Portland State Vanguard Volume 75 Issue 18

VOLUME 75 • ISSUE 18 • NOVEMBER 17, 2020

THE FUTURE OF

E-SCOOTERS P. 8-9

NEWS COVID-19 update P. 3

ARTS & CULTURE BLM art therapy event brings activists together P. 12

OPINION The American non-voter P. 15

CONTENTS

COVER BY SAM GARCIA

NEWS COVID-19 UPDATE

P. 3

LGBTQ+ ISSUES ON THE BALLOT

P. 4

PROFESSIONAL PESSIMISTS

P. 5

INTERNATIONAL TREATY TO BAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS GETS KEY 50TH RATIFICATION

P. 6

PRESIDENT OF KOSOVO RESIGNS DUE TO WAR CRIME CHARGES

P. 7

COVER THE FATE OF E-SCOOTERS IN PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL THIS WEEK AROUND THE WORLD

STAFF

EDIT ORI A L EDITOR IN CHIEF Justin Grinnell MANAGING EDITOR Nick Townsend NEWS EDITORS Hanna Anderson Dylan Jefferies INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Karisa Yuasa SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Béla Kurzenhauser ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Morgan Troper OPINION EDITOR AJ Earl

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OREGON’S PROGRESSIVE DRUG MEASURES

P. 11

ARTS & CULTURE TAP, TAP, TAP INTO TIKTOK

P. 12

A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

P. 13

OPINION THE ELECTION THAT WAS

P. 14

OREGON IS CLOSED, STAY HOME

P. 14

P. 8–9

AMERICA’S MOST DOMINANT OPINION? NO OPINION

P. 15

P. 10

DESIGNER SHOWCASE FARAH ALKAYED

P. 16

ONLINE EDITOR Lily Hennings

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Nick Gatlin

COPY CHIEF Sophie Concannon

PRODUC TION & DE SIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sam Person

CONTRIBUTORS Rhian Beam Conor Carroll Aineias Engstrom Olivia Lee Michelle Moore Claire Plaster Sierra Still Mackenzie Streissguth Meghan Utzman PHO T O & MULTIMEDI A PHOTO EDITOR Annie Schutz

DESIGNERS Farah Alkayed Sam Garcia Shannon Steed DIS T RIBU TION DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dylan Jefferies T ECHNOL OGY & W EB SIT E TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS Juliana Bigelow Kahela Fickle George Olson John Rojas

A DV ISING & ACCOUN TING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Reaz Mahmood STUDENT MEDIA ACCOUNTANT Sheri Pitcher STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR Corrine Nightingale To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@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-on journalism education and 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.

SAM GARCIA

COVID-19 UPDATE HANNA ANDERSON

TOTAL AT PSU SINCE PANDEMIC BEGAN: 8 CASES

2 NOVEMBER CASES Two students living in Portland State residence halls tested positive for COVID-19 in November, bringing the total number of cases in residence halls to five since the pandemic began. The potential on-campus exposures that were identified tested negative.

TOTAL IN OREGON AS OF NOV. 15: 56,880 CASES, 761 DEATHS

With rapidly rising COVID-19 cases, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced a two week freeze on Friday in order to slow the spread. It will take effect statewide from Nov. 18–Dec. 2.

The freeze, according to AP News, will close gyms and recreational facilities, restrict restaurants and bars to takeout only and will restrict social gatherings to six or fewer people. Hot spot counties could have longer freezes, such as Multnomah County, which will see at least a fourweek freeze.

TOTAL IN THE U.S. AS OF NOV. 15: 11,050,100 CASES, 245,777 DEATHS For PSU community members and others who have visited PSU, who have been exposed to, tested positive for or diagnosed with COVID-19, PSU strongly recommends filling out the self reporting form, which can be found on the Student Health and Counseling website.

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

NEWS

3

LGBTQ+ ISSUES ON THE BALLOT RHIAN BEAM

MAYOR TED WHEELER Incumbent Mayor Ted Wheeler managed a narrow lead over his opponent Sarah Iannarone, and was reelected to four more years in office with the City of Portland.

“What I take away from this election is that the voters want change, and they’re going to get change from this administration,” Wheeler told OPB, shortly after the election.

What does this mean for the LGBTQ+ community?

In the past, Wheeler has expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community. He is involved with the nonprofit Basic Rights Oregon and he is an advocate for same-sex marriage. However, Wheeler’s relationship with the LGBTQ+ community has been strained at times, especially because of his role as police commissioner.

When reported violence on Portland’s LGBTQ+ community increased in early 2019, Wheeler responded at a press briefing. “We know this is not new. We know these things happen all the time. As the mayor of this community, I’m aware of these issues and take them very seriously,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler’s response to the reported violence was to have the Portland Police Bureau investigate any cases. Wheeler has been criticized over his last four years as Mayor for trying to solve problems by going through PPB rather than by talking and listening to community members.

Wheeler’s sometimes strenuous relationship with the LGBTQ+ community not only comes down to his use of PPB, but to his work as housing commissioner as well.

According to a study done by University of Chicago, there are an estimated 700,000 houseless LGBTQ+ youth in the United States. Multnomah County reported around 2,000 people living on the streets as of Oct. 5. Also, according to a recent study done by Portland State Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative, LGBTQ+ students and faculty at PSU experience high rates of housing insecurity, houselessness and food insecurity. Many of Portland’s houseless are likely LGBTQ+ youth and adults.

Wheeler has been criticized in the past for his response to houselessness and the housing crisis in Portland, an issue that helped get him elected in 2016. According to The Oregonian, the city opened three outdoor houseless camps in April, one exclusively for LGBTQ+ people of color.

While this was seen as a positive development, many Portlanders have expressed they want Wheeler to put forth a long term plan to help the houseless in Portland, including LGBTQ+ community members experiencing houselessness, especially after Wheeler threatened to pull Multnomah County out of a years-long housing partnership—a decision Wheeler argued will help mediate rising houselessness, but that has been criticized by some as a reckless decision.

When asked by The Oregonian if he would hold onto his role as Police Commissioner after his reelection, Wheeler said “I haven’t made any decisions, and I’m not going to until I have the opportunity to

consult with all of my colleagues from the city council.” Wheeler will likely remain in his role as housing commissioner.

Wheeler was narrowly reelected as mayor by the City of Portland. Much of his second term will likely be attempting to bridge the divide between his supporters and his critics.

Shortly after his reelection, in his first move at bridging this divide, Wheeler announced gendered language would be removed from the city’s charter in an effort to promote inclusivity.

“The language of the documents that guide the City should reflect our community,” Wheeler stated on his official Twitter account shortly after the announcement. “Today, Council authorized the City Auditor to remove feminine and masculine terms from the City Charter.”

BALLOT MEASURES THAT COULD AFFECT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY Police Oversight Committee—With a resounding 81% of the vote, Portland voted to make an independent oversight committee for the city’s police.

According to The Oregonian, this committee would have the power to investigate more complaints against the PPB and suggest disciplinary actions, as well as make recommendations for police bureau policy.

The idea behind the measure is to have an independent board that is not composed of PPB members in order to avoid bias, as well as to promote equity. The previous review board could not implement actual disciplinary action—with this measure, disciplinary action could take place in certain situations.

Many members of the LGBTQ+ community express distrust for the PPB. Recreation and parks levy—The second measure that could help LGBTQ+ people in Portland, especially those experiencing houselessness, is the recreation and parks levy, which 63% of Portlanders voted yes on.

The measure does more than just revitalize parks. Charging 80 cents on every $1,000 of property value, this levy takes that money accrued over five years and invests it in revitalizing tree cover in parks and maintaining landscaping. It will also provide free lunches to children experiencing food insecurity, clean litter and hazardous waste from parks, keep public bathrooms clean and safe and make services for communities of color and households experiencing poverty a priority for the city.

Until there is a solid plan from Wheeler’s administration on houselessness, this levy will hold the city accountable to keep the parks clean, so that anyone that must stay outside can do so safely and can access programs they need.

SHANNON STEED

4

NEWS

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

PROFESSIONAL PESSIMISTS

45

46

THINK TANK LOOKS INTO POSSIBLE ELECTION OUTCOMES

CONOR CARROLL The Transition Integrity Project (TIP) was a series of political scenario simulation exercises conducted in June 2020 which involved nearly 100 current and former senior government officials, academics, journalists and polling experts. The project explored possible disturbances in the 2020 United States elections and subsequent transitions of power.

Though the election is essentially concluded, the content from the exercises is no less revelatory.

TIP is not an organization, but rather a short-term project run by the organization Protect Democracy. Some participants involved in TIP include Dr. Nils Gilman, former associate chancellor of U.C. Berkeley, and Dr. Rosa Brooks, an American law professor serving as the Scott K. Ginsburg professor of law and policy at Georgetown University Law Center, who helped format TIP. Other participants include John Podesta, White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton from 1998–2001 and counselor to President Barack Obama from 2014–15; Michael Steele, former chairperson of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from January 2009–11 and David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a current senior editor at The Atlantic.

According to the White House Historical Organization, “The peaceful transfer of presidential power from one administration to the next is a hallmark of American democracy.

This transition, both peaceful and symbolic of continuity and change, continues to amaze the world and represents the best of American democracy.”

Despite this optimistic language, the current administration has, since the 2016 inauguration, seemingly undermined this political ethos. President Donald Trump stated in a 2016 speech “I will totally accept the election results, if I win,” and in a July 2020 interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace, Trump asserted that he would, “have to wait and see,” in regard to accepting the results of the democratic process of vote tabulation. Enter: The Transition Integrity Project.

TIP participants Gilman and Brooks felt the need to instigate a plan because of their estimation that the November elections would “be marked by a chaotic legal and political landscape.” “ [TIP] also [assesses] that President Trump is likely to contest the result by both legal and extra-legal means, in an attempt to hold onto power,” they stated. The days following the current election cycle appear to have, at least anecdotally, confirmed their evaluations.

TIP focused on several games, where potential scenarios were presented to the participants, and with the introduction of randomness, they produced several results, only one of which did not result in potential violence. That scenario was: “Biden won in a landslide.”

The four games presented by TIP were a close Biden victory, an ambiguous result, a clear Biden win and a clear Trump win.

“I think [Nov. 3] went off about as well as we could have hoped,” Gilman said.

The president is not currently engaged in behavior that is particularly calculated, but he requires the Republican base to be activated and animated. Many GOP lawmakers have agreed, notwithstanding the current electoral results, that Trump is not out of the running just yet.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on Nov. 12 that “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”

In a report from Reuters, it was discovered that, in relation to “election defense” funds, “donations under eight thousand dollars, instead go to the RNC president.”

Regardless of presidential norms, it has been made apparent through independent reporting that the current president will presumably instigate the office of the president for personal profit and will not follow the traditions which his predecessors have followed.

“He’s increasing his negotiating leverage for his exit package, remember, he’s a businessman, so to speak,” Gilman said.

In spite of electoral results, it appears that the outgoing president is looking to use what remaining authority he has to do what he can in order to influence the transition.

According to election law expert Professor Rick Hasen in a recent interview on the What a Day podcast run by the Crooked Media company, “there’s a provision in a federal statute that was passed in wake of the disputed election of 1876 [The Electoral Count Act of 1887, 3 U.S.C. Section 15] that makes his legal disputes [implausible]…It would be essentially lawless.” “[Trump] is hacking the vulnerabilities of the voting system…What is going on is not normal, and just because he’s gone, does not mean that Trumpism is gone,” Gilman said.

Against the Trump administration’s claims of voter fraud, the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, in a Nov. 12 report, found “the [2020] November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.”

SAM GARCIA

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

NEWS

5

TREATY TO BAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS GETS KEY 50TH RATIFICATION AINEIAS ENGSTROM The United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will enter into force on Jan. 22, 2021, after Honduras became the 50th nation-state to ratify the agreement on Oct. 24. Before commencement, the treaty needed to reach the established threshold of 50 ratifications.

The 50 parties in the agreement—among them Mexico, Nigeria, Austria, Vietnam, South Africa and Cuba—commit to “never under any circumstances...develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”

Honduras’ scale-tipping ratification came on a historic date, namely the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations Charter, which established the UN in 1945.

In a statement, UN Secretary General António Guterres stated the treaty’s entry into force is “a meaningful commitment towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations.”

The effort against nuclear weapons is led by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations that received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its activism.

Setsuko Thurlow, an ICAN activist and survivor of the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, shared her reaction on the Peace & Health Blog for the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War website. “When I learned that we reached our 50th ratification, I was not able to stand,” Thurlow stated. “I remained in my chair and put my head in my hands and I cried tears of joy.”

“For the victims and survivors, this initial success with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is tremen-

6

INTERNATIONAL

U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES. K.M. CHAUDHRY/AP PHOTO dously uplifting,” Thurlow wrote. “I celebrate this moment with my brothers and sisters across the world who have been victimized, and still raise their voices, and still survive.”

Others also praised the treaty’s entry into force. Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, also praised the treaty’s entry into force, calling it “a victory for humanity” and “a promise of a safer future.”

In recent weeks, Pope Francis also championed the cause for prohibition.

Despite the celebrations by opponents of nuclear weapons, the treaty is not expected to have much immediate effect, since it only applies to states who have ratified it. No nuclear powers have signed on to the agreement and no member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization openly support it.

The five nuclear powers, recognized by the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, lead opposition to the ban: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.

The U.S., especially, lobbied against ratification. A U.S. letter obtained by AP News, prior to the prohibition treaty’s entry into force, called on signatories to reverse their “strategic error” of supporting the pact, arguing that it would undermine the existing Non-Proliferation Treaty already joined by 190 states.

ICAN’s executive director Beatrice Fihn dismissed this argument brought forth by the U.S. by citing the 50-year-old treaty itself. “There’s no way you can undermine the Nonproliferation Treaty by banning nuclear weapons,” Fihn explained. “It’s the end goal of the Nonproliferation Treaty.”

The Non-Proliferation Treaty has been in force since 1970. It recognized the five nuclear powers as “nuclear-weapon states” while prohibiting all other states who are parties to the treaty

from acquiring nuclear weapons. In exchange, the nuclear powers agree to share technological knowledge for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Treaty also commits the parties to “pursue negotiations in good faith...on a treaty on general and complete disarmament” regarding nuclear weapons.

Despite firm opposition by the nuclear powers, more nationstates could ratify the prohibition treaty. In addition to the 50 current parties, 34 more have signed, but not yet ratified, the treaty—among them Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya and Libya.

In 2017, the UN General Assembly resolution to begin negotiations for the treaty gained the support of 122 member states, including Iran, which has been slowly building up its nuclear capabilities after the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Agreement, according to a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2020.

Within the U.S., some local governments back prohibition of nuclear weapons in spite of the opposition by the federal government. In 2019, both the Portland City Council and the Oregon Legislature issued declarations in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and called on the U.S. government to join it.

Nuclear disarmament activists are confident their efforts are not in vain, even without the formal signatures of nuclearweapons states. They hope that growing support for the ban of nuclear weapons could stigmatize their use and gradually lead to their prohibition.

“They know that even if it doesn’t bind them legally, it has an impact,” ICAN Executive Director Fihn said about the effects of the treaty on the nuclear powers. “Nobody’s immune to peer pressure from other governments.”

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

MICHELLE MOORE President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi resigned on Nov. 5, following allegations of war crimes that led to an indictment by the Hague, which hosts the International Court of Justice.

The allegations stem from Thaçi’s time in the Kosovo Liberation Army, an Albanian separatist group. The Republic of Kosovo was once part of Serbia, but tensions between ethnic Serbians and Kosovars, who are ethnically Albanian, led to conflict. The KLA formed in 1993 with the goal of gaining independence for Kosovo.

Thaçi joined the KLA shortly after its formation and rose to prominence, becoming known for his charisma. By the time the Kosovo War broke out in 1998, he was one of the leaders of the KLA. When the peace treaty ending the war was signed in 1999, Thaçi led the Kosovo delegation. He was elected prime minister of Kosovo in 2007, then president in 2016.

The Serbian government maintains the KLA was a terrorist group. In 1997, Thaçi was charged with terrorism due to his participation in the KLA. The Serbian government convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but he never served his sentence.

In 2015, The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office was formed to investigate allegations that the KLA committed war crimes.

In April, the special prosecutor’s office filed an indictment charging Thaçi and several other KLA leaders for “a range of crimes against hu-

manity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution and torture.”

Reactions from the international community have been mixed. Albanian President Ilir Meta has supported Thaçi, tweeting “the war of the KLA has been just and heroic” and “I believe in [Thaçi’s] innocence and that of all his comrades.”

Others have indicated their support for the indictment.

“It’s hugely significant that Thaci turned himself in,” said Dutch journalist Stephanie van den Berg.

“He has always denied involvement in any crimes and presented himself as a liberator of his people, a peacemaker. It will be interesting to see how the special court cases against him and others play out because previous cases against Kosovar Albanians were marred by witness intimidation.”

A researcher for Amnesty International said “the indictment brings hope for thousands of victims of the Kosovo war who have waited for more than two decades to find out the truth about the horrific crimes committed against them and their loved ones. Charges, which are the first for the Special Prosecutor’s Office, show that senior officials are not above the law.”

“The Kosovo indictment moves victims, survivors and their families one step closer to learning the truth about the crimes committed

PRESIDENT OF KOSOVO RESIGNS DUE TO WAR CRIME CHARGES PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

KOSOVO PRESIDENT HASHIM THACI ADDRESSES THE NATION AS HE ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION. VISAR KRYEZIU/AP PHOTO against them in a credible process,” said Lotte Leicht, European Union and Human Rights Watch director. “It’s also a pointed reminder that justice can reach those who once seemed beyond its reach.”

Thaçi voluntarily stepped down from the office of president to travel to the Hague and take part in the trial, stating he had done so “to protect the integrity of the presidency of Kosovo.”

Two other former KLA members and prominent Kosovo politicians, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi, have joined Thaçi in traveling to the Hauge to face trial. Former President Jakup Krasniqi was arrested after a raid on his home

and forcibly brought to the Hague to stand trial.

Thaçi has denied the allegations, stating in court “the indictment is completely without basis, and I plead not guilty to all the charges in the indictment.”

Vjosa Osmani, the chairwoman of the Assembly of Kosovo, will serve as acting president until the presidential elections next April.

“A sustainable peace in the region asks that the victims and the aggressors are not equalized,” Osmani said. “We, Kosovo’s Albanians, have been the victim of the hegemony of a genocidal regime, while Serbia has been the state that committed these crimes.”

INTERNATIONAL

7

THE FATE OF E-SCOOTERS IN PORTLAND MEGHAN UTZMAN The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is seeking to implement a permanent electric scooter program by 2021, but the Portland City Council (PCC) isn’t sold.

With only two months left in Portland’s temporary e-scooter program, PBOT recently shared the results of its 2019 trial with Portland City Council members. However, issues surrounding equity, safety and liability gave some members pause.

In 2018, Portland was first introduced to escooters during PBOT’s initial 120-day pilot program. The majority of residents viewed the devices positively, and used them more often for transportation than recreational use.

However, concerns surrounding equitable access, sidewalk riding, improper parking and helmet use motivated PBOT’s 2019 program, in order to test solutions to these problems.

E-scooter companies operating in Portland must agree to share their user data with PBOT in order to gain a permit, which allows the city to evaluate whether companies are meeting the city’s goals.

“PBOT prevented unauthorized deployment of e-scooters in 2018,” said Jacob Sherman, PBOT’s new mobility program manager. “We were not going to let technology occur for technology’s sake alone, but instead determine whether and how escooters could advance the city’s goals, especially around congestion, climate safety, and equitable access.”

8

COVER

BEFORE PERMANENT E-SCOOTERS TAKE OFF, CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES ITS CONCERNS In terms of climate, e-scooters significantly replaced driving and ride-hailing trips—with 34% of Portlanders and 48% of visitors choosing to ride a scooter rather than request a driving service.

“Overall, e-scooter riders replaced enough miles that would otherwise have been driven in a car to ride around the Earth almost 17 times (415,286 miles), saved 167 metric tons of carbon emissions and removed the greenhouse gas equivalent of 27 passenger vehicles from the streets over the course of the pilot in 2019,” PBOT’s report stated.

To address the dangers around improper parking and sidewalk riding, PBOT began issuing parking penalties in 2019. Per Oregon law, PBOT can not issue citations for moving violations, but it did hand out over 1,000

penalties and warnings to e-scooter companies whose devices were found parked improperly. Looking into the future, PBOT would like to implement a “lock-to” requirement or parking corrals for the scooters throughout the city.

Newly-elected City Commissioner Mingus Mapps will take over for Commissioner Chloe Eudaly to oversee PBOT, among other city offices, in January. Before running for office, he taught urban politics at Harvard and Cornell while working for City Hall to help manage the City of Portland’s Neighborhood Association and Crime Prevention Program.

“I’m glad we’ve had this extended period of time to test them out,” Mapps said. “There are some issues we still need to manage, but I’m confident that if we work together, we

can resolve problems surrounding sidewalk riding, and serious equity concerns. A lot of those scooters are not accessible to those with physical disabilities or low-income families, and I think we need to develop programming around that...obviously the program is imperfect, but I remain a supporter.”

Helmets, one of the most pressing issues surrounding the scooters, must be worn in order to ride an e-scooter in Portland. However, results from 2019 show helmet use is still significantly low, with only 20% of riders reporting they “always wear a helmet.” Although no fatalities have resulted from e-scooters in Portland, 2.2 accidents occured every 10,000 miles in 2018. This is “much higher than the national average for motorbikes (0.05 per 10,000 miles) and cars (0.1 per 10,000),”

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

LINEUP OF LIME E-SCOOTERS. COURTESY OF FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS according to Business Insider. The finding led the NW Examiner to question whether the city was suppressing the dangers of e-scooters.

This was the biggest concern for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who asked PBOT, “If we approve this program knowing that helmet use is low, and knowing that it’s dangerous who takes on the implicit liability, the scooter companies or the city?”

Catherine Ciarlo, manager of the Active Transportation and Safety Division of PBOT, reassured Wheeler and other members that PBOT has worked with city attorneys since the first pilot program in order to make sure that Portland isn’t taking on that liability.

However, when Wheeler followed-up to ask about the potential case of liability involving a minor on an e-scooter, Ciarlo said she would

have to consult with city attorneys.

“Honestly, it’s still being worked out through systems nationwide and throughout other cities,” Ciarlo said.

Mapps also shared his concerns surrounding helmet use. “I do think we should have a rule for helmets—I’m not sure how we enforce it, but I think the same way we enforce helmet loss for bicycles is certainly a best practice,” Mapps said. “This is such a new program and device, that I don’t think a lot of people know what the norms are yet, and we need to work together as a community to figure out what those norms are, but I hope we can accomplish most of this through public education.”

Since 2018, PBOT has required e-scooter companies to designate 15% of their fleets to East Portland, as well as provide low-income

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

options for those eligible. However, companies failed to consistently meet that requirement, with only 43 Portlanders signed up for the low-income plan, and barely 6% of all e-scooter rides originating from East Portland. Additionally, e-scooters are now the most expensive mode of travel, since increasing their rate of 15 cents per minute to 27 cents per minute between 2018–19.

Although 74% of BIPOC community members viewed e-scooters positively—and most often sought them as a “last mile” to transit—issues surrounding race-based harassment, violence in the right away, road safety and reliable access still persist.

“I think we understand that the higher the cost, the less likely BIPOC communities will benefit from this type of transportation,”

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said. “I want to make sure we don’t sign any contracts yet, since we clearly can not articulate that BIPOC communities can benefit from e-scooters.”

Planning toward a permanent program for 2021, PBOT has three main goals: limit permits to 1–3 companies, provide longer term contracts and put a stronger focus on partnership and community benefits.

“We believe that a limited number of longer-term contracts will better position companies to provide community benefits and meet our city’s goals,” PBOT’s Sherman said.

If you want to let Portland know your thoughts on e-scooters, participate in PBOT’s E-Scooter Permanent Program Questionnaire before the end of the year.

COVER

9

THIS WEEK

around the

WORLD

Nov. 8–14

4 3 5

2 1

1

November 9

BOLIVIA

Former President Evo Morales returned to Bolivia after spending almost a year in exile. Thousands of fans gathered to wave flags and celebrate Morales’ return. Morales fled Bolivia in Nov. 2019 after violent and deadly protests broke out over a disputed election. He returned after a fellow socialist Luis Arce won the presidential election in October and was sworn in on Sunday. “When I left, I said: ‘We will come back, and we will be millions.’ Now we are back and we are millions,” Morales said when crossing the bridge between Argentina and Bolivia.

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November 9

LIMA, PERU

President of Peru Martín Vizcarra was suddenly impeached and removed from office after being accused of bribery. “I declare that without agreeing with the decision, today I will leave the presidential palace and go to my home,” Vizcarra said. “History and the Peruvian people will judge the decisions that each one of us makes.” Following the decision, protesters took to the streets and faced riot police and tear gas, according to Al Jazeera. At least two people have been killed during the protests.

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INTERNATIONAL

3

November 11

NEW DELHI, INDIA

Right-wing TV presenter Arnab Goswami was granted bail eight days after his arrest for his alleged involvement in a 2018 suicide case. India’s Supreme Court announced a lower court’s decision to deny Goswami bail was wrong. As the decision was made during a special session during a holiday recess, critics argued Goswami received preferential treatment. “I would only urge the Supreme Court that how they should provide ease of bail to everybody who deserves it and not just the rich and powerful like Goswami who can afford expensive lawyers at the Supreme Court,” said Prashant Kanojia, a Delhi-based freelance journalist who was released on bail after 2 months in jail for a tweet critical of the government, according to Al Jazeera.

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November 13

WESTERN MACEDONIA, GREECE

Authorities identified minks at two separate fur farms have tested positive for coronavirus in Kozani and Siatista. COVID-19 has been found to be transferable between minks and humans and vice versa. In Kozani, a breeder tested positive for COVID-19

and 2,500 animals were culled. This comes days after Danish authorities announced a plan to cull all 17 million minks after discovering a different strain of the virus in the species. There are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of minks in Greece and fur exports typically bring in approximately 60–70 million euros every year.

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November 14

WESTERN SAHARA

After a 29-year truce, the leader of the Polisario Front, Western Sahara’s independence movement, declared an end to the ceasefire with Morocco. This comes two days after Morocco launched a military operation in a United Nations-controlled buffer zone in Western Sahara, according to The New York Times. Morocco has had control of Western Sahara since 1975.

“Morocco remains firmly attached to the preservation of the ceasefire, noting that the operation carried out by the Royal Armed Forces aims precisely to consolidate the ceasefire by preventing the recurrence of such serious and inadmissible acts that violate the military agreement and threaten regional security and stability,” Morocco’s foreign ministry said, according to CNN.

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

OREGON’S PROGRESSIVE DRUG MEASURES PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS. JUSTIN GRINNELL/PSU VANGUARD BÉLA KURZENHAUSER Oregon has become the first state in the United States to decriminalize possession of psilocybin and hard drugs as part of the passing of ballot measures 109 and 110 on Nov. 3, 2020.

The passing of both measures represents a huge step of progress in the continuing venture to end the war on drugs. The measure was passed with 55.73% of Oregonians voting yes, indicating the fifth occurrence of psilocybin decriminalization in the U.S., following the cities of Denver and Oakland in 2019, and Santa Cruz and Ann Arbor earlier this year. In addition to decriminalizing the possession of psilocybin mushrooms—also known as hallucinogenic or “magic” mushrooms—Measure 109 legalizes psilocybin therapy for the purpose of treating depression and anxiety.

Research regarding psilocybin therapy and other psychotherapeutic methods have gained more visibility in the past several years, following an increasing amount of studies presenting positive evidence for psilocybin’s merit in treating mental health issues.

“Psychedelic therapy works very differently to current treatments,” said Dr. Robin CarhartHarris, head of the Centre for Psychedelic

Research at Imperial College London, in an article published by The Guardian.

“We’re seeing remarkable changes in patientrelevant outcomes, including increased quality of life, [a sense of ] ‘flourishing’, the ability to feel pleasure again, and normal sexual functioning.”

Following the passing of Measure 109, the Oregon Health Authority has a two-year period to develop a plan that will allow for the regulated production of psilocybin for licensed therapists trained in guided psychotherapy.

“In trauma, your mind creates these riddles and puzzles to keep your consciousness away from things that are overwhelming,” said Dr. Chris Stauffer, head of the Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy (SNAP) Lab at OHSU, in an interview with The Oregonian.

“When MDMA and psilocybin are on board, you go on these metaphorical journeys.”

Both Stauffer’s SNAP Lab and his work at the Portland VA Medical Center have shown promising results in using psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat veterans with debilitating PTSD, as well as terminally-ill cancer patients, methamphetamine users and AIDS survivors.

Measure 110 decriminalizes the possession of hard drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin and cocaine, changing the maximum penalty

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

from a Class A misdemeanor—up to one year in jail and a fine of over $6,000—to a Class E violation, which can be settled with either a $100 fine or a health assessment. Additionally, the measure directs a part of the state’s marijuana tax revenue toward funding publicly-accessible rehabilitation clinics and establishing a new drug addiction treatment program.

“Voters in Oregon heard the message loud and clear: addiction is a medical problem and we need to treat it like one,” said Brad Reed, press secretary for the Vote Yes on 110 campaign. “The “just say no” mentality pushed by those who profit from locking people up for addiction prevailed for a long time. Criminal records harm job prospects, the ability to gain housing and even loans for education.

Oregonians overwhelmingly understand that.”

Previously similar attempts from around the globe include Portugal’s 2001 initiative to decriminalize the possession of almost all drugs.

In only five years, the amount of drug overdoses and HIV cases dropped significantly, according to a 2009 report by Scientific American.

“It’ll be extremely important [moving forward] that the money is allocated by the legislature quickly for addiction treatment and recovery services,” Reed said. “The millions

of dollars saved from [law enforcement] will be re-allocated by Measure 110 to the fund for addiction treatment, which will raise between $12–59 million per year.”

As such, it’s likely Measure 110 will not only mitigate substance abuse in Oregon, but also redirect a hefty amount of money and labor spent by law enforcement on the arrest and prosecution of drug-related crimes. According to the Oregon Department of Corrections, 5.7% of prison inmates in Oregon are imprisoned under the pretense of drug-related crimes.

However, drug offenses make up a whopping 46.2% of inmates in the U.S., according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ October 2020 report.

The Federal Register estimated the U.S. spends $34–37,000 average on each inmate annually.

Decriminalizing drugs will result in less incarcerated inmates, which will furthermore save money from prison expenditures.

“It’s much more likely that this’ll unfold in several other states first before we see anything at the national level. Expect it to roll out much like marijuana legalization, with state after state realizing the ‘drug war’ propaganda isn’t based on medical science,” Reed said. “Oregon is importantly taking the first step on this. We’re trailblazers.”

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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TAP, TAP, TAP INTO TIKTOK

OLIVIA LEE

If the thought of teenagers dancing in their bedrooms to songs, like rapper Saweetie’s “Tap In,” makes you cringe, then you’ve probably steered clear of TikTok—and I wouldn’t blame you. Up until recently, I, too, was a curmudgeon, content to hate on anyone and everyone who used the TikTok app.

When I first noticed my freshman college roommate doing a TikTok dance (the “Renegade”) in our living room this past January, I immediately dashed back into my bedroom, concerned that she would ask me to participate. Mind you, the extent of my dancing abilities is the “Cupid Shuffle,” learned in elementary school gym class, and I was not about to break a bone reenacting this TikTok dance.

Two hours later, I left my bedroom to get a snack and—lo and behold—my other roommate had joined in on the choreography. I stood paralyzed by my bedroom door, feeling defeated, while I glared at the two of them attempting to synchronize their moves. At that moment, I knew that I had lost my roommates to a cultural phenomenon I couldn’t understand—one that has captured the bodies and spirits of more than 800 million people worldwide, with over 2 billion app downloads and counting, according to TechCrunch.

To understand what makes TikTok tick, you need knowledge of the key features embedded into the platform. At its core, TikTok is powered by an incredibly advanced and technologically unparalleled search engine. No two users will ever have the exact same TikTok “For You” page—which is the central landing page for exploration—meaning that your experience and content consumption on TikTok is contingent on your specific interests and will likely vary from that of your friends’.

Sure, the explore pages of Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook and search engines such as Google are similarly predictive of your likes, dislikes and desired content—but none are as efficient as TikTok’s algorithm. The content placed on a user’s “For You” page becomes increasingly more personal the longer you engage with the platform. For example, if you happen to stop and replay one TikTok video of a cooking tutorial, your feed might

temporarily be infiltrated with food videos until the search engine realizes cooking isn’t actually of sustained interest.

Two of the broader and most culturally present criticisms of TikTok concern national security and privacy. You may have heard speculation over the past few months about TikTok’s imminent ban in the United States. Some accuse the Chinese Communist Party of injecting propaganda and misinformation, through the developers, into the platform. Manipulation of news, facilitating conspiracy theories, violating user privacy, fostering echo chambers and creating epistemic bubbles led to further denouncements. These charges make TikTok seem intimidating to the uninitiated, until you realize they could just as easily apply to virtually every other ubiquitous social media platform.

So, yes, TikTok, just like everything else fun, has its downfalls. The platform’s utilization of machine learning in its search engine is not foolproof, nor will it likely ever be. The spread of fake news, hate speech, misinformation, propaganda and conspiracy theories are inevitable with a fairly unregulated and foreign-owned platform like TikTok. But, should all of TikTok’s shortcomings—

Is TikTok, the platform worshipped by zoomers, actually building a sense of community or is it just another toxic echo chamber of lies and misinformation?

along with the stereotypes of its users and content—detract you from downloading the app and participating in a TikTok dance with your roommates?

TikTok is so much more than just Addison Rae, hype houses and prepubescents attempting to Dance Dance Revolution their way to fame. For me, it’s the jalapeño challenge, it’s the vast LGBTQ+ community, it’s the college life hacks and it’s the cooking videos. It’s the DIY tutorials and it’s the references that you can only understand if you’re a TikTok user.

And, if you didn’t understand the previ-

ous TikTok references, it’s most likely because you and I are simply not on the same version of TikTok; it is the ultimate “secret handshake” app. In addition to TikTok being a community in and of itself, the platform is also home to innumerable smaller subcultures.

Some TikTok users like to refer to these subcultures as the “mode” or “version” of TikTok they use. Some of the more common TikTok modes are Straight TikTok, Gay TikTok, Thirst Trap TikTok, Food TikTok and Cottagecore TikTok. Most of those are pretty self-explanatory, although the last mode refers to a peculiar internet aesthetic defined by an interest in baking, arts and crafts and Animal Crossing.

Whether your feed remains in one mode or switches fluidly between several depends on the content you consume.

You don’t like Straight TikTok anymore?

Skip the next lip-sync challenge you see and your feed will immediately take note.

While Twitter might still be the social media platform of choice for topical discourse and breaking news, TikTok is slowly but surely becoming the next big digital hub for modern references, trends, subcultures and creative communities.

SHANNON STEED

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ARTS & CULTURE

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SOME OF THE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS. SIERRA STILL/PSU VANGUARD

PORTLAND ART THERAPY EVENTS BRING ACTIVISTS TOGETHER SIERRA STILL This year, Portland has been the center of much discussion and media attention regarding its Black Lives Matter protests and instances of police brutality upon attendants.

Conservative outlets, such as PJ Media, have framed the city as a ceaseless battleground, and news stations across the country have broadcast images of property destruction and looted local businesses. Not a lot has been done to differentiate the peaceful protesters who constitute the majority of these demonstrations from aggressive outliers.

The Black Lives Matter movement in Portland is not limited to these occasional acts of violence or even nightly protests—it also manifests in various events and demonstrations that occur throughout Portland nearly every day.

I was lucky enough to attend a BLM art therapy event on Nov. 11, curated by a handful of organizers—primarily local activist and community leader Linneas BolandGodbey with help from Snack Bloc PDX. Boland-Godbey is currently gathering funds from supporters, through Venmo donations, in order to help fund a trip to Seattle, where he intends to team up with other activists in the Capitol Hill district.

Seattle, like Portland, has been a major hub for Black Lives Matter protests since George Floyd’s murder this past spring.

The event took place at the Portland Center Stage at the Armory in the Pearl District—a spacious venue with comfortable, modern-industrial decor. Many people attended the event, filtering in throughout the afternoon to sit at sociallydistanced tables and paint, draw or create art of all kinds while surrounded by like-minded individuals. Everyone was in the same room for the same purpose: to participate in community activism and decompress through creative expression.

I spoke with Boland-Godbey, a Portland State alum, during the event. This was not the first BLM art therapy event he’s organized; Boland-Godbey used to work for

the Old Town Community Association, advocating for various underrepresented communities in the area, and started putting together activism-related arts events through his work there.

“We did art events in unused, gentrified areas,” Boland-Godbey said. “Office spaces, downtown areas. And it was kind of set up like this—people would showcase their art and get more connected in the arts scene.”

“I liked it because, I feel like when it comes to First and Last Thursday,” Boland-Godbey continued, referencing regular art festivals in Portland, “they don’t represent people who are minorities in any way, shape or form.”

Creating a regular, artistic event focused on underrepresented communities became a continuous goal for BolandGodbey. His first event proved to be extremely successful, with over 300 people in attendance. However, he was forced to halt event plans back in March when COVID-19 hit the United States. After a few months had passed, Boland-Godbey started experimenting again with artistic activism ideas in early July. He started bringing artwork and art supplies to demonstrations at the Justice Center and was thrilled with how many people participated, but soon had his art supplies confiscated in a police sweep, despite only possessing acrylic paints and chalk.

“I was like, ‘What are you doing?’”

Boland-Godbey said. “We were just doing art and not destroying anything. We didn’t even bring spray paint. So I decided we were going to host the event at Irving Park, and everyone [who came] had a good time.”

The Black Lives Matter movement has become the source of much debate in the U.S.—and the polarization has only become more obvious and intense as 2020 has dragged on. When asked how art therapy events and artistic endeavors could help change some peoples’ negative impressions of the BLM movement,

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

Boland-Godbey said the most important thing he can do is challenge the misconception that everyone involved with routine activism is committing acts of destruction.

“There are protests all over town, every day,” Boland-Godbey said. “This movement is not just one thing or seasonal. We’re advocating for Black lives. It doesn’t matter if Joe Biden is president or not—you better still be out there protesting with us in any way, shape or form.”

If there’s a single takeaway from this event, it’s that activism does not adhere to any singular form. An event like this facilitates direct interaction and conversation between activists in a restorative environment, thus encouraging more successful community organizing.

“This is just a good way to express ourselves—it’s therapeutic,” Boland-Godbey said. “Especially right after the election, we needed that.”

Boland-Godbey graduated from PSU in 2019, and I wrapped up our interview by asking him if he had any advice for activists in the PSU community specifically.

“I would say to focus on disarming PSU,” Boland-Godbey said, “because the Jason Washington family really needs help right now.” “[PSU] said [it was] going to disarm, [and it] better keep that up because [PSU] has a way of not doing what they say. Just because you have a Black police chief does not absolve racism, so you better advocate for Jason Washington’s family. I know them and they’re amazing people.”

Boland-Godbey stressed his goal for these art therapy events is for participants to leave feeling happy and motivated, and that attendees will be inspired to create more art and continue or expand on their efforts in activism. Art therapy events like this can be utilized to redefine the activism itself, and its popularization could paint a drastically different picture of Portlanders—and those in the U.S. in general—who stand up for Black lives and other marginalized communities.

TOP: ONE OF MANY ATTENDEES. SIERRA STILL/PSU VANGUARD, CENTER: BLM ART THERAPY EVENT AT THE ARMORY IN NW PORTLAND. SIERRA STILL/PSU VANGUARD, BOTTOM: ACTIVISTS AND ARTISTS SITTING SOCIALLY DISTANCED. SIERRA STILL/PSU VANGUARD

ARTS & CULTURE

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THE ELECTION THAT WAS SIERRA STILL Editor’s note: This week, we continue our contributors reactions to the 2020 presidential election with another brief reminiscence.

This was it. The week we’ve all been anticipating. Tuesday was the day all of us have been watching, waiting and pleading for, and it was surprisingly anticlimactic.

After months of unrest across the country, the excessively anxious build up to Election Day, followed by a lack of instant gratification or true certainty of any final decision, was disorienting—yet expected. It’s been an interesting rest of the week, watching mail-in ballot counts gradually leak into the competition with each passing day. Donald Trump proudly and prematurely claimed victory as of November 4, a tweet that was later removed or deleted, followed by Twitter censoring many of his other tweets for their seemingly constant spread of misinformation. He also demanded on November 5 an end to the counting of any ballots that weren’t recorded on election night; as if we haven’t been through this same

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CLOSE

mail-in voting process for the majority of past United States presidential elections. Someone is getting nervous as science, passion for equal rights and basic human empathy prevail.

This is not to say that we don’t still have immense amounts of work to do. While I remain hopeful for a Biden-Harris victory, their election does not make either of them a perfect human being, nor does it eliminate the continuous, looming threat of fascism and passionate ideologies of white supremacy in this country. Trump has been a reflection of rampant, pre-existing sickness in our society; not a singular entity that we can defeat and instantly move past. However, with this election could come much needed relief from resistance to equity. I truly believe that with Biden in office, grassroots organizations and direct community involvement will be able to operate more easily and effectively. He is nowhere near the end goal, but is a step in the right direction, alleviating at least some of the danger and darkness forced onto us over the past four years.

OREGON IS CLOSED, STAY HOME

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD OPINION SECTION

SAM GARCIA

14

OPINION

Consider this a public service announcement: Oregon is closed, stay home, don’t bother checking because the doors are all shut and you need to stay isolated for a few weeks.

In response to a rapidly rising COVID-19 spike, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced measures last seen in March are now being implemented again for two weeks statewide— except in Multnomah County, which has four weeks of closure.

Gyms are closed and restaurants can no longer have sit-down service. With the politically-motivated exception of churches, events are limited to single-digit attendance and grocery stores have capacity capped at 75% max. In other words, everything is shut down except for necessities.

This aggressive action that leaves churches as the only places capable of having crowds large enough to instigate super-spreading events was obviously not well received, but that does not matter. Stay home, learn to sew or buy a Playstation 5—just do not go anywhere with more than a couple of people, and for cod’s sake WEAR A MASK. If this restriction makes you mad on behalf of small businesses, the best response would be to lean on your elected officials to give direct stimulus to every person in the United States and assist small businesses that need help staying open.

Call it a bribe, politicians love bribes.

Stay safe, wear your mask and STAY HOME. Oregon is CLOSED.

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

SAM GARCIA

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AMERICA’S MOST DOMINANT OPINION? NO OPINION AJ EARL

“My back is spineless. My belly is yellow. I am the American non-voter.”

The Simpsons famously opined on the state of the American electorate in the 1991 episode “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington,” but this observation was not a novel one: non-voters have always comprised a sizable proportion of the electorate.

Including undervoters, or people who mark few, if any, candidates on their ballots, the primary political party in the United States is nobody.

In other words, there is no party in the U.S. To be clear, analyses of the voting age population have found a majority voted in presidential elections regularly, heading toward 60% in the past two elections. Yet, turnout for primaries, non-presidential elections and local plebiscites remain extremely low. It is one thing to be an active voter when it’s a national contest but when people invoke civic duty and other high-flying concepts of citizenship and the electorate responds with a resounding “meh,” it’s not exactly a sign of faith in the political system or the value of one’s vote.

In most cases, the non-voter is poorer, less white and less politically connected than other voters. They represent a population that is often stymied by political interference and disenfranchisement. Tussles over the validity of the votes of certain people do not exactly build confidence in the current political system, so who can blame people when they say their votes will not count? Appealing to their sensibilities by

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com

saying that only voting can reverse these trends is so demonstrably false it probably drives people even further away from participation.

Who can blame non-voters? Certainly not the people who try vainly to win their votes in election after election.

The U.S. should consider the value and burden of non-voting on marginalized communities when trying to ascertain the franchise it extends to top vote-getters. If elections almost always hinge on the opinions of a small subset of supposedly free voters, then it is merely a popularity contest among a privileged class. Even more staggering is the absence of the non-voter from political decisions, dissolving the mirage of a representative system. When a voter is forced into a system that demands their vote, yet gives political voice to people that have already won privilege, it should be no surprise that they turn away from the ballot box.

Solutions to this kind of large-scale disenfranchisement and disregard often hinge on empty circular reasoning, imploring the non-voter to vote in order to make their votes matter more.

This Sisyphean invocation of political power and gain represents a system that takes the slim margins it gains from the trust of non-voters and immediately turns around and shakes them off.

Even the most progressive voices of the political class seem to be locked in a constant appeal to a burden they themselves do not feel. The Nancy Pelosis and Mitch McConnells of the

world simply do not fear or respect the Alexandria OcasioCortezes of the world and the voters they represent. Changing the system from the inside would be nice, sure, but entrenched power that has its roots tangled in the base of our very politics has a habit of not only refusing to cede power, but also strangling the upstarts who believe a better world is possible.

Evidence of this narrow, electorate-betraying thinking is clear in opinion polls, long the driver of politics, being disregarded when the question is of extremely popular policies that conflict with the current political fad. Voters by wide margins wear and support the wearing of masks, but policy is not driven by such support and the sensibility of such a measure. Instead, it’s a practice in partisan virtue signaling: freedom lovers on the right and to their left, politicians that claim to be about science holding dinners for new members of Congress in an enclosed space.

The right wraps itself in patriotism and claims to be a stalwart defender of freedom and virtue, while the party to its left masks its disregard for rules applied to normal people with loud attacks on the right. No wonder non-voters are squirrely about their voting.

Do not blame the non-voter for their lack of adherence to a system that is intentionally opaque and that often betrays its own supporters. An increase in voter participation would be nice, sure, but you know what else would be great? A political system that serves the many.

OPINION

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VANGUARD

DESIGNER SHOWCASE

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DESIGNER SHOWCASE

FARAH ALKAYED

ILLUSTRATION

Hi! I’m Farah, a student at PSU and a designer at Portland State Vanguard. I created this set of floral images for a digital illustration class this term.

I wanted a series of images with a theme. I decided to illustrate plants native to the Northwest. In the process of creating these images I wanted to practice my illustration skills and add texture to give them more depth.

PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • psuvanguard.com