WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 83
Event of the night Interested in helping the environment? Attend today’s Earth Day volunteer recruitment meeting. When: 3 p.m. Where: SMSU, room 294
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INSIDE NEWS Health is good for your financial aid With health care bill comes an increase in student aid PAGE 2
ARTS
Excitement in the familiar JohnnyX and the Groadies bring an all-ages experience to Berbati’s Pan PAGE 4
Finding your place What We Are asks important questions about multi-cultural co-existence PAGE 4
Springtime and the cooking is easy A modern take on colorful pasta primavera PAGE 5
OPINION
Debate team budget woes SFC travel caps render the team unable to compete, the future is uncertain Vihn Tran Vanguard staff
Shortly after Portland State’s internationally competitive debate team brought home its third consecutive victory at the 79th annual Mahaffey Memorial Debate Tournament, it faced a major setback when the Student Fee Committee released its 2010-11 budget for student groups. Noticeably absent from the group’s budget: $10,000 in traveling expenses requested to go compete in local and regional tournaments, as well as $14,000 in entry fees to participate in those tournaments. Members of the debate team are frustrated, particularly because they have gained a significant amount of momentum over the past year. In 2009-10, the team won five out of eight tournaments, but the cap on travel will severely limit their ability to compete in the future. “It’s hard to be an intercollegiate competitive team without the intercollegiate and competitive part,” said debate member Aaron Baker, who won first place with his partner Lindsay Bing at the Mahaffey Tournament. “It’s like telling the director of athletics that their team can’t go anywhere and compete.” According to several members, travel is an integral part of the debate team. Chris Richter, the debate team’s coach, said not being able to travel and compete takes away much of the team’s drive to improve because members don’t have an opportunity to prove their abilities.
Carrie Johnston Vanguard staff
Guest Opinion Internet freedom more critical than business PAGE 6
DEBATE continued on page two
Sexual assault victims have recourse It’s sexual assault awareness month—what are PSU’s policies?
A city made in Oregon Don’t change the “Made in Oregon” PAGE 6
Kelly Welch, student coordinator and debate team member said, “All other benefits we provide to our members and to the school fundamentally collapse without the foundation experience that competition affords us.” However, the debate team is unique amongst other SFC-funded groups because of its competitive aspect. While it competes regularly in tournaments held at regional and out-of-state schools, the team has no foundation of support from an academic department or athletic division. The debate team relies solely on student fees for its funding. According to Richter, the debate team was housed under the Department of Communication when it first began in the 1960s, and therefore received its funding through that department. However, when Richter became involved with the team in 2005, it was an SFC funded group. Though they acknowledge the financial benefits of being supported by an academic department, Hawthorne and others are concerned about the team’s autonomy. “As a student group, the students make the decision on where we go to compete with the advice from our coach, how many teams are going to tournament, who gets to go,” Hawthorne said. “Under a department, we cannot make that decision to go to any tournament we want.” According to Hawthorne, the Communication Department has not expressed any interest in supporting the debate team. SFC Chair Johnnie Ozimkowski said PSU is different from other
April is sexual assault awareness month and the Women’s Resource Center wants Portland State students to know that there are three ways to report sexual assault incidents on campus, aside from calling 911. The Campus Public Safety Office crime log lists one incident of reported forcible rape on campus in calendar year 2009, one in 2008 and four in 2007. But, according to the National Institute of Justice Web site, “Reports of dating and sexual violence made to campus safety officials do not represent the incidence of sexual assault on college campuses.” Sexual violence remains a vastly underreported crime and these incidents do not necessarily reflect the full scope of the problem.
Information from the WRC describes sexual assault as a nonconsensual sexual act, existing when there is no interest in mutuality, consent or concern by one person for the other. “When the word ‘no’ is said, the game is over,” said CPSO Director Michael Soto. “The Residence Life judicial system works under the student conduct code which says that if alcohol is involved, there is no consent, whereas the law says you have to be drunk for it to mean ‘no.’” Colleges across the country, such as Indiana University, are under fire for not taking proper action against those accused of sexual assault. In February, National Public Radio announced that its investigative team collaborated with journalists at the Center for Public Integrity to examine “why colleges and universities fail to protect women from assault.” The story focused on a woman from Indiana University who reported being raped in her dorm
ASSAULT continued on page two
Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard
Good forum: A Q-and-A time was held today for uncontested presidential candidate Katherine
Markey and vice presidential candidate Selina Paulsen.
ASPSU candidates announced Public forum held yesterday for uncontested pres and VP on campus issues Corie Charnley Vanguard staff
Students gathered in Parkway North yesterday for a Q-and-A session with the ASPSU presidential candidate Katherine Markey, and vice presidential candidate Selina Paulsen. Yesterday’s forum was the first in a series of candidate forums that will take place over the coming weeks to introduce the student body to the 2010 ASPSU candidates. The talks will also give PSU students an opportunity to voice their opinions about issues. “[The purpose of] the candidate forum is to make sure that the people running to represent you know who you are, and know what’s important to you,” said Elections Board Chair Deborah Porta. The candidates were asked numerous questions on an array of issues, including what they believe their role as ASPSU president and vice president would be. “To be president is to represent the students of Portland State…not only at Portland State but outside to all of the agencies [PSU] works with, even if that means going down to the capitol in Salem,” Markey said. “We need to make sure that students are heard, that they know what’s going on at the state level and that they know what’s going on at PSU.” Both candidates are currently running unopposed. The original due date for candidacy applications was March 19, but was pushed back to March 22. Students who wish to run for an ASPSU office may still join the race using write-in ballots, which are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 1. In order to become a write-in candidate, one must gather 50 signatures from students. However, according to Porta, the E-board by-laws, dictated
by ASPSU’s constitution, prohibit late-registration candidates from campaigning on campus. In regards to the legitimacy of the campaign, the two candidates expressed their concerns about running without opposition. “There will be no difference for Selina and I. We’re going to run it just as if we had opposition,” Markey said. “We want students to vote the way they feel best, and to vote for us because they actually think we’re going to do the best job, not just because we’re the only ones running.” Paulsen admitted her own fears about the lack of opposition. “How do I have a system of accountability when I don’t have an opponent watching my every move?” Paulsen said. “I think as long as students are involved, and students watch us…I think it will help that system and it will help make [the campaign] more legitimate.” Markey stated her main concerns for PSU, which include university restructuring and the potential privatization of PSU and the Oregon University System. “There’s still a lot of discussion [about restructuring], but I’m a firm believer and advocate that students need to be part of that discussion,” Markey said. She also plans to focus on student fee issues, primarily giving students control of their student fees and access to the resources paid for by the fees. If elected, Paulsen hopes to implement more student outreach programs, such as an affordable textbook exchange and the recently established ASPSU food pantry.
The next forum, comprised of Student Senate candidates, will take place today at 4 p.m. in 236 Smith Memorial Student Union. For more candidate forum dates, as well as a list of the current 2010 ASPSU candidates, visit ASPSU’s Web site at www.aspsu.pdx.edu.
Vanguard 2 | News March 31, 2010
Sarah J. Christensen Editor-in-Chief Virginia Vickery News Editor Theodora Karatzas Arts & Culture Editor Richard D. Oxley Opinion Editor Robert Britt Sports Editor Bryan Morgan Production Manager Marni Cohen Photo Editor Zach Chastaine Online Editor Kristin Pugmire Copy Chief Kristin Pugmire Calendar Editor Jae Specht Advertising Manager William Prior Marketing Manager Judson Randall Adviser Ann Roman Advertising Adviser Illustrator Kira Meyrick Associate News Editor Corie Charnley Production Assistants Shannon Vincent Charles Cooper Williams Post-production Assistant Adiana Lazarraga Contributors Stacy Austin, Will Blackford, Bianca Blankenship, Meaghan Daniels, Erica DeCouteau, Sarah Engels, Sarah Esterman, Amy Fylan, Courtney Graham, Natalia Grozina, Patrick Guild, Joe Hannan, Rosemary Hanson, Steve Haske, Nadya Ighani, Carrie Johnston, Sara M. Kemple, Tamara K. Kennedy, Gogul Krishnan, Ebonee Lee, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Daniel Ostlund, Sharon Rhodes, Tanya Shiffer, Wendy Shortman, Catrice Stanley, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Katherine Vetrano, Allison Whited, Roger Whightman Photographers Aaron Leopold, Michael Pascual, Liana Shewey, Adam Wickham Copy Editors Noah Emmet, Amanda Gordon Advertising Sales Ana SanRoman, Wesley Van Der Veen Advertising Designer Beth Hansen Distributor Cody Bakken
Find us at www.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. Copyright © 2010 Portland State University Vanguard 1825 SW Broadway, Smith Memorial Student Union, Rm. S-26, Portland, Ore., 97201
NEWS Health is good for your financial aid With health care bill comes an increase in student aid Amy Staples Vanguard staff
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was included in the health care bill that was voted on and passed 220–211 by Congress on March 21 and is being called a “landmark investment” in higher education by program advocates. Katie Markey, legislative affairs director for ASPSU, said, “If [SAFRA] had not been included in this piece of legislation it would have died in committee this year due to health care and immigration taking a priority.” SAFRA was created to achieve President Obama’s goal of producing the most college graduates by 2020 by making a large investment in higher
education, according to the Committee on Education and Labor Web site. The impact will be felt almost immediately for students qualifying for the Pell Grant. The changes are to take effect for the 2010–11 school year and beyond. By investing $36 billion over the next 10 years, the maximum Federal Pell Grant will be increased to $5,550 for the 2010–11 school year. For Oregon’s First Congressional District, which includes much of Multnomah County, including PSU, $54,738,110 will be invested into Pell Grants. Statewide, the Pell Grant total is $325,205,579. Oregon will also get $750 million to increase funding for the College Access Challenge Grant over the next five years, fund programs focusing on increasing financial literacy and to ensure that students graduate. Markey said, “Beginning July 1, 2010, federal student loans will
ASSAULT from page one by a man who was later interviewed by campus police but not expelled. According to the NPR report, “Even after reporting her rape to campus security, [she] found that schools often have limited ability to investigate these complex cases.” “Here at Portland State University we have always taken action,” said Soto. “And the cases are always reflected somewhere. No case gets buried.” According to Soto, once a sexual assault incident is reported, the case goes to the Residence Life judicial system and the Dean of Students for investigation. The case then goes to CPSO, and if there is enough evidence, the case is taken to civil court. “The student conduct judicial system works on preponderance [of evdence],” said Soto. “Conduct is a student affairs issue, and crime is a District Attorney issue.” CPSO Officer J. Cronk said, “If the case is considered criminal, it still goes through student conduct.” If the victim agrees, an advocate of the Women’s Resource Center will escort them to Oregon Health and Science University to have a rape kit done. Then they will go to the sex crime detectives at the Portland Police Bureau for a series of interviews. The Jane Doe law secures the victim’s anonymity if he or she decides that a rape kit may be done. The medical center will keep the information on file for six months or until the victim decides to prosecute, according to Cronk. “While we investigate your case, the suspect can be suspended from school. This does not mean they are guilty—it’s just for safety purposes,” Soto said. The Women’s Resource Center can take victims to CPSO, the hospital and to campus housing and Residence Life to find a safe place to stay. “We’re connected with the community and we want victims to feel comfortable,” said Soto. “We take care of our own from beginning to end.” Officer Cronk advises students to “form a buddy system to stay safe” when going out to socialize. “We want to make sure that people report these incidents— even if they’re not sure,” said Cronk, “Because the sooner you can report it, the sooner the suspect can be caught.”
originate through the direct loan program. This is a more reliable program for students and more cost effective for tax payers.” In order to make it easier for students to pay back loans after graduation, the bill invests $1.5 billion in repayment programs so students can cap their monthly payments at 15 percent of their monthly income. After 2014, borrowers can lower their monthly payments to 10 percent of their income, if the borrower has kept up on their payments. The Committee of Education and Labor argues that the bill keeps jobs in America. Under the bill, Direct Loans must be serviced by private lenders’ employees in the United States. The committee also said that these provisions result in better customer service for students. The committee says the provisions will reduce the national
deficit by $61 billion over 10 years but in a letter to Senator Judd Gregg, the Congressional Budget Office said that if defaults are higher than projected, the estimated savings to tax payers would be closer to $47 billion. The committee also stated that the provisions will reduce the deficit by $10 billion from 2010 to 2019. An example of the success of this feature of the bill, cited on the committee’s Web site, is that last year Sallie Mae had to bring 2,000 jobs back to the United States in order to win a loan servicing contract with the Federal Loan program. The committee says that by eliminating the Federal Family Education Loan program, the government will no longer have to pay banks more than necessary as an incentive for banks to loan money to students. Community colleges will see an investment of $2 billion and historically black colleges and universities will see an investment of $2.55 billion.
DEBATE from page one Soto said, “We are pushing to get the rape kit at the Student Center for Health and Counseling.” Assistant Coordinator, who oversees the WRC interpersonal violence program, Jessica Amo said, “There are three different ways to report a sexual assault issue.” -By anonymously calling the Campus Public Safety office at 503-725-4404 -Submitting a formal criminal report to CPSO -Report a student conduct code violation via an online form available through the Dean of Students Web site: www.pdx.edu/ dos/conduct “We want people to know about the resources and feel safe accessing them,” she said.
April is sexual assault awareness month and this year’s theme is “Prevent sexual violence on our campuses.” Information about upcoming events and how to stay safe: www.pdx.edu/wrc/ interpersonal-violence-prevention-andadvocacy Sexual Assault Awareness month events: April 7, 4 – 5:30 p.m., Urban Building 2nd Floor Gallery: Student Legal presentation: “Legal Options for Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault.” April 7, 4 – 5:30 p.m., Women’s Resource Center: “Get Your Consent On!” Consent Workshop with Adrienne Graf. April 15, 12 – 4 p.m., Women’s Resource Center: “Honoring Survivors and Celebrating our Strengths: Hope and Healing through the Creation of Altars.” April 16, Time TBA, Hawthorne Building (501 SE Hawthorne): Dr. Nancy Glass: “Sexual Violence Within the Context of Intimate Partner Violence.” April 16, 5 – 6:15 p.m., Academic and Student Rec Center Room 440/441: Free Healing Yoga with Nikki Perry. April 22, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., SMU Multicultural Center: Diana Courvant: “Transfeminist Insights on Interpersonal Violence and Community.”
Up for debate: The team’s funding for travel was reduced by the SFC.
schools because it still pays for the debate team’s coach out of student fee money, rather than through a department. “I’ve been talking with various administrators and departments to figure out what’s the best place for debate to live,” he said. “If we can figure out a way for them to pay for their coach, whether through the communication department or the center for academic excellence, then they can have more money [from the SFC] for travel.” According to Ozimkowski, the SFC set a cap of $10,000 a year for student groups to pay for a coach, but decided to allow the debate team almost $25,000 for its coach. In addition, Ozimkowski said the team was allowed to use some of its coach’s salary to pay for travel expenses. “They could move $15,000 from their coach’s salary to travel and pay their coach $10,000,” Ozimkowski said. Baker said paying $10,000 for their coach would be unfair, given the amount of work he contributes to the team. Welch said the team has appealed the budget and is currently waiting for the Student Senate to make a recommendation to the SFC. In a letter to the SFC, Colm Flynn, former chair of the World Debating Council, said the cut to travel will severely set back the progress of debating at PSU for years to come and result in a loss to the international debate community. Debate team members also participate in several public service events, such as the recently hosted public debates on Measures 66 and 67. Members also volunteer at several local high school tournaments and recruit high schools students
Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard
who are interested in debate. Patrick Johnson, Westview High School’s speech and debate teacher, said PSU debate team members volunteer their time at his school’s debate tournament. “They did it out of the goodness of their heart and love for debate, they were not getting paid,” said Patrick Johnson, Westview High School’s speech and debate teacher. “Without their help, the high school students would not have a debate tournament.” Ozimkowski said he is currently working on a transitional funding model for the debate team, including setting up a foundation account where alumni can make donations to the debate team. Hawthorne said, “We have talked to Johnnie a little bit about transitioning to some other funding model but we don’t have any real idea about what this would look like.” Welch said she is a bit wary of a transition process because they don’t know which option would work best, and that a foundation account would not be the primary source of funding. “We would like to look into transitioning, since we’ve frequently felt like a square peg in a round hole,” Welch said. “But if there are no better options, we hope we wouldn’t be forced to transition just because we’re an inconvenience here.” In the meantime, the group is holding practice to get ready for the upcoming National Tournament, to be held at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Welch said the SFC gave them travel funding for next year’s Nationals, but did not give them funds to register. As of now, the team is unsure whether it can attend the National Tournament in 2011.
NEWS briefs Center awarded $100,000 Portland State’s Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring Research has recently been awarded $100,000. CIMR’s proposal was chosen through a process sponsored by the PSU Provost’s office. According to a press release, the process is designed to enhance research activity with a high probability of becoming a center of international excellence. “Bringing together the expertise of Professor [Talya] Bauer and other colleagues has already resulted in innovative proposals for new mentoring research projects,” said CIMR Director Tom Keller. “This funding gives CIMR great potential to further support exciting collaborative work that examines mentoring in diverse settings and over multiple developmental periods.” According to CIMR’s Web site, the center “fosters collaboration among faculty from Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Business Administration, and Engineering and Computer Science to chart new directions for research and practice across multiple domains of mentoring, including youth development, higher education and workplace mentoring.” CIMR also provides a forum to connect research and practice in the settings where mentoring occurs in schools, communities, businesses, colleges and universities, according to its Web site. For more information about CIMR, visit mentoring.research. pdx.edu.
Burn Wise film contest The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a film contest to promote responsible wood burning. The theme is “Learn Before You Burn,” and both amateur and professional filmmakers are welcome to submit their videos. According to a press release, the contest is part of the EPA’s Burn Wise campaign, which is aimed at reducing wood smoke pollution caused by fireplaces and other wood-burning appliances. The videos should be no longer than 30 or 60 seconds, and must inform the public of three Burn Wise tips to promote responsible wood burning: 1) Burn only dry, seasoned wood and maintain a hot fire, 2) Have a certified technician install and annually service appliances, and 3) Upgrade to an EPA-approved wood-burning appliance. In addition, the EPA will provide last minute “mystery” criteria 48 hours before the contest’s deadline. Contestants must incorporate the criteria into their films. However, filmmakers can start working on the storyline and film footage before the last 48 hours. According to EPA’s Web site, the overall winner of the contest will receive $2,500, the second place winner will receive $1,000 and the third place winner will receive $500. In addition, the Viewer’s Choice winner will receive a $250 U.S. savings bond. The winning video will be posted on the EPA’s Web site and will be sent to television stations nationwide in the form of a public service announcement. Eligible contestants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. The 48-hour criteria will be posted at noon, EST, on Fri., April 9, and all films will be due by noon, EST, on Sun., April 11. For more information, visit www. epa.gov/burnwise/contest.html. —Corie Charnley
Cramer’s facelift
Vanguard News | 3 March 31, 2010
News Editor: Virginia Vickery 503-725-5690 news@dailyvanguard.com
Recreation center grand opening Portland State’s Academic and Student Recreation Center will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, Thursday, April 1. The ceremonies will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, hosted by Campus Rec’s Outdoor Program. The Music and Informational Table Fair will begin at 11 a.m.
Odd updates: The odd-numbered floors of Cramer received updates and improvements.
The building received updates to its roof, classes, restrooms and more
All photos by Marni Cohen/Portland State Vanguard
“We had limited funds so we opted to do the most publicly accessed floors,” McBride said, referring to the $675,000 spent reconstructing these floors. Eight classrooms were also included in the upgrade. They received lighting, audio and visual upgrades. Four new classrooms were created out of space formerly used as staff office space, according to McBride. Every floor of the building received two refreshed restrooms,
“Facilities and Planning is committed to integrating sustainability into every project possible and was able to lay the foundation for solar panels to be installed on the roof of Cramer, Catrice Stanley which will aid in the reduction of Vanguard staff PSU’s energy use,” said Hannah Fisher Arfer, a Facilities and Students taking classes in Planning representative. Cramer Hall may notice differences The sprinkler system in Cramer around the building, which Hall was also updated. received some aesthetic and “When the building was built it practical improvements. was required to have a sprinkler Construction began on the system in building in 1955 only the and was finally basement and completed in 1970, subbasement after three phases levels,” of construction, McBride said. according to A new Portland State’s sprinkler riser Facilities and system was Planning Web site. installed that However, building will allow for codes fifty years sprinklers to ago were very be added on different than more floors as current codes to funds become which the school must adhere. –Francis McBride, Portland State Facilities and Planning department available. Unfortunately, In spring 2009, due to cost, work began to sprinklers transform some which are now fully compliant were only added to the first and old classrooms and structures. with Americans with Disabilities third floor corridors since there was Located on the Park Blocks Act requirements, according to already work underway in those between Lincoln Hall and Smith McBride. The restroom updates for locations. Memorial Student Union, Cramer the building cost a total of $233,000, The sky bridges, first built in the Hall houses the anthropology, which was paid for by State 1970s, were strengthened. economics, history, psychology, “[The sky bridges] met all geography and geology departments. Economic Stimulus Funding. An aging and leaking roof was codes at the time of construction It is also home to administrative also replaced. The old roof membut since that time we have offices like the President’s Office and brane was removed and replaced learned so much more about how the Provost’s Office. with a new membrane in addition structures react in an earthquake. “In general all of the construction to new insulation. During this time, Essentially we did some upgrades went well. Construction work in an the northeast quadrant of the roof to strengthen the sky bridges so occupied building is always difficult was designed to accommodate sothat they would be able to better but all of the contractors, PSU staff lar panels, the installation of which withstand a seismic event,” and users worked well together will begin as soon as funding is McBride said. to make this work happen,” said available for the project. Francis McBride of Portland State’s Facilities and Planning department and construction project manager for the site. Despite crews having to work in the building while students occupied it, construction was completed during fall term of 2009. “In general, the reactions have been very positive both from staff and students. During construction there were disruptions to everyone’s daily activities but most people understood the need to complete the work and were very patient with the disruptions,” McBride said. Improvements to the first and third floor corridors include the replacement of some ceilings and lights, as well as the installation of new small-seating alcoves for students.
“In general, the reactions have been very positive both from staff and students. During construction there were disruptions to everyone’s daily activities but most people understood the need to complete the work and were very patient with the disruptions.”
The ceremonial opening event will commence at noon, and will be followed by sustainability and facility tours and the ReRev challenge. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., PSU’s Programming Board will host a faculty/ staff basketball game. The game is free to all ASRC members, but guests are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be provided during the game, and it will include raffle prizes and giveaways. For more information regarding the Rec Center’s grand opening, visit www. campusrec.pdx.edu. — pdx.edu/recreation
Vanguard 4 | Arts & Culture March 31, 2010
Arts Editor: Theodora Karatzas 503-725-5694 arts@dailyvanguard.com
Coming soon: New music in April
ARTS & CULTURE Excitement in the familiar JonnyX and the Groadies bring an all-ages experience to Berbati’s Pan Scott Ostlund Vanguard staff
April 5 Black Francis Nonstoperotik [TBA] April 6 Harlem Hippies [Matador] Monster Movie Everyone Is a Ghost [Graveface] The Sight Below It All Falls Apart [Ghostly International] April 20 Flying Lotus Cosmogramma [Warp] Solvent Loss for Words [Ghostly International] Fake Drugs Drake Fugs [Old Wave] Guidance Counselor Guidance Counselor [Old Wave] Other April releases Blunt Mechanic World Record [Barsuk]
Portland metal band JonnyX and the Groadies has a unique sound that is familiar to the Portland music community. With years of experience and a new album, The Upheaval on Titan, on the way, the band has a lot to be excited about. They can be easily noticed in a lineup if for nothing more than their creative names for the band as well as each member. The more than decadeold band has four members, all of whom use pseudonyms: JonnyX on vocals, Travis West on guitar and programming, Professor Romagna on master control and invisible_touch on bass. “JonnyX and Travis met in 1995,” invisible_touch said. “Travis was the roadie for a band and was affectionately called ‘The Groadie.’ When they decided to start a band together, friends jokingly suggested the band be called ‘JonnyX and the Groadie.’ When more members were added it got pluralized… The first show was July 4, 1996, in Travis’ parents’ backyard. We went through several line-up changes but it has been solid since fall of 1999.” Writing has taken up a good amount of time for the band lately as they work on the release of their second full-length album.
Jóhann Jóhansson And in the Endless Pause There Came the Sound of Bees [Type]
Previously, the group had done work on many EPs but has now put their effort into another full-length album, which is in the finalizing process. When it comes to writing, Travis, known as “Nasty Travis” to other band members, does most of it. He is known for his talent in combining “strings and screams” and does most of the midi programming and arranging of the tracks. Overall, though, the group has made a community effort in creating their own style that is unlike any other in the area. Seeing JonnyX and the Groadies downtown will be an independent experience because of the environment downtown venues provide as well as the attitude the Groadies take into each show. “Portland has a long history of being a ‘weirdo’ city,” invisible_ touch said. “I think it’s tamed over the years but there is definitely something ‘off’ [in a really good way]. It seems like we have a lot
more cooperation in this city than others. We try to create a fun environment with strobe lights, fog, blacklights, costumes and lasers. It’s more work than just getting up there with our amps and going for it, but it’s also more fun for us.” JonnyX and the Groadies has a policy of playing only shows which are open to all ages, and is excited to bring their performance to the familiar downtown stage at Berbati’s Pan for the first time. “They seem to be doing quite a few all-ages shows now and that’s great,” invisible_touch said. “When we first started as a band we played around the corner…at Thee O and also at the Old Paris Theatre and then more recently at [the now defunct] Foodhole, so it will be nice to play on the block again. Downtown has always had a history of great venues.” JonnyX and the Groadies will be joined by Ludicra and Transient for the show that will ignite fans and casual audience members alike.
JohnnyX and the Groadies: A long time
staple in the Portland music scene.
All photos courtesy of JonnyX
JonnyX and the Groadies Berbati’s Pan 231 SW Ankeny Thu, 8 p.m. $10 All ages
Finding your place
Disappears Lux [Kranky] –pitchfork.com
What We Are asks important questions about multicultural co-existence Wendy Shortman Vanguard staff
Peter Nathaniel Malae’s debut novel What We Are is a rough and tumble ride through the mind of a half-white, half-Samoan man on a journey to find himself in America, a country he despises, and as part of a generation he can’t stand, the “me generation.”
Malae was a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction award for his compilation, Teach the Free Man, stories from modern day inmates, and has been honored for the Best American Essays and Best American Mysteries awards for his work. What We Are tells the jarring story of Paul Tusifale. As illustrated in the stories of his experiences, Paul’s identity as a half-Samoan man seems to haunt him as much as the memories of his father who returns to Samoa, leaving Paul, his mother, and sister in America. Throughout the novel, we see Paul’s criticisms of life in America, mostly through his own critiques of never feeling like he fits in. Paul recalls filling out college applications and not knowing what to put for the race category. He never fully accepts himself as Samoan, white, or both. Paul seems to be a walking contradiction through the way he acts and talks about multicultural identities. On the one hand, he violently defends his Persian co-worker and friend Cyrus when he’s about to be mugged, but is arrested for a hate crime after beating up a Mexican at a march for immigration reform on Cinco de Mayo. Paul also speaks fluent Spanish.
It’s safe to say that Paul thinks with his fists any chance he gets. This makes for a puzzling understanding of the character who seems to be highly intelligent but sometimes acts like a child. He will go from quoting William Shakespeare, calling him Sir Willie Shakes, to quoting Tupac Shakur. Paul is a character you’re not sure you love to hate, but you find him intriguing nonetheless. He’s undoubtedly a know-it-all, pretentious and arrogant at times. He lives the life of a drifter throughout most of the novel, posting up in a Motel 6, in an allexpense-paid room provided by his “muse,” Beatrice La Dulce Shaliqua Shneck, a Haitian immigrant, who pays for his expenses as long as he continues to write poems about her. La Dulce, who later bails Paul out of jail for his hate crime arrest, brings him back to her house where he lives, doing nothing but pleasuring her before she leaves the house, and again when she gets home. After the life of a drifter catches up with Paul, he trades in his metaphorical boxing gloves towards the world and gets himself a real job. Surprisingly, it doesn’t work out for him. In What We Are, it’s hard to gauge the sincerity of Paul, but we see his generosity as he helps a drug addict by buying him some food, or gives his cash and ATM card to a Mexican immigrant.
Even with the contradictions and puzzling aspects of Paul’s character, he still proves to be a well-developed, complex character in a book that makes for a good read. Malae’s writing keeps you engaged in Paul’s story, page by page.
All photos courtesy of Grove Books
Reading with Peter Nathaniel Malae Powell’s City of Books 1005 West Burnside Street Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Spring time and the cooking is easy A modern take on colorful pasta primavera Katherine Vetrano Vanguard staff
The end of March has brought us a lot of special holidays involving food. There’s been the first day of spring, the upcoming Easter and Passover and, most important to the Portland food lover—the Portland State Farmer’s Market. This weekly event allows us to walk up and down the transformed south park blocks early on Saturday
mornings, shoulder-to-shoulder with tote-carrying shoppers, admire radiant bouquets and, of course, buy fresh produce. The emeralds of spinach and shocking fuchsias and yellows of spring flowers are enough to make us see the light into summer. April, May and perhaps June will serve up some pretty dreadful rainy days, but that doesn’t mean your dinner has to be too. Here are two recipes which take advantage of what the farmer’s market, or even just your very wellstocked grocery store, has to offer.
Shells and spring veggies This recipe was inspired by a recent visit to Michael Chiarello’s restaurant, Bottega, in Napa, Calif. His recipe included a creamy Fonduta sauce that held together the orichette pasta. Chiarello’s vibrant spring colors are still present in this version, but it has been crafted to serve the recession-friendly cook. The Fonduta sauce is replaced with more economical goat cheese crumbles, and a time-saving prepared pesto adds more depth of flavor. Feel free to add any of your favorite spring vegetables—sugar snap peas would work well here also.
Artichoke with lemon dill crema
Ingredients
This is a classic preparation of a vegetable that’s as fun to eat as it is tasty. If serving with pasta, make sure to start the artichoke earlier than the pasta. They often take a long time to become tender.
1 leek, cleaned and sliced into half moons 6 medium sized carrots (green tops removed) cut into slices 4 tablespoons of garlic and chive pesto (purchased from Pesto Outside The Box, a vendor at the PSU Farmer’s Market) 1 cup of whole wheat or regular shell pasta 4 tablespoons of olive oil Zest from one Meyer lemon 2 tablespoons of goat cheese crumbles Sprinkle of salt Dash of fresh ground pepper
Ingredients: 1 artichoke, trimmed of dirty leaves and stem removed 1 clove of garlic, peeled 1 bay leaf 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar Crema: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons of dill Juice from one Meyer lemon 1 teaspoon of honey
Method Bring a medium saucepan filled with water and a sprinkle of sea salt to a boil.
Method
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet to medium-high heat, add olive oil.
Place a few inches of water in a medium saucepan. Place garlic, bay leaf, and vinegar in water and let it come to a boil.
When olive oil is hot, add carrot slices. Sprinkle with salt, grind pepper and let the carrots cook in oil for a few minutes.
Place steamer basket above water, and place artichoke in, stem up.
Add pasta to water and cook according to package directions.
Place lid on pan and let simmer for 20– 40 minutes.
Next, add leeks to skillet, stir with spatula and add spices as needed. Sauté for 8–10 minutes at medium heat.
When leaves can be removed easily with a fork, the artichoke is ready. Serve with lemon dill crema.
When pasta is ready and carrots are crisp tender, mix the pasta into the skillet.
Crema: Mix yogurt, honey, lemon juice and dill in a small bowl. Serve with artichoke for dipping.
Add pesto, goat cheese crumbles and zest. Serve with lemon slices, serves 1–2 people.
Serves 1–2 people.
Shells and spring veggies: Tasty noodles coupled with farm fresh veggies.
Photo courtesy of Scott Laforce
Student Publications editorships open for 2010–2011 year The Portland State University Student Publications Board has announced that applications for leadership of the Vanguard , the Graphic Design Center, Pathos Literary Magazine, the Portland Review, the Rearguard , KPSU and The Portland Spectator are open for the 2010–2011 academic year. The Vanguard editor oversees PSU’s daily newspaper with a staff of nearly 60 persons.
The Rearguard editor produces a monthly publication of an alternative viewpoint.
The Graphic Design Center manager oversees a graphic design business for students and others.
The Portland Spectator editor oversees a monthly magazine of conservative political commentary.
The Pathos Literary Magazine editor manages a thrice-yearly literary magazine that publishes only Portland State University student work.
The KPSU radio station manager runs an AM-band radio station (and short-range FM-band radio station) with diverse content and a staff of about 80.
Vanguard Special sections come out all year long!
The Portland Review editor operates a thrice-yearly literary review that publishes fiction and art from submissions originating locally, nationally and internationally.
Application materials may be obtained from Judson Randall, student publications adviser, in Room S-26A in the Smith Memorial Student Union subbasement. Completed applications must be submitted electronically or on paper by noon April 5, 2010, to Randall at randallj@pdx.edu. The Student Publications Board will hire the editors after interviews to be conducted within 10 days.
2IN009
Next up:
DIN
Green Guide
Heal
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Seaxnd IDGEuide G GU 2010
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Vanguard Arts & Culture | 5 March 31, 2010
Playing tonight at the NW Film Center Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner Murray Grigor, U.S., 2008 “‘The purpose of architecture is to create timeless, free, joyous spaces for all activities in life.’ That was visionary genius John Lautner’s credo, and the guiding principle of this stunning tribute. After breaking with his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright, Lautner went on to build an amazing legacy of his own, substantially influencing Frank Gehry and others. His life was marked by innovation and inspiration, endless battles with building codes, an accidental leap into the epicenter of pop culture, bitterness at lost opportunities, and finally, by monumental achievement. Lautner was idolized by young modernists, criticized by academics, and beloved by the clients who worked side by side with him to build their houses.” All screenings are in Whitsell Auditorium, 1218 SW Park Ave. Free w/ PSU student ID. —nwfilm.org
Vanguard 6 | Opinion March 31, 2010
Opinion Editor: Richard D. Oxley 503-725-5692 opinion@dailyvanguard.com
What Do You
?
Think
The “Made in Oregon” sign The “Made in Oregon” sign has long been a signature fixture beaming over the Willamette River. Tourists, as well as Portland’s own residents, have come to know it well. It seems that the future of the sign is secured and we won’t be missing it any time soon, but should the words adorning the sign be changed? What would you write on the famous sign with the leaping stag? What do you think it should say to the world? Write to us at the Vanguard and submit your suggestions for possible phrases that should light up Portland’s famous sign. Use the online Letter to the Editor option or email us at opinion@ dailyvanguard.com.
OPINION
A city made in Oregon Don’t change the “Made in Oregon” sign Amy Fylan Vanguard staff
A battle has been fought and an unlikely outcome has occurred: a compromise. What started as a heated conflict between the City of Portland and the University of Oregon over our iconic “Made in Oregon” sign shining atop downtown’s White Stag building has surprisingly come to an un-dramatic conclusion. The owner of the sign, Ramsay Signs, is donating it to the city. However, what the sign will actually say is still up in the air. In the near future it may read “Portland Oregon.” The agreement made is that the owner of the White Stag building, Art DeMuro, will front the $200,000 for the sign change and Darryl Paulsen, president of Ramsay Signs, will donate the sign, provided that the city will pay Ramsay $2,000 a month for ten years to maintain the sign. The city will get the money from the parking lot and commercial space under the Burnside Bridge. The Historic Landmarks Commission still has to approve the proposal for the conversion to “Portland Oregon” and the leasing agreements, which won’t happen until May.
Photo courtesy of Vanguard Archives
But why does the sign have to change at all? If the sign is being donated to the city, it might make sense for the sign to actually say “Portland Oregon.” That is what City Commissioner Randy Leonard, who has been the biggest advocate of the sign maintaining representation of the city, infers on his blog where he writes, “Portland is renowned for its sense of history and place. This sign is an icon that is uniquely emblematic of Portland, and bringing it into public ownership allows the City to preserve and perpetuate its place in
Guest Opinion Internet freedom more critical than business Greg Dewar Daily Emerald
Letters to the editor are gladly accepted and should be no longer than 300 words in length. Submissions may be edited for brevity and vulgarity. E-mail letters to opinion@ dailyvanguard.com.
Hot trending tweets about China: “How to circumvent China’s Firewall,” “why Google exited China” and a Chinese vaccine scandal. Of course if you were in China, you would only recently be able to read these because nine months ago China made a serious decision. It banned Twitter and all other microblogging services, effectively destroying the ability to disseminate information faster than the government could approve it, once again placing the communist government in control of what people were allowed to talk about on the Internet. This week, in another defiant move in a long string of defiant moves, Google gave China the finger and started returning relevant microblog results (including Twitter) along with searches. This follows Google’s swift exodus from China to Hong Kong (which is not subject to the same 60 Internet censorship laws as the rest of China) by rerouting
all traffic from google.cn to google. com.hk. The move was dicey, but the first week has proved its feasibility—and drawn the anger of the dragon. If China doesn’t want to play nice, why should anyone else? This marks the second time that an Internet technology company has stood up to China’s oppressive Internet demands, which are the pinnacle of modern-day censorship. But Google also knows how to play it safe: It has kept its engineering and sales offices in mainland China. Google’s hope is to come to some reasonable conclusion with China by illustrating its willingness to do business as well as its ability to circumvent China’s laws, which sends a message similar to one file sharers sent to the RIAA a decade ago: “You’re either with us or we’ll do whatever the hell we want.” With one foot in the door and one finger up in the air, I can’t wait to see what happens next: It’s a soap opera for nerds. The true story here is that while all this drama plays out, human rights are the victim. Google is essentially fighting for the same human rights that are enjoyed by many countries around the world through its want to return
our skyline and our history.” But our skyline for the past thirteen years has said “Made in Oregon” and while most people I talked to are happy with the sign being donated to the city, they are unhappy with the proposed change. Portland resident Katie Cusick simply said, “I hate it.” Marjorie Eldredge of Troutdale elaborated by saying, “I would keep it original and not take it down. It’s special the way it is, why change it? It’s kind of like changing 39th Street.” Chad O’Connor of Portland summed it up best, saying, “It
uncensored search results, not ones that only include governmentapproved terms and governmentapproved Web sites. One cannot engender a thoughtful and inquisitive society with a hope for enlightenment without the free access to information. Perhaps there is something to be said for blocking certain types of information, for instance child pornography or snuff film sites. But here in the good ol’ U.S., I can type “Mein Kampf” into a browser and read it at my leisure. Not that I have or would, mind you. Book long. Reading hard. Comparatively in the last nine months in China, you couldn’t even read tweets as a source of news to see what people were talking about in your country. In that system, there is no fail-safe against propaganda; you can’t see what the end-users are saying and compare it to what the government is saying like you can out here in the free Internet. It’s information bullying. According to Guardian.co.uk, China’s “Internet police” are estimated to be at around 30,000 and have blocked around 19,000 Web sites. They are the result of anti-Japanese, anti-pollution and anti-government protests that were organized on the Internet—with the express purpose of neutralizing Internet opinions. According to Amnesty International, China has the largest number of imprisoned journalists and ‘cyberdissidents’ in the world. According to Harvard’s Cyber Law Web site, a sampling of sites that have been censored that most of us would consider absolutely benign are:
truly is a ‘sign’ of the times that a piece of Portland history can be changed and in that change lost for the sake of ‘progress.’ Portland, Oregon was ‘Made in Oregon’… Let’s keep it that way.” It is true that Portland is “renowned for its sense of history and place,” as Leonard said. We don’t take change lightly. One comfort is that when and if the sign does change, the lettering will remain the same and it will still make a bold statement on our city’s skyline. Plus, Rudolph’s nose will still shine brightly red during the holiday season. Everything is not yet set in stone. The proposal could be refused and everyone might have to go back to the drawing board. One thing is for sure: the battle for the sign between its owners and the city may have come to an end, but war between the people of Portland and their city officials is yet to be determined. The sign itself, with its leaping stag, has certainly become a fixed and memorable aspect of the Portland skyline. It has established itself as part of Portland’s personality, and though it has shined a number of different phrases over the years, “Made in Portland” has made the most impact if not become the most representative of Portland.
ABC, Voice of America, various iterations of Yahoo!, The Washington Post, NASA’s science division, and Red Lobster restaurants. According to Tech Crunch, Facebook and Twitter were blocked last year after riots because they may become harbors of political dissent. To top it off, according to Telegraph.co.uk, China mysteriously went down for nationwide Internet maintenance on the days around the 20-year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests. Honestly, if your government is in such sorry shape that you have to essentially destroy the Internet to stop people from organizing against you, perhaps the Internet isn’t the real problem here. Google should be lauded for standing up for freedom while still making shrewd business decisions; too few companies have the courage to do that. But if it comes down to it, it should choose freedom over Chinese business. As responsible Americans who have stood up to tyranny and social abuses for the last 235 years, we do a great disservice by doing business, and therefore, by proxy, enabling those who spread tyranny. Microblogging and Internet searches are their own freedom, and if China wants to block itself off from the Internet and live in a little bubble, let it. More Internet for the rest of us, I say.
*This article was originally published in the Daily Emerald. It is reprinted here in its original form.
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 Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Fix firmly 6 Bust ___ (laugh hard) 10 Colombiaʼs second-largest city 14 Walled city of Spain 15 “Forbidden” perfume brand 16 Service closer 17 Focus of some contemplation 18 Control tower word 19 Cozy corner 20 Hoopsters turn down singer Stevie? 23 Singing the blues 24 Filled fare 25 Taxonomic suffix 26 Misplace comic Costelloʼs privies? 31 “The Square Egg” author 34 Keen on 35 Maximilian Iʼs realm: Abbr.
36 20-, 26-, 46- and 56-Across, homophonically speaking 40 Yupʼik and others 42 Like a petty officer: Abbr. 43 Martinique et Corsica 45 Org. with a closing bell 46 Apportion hamburgers to track runners? 51 Get-up-and-go 52 Candidates for witness protection programs 53 Secretary Geithner 56 Compose the appropriate ceremony? 60 Austriaʼs capital, to Austrians 61 Kind of tide 62 Rushed 63 Grp. including Nigeria and Venezuela
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64 “Mon Oncle” star 65 Speedy Washington-toBoston link 66 Chinese toy, for short 67 German admiral who went down with the Scharnhorst 68 Custodianʼs supply
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Down 1 Admiral and others 2 The first Mrs. Trump 3 Like some imaginations 4 T.V.A. output 5 Have a word with 6 On the double 7 Filled fare 8 Alpine goat 9 Rat race casualties 10 Alternative to “Continue” in an online order 11 In a frenzy 12 13 popes, so far 13 Tattooistʼs supply 21 Airline in the Star Alliance 22 “No harm, no foul” 26 Sass 27 Pee Wee Reese, for the Dodgers 28 “Heavens!” 29 Top prizes at the Juegos Olímpicos 30 Zaireʼs Mobutu ___ Seko 31 Part of many musical notes
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32 Former Minnesota governor Carlson 33 Piperʼs wear 37 The sky, itʼs said 38 Things on a table 39 “Get it?” 41 Cause of a turnover: Abbr. 44 Make furrows in
47 Show clearly
55 Like most golf woods, nowadays
49 Haile Selassieʼs land: Abbr.
56 Towelette, e.g.
48 Heckle or Jeckle of cartoons
50 Like some planetarium projections
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Today Kevin Sampsell: A Common Pornography 6 p.m. Smith Memorial Student Union, room 238 Free reading of a memoir for students and guests
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57 Need a bath badly 58 Take in 59 Blue 60 Doo-___
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Concert: Brass Ensemble Noon The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave. Free concert as part of the Performance Attendance Recital Series Social Sustainability Colloquium: Social Media for Social Sustainability 1 p.m. Academic and Student Recreation Center, room 640 Free event focusing on the advantages of new media for sustainable industries Faculty vs. Students Basketball Game 5:30 p.m. Academic and Student Recreation Center Free game between members of PSU staff and students, as part of the Campus Rec Grand Ceremonial Day
Friday Seminar: “Driver Behavior and the Dilemma Zone at High-Speed Signalized Intersections” Noon Urban Center Building, room 204 Free discussion about transportation methods hosted by David Hurwitz of Oregon State University
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.
KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2010 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by UFS, Inc. www.kenken.com
● Each row and each column
must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.
● The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given
operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.
3-31-10
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2009 Extended Home Buying Tax Credit! Up to $8000 for 1st time buyer (Or one who hasn’t owned in 3 years). Up to $6500 for sellers who buy another primary residence. Call Grady, Broker, RE/MAX equity group, at 503-495-4932 for details.
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS HP Pavilion dv4 ($450) For sale, Hewlett Packard Pavilion dv4 laptop in excellent condition. Intel core 2 Duo Display - 14.1” CPU - T5800, 2.00GHz RAM - 3GB Hard Drive - 150GB LightScribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+/RW Double Layer Webcam 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery Digital Media Slot Wireless Windows 7 Home MS Office 2007 EXTRAS: Notebook Sleeve and USB mouse Laptop was purchased in November 2008 $450 (cash). Call 503.984.0469.
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Toy Soldiers: Take a trip down memory lane, back to a time when war was just child’s play.
Quick reviews for today’s busy gamer Steve Haske Vanguard staff
Toy Soldiers In a massive space that was almost completely devoid of any video games, Toy Soldiers was a nice surprise at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. This unassuming little XBLA title takes the oftignored setting of the first World War and casts it into the world of child’s playthings—it’s basically WWI as re-enacted by large scale toy dioramas. What separates Toy Soldiers from any number of other strategy games (aside from its plastic militia) is that it lets you take control of any units you choose to make. From tanks to anti-infantry to chemical weapon stations and AA installations, picking the unit of your choice is as easy as selecting them onscreen, at which point the camera swings down like a third-person shooter. Needless to say, compared to the usual strategy of just selecting, managing and ordering units (á la most real-time strategy games) Toy Soldiers’ hands-on approach
is a lot of fun. It also helps to make what would otherwise be a somewhat monotonous design— essentially tower defense-style gameplay, where your only objective is defending against waves of enemies—more interesting and exciting. It’s also pretty cool to see how closely the developers stuck to the real life conditions and setups of actual WWI battles (with a few exceptions, such as German prototypes of giant fictional tanks that were deemed too impractical for use), though this does lead to a somewhat unbalanced campaign as the war drags on and tanks enter the fray. Toy Soldiers is definitely an entry-level strategy title, with its streamlined resource management (kill things to get cash, spend cash on new units and upgrades), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give this one a shot. Its colorful, unique aesthetic, arcade-style take on the RTS genre and ease of use are all good reasons to check out one of the best XBLA games I’ve played in some time.
Microsoft Game Studios $15
Vanguard Arts & Culture | 8 March 31, 2010
Big, fat list of shows: Wednesday’s live music lineup Water and Bodies, Mama Sunshine, Panda Ash Street Saloon, 9:30 p.m., $5, 21+ Pierced Arrows, Lullaby Arkestra Dante’s, 9 p.m., $10 advance, $12 door, 21+ World’s Greatest Ghosts, Tempo No Tempo, Monarques Doug Fir Lounge, 9 p.m., $7, 21+ Hornet Leg, Orca Team, Agatha Duckett’s Public House, 9 p.m., free, 21+ Archers, And And And, The Charts, Total Bros Ella Street Social Club, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Lickity, Mustaphamond, Tiny Knives Goodfoot, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Puffer, Devil Riding Shotgun, El Swampo, Guitars As Guns Hawthorne Theater, 7:30 p.m., $4, all ages Titus Andronicus, Lets Wrestle Mississippi Studios, 9 p.m., $10, 21+ Agent 86, Anxieties, Fast Takers, The Bloodies Plan B, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Citizen Cope, Gin Wigmore Roseland Theater, 8 p.m., $25, all ages Wax Fingers, Yeah Great Fine, Duck Little Brother Duck Rotture, 9 p.m., $5, 21+
Above photos courtesy of Microsoft Game Studios
For those of you that remember old-school Mega Man on the NES, Capcom’s got another treat for you. Mega Man 10 follows in the footsteps of 2008’s Mega Man 9, which was intentionally “de-made” as an 8-bit game as homage to the classic series. If you remember the series fondly because of its challenging, timingand-memorization based gameplay, you’ll feel right at home with MM10. If you thought MM9, or any of its predecessors for that matter, was too hard, you’ll probably end up crying like a little bitch after playing this one, too. It may be 2010, but MM10 is as punishingly old school as it gets. However, compared to the blue bomber’s last outing, there have been a few (minor) changes made. First up, there’s an easy mode, for the first time ever. Call it a concession to the changing (read: easier) face of game design these days, but this time around you actually have the option to play a Mega Man game where damn near every deadly spike or hole is covered with a platform, making the game, well, pretty easy. There are also the prerequisite lesser enemies and Mega Man can
take more punishment before he dies. Clearly, none of the masochistic pleasure you get from the series can be derived from this mode. The other major addition is the option to play as Proto Man, Mega Man’s shield-wielding brother from the get-go (rather than as downloadable content). He’s basically the same, except he can deflect bullets when jumping and is twice as vulnerable as his brother. That’s pretty much it. The rest of the game is exactly how you’d expect: a hell of a lot of treacherous, borderline-sadistic level design, tough enemies and tougher bosses (though it’s slightly easier than MM9). If you like this sort of thing, you’ll love it, but the old-school factor will have you re-playing levels over and over (and over) before you can get through them unscathed—and that’s not even counting the game’s ridiculous number of bosses.
Capcom PSN, XBLA, WiiWare $10
Photo courtesy of Capcom
Mega Man 10