Daily Vanguard May 13, 2010 by Portland State Vanguard

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 107

Event of the day Can’t get enough free live music? Don’t miss the opportunity to watch this week’s Performance Attendance Recital Series concert titled “String Area,” featuring students, faculty, community and professional musicians. When: Noon Where: The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave

WWW.DAILYVANGUARD.COM • FREE

INSIDE Arts

A campus-wide forum was held Tuesday to discuss potential funding options Joe Hannan Vanguard staff

Pleasant Conversation This Lime Tree Bower is an experience in dialogue between actors and audience PAGE 4

At an all-campus forum on Tuesday, the university administration continued to discuss the possibility of the Oregon University System being restructured. Currently, the OUS faces budget cuts, tuition increases and a lack of state funding. About 150 people attended the forum—though few were students—at which the administration stressed that the progressive cusp upon which the OUS once rode must return to the

forefront, and that new solutions need to be created to address the future. Though Oregon boasted one of the best higher education systems in the world in 1968, according to Chancellor George Pernsteiner, the chief executive of the OUS, its current relationship with the state is degrading. During the forum, Pernsteiner outlined the general decline of the OUS and addressed many of the problems and challenges that exist within its relationship with the state. Though funding from the state has been in decline over the years, tuition rates have continued to rise, according to PSU President Wim Wiewel. “When those two lines cross, that is when a university goes from

Outreach over restructure continues public to private,” he said. “We crossed that line 10 years ago.” With only 16 percent of PSU’s funding coming from the state, PSU faces serious problems in the near future. Tuition and fees will continue to increase, as they have over the years. Currently, full-time, in-state students pay $6,400 per year, whereas only 20 years ago they were paying $1,540. Also, students are paying for two-thirds of tuition while the state only pays

Lectures we want to hear Oral History Space brings a refreshing change to the weekend itinerary PAGE 4

Restructure forum: OUS and PSU officials informed those gathered about growing financial

for one-third, according to Lindsay Desrochers, president for finance and administration at PSU. According to Pernsteiner and Desrochers, the university student has become a “customer” student. With the increase in tuition, students who attend PSU must have the financial means to do so. “The problem in Oregon is that the upper middle class and above have the capability to pay for college,” Pernsteiner said. “That leaves out the lower classes.” In order for students from all socio-economic backgrounds to be able to attend PSU, Pernsteiner said that the reformation of the OUS would have to occur. Given the OUS’ current trajectory, budget cuts are likely to occur and tuition will continue to rise if its relationship with the state is not changed, according to Desrochers. After the presentations, Wiewel’s seven restructuring ad hoc committees held a Q-and-A forum regarding what a possible restructure could mean for PSU. Each committee stated its purpose, but the consensus was that PSU needed a change for students, faculty and staff.

Michael Pascual/Portland State Vanguard

needs and the potential options for revamping the system. Catchy hooks and husky vocals Gritty rock from Benson Jones and others comes to Plan B tonight PAGE 5

Sports

SFC budget signed by president Student fee to remain low for the coming year Vinh Tran

Vanguard staff

Volleyball club hits the net Rec club is easy to join and fun for all PAGE 6 A scholarly pursuit of sports PSU courses beyond Phys Ed that relate to athletics PAGE 6

President Wim Wiewel recently signed off on the Student Fee Committee’s budget for the 2010–11 academic year. A total of $13.2 million was allocated, a decrease from last year’s allocation of $14.7 million. Next year, the student fee will remain at $218 per term for full-time students. Wiewel received the final budget from the SFC on April 9 after it was approved by the Student Senate. The university president then had 10 days to go over the budget and make his recommendations to the SFC. However, he signed off on the budget after only six days. “The support from the student fee is critical to the overall success of PSU’s student community,” Wiewel wrote in a letter to the SFC. “The effort you have made this year is very much appreciated.” One reason for this year’s quick turn-around time was due to the level of communication between him and the SFC throughout the year, according to Wiewel. In addition, this year’s budget process was much more streamlined

because of the SFC’s efforts in formulating guiding principles, from which it could work. After receiving this year’s final budget, Wiewel said he did not request any changes to be made. Wiewel, who is a relatively new university president, said last year’s approval process was rushed, which produced a few surprises for him when he looked over the final budget. “Due to a number of circumstances last year, at the end of the process, [the SFC] had a difficulty of making quorum, a lot was done last minute, so some errors were made,” said Michele Toppe, interim dean of students. Last year, Wiewel raised objections when the previous SFC members decided to severely reduce funding for the athletic department, as well as when it dipped into the $1.7 million in reserve funds as a means to compensate for the $3.2 million deficit. Also, in the final budget, between $600,000–700,000 funding for Student Legal Services was missing. “Last year, before it came to me for a formal proposal, we had a discussion and I indicated some of my concerns with the [SFC] leadership,” Wiewel said. “The chair and vice chair then went back and

Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

The last stop: Before going to the OUS Chancellor, the SFC budget was approved by

President Wim Wiewel (left). The committee received assistance from interim Dean of Students Michelle Toppe (right).

modified the budget in accordance with my concerns.” Wiewel said he told last year’s SFC chair that they could not reduce funding for athletics, and that they either had to find other cuts or raise the student fee by $18 a term. The president said he was surprised when he later heard several SFC members made complaints to the Vanguard, attributing the student fee increase to his suggestion. Current Chair of the SFC Johnnie Ozimkowski said he does not blame Wiewel for last year’s student fee increase. “The previous year's SFC made a lot of mistakes, which I had to

fix,” Ozimkowski said. “I feel like they went into the budget process with an ‘us versus them’ attitude, whereas I came in with an ‘all for one and one for all’ attitude.” According to Ozimkowski, the SFC achieved success this year by building relationships and by holding open forums to gain feedback from the university community. In addition, Ozimkowski said he is proud of his group for making quorum at every official meeting, as well as the fact that all seven members—who are elected by the student body— remained on the committee for the entire year.

SFC continued on page two

Vanguard 2 | News May 13, 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 Stephanie Case, Justin Flood, Shannon Vincent Post-production Assistant Adiana Lazarraga Contributors Stacy Austin, Will Blackford, Bianca Blankenship, Leah Bodenhamer, Meaghan Daniels, Sarah Engels, Sarah Esterman, Amy Fylan, Courtney Graham, Natalia Grozina, Patrick Guild, Joe Hannan, Rosemary Hanson, Steve Haske, Carrie Johnston, Sara M. Kemple, Tamara K. Kennedy, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Natalie McClintock, Daniel Ostlund, Sharon Rhodes, Tanya Shiffer, Wendy Shortman, Robert Seitzinger, Catrice Stanley, Amy Staples, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Andrea Vedder, Katherine Vetrano, Allison Whited, Roger Wightman Photographers Drew Martig, Michael Pascual, Liana Shewey, Adam Wickham Copy Editors Noah Emmet, Amanda Gordon Advertising Sales Sam Gressett, Iris Meyers, Ana SanRoman, Wesley Van Der Veen Advertising Designer Beth Hansen Distributor Cody Bakken 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 Human hamsters Rec Center power generated by its users; the facility is popular Catrice Stanley Vanguard staff

Students who have been using the elliptical trainers in the new Student Rec Center have also been powering the electricity in the building, thanks to a new system called ReRev. A 30-minute workout on a machine can produce up to 50 watts of electricity, which is tapped into the building’s electrical system. A student can produce enough energy via the elliptical to create 50 watts of environmentally clean electricity, according to the flyer that hangs near the row of elliptical trainers. In other words, a student can produce enough electricity during their 30-minute elliptical workout

SFC |

from page one

Caps on travel in line with mission One important decision that the SFC made this year was to put a cap on travel funding for all student groups, which impacted certain groups for which travel is an integral part of their mission. “The student fee is paid by all students, so it’s very important that as many people as possible benefited from it,” Wiewel said. The guiding principle for the SFC is to spread student fees broadly to a large spectrum of the university. Traveling does not fall into that category, since it gives a small amount of students that privilege, Toppe said. “If you compare that to resources that the entire campus can benefit from, like the Student Rec Center, which three-fourths of our students have visited,” Toppe said. “I think the committee felt that those caps on travel were part of the principles to keep precious resources in our community and spread out.” Toppe said she’s satisfied with this year’s SFC and compliments them on their attempt to fully communicate the rationale behind their decision to put a cap on travel, which was a contentious issue for some student groups. “It seems to me they did just about everything right in terms of how to use leadership to build consensus in a group, even when there’s outside pressure to change something,” Wiewel said. Ozimkowski said he appreciates the opportunity to work with the university this year. “I feel like I have gotten a very good and deep understanding of how the university functions and the usefulness of student fees,” he said. Though the president has signed off on the final budget, it must now go to the Oregon University System for approval.

to run “a CFL light bulb for 2 hours and 30 minutes, a cell phone charger for 6 full charges, power a laptop for one hour, or run a desktop computer for 30 minutes,” according to the flyer. According to Alex Accetta, director of Campus Rec, students are really taking advantage of the new facility. “I knew the first day there would be lots of people,” he said. “And then like a month into it, you keep expecting them not to show up, and they keep showing up.” Although he has not recently checked, Accetta said that at one point the new facility was approaching 13,000 student members. “I’m blown away by some of the numbers of people using our climbing wall,” he said. “We have something like 1,000 students that have gotten [their] climbing wall certification. And that’s huge.” At its previous location, in the Peter Stott Center, Campus Rec was lucky to have 200 with climbing certificates, Accetta said.

SHAC can help direct students to help

Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard

People power: The use of exercise equipment helps to power the building.

In order to use the ASRC facilities, students need a valid student I.D. and must pay a fee of $41 per term. A majority of the fees go toward payment for the construction of the building. “We’re going to basically pay a mortgage for 30 years,” he said. “The remainder of that money goes towards utilities and custodial fees. Anything else will go toward long-term reserves.” Long-term reserves will go towards replacing equipment in the future.

Though the overall reactions to the ASRC have been positive, Accetta said that it has faced a few setbacks. For example, some student members were disgruntled about the size of the lockers at the ASRC in comparison with those at the Stott Center. However, though the lockers cannot be fixed, other improvements are being acknowledged and fixed. “We’ve been reflecting on some of the things we have gotten wrong, or are trying to do better,” Accetta said.

Relief from PTSD

Amy Staples Vanguard staff

Post-traumatic stress disorder is one that approximately 7.7 million American adults will suffer from in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Portland State’s Student Health and Counseling Center is a touch-point for students in need of treatment for PTSD. Kevin Hershey, PSU Student Veteran Association president, said, “One of the goals of the SVA is to be available to those who just need someone to talk to.” He said the group is a social outlet where veterans can find people who have had similar experiences. Hershey said a counselor from SHAC is available in the SVA office every Wednesday from 3–4 p.m. Student veterans might also be referred to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center or Military OneSource, a counseling program for military employees and families. Jessica Cole, SHAC assistant director, said, “We actively promote the continual education and training of our staff regarding any and all issues that may affect our student body population. This is especially relevant considering the number of veterans returning to school.” Cole said students who feel they need to be seen at SHAC right away for mental health will meet with a Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on-call clinician. “We have a senior staff member available during business hours for any student who [needs] a brief consultation on an immediate basis,” Cole said. Dana Tasson, clinic director for counseling and psychological services at SHAC, said, “Our goal is to meet the specific treatment needs of each student. CAPS staff is actively seeking and attending additional trainings to help us learn more about the specific needs of veterans on campus.” If a student does not need immediate care, SHAC will set up an appointment with a CAPS clinician. If it is determined that a student’s needs fall outside the capability of CAPS, the student will be referred to an outside Aetna Student Health network provider.

Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard

SHAC: A resource for students suffering from PTSD.

Tasson said, “While we cannot provide all the different kinds of treatment needed by the PSU student population, we do a good job of assessing student needs and making proper referrals if we cannot meet those needs.” If a student is wary of coming to CAPS to talk to a counselor in that setting, Tasson said that CAPS runs a program called “Let’s Talk” where counselors are available at different locations throughout campus for informal conversations about mental health issues and counseling needs. She said, “It can be a great first step for some students who are not yet ready to come to the center.” In a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers found that the average age of PTSD onset is 23, although it can occur at any age. Survivors and witnesses of terrorist attacks or natural disasters frequently suffer from PTSD and other anxiety disorders. War veterans, survivors of abuse and survivors of accidents can also suffer from PTSD. Although many people get better on their own in the weeks and months following trauma, not everyone does. A study of Hurricane Katrina survivors found that, as time went on, more people were suffering from PTSD, not fewer. The slow recovery of the community resulted in lost jobs, housing and schools, adding to the problems survivors were already facing. The impact of war on soldiers is still not fully understood. A 2006 study found that 19 percent of Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD after the war. “[PTSD] seems to be an issue that everyone knows exists, but

there is a lot of uncertainty right now about the demand for, type and effectiveness of counseling,” Hershey said. For more information on treatment for specific traumatic events go to www.pdx.edu/shac/ mentalhealth.

More campus resources Women’s Resource Center 503-725-5672 Queer Resource Center 503-725-9742 Student Veteran Association 503-725-9807 Multicultural Center 503-725-5342 Symptoms of PTSD 1. Re-experiencing symptoms: Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating Bad dreams Frightening thoughts 2. Avoidance symptoms: Staying away from places, events or objects that are reminders of the experience Feeling emotionally numb Feeling strong guilt, depression or worry Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past Having trouble remembering the dangerous event 3. Hyperarousal symptoms: Being easily startled Feeling tense or “on edge” Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts

—www.nimh.nih.giv

Vanguard 4 | Arts & Culture May 13, 2010

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

Big, fat list of shows: Thursday’s live music lineup Marca Luna, State Of Balance, Ditch Digger, Rouge Shot, American Bastard Ash St. Saloon, 7:30 p.m., $7, 21+ Soul Junk, Ym Ym Family, Agents Of Future, Insomniac Folklore, Destroy Nate Allen Backspace, 7 p.m., $5, all ages The Punk Group (last show ever) Dante’s, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Fuck Buttons, White Rainbow Doug Fir, 9 p.m., $15, 21+ Birds of War, Lord Master, Crypt of the Grave Duckett’s, 9 p.m., free, 21+ Vampire Hands, Daughters Of the Sun, Archipelago, Sad Horse Dunes, 9 p.m., donations welcome, 21+ Bombs Into You, Pheasant, Tiger House Ella St. Social Club, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ The Routine, Painted Grey, Jeff Handley Trio, Delta Bravo, Kimosabe Hawthorne Theater, 7 p.m., $8, all ages Fin De Cinema: Au (In collaboration with Why I Must Be Careful), Dragging An Ox Through Water, Cloaks Holocene, 9 p.m., $3, 21+ Robbie Laws, David Brothers The Knife Shop, 8 p.m., $10, 21+ Echo Helstrom, Rob Stroup & The Blame, Justin Jude Mississippi Studios, 9 p.m., $8, 21+ Flexx Bronco, Kill the Kids, Benson Jones Plan B, 9 p.m., $5, 21+

ARTS & CULTURE

Pleasant

Conversation

This Lime Tree Bower is an experience in dialogue between actors and audience Natalie McClintock

Photo courtesy of Anni Becker/CoHo Productions

Vanguard staff

Playwright Conor McPherson’s work has been all over Portland in the last few years, and for good reason. He has been hailed as “quite possibly the best playwright of his generation,” by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, which is a title he very much deserves. Currently, his show This Lime Tree Bower is being produced at the CoHo Theater, directed by Devon Allen. The play consists of interlacing monologues from three men who couldn’t be more different. Joe, the youngest of the three, is a socially inept teenager with a strange fascination with a male classmate that borders on attraction. Joe’s brother Frank is a grounded individual whose main worries are running the family restaurant and paying off their father’s massive and growing gambling debts. The last of the three is Ray, who is dating Frank and Joe’s sister. He is a clever and self-centered philosophy professor who seems to have the same concerns as the average frat boy. Together, these characters create a strange dichotomy that makes the

Oral History Space brings a refreshing change to the weekend itinerary Roger Wightman Vanguard staff

History can be told in many ways, but arguably the best way is through firsthand accounts from people who were there, who lived it, felt it, and saw it for themselves. This week, in conjunction with the Open Engagement Conference, the Park Blocks will be transformed into what is being called Oral History Space. Falling somewhere between a lecture series and an outdoor library, the event is meant to provide the public with a place to learn the importance of oral history, listen to oral historians, and even become an oral historian. The event is coordinated by Public Social University. This is not a real university, but instead an idealized version of what universities and communities should look like.

Amongst the lime trees: Tequila shot and salt not included.

audience wonder how three people so different could be so closely related—unless, of course, they have the same experience with their own relatives, and in that case it’s a wonder that McPherson can write these three characters together so well without making the show seem awkward. Lime Tree is one of those plays that can oh-so-easily break down the wall between the play and its spectators, leaving the characters speaking exclusively to the audience in a highly intimate fashion. The stage is set simply, with scraggly trees in the background whose branches weave delicate shadows and wooden chairs for each of the men. These chairs don’t move, and this makes it easier to see the connections between them when one holds the floor. There is very little action in the show, which at first glance may seem like just the type of show one would nod off during, but the exact opposite occurs. The monologues are so well written and the actors so well cast that the words and stories seem to have some kind of magic woven in to keep the

audience rapt with attention. Matthew Micucci as Joe plays a great part that is very much understated at the beginning of the show. Between the average everyman Frank and the promiscuous playboy Ray, Joe gets a little lost. As the show progresses and Ray’s expected wit that comes with his rambunctious, faithless attitude gets a little tiresome, Micucci polishes Joe’s awkwardness and makes his big heart shine. His is a character that never gets old and is very true to life—he is a bumbling young man with a heart of gold. Matt Dibasio as Frank and Dennis Kelly as Ray are two great choices as well, and really connect with their characters. No matter how much one may at first despise either for their polar opposite life choices, they end up endearing themselves to the audience in the end, the first through hard work and relatable stories and the other through humor and, strangely, his egotism.

CoHo Theater has done a marvelous job with this production. Anyone who has seen Conor McPherson’s other plays will appreciate both the familiar style and the new take on the story. Everyone else will marvel at how well the show was put together.

This Lime Tree Bower CoHo Theater 2257 NW Raleigh Thu-Sat 8 p.m. Sun 2 p.m. $25 adults, $20 students and seniors Runs through June 12

Lectures we want to hear Started in 2008 here at Portland State University, the idea began in an art and social practice class before shifting into a public event at the Central Library. Talented and knowledgeable community members gathered to share the tricks of the trade or provide insight into an interesting topic or idea. Public Social University became interested in the idea of Oral History Space after an event held at SEA Change Gallery in which two oral historians interviewed two artists. The event was a success and showcased the importance of oral history well, which gave them a following. Later the university was awarded the STOCK Grant, giving room to expand on the oral history projects, this event being the result. The event will be mostly a collection of oral history materials available for the public to peruse. There will also be daily lunchtime presentations by oral historians and activities for the public to get involved.

Oral History Space coincides with the Open Engagement Conference taking place here at Portland State. The conference is a big deal for the university’s art community, with a lineup of over 100 artists and artistic folk who will be presenting their work in various forms. Big name artists Mark Dion, Amy Franceschini and Nils Norman will be on hand to exhibit their work. Open Engagement is meant to be a conference that reflects on the idea of art as service, dealing with big questions like what the role of art is in modern society and whether art can change things. There are a ton of events to choose from taking place in venues all across town. Many galleries will be opening up wall space to showcase visiting artists as well as many of the university buildings being used for talks, exhibits and activities. Both events mark the rise of local fun taking place all over the city that is educational,

Images courtesy of Open Engagement

participatory and free. Take in a history lesson or theorize on the power of modern art—either way, you’re bound to spend your time doing something that we only get to see come around once a year.

Oral History Space Southwest Park Blocks between Madison and Jefferson Thu-Mon 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Ends May 17 Open Engagement Conference Multiple locations May 14–17 openengagement.info

CATCHY HOOKS - and -

This day in history

HUSKY VOCALS Gritty rock from Benson Jones and others comes to Plan B tonight Scott Ostlund Vanguard staff

“Rose City Thorns” may not be the most well known track from Portland band Benson Jones, but its title is probably more stylistically revealing than any in the local music community. This rock band that will play at Plan B tonight has an ear for punk and has produced quality songs that represent the genre well. The four-man crew consists of Caleb Pollock on guitar and vocals, Zach Tessmer on guitar, Blaine Robichaud on drums and Tyson Robichaud on bass and vocals. Front man Pollock also plays guitar in Rendered Useless, a band on Horns Up Records, which was started by Guil Halstead and Smiley Whiplash of My New Vice.

The label has multiple bands from the Portland area and is considered a co-op, creating a non-profit network for bands to set up shows and locate resources. Flexx Bronco, who will join Benson Jones at Plan B, is a Horns Up Records band that is greatly anticipated. “Caleb, the singer from Benson Jones is in another band on Horns Up called Rendered Useless and is part of the crew,” Horns Up creator Halstead said. “He usually plays just guitar, but in Benson he is the singer [and] front man. It’s nice to see him branch out—he is a very talented guy. What they bring to the show is great energy, a rock-n-roll appeal and a slide draw. I really like this band.” Benson Jones started when Tessmer, Tyson Robichaud and Pollock were in a band called the Shit Whistles. Immediately following, the band became Losing Balance and performed and wrote music consistently for about 10 years. Though the band eventually broke up, a move to Portland by its key members gave the musicians new life and an opportunity to perform again in a thriving indie community. “Blaine and I moved back to Portland in 2007 and started playing with Zach and Tyson...hoping our singer would move back and finish the ensemble,” Pollock said. “That didn’t happen right away so I took on the task of “singer” and that’s how it’s been ever since. We did a full length last summer called A.T.O.F.I.S. (A Tornado On Fire In Space) but didn’t really release it. We’re still sort of finding our sound, I suppose.”

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 5 May 13, 2010

1846: Following a border clash, the United States declares war on Mexico. 1940: As Nazi Germany’s conquest of France begins, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives his first speech to Parliament, rallying support for the Allied cause. 1943: During World War II, the Allies declare victory in North Africa over the Germans and Italians in Tunis. 1981: Pope John Paul II is seriously wounded by an escaped Turkish murderer, Mehmet Ali Agca, while riding in an open vehicle through Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. 1985: Police efforts to evict the radical group MOVE from a Philadelphia house result in a shootout and fire, leaving 11 dead and destroying two city blocks. Today’s Birthdays

All photos courtesy of Benson Jones

Benson Jones: Pop punk beats and growling vocals so infectious you

won't be able to stop your toes from tapping.

Benson Jones has just released an EP called The Last Pull Tab, which is available on iTunes. As for the future, Benson Jones hopes to take advantage of all new opportunities by looking for shows and enjoying the chance to try new venues around the area. “As far as shows or upcoming events? We’re available. We just take ‘em as they come,” Pollock said. Benson Jones will be joined by California band Flexx Bronco and Kill the Kids. Flexx Bronco has a reputation up and down the west coast for putting on a great live show. “You just have to see it,” Halstead said. “They bring their own light show, smoke machines and they have a drummer named Thor who wears only a loincloth while playing. If you don’t want to [be] covered in glitter from the spraying glitter machine, get out of the way. This is an exciting band.” When you combine an eccentric venue such as Plan B with a studded

rock lineup you can count on getting your money’s worth. Don’t miss a lineup lauded not only by the audience, but by fellow musicians. “The other two bands, by the way, are entertaining as hell,” Pollock said. “Plus they’re great guys and hilarious onstage...It’s freakin’ awesome. Super catchy rock tunes to boot.” With a community of endorsements as proof, this show is sure to capture northwest indie rock through avenues of pure musicianship and energetic performance.

Benson Jones Plan B 1305 SE Eighth Ave. Tonight, 8 p.m. $5 21+

1699: Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquês de Pombal, Portuguese statesman (Lisbon, Portugal; died 1782) 1717: Maria Theresa, archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia (Vienna, Austria; died 1780) 1792: Pius IX, pope (Senigallia, Italy; died 1878) 1842: Sir Arthur Sullivan, composer and collaborator with Sir William Gilbert (London, England; died 1900) 1882: Georges Braque, painter (Argenteuil-surSeine, France; died 1963) 1907: Dame Daphne du Maurier, novelist (London, England; died 1989) 1914: Joe Louis, boxing champion (near Lafayette, AL; died 1981) 1923: Beatrice Arthur, actress (New York, NY) 1927: Herbert Ross, actor/choreographer/ director (New York, NY; died 2001) 1939: Harvey Keitel, actor (Brooklyn, NY) 1943: Mary Wells, singer (Detroit, MI; died 1992) 1946: Tim PiggottSmith, actor (Rugby, England) 1950: Stevie Wonder, singer/musician (Saginaw, MI) 1952: John R. Kasich, former U.S. representative (OH) (McKees Rocks, PA)

—worldalmanac.com

Vanguard 6 | Sports May May13, 6, 2010

SPORTS

Sports Editor:

Volleyball club hits the net

Robert Britt 503-725-4538 sports@dailyvanguard.com

Vikings sweep PCSC weekly awards For the third time this season, PSU swept the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division weekly awards as Anna Bertrand was named the Pitcher of the Week and Lacey Holm the Player of the Week on Wednesday. The duo helped the Vikings sweep a four-game series from visiting Seattle this past weekend and also clinch the PCSC Mountain Division title. This is Bertrand’s school-record fourth award in a season and the first for Holm. In the circle, Bertrand went 2-0 with a 0.55 ERA in two appearances against the Redhawks. She struck out 20 over 12 2/3 innings, limiting Seattle to one run on five hits and four walks. On the season she is 15-9 with a 1.61 ERA and 201 strikeouts. She leads the conference in ERA, strikeouts and batting average against (.193). Nationally, Bertrand ranks 29th in Ks per seven innings (9.3), 34th in ERA, 35th in hits allowed per seven innings (4.79) and 65th in strikeouts. Holm led the Vikings offensively, going 6-for-11 to post a .545 average, with three doubles, one home run and four RBIs to help Portland State finish Mountain Division play with an 18-2 record. A sophomore designated player, Holm is batting .258 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. In conference play, Holm finished with a .408 average and drove in 10 runs. The Vikings have now tallied 12 PCSC weekly honors this year, the most of any team in the 12-team conference. —Ryan Borde, PSU Athletics

All photos Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

Rec club is easy to join and fun for all Rosemary Hanson Vanguard staff

Men’s volleyball is a new student rec club that came together in January of this year, and club members are looking forward to next year, when they aim to become competitive at an intercollegiate level. The club’s title is deceiving, as it was originally set up as an outlet for males interested in the sport, but it has since been opened to females as well.

One of the club leaders, Nick Koller, said he has high hopes for the club. “We are building the program to be a valuable part of college life at PSU,” Koller said. Currently the team does not play official games, but— paperwork pending—they will join an intercollegiate league with the Pacific Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in which they would play games against other colleges around the Northwest such as the University of Washington, Oregon State and Boise State. The leaders hope to get the team involved in the league in November, with plans to appear in three tournaments throughout the season, most likely in Spokane, Seattle and Boise.

Currently the club practices twice a week at the Academic and Student Rec Center gyms, and practice sessions are open to every level from novice to experienced. The club trains from 9–11 p.m. on Mondays and from 7–9 p.m. on Wednesdays. Anthony Derda-Rizzuto, another one of the club’s leaders, said they are very welcoming of new players, no matter the level of experience. “We will teach people that have never played in a competitive environment how to play,” Derda-Rizzuto said. Because Oregon does not have a collegiate men’s volleyball league, there are few outlets for the sport throughout the state. The club encourages men that played volleyball outside of the state at a

high school level, most notably in California, to become a part of the club. Derda-Rizzuto, Koller and the third leader, Dave Plack, are very accommodating and are always looking for new faces to join the club. “I just enjoy the camaraderie” Koller said. “It’s a game where no two players are the same, and it is always fast-paced.” With next year being the club’s first full year of playing, the leaders are looking to build a strong foundation for the program so that intercollegiate play can indeed become a reality. Practices are open to all PSU students, and the club’s leaders offer that it is an opportunity to get involved in a positive volleyball experience on campus.

A scholarly pursuit of sports PSU offers courses beyond P.E. that relate to athletics Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

Portland State’s School of Business Administration is offering a new course this summer that will focus on the particular aspects of working in the professional athletics market. Portland Trail Blazers’ Senior Vice President of Business Affairs J.E. Isaac will teach the course, called Issues and Opportunities in Sports and Entertainment (MGMT 410). He holds a doctorate in law from Florida State and earned his undergraduate degree in business from the University of Kentucky. Isaac said the course came about following discussions with SBA Dean Scott Dawson, with whom Isaac has attended various functions at PSU. He said the eight-week course is designed for students to learn from his 30 years of experience with sports and entertainment management. “Students will see firsthand what live events look like and all the work and various divisions of labor that go into putting on a major event,” Isaac said. “We are incredibly lucky to have him teaching this course,” Dawson said via e-mail.

Alan Cabelly, SBA area director and professor of human resources management, was involved with the course’s formation and he anticipates that the course will fill up quickly. As of press time, 11 of the 30 possible spots are full. “I’m absolutely excited to have him teach this course and provide students with another view of management,” Cabelly said. “It’s a course with high visibility to students, and they’ll love it.” Curtis Dicken, a senior in the SBA, said the course sounds exciting and that he hopes it continues to be offered in future terms. “Isaac’s experience means this is a class that’s not just focused on textbook jargon,” Dicken said. “It’s a class that opens up jobs, an incredible opportunity to be taught by a man with such a vast knowledge and experience working for an NBA team. I would be extremely interested in taking this class.” Isaac said the course will likely remain a summer option for now but that he would like to continue teaching it. He said a specific degree isn’t required to work in the sports industry, and that students who wish to work with a professional athletic organization should seek out any experience they can garner. “That’s what this class is for, to give students a sense of the opportunities that exist and how to put themselves in the path of

opportunity,” Isaac said. “If the only opportunity is sweeping the floor [at an arena], then sweep the floor.” The course begins Monday, June 21, and will be taught Monday evenings through August 9.

Previous PSU sports courses The English department previously offered a sports writing course during summer term, though its instructor Matthew Kauffman Smith said that when he left PSU, so did the course. To his knowledge, no other faculty has offered to restart the course. Kauffman Smith said the course represented a diversity in the English curriculum, and that it was a unique course for PSU—he estimates that it was one of about a dozen sports writing courses offered nationwide when he began teaching it. “Sports writing wasn’t being offered specifically, so that was really unique to PSU,” Kauffman Smith said. “I’m not saying it was a surefire enrollment blockbuster, but we usually had between six and 16 students in the course, which is really good for summer.” Kauffman Smith said diversity in curriculum is important, and that sports writing helped attract students from various disciplines to the English department. He said one student, Brian T. Smith, saw a poster for the course in a hallway and needed the credits

and decided to register. Smith then wrote for the Vanguard and is currently the Blazers beat writer for the Vancouver Columbian, which Kauffman Smith said is a “huge success story for that class.” “We had someone who took it because they like sports and wanted to be a sports writer,” Kauffman Smith said. “It’s the only journalism class he took and now he’s a Blazers beat writer, which is pretty remarkable. That’s not tooting my own horn so much as praising PSU, because he’s now writing in the field and he wouldn’t be without that diversity of curriculum.” The economics department also previously offered an economics of sports course, though Randall Bluffstone, department chair, said it hasn’t been offered in a few years. He said he’d like to offer the course again, but that the department doesn’t currently have the faculty expertise to teach it. Unlike the sports management and writing courses, Bluffstone said the course is taught outside of summer, although he doubts it will be offered in the coming academic year. When asked about the potential for attracting noneconomics majors, he said the course likely would. “It wouldn’t surprise me,” Bluffstone said. “Economics of sports is an eye-catching topic… certainly something we’d like to offer again.”

etc.

Vanguard Etc. | 7 May 13, 2010

CALENDAR

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Today Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 *4:00 in the afternoon 8 *To make holes 14 Form of writing of ancient Crete 15 Sought food 16 It comes in fifths 17 Poetry performance 18 Add zest to 19 *To go round and round 20 Catcherʼs spot? 21 Wrap up 23 Wrapped up 24 *Fearsome, swift-moving creature with snapping jaws 30 Itʼs 71% cookie, 29% creme 31 Chucklehead 35 Emulate the dodo 38 Indian tourist city

39 Means of unloading? 43 Unnamed others, briefly 44 Writer who was the source of all the words with asterisked clues in this puzzle 47 Wonderland food for Alice 50 A bit nasty 51 “Say what?” 52 *Grass plot around a sundial 54 Put away 59 Some buffalo hunters of old 61 Variety of grape 62 Confronts 63 Positions (oneself) 64 *Lithe and slimy 65 *Smiling radiantly

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE E Q U I B U R T B I D E P U M P R G E R B I A L O U D S U P R E E D E N S E R L P E E R R A B L O O D A B O V E Y E M E N

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E D G E R

Down 1 Lesage hero Gil ___ 2 Make stew? 3 Certain ancient mummy 4 Affectionate, fiery types, supposedly 5 Pakistanʼs socalled “Garden of Mughals” 6 Person whose work is decreasing? 7 Miss 8 Church annex? 9 ___ caelestes (divine wrath: Lat.) 10 ___ Hatter 11 Old-time floozie 12 “From Russia With Love” actress Lotte 13 Beaten (out) 15 Browner 19 Sharks, e.g. 22 Long-running CBS hit 23 Beer, sometimes 24 Vintnerʼs concern 25 “O patria mia,” e.g. 26 Opposite of alway 27 Drawing in a margin, maybe 28 Waits in music 29 “Curiouser and curiouser!,” e.g. 32 Mysterious Mr. 33 Kazakh river

Democracy, Peace and War: Challenges and Paradoxes in the Wars Against Terrorism 1 p.m. SMSU, room 228 This free lecture is presented by PSU professor Harry Anastasiou, a longstanding academic in the field of inter-ethnic and international peace and conflict studies, as well as an experienced practitioner of conflict resolution

19 21 25

38 40

44 47

No. 0408

51 59

43 45

52 60

Lessons from Fifty Years in Woods and Workshops: Science and Policy Applied to Forest Ecosystems 6 p.m. SMSU, room 327 This lecture is free and features professor Jerry Franklin, “The Father of New Forestry,” of the University of Washington

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg

34 Bears do it

36 Take advantage of 37 Playing marble

40 Departure point for explorer Vasco da Gama 41 Feudal laborer

42 It goes after poli and before fi

45 Urge formally 46 Objects employed to show everyday life 47 Online discussions 48 Not visual 49 Uniform coloring 52 Wadi

53 Stern cry? 55 Detail 56 Lawyer/civilrights activist Guinier 57 Tolkien creatures 58 Tachʼs location 60 Dear 61 [Iʼm heartbroken!]

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Read the Vanguard

Beacons of Hope: Four Inquiries into a Promising Future 6 p.m. Student Rec Center room 620 This lecture, given by Duane Elgin, will explain four “deep stories” that can act as magnets and draw us into a future of sustainable prosperity

Friday Transportation Seminar: The Alameda Corridor: Lessons Learned Noon Urban Center Building room 204 Speaker Gill Hicks will address the major challenges faced by the $2.4 billion Alameda Corridor project, as well as the lessons learned

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

It’s pretty

5-13-10

34th Annual International Night 5 p.m. SMSU Ballroom This year’s theme is “Break the Wall; Embrace the World.” Events will include dinner (which features several international dishes), cultural booths, musicians and dancers

Saturday “The Work of Art” Photojournalism Projects 11 a.m.-6 p.m. NE Alberta St. between 14th and 15th Ave. This event will exhibit the photojournalism projects created by a Freshman Inquiry class taught by Dr. Jamie Ross

Your Ad Here Call the Vanguard 503.725.5686

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

POP CULTURE ARTS & CULTURE

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 8 May 13, 2010

Tomorrow at the NW Film Center Field Guide to November Days Nick Peterson, USA 2010

All photos courtesy of E.A. Games

Battlefield Bad Company 2

Battlefield Bad Company 2 may not be Modern Warfare 2, but it’s pretty good Steve Haske Vanguard staff

Do you like first-person shooters? If the answer’s yes, you probably spend all your time fragging friends (or enemies, or strangers) online in Modern Warfare 2—and with good reason. EA has been trying to find a good competitor for Activision’s flagship FPS series for a good while now. The closest thing they’ve got right now is the Battlefield Bad Company series, although it certainly has an identity of its own. Unlike other entries in the Battlefield series, the BC series focuses on a rogue’s gallery of interesting (and modern day) squadmates, all with their own personalities (and even a bit of

humor, unlike the ultra-serious MW2). BC2 is actually more of a direct response, in some ways, to MW2, rather than just another sequel. MW2 dealt with the possibility of WWIII breaking out with Russia over a misunderstanding following a terrorist action at a Russian airport. BC also features a world on the brink of nuclear war with the Ruskies, but unlike the “what if ” element of MW2, BC2 is content to take things more realistically rather than, say, having the Russians drop an EMP over D.C. What does this mean to you, the average player? Less insane, Michael Bay-esque action set pieces. Now, playing a video game, this might sound like a bad thing, but here it actually isn’t. There’s a couple reasons for this. First, thanks to the colossal power and financial reach of EA, the developers at DICE had enough money to make the environments completely destructible. Pesky

Alternative warzones

sniper getting you through a window? Knock down the front wall with a well-placed shot from your trusty grenade launcher. It’s a pretty cool effect that makes the game a hell of a lot of fun. Second is the game’s character. Aside from the members of B-Company themselves, the game seems to have a little more personality than MW2, which, despite how utterly great it is, is almost all Hollywood-style gloss. Battlefield’s trademark vehicle usage also makes a return, which is most notable in the massively overhauled multiplayer, which features all manner of vehicles taking to the skies, the water or dry land. What DICE has done with BC2 is, to some degree on a much smaller scale (aside from the aforementioned 24-player multiplayer) like MW2—some of the later levels even have some brief moments of respite before you go back to shooting everything that moves again.

DICE is well aware of this, though. They make sure to take more than a few jabs at their competition, and with the slightly stylized aesthetic it’s clear that these games aren’t necessarily targeting the exact same audience. Needless to say, the guns are still balanced (and a lot of fun to use), and the environments are gorgeous. BC2’s more down-to-earth approach may not be as epic as MW2, but it’s still a damn good game—and proof that a game shouldn’t be judged solely by its competition.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 EA PS3, Xbox 360 $59.99

“In this second feature from Portland filmmaker Nick Peterson (Yellow), Matt and Natalie, recently separated from each other, resume their relationship after a chance meeting. Passion clouds their perception and they soon fall back into destructive patterns. Further complicating the situation, they are each exploring ideas about their own mortality. Jealousy and communication problems resurface and they separate once again. To cope with the loss, Natalie isolates herself and experiments with a radically different place in society. Matt finds solace in his friendship with Christian, who is gay, but is confused by their companionship and begins to question his own sexual identity. (Made entirely by bicycle except for a single drive to the coast.)”

7 p.m. All screenings are in Whitsell Auditorium, 1218 SW Park Ave. Free with PSU student ID. —nwfilm.org

The barber will see you now The Portland Opera closes its season with The Barber of Seville Andrea Vedder Vanguard staff

Ever seen a cartoon of Bugs Bunny or Woody Woodpecker posing as a barber, singing along to an orchestra? Ever heard someone belt out, “Figaro! Figaro! Fi-gar-o!” as if you’re supposed to get the joke? They are references to The Barber of Seville, probably the funniest and best-known opera performed today. If you’ve never seen it, the Portland Opera is giving you the opportunity to experience this show at its best. The Barber of Seville is a two-act opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 1816 by Gioachino Rossini, a prolific opera writer. Barber is his crowd-pleasing classic and to us, the young and average operagoers, the score is both lively and familiar.

Backed by a powerfully talented orchestra (conducted by former New York City Opera music director George Manahan), the cast sings entirely in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Even without the translations, the plot is easy to follow. Two men—the doctor Bartolo (Steven Condy) and Count Almaviva (Nicholas Phan)—vie for the hand of the lovely maiden Rosina ( Jennifer Rivera). Bartolo is Rosina’s guardian, and in order to win her affections Almaviva must don disguises, befriend her house’s servants and visit her secretly. In the end, of course, he finally gets the girl. Rivera delivers a standout performance as Rosina, a role she has played for Portland Opera before. In fact, several of the leads in this production are revisiting their Barber roles, contributing immensely to the quality of show. Director Christopher Mattaliano and Manahan are a superb team that keeps the performances

Fi-gar-o: A classic opera full of high notes and hilarity.

onstage and in-pit tightly knit. Another notable player is baritone Daniel Belcher as Figaro, the barber of Seville. Belcher has a fantastic voice and his direction under Mattaliano is spot-on for comedic relief and intimacy with his audience. His initial entrance is from the back of the auditorium and he passes much of his time on stage winking at the audience and treating his lines as though they were asides, as though he is aware that an audience is present. The little details are perfect here. Even supporting cast members, such as the chorus of policemen in the second act, are thoroughly integrated into the spectator’s experience. The set design is elaborate, cartoonish and colorful, as are the beautiful costumes. The entire cast and crew are enthusiastic and talented, and it shows. As to be expected from a night at the Keller, everything is

All photos courtesy of Portland Opera

well-planned and well-executed from your entrance until your exit. If you’ve forgotten, the lobby is dazzling and the Keller Café always offers special menus for the performance. In the case of Barber, an Italian opera set in Spain, the menu is Mediterranean-themed. If you are even considering dressing up for a night on the town this weekend, an inexpensive ticket to a wonderful opera is an opportunity not to be missed.

The Barber of Seville Keller Auditorium 222 SW Clay Thur and Sat 7:30 p.m. Runs through May 15 $20-$135