who were arrested for demonstrating with opposition figures have been released or had the charges against them dropped, 17 remain in custody or under investigation. Protesters are demanding the remaining 17 be released immediately. “No one can get a fair hearing in Russian courts,” opposition politician Lyubov Sobol said in a speech during the protest, according to The Independent. “Injustice and lawlessness can happen to anyone now.”

t i t o h s

O W N K abo

PSU ut

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MINI GUIDE

STUDY — Book a room to yourself in the Millar Library — The basements/sub-basements in most PSU buildings are quiet and contain study pods equipped with couches and tables — Park Avenue Cafe has good food, coffee and plenty of spaces to study — Empty classrooms throughout campus are unlocked and open for use — There is a quiet study lounge on the fourth floor of Smith Memorial Student Union — The sky bridges between SMSU and Cramer Hall have a few tables for studying and large windows for natural light

CONVENIENCE — Baby Vikings is an on-campus childcare center in SMSU — Trying to get a job? The career center offers resume and interview workshops, and Handshake is PSU’s job board — The library is open 24 hours during dead week — The Women’s Resource Center offers free pads/tampons/female hygiene products as well as crisis counseling — Safety buttons are located around campus to ask police for an escort to your car if you feel unsafe and/or need emergency help — You get 500 free print credits. Places to print include the first floor of Cramer Hall, Millar Library, and Fariborz Maseeh Hall — There are sky bridges and tunnels that link Lincoln Hall, Cramer Hall, SMSU, FMH and Shattuck Hall, so you can avoid cars and rain

FREE OR DISCOUNTED SHIT — Working out at the rec center is free for students, and there’s also exercise classes, a pool and rec teams such as fencing — $5 unlimited coffee refill during dead/finals week in the library — Free popcorn with purchase of a ticket at 5th Avenue Cinema — Student discounts • Microsoft Office • Powell’s Books • Spotify/Hulu • Madewell • Portland Japanese Garden • Living Room Theater • Keller Auditorium • Adidas Employee Store Pass • Portland Art Museum (first Friday of every month after 5 p.m. is completely free)

COMMUTING — $28 TriMet pass for low income students — Term-by-term TriMet passes are discounted for PSU students who commute — There is a much cheaper option for low income students.

Proof needed — Download Parking Kitty to extend your parking time from your classroom — Portland Streetcar is free with PSU ID — Biketown is free for PSU students

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PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

MINI GUIDE

FOOD — The PSU Food Pantry offers produce, canned goods and more for free. All you need is your student ID — $1 tacos at Tito’s Burritos every weekday between 2–5 p.m.

— Best bubble tea house Bubble n Tea is now open on SW Broadway and College St. — The Free Food Market is held the second Monday of every month in the Park Blocks — McMenamins Market Street Pub has happy hour from 3–6 p.m. Well drinks $4.50, Ales $4.75 — Best Burgers: Joe’s Burgers, double cheeseburger recommended — Best coffee: Olé Latte coffee cart on SW 5th and Harrison St. — Cheapest Coffee: Park Avenue Cafe

CHAMBER OF SECRETS — Movie theater/bowling alley/pool tables in SMSU basement — Water fountain behind the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science — Spot the cow pigeons #psucowpigeon — Rooftop garden on top of the Academic Student Recreation Center — Free concerts in or outside SMSU with performances from a variety of musicians

STRESS RELIEF — Corgis come and love on you once a quarter. There’s sometimes llamas too. This usually happens during finals weeks — The Center for Student Health and Counseling offers acupuncture services — Free yoga classes are offered at the rec center — Napping • Top floor of the Millar Library has cubicles suitable for napping • Cramer Hall pods found on every floor • Multicultural centers

ENRICHMENT — Multicultural celebrations, ice cream socials and other themed on-campus events provide entertainment, cultural enrichment and free food and beverages — Littman and White Gallery is PSU’s own art exhibit — Music performances, opera, plays and more take place at Lincoln Hall seasonally

DANA TOWNSEND

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WELCOME BACK!

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PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

INTERNATIONAL

WALLACE MONUMENT CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAKS INCREASE WORLDWIDE

CHLOE DYSART Scotland’s iconic landmark, the Wallace Monument, celebrated its 150-year anniversary in September 2019.

“We started off marking the 150th anniversary of the building, and then we started to realize as we discussed and thought about what would be the best way to mark the anniversary,” Ken Thomson, the marketing manager of the Wallace Monument, told Vanguard. “[It’s] not so much about the fact that the building has stood there for 150 years, it’s more about the fact that it’s been telling the story of William Wallace for 150 years, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Located in the town of Stirling, the monument was built between 1861 and 1869 to commemorate Scottish hero William Wallace.

The monument in Stirling is one of various monuments and statues that celebrate the Scottish figure.

Currently, the Wallace Monument overlooks the city of Stirling and is celebrated 150 years later after its construction during the Wallace Wha Hae festival.

Although the story of William Wallace is focused around Scottish independence, it remains relevant to Scottish locals and visitors alike, according to Thomson.

“Wallace was championing more than anything else against inequality, and what really angered him and drove him to do the things he did was he detested seeing the people of Scotland treated unequally, treated unfairly and being the subject of discrimination and that’s really what motivated Wallace,” Thomson said. “I think that still resonates with people today, whatever the cause or the source of that discrimination or injustice might be, and that’s why the message of what he achieved is still relevant to people today and why so many people want to come and visit the monument.”

The festival consisted of Scottish musical acts such as the Red Hot Chili Pipers, a Scottish rock bagpipe band, as well as the winner of 2015 The Voice UK Stevie McCrorie. The acts were followed by a fireworks celebration behind the monument itself. Approximately 3,000 people attended the event, and guests enjoyed local food such as haggis, fish and chips and a wide selection of beer.

Along with the festivities, the celebration’s main focus was to keep the story of Willam Wallace alive.

Wallace earned his hero status in the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, where he led the

A WORKER USES ANTI-MOSQUITO FOG TO DETER INSECTS CONSIDERED THE PRIMARY CARRIER OF DENGUE FEVER. ACHMAD IBRAHIM/AP IMAGES EMILY PRICE

SCOTLAND CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF THE WALLACE MONUMENT IN SEPTEMBER 2019.

FRANCOIS MORI/AP IMAGES Scottish to victory in a battle against the English in pursuit to gain independence.

Stirling was known as the “gate to the highlands” and was heavily attacked by English forces who wanted to conquer all of Scotland.

Although Wallace was eventually captured and executed by the English, he remains a legend in Scottish history and continues to inspire the country to pursue independence.

“There was no talk about the fact that they wanted to think about any other people, or any other events, or any other periods in Scotland,” Thomson said. “It was all about commemorating Wallace and recognizing him and his achievements and what he meant to the people of Scotland. I think we need to be faithful to that, and...making sure that we don’t lose that focus today and that story has resonated with people over the generations.”

Several countries around the world, including Bangladesh, Fuji and the United States, have seen a recent increase in the number of dengue fever cases. The Philippines and China have also been affected by dengue outbreaks.

The World Health Organization reported the dengue virus is spread by mosquitoes that have been infected. Symptoms such as fever, vomiting, headache, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes can begin anywhere from three to fourteen days after an individual is first exposed to the virus. Dengue outbreaks are most common in South Asian countries.

Bangladesh is one of the most affected countries of 2019, according to Al Jazeera. Heavy rains in the country often create pools of stagnant water which then act as breeding grounds for infected mosquitos. Officials recorded 2,428 new patients were admitted to hospitals in a 24-hour period. WHO reported this year’s outbreak to be the worst in Bangladeshi history, with nearly 30,000 people affected by the virus.

Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation have both been accused of not properly regulating water runoff during construction, which then contributed to the increased number of dengue cases in Bangladesh—specifically the capital city of Dhaka—this year. DNCC and DSCC are reportedly working with officials to make changes in their regulation of water runoff in the future.

“In Bangladesh, this year’s dengue outbreak is unprecedented,” DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam told Al Jazeera. “But we have to understand there is no alternative but to raise awareness in destroying the breeding groups for mosquitoes

to bring the dengue menace to an end. We all have to work together to end this.”

In the Philippines, 622 people died from dengue fever between Jan. 1 and Aug. 7, according to CNN. Approximately 146,000 dengue cases were reported by health officials as of July. The Philippines declared a national epidemic in order to allow government agencies to help assist areas at risk and provide medical treatment to those affected.

According to Filipino health official Francisco Duque, an average of 5,100 new cases are reported in the country each week.

Emergency funding from The Philippines Department of Health is being used to deploy hundreds of doctors and nurses across the country to treat dengue patients.

The South China Morning Post reported more than 600 people have fallen ill since September throughout Eastern China. The Zhangshu Health Bureau reported there have been no serious cases or deaths yet. Officials are encouraging the public to eliminate all stagnant water where mosquitoes are likely to breed.

Fuji’s Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete reported the country had seen over 2,500 cases and one dengue-related death as of Sept. 2, 2019, according to FBC News. There are concerns the dengue outbreak will affect Fuji’s tourism-based economy.

Three cases of dengue fever have been reported in Florida, according to the state’s Department of Health. The three cases do not appear to be related, but the affected areas remain on alert as the disease could spread.

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

HOMOPHOBIC CHANTS STOP FRENCH SOCCER GAMES

NIMES FAN AT A SOCCER GAME HOLD UP A SIGN READING “WITH US NO HOMOPHOBIA.” DANIEL COLE/AP IMAGES

EMMA SAGE A League Two soccer match between the French cities of Nancy and Le Mans was paused after minute 27, when the referee decided to use a new French Football Federation rule to contain homophobic chants coming from the stadium on Aug. 16, 2019.

The chants contained extremely vulgar French slurs relating to sodomy. The defense for allowing these slurs in the soccer stadium is that the words can have many meanings and are still frequently heard on the streets. The FFF’s new regulation—which allows the halting of games due to homophobia—was primarily in response to the French government’s push to end the use of homophobic slurs.

Referee Mehdi Mokhtari was the first to use the new rule, created in an attempt to stop fans from frequently chanting homophobic slurs during soccer games in France. French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, an architect of the anti-discrimination policy, tweeted her support for the referee soon after the match. “It’s a first,” Maracineau tweeted.

“And a last, I hope.”

The Nancy-Le Mans match, contrary to Maracineanu’s hopes, was not the last time the new law was used by referees. Brest-Reims and Monaco-Nîmes matches were briefly stopped for the same reason. During a soccer match in Lille, similar chanting was reported.

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The controversy grew when League One Nice-Marseille match was stopped for more than 10 minutes due to fans holding large banners with veiled homophobic insults. Administrators, referees and security personnel attempted to contain a stadium filled with chants and insults. Fans expressed discontent with changes in team ownership and stadium policy regarding the new regulations on speech during soccer games. Rennes-PSG, while not stopped by referees, was also embroiled in the homophobia controversy.

In total, at least 20 recorded incidents of homophobia resulting in the halting of a soccer match have been recorded by officials since the French soccer season began on Aug. 9.

There is debate dividing the French soccer community about whether stopping matches is a fair solution to homophobia, as well as what kind of reaction to the homophobic slurs is appropriate in these situations.

President of the FFF Noël Le Graët said “too many matches” have been stopped in relation to the new regulations, Le Graët said in an interview, according to France 24. “That makes certain government ministers happy, but it bothers me. Football can’t be taken hostage by vulgarity. Matches have been stopped when they shouldn’t have been. We will stop them if there is consistent homophobic abuse from the whole group, but if among 30,000 people there are 2,000 imbeciles I don’t see why the other 28,000 should be punished.”

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

Le Graët also called the regulation “a mistake” and reported no more matches will be stopped for homophobia.

“I would stop a match for racist chants,” Le Graët said. “I would stop a match for fighting or if there were a dangerous situation in the stands.” The FFF’s president clarified that, for him, homophobia and racism “are not the same thing.”

There is discrepancy in reactions to racist and homophobic language.

“I think there are a lot of French people who would disagree with what Le Graët is saying,” a French university student told Vanguard. “You could call your friend [a homophobic French slur] if he beat you at FIFA or drank some of your beer. It’s still said frequently. A lot of people don’t consider it homophobic, or at least they don’t admit it. It’s embedded in our language…I think most people don’t use it to be homophobic, they just use it as an expression.”

These attitudes are why the primarily government-led attempt to address homophobia in the stadium was met with pushback, according to France 24. It’s yet to be seen how the French government will react to the FFF’s new pro-allowance stance. The government may soon be forced to choose whether to fight for the enforcement of the anti-homophobia rules, despite the strong resistance from the FFF and the fans, or to back away from an increasingly hostile conflict.

OPINION

PORTLAND NEEDS ACTION AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE ANTHONY MONTES Portland police is out of control and needs to start taking community policing seriously.

Increased violence against Portland’s marginalized communities, indifference to community engagement and an aversion to adopt policy recommendations are some of the examples of how Portland Police is failing our communities.

The most recent example of police violence took place on Friday, Sept. 20, when students in Portland—and around the world—participated in one of the largest climate strikes in history. Portland Police still managed to steal the spotlight after video footage emerged on Twitter showing police officers mowing through a human wall of teens in order to arrest a Black teen for disorderly conduct.

Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, in a Twitter post, lambasted Portland police actions during the climate strike. “Every encounter with the public is an opportunity to show community trust, yet this is how these officers chose to interact with children peacefully engaging in direct action,” Hardesty wrote.

Portland police arrested the teen after he and another Black teen refused to step down from the metal railings on the Hawthorne Bridge, separating the lane designated for protesters and vehicles. Video footage of the incident shows two officers yanking both Black teens from the railing, but a group of protesters pulled the two Black teens away from the officers.

In a press release regarding the incident, Portland Police Bureau stated that “officers were concerned about the extremely unsafe circumstance and saw arrest as the only option.

If the officers were concerned about the teens’ safety, the decision to pull them into the vehicle lane to administer an arrest seemed...odd. The officers then followed the marchers across the river to complete the arrest leading to the events captured in the viral video.

“Safety is of utmost importance to Portland police, and it is a common tactic to delay arrest to a time when it is safer,” Portland Police stated. “It’s an attempt to avoid a flashpoint and avoid the risk of having to use force.”

In a stroke of irony, the “flashpoint” and “use of force” Portland police attempted to avoid occurred in an incendiary fashion, enflaming protesters’ indignation as officers plowed through a crowd of young people and pinned two teens to the ground.

demonstrated an alarming lack of concern for the safety of Portland citizens,” the lawsuit wrote.

Portland Police failed to be proactive and take policy recommendations seriously leading to several more injuries and a $250,000 lawsuit. “The injuries Michelle and others suffered at that event are proof that the bureau’s use of advanced weaponry in response to first-amendment protected events is an active danger to public safety and need to be significantly altered,” Cohen stated.

If Portland Police believed in community policing, they would understand their city is one of the most JOHN ROJAS Again, if the initial arcivically engaged cities in the United States, and they rest attempt happened in order would prioritize the safety and security of all protests to maintain the safety of the teens, arresting and demonstrations. Instead, Portland Police’s inacthem after they stopped standing on the metal railing made tion on the grenade-like devices led to unnecessary no sense. It is more likely that the officers needed to make violence against protesters, widening the already prominent an example of one of the teens in a misguided attempt to deficit of trust that has permeated in Portland. A commureaffirm their authority over these children that dared to nity outreach report conducted on behalf of Portland Police march for environmental justice. On a day intended to unite found that 70% of respondents felt Portland Police’s poliall against climate change, the repression of minority youth cies were not fair and effective, and 73% believed officers by the state is emblematic of the devastating effects policing consider race and ethnicity when enforcing the law. These has on communities of color in Portland and around the world. numbers jump to 85% and 81% respectively in the AfricanPortland police behavior is not particularly surprising for American community. a police department that is continually under scrutiny for This distrust of Portland Police stems from a history of ofexcessive use of force. In a 2017 report by a citizen advocacy ficers using deadly and excessive force against members of its group, Empower Portland, author and community orga- community. In the city of Portland’s 2018 quarterly use-of-force nizer Nate Cohen highlighted injuries protesters received reports, Portland Police reported that 28% of use-of-force incifrom stinger grenades, “flash-bang” grenades and “other dents involved a member of the African-American community. grenade-type weapons” during a 2017 counter protest of the However, the African-American population in Portland sits just right-leaning group Patriot Prayer. shy of 5.7%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Despite the numerous objections by community groups, The report, which was endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, recommended banning these devices, along Portland police continues to ignore policy recommendawith adopting certain reforms, including forcing Portland tions related to Portland Police’s excessive use of force; this police to report all use of chemicals and devices to local is best exemplified by the now-defunct Community Oversight emergency rooms, clinics and any other emergency medi- Advisory Board established as part of an agreement between cal service organizations. Portland Police largely ignored the city of Portland and the Department of Justice after a 2012 report concluded that Portland Police used “unnecessary or the report.

Cohen stated in a message to Vanguard that the devices are unreasonable force against people with actual or perceived “designed to affect large groups indiscriminately, so even if mental illness…using more force than necessary to effectuate we were to assume the officer’s deploying them responsibly, arrests for low-level offenses.”

The COAB was disbanded in 2017 with no meaningful policy there is still very little way for them to control who is impacted adopted by Portland Police and replaced by another committee. by their use.”

This is the underlying issue with the Portland Police: They After a Patriot Prayer Rally in 2018, in which more protesters suffered injuries from these grenade-like devices, Portland pay lip service to community engagement and policing through Police Chief Danielle Outlaw placed a temporary ban on them. the bureaucratic motions that look good on paper, but have disOne of the injured protesters, Michelle Fawcett, suffered played persistent negligence when offered an alternate avenue third-degree chemical burns and, in August, filed a $250,000 by members of the community.

The community has spoken on several occasions, it is lawsuit with the ACLU of Oregon against the city of Portland.

“By firing flashbangs directly at the crowd of protesters, not enough just to listen. We need action against police rather than overhead as intended, Portland police officers violence now.

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

GARBAGE DAY FURNITURE STORE ORGIES AND KILLER ROBOTS

ANDREW GAINES

I wasn’t exactly around for the peak of Mall Culture, but from what I can gather from popular media of the era, the decline of malls is exactly when America stopped being interesting.

If you can’t go to a huge, glitzy, air-conditioned building to chill with your pals or shop and eat food of questionable quality, what’s the point of living under the death throes of late-stage capitalism? We don’t even have a place to let our killbots run rampant anymore.

Thankfully, we have classics like Chopping Mall to preserve these moments in time.

This 1986 slasher contains two of the most atrocious decisions ever made in cinema.

The first is made by the owner of the Park Plaza Mall when he orders a brand new security system, the centerpieces being three anti-theft robots. I don’t know how much three robots—all equipped with lasers and high-powered tasers—a team of men in lab coats to monitor said robots and massive steel bunker-esque doors costs, but I doubt it’s inside the budget of a mall that can’t even be bothered to have a decent pizza place.

The second choice is far less pricey, but it’s flat-out disgusting: Multiple teens, all working in the mall, decide to stay in the mall after closing time to have an orgy in the furniture

store. This is upsetting to me for multiple reasons, particularly because I don’t want to discover my newly-bought couch has unseemly stains all over it. However, the body fluid being spilled the most that night is blood. A lightning strike drives the robots kill-crazy, and they begin slaughtering anyone they find in the closed mall.

One delightfully cheap-looking exploding head aside, Chopping Mall isn’t very goreheavy, but it makes up for that with a goofy, madcap pace and endearlingly dumb performances from the doomed teens. The film’s filled with cameos designed to make a certain section of horror movie fans happy, with Angus Scrimm (The Tall Man from Phantasm) and Dick Miller (from basically every Joe Dante production and a bunch of Roger Corman movies) showing up for brief cameos and Reanimator scream queen Barbara Crampton in one of the lead roles.

The movie was produced by Corman’s wife, Julie, so its connection to the broader world of B-horror makes a lot of sense.

Chopping Mall clocks in at a brisk 77 minutes, so if you’re looking for a fast, silly slasher to lighten up your day and remind you of an America long past, you pretty much can’t go wrong with it.

DANA TOWNSEND

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PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

COMICS

“WEATHER IN THE PNW”

BRANDON PAHNISH

“REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS”

DANA TOWNSEND

PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 1, 2019 • psuvanguard.com