Daily Vanguard November 18, 2009 by Portland State Vanguard

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 37

Event of the day The Women’s Resource Center is hosting a meeting today to inform the community and invite volunteers for the upcoming annual Take Back the Night event.

When: 4 p.m. Where: Women’s Resource Center

WWW.DAILYVANGUARD.COM • FREE

INSIDE NEWS University ecodistrict event Center for Academic Excellence holding interactive event tomorrow PAGE 2 Medicine panel and suture workshop tomorrow Portland Pre-Health Society hosts night with medical professionals PAGE 2

ARTS

Help wanted: Fledgling football program seeks new leadership

Head coach Jerry Glanville resigns after three seasons Robert Britt Vanguard staff

Liars with platinum tongues Diamond Liars can’t find a genre to call their own PAGE 4

Failing at Fringe The popular sci-fi show attempts to tackle big questions midseason PAGE 5

OPINION Delaying the inevitable Is college the best answer to a recession? PAGE 6 Not living up to potential Oregon’s school report cards give cause for concern PAGE 6

Jerry Glanville—NFL coach, broadcaster and racecar driver of yore—can add another formerly held title to his résumé: Portland State head football coach. Glanville stepped down yesterday after just three seasons and an overall record of 9-24 at the helm of the program. Athletics Director Torre Chisholm announced Glanville’s resignation yesterday morning at a press conference in front of a crowd of student-athletes, coaches and media in the Stott Center. “[Glanville] brought a great energy and enthusiasm to the Park Blocks,” Chisholm said. “I think, in some intangible way, he had a significant impact on many of the successes we’ve experienced in some of our other programs. Unfortunately, that success did not extend or exhibit itself in the football program.” Glanville’s resignation comes less than 72 hours after Portland State’s loss to Idaho State ended the season on a five-game losing streak. This season’s 2-9 record, 1-7 in conference, marks the worst for the program since joining Division I play. The last time Portland State went 2-9 was 27 years ago, when the school competed at the Division III level. “I want to thank coach Glanville

OUS report proposes public corporation funding structure

for his dedication to Portland State football and the greater university and community,” Chisholm said in a statement released by the university. “Although the program didn’t achieve the competitive success that either of us hoped for, it was not for lack of effort or commitment.” Glanville, 68, came to Portland State in 2007 amid a swarm of celebrity and media hype. The “Man in Black,” as he is referred to for his penchant for colorless attire, has coached football since 1964. Before arriving in the Rose City, he was a defensive coordinator at University of Hawaii. Prior to that, Glanville coached in the NFL from 1974–93, serving as head coach of the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons for his final eight years of professional football. Glanville’s Vikings led the nation in passing offense in his first two seasons at Portland State, but records of 3-8 and 4-7 before the current two-win season clouded any sense of accomplishment. Chisholm said there is no denying that this year’s record, combined with that of the past two, is disappointing. “Not just for me, but for Jerry, the entire staff and the university,” he said. Portland State will immediately begin a national search for a new head coach and supporting staff. As is customary in collegiate athletics, the new coach will have control over staff hiring. As a result, Glanville’s coaching staff was informed they will no longer have positions past early December. Chisholm said he expects to have a new coach in place prior to Dec. 16, the date junior college players are eligible to sign national letter of intent with other programs. “I’m looking forward to starting a new beginning, and moving forward with the football program,” Chisholm said. The changing of the football program’s guard affects studentathletes as well as Glanville and his staff. “Every day spent looking for a coach is a waste of a day we could be preparing,” said junior quarterback Drew Hubel. When asked what type of offensive style Hubel hopes to work with next season, he said simply: “One that wins games.”

Rodrigo Melgarejo/Portland State Vanguard

Jerry Glanville: After three seasons, Glanville resigned as head coach of Portland State football.

Rodrigo Melgarejo/Portland State Vanguard

Charlie Fowlkes/Portland State Vanguard

Accolades: Torre Chisholm, athletics director, praised Glanville’s dedication to the program.

New funding model suggested for Portland State

Virginia Vickery Vanguard staff

The Oregon University System released a report today recommending a restructure to the funding model of Oregon’s largest universities. The 30-page report, commissioned by David Frohnmayer, former University of Oregon president, outlines a public corporation funding model for Portland State, University of Oregon and Oregon State University, said Portland State President Wim Wiewel in an address to the Student Senate Tuesday evening. Wiewel has already begun drafting a “white paper,” or working document, to be circulated on campus within a week that will

aim to encourage dialogue among students, faculty and staff about the proposal, said Lois Davis, Wiewel’s chief of staff. In the document, Wiewel will recommend the need for a funding floor so that no additional cuts can be made to the already-nominal state budget for higher education. He said the amount of money spent per student is about $1,000 less than it was 20 years ago, which, when adjusted for inflation, equates to about half as much total spending. “On the whole, the current model has not served us well,” Wiewel said. Wiewel requested that the Senate consider forming a committee to address the issue of changes to the university’s funding model, and that the faculty Senate plans to do the same.

“The [public corporation] model would by no means be the salvation,” Wiewel said. “It wouldn’t necessarily create more money for the university in itself, but would give more flexibility in order to address the looming financial challenges. ”He also said that this is just a recommendation, and it is unknown at this time if the issue will gain traction in the state government. Student Senator Christopher Proudfoot said this issue has been raised before and asked Wiewel why he thinks this time might be different. “Because the financial situation is so dire,” Wiewel replied. “There are no prospects that the state will be able to address additional funding for higher education in the foreseeable future. They’ve run out of solutions.”

Marni Cohen/Portland State Vanguard

Senate meeting: Wiewel explained an OUS

recommendation for public corporate funding model to the Student Senate last night.

Vanguard 2 | News November 18, 2009

Sarah J. Christensen Editor-in-Chief Danielle Kulczyk News Editor Theodora Karatzas Arts & Culture Editor Richard D. Oxley Opinion Editor Robert Britt Sports Editor Shannon Vincent Production Manager Marni Cohen Photo Editor Zach Chastaine Online Editor Jennifer Wolff Chief Copy Editor Jennifer Wolff Calendar Editor Matthew Kirtley Advertising Manager Judson Randall Adviser Ann Roman Advertising Adviser Illustrator Kira Meyrick Marketing Manager Kelsey Chinen Associate News Editor Virginia Vickery

NEWS University ecodistrict event Center for Academic Excellence holding interactive event tomorrow Virginia Vickery Vanguard staff

The Center for Academic Excellence invites Portland State students, faculty, staff and Portland community members to explore the elements of ecodistricts tomorrow, Nov. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on campus. Tim Smith, director of urban design at SERA Architects, will speak at the second part of a two-part series on ecodistricts, co-sponsored by Portland State’s Finance and Administration office. The interactive event will be held in the Multicultural Center, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 228. After Smith’s presentation, participants will have maps at their tables and will get the chance to use game pieces representative

of ecodistrict elements to plan their own districts. The first part of the series, which was held on Oct. 29, brought together 200 community members, students and faculty to discuss the basics of what an ecodistrict is and what a university ecodistrict might encompass. “We are putting on these events as part of an initiative to create campus conversations about salient issues,” said Amy Spring, assistant director of community university partnerships. The Oct. 29 event focused on how community partners, students and faculty can get involved in the development of the Portland State EcoDistrict, according to the university’s sustainability Web site. Also during the previous event, participants were asked to write their questions and ideas for how to facilitate broad community engagement. The audience remarks were transcribed and posted at www. pdx.edu/sustainability/ecodistricts.

Medicine panel and suture workshop tomorrow

Production Assistants Bryan Morgan, Charles Cooper Williams

Writers Kate Alexander, Will Blackford, Bianca Blankenship, Klara CalhauHawsgardh, Maeve Connor, Meaghan Daniels, Erica DeCouteau, Natalia Grozina, Patrick Guild, Rosemary Hanson, Steve Haske, Ed Johnson, Carrie Johnston, Mark Johnston, Zoe Kellett, Tamara K. Kennedy, Anita Kinney, Gogul Krishnan, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Holly K. Millar, Stephanie Fine Sasse, Wendy Shortman, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Allison Whited Photographers Aaron Leopold, Rodrigo Melgarejo, Liana Shewey, Adam Wickham Copy Editors Amy Lee, Robert Seitzinger Advertising Sales Matthew Kirtley, Ana SanRoman, Jae Specht, Wesley Van Der Veen Advertising Designer Shannon Vincent Contact Editor-in-Chief 503-725-5691 editor@dailyvanguard.com Advertising Manager 503-725-5686 ads@dailyvanguard.com The Vanguard is chartered to publish four days a week as an independent student newspaper by the PSU Publications Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers, and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members, additional copies or subcription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

Portland Pre-Health Society hosts night with medical professionals Danielle Kulczyk Vanguard staff

Portland Pre-Health Society is hosting a medicine panel and suture workshop tomorrow, Nov. 19. The event, in its fourth year, is geared toward students hoping to enter the medical field. The first part of the event is a medicine panel in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 236. The panel will include physicians, current medical students and Debbie Nelson, director of admissions at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Mark Bajorek, medical director of the Center for Student Health and Counseling, will be leading the panel.

Physicians from OHSU who will attend include Meg Hayes, Ryan Petering and Daisuke Yamashita. Also in attendance will be Dr. Brett White, medical director of the Gabriel Park Family Health Center, and Luai Zarour, Portland State alumnus and second-year OHSU medical student who was formerly president of Portland Pre-Health Society (PPS). Travis Hase, PPS office manager, believes the panel and workshop are extremely beneficial, even for students not entering the medical field. “It’s really, really valuable,” Hase said. “It gives people one-on-one interaction with people they wouldn’t normally get a chance to talk to.” According to the PPS Web site, the panel will discuss the medical school application process, pre-professional endeavors and what it is like to be a physician. There will also be a Qand-A portion with panel members.

Piece of the puzzle: Eco-roofs, such as this one on top of the Broadway Housing Building, are used to capture water and regulate building temperature.

Photo courtesy of Tim Smith

Tim Smith: The director of urban design at SERA Architects will speak at the event.

“It’s giving students a chance to talk to people in the field,” Hase said. “This has always been one of our most successful events.” After the medicine panel and a short break, the event will move to the Multicultural Center in SMSU 228 for a suture workshop. Taught by health professionals, the suture workshop will include stitching practice on pig feet. “In addition, attendees will be

Carrie Johnston Vanguard staff

The departments at Portland State will be updating their Web sites in an effort to create a unified layout. The Dean of Students’ site, the commencement site and the

Laura DeGrace

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Student Affairs’ site are all examples of the new stylistic direction. Most departments will adopt the Student Affairs’ Web site template and move to the Drupal content management system. “Drupal is a ‘content management system’…geared more towards [sic] configurability and customization,” according to Drupal’s Web site. Departments can use Drupal to change their own site info and layout, taking HTML code from a template then uploading it to the new site. “Drupal offers features like syndicated news and the ability for multiple users to update content,” said Laura DeGrace, administrative assistant at the Center for Student Health and Counseling. The Drupal system gives people with no technical experience the ability to update information, meaning that ultimately students will have quicker access to more information. The SHAC Web site is being

What is an ecodistrict? An ecodistrict is a highly integrated district or neighborhood that is: –Resource efficient –Captures, manages and reuses a majority of energy, water and waste on site –Is home to a range of transportation options –Provides a rich diversity of habitat and open space –Enhances community engagement and well-being —www.pdx.edu/sustainability/ ecodistricts

given the opportunity to receive information on MCAT prep courses from Princeton Review,” the PPS press release said. All materials for the workshop will be provided, funded by ticket sales, and food and drinks will be served. However, space is limited. Visit www. pps.pdx.edu for more information. Another panel and workshop event will take place during winter term.

Medicine panel

Suture workshop

Tomorrow, Nov. 19 SMSU, room 236 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 advance $7 at door Cash or check only To pay in advance, visit SMSU, room M107G, or e-mail pps@pdx.edu.

Tomorrow, Nov. 19 Multicultural Center SMSU, room 228 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. To register, e-mail pps@pdx.edu. Include your full name, e-mail address and how you heard about the event.

A new ’do for www.pdx.edu Makeover planned for Portland State’s Web sites

Charlie Fowlkes/Portland State Vanguard

developed by DeGrace and will be updated in two phases. The first phase will be launched after the Thanksgiving break, and the second will be finished by the end of 2009. The second phase of improvements will be less structural and more content based, incorporating elements of social media like video, MP3 and interactive selfscreening pieces. J.R. Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and student affairs outreach, has been acting as a “mini university communications” liaison by going to individual departments suggesting layouts and encouraging updates. “Departments want to spend time on things that more directly impact students, not Web site design,” Tarabocchia said. “My job is to encourage these departments to come together and give their sites a common look and feel.” The Student Affairs’ site template uses a black bar—replacing the

old blue bar—at the top of the main page with dropdown menus below. Underneath, subcategories are arranged vertically, creating a less text-heavy, more visually appealing look. The right column includes news and events as well as links to the department’s own Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites. These social networking tools are being used to make the sites more interactive, particularly the ones that have not been updated in years. The physics department Web site, for example, features the old Portland State emblem in the right corner, red text on a peach-colored background and various pixilated images of colored light patterns. Tarabocchia encourages creativity as long as it is within the framework of the larger Portland State Web site layout. “In a time of tight budgets, these changes are a way to do more, with less,” DeGrace said.

Behind the acronym:

OIRP

Department gathers info, assists with university decisions and policies Zoe Kellett Vanguard staff

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in an ongoing series to highlight the departments and work behind Portland State’s many acronyms. OIRP stands for the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, and though it is a department generally overlooked by the average student, the work of OIRP affects Portland State and its students and faculty every day. The office provides a variety of information pertaining to the university, such as enrollment data, employee information and surveys of students and faculty. The information is made available

to the administration, faculty, students, external agencies and the public. Students can utilize the information to learn what degrees Portland State offers, how many faculty members Portland State has or to access the results of student surveys. The information is also used by university management to support policies and to help make administrative decisions, said Kathi Ketcheson, director of OIRP with a doctorate in urban studies. Ten people generally do the work of OIRP, but there are often student workers in the office as well. Ketcheson believes that institutional researchers are not only responsible for collecting statistical data, but also for making sense of it and using their knowledge to help plan the implementation of the information. OIRP is also responsible for creating factbooks outlining the type of information for which the office is held accountable. It collects information from Banner, a student information system, and data from Human Resources. Additional information is gleaned from surveys, interviews and funded research projects. Currently, OIRP is completing a national study about student transition from community college to a four-year university, and what helps or hinders students during the transfer. The information OIRP gathers is then reported directly to the provost and is also made available to anyone else who is interested. The reports are also provided to the

Oregon University System, the state and federal government, outside agencies and other universities. Collected information, factbooks and research summaries are also available on OIRP’s Web site. Upon request, other information is distributed through electronic tables, charts, narrative reports and public presentations at conferences. OIRP also provides consultation for analyzing the information and how it can most effectively be used, Ketcheson said. Portland State’s OIRP is considered somewhat unusual compared to other information resource offices because of its involvement with the faculty, said Ketcheson, who was elected to the university Steering Committee three times and has served as its presiding officer pro tempore. Staff members of OIRP have served on university Senate committees and devote time to survey research with faculty. OIRP has also begun a new collaborative partnership with the Portfolio Advisory Committee, which they hope will become a model for future work regarding campus initiatives. The work done by OIRP allows Portland State to continue to adapt to the needs of its students and faculty. Although the statistics and information gathered may not look like much to the untrained eye, the staff of OIRP manages to analyze and interpret it to guide important decisions and policies for Portland State.

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

OIRP: One of the many obscure, unknown acronyms at Portland State, now explained.

Get with the program!

Your world in brief

Local: Ore. driver sentenced in fatal hit-run

New organization hopes to strengthen campus community Erica DeCouteau Vanguard staff

The Programming Board, one of Portland State’s newest campus organizations, is a student-run group that will work to build student pride and a stronger sense of community on campus through the planning of social, cultural and educational events. The board was created this year after a series of conversations during the 2008–09 academic year, led by cochair Christian Aniciete. Meetings between Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) and student representatives were held throughout the summer, and the board was created through SALP at the beginning of this year. “[The board] is clearly a need on campus,” said Aimee Shattuck, SALP director. Shattuck has been involved with the board in an administrative capacity, helping to flesh out the original concept and offer her supervision. The Programming Board’s presence on campus is widespread. The group is involved with the Go Green! campaign and is now organizing midnight breakfast events, which previously fell under the scope of SALP. Midnight breakfasts are events that provide students with free food and entertainment during dead week, or the week before finals, each term. Programming Board members held a presentation for university administrators and other stakeholders on Thursday, Nov. 12, to outline their objectives. The group hopes to continue with monthly stakeholder meetings, so as to keep other campus organizations

The Daily Cut

Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

Christian Aniciete: The co-chair of the Programming Board explained there is no set process for joining the Programming Board, and any student who can make meetings is welcome.

involved with board activities. “We invited these administrators and individuals that we felt had a stake in the Programming Board,” Aniciete said. “It’s going to take all of these groups and individuals to make it happen.” The board also wants outside involvement to help create a mission statement, bylaws and job descriptions for members. Board member Cody Bakken was involved with the original Midnight Breakfast Committee last year. He made the transition to the Programming Board because he feels it has the potential to greatly benefit Portland State as a whole. “I wanted to set up something that would allow students who didn’t have a specific affiliation—

beyond being a student at PSU— to come together and have fun,” Bakken said. Three other current board members were also Midnight Breakfast Committee members last year. For now, there is no set process for becoming a member of the board, so anyone who can commit to meetings and other responsibilities can get involved, Aniciete said. The board will host its first midnight breakfast of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 p.m. to midnight. The theme for that event is “The Portland State County Fair.” Members will continue to meet Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the remainder of fall term, and will decide on a new schedule once winter term begins.

Programming Board meetings

Midnight Breakfast

Thursdays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Smith Memorial Student Union, room 230

Wednesday, Dec. 2 9 p.m. to midnight Theme: “The Portland State County Fair”

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a 39-year-old man to 1 1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to hit and run and drunken driving in a July 18 crash that killed a 79-year-old man. Court records show Douglas Eric Green struck James Stover just after Stover stepped into a southeast Portland crosswalk shortly after midnight. The older man died at the scene. Portland police learned that Green had been the driver only after his fiancee discovered him vacuuming up broken windshield glass at his home. Evidence showed Green was driving 37 mph in a 35 mph zone. The paint in the crosswalk was worn, and a sign alerting drivers to the crosswalk wasn’t well lit. Green’s blood alcohol level was estimated to be at 0.13 percent, above the 0.08 percent legal intoxication threshold for driving. Stover had been drinking too; his blood alcohol level was 0.14 percent.

Police arrest pair in drug bust near Burns BURNS, Ore. (AP)—Oregon State Police arrested two Californians after finding about 11 pounds of marijuana in their pickup during a traffic stop east of Burns. A state police sergeant also found a small amount of hashish and drug paraphernalia in the pickup. Police identified the suspects as 30-year-old Levi Meier and 25-year-old Moorea Agnoli, both from Willits, Calif. They were lodged in the Harney County Jail on drug possession accusations.

Vanguard News | 3 November 18, 2009

News Editor: Danielle Kulczyk 503-725-5690 news@dailyvanguard.com

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month Epilepsy, which affects nearly 2.5 million people in the United States, is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Delayed recognition of these seizures and inadequate treatment increases the risk for additional seizures, disability, decreased health-related quality of life and, in rare instances, death. This year, the Epilepsy Foundation, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control, is conducting a national education and outreach program to educate and train law enforcement officers, police cadets and emergency response personnel. The goal is to increase their recognition of seizures and promote safe and appropriate intervention practices for persons with epilepsy. The centerpiece of this effort is the First Responders Training Program, consisting of two modules. The first, the recently released Law Enforcement Training Curriculum, includes a brief presentation and a DVD outlining the vital steps in seizure recognition and first aid for law enforcement personnel. Approximately 30,000 officers have participated in the law-enforcement training program to date. The second, a module designed specifically for emergency response personnel, will instruct first responders in seizure recognition and response. In their day-to-day work, most law enforcement and emergency response personnel are able to recognize citizens who are experiencing seizures and provide the appropriate intervention steps for responding to a person during a seizure. On any given shift, however, some law enforcement officers unknowingly might encounter persons having seizures who appear to be confused, are unable to communicate or exhibit behaviors inappropriate to time and place. Such persons having a seizure might not obey an officer’s directives and unknowingly might become combative, resulting in inappropriate arrest, possible injury and in some cases, death. —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Vanguard 4 | Arts & Culture November 18, 2009

Arts Editor: Theodora Karatzas 503-725-5694 arts@dailyvanguard.com

Portland Music Awards nominees The nominations are in, so let the voting begin for the 2010 PMAs! The ceremony will be held Jan. 28 at the Crystal Ballroom. Votes can be cast at

portlandmusicawards. com. Here’s a sampling

of what the audience has to choose from: Legends Award

(individual or group who has best represented Portland throughout their career) Previous winners not eligible: 2008 – The Kingsmen 2009 – Elliot Smith Crazy 8’s Paul DeLay Mel Brown Quarterflash Bobby Torres Album of the Year

ARTS & CULTURE

Liars with platinum tongues Diamond Liars can’t find a genre to call their own Mark Johnston Vanguard staff

When you find a band with a name like Diamond Liars, it’s hard to have an idea of what to expect. Looking at the group’s show history makes it even harder. They have shared the stage with such a variety of bands, ranging from rock to pop to dance. The band tries to stick to the middle ground and not get caught up in labeling or genre politics. “We can end up on full-on rock shows or hipster dance shows,” said singer Scott Thomason. “We usually get a good group of friends to come and that’s what it’s about for us.” Originally formed in 2007 by Thomason, bassist Steven Cook and guitarist Rvi Alvarez as a project for school, Diamond Liars came together as a group of friends doing what they enjoyed instead of doing what was popular. They later met drummer Jeff Bond at his recording

studio where the band tracked their first record. “Rvi and I played in hardcore bands over the years,” Thomason said. “Steve was in a band called Clarity Process. We all met through all these other bands. We met Bond recording with him. I was stuck on a drum part and he nailed it so I asked him to join.” Being a group of guys in their late 20s, Diamond Liars has found their niche playing the bar scene. “As far as Portland goes, we prefer to play the bars,” Thomason said. “The all-age venues here are so hit and miss. Out of 40 shows I have personally played at Satyricon in various bands, three were good. I prefer to play to people that are my age. But the double-edged sword of bars is that usually a lot of people are there to drink. Sometimes you’re background music for people that are just there to party.” Additionally, while the group enjoys playing for old friends and making new ones, they have mixed feelings about the local music scene. “If you want to be in a successful

band in Portland, you need to work in a prominent coffee shop and talk to a lot of people or work in a bar,” Thomason said. “All the popular bands work in the service industry. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why certain bands are put on a pedestal. I’ve noticed bands that aren’t any better than any other get a huge pull and all these people come out and I find out that it was because a member or two worked at the Bye and Bye or another bar.” Undaunted, the band persists by playing shows and recording music. Their first release, recorded by Bond before he was in the band, was hurriedly thrown together and done on a tight budget. “The next record, we’re going to get to go back and actually do it right,” Thomason said. “Our first record was done in Bond’s free time, between his other recording sessions. Even though it was a great record and it was well received, it wasn’t what we were hoping for.” The group is planning to take their time for their sophomore

Diamond Liars Peter’s Room at the Roseland 8 NW Sixth Ave. Tonight, 9 p.m. Free, 21+ effort after tonight’s show. “This is our last show for a while so that we can just record,” Thomason said. “We’re hoping by February to have an album out. We’re just going to do it strictly digital. I think CDs are pretty much dead. We sell just as many online as we do at shows. We may do a few hundred hand-printed CDs. That’ll be our biggest hold up as opposed to recording.” The band will hit the stage tonight with Canadian group Parallels, as well as local bands Very International Love and Dirty Dogs. “We just changed up our live show,” Thomason said. “We started out playing to a click and had a bunch of loops. We got rid of all of that. But we’re going back to that. However, we’re trying to take the sound guy out of the equation as much as possible. Hopefully we’ll get to the point where we can just say turn it up.”

Storm Large, Crazy Enough Loch Lomond, Night Bats Ben Darwish Trio, Ode to Consumerism The Decemberists, Hazards of Love Weinland, Breaks in the Sun Band of the Year Blind Pilot Blitzen Trapper The Decemberists Floater Modest Mouse Best Male Artist Will West Michael Dean Damron Keegan Smith James Faretheewell Chris Margolin Best Female Artist Rachel Taylor Brown Laura Gibson Kristina Rae Storm Large Gretchen Mitchell Best New Artist Y La Bamba Kate Davis Explode Into Colors Blind Pilot NIAYH —musicspectator.com

Diamond Liars: Breaking out of the shadows and onto the stage, the band has their sights set on a speedy sophomore release and more time in the studio.

Photo courtesy of Scott Thomason

All is fair in love and basketball The Book of Basketball is a detailed and opinionated account of the NBA Wendy Shortman Vanguard staff

Bill Simmons, writer of ESPN’s online column “Sports Guy’s World,” will be visiting a Beaverton Borders bookstore on Thursday, Nov. 19, to talk about his new book, The Book of Basketball. Simmons is also the executive producer of the new ESPN documentary series 30 for 30 and he is a lifelong NBA fanatic. The book explains his love of basketball from an early age and growing up near the Boston Garden, home of the Boston Celtics. Simmons’ passion for the game was ignited when he started attending games with his father, a tradition that began in 1973 when he was just a young kid. From reading the book, you might think that Simmons has watched every NBA game ever played, or at least every game that he could find a TV to watch it on, or else record to watch later. He’s one of those die-hard sports fans in the crowd that has something to say

about every call the referee makes and every dispute between players. The book seems to be one long rant about the most crucial players, teams and seasons in the history of the NBA, but even to someone who doesn’t know or care too much about basketball, it is an impressive read. Simmons, who previously wrote for Jimmy Kimmel Live, isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill sportswriter. He lives and breathes basketball. Indications of this can be seen in the footnotes on almost every page of the book’s text. Simmons has a lot to say. Even if you don’t get anything out of Simmons’ discussions about the greatest players and most epic moments in NBA history, you’ll at least be able to relate to the comedic pop-culture references and analogies. These references are sometimes found in the footnotes, which in some cases are the most interesting and entertaining parts of the book. Although the author’s text of sports commentary is detailed and hysterical, it’s fairly lengthy for a book focused solely on one sport. Simmons even includes a chapter about the top 33 what-ifs in NBA history, and the Portland Trail

Blazers are included in this one. There’s also a chapter about the 15 reasons why basketball gets an MVP and how it has distinguished itself from other sports. Another chapter includes Simmons’ 33 suggestions on how to make the NBA better, which is completely hilarious. One way includes having sideline reporters being casual NBA fans, like his own wife, who would offer a whole new perspective on things happening during the game. For readers that don’t know much about the NBA, you’ll learn a lot about the most influential players and season highlights, but if you’re a dedicated basketball fan, you may feel a need to write Simmons angry letters of why his ranking of the best NBA players is completely erroneous.

Book talk and signing with Bill Simmons Borders in Beaverton 2605 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Thu, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. Bill Simmons: Author and sports fanatic.

Failing at Fringe The popular sci-fi show attempts to tackle big questions midseason Theodora Karatzas Vanguard staff

Fringe is a show that could easily be compared to the X-Files, but in this case the plot lines seem more futuristic and technology driven. Three main characters move the story along—Peter Bishop, his father Dr. Walter Bishop and FBI agent Olivia Dunham. The show began with the three being recruited by Massive Dynamic, a large technology corporation, to head up a new operation aimed at strange criminal occurrences. The group was charged with the task of investigating these “fringe science” matters, mysteries that have involved everything from rare diseases to psychic abilities to chimeras. Now in its second season, Fringe walks the line between brilliance and confusion. Each episode employs intriguing new scientific queries, but can be rife with loose ends left untied by the close of the episode. This would be fine if these loose ends were picked up later in the season, but they are often forgotten and thrown to the side of the road. In addition, they often dance around issues for an entire episode—or even longer in some cases—only to tackle them in the last five minutes of the

episode. There ends up being a tremendous amount of build up to a miniscule climax, leaving viewers dissatisfied and miffed as to why they just wasted a good chunk of their evening investing in this story. The show is, of course, not without its merits. The characters are likeable and interesting, and the cast certainly portrays them well. Olivia (Anna Torv) is the perfect mix of professionally cold and deeply human while the father-son combination of Walter and Peter (John Noble and Joshua Jackson, respectively) is touchingly quirky.

Upon first watching the next episode of Fringe, “August,” it seems like it could be a turning point in the confusion. As the episode plays out, however, it becomes abundantly clear that the writers for this episode bit off a bit more than they could handle. “August” will deal with The Observers, a race of people that seem to come from another world and have appeared throughout history at pivotal moments in our world’s culture—at least, that is how the episode is billed. The finished product strays a bit from that plan. The focus instead ends up on a completely

Fringe

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 5 November 18, 2009

FOX Thursdays, 9 p.m.

different area, with many of the questions about The Observers left unanswered. If unanswered questions weren’t the show’s norm, it would be a little easier to stomach. Instead, it’s just more of the same. What it comes down to is a trimming of the fat. Fringe’s writers need to tighten their game and spend more time crafting not-soscatterbrained plots and less time coming up with the next weird mystery. If some of the focus was taken off the details and placed instead on structure, perhaps those details would make more sense in the end.

Fun facts: the secrets of bees Honeybees’ wings beat 11,400 times per minute. Bees’ flight speed averages only 15 miles per hour. Honeybees can perceive movements that are separated by .003 seconds. Humans can only sense movements separated by .05 seconds. Were a bee to enter a cinema, it would be able to differentiate each individual movie frame being projected. Bees cannot recognize the color red. Honeybees’ stingers have a barb that anchors the stinger in the victim’s body. A single hive contains approximately 40,000 to 45,000 bees. A queen can lay 3,000 eggs in a day. Life expectancy for worker bees is approximately 28to 35 days. The only function of drones is to mate with the queen. Honey is nectar that bees have repeatedly regurgitated and dehydrated. To make one pound of honey, workers in a hive fly 55,000 miles and tap 2 million flowers.

Photo courtesy of FOX

Fringe: The cast of the show has grown over the last two seasons, but these key players have held it together.

–www.thaibugs.com

Vanguard 6 | Opinion November 18, 2009

Opinion Editor: Richard D. Oxley 503-725-5692 opinion@dailyvanguard.com

We’re No. …25! Despite wavering report cards on Oregon’s education system, we do have some good news to celebrate. Portland State’s School of Business Administration MBA program has recently been rated No. 25 in a Global 100 list from Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a publication of the Aspen Institute that covers schools of business throughout the world. With the rank of 25, this includes PSU’s MBA program in the top quarter of the list with other U.S. schools such as Yale School of Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Notre Dame and New York University. Who topped the list? To go to the No. 1-ranked school, you would have to attend York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Canada.

OPINION Delaying the inevitable Is college the best answer to a recession? Patrick Guild Vanguard staff

With the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, the future of this current batch of Oregonian college students looks bleak. Four-year public and private schools have become a way for people to escape the reality of their situation. While a four-year degree is usually the most desirable option, it may not be the best considering the current climate. Oregon’s seven public universities have reached record enrollment at 91,580 students, despite state budget decreases and tuition hikes. The state’s 12 percent unemployment rate has students, young and old, seeking degrees in hope of landing jobs in a market that officials say can’t support them. Perhaps the economy will change for the better during the next two to four years but, for now, students are being trained for jobs that aren’t there. Every class students attend pushes them ever closer to the “real world” of job interviews and bills.

Art Ayre, Oregon state labor economist, explained in The Oregonian that this state has “a substantial amount of jobs that do not require higher education.” Across the nation, however, there is a shortage of people with the skills to take the place of those who retire, according to Ayre. A community college, rather than a four-year university, would provide job seekers with the skills needed to fill those roles. As Ayre puts it, community college enrollment is a good “barometer for the state of the economy.” When there is a boom, potential students get jobs instead. During a recession, they return to school. Portland Community College’s enrollment is up 16 percent this year, a sign that job seekers are looking to make themselves more valuable in an increasingly competitive market. Pamela Murray, dean of workforce and economic development at PCC, admitted to The Oregonian, “While we are still training people, the job market isn’t going to be able to support them necessarily when they come out.”

Portland Community College has added a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. welding class this spring to handle the large influx of students interested in learning the trade. According to the Oregon Employment Department, welding and nursing are the most highly desired occupations by employers in Oregon. But even these recession resilient jobs are bowing to the slow economy. Another alternative to a four-year university is to find an entry-level position or internship in a field that interests you. Both are ways to learn the skills you need while networking and deciding if that particular career path is for you. Direct employment with a company will grant job seekers an understanding that can’t be learned fully in a classroom. “There isn’t a problem finding individuals to get those jobs because Oregon is an attractive place, the question is will they have enough skills,” Ayre said in The Oregonian. “That’s not just a higher education issue, it’s a job skills issue.” Once upon a time, college was difficult to get into. It was a privilege, not an opportunity, to duck out of the workforce for a few more years. Jobs didn’t demand that workers go back to school for postsecondary skills. A son would replace his dad in the workforce, already imbued with the basic skills needed to succeed.

While it sounds very sensible and patriotic, I have to admit that the old system had quite a few problems. Everyone, no matter their family’s income or background, deserves a chance to get as much education as they wish. A highly trained, intelligent workforce is just what Oregon needs to get out of this economic slump. Agnes Hoffman, Portland State associate vice provost for enrollment management, explained her position on the university’s key role in the health of Oregon’s economy to The Oregonian: “If we don’t educate enough qualified Oregonians, then employers will have to go more and more out of state to recruit employees. We want Oregonians to be the educated, innovative employees of our state.” Yes, students are being lined up for the slaughter. Yes, four-year degrees benefit some more than others and yes, graduate school is beginning to look sweeter for many who just aren’t ready for the workforce. But what’s wrong with a welder holding a degree in Renaissance drama? Or a nurse who dabbles in Eastern philosophy? Three-quarters of our lives will be spent fighting and clawing for our piece of the American dream. Why not delay that for a few years?

The PSU SBA also ranked sixth in the magazine’s top ten list of small schools, or schools with class sizes of 100 or less. Below is the full list. 1. Simmons School of Management 2. Duquesne (Donahue) 3. University of Denver (Daniels) 4. University of San Diego SBA 5. Nottingham University Business School 6. Portland State SBA 7. Griffith Business School 8. UC Davis Graduate School of Management 9. McGill (Desautels) 10. Case Western Reserve (Weatherhead) —Beyond Grey Pinstripes

Kira Meyrick/Portland State Vanguard

Not living up to potential Oregon’s school report cards give cause for concern Will Blackford Vanguard staff

The latest evaluation of Oregon schools is out and the results are somewhat disappointing, especially for high schools. The state of Oregon needs to work on education and devote more resources toward raising the bar. The latest school report cards, published in last week’s Oregonian, show most schools as being rated satisfactory, with only 5 percent falling under the “needs improvement” category. Sure, we can all pat ourselves on the back over improvements, or the 34 percent of schools that rated as outstanding—these accomplishments are significant. We should not, however, ignore the other 66 percent of Oregon children receiving a lesser education. These report cards are based largely on test scores, standardized testing and improvement from the previous year. These standards, which can be found at the Oregon Department of Education’s Web site, are relatively new for the 2009–10 school year. In most of

these achievement standards for high schools, the score difference between meeting and exceeding said standards is only about nine to ten points in a given category. This leads me to question what the difference actually is between satisfactory and outstanding. Many remember the controversy surrounding the end of the 2008–09 academic year last summer. Budget cuts and overworked teachers placed a lot of strain on the public school system in Oregon. In the end, legislators and fiscal advisors decided to further shorten one of the shortest school years in the country, effectively showing that Oregon does not value education as it should. Perhaps most distressing of all is the 23 percent of Oregon’s high schools in need of improvement—the group with the highest percentage in that category by far. High school is an incredibly important transition into college and should not be neglected. The problem is that there are no sanctions in place for the schools ranked low on their report cards, so we’re just supposed to accept poor quality in education. This poor quality often comes from a lack of state funds, and the differences between school districts can be incredibly striking.

A piece in the Willamette Week last month compares the experiences of two middle school girls and the resources available to them. One school offers multiple language classes, in addition to music and drama education. The other gives far fewer options: Spanish, drumming and drama for sixth graders are the only choices available to them. There is no good reason to have this kind of discrepancy between schools. It may be horribly clichéd, but it’s not inaccurate to say that children are our future. If you think we’re in a recession now, imagine what could happen when all the kids now receiving subpar educations go out into the working world lacking vital components of a good education. Schools need to be put first, not last, when it comes to state budgeting. Rating schools is a good idea and a good start. We should focus less on the outstanding schools, and more on the schools that need improvement. Those improvements are dependent upon good programs, good teachers and time spent in class. Those things require more attention and more funds from legislators and budgets. Protecting the future of Oregon is worth more than a little attention.

What do you think? Is furthering your education a good response to a sluggish economy? Many have flocked to the halls of Oregon’s universities and community colleges since the economic downturn hit with painfully high unemployment rates. But what can an education do to help? There is only so much schooling one can take, and most institutions seem more geared toward a well-rounded education, as opposed to building applicable skills for the workplace. Are you heading back to college as a result of the recession? Are there better options or is furthering your education the best choice? Tell the Vanguard what you think. Write a letter to the editor and drop it off at the Vanguard office or e-mail it to opinion@dailyvanguard.com The Vanguard wants to hear from you.

etc. ART WEDNESDAY The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Moth-repellent closet material 6 Ospreyʼs claw 11 E.R. hookups 14 Get around 15 First month in México 16 “Just kidding!” 17 *Dangerously unpredictable sort 19 Old “Up, up and away” carrier 20 Even-tempered 21 Last choice on a questionnaire 23 Nasty habit 26 Silverstein of childrenʼs literature 27 Christmas carols 28 Take a breath 30 Commercial prefix meaning “low price” 32 Add fuel to, as a fire 33 Harvest

35 “___ first you donʼt succeed …” 38 Sleuth, slangily 39 *Junk 42 Monkʼs title 43 ___-Seltzer 45 Irish Roseʼs beau 46 Coming-clean declaration 48 Clued in 50 ___ Boysʼ Choir 51 Cousin of a foil 53 Bottom of a 40Down 56 Three-stripers: Abbr. 57 Entrance to a bay 58 Theyʼre on your side 60 Bygone muscle car 61 *Inviolable, as rules 66 Abbr. on an input jack 67 Harold who directed “Groundhog Day”

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE R E � O U P

E L O I S E

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68 May and June, but not July 69 “___ and ye shall receive” 70 “But of course!” 71 Clueless … or where the answers to this puzzleʼs starred clues were all first used Down 1 Animation frame 2 “Evil Woman” band, for short 3 Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, e.g. 4 Marketersʼ “language” 5 Fishing line holder 6 Show the ropes 7 Photographer Leibovitz 8 War aid program passed by Congress in 1941 9 Conquistadorʼs quest 10 “That is completely the wrong way!” 11 *Likely to happen 12 One of five different ones in “sequoia” 13 Roster at the Oscars 18 Private eyeʼs project 22 Collette of “The Sixth Sense” 23 Scene from a summit 24 Big chipmaker

No. 0929 9

26 30 33

44 48

19 21

11 16

20 23

HELP WANTED Driver/Assistant Needed Hiteax incoporation is seeking a responsible individuals for full time/part time driving/assistant positions. Must be at least 25 years old with experience and Class A CDL required. Home every night. Competitive wages and full benefit package. Interested candidates should resume to hiteaxincor@live.com.

42 47

PSU Bicycle Advocacy Collective: Breakfast for Bikers 9 a.m. Between SMSU and Neuberger Hall

Thursday Developing Our University EcoDistrict 8:30 a.m. SMSU, room 228

Puzzle by Paula Gamache

41 Noon, on a sundial 44 Bide-___ 47 Healthful claim on labels 49 Joint: Prefix 50 Blood line 51 Summation symbol 52 Nay sayers

Today

25 *Jammed 29 Set the pace 31 Cost-of-living stat. 33 Insurgent group 34 Prefix with center or cycle 36 Ainʼt right? 37 Triumphant cries 40 It may be cocked or cupped

CALENDAR

SFC Meeting 1:30 p.m. SMSU, room 258

Vanguard Vanguard Etc. || 77 Arts November 2009 Month Day,18, 2009

54 Any Beatles tune, now 55 Bill of fashion 59 ___ Krabappel of “The Simpsons” 62 “That feels so-oo good!” 63 Morning hrs. 64 Visit with 65 Luggage inspection org.

Kaibigan: Thanksgiving potluck 5:30 p.m. SMSU, room 228

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Todayʼs puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

Kenneth Reinhard: Political Theological Models for Living in an Open World 6:30 p.m. SMSU, room 296 Scott Burns: Cataclysms on the Columbia, the Great Missoula Floods 7:30 p.m. SMSU, room 294

Friday Transgender Day of Remembrance 6 p.m. SMSU, room 228 Vietnamese Student Association: Fall Reception 6 p.m. SMSU, rooms 236 and 238 $5 admission, semi-formal dress Film: In the Mood for Love 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 5th Avenue Cinema Free with PSU ID

Saturday

through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

●

Thenumberswithintheheavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given

Film: In the Mood for Love 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 5th Avenue Cinema Free with PSU ID

operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

Fillinsingle-box ● cages Freebies: with the number in the top-left corner.

Wanted: Chief Copy Editor for the Vanguard Send résumés to: editor@dailyvanguard.com

Sunday

WANTED

Each row and each column ● must contain the numbers 1

Comic artist for the Vanguard Send résumés to: arts@dailyvanguard.com

PSU Community Garden: Final Harvest Party and Potluck 2 p.m. Southwest 12th Avenue and Montgomery Street

To place an event: Contact vgcalendar@ gmail.com or pick up a calendar request form at the Vanguard advertising office, Smith Memorial Student Union, room 115.

ART WEDNESDAY

dazed

Humpday: live music to get you through the week

confused:

Mattress, Broken Water

a critical look at our pop life By Ed Johnson

The plot is out of control:

a reality Pretty pianos from juggle a forlorn folkster Your Side Now: A new release from Nashville artist Trent Dabbs.

Attention deficit disorder is a weird phenomenon. It has the distinction of being both demonstrably true—people these days are addled with short attention spans and twitchy legs—and demonstrably constructed. ADD didn’t exist 40 years ago, or at least it wasn’t diagnosed, which is basically the same thing. We built it up out of a need to deal with ever-zapping electro-culture. But I’m not here to argue the merits of ADD. Constructed or not, it exists. I’m here to explain my theory on how different people respond to our over-stimulated world. As always, I am the guinea pig. (My generation also has a problem with narcissism.) The first reaction to our cultural sausage factory is what I call the “YouTube and video games” approach. Entertainment either needs to be incredibly short or incredibly stimulating—cats playing piano or push-button exploding heads. If I had to guess, I’d say this type of brain simmer is slightly more prevalent, especially as the age range gets younger. The second reaction is arguably worse, and it’s how I’d classify myself. I’m a data hoarder. As of this moment, I’m partway through reading 12 different books. I’m following six different TV shows, not counting Mad Men, which just ended. I’m midseason on a couple different DVD series. I’m halfway through three movies, and generally finish at least two a week. I subscribe to two magazines, which I read cover to cover. I also absorb at least half the words in all three of Portland’s free weeklies, a hefty chunk of The Oregonian, and any other newspaper that floats into my grubby paws. I read at least five blogs near continuously, and file through another four or five national publications online daily. I also listen to at least three new albums a week, plus a host of music I still like. What’s scary is that I’m not even accounting for it all. The above list is a conservative estimate. Even worse? I doubt that I’m atypical. We’ve become masters at juggling a multitude of plots and realities, cramming them into our lives. When laid bare, however, we’re goddamn insane. I know I am. As we progressively evolve, the shape of reality is morphing underneath us. The media world is largely crumbling beneath our feet and no one, exactly, can figure out why.

That’s because firm economic principles are failing to account for the new equation. The supply and demand for media are both skyrocketing at the same time and no one is ever satisfied. Scholars who study the effect of the Internet on journalism are starting to point out that we’ve destroyed the old system and failed to build anything in its place. But it’s not just journalism—it’s all media. The pockets of the Internet making money are either concrete businesses selling concrete products, or they’re clouds of smoke packed in so tightly they seem real. But it’s not just that we’ve failed to replace old systems, it’s that we’ve built monoliths of new ideas that can simply never exist in a workable, constructive reality. The other shoe is not going to drop. We are all on one leg, pogoing like mad. Ed Johnson/Portland State Vanguard

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 8 November 18, 2009

Trent Dabbs sounds sad all the time Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

Perhaps Morrissey’s recent collapse on stage served as a call to the folk-rock world: Someone needs to step up and assume the role of music’s saddest sack. Trent Dabbs may have the feet to fill those tearstained shoes. Dabbs is currently touring in support of his forthcoming album, Your Side Now, his fourth solo effort. The album officially drops on Jan. 5, 2010, though the title track is already available for purchase via iTunes. Every song on this medley of violins, pianos and subtle percussion is overtaken by the lachrymose lyrics Dabbs moans out with breathy tonality and all the sorrow a man can pack into a syllable. That’s not to say each

Photo illustration by Marni Cohen

song on the album is whimpering or even particularly depressing: The instrumentation is soulful, even vibrant in spots, and the song structures hearken to the best days of Creeper Lagoon’s history. However, Dabbs just sounds as though he’s been dumped, fired and mugged in the hour leading up to his recording sessions, and there’s no escaping the melancholy of his voice. The sound will bring you down, but if that’s the mood you’re in, Your Side Now is a fine album certainly worth purchasing. Dabbs will be in Portland, playing at the Doug Fir on Dec. 6.

Your Side Now Trent Dabbs Ready. Set. Records!

This month’s resident artist at Berbati’s Restaurant is the charmingly weird Mattress. With November a little over halfway through, time is running out for you to catch them for free in the restaurant side of the venue. Their unique blend of warbly vocals and industrial-tinged electronics are both dark and enticing, making them a group worth checking out. Berbati’s Restaurant, 10 p.m., free, 21+ Girls, Dominant Legs Girls have some serious attitude—the band, of course, not half of the world’s population. The indie rockers from San Francisco are venturing up into Portland to show us that rock and roll hasn’t died. They have a vintage quality in their vocals, reminiscent of early Elvis Costello, complemented with Beach Boys-esque instrumentals. Hot on the heels of their first release, the group seems to be doing well for themselves, with their “Hellhole Ratrace” garnering a spot on Pitchfork’s Top 500 Songs of the 2000s. Doug Fir Lounge, 9 p.m., $10, 21+

Paul McCartney: A Life in Music and Words (book release) No, Paul McCartney is not playing at Mississippi Studios, but a few really amazing bands are to celebrate the release of a book about the former Beatle. Artists on the bill for the evening include Matt Sheehy, Nick Jaina and Jim Brunberg. Sheehy in particular is gem of a male singer-songwriter. His voice is delicate and smooth, and his arrangements complement his soft words perfectly. His songs have the feel of something by Iron and Wine without all the breathiness and whispery quality. Mississippi Studios, 8 p.m., $7, 21+