Vanguard August 4, 2010 by Portland State Vanguard

PSU receives $3 million sustainability grant Grant will be used to fund new ecosystems Ph.D. program

NEWS 3

’69 is worth a go!

Not all fun and games

Triangle Productions scores with its latest original musical

University recreation spending is beneficial to students

ARTS & CULTURE 4

OPINION 6

www.dailyvanguard.com

Portland State University ESTABLISHED 1946

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 Second cohort of Intel Vietnam Scholars begins at PSU

VOL. 65 NO. 6

Job security in Vietnam

By Tamara K. Kennedy Vanguard staff

ortland State University is currently conducting a summer program for the second cohort of Intel Vietnam scholars. Recipients of the competitive scholarship are required to work in the Intel factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for at least three years after graduation. After rigorous rounds of competition, only 22 scholars were selected from a pool of over 300 students from six technical universities across Vietnam. During the process, the contestants were only allowed to speak English, according to Marcia Fischer, director of the Vietnam Intel Scholars program and assistant dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at PSU. Although Intel Vietnam scholar Tan T. Thoi practiced his English skills intensely for about a month to prepare for the scholarship competition, he was still a little nervous when he was asked questions during the final round in a behavioral and technical interview. Thoi said the Intel Vietnam Scholars program is one of the most prestigious in his country. “I was extremely happy when I got this amazing scholarship,” he said.

MICHAEL PASCUAL/VANGUARD STAFF

Adjusting to PSU: Marcia Fischer welcomes a handful of young scholars from Vietnam last month. Another scholar, Duc Nguyen, 21, felt challenged when the technical tests required sketching out real engineering problems on the board. The test also required him to display his cumulative knowledge of three

years of college in Vietnam and the Test Of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL] for English proficiency, Nguyen said. The scholars attend PSU’s summer term for a concentrated program to get them

ready for their junior year at PSU. According to Fischer, the style is much different at PSU; unlike PSU’s more hands-on curriculum, many Vietnam-based universities are exam-driven.

After completing their summer program at PSU, the students will then return to Vietnam to intern for the rest of the summer. In the fall, they will come back to PSU to finish their final three terms before graduation, Fischer said. Commenting on her impression of Portland, scholar Khoa A. Nguyen said, “There are two words I think everyone would say about Portland: nice and green.” Fischer and other PSU faculty and staff have learned a lot about working with international students and Vietnamese culture through the program, she said. Fischer indicated that PSU has a history of activity and partnerships with six universities in Vietnam, including the University of Natural Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City and the University of Danang. PSU began discussions with Intel in Vietnam in 2007 concerning the plan to build an assembly and test manufacturing location there and the need to educate engineers. At that point, open request for proposal went out to a number of universities to find the program that would best meet challenges for the Intel Vietnam workforce. After a long series of discussions, PSU ■ INTEL CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

English instructor leaving PSU Aside from teaching, Gwartney also helped establish the MFA creative writing program at PSU. Support from local organizations and the PSU community have kept Gwartney busy on her writing. BY Amy Staples Over the past two to three years, she has been engaged Vanguard staff in research for her current project. She said much of the support comes from a fellowship she received from the At the end of fall quarter, Portland State will lose a American Antiquarian Society and a PSU faculty grant. successful writer and professor; Debra Gwartney, an “I’m ready to concentrate on writing, the structure assistant professor in the English and development of ideas,” she said. Department and a National Book Critics Her interest in frontier history and her Circle Award finalist, is leaving after six “She puts in a lot of family’s role in it will be incorporated years to work on her writing. time with her students into her next book. Gwartney has primarily taught MFA graduate student Steve Beaven said and is a great advocate nonfiction writing during her time at he has taken several classes with Gwartney PSU, along with some literature classes. for their work. This is over four years. However, the memoir genre interests really a loss for the “She is, without a doubt, the best teacher her most. writing program.” I’ve ever had,” he said. “She puts in a lot “The memoir writing courses of time with her students and is a great STEVE BEAVEN I’ve taught have been particularly advocate for their work. This is really a loss popular—they’ve been inspiring and for the writing program.” fun for me, too,” she said. “Every time I teach a course... Gwartney’s plate is full for the foreseeable future, with I learn something new about myself as a writer.” invitations to panel the NonfictionNow Conference at During her career at PSU, Gwartney received two the University of Iowa this fall and a fellowship from the nominations for the John Eliot Allen Excellence in Writer’s Center in Washington, D.C. She is also finishing Teaching Award. an essay for a book about the American West, edited by “This makes me think that the sense of satisfaction and excitement I get in the classroom is happening for students, Lynn Stegner.

National Book Critics Circle Award finalist plans to work on new book

too,” she said.

■ GWARTNEY CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBRA GWARTNEY

Debra Gwartney

2 VANGUARD ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ NEWS

NEWS

EDITOR: CORIE CHARNLEY NEWS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5690

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF VIRGINIA VICKERY

NEWS EDITOR CORIE CHARNLEY

OPINION EDITOR ZACH CHASTAINE

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR NICHOLAS KULA

SPORTS EDITOR ROBERT BRITT

COPY CHIEF KRISTIN PUGMIRE

PRODUCTION MANAGER BRYAN MORGAN

PHOTO EDITOR HEATHER NODDINGS

ONLINE EDITOR ADIANA LIZARRAGA

CALENDAR EDITOR KRISTIN PUGMIRE

ADERTISING MANAGER JAE SPECHT

ADVISER JUDSON RANDALL

ADVERTISING ADVISER ANN ROMAN

ILLUSTRATOR HEATHER MCINTYRE

Campus construction In preparation for construction of the new 16-story College Station Apartments on Southwest Sixth and Jackson, American Campus Communities will be demolishing the Sixth Avenue Building and all of the surrounding buildings. According to Portland State Facilities and Planning, 525 SW Jackson St., located on the block between College and Jackson streets and Fifth and Sixth avenues, will not be demolished. Demolition is expected to run through October 2010. Construction of the project is scheduled to commence in November 2010 and will run through summer of 2012. Each week, work hours are expected to be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The project’s owner is American Campus Communities, a private company based in Texas. The company will be managing all of the demolition and construction, according to Kate Vance, project manager at PSU Facilities and Planning. The College Station Apartments is expected to be a multi-use building that will have the capacity to house 900 students. The building will also have classroom space, retail outlets and a TriMet office on the ground floor. For questions and concerns about shutdowns or construction impacts, contact PSU Facilities and Planning at 503-725-3738. In case of emergencies associated with construction, contact PSU Campus Public Safety at 503-725-4407.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT JUSTIN FLOOD

CONTRIBUTORS SUSANNAH BECKETT MEAGHAN DANIELS STEVE HASKE TAMARA K. KENNEDY ERIN MCINTYRE RICHARD OXLEY

■ INTEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Intel scholars arrive

TANYA SHIFFER ROBERT SEITZINGER ANNA SNOOK CATRICE STANLEY AMY STAPLES NILESH TENDOLKAR ANDREA VEDDER KAT VETRANO ALLISON WHITED

PHOTOGRAPHERS MICHAEL PASCUAL ADAM WICKHAM MICHAEL PASCUAL/VANGUARD STAFF

COPY EDITOR

Intel: Vietnamese Intel scholars will finish their studies at PSU.

NOAH EMMET

ADVERTISING SALES IRIS MEYERS

ADVERTISING DESIGNER BETH HANSEN

DISTRIBUTOR CODY BAKKEN

was chosen for the first cohort of students who began here in summer 2009, according to Fischer. Fischer added that it was not required that the second cohort of students attend PSU. However, PSU continues working with Intel in Vietnam to hone the effectiveness of the program. Currently, recommendations for senior electives are being worked on through weekly meetings with Intel, visits to Vietnam and ongoing discussions. In addition, Intel Oregon provides mentors for the Vietnam Intel scholars, Fischer said. “We are happy about the contributions to engineering classes and student life on campus that these students have made,” she said.

■ GWARTNEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Vanguard is published one day a week as an independent student newspaper governed 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 subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge.

The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

Beloved teacher leaves “I’m thrilled to have a piece in that anthology, especially since I see my writing interests turning more to considerations of the mythology of the West,” Gwartney said. In addition, she will be busy teaching workshops, as well as traveling with her husband, Barry Lopez, who is also a writer. Aside from writing several essays, Gwartney is the author of Live Through This: A Mother’s Memoir of Runaway Daughters. She is also the co-editor of Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape, and has appeared on National Public Radio’s “This American Life.” This fall she will be teaching a memoir-writing class along with an MFA nonfiction workshop.

NEWS ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ VANGUARD

PSU receives $3 million sustainability grant Grant will be used to fund new ecosystems Ph.D. program BY Erin McIntyre Vanguard staff

The National Science Foundation According to a press release, the grant recently awarded Portland State a $3 is part of the NSF’s Integrative Graduate million grant, Ecosystem Services for Education and Research Traineeship Urbanizing Regions [ESUR], to fund a [IGERT] program for the interdisciplinary doctoral program on education of Ph.D. campus. scientists and engi“Ecosystem Services The ESUR grant “Most of the funds will neers. for Urbanizing is the first IGERT be used to support high awarded to PSU. Regions will be used to create a novel Ph.D. quality Ph.D. students “Most of the funds program on ecosystem will be used to support in the ESUR program.” high quality Ph.D. service-management David Ervin students in the ESUR challenges for fast growing urban regions, program,” Ervin said. like the Portland area,” In addition, the said David Ervin, professor of economics IGERT stipends set by the NSF will and environmental management. attract “the most talented students” to PSU. According to Ervin, the program will “We will make a special effort to attract create a “new type” of scientist that can students from groups who have been integrate natural and social sciences underrepresented in science and engineerwith planning, business and engineering concepts to help solve pressing resourcemanagement issues. “In short, the grant will enable PSU to be an international leader in Ph.D. education, research and engagement in this topical area,” he said. Ecosystem services are the conditions and processes provided by natural ecosystems that sustain human life, according to the program’s abstract. However, widespread urbanization has led to the Ervin said that PSU was one degradation of ecosystem services, creatof the first institutions in the ing a demand for scientists who can adnation to receive the grant for three reasons: dress these problems. PSU’s new program will be one of the first in the nation to start studying these issues.

Why Portland State?

ing fields, such as Native Americans and Hispanics,” he said. “A small amount of the funding will go to several PSU faculty to build the interdisciplinary IGERT curriculum.” The students involved will be part of a 3-year doctoral program that studies sustainable ecosystems for urban regions, and will focus on cutting-edge methods of managing these regions, according to the program’s abstract. In the coming year, the program will spend time building the IGERT curriculum, meeting with community partners to identify useful research topics for future IGERT students and “developing a top-notch recruiting program,” Ervin said. The doctoral program will be housed in the Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices.

■ Its exceptionally talented multidisciplinary faculty team leading the program with strong support from PSU administration. ■ Its extensive group of community partners, including local, state and federal agencies, industry and non-governmental organizations. ■ PSU’s national reputation in sustainability scholarship, including the Miller Foundation challenge grant.

THE DAILY CUT A DIGEST OF CURRENT EVENTS Ore. “No Child” figures show modest gains The state Education Department reports modest improvements for Oregon high schools and middle schools in measurements taken because of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. Figures released Monday showed the percentage of the state’s 1,195 public schools making “adequate yearly progress” in the latest school year increased two percentage points, to 72 percent. The rate has varied some over the years, in the high 60s or low 70s, according to state figures, but stands about where it was in the first yearly report, for 2003–2004, when it was 71 percent. The 2009–2010 report comes as the law nears the end of its first decade and a move is expected next year to rewrite it. As the law stands, schools face what many critics think is an impossible task: improving test scores so markedly in the next four years that every student is reading and doing math at grade level. Meeting the goal in Oregon could get even more difficult. There will be fewer teachers this fall term teaching fewer days over the school year as the weight of Oregon’s state budget shortfall falls on local districts. The preliminary figures Monday showed slight gains in school performance, Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo said in a statement, but “they also reveal that far too many Oregon students are still not receiving the supports they need to succeed in school.” Under the law, the “adequate yearly progress” of Oregon schools is based on tests in mathematics and in English and language skills, as well as attendance or graduation statistics. The state department said: - The percentage of elementary districts meeting the standards is slightly less than 89, little changed from last year. - The percentage of middle schools meeting standards rose about four points, to nearly 45 percent. - The percentage of high schools rose about five points, to slightly less than 50 percent. Under the rules, schools fail to meet the standards if test results fall short among the entire student body or within subgroups such as impoverished, minority or special education students. Schools that miss the targets for two consecutive years in any one category go on an “In Need of Improvement” list. If the school districts, like most, take federal aid, they face escalating pressure to help students or give them alternatives. Seventy-seven Oregon schools are on the “needs improvement” list for next school year, the department said. Seven schools this are off the list, having made the targets two years in a row. Tim Fought, Associated Press

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David Ervin

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID ERVIN

According to a press release, the program will also incorporate community engagement through collaborations and studies with: Heritage University Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Portland General Electric U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Forest Service’s Mt. Hood National Forest Pacific Northwest Research Station U.S. Geological Survey Willamette Partnership

4 VANGUARD ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

A&C

EDITOR: NICHOLAS KULA ARTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5694

Cow-less (and grill-less) BBQ

’69 is worth a go! Triangle Productions scores with its latest original musical BY Andrea Vedder

Vanguard staff

ometimes a show is so charming, so carefree and so joyfully performed that it breaks through every bad mood in the theater and reminds everyone—even those determined not to enjoy themselves—of what’s so great about the stage. ’69: The Sexual Revolution Musical is just such a show. The entire production began as Don Horn’s—the founder of Triangle Productions and the writer/director of ’69—epiphany that the well-known guide to puberty Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid To Ask) would make for a thoroughly entertaining musical. Unfortunately, copyright laws stood between Don’s screenplay and its world premiere. A few tweaks later, ’69 was born. Despite its scrambling, second-thought origins, the 1969 theme works well. For starters, Everything was published in 1969, which allows the script to incorporate the book without stretching too ALL PHOTOS COURTESY STEVE BRIAN/TRIANGLE PRODUCTIONS far. And in 1969, the NBC comedy sketch series Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In—to which ’69’s set is a loving throwback—was at its pop culture peak. The infamous year is also responsible for the composers’ (note: there are four composers) use of the sitar (more of a nod to Revolver than the Indian subcontinent) and funk grooves, as well as the costumer’s fringe vests and beehive wigs. What absolutely makes this show, though, is the cast and how much fun it’s having onstage. Steven Nash’s smile is as huge and endearing as they come (and it doesn’t quit for the entirety of ’69); Tom Stewart is the most lovable peeping tom with VD in the Portland Metro area; and Courtney Freed rocks the part of the red-haired temptress while delivering the show’s most impressive vocals. Most notable, however, are Susannah Mars and Gary Wayne Cash—easily two of the most gifted stage performers in Portland, Ore. Each is fabulous in their own

A particularly good read Aimee Bender’s novel explores melancholy without going over the top BY Kat Vetrano

Vanguard staff

n Aimee Bender’s novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, protagonist Rose Edelstein has a bizarre talent/burden. When biting into any food, homemade or in a factory, she can trace the emotions of those who created it. Her mother’s baked goods reveal more than she could ever know, and that is only the beginning. As a nine-year-old discovering this magical gift, she is initially overwhelmed with the detectable emotions emanating from all foods. In a particularly horrifying taste experience, she is rushed to the emergency room where she tells the doctors she wishes they would just go ahead and remove her mouth from her body. But, not every situation with Rose’s ability ends in tears. Those whom she most closely studies are her own family mem-

right (Mars, in particular, works the crowd in her solo number about menopause titled “Why Me?”), but the pair is responsible for ’69’s stand-out scenes: the game show sketch “Wink at Your Wanker!” and the closing song about geriatric life and love once the sex is gone. With its five actors playing something like 30 different roles, ’69 does lack a clear storyline or arc. However, the show is short—running only one hour and 20 minutes—and it holds the audience’s attention rapt until the final bow. It seems the mash-up of short scenes and the barely-there linearity are not detrimental to the production’s success but are, rather, contributing factors; in the end, ’69 is overwhelmingly refreshing. On opening night there were issues with the lighting design (namely, the spotlight was either broken, incorrectly-timed or comically off-cue), but that can and will be corrected. While this musical is most appealing to the parental generation, its humor is smart enough (and its cast engaging enough) to win over audience members of all ages. Anyone under 15, however, would probably be happiest left at home—preferably with a copy of the book that served as ’69’s muse.

When leafing through the pages of the summer issues of food magazines, we are often bombarded with grilling recipes. While the grill lends a delicious smokiness to meats and veggies that is often irreplaceable, I don’t feel that the apartment-dwellers (or those who can’t afford grills) should be left without options this summer. In this meal, your burger is replaced with a thick Portobello mushroom, and the same old mayo-ketchup combo is replaced with a flavorful red-pepper tapenade. Portoburger Ingredients: 1 tablespoon soy sauce ■ 2 tablespoons olive oil ■ 1 Portobello mushroom, stem removed ■ Salt, pepper ■

Method Place a medium skillet over mediumhigh heat. Mix soy sauce and olive oil in a shallow bowl and dip mushroom. Generously season with salt and pepper. When skillet is extremely hot, add Portobello. Cook each side for 3-5 minutes, and don’t be afraid of a little color, it means flavor! Eat the portoburger on a whole-wheat bun (or English muffin) with the tapenade (see below) and your favorite burger toppings. I eat mine with spinach, mustard, and a generous portion of Sriracha. Serves 1 Red Pepper Tapenade Ingredients: 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted ■ 1 red bell pepper ■ 1/2 garlic clove ■ 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes ■ 1 teaspoon rosemary ■ 1 teaspoon oregano ■ 1 teaspoon pepper ■ 1/4 cup olive oil ■

Left: Courtney Freed, in awe of the power of ‘69 Above: Gary Cash, easily the swankiest man onstage

’69: The Sexual Revolution Musical Artists Repertory Theatre 1516 SW Morrison Thurs. to Sat. 7:30 p.m. Sundays 2:00 p.m. Runs through August 22 $15 to $35

bers: a mother who shields insecurities with obsessive hobbies and too-tight hugs, a father somewhat trapped in routine, and the most interesting, a distant brother with a darkness that is slowly unwrapped as the novel moves forward. Bender’s prose is simplistic and clean; she rarely takes too much time describing an image, unless (interestingly) it is the season or the weather of that particular southern Californian day. This is not to say that her simplicity isn’t working; short, sometimes fragmented sentences without quotation marks are often telling. Not spending too much time in scenes is very true to the protagonist herself. Rose is young and watchful, and never in a way that rings false. The pace of the novel varies, at times dramatically. In the beginning, the characters are so clean and cookie-cutter, it is borderline uninteresting. The reader almost begs to jump right into the magical realism the back’s description promises: Yes, we know they are normal and we will learn more later about their wackiness, just tell us already! When Bender finally does reward us with this element, the pace of the story picks up in a huge way. Almost instantly, the reader finds themselves smiling with Rose, worrying for her, and deeply getting to know all of the other characters throughout the book, no matter how small their role is. There is a moment when Rose hits high school that feels rushed again, where details are rattled off to exemplify that she has grown up, but once again when the magic comes back into the plot line, the story becomes enthralling. This is not to say that the book is never unenjoyable, but

Method Chop olives, dice and seed bell pepper, and chop garlic. Add all prepped vegetables to the blender (or food processor) with the seasonings, omitting salt due to the saltiness of the olives. Pulse a few times, and then add olive oil. Blend until mixture is a thick paste, add more seasonings if needed. Top burger with tapenade, or use as a dip for crackers or other vegetables. Kat Vetrano, Vanguard staff

like Rose’s life, sometimes the reader gains extreme clarity of the world that is being described, and at others, it feels a little more vague. The best part of this novel is that, like its title promises, there is a twinge of sadness revealed in almost every character in the novel. It doesn’t feel forced or heart-wrenching; you won’t need your tissue box too much. It is nice to see an author approach her characters in such an honest, real way all while sprinkling magical elements throughout the plotline. Make sure to look out for Bender when she visits Portland during the Wordstock festival in October, she seems to be someone that readers and writers alike can learn from.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake Aimee Bender DoubleDay Publishing

ARTS & CULTURE ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ VANGUARD

When memes hit it big Do yourself a kindness and see Winnebago Man BY Richard Oxley

Vanguard staff

urling expletives with flair and ease, Jack Rebney has come to be known by a number of names, including “the angriest man on earth,” and the “Winnebago Man.” What was once a mere viral video featuring Rebney is now a full documentary feature that offers a charming and magnetic depth. Winnebago Man will further fans’ love for Rebney, and earn him even more admiration. On August 6, Cinema 21 will begin showing Winnebago Man, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll grab a seat. Unbeknownst to Rebney, a video of outtakes from a Winnebago commercial filmed in 1988 showing him profanely delivering his lines had been exchanging hands for over two decades. It all started as an inside joke between the film crew. An outtakes reel was made and shown to friends and family. Practically every viewer it came across copied the video and it was subsequently distributed again and again to more friends and family. It was the original viral video, long before the Internet had come to offer more convenient ways of wasting time. Those who were in the know and working in Hollywood even injected portions of Rebney’s words into their TV shows and movies such as The Sopranos and even Spongebob Squarepants. Filmmaker and teacher Ben Steinbauer was one such person who came across Rebney’s tape. He had watched the video for years, breaking it out for friends. It became one of his favorite pastimes. As viral videos took off and their stars emerged, Steinbauer began to wonder what happened to his favorite underground cursing celebrity. For better or for worse, viral videos have become a fairly involved part of pop culture. Whether a friend sends you the latest cute-dog video, or you actively spend time on Youtube or Break.com, little clips of funny, bizarre or embarrassing videos have made a number of

people famous whether they like it or not. This is partially what Steinbauer sets out to discuss in this film. Viral videos can make or break a person emotionally. So, to analyze the phenomenon, he searches for Rebney—the ultimate and original viral star—to see how it has affected his life. He eventually gets his answer, and much more. Winnebago Man is an engaging movie filled with a profanity-filled story not often found in documentary-style films. In other words, it’s fucking endearing. Steinbauer is able to convey Rebney, now nearly 80 years old and blind, as the man he truly is, which isn’t too far off from the video that has now made him famous—though these days, he is more inclined to turn his anger on the Dick Cheneys and Wal-Marts of the world. What we find out is that Rebney has quite a heart, one filled with as much charm, wit and other lovable accoutrements as his mouth is filled with outbursts of obscenities. Rebney is a man who doesn’t understand such notoriety

IMAGE COURTESY OF BEAR MEDIA

gained from the Internet, and has doubts about the brand of people who would watch such videos. Steinbauer spends much of the film bantering with Rebney over this idea. Steinbauer’s endeavor to discover Rebney and reintroduce him to the world is a success, making Winnebago Man one of the best films this summer.

WINNEBAGo MAN OPENS AUGUST 6 AT CINEMA 21

BY Steve Haske

Vanguard staff

s Castlevania fans all love Symphony of the Night. And if we didn’t play the original, we’ve probably either all bought it on PSN, XBLA (or even bought it again) or played it on the PSP’s Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles. For true Castlevania fanatics, at least one of these is a given. But how many times have you said to yourself, “Damn, this would be so much better if

IMAGE COURTESY OF KONAMI

f you’re like me, you spend a few minutes a week perusing music websites, reading news bits and seeing when tours are announced. Personally, I believe this to be far superior to thumbing through the Mercurys and Willamette Weeks found on every street corner, because I can do it in bed and I like having my news the minute it’s released to the press. The downside to this is that we get to see the outright laziness of our city. You see, when a band confers with their record label and a tour routing is announced, it gets snatched up by local bookers/promoters. Then, when a substantial number of those dates are spoken for, the dates are released to the public. That sounds pretty cool until you realize that there is always—and by always, I mean 98 percent of the time—a gap in between San Francisco and Seattle/Vancouver, British Columbia. As a music fan and rooted resident of Portland, I used to throw my hands up in the air and cuss. Now I just kind of go “Pffft, of course.” Then I roll my eyes, even if nobody is around. LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip are coming through town, or at least logic would suggest that they are. But lo, LCD and Hot Chip play San Francisco on October 17—then, what’s this? They have two days off, and then they play…Salt Lake City? I thought we, as a city, were supposed to be all hip and cutting edge. Salt Lake City is beating us now? Which reminds me—is there someone in Portland who is worried about losing money on this show? Is someone out there afraid of jumping the gun because they might not make their money back off two of the biggest electronic rock bands in the world? What gives? You can’t be serious, Portland. Salt Lake City? Should I just move there instead? Should we all? Portland is lauded around the nation as being this hip Mecca, and now we’re losing out to Utah? What’s the sound of one hand clapping…a forehead? Nicholas Kula, Vanguard Staff

What a horrible night to have a puzzle curse Castlevania: Symphony of the Night gets revisited on iPhone—sort of

Portland show bookers: hello, Mcfly, anybody home?

they just replaced the actual platforming and action with puzzle sequences?” Never, you say? Well then, has Konami got a confusing new surprise for you. Yes, that’s right—Symphony of the Night, the classic, non-linear 32-bit Castlevania that more or less evolved the series’ core arcade mechanics into that of an exploration-heavy RPG/adventure series—has been retouched and released (for the iPhone, no less) as a puzzle RPG. This is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than exploring the castle manually, the aptly titled (and ridiculously named) Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night is basically a brickby-brick recreation of Symphony, only instead of actually platforming and fighting baddies, you take ’em all on in puzzle combat. Instead of exploring Castlevania’s vast layout, blindy uncovering every nook and cranny of each room you pass through, the game’s map is made up of, well, the level’s maps. So, instead of seeing the front of the castle, the long library, the underground passage, the chapel, the clock tower and the rest of the castle as the architectural monstrosities they are, Encore looks more like a board game or an old-school strategy guide, with a zoomed-out thumbnail of each room appearing as you enter it. Of course, it wouldn’t be Castlevania without

combat, which is where the puzzle battles come in. If you’ve played any puzzle game in the past, say, 15–20 years or so, the system should feel familiar: colored, rotatable blocks come down in pairs. Match three blocks of the same color and they’ll break, and you can set off chains with multiple sets of three. Any blocks you break fall on your opponent as solid blocks, which can only be broken if placed next to a set of three. Meanwhile, Alucard does battle with whatever beastie inhabits the area of the castle you’re in, and as time ticks down, both parties attack and take damage. Odd, yes, but I haven’t seen fan service of this kind since Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. Unlike a lot of other puzzle games, filling your block rows to the brim of your battle screen doesn’t mean instant death, just a heavy blow to your health. Luckily you can cull items from your inventory to heal you, though they have to be unlocked just like solid blocks. When you’re not caught in random or non-random battles, it’s sort of like playing Symphony as a pen-and-paper game. You move Alucard from room to room, finding items, equipment and leveling your stats. Unlike Symphony, though, you can choose what stats you want to upgrade rather than it just being predetermined by level, allowing you to pick your affinities, which in turn changes the pattern of colored blocks you’ll drop on your enemies. And the game can be just as brutal as Symphony if you rush into a situation without deliber-

UPCOMING SHOWS Lebenden Toten, Walls, Social Graces

August 5, Blackwater Records, 7 p.m., $5, all ages

Lebenden Toten is the real deal. With a rabid fanbase spanning the entire globe, LT may be one of the best Portland bands you’ve never heard of. Though they play a very harsh brand of noisy punk rock, which can often feel like a niche genre, they tend to draw big, largely diverse crowds wherever they play. With Portland’s tendency to take their home artists for granted, it’s no wonder LT have managed to be awesome for so long under most peoples’ radar. Tonight, they play at Blackwater, a seldom-utilized venue in southeast Portland. This show is going to be a big deal.

Mondo Generator, Tweak Bird, It’s Casual August 6, Dante’s, 9 p.m., $12–14, 21+

Yeah, yeah, Mondo Generator, Nick Oliveri, blah blah. Who gives a flip, Tweak Bird is playing and the band is more than enough reason to go to any show. With a two-man guitar-and-drums assault very much in the vein of Big Business, TB’s songs are short and to the point. The point is, however, to rock the face off of everyone in the audience, from the fresh-faced post-teen who can finally go to 21-and-over gigs, to the salty vest-clad Dante’s rats that seem to go to every show there. Be warned, Tweak Bird is going to do things to you. Beautiful, wonderful things.

MDC, SMD, Dreadful Children, Pyrate Radio, Rendered Useless August 6, Plan B, 8 p.m., $5, 21+ With so many acronyms you probably don’t recognize, you know this has to be a punk show. Punk bands and ELO seem to be the only people who can continually get away with that. Either way, MDC stands for “Millions of Dead Cops” so it might be in the band’s best interest to avoid putting that on flyers. Also, do you know how many marquee letters that is? 18. That said, if you’re at all into punk rock, be you 16 or 50, you’ve likely heard of MDC or loved a band that in turn loves MDC. In true punk fashion, Plan B offers you five bands for $5. Can’t beat that.

ation—although a lot of the many monsters you fight aren’t too bright with blocks, some of them can be pretty damn formidable. You would think with such basic design that the game would get old fast, but for some reason Encore has some staying power. Maybe it’s the power of nostalgia getting to me, since for all intents and purposes it lets you re-explore the castle. Maybe it’s the addictive puzzles, or the great soundtrack, which has been crammed into the game with minimal sacrifices. Even Symphony’s paper-thin storyline is here, basically word for word. In any case, Symphony’s charm is present in (more or less) full force. Given the lack in quality of so many iPhone games, fans and puzzle fans could do a hell of a lot worse for $5.

Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night Konami iPhone $4.99

6 VANGUARD ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ OPINION

OPINION

EDITOR: ZACH CHASTAINE OPINION@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5692

Crazy Conspiracies

Not all fun and games BY Meaghan Daniels

Vanguard staff

recent study was released that shows that colleges are spending more and more money at a higher rate on administration and recreational facilities, as opposed to instruction for students. This hits close to home for Portland State because of the new recreational center that opened up this year. According to the New York Times, spending on student services, such as recreation, increased 20 percent over the decade. This is compared with a 10 percent increase for instruction and academics. Some members of the Portland State community may feel like this article is an attack on the rec center. Earlier this year, PSU opened up a student recreation center that rivals the facilities of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. The rec center has been a hit on campus with students, athletes, faculty and staff alike. It is a great facility that the school can be proud of.

schools to be spending money on services for students because it ultimately creates a richer and greater college experience for the students.

Portland State pushing alternative Transportation

ILLUSTRATION BY SUSANNAH BECKETT

University recreation spending is beneficial to students

However, the New York Times article has facts to back up its position that schools are spending more money on recreational facilities at a higher rate than instruction for students, and it implies that this is a negative thing. If the price of instruction is staying at a steady rate, and the schools are not expanding the teaching staff, then that could mean that the teaching staff was adequate in the first place. So why do they need to spend more money and expand on something that was just fine to begin with? School is about a lot more than just the instruction that students get in the classroom. It is also about the community that the school creates, and facilities that cater to students’ needs, such as student recreation centers that help build that community. Giving students a place, such as a recreation center or a student union, gives students opportunities to live a little outside of a classroom and helps them build better relationships with their schoolmates, rather than be only classmates. It helps give more to students’ lives than just schoolwork. The amount of spending on recreation is rising more quickly than the amount of spending on instruction. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. It is good for

Grab your tinfoil hat, because it’s time for a conspiracy theory Population control, or population thinning, is just the subject of dystopian science-fiction novels and video games. That is, unless you happen to be reading abovetopsecret.com, an entire website dedicated to spreading the word about conspiracies ranging from crop circles and UFO sightings to evil government plots. This week, a thread was started suggesting that AIDS was a manmade virus designed in the 1960s or 70s for the purpose of population thinning. A radical notion to be sure, even more radical to suggest that it was designed by the United States government. For most, hearing that idea may sound more like the plot to V for Vendetta, and in this particular case, the total lack of any evidence leaves this conspiracy sounding like just fiction probably cooked up by some conspiracy theorist who is chuckling maniacally and adjusting his tinfoil hat as we speak. The readers at abovetopsecret.com, however, are not convinced, and the debate rages on with theories and arguments from skeptics and believers alike. Some believe that the proof is locked away in some secret government file cabinet. Others feel like it’s time to get V for Vendetta off the bookshelf. Zach Chastaine, Vanguard staff

The future of dispensaries Upcoming legislature could benefit medical marijuana users BY Meaghan Daniels

PSU promotes automotive-free life for new students

BY Zach Chastaine

Vanguard Staff

Vanguard staff

ortland State recently approved the construction of the College Station Apartments, which will inevitably bring an increase in students living on campus. The university is hoping to prevent as many of its new students from driving as possible. Luckily, most new students don’t have cars anyway, and generally most students living on campus don’t, and that’s okay. According to Nikki Kress from Transportation and Parking Services, the department has been more active than ever at new student orientations in trying to reach out to new students with alternative means of getting around. The school is working to promote student use of public transit systems such as the buses, the MAX and the Portland Streetcar operated by TriMet, as well as other means of transportation like bicycles. Once on campus, most buildings are already within walking distance of one another. Less than half of PSU students drive to begin with, according to Kress, and TAPS is working to make student transit passes subsidized as well

as to build additional bicycle parking spaces and increase bicycle services on campus. With growth in the student population, obviously the university needs to recognize the need for parking, since not all students and staff are going to be able to rely solely on public transit, walking and bicycles all the time. As students progress through their college careers here at PSU, they may one day find they need, or want, a car to make getting around fast and on demand. Many students who live on campus eventually choose to move off campus, and that sometimes comes with the need for a vehicle. Yet the attempt to keep the school from becoming car-dominant is a trend that PSU should be proud of and continue to try and maintain. It’s a good thing, especially if PSU wants to continue to promote sustainability. PSU should be commended for its efforts not only to promote, but also to actually support a car-free lifestyle for students living on campus.

n Oregon, one can use marijuana legally for medicinal purposes if that individual obtains a special permit. It is possible that big changes could be in store for medical marijuana patients in Oregon, if a ballot measure to create medical marijuana dispensary systems passes in November. Currently, people who are enrolled in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which consists of 36,380 people, have two options in terms of accessing their medical marijuana. They can either grow their own or buy from a producer who sells to four people or less. The problem with this current method is that some people may not know producers and may be too sick to grow their own. So what are those people supposed to do when they need medical marijuana, but they do not have access? The ballot measure would create a medical marijuana dispensary system and make Oregon the seventh state to set up a state-regulated dispensary system. This ballot measure could be what Oregon needs to take a step in the right direction to make sure people who need medical marijuana can obtain it. It would mean easier access to thousands of sick Oregonians who are in need. The dispensaries could just be another option in addition to growing or buying from a producer. The Department of Health would be in charge of monitoring and inspecting the dispensaries.

Each dispensary would have a yearly license and be nonprofit. The dispensaries would be state-monitored and have restrictions on them, such as that they must be 1,000 feet away from schools and residential neighborhoods. Installing medical marijuana dispensaries should be the next step for a state that legalizes the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. There is, however, a lot of concern about the dispensaries. Oregon could test the waters and install a few dispensaries following the guidelines set forth in the measure on a trial basis. If problems arise, they can be altered to continue to adhere to the needs of the people using them and still be kept safe. If it proves to be too much of a problem, then at least the test was there. Oregon needs to at least give this idea a chance. Other states have had problems in the past with lack of control over dispensaries. The dispensaries were abused and the problems were common. Therefore, what Oregon needs to do is cover its bases in this measure and learn from other states such as California, which had issues in the past with medical marijuana dispensaries. Ultimately, the placement of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon could lead to more revenue for the state in these times of economic turmoil. They would also create access for people who really need it.

Go pro with your opinions! Now hiring opinion writers for Fall 2010 E-mail: opinion@dailyvanguard.com

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.

ETC.■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ VANGUARD

ETC.

EDITOR: VIRGINIA VICKERY EDITOR@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5692

CALENDAR TODAY

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, August 04, 2010

Two-Day Red Cross Blood Drive 11 a.m. SMSU Ballroom

To sign up to donate blood, visit www.givelift.org or e-mail gwyn@pdx.edu

Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Harry Jamesʼs “___ the Craziest Dream” 5 Knotted up 9 Bedding item 13 Marisa of “The Wrestler” 15 Georgetown athlete 16 Rabbit punch target 17 Conk the “You Were Meant for Me” singer? 19 Major in astronomy? 20 Attempts, with “at” 21 Did improv 23 Rogers and Bean 25 The “A” of A.D. 26 Truckersʼ breaks 30 Has contempt for 33 Dernier ___ 34 Goes well with

36 Org. 37 Cause of headscratching, perhaps 39 1943 penny material 41 Architect Saarinen 42 House arresteeʼs bracelet site 44 Instrument thatʼs usually played cross-legged 46 Tbsp., e.g. 47 Some farm machinery 49 “Billy Budd” and “Of Mice and Men” 51 Radiate 52 Nike competitor 53 Pigeonholed, in moviedom 57 Site of a 1976 South African uprising 61 Spellerʼs words of clarification

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE L A P S

O W E N

E B B S

C A L C

S K U N K

P O S E Y

B I N O C U L A R

B R A W L

E C O L R I I S R E D R A

Y S A E E T L N O L E O P E A R D R I P S T A K A N L L D I E A N T S K I L L T O O B E T E S T

N A V A L D A M P E N E D

S T A R E A T

D O N O W

B A S R O R W H A T

M E T Z A R I E I A M B T O R N O R A A C S I N H I T E O M E N U M A W L H A L E O T E L L O S S E R S E

62 Scratch the “2 Legit 2 Quit” rapper? 64 Car door ding 65 Cousin of an eagle 66 Sends to blazes 67 Torah holders 68 Floored it 69 Defense grp. since 1949 Down 1 Trigger finger problem? 2 Dance done to “Hava Nagila” 3 Andyʼs partner in old radio 4 White Label Scotch maker 5 Everyday article 6 Early caucus state 7 Checked out 8 Miss Ellieʼs soap 9 Revolver feature, perhaps 10 Protect the “Kiss From a Rose” singer from the cops? 11 Cathedral recess 12 Drink in “Beowulf” 14 Bars at Fort Knox 18 Festive 22 Quechua speaker 24 Rotisserie parts 26 Programming class locale, perhaps 27 “Three Sisters” sister 28 Amuse the “Get the Party Started” singer?

5 14

42 47

41 45

International Women Artists’ Exhibition USA 2010

36 40

THURSDAY

39 43

1 p.m. PSU Career Center

This workshop, specifically targeted to PSU students and alumni, will give you the latest information on how to write effective resumes and cover letters.

Writing Résumés and Cover Letters

19 21

No. 0630

9 a.m. Littman Gallery (in SMSU)

This event is hosted by the Oregon Womenís Caucus for Art and will welcome 84 artists from 24 countries. The first such conference to be held in the United States, the event is free and open to the public.

50 52

Effective Interviewing

2 p.m. PSU Career Center

This workshop will provide information on what employers expect from candidates during interviews and offer strategies to further develop your interviewing skills.

Puzzle by Kristian House

29 Oktoberfest memento 31 Singer of the “Casta diva” aria 32 Tartan hose wearers 35 Play by a different ___ rules 38 Mendeleevʼs tabulation

40 Like an inaugural ball 43 Childrenʼs author Carle 45 Do a musketeerʼs job 48 IHOP servings 50 Wyatt Earp, e.g. 53 “Look what I did!”

54 River through Flanders 55 Break oneʼs resolution, say 56 ___ Modern (London gallery) 58 Austen classic 59 Camperʼs carryalong 60 Roughly 63 Got hitched

Climbing Center—Beginner’s Hour 6 p.m.ASRC

This is an opportunity for those who have never climbed before to take part in a free introductory informal movement class.

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

TO PLACE AN EVENT: Contact vgcalendar@gmail.com or pick up a calendar request form at the Vanguard advertising office, SMSU, room 114.

EVENT OF THE DAY

Dr. Monica Silver, a visiting professor and writer from Uruguay, will be giving a free lecture titled “Short Stories on Stage: How to Adapt the Short Story to a Play” as part of the Tour the World 2010 Lecture Series. When: Noon Where: SMSU, room 236 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.

6-30-10

NOW HIRING WRITERS NEWS ARTS & CULTURE OPINION SPORTS

apply now! dailyvanguard.com

8 VANGUARD ■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2010 ■ SPORTS

SPORTS

EDITOR: ROBERT BRITT SPORTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-4538

Pounding the pavement Seventh annual Street Jam a success BY Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

Consider the usual hustle and bustle around the Rose Quarter on event nights. What would you have if, instead of the usual hubbub, the event was spread across the outdoor area and featured dozens of half-court setups with hundreds of three-person squads vying for bragging rights while also raising money for a good cause? You would have Street Jam. Hosted annually by Special Olympics Oregon [SOOR] for the past seven years, Street Jam is a collaboration between corporate sponsors and the Portland Trail Blazers. Teams of up to five players enter for a $125 fee to compete in a tournament with Shootout: Jason DeVries takes divisions set up by age, gender, a shot from downtown during height and skill level, and divithe semifinals of the 3-point sion champs receive medals. shootout at the 2010 Street Jam. This year, 59 divisions comprising nearly 500 teams filled out tournament play, and individuals also had the opportunity to enter in a dunk contest and three-point shootout. On both Friday and Saturday, about 1,000 spectators were spread out watching the various courts and visiting sponsor booths.

For all ages: Hosted by the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose

Quarter, the 2010 Street Jam benefitted Special Olympics Oregon and featured 3-on-3 basketball tournaments for all ages and sizes.

Ryan Watt, Special Olympics Oregon development director, said the goal was to raise $50,000 and he is optimistic that this year’s Street Jam reached that mark. He said this year—his fifth with the event—was a success and that he felt the community vibe SOOR hoped to create had been established. “It’s been a couple of nice days and people are having fun,” Watt said. “I’m thankful for our sponsors and especially our volunteers…the medical staff are volunteers from OHSU [Oregon Health and Science University] and they’re a huge help to have on site.” LouAnne Tabada, volunteer director for SOOR who has participated in each Street Jam, said there were roughly 500 volunteers on hand for the span of the event, with about 100 volunteer coordinators, referees and scorekeepers working each shift. She said this year’s Street Jam was similar in size and attendance to last year’s. “We like to see it grow each time we do it, and I think it’ll keep growing,” Tabada said. “It’s a lot of fun, we get a lot of friendly staff to come out.” The next Street Jam is scheduled for July 29–31, 2011. SOOR will next participate in the Bite of Oregon, happening this weekend. A team’s perspective A second-year Street Jam squad, Portland’s Finest, brought two big advantages to the tournament—literally. Jordan Oathes and captain Brett Corbett stood above most of the other players at the event, and their size was matched by their hustle. They played in the men’s elite division and, after getting bumped in the second round last year, they brought a healthy desire to win this year. During the round-robin stage, they won a pair and lost another, but it was enough to place them in the semifinals. They handily defeated their competition to earn a spot in the men’s elite final, a new level for Portland’s Finest. “I think there’s been some good competition here so far, and I’m excited for the final round,” Oathes said after their semifinal victory. They squared off against the ORYGunners, a team with four wins in the round robin. Their early lead was threatened and even overtaken a few times during the first 12 minutes of play, but after pulling ahead late, they kept their lead as Portland’s Finest began to foul intentionally to stop the clock, followed by desperation two-pointers that couldn’t get them back on top. Matt Smith of ORYGunners said he enjoyed Street Jam and that he will participate again next year. “It feels good that we won,” Smith said. “They [Portland’s Finest] were a competitive opponent, a bit bigger than us and very smart players.” Corbett, with a wry grin, recalled former Trail Blazer Rasheed Wallace’s words after a tough defeat by saying “both teams played hard.” “We got knockout out in the semifinals last year and the finals this year, so it’s just a progression, right? We’ll come back and win it next year,” Corbett said. A family’s perspective Scott Henderson participated in the three-point shootout, barely making it to the main court in time for the final qualifying round. He had been coaching his daughter Alisha Henderson’s squad, Team Concept, which competed in the youth women’s division.

ALL PHOTOS BY ROBERT BRITT/VANGUARD STAFF

Henderson arrived at the last possible moment for his turn in the shootout and managed to score 11 out of 20 possible points to qualify for the semifinal, which cut the crowd of 10 down to four. He scored six points to be pitted against the final contestant, though he ultimately came in second place. “My daughter says, ‘Let ’er fly, let ’er rip,’ so that’s what I do,” Scott said just before the final round. Immediately after the shootout, he returned to his daughter’s team and prepared for their final game against the Raisins, last year’s division champs. Team Concept grabbed an early lead and hung onto it tightly, scrapping for every loose ball and even tumbling to the pavement while lunging for steals and rebounds. Despite angry catcalls from parents of the Raisins at the refs, Team Concept kept their cool to prevail as division champs. When asked about playing at Street Jam, Alisha said she enjoyed it and that she’ll be back next year. “I’ve been playing since fifth grade, and it’s been a really fun weekend,” she said. “I can’t wait to do this again.”

King races at international level Portland State sprinter Karene King competed on behalf of her home country of the British Virgin Islands at the Central American and Caribbean Sport Games held last week in Mayaguez, Pureto Rico. King participated in the 100- and 200-meter events, qualifying for the finals in the latter category. She also posted her personal best in the 100m at 11.84 seconds, .07 seconds better than her previous record, nearly qualifying in that category as well. She had previously clocked an 11.91 twice before. Her semifinal 200m heat resulted in a time of 24.31 seconds, which was enough to push her through to the final. She placed eighth overall at the games for the 200m. Aside from the event’s repeat gold medalist Tahesia Harrigan, King has run the most under-12-second 100m heats among her native territory’s female sprinters. During her Viking tenure, King has earned three Big Sky Championship medals, despite never having competed in an indoor track and field event prior to her time as a Viking. She will return for her senior season in 2010–11. King is the second track and field athlete with Portland State ties to compete internationally this summer. Last month, former PSU All-American Nick Trubachik represented Team USA with a second-place finish in the decathlon at the North American, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association U23 Championships in Miramar, Fla. Robert Seitzinger, Vanguard staff

Around town Vikings football begins fall practices First-year head coach Nigel Burton takes the field this week as the Vikings football program begins fall practices Sunday afternoon at Stott Field. This year, Burton looks to right the Viking ship after the team recorded a 2-9 record last season—the worst since moving up to the Div-I level—under the guidance of former head coach Jerry Glanville. A former assistant coach at PSU and Oregon State and defensive coordinator for Nevada, Burton became the program’s 13th head coach in December after Glanville resigned with a 9-24 record over three seasons. In addition to new leadership, Portland State’s 2011 campaign will feature a new offensive scheme and new uniforms. Burton replaced the run-and-shoot offense with the pistol offense he used in Nevada. The Vikings will also transition from black to green uniforms, and an unveiling of the new uniform is scheduled to follow the

Aug. 14 practice at Stott Field. A complete practice schedule can be found at GoViks.com. PSU soccer to hold open tryouts Portland State students interested in playing for the women’s soccer team this fall will have their chance at an open tryout on Friday at Stott Field. According to a statement released by the school, an open tryout session is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., and students wishing to make the team as a walk-on should report to the Stott Center at 1 p.m. with a valid form of identification. Questions about the tryouts should be directed to assistant coach Melanie Langley at 503-725-5611. The Vikings are the defending Big Sky Conference regular season champions, and are set to begin the 2010 season in an exhibition match with Concordia on Aug. 12. Their first regular season match is set for Aug. 20 at Portland, and conference play is scheduled to begin Oct. 8, when they host Eastern Washington.

TODAY’S GAMES AT

Blazers add Johnson to roster Rookie guard Armon Johnson became the 15th man on the Portland Trail Blazers’ roster this week, according to team reports. The 34th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Johnson was drafted by the Blazers and started all five games of the summer league, where he averaged 33.3 minutes and 2.2 steals per game to lead the summer squad. Johnson played three seasons at Nevada (2007–10), where he led the Wolf Pack in assists each season. He was named 2008 WAC Freshman of the Year and twice earned All-WAC honors. “We feel Armon can help this team and are excited to have him on board,” said general manager Rich Cho. “He’s a physical guard who can defend, and we like his potential.” Johnson, a Chicago native, will wear jersey No. 1. Robert Britt, Vanguard staff

Portland Beavers (42-69)

AT Omaha Royals (57-53)

Portland Timbers Rochester Rhinos (7-6-6, 27 pts.) (9-5-6, 33 pts.)

5:05 P.M. Audio at www.PortlandBeavers.com

4 P.M. Audio at www.955TheGame.com

UPCOMING HOME GAMES 2010 USL Premier Development League Championships All games at PGE Park

SEMIFINALS Fri, Aug. 6

VS. No.3 Baton Rouge

VS. No. 2 Thunder Bay

5 P.M.

No. 1 No. 4 Portland Timbers NSC Reading U-23s United 7:30 P.M.

FINALS Sat, Aug. 7 Third-place match 1 p.m.

Championship match 4 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel