PORTLAND STATE HOSTS THE BIG SKY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT THE STOTT CENTER.
FOUR LOKO NEVER SAY DIE States selling Four Loko are dropping like flies
Support your first-ranked Vikings by holding up the poster found on page 16 during PSU’s semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
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Student retention rates are on the rise OUS universities implement new policies to keep students in school
VIKING VOLLEYBALL WINS REGULAR SEASON TITLE Portland State earns the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s PSU-hosted conference tournament.
Standing up for China’s political prisoners Amnesty International sheds light on Liu Xiaobo’s incarceration NATALIA GROZINA VANGUARD STAFF
ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
Keeping students year after year: Though retention generally drops with increased enrollment, retention rates are rising this year.
On Friday, the local chapter of Amnesty International visited Portland State to present a compilation of video interviews of Chinese political prisoner Liu Xiaobo. Dr. Bruce Gilley, a political science professor at PSU, followed the presentation with an analysis. Liu is one of over 500 Chinese political detainees that are held under house arrest, in labor camps or in prisons in the People’s Republic of China. He is a literary critic, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Dui Hua Foundation, based in San Francisco, counted 742 political prisoners in 2007. However, others estimate a total of up to 3,000 prisoners, since those under house arrest are not officially counted. Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, is one of these prisoners. Unable to leave the house or answer any questions, she remains inside all day while her PRISONER ON PAGE 2
KATRINA PETROVICH VANGUARD STAFF
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he Oregon University System has announced that student retention rates—the number of freshman students returning to the same university for their sophomore year—have increased significantly. Retention rates statewide are at an all-time high of 82.4 percent. This rise in retention coincides with the highest enrollment rates in OUS’s history.
Joe Holliday, OUS assistant vice chancellor for student success initiatives, said that the increase in student retention is due to several different factors, one of which is the current economy. “People come back to college, often, when the job market is poor, and leave when the job market is good,” he said. “Students are staying in school, to some extent because that’s a better alternative than being unemployed.” In the past, Holliday has observed that larger enrollment rates usually correspond with a drop in retention. What makes these new results significant is the fact that OUS schools are not only
enrolling record amounts of students, but also keeping them from one year to the next. According to Holliday, the enrollment and retention statistics stated on the OUS website do not fully illustrate the real growth of OUS. The retention statistic only refers to freshman students returning for their sophomore year. However, Holliday said that this year’s growth in enrollment is mostly due to transfer students, not new freshmen. In his experience, transfer students “retain and RETENTION ON PAGE 7
RYAN DEMING VANGUARD STAFF
Last Friday, the city installed its third “Portland Loo,” a 24-hour public restroom. Now, members of Commissioner Randy Leonard’s office are considering putting one in the South Park Blocks. Before the Portland Loo project began in
Professor will use grant to investigate link between patient-physician communication and cancer outcomes ERICK BENGEL VANGUARD STAFF
Jeffrey D. Robinson, associate professor of communication at Portland State, recently obtained a $340,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute to investigate how the initial communication between breast-cancer patients and their surgeons influences a patient’s psychosocial health during treatment and recovery. “What I’m predicting, and what I’m hoping to show, is that certain types of patterns of communication can actually improve women’s psychosocial health,” Robinson said. According to Robinson, a fair amount of scientific research indicates that a person’s psychosocial health affects his or her mortality. Although the scientific community has not yet identified the mechanism connecting one’s psychosocial state to one’s physiological state—that is, connecting one’s morale to one’s immune system— the existence of such a connection is abundantly
Portland Loo could be installed in Park Blocks 24-hour public restrooms help to clean up downtown
Fighting cancer with morale
December of 2008, there was only one 24-hour public restroom in the entire city, according to Anna DiBenedetto, the main coordinator of the project in Leonard’s office. She said that it took a year of planning before the first installation actually happened. In regards to how this installation could affect the Portland State campus and students, Campus Public Safety Office Director Michael Soto said that he would have no issue with a Loo in the midst of campus. SAGE WARNER/VANGUARD STAFF
LOO ON PAGE 7
Portland Loo: There are currently threes Loos in the city.
CANCER STUDY ON PAGE 3
2 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ NEWS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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NEWS ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 3
EDITOR: CORIE CHARNLEY NEWS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5690
EDITOR@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Virginia Vickery
Don’t forget your midnight breakfast
Where’s your Oregon Opportunity Grant?
For those who need to take a break from studying, make sure to check out Midnight Breakfast on Dec. 1. The free breakfast will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom.
There will be no more 2010-11 Oregon Opportunity Grant disbursements made after tomorrow. If you’re unsure of your status, contact Portland State’s financial aid office at 503-725-3461.
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Professor says incarceration of Liu reveals China's inability to control its citizens
Formerly homeless Ore. teen wins scholarship
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54-year-old husband is in prison. In 2008, Liu was incarcerated for 11 years on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power” in response to his organization and participation with Charter 08, a proposal signed by over 350 Chinese human rights activists to promote political reform and democratization in China. While serving his fourth term in prison, Liu was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for human rights in China. Gilley, who testified before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in Washington D.C., along with the Human Rights Watch, the PEN Center and the Council of Foreign Relations, said that the incarceration of Liu reveals how hard it is for the Chinese government to maintain control over its citizens. “They jailed him because he is an easy target,” Gilley said. “But there are another 300 people who signed the [Charter 08] petition.” In a letter released in October by Liu’s U.S. lawyers, it was said that the release of Liu would be an “extraordinary recognition” of the transformation China has undergone in the past couple of decades. “It’s a damned shame that China is able to bully otherwise powerful and seemingly fair-minded countries into staying out of human rights affairs,” audience member Jacob
MEDFORD—A 17-yearold Medford girl who was homeless last year has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Children’s Defense Fund for overcoming adversity. The Mail Tribune reported that Dakota Garza, a senior honor student at North Medford High School, is the first Medford recipient of the national Beat the Odds scholarship. The scholarship is given to high school seniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to achieve academic excellence, demonstrate leadership and want to attend college. Officials said Garza’s father’s died when she was a toddler. She was homeless with her mother before declaring herself legally emancipated, and getting a job and an apartment with the help of the Community Works program in Medford. Community Works President Dan Murphy called Garza a “remarkable young woman.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC.NET.AU
Fighting for human rights: Liu Xiaobo has been imprisoned since 2008 for organizing and participating in Charter 08.
“They jailed him because he is an easy target." BRUCE GILLEY Clery said after the presentation. “I hope that something can be done to avert it.” Though it remains unclear what action China will take in regards to the release of Liu, Amnesty International Group 48 Coordinator Joanne Lau
asks that people send politely worded appeals to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao urging the authorities to release Liu, guarantee he is not tortured while he remains in custody and ensure he has access to his family and lawyers. ■
Rescue brings remote Ore. road danger reminder GRANTS PASS—Search and rescue officials in southern Oregon are reminding travelers that a remote mountain road is definitely not a shortcut to the coast in winter. The Josephine County sheriff’s office reported a Texas couple were rescued last week after their car got stuck in snow on Bear Camp Road. The narrow road winds through a rugged section of the Coast Range from Grants Pass
to Agness on the coast. But it is closed in winter and deputies say several warning signs are posted.
George’s house, not Mickey’s, for pardoned turkey WASHINGTON—The turkey President Barack Obama will pardon this year for Thanksgiving is going to George Washington’s house, not Mickey Mouse’s, after his life is spared. A Disneyland spokesman said Friday that after five years of taking turkeys, the park will no longer become home to the bird that the president pardons in an annual White House ceremony. Instead, after Obama pardons the turkey Wednesday, the fortunate fowl will live out the rest of its life at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate in Virginia. “We’re moving on to do new things and surprise our guests with new things,” said Disneyland spokesman John McClintock. Presidents have been pardoning a turkey at Thanksgiving for years, but where the bird goes after its White House cameo has changed. For 15 years, until 2004, the birds went to a historic farm in Herndon, Va.: Frying Pan Farm Park. Disneyland took over in 2005 when the California park was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The pardoned turkey and an alternate — Marshmallow and Yam — got a police escort to the airport and flew first class to California. JESSICA GRESKO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
CANCER STUDY FROM PAGE 1
Professor aims to determine how communication can increase patient health obvious. “There’s some research that has shown that, for instance, the more hopeful patients are about their cancer and their ability to survive, the longer they actually live and the less likely they are to have a recurrence of cancer,” he said. A patient’s sense of hope is liable to increase or decrease, depending on the quality of her first interaction with her physician, Robinson said. A decrease in hope often accompanies a heightened sense of fear, fatalism, uncertainty and other negative feelings. If a woman’s morale is sufficiently damaged, she may begin to make what the medical community views as bad decisions. “For instance, if a woman goes into a surgeon’s office feeling extremely distraught, fearful and uncertain, and she leaves more fearful and uncertain, research shows that that woman may opt not to have surgery,” Robinson said. However, according to Robinson, if the patient leaves feeling more hopeful, less fearful and more certain, then she is more likely to make timely treatment decisions. The bulk of the research conducted on patient-physician communication focuses only on the mid- or post-treatment stage of cancer recovery. Robinson’s research, on the other hand, will focus on women’s state of mind during the pretreatment stage so as to “get as close to the beginning of the recovery process as possible.” For this reason, Robinson is mostly collecting data from
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elody Rose, the previous Division of Political Science chair, was recently named the vice provost for academic programs and instruction. “The opportunity to serve the university at a larger capacity became available,” Rose said. “The vice provost reports directly to the provost and also has a specific portfolio of responsibilities.” As vice provost, Rose will oversee Graduate Studies, University Studies, the University Honors Program, the McNair Scholars Program and the U.S. Army GOLD Program. She will also supervise issues relating to learning and assessment,
community-university part- regular position as a political nerships, curriculums and ac- analyst on local, state and nacreditation. tional media outlets on matters Rose is the founder and di- of voting, elections and womrector of the Center for Wom- en’s political action. en, Politics & Policy. Her Dr. David Kinsella, a current main focus of research is the involvement of women in American “The opportunity to government. Additionally, she organizes serve the university a number of student at a larger capacity leadership training programs designed for became available." high school and col- MELODY ROSE lege females. Rose is also the author of many articles and books. political science professor at Her most recent book, “Hillary PSU, is Rose’s replacement as Clinton’s Race for the White chair for the Division of PolitiHouse: Gender Politics and the cal Science. He is also the diMedia on the Campaign Trail,” rector of Public Affairs. was published in 2009. “The job mainly entails manAlong with her new set of aging and coordinating the tasks, Rose still maintains a various duties of the political
PHOTO COURTESY OF PDX.EDU
Moving up: Melody Rose is now the vice provost for academic programs and instruction.
science faculty: course planning and scheduling, enrollment monitoring, committee assignments, etc,” Kinsella said.
Kinsella currently teaches courses in international law, politics and national security policy. ■
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women who have been diagnosed within 72 hours. It is also the reason Robinson is observing the interaction between patients and surgeons, which are usually women’s first “specialist point-of-contact” after being diagnosed, according to Robinson. Robinson’s method consists of giving patients a psychosocial health questionnaire immediately before they consult with their surgeon and then immediately afterward. These questionnaires ask the patients to rate their current level of anxiety. The consultation itself is videotaped and then later transcribed. By comparing a patient’s pre- and post-consultation anxiety scores, Robinson can determine if her level of anxiety has changed as a direct result of the conversation with her surgeon, thereby relating a surgeon’s communication patterns to changes in his or her patient’s self-rated anxiety scores. Although Robinson is the principal investigator on this study, two PSU graduate students in communication— Maryjane Dunne and Claire Gregory—are carrying out a considerable portion of the work. According to Dunne, she and Gregory are primarily responsible for recruiting patients, transcribing the consultation and entering survey data. Soon they will begin analyzing the transcribed conversations and, later, learn how to actually code the raw survey data. “This study allows me to have
one of those jobs where I feel like I can make a difference in the world,” Gregory said. Robinson’s grant—which took roughly 18 months to acquire—is known as a “pilot grant” and lasts for two years, during which Robinson must report his preliminary findings and present them at conferences. When the grant is slated to expire, he must produce an end-of-grant report discussing his results, which he expects to publish widely in peer-reviewed medical journals. If this study proves fruitful and his findings hold up, Robinson will apply for a larger grant to study a wider sample of breast cancer patients and perhaps broaden the scope of his research to include more diverse cancer contexts. And if the evidence confirms his hypothesis, Robinson believes that his results could have an influence on other situations involving patients facing potentially lifethreatening diagnoses. Robinson hopes to demonstrate which communication practices on the part of physicians tend to improve the health of their patients. Additionally, Robinson hopes to eventually create and implement training programs in interpersonal communication for physicians that can be realistically and feasibly incorporated into the medical industry. “The industry knows very well that these more human, relational, communicative sides of care matter for health
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF ROBINSON
Treating cancer: Dr. Jeff Robinson will study how patient-physician communication will affect cancer outcomes.
care. If for no other reason besides their own bottom line, improving physician-patient communication matters for their insurance premium,” he said. Although Robinson believes that the medical industry stands to benefit from his findings, he knows that it takes a long time to change medical training and medical practice. Robinson has been exploring patient-physician communication for the last 11 years. Before he transferred to PSU, he conducted some preparatory work at Rutgers University. He later presented his data to the National Cancer Institute, which decided that continued research in this field represented a promising investment. “We were lucky that he was already working on his grant and invested in it before he came to Portland State,” said Cynthia-Lou Coleman, chair of the communications department at PSU. Coleman said that Robinson’s grant is exciting because it is good for the communications department to be able to demonstrate that it’s doing important work.■
4 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ OPINION
OPINION T H E
OPINION ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 5
EDITOR: RICHARD D. OXLEY OPINION@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5692
Rant RAGE
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The battle over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and where it currently stands During the Clinton adminWhile such a survey considistration, the United States’ ering our soldiers is a respectgovernment passed the fa- ful measure to take, at some mous Don’t Ask Don’t Tell point we must also realize law. It was an that the atattempt to titudes of RICHARD solve the isour soldiers D. OXLEY sue in Amerare a moot ican culture point. Being relating to in the miligays in society—more specifi- tary carries with it a certain cally, gays in the military. sacrifice—one being that, to In the years since its imple- put it bluntly, you do what mentation, thousands of gay you are told. men and women serving and In 1948, President sacrificing in the military Harry S. Truman integrated have been discharged. Now the United States military America finds itself address- forces, ending an unconstituing the issue once more as tional policy of segregation. It Don’t Ask Don’t Tell could be is true that he held studies of repealed—as it should be. his own on the matter, but in In a case brought forth by the end what it came down to the Log Cabin Republicans, is that Truman made the dea federal judge has ruled that cision, and gave the order— DADT is unconstitutional, in keeping with the chain of putting the law in a state of command, the military follimbo that congress must lowed suit. He didn’t ask the now deal with. Does this military as a whole how they mean gays can now openly felt, he made the call. serve in the military? If they Should we ask our soldiers can, is it only temporary? which battles they feel they DADT has posed more of want to fight? Should we a threat to American secu- ask them where we deploy rity than any other policy or or station them? Should we law regarding our military. consider their feelings as we It has shed a significant por- make every military decision? tion of military service mem- Again, bluntly, as a soldier bers in a time when Ameri- you follow orders—even if can troops are spread thin that order is to fight along across the globe in Iraq and side those with whom you Afghanistan. disagree. The repeal of DADT has We face a similar situation certainly had its opposition. today as Truman did in his Senator John McCain (R) of day. Though DADT is not Arizona is one such person a policy as segregation was, opposing the repeal. McCain, but rather a law, our conwho has formerly stated he gress must now gauge DADT wished DADT to be repealed against the constitution. in years past, currently wishes When they conclude that the it to stay in place. The sena- law is in deed unconstitutiontor has pushed for a study of al, they must act accordingly military personnel to be taken allowing President Obama in order adequately gauge how to make an order finally members of the military would ending DADT. react to the removal of DADT. “The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell A study has been car- policy is an outdated way of ried out by the Pentagon thinking,” Joe said. “Gays deregarding DADT that sur- serve the same rights as any veyed 400,000 soldiers and heterosexual especially if they 150,000 military spouses—it stick their own life on the line.” was leaked and various media The time of DADT is comsources have reported on its ing to a close. As our federal contents. The Washington courts find it unconstitutional, Post has reported that ac- our military members showing cording to the survey, over 70 they have no problem with it, percent of soldiers felt that and a movement in congress repealing DADT would not for its repeal, it won’t be long result in a negative outcome. before society must accept that “Basically, all I have to say DADT is an un-American is that I worked along with practice. In the end, there those who were gay both are few obstacles that prevent male and female. Never had Americans from making a sacan issue with either,” said Joe, rifice for our country—being a reservist with the United gay isn’t one of them. States Air Force and Iraq “It just seems to me that war veteran (his real name being gay in the military has been kept anonymous). doesn’t hamper someone do“My supervisor was actu- ing the job unless you are the ally gay and she was seriously one that has the problem,” someone that I looked up to Joe said. “Isn’t doing the job because she did her job very all that your country asks well and was a damn good of you while you are in the person.” military?” ■
BY DICK RICHARDS
The United States of Christmas
ILLUSTRATION BY SUSANNAH BECKETT/VANGUARD STAFF ILLUSTRA-
A for effort… or whatever
I give up! Fine, you win Christmas. You and the mindless fools who support you can take what’s left of the year and just buy, buy, buy while playing the crappiest music next to contemporary Christian and continue the delusion that it is all for giving and love and whatever feel-good excuses you muster up. I’m throwing in the towel. Every year, Christmas advances like an empire taking over new territory. First the beloved Thanksgiving holiday was toppled. Thanksgiving, in case you forgot already, is that holiday on the fourth Thursday of every November. It is meant to celebrate family and be thankful for what you have—even during harsh economic
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to set the standard—the “A for effort” professors. Dr. Carl Wamser, professor in the department of chemistry at Portland State, has taught for 40 years (26 of which have been spent at PSU), and isn’t sure why students are so stressed about grades now, though he has noticed more students seeking higher grades. After 40 years of teaching, he’s become quite familiar with the differences between excellent and average work. Wamser, unlike other instructors, does not curve his exams. Instead, he pre-curves the class grades. “I like the concept of an absolute scale,” Wamser said. “If everyone can do excellent work, I’m fine with giving everyone A’s.” Wahl agrees with this sentiment. “In my classes, I try—not always successfully—to reward exceptional work,” Wahl said. He sees grade inflation as a serious problem and tries to combat it in his classrooms. “If grades are inflated, you can’t tell how well people know the material. You don’t know how well they’ve learned it.”
If this trend continues, America is going to become a nation of high scores, low expectations and even lower qualifications. It needs to end now. But more often than not, students nowadays are graded on the basis of how well they do what they’re told, not whether they know the material they’re supposed to be learning. “It’s a system that encourages a factory worker mentality,” Wahl said. “You go to work, you do your job, you don’t say no. People just do as they’re told. They need to be judged based on the quality of the work they do, not simply that they do it.” That quality is falling with every increase to the average GPA of the nation’s universities. The trend of grade inflation needs to stop before America’s students fall behind the rest of the world, if they haven’t already. Top marks need to be reserved for exceptional work. And students need to realize that just doing the minimum isn’t enough. After 40 years in education, Wamser has developed his own opinions and philosophy. He doesn’t like to make his students compete with each other. Instead, he says, “I would like them to compete with the standard of excellence.” ■
consumer driven massacre. There was this whole Christian thing about Christ being born, and folks would sing about—but that’s all gone now. Now, everyone takes part in Christmas which is more about beating the crap out of fellow consumers over video games and over-stuffed children’s toy the news outlets say is trendy this year—all for the love and happiness of giving from the heart. If Christians truly cared about the religious significance of Christmas, they would have started paying attention to what the Bible has to say about it a long time ago—you know, the parts about not mixing consumerism with their religion, or the part about not putting up trees to decorate inside your home. While on the subject, let’s just get it straight that Christmas is not the birthday of Jesus. I know folks are going to freak out, but there really isn’t any way to know when the guy was born. Sure we can make educated guesses, but we don’t know. Christmas has been held on various days of the year, among various cultures over time. We know it in its winter context as it morphed with a variety of European cultures and traditions— combining and evolving over time to what we got now. I mean, come on—you didn’t actually think Santa was in the Bible now did you? So there—you win Christmas. You just keep seizing more and more time out of the year and no one seems to give a damn. Let’s all just buy into the holiday, keep spending money we don’t have, continue fighting in Wal-Mart and wrap it up with a Christmas bow. ■
Rose City exploitation
What a good grade is really worth ow do you reward exceptional work when “good enough” is good enough for an A? This conundrum is a strictly modern problem, born in elementary schools and carried through all the way to institutions of higher learning. Students who do the bare minimum receive top marks for their efforts, as long as they’ve fulfilled the requirements of their assignment. Mediocrity has become the mark of the honor roll, with JANIEVE more and more A’s SCHNABEL being given out every year. And for those whose work is truly exceptional, what reward is there but the same mark given to the student who threw together his paper at 7 a.m. the morning it was due? Coddling and grade inflation has steadily increased over the last few decades, to the point that it has become an expectation in many students’ eyes that good grades will just be handed to them. The mean grade point average (GPA) in American universities has risen at a rate of .1 points per decade, from 2.52 in the 1950s to 3.11 in 2007. Middle and high schools are even worse. West Potomac High School in Washington has even done away with failing grades entirely; students receive “incomplete” grades that they can later replace with letter grades without so much as a mark on their transcript. If this trend continues, America is going to become a nation of high scores, low expectations and even lower qualifications. It needs to end now. Troy Wahl, a graduate student and TA in the chemistry department of Portland State University, taught secondary education for a few years between degrees. He says a multitude of factors lead to pressure to give good grades. “There’s pressure from parents, principals and district officials,” Wahl said. “Teachers are often evaluated based on the grades they give.” Teachers aren’t the only ones evaluated based on these grades. The prestige of a school is measured by the quality of its students, and that quality is determined by the students’ grades. Postsecondary institutions such as PSU are far from exempt from these pressures. I myself have seen tests curved so severely that 60 percent constituted an A. What would normally border on failure became the mark of a “well prepared” pupil. Students seek out the “easy” professors—the ones who grade on whether you do the required work, not the quality of work you do, the ones who allow mediocrity
times such as these. But Christmas wasn’t happy with its month of December, so it gathered its forces of consumerism and marched towards Thanksgiving and seized the month of November. Stores would have Santas and Christmas trees displayed earlier and earlier, until Christmas hit the borders of October—the province of Halloween. It wouldn’t be long before Christmas would march forward into October. This year I witnessed Grinch figurines on display next to bags of Halloween candy. My own bah humbuggery too came early this year as I found books of “A Christmas Carol” strategically placed in customers’ view. That’s three months you’ve taken Christmas!
A whole quarter of the year. So screw it! There’s also the Christmas-in-July celebrations on the complete opposite end of the year. Just take it— take the whole year. Let’s just give in and let the holiday be a year round buying fest. Retailers do most of their business during this gift buying season—imagine what having it all year would do. In fact, let’s have a new American revolution. If we love Christmas so much, let it take over our whole country. I propose that we form a new United States of Christmas. The official uniform of the president could be a Santa suit while senators would dress like elves. Children would pledge allegiance to a Christmas tree as a promise to buy a gift for everyone they know, and official seals would be within Christmas wreaths. Imagine the bi-partisan cooperation that would be encouraged if Democrats and Republicans held regular Secret Santa parties. Republicans wouldn’t be so quick to say “no” to everything once John Boehner got that new set of golf clubs he’s had his eye on from Nancy Pelosi. We could even keep the whole separation of church and state idea because—let’s face it— Christmas has nothing to do with religion. Thanksgiving once held a deep religious association. Thankfulness also included gratitude towards God. But such connotations have subsided over time and now the Holiday is viewed as a basic family holiday—a time for loved ones to gather. Like Thanksgiving, Christmas once had religious roots too. “What” you gasp—it’s true. It wasn’t always a gift giving frenzy and
Portland’s human trafficking crisis
P
ortland is known as the City of Roses. Portland has the common motto “Keep Portland Weird,” on which it prides itself. Portland is home to local coffee shops, breweries, Voodoo Doughnuts and hipsters. But there are also other notable aspects of Portland—the kind people do not like to talk about. Unfortunately, Portland is an ideal hub for human trafficking. Human trafficking is perceived as taking place across the world in areas such as Thailand or India, and MEAGHAN people do not DANIELS realize that it happens here. It is about time that Portland woke up from that fantasy and started facing the facts. According to the United States Department of Justice, approximately 300,000 youth are trafficked for sexual exploitation. Ignoring human trafficking in Oregon, and especially in Portland, is not going to make it go away. It is only going to make it worse as traffickers will realize that they can get away with it here. It’s time to crack down on this serious issue because this affects everyone who lives not only in the Portland metro area, but Oregon in general. Thankfully, Portland has recently woken up from its dream of its perfect little world and realized the harsh reality. The Portland Police Bureau has reported an average of five human trafficking cases per week. At least two of the victims are juvenile. It is estimated that children as young as 12 are forced into prostitution and that a pimp earns $800 to $1,000 a day from each juvenile victim. As a result, the Portland Police Bureau has doubled the size of its human trafficking detail. Multnomah County has established a task force, the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Steering Committee, using $500,000 to take action against juvenile trafficking. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D) has also introduced legislation that would help to fight human trafficking. Last December, Wyden, along with Texas Senator John Cornyn (R), presented a bill that would give more enforcement power against traffickers and help victims of sexual trafficking. Their bill plans to fund extra police officers, prosecutors, establish shelters and provide counseling for victims
in six states. The bill would also provide funding for legal aid, education and job training. Currently, there are no shelter beds that are dedicated to juvenile human trafficking in the Portland metro area. Hopefully that will soon change. The City of Portland plans to set aside $285,000 to fund four to eight shelter beds with the Janus Youth Programs and the Sexual Assault Resource Center. The funds would also provide treatment for juvenile human trafficking victims and two additional victim advocate jobs for a one-year period. The Sexual Assault Resource Center is a vital place in combating human trafficking in the Portland metro area. The center is based in Beaverton and provides thorough support to victims with a 24-hour crisis line, hospital visits, case management, prevention education and outreach. It focuses on juvenile victims of human trafficking. The center only has two advocates who work with juvenile victims in Portland. The money would let the center allocate four advocates to Portland.
Ignoring human trafficking in Oregon, and especially in Portland, is not going to make it go away. It is only going to make it worse as traffickers will realize that they can get away with it here
ILLUSTRATION BY HEATHER NODDINGS/VANGUARD STAFF
It appears that human trafficking and juvenile human trafficking is beginning to be recognized in Portland, but the job is not done and we cannot stop here. Now that officials are starting to acknowledge that human trafficking happens here, it is time for the good people of Portland to do so as well. The word is out, now action needs to follow. We cannot continue to ignore the human trafficking issue as we have in the past. This is something that we cannot afford to put on the back burner. Human trafficking happens here; it is time to act. ■
NEWS ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 7
6 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ OPINION QUOTE FOR THOUGHT
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA.ORG
“But there are advantages to being elected president. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.” Ronald Reagan
GUEST OPINION
An undecided’s view on same-sex marriage JENNA BISSINGER DAILY BAROMETER STAFF
“Marriage is one man, one woman. God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. We must fight to keep the sanctity in marriage.” I grew up hearing all of these things. And lately, more than ever, I’ve been hearing things along these lines. We live in a society where the fight is on to keep the sanctity in marriage. But whose sanctity? Are we so concerned with whether same-sex marriage will be legal in yet another state that we lose sight of the sanctity in our own marriages or relationships? I grew up in a Christian home, where we practiced what we learned from church, which were messages taught out of the Bible. And while the topic of religion tends to be waters that I don’t want to tread, it also tends to be one of the strongest arguments against samesex marriage. We hear the arguments that homosexuals were born that way. On the other hand, we hear that homosexuality is a form of perversion that goes directly against the Bible. I know that this is a big deal for those who are fighting this struggle on a daily basis, but in a
big-picture kind of thinking, who cares which is right? We need to stop being so concerned with who can get married, and focus on our own relationships. If you’re not yet married and you are against homosexual relationships, well, finding yourself someone of the opposite sex to marry seems like a good plan for you. If you’re already married, and you’re concerned that letting homosexuals marry will ruin the sanctity of what marriage was intended to be – well, we have only ourselves to blame for that. Sky-high divorce rates, infidelity, spouses who secretly hate one another but stay in it for the kids or the money, spouses who don’t truly respect one another, spouses who don’t put the other’s needs in front of their own - these are the things that have ruined the sanctity of marriage. When will we redefine our focus? When will we care more about how we are going to love and stay committed to our own partners for the rest of our lives, than we care about who gets the right to do that under a legal title or not? Regardless of what has already been said, I myself struggle with my own personal beliefs on the subject. I am a woman who married a man. I never questioned who, as in what
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sex, I was going to marry. I was lucky to have that clear-cut for me. It may not be so clear for others. I am often accused of abandoning my faith and the values that I was raised with (which are still very important to me) to defend gay rights. And to answer your questions: Yes, I still love Jesus. Yes, I still believe that I will go to heaven. Yes, I will raise my little girls to seek out a prince, and tell my little boys to find themselves a princess. Not because I would be discouraging a homosexual relationship, if that’s what they choose, just because that’s what comes natural to me. Jennifer Knapp, a big-time Christian singer/ songwriter of the late 90’s and early millennium, – whom I grew up listening to, – recently came out of the closet after virtually disappearing for about seven years. She said something that spoke to me, as a Christian, and as someone who wishes to fight for the rights of all. She said, “I would rather be judged before God as being an honest human being. If I am in any way unpleasing in His sight, I can only hope and pray that He gives me the opportunity to find who I am supposed to be.” So am I pro-gay? I’m still soul searching. But what I can tell you without a doubt: I’m pro-
equal rights. I’m pro-mind my own business. I’m pro-focus on my own relationship and marriage. I’m pro-everyone should be able to marry their best friend and true companion. If you want to support the sanctity of marriage, just be true to your spouse. Homosexuals often refer to each other as “partners” rather than “husband” or “wife”, which says it best. They are to be your partner. We live in a society where we are competing with who is the better spouse or who sacrifices more for the other, rather than trying to win the battle together, as a team. Be faithful to your partner. Be encouraging to your partner. Love them for who they are and who they want to be. Quit bailing out because that’s easier than working at your relationship. Quit bailing out because you think the grass is greener on the other side. If we focus on truly loving our partner, and keeping our marriages healthy and happy, then there’s no reason why two people – ANY two people – can’t live out a fully sacred marriage. *This article was originally published in The Daily Barometer. It appears here in its original form.
RETENTION FROM PAGE 1
LOO FROM PAGE 1
Efforts among OUS universities have led to increased retention rates
Potential 24-hourpublic restroom in South Park Blocks could increase cleanliness
graduate in higher numbers than freshmen do.” Holliday is also a member of the OUS Inter-Institutional Council of Enrollment Managers, whose task is to strategize ways to increase student enrollment and retention. Each of the seven OUS universities has a representative present at council meetings. According to Holliday, because student retention issues lack the inherent competition between schools that enrollment evokes, university representatives are more willing to collaborate with each other. “Recruitment is one thing; that’s where the campuses, to some extent, compete with each other, but retention is an easier area to collaborate on because we’re all trying to hold on to students who have already chosen [their university],” Holliday said. According to PSU’s Student Affairs Outreach Coordinator J.R. Tarabocchia, PSU has
taken several proactive steps to ensure student retention. These include mandatory orientation for incoming students, increased availability of academic advisers, more rigidity when following admissions standards and efforts to alter the public perception of the university. PSU has also expanded its student affairs offices to better support traditionally underrepresented students. Both Holliday and Tarabocchia said that, statistically speaking, first generation college attendees, African Americans, Latinos and Native American students have much lower retention rates than other demographics. Therefore, systematically identifying atrisk and underrepresented students early in their college careers is key, Holliday said. This allows the advisers to give those students the support needed to keep them in the university. According to Tarabocchia, PSU has hired 14 new academ-
ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
Increasing retention: Student Ambassador Jimmy Hsu gives a tour to prospective PSU students and their families.
ic advisers as part of a newly funded advising initiative. As a result, there are more opportunities for students to receive advising help. Given the size of PSU’s student population, the advising department—even with the new hires—is drastically understaffed. Additionally, at the beginning of this academic year, PSU instituted mandatory major department advising for all incoming freshmen. New student orientation,
including a preliminary advising session, is also mandatory. Taraboccia said that requiring incoming students to attend an orientation makes them aware of all the resources at their disposal, as well as how to utilize those resources. It also ensures that students get into the correct classes. Taraboccia said that a wellinformed student is more likely to seek the help they require and less likely to fall through the cracks.
Science Building 2 to replace 40-year-old fume hoods Fernandez announces $1.26 million grant from U.S. Economic Development Administration CATRICE STANLEY VANGUARD STAFF
On Nov. 9, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez made a much-anticipated visit to Portland State's campus. During the visit, Fernandez announced that Science Building 2 is the recipient of a $1.26 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Although the announcement was made only a couple weeks ago, plans regarding the manner in which to spend the grant money have been in the works since April of 2009, according to Paul Mortimer, associate dean for development in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Science Building 2, already undergoing major renovation construction, will soon be fitted with new top-of-the-line fume hoods, purchased with money from the grant. According to Mortimer, fume hoods are an essential element of the equipment in the teaching and research laboratories of Science Building 2. Niles Lehman, professor and chair for the Department of Chemistry, said that a fume hood is basically a laboratory “box” that sucks air out of an enclosed space and into a filter. The air is then discharged safely outside of the building. “If you are working with a noxious chemical, for example, you [wouldn’t] want to breathe the fumes of the chemical,” Lehman said. “We were in desperate need
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIDSTRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Improving scientific capacities at PSU: The EDA grant will fund much needed fume hoods, seen here along the walls, for Science Building 2.
of [new fume hoods].” The fume hoods that are in Science Building 2 were installed when the building was first built in the late 1960s. According to Lehman, the old fume hoods are outdated and not very efficient. “They are really old…they don’t work half the time…and there are not enough of them,” he said. “We can’t teach certain classes, and we can’t do certain kinds of research.” The new fume hoods are much better designed, Lehman said. The modern technology, adjustable functions and the lesser energy needs of the new fume hoods make this a much more proficient mechanism than the fume hoods of the past, according to Mortimer. “This more efficient technology will dramatically decrease energy use [in the building],” Mortimer said. Coupled with the other en-
ergy improvements of the Science Building 2 renovation, these new hoods will help save PSU about $300,000 a year. “[Those are] more dollars that we can invest towards education,” Mortimer said. Now that replacement hoods are becoming a reality, the labs of Science Building 2 will be much more accessible for students and researchers. “[These new fume hoods] are going to increase our capacity to teach and conduct research for years to come, and this equipment will serve tens of thousands of students,” Mortimer explained. “[The grant is] a great recognition of the economic role that PSU is playing in our region, and [providing a means to better] prepare students to go out and get the best jobs they can.” According to Lehman, this is exactly why the EDA granted PSU the $1.26 million.
“Their whole mission is to provide money that will help get people jobs, and better jobs,” Lehman said. “If we have better facilities, then students get trained better. If they get trained better, then they’re more likely to get a [good] job.” Mortimer is also pleased with the longevity of use an investment like this will provide students at PSU. “This equipment will last for 30 or 40 years,” he said. “And it will serve tens of thousands of students…it’s very satisfying to me to know that this equipment will be working and serving students long after I’m retired.” Mortimer estimates that there are currently about 3,500 students per year taking classes in the teaching laboratories of Science Building 2. “And there will be more [students] as enrollment continues to grow,” Mortimer said. “So
PSU is also adhering to the stated admissions requirements with more rigidity. “We should be graduating lots of students, not just letting them in the door,” Taraboccia said. According to Taraboccia, PSU’s reputation as a commuter school has led to the belief that the school admits almost everyone who applies. This idea, he said, is changing as President Wim Wiewel is making extensive efforts to make PSU a “destination school.” ■
we’re just really, really pleased with this investment.” This is not the first time the EDA has been involved with PSU. According to Mortimer, this is the third important grant PSU has been awarded by the EDA in the last two months. In September, the EDA announced a $1 million grant to the winners of the i6 Challenge, a competition that promotes ideas for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. The winner for the Northwest area was The Oregon Innovation Cluster of which PSU is an important part, Mortimer said. Another $495,000 was awarded to develop the triplebottom-line index for Economic Development Assessment, an idea piloted by Janet Hammer of PSU’s College of Urban and Public Affairs. Even with this recent monetary award given to Science Building 2, PSU will still have to foot some of the bill. According to Mortimer, the EDA will purchase half of the fume hoods. PSU has already purchased and installed the other half. Fume hoods are “pretty specialized pieces of equipment” and can take around 10 weeks to manufacture, Mortimer said. Lehman said that, although the second wave of fume hoods have been ordered, they will not be arriving at PSU for at least a few months. He believes students will most likely see the remaining hoods installed during winter term, but he was not aware of a specific deadline. “We’re [all] very excited about the work that’s being done in Science Building 2, and about this grant from the Economic Development Administration,” Mortimer said. “It’s going to make things better for decades to come. I’m very proud and pleased that we were able to put that investment in place.” ■
“I’m not against having a Loo installed in the Park Blocks,” Soto said. “Although, we do have to be aware of behavioral issues that come with these restrooms.” Soto explained that CPSO has had issues with the singleoccupancy unisex bathrooms on campus. There have been instances of these restrooms being locked for extended periods of time because people have used them to sleep and wash in. While there are slats installed at the top and bottom of each Loo to allow public safety officials to see if there is more than one person in the restroom, Soto is still concerned. “If I were doing drugs, and knowing they can see my feet, could I just stand on the toilet to avoid being seen?” he said. According to Soto, behavioral issues such as this scenario would need to be taken into account if a Loo is installed. However, when asked about the potential dangers of more 24-hour public restrooms, DiBenedetto said that there is no correlation between the Loos and crime. Despite his concern, Soto said that the Loo would undoubtedly decrease the amount of public urination and defecation that take place in public. “In fact, businesses around the Loos have noticed less public urination and defecation taking place,” DiBenedetto added. There are currently three Loos in the city; the first two are located on Northwest Glisan Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, and on Southwest Naito Parkway and Taylor Street. The newest addition is located on Southwest Naito and Ash Street. Installation is a very simple process. According to DiBenedetto, this essentially involves pouring a concrete slab in the ground and sticking the Loo on top. Each Loo is solar-powered, so there isn’t any need to hook them up to the city’s power grid, DiBenedetto said. Each unit costs approximately $60,000 to manufacture and $1,500 every month to maintain, according to DiBenedetto. Additionally, she said that Portland is trying to sell them to other cities for around $86,000 per unit. “We would like to be able to have a self-sustaining flow of money to keep producing and installing more,” she said. “The sky’s the limit.” She said that if they could sell more, she would love to be able to put them all over the city where there is “frequent recreation and large groups of people.” To manage and maintain the Loos, DiBenedetto is working with two other people from the water bureau to manage them. As for restocking and maintenance, there is one employee who comes by twice a day to make sure everything is in order. ■
8 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ ARTS & CULTURE
A&C
ARTS & CULTURE ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 9
MEDIA LITERACY IN A LITERATE CITY
EDITOR: NICHOLAS KULA ARTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5694
FOUR LOKO NEVER SAY DIE
Smart shopping for intelligent people
T
he holidays are a busy time for local bookstores such as Powell’s. Portlanders will not only be looking to find the perfect gift to satisfy the bookworm in their lives, but also for something to while away the hours on a long winter’s night. It’s a season of great bargains for the smart shopper, but also a time when the publishing industry attempts to dump its dead weight on unsuspecting consumers. With careful attention to a few key details, denizens of bookstores such as Powell’s can support local business, discover great literature and save money all at once. Powell’s City of Books,
NICHOLAS KULA VANGUARD STAFF
E
arlier this week, several states banned alcoholic drinks containing energy-inducing chemicals such as caffeine, guarana, etc. In the midst of all this new legislation, everyone’s favorite drink, Four Loko, was also banned outright in several states. Washington was first, followed by New York and Massachusetts, and others are likely to follow suit. Is Oregon next? For over two years now, Four Loko, a brand of Phusion Projects, Inc., is considered the go-to drink for broke boozers. At around $2.50 a can, it packs more wallop than any other drink out there, something that concerned citizens and lawmakers alike constantly bemoaned. Up at the Washington State University campus earlier this month, nine students were hospitalized after ingesting too much of the stuff. The students, all between the ages of 17 and 19, were admitted to the hospital, some with potentially
lethal blood-alcohol levels. Quick to decide that Four Loko was the culprit instead of horribly irresponsible underage drinkers, legislators leapt into action and slapped Four Loko with a spot on the out-oftouch senior citizen blacklist. Lawmakers are all of a sudden very interested in Four Loko, to the point where the beverage is making headlines everywhere regarding Phusion Projects alleged “marketing to kids.” Some have even gone so far as to equate Four Loko to Joe Camel, whose face was plastered on everything from magazines and television to can cozies and keychains. The problem with this, of course, is that Four Loko isn’t marketed to anyone other than poor people who want to get drunk. This whole “uppers and downers” witch-hunt harkens back to the turn of the century, when someone figured out that Red Bull and vodka tastes delicious. Legislators and concerned armchair politicians leapt into action, but their
hands were tied—the two entities are entirely separate, entirely legal ventures. Although just as attainable by underage drinkers, where the FDA and state legislators really take offense is the idea that this concoction comes pre-mixed. Despite the city’s best efforts, Four Loko remains legal in Portland—at least in most places. In the downtown area, the OLCC has been trying to kick the legs out from under Four Loko’s operation. According to a downtown convenience store clerk, not carrying Loko at your establishment comes with a tax break from the state. The clerk, who wishes to remain unidentified, says that the incentive is in place to curb homeless alcoholism. Homeless alcoholism. Not underage drinking. There are only three places in the entire downtown area that this writer knows of to get Four Loko. They are the Fifth Avenue Market and Deli, Ma and Pa Market and a new
convenient location right off campus on Southwest Clay and Park. The stuff is readily available everywhere else. It is likely that you, the reader, didn’t know that the Park Avenue Market stocked this deliciously near-illegal beverage. However, this vital Loko lifeline to campus will soon dry up when the FDA inevitably bans caffeinated alcohol. Facebook has been abuzz with Loko fever; a group even exists which stands against Oregon’s imminent Loko prohibition. Search Youtube for Loko and see what pops up. You may find professionally produced music videos about the drink. Finally, one more thing needs to be said: Loko tastes good. Since I’m asked regularly about the hierarchy of flavor quality, here goes, from worst to best: watermelon, orange, “uva,” blue raspberry, “red,” lemonade, lemon-lime and cranberry lemonade. The answer to your other question: it only takes two. ■
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEATTLE WEEKLY
Dedication: This is a huge tattoo. This is a huge mistake.
Review of some venue and band Oracle at Alberta Rose Theatre
located at 1005 W Burnside in downtown Portland, is not only situated in the heart of our fair city, but also close to the heart of many Portlanders. Its independent spirit and ability to cater to all literary tastes are equal in proportion to its massive stature. This is literally one city block of books, stacked four stories high, shelves packed to capacity. Shoppers can find the literature of Graham Greene and Henry Miller or the graphic novels of Alan Moore and Garth Ennis. In a single visit, one can find a book advising how to best fracture an arm and another
REBEKAH HUNT VANGUARD STAFF
T
he recently revamped Alberta Rose Theatre originally opened in 1927 as the Alameda Theater, a motion picture house, complete with a theater organ for silent films. It operated under various names after that and screened films until it closed in 1978. In the intervening years, various churches used the building until Joe Cawley rescued it and reopened it this past June, with the intention of bringing a wide variety of new performers to the venue. In his grand opening interview with Oregon Music News, he said “We
have everything from singer/ songwriters to rock to jazz to blues…anything that’s appropriate to this setting. We’re installing a movie screen that drops down so we can have music and movie combos.” The theater’s website describes it as a “mid-size, seated listening room where the audience can enjoy excellent lines of sight, outstanding acoustics and where every seat feels close to the stage and the artist.” Although it feels that way because every seat is literally close to the artist (the theater only packs about 300 seats), it is an overall charming venue, suited perfectly to Portland’s
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALICIA J. ROSE/ORACLE PORTLAND/ MYSPACE
many plays, cabarets and acoustic musical acts. The auditorium is decorated to reflect a Spanish-Colonial courtyard, with stucco and faux candles in upper windows. The dark-wood bar features beer, wine, champagne and a bunch of non-alcoholic beverages and candy. Most notably, though, it offers Pacific Pie Company’s handmade, Australian-style pies, called that because no one can order “Australian pasties” without giggling. The pasties are little pocket pies filled with various deliciousness (think Hot Pockets without the trip to the ER for esophageal burns and bowel collapse). The show I attended at the theatre was a performance by Portland music-scene fixture Keith Schreiner’s latest project “Oracle.” I have known Keith for years and heard nearly every note he’s put his hands on. He is a talented, hardworking and exceptional artist who happens to make utterly baffling choices at times. I tried
telling how to mend it. En route to the cash register, one could take a cautious stroll through the aisle containing books on life in prison. Too much good literature in one place might be a good problem to have, but it can be a tricky one to deal with. For one thing, with a city block’s worth of books all in one building, there is bound to be an abundance of overstock. While overstock books can yield great deals for the savvy shopper, their heavy merchandising in high-traffic areas of most bookshops can often lead shoppers to end up purchasing books they don’t actually want. These impulse buys don’t have to be a bad thing, but being a smart consumer is always critical at such junctures. First, one should ask whether the book in question is something that they are interested in reading, or just something that they find interesting. Often these can be very different things, as anyone with unread books on their shelves can attest to. Once a decision is made to invest in a heavily merchandised title, be it overstock or something new that is being pushed aggressively by its publisher, the next stop should be at the book’s
T
he Japanese film “The Hidden Fortress” (1958) follows two greedy peasant stooges, Tahei (Minoru Chiaki) and Matashichi (Kamatari Fujiwara), through their adventures in war-torn feudal Japan. The two frenemies find themselves, miraculously, escapees of a prisoner-of-war camp. But the journey has just begun for the pair, as they realize that a heavily guarded border of enemies impedes their way home. Crossing the border will result in either their death or enslavement. The duo instead opt for their only alternative: to hang out in director Akira Kurosawa’s peculiarly vivid rocky and arid setting and wait until it is safer to cross. Along the way, the pair finds a few gold pieces and General Rokurota Makabe (Toshiro Mifune) overhears the two bickering greedily over the method by which they will split the gold. Taking advantage of the peasants’ greed, Makabe bribes them to help him transport a woman, secretly Princess Yuki (Misa Uehara), through enemy territory. Unbeknownst to the peasants, the general and princess wish to use the gold not to pay the duo, but to rebuild the princess’ fallen empire. The film’s wide frames, party of unsuspecting characters and landscape might look familiar. George Lucas explained that “The Hidden Fortress” was an inspiration for the celebrated “Star Wars” films. All things considered, “The Hidden Fortress” is a fairytale. There is an enemy, a handsome hero, a captive, a beautiful princess and two jesters. Kurosawa takes particular advantage of the jovial genre of the fairytale, giving the serious plot of “The Hidden Fortress” an overall comical and histrionic style. Yet despite the humor, Kamatari’s slapstick story does not show disregard for the serious. The melodramatic scenes of slavery, lust and the occasional bloody samurai through a comical lens only reiterate the misery of desperate times of war. Notwithstanding the comical mannerisms of the characters, the violent message of the film continues to disturb. Alas, when comedy cannot vindicate war from misery, nothing can.
merchandise new product more aggressively, especially overstock that is past the date when they can return it to the publisher for full value. Another way to limit impulse purchases of books that will spend more time at your bedside than on the shelf is to come prepared with a list of titles that you’re looking for. Even having a specific list of authors or subjects can prevent the hour-long shopping spree that is destructive both to the wallet and the lower back of
Too much good literature in one place might be a good problem to have, but it can be a tricky one to deal with. regular shelf space. If there are used or discounted copies of the book available, they will most likely be found at the book’s alphabetically assigned shelf space, in its genre-appropriate location. Merchants will always
An in-depth review of “Hidden Fortress” INES KUNA VANGUARD STAFF
JOSHUA HUNT VANGUARD STAFF
States selling Four Loko are dropping like flies
The lighter side of Kurosawa
the many Portlanders whose means of conveyance is bicycle. Then again, there are worse things in life than an empty wallet and a messenger bag full of great books. In this age of digital media and the deluge of information
that is offered at the touch of a button, print media does require more of the consumer. However, if the development of the printing press and the coming renaissance tell us anything, it is that the printed word also gives us so much more. Regardless of budget or literary inclination, one thing that all Portlanders should consider is shopping locally. Whether losing oneself in Powell’s City of Books, or buying the latest graphic novel at Excalibur Books & Comics, buying print media locally is something that everyone can do to keep the printed word alive. It allows the consumer to develop relationships with their merchants, helps support the local economy and also helps sustain the business model of print media in a time when its future is less than certain. There are no dog-eared pages on a Kindle or an iPad, but is that really such a good thing? ■
The film’s wide frames, party of unsuspecting characters and landscape might look familiar. George Lucas explained that “The Hidden Fortress” was an inspiration for the celebrated “Star Wars” films. The film is also interesting in its ability to stray from original character depictions, putting a strain on stereotypes. As the story is told from the perspective of the lowly, ravenous peasants, “The Hidden Fortress” gives heroic connotations to the most unlikely, but definitely not least deserving, of characters. The princess too is a surprising character. Although she seldom speaks in the story, Yuki shows great honor, bravery and resilience in her pursuit of freedom. This portrayal hardly depicts the American damsel tied to train tracks. Yuki meets, and sometimes even exceeds, the bravery of the men throughout the plot, giving a strong voice to women. Not only do the characters of Kurosawa’s film elude usual expectations, but the setting is a surprising one as well. The dry and rocky landscapes, met with the occasional shrub, are more moonlike than anything else. Kurosawa’s is a beautifully executed film. To the shallow eye, “The Hidden Fortress” might seem like a simple show. Upon further inspection, a closer look at the archetypes of the characters and the juxtaposition between humor and violence illuminates the richness of “The Hidden Fortress” and its prowess in portraying various interpretations of the human psyche, the power of violence and the value of the underrepresented. ■
The Hidden Fortress Northwest Film Center Dir: Akira Kurosawa
DREW MARTIG/VANGUARD STAFF
Theatre of magic: The Rose continues the growing trend of weird-colored Alberta buildings.
to think of ways to couch my reaction to this project without compromising journalistic integrity but the bottom line is that, despite Keith’s impeccable synth work and absolutely beautiful composition, Orianna Herrmann’s vocals are all but completely unlistenable and her stage performance borders on otherworldly. For three entire songs I thought Ms. Herrmann was SNL’s Kristen Wiig (not a joke) and then I assumed I was being put on by an artist of Andy Kaufman-level genius. I am still not entirely sure I’m not. I want to believe only a genius could craft something so expertly ridiculous. From her off-kilter wailing and blisteringly banal lyrics, to
her suddenly nasal and raspy “character” voice, to her long, flowy, black hippiedress (barefoot and all), to the theatrical gesticulations and Kabuki-esque facial contortions; I was literally leaning forward on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next bit of delicious burlesque. If this woman has pulled one over on me and it’s actually a farce, my hat is permanently off to her. She has gone above and beyond everything one would expect from a master satirist of the histrionic-Kate-Bush-clone genre. If she’s serious, she has a long road ahead of her and a lot of hard work to do. She has a lot of energy, extraordinary facial motility and clearly owns a solid pair of lungs, but
these things are only assets to performing Sondheim’s Broadway musicals unless you have enough substance to warrant writing your own original songs. Apologies to any Oracle fans who didn’t realize it sucked (also guys, the tooth fairy is your parents and Wicca doesn’t really give you magical powers). Schreiner is still one of the best electronic artists in the business, so check him out solo as Auditory Sculpture or with acclaimed MC Mic Crenshaw as the devastatingly badass Suckapunch. Maybe they’ll play the newly renovated and very lovely Alberta Rose Theatre! I feel like I read somewhere that it’s a great venue. ■
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOHO PRODUCTIONS
WE DIDN’T LEAVE YOU HANGING!
ALL PHOTOS BY AUGUST MILLER/VANGUARD STAFF
Kowloon walled city: Powell's moves an incredible amount of product, and their massive selection reflects that.
After a brief hiatus, the Gym Guide is back this week! Be sure to check out www.psuvanguard.com tonight for our own ISAA certified trainer Rian Evans’s weekly gym digest!
10 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ ARTS & CULTURE
OK, computer Do androids dream of electric skeet? JOSHUA HUNT VANGUARD STAFF
a far more lucrative purpose. Much like Facebook, OKCupid specializes in a process known as data mining. They entice users to give them valuable demographic information that they likely wouldn’t consider giving to an online survey, census-taker or in some cases, even a close friend. Media conglomerates, advertising firms and corporations will pay vast sums of money for this information, because it is their direct line to the consumer. After all, no one knows how to advertise to a consumer better than the consumers themselves. This is a model that clearly works for the ownership of OKCupid as well as their advertising interests—but does it work for the consumer? In a brave act of immersion journalism, the author has endeavored to find out. More aptly, in a foolish act of self-confession, the author must confess to having been a member of OKCupid for some time now. Having confessed as much, the author hastens to add that said membership
ARTS & CULTURE ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 11
Boredom? Where we’re going, we don’t need…boredom.
teen and young adult demographic, which is the real secret of their success. Launched in 2004 by four Harvard students, OKCupid essentially matches users based on a variant of the Meyers-Briggs personality test. The personality questions that users must answer to complete their profile range from queries about the importance of career and family to explorations of one’s sexual fidelity and predisposition toward aberrant sexual behavior. So, while it may be difficult to determine the prospects of finding a long-term partner on OKCupid, their algorithm seems as though it would be successful in at least one respect. Provided that users complete their survey truthfully, OKCupid is a fantastic place for the modern sexpot to meet his or her ethical slut. If one is inclined toward promiscuous behavior and is forthcoming about this behavior, the amorous algorithm will assign them a high match percentage, thus making them eminently more visible in one an-
Friday, Nov. 19 JonnyX and the Groadies, Sloths, The Odious Backspace isn’t normally known for its outstanding metal/thrash/grind shows, but now that they’ve booked JonnyX, maybe that’ll change. Formed over a decade ago at a friend’s barbecue (now the stuff of legends), JXatG have long been one of this city’s best-kept secrets. Usually, their role is that of opening act—they open for any loud and fast band that happens across Portland—but the good folks of Backspace have decided to roll the dice. Maybe this is a new thing for Backspace—not long ago, they played host to another delicious noisy group, AIDS Wolf. And they didn’t charge much. And AIDS Wolf ruled, but I digress. JXatG are starting the show at 7 p.m., and only charging $4, a great show that’s easy on both the midnight oil and the wallet.
OKCupid is the dating website for people who don’t use dating websites. The opening paragraphs of many user profiles read like pillow talk from a one-night stand.
PHOTO COURTESY JOSHUA HUNT
Our own Joshua Hunt: Just another bleeding-face liberal.
Postmodernism has painted the culture, media and language of our age in shades of indefinable grey. Ours is a time of great immeasurability and indefinable weight, a world of structure so intricate that it can no longer be perceived. For those coming of age with avatars in place of friends, it may seem only natural that the ways in which we love should be wrought up in the same digital constructs. The advent of online dating was not nearly as surprising as its apparent social legitimacy in recent years. Once thought to be the last bastion of the desperate, online dating has become yet another expression of postmodern
cynicism as a growth industry. One example of this trend is the online dating site OKCupid, which, as of this writing, boasts 3.5 million users. It is a privately owned venture in which users answer questions about themselves, their ideal partners, and participate in surveys, all of which are required in order to give them access to the full range of matching options. The site is free to use, but like everything, it is not without a cost. The questions which OKCupid users answer no doubt assist the site’s algorithm in matching them with people of similar temperament; however, they also have
followed the dissolution of a lengthy and meaningful relationship, and was perhaps equal parts self-flagellation and need for affection. Luckily, OKCupid has both of these things on offer. OKCupid is the dating website for people who don’t use dating websites. The opening paragraphs of many user profiles read like pillow talk from a one-night stand: “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” “This is kind of crazy, but whatever.” “I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing...” This tendency toward pre-emptive self-deprecation is important—it distinguishes the passive cynical online dater from the active and open online dater. Yet, in this postmodern landscape it is the passive cynic who plays the most active role in shaping the OKCupid universe. When the cynic makes it okay for their skeptical selves to engage with mass social media, they make it okay for all cynics to follow suit. This is the key element of OKCupid’s popularity amongst the
other’s match searches. So, what does this mathematical matchmaker have to gain from putting the young and cynical into heat on a regular basis? The sexual drive has always been a powerful component in advertising, but in helping its users to fulfill that drive, OKCupid may be taking it one step further. The teen and young adult demographic has always been key to advertisers, and yet the Internet age has produced increasingly media-savvy and cynical young consumers. The most cost-effective method of dealing with a cynical audience, it would appear, is to embrace that cynicism. When media conglomerates and corporations attempt to fight or circumvent cynicism, the net result is often an increase in awareness of their machinations, leading to even greater suspicion on behalf of consumers. By providing users with a commodity that cannot be purchased (legally), and allowing them their cynicism, OKCupid ensures that the vast ore of their data mine shall no sooner be stripped bare than the well of postmodern cynicism run dry. ■
Let’s hear it for the boy And now, a change of pace: Men’s fashion AMANDA BENTLEY VANGUARD STAFF
If you’re a typical guy, your average coldweather outfit most likely consists of a hoodie, jeans, and possibly a beanie. There is nothing wrong with that—and done well, it can be a good look—but there are ways to expand your sense of style. This may be scary, uncharted territory, but bear with me. There won’t be any dramatic changes, just simple alterations that can switch up your style while remaining practical and comfortable in the winter weather. The best way to stay warm while still looking good is to layer up. A good rule of thumb is to aim for three layers, ranging from “regular” to “medium” and “heavy duty.” To start off, your first layer should be either a T-shirt or long-sleeved flannel shirt as your base. Plain V-neck tees or a plaid flannel shirt are good ways to begin. Next, add a “medium” layer. This layer should be thin enough to wear under a heavier coat and comfortable enough that it could be worn inside without getting too stuffy. Good options are a button-up sweater, jean jacket, or even a hoodie. You can also vary the look by starting with a button-up dress shirt and layering on a pullover. Depending on the day, this may be enough to stay warm. However, as winter approaches, another layer will be necessary. The final layer you want to add is a heavyduty, weatherproof coat. This can take the form of a leather bomber jacket, wool-blend pea coat, or military-inspired coat. The “Rapture Bomber Jacket” by Obey incorporates two layers in one by including a built-in hooded sweatshirt under the outer leather jacket for extra warmth. If you can pull off the fit, skinny jeans work well with this look of bundling up the top and keeping the bottom simple. If not, please just stick to your regular cut. Sticking with traditional denim is always a safe option, but incorporat-
ing different colored cords are a nice change. To bundle up even more, add a hat, scarf, and gloves. Almost every guy already owns a beanie. Whether you’re into brightly colored ones or neutral options, you really can’t go wrong. Fur (or faux fur)-lined trapper hats are also a nice variation. It’s when the topic of scarves and gloves come up that things get a little more controversial in men’s clothing. Put your “manly” prejudices aside and go for it. Start with a black or gray knit scarf and see where it goes from there. When it comes to gloves, fingerless styles tend to be the most practical and maintain an edgy look if you think you’re too tough for your hands to stay warm. Black leather fingerless gloves provide a nice mix of edgy and practicality, but if that’s too biker for you, there are plenty of colorful knitted options to choose from. The shoes you choose to complete the outfit will really determine the overall look and pull everything together. Add a pair of Supras or Converse for a more casual look. If you want to dress it up a little, canvas loafers, dress shoes, or combat boots will do the trick. If you are feeling really creative, don’t be afraid to experiment with different patterns and textures. The “three layer rule” provides a template into which to incorporate your own style. From plaids, stripes and herringbone to different colors, the choices are endless. I know shopping can be overwhelming, so you might consider taking a girl along with you. They can help steer you in the right direction and make the shopping and styling process a little easier. Remember, you really can’t go wrong with neutrals, so if you stay with grays, blues, blacks and browns, they will all coordinate with each other if you’re unsure of how to work with different color options. It’s really as easy as one-two-three…layers, that is. ■
Campus fashion: Even his cigarette filter matches. That's dedication.
SARIA DY/VANGUARD STAFF
PHOTO COURTESY OF UVUMI
JonnyX and the Groadies
Backspace, 7 p.m., $4, all ages
Saturday, Nov. 20 Attack Attack!, Pierce the Veil, In Fear and Faith, Of Mice and Men
LKN: One of her patented dance moves: the reverse Jumping Jack Flash.
PHOTO COURTESY LESLIE FLORES/LKN/MYSPACE.COM
Stretching one’s show dollar LKN and Palo Verde bring their huge sounds to a shoebox-sized venue JAKE STEVENS VANGUARD STAFF
This coming Monday is a show that nobody with a good head on their shoulders who can appreciate masterful musicianship should miss for their life—only being able to listen to this improv duo’s “spontaneous comp” music through headphones thus far seems almost unconstitutional. Not only is Palo Verde known to be among the best musical performances in Portland, but the artists have maintained that reputation for two years without stepping onto a stage and in front of a crowd. Palo Verde consists of Lauren K. Newman (commonly referred to as LKN) on drums and vocals, supported by Terrica Kleinknecht, who serves as the melodic voice on guitar and vocals. However, a note to remember is that LKN is a one-woman band—she writes the lyrics and performs all of the music on her own albums, and very professionally I might add. The music of Palo Verde is self-described by LKN as: “mountainous, monolithic, angular, dissonance-like post-rock.” Palo Verde’s first show in two years is going to be at Valentine’s on Nov. 22. Not only is it long awaited by many, it’s also an album release party for LKN’s new album, “Split.” The album is properly named “Split” because it is a split record with the group Knife the Symphony. The record is being released by Phratry Records, which is based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The label belongs to Jerry Dirr, who also happens to be a member of the group splitting the record with Palo Verde. According to LKN, “Jerry called me this past year and asked if I wanted to go in on a record with him, so I jumped the gun on it.” LKN chose six songs for the upcoming album that were previously written by her over the period of July 2008 to October 2009. Unexpected as it may seem, when speaking with LKN, she was “not excited about putting [“Split”] out,” and added, “it is more of a look into the artists’ sketchbook.” The songs were taken from a collection of unreleased and still part of the “sketch stages” in the writing process. Although she has recorded drums for 10 other bands, LKN has a total of four albums of her own work—the latest one released in 2007. Inspired by greats including Eldon Jones, John Bonum and Zach Hill, it is no surprise that she is a very creative musician. She explained that she utilizes the drums in the writing process by
always writing the drum part first. Many musicians would see this as an unconventional way of songwriting, but LKN does an amazing job of relying on her expertise and her obsession with sound to produce her unique-sounding music. The multi-talented musician consistently toured the U.S. from 2001 to 2007, playing well-known festivals such as SXSW and Ladyfest. She has performed live on tour with an array of bands, such as Subarachnoid Space, Castanets and Bellini, providing them with her awe-inspiring drumming. LKN only wants what many musicians rarely get the chance for, let alone dare to even fathom, and her immense passion for music combined with her incredible knowledge of creating sounds have been seemingly effortless in carrying her to pursue her goal. “My goal is to be [on tour] all of the time,” she said. She also has a dream of performing in other countries around the world but once again, like so many other musicians as well, lack of funding and not having the support of an agent make that quite difficult to make happen anytime soon. As LKN and Palo Verde start to come back into the live music circuit, she plans for “my best record yet! ...It was written with Palo Verde four years ago and I have been waiting for the right time to blow it up!” She said to expect it in 2011. Aside from making her own music, she is a professional sound engineer herself and is always looking for groups that want to seek hired help in the recording process. Asking if she had any advice that she would be willing to share with anybody who is in a band she replied, “If you are serious about making money in the music industry, then get serious about the business end for music, but most importantly is to remember to have fun!” Make sure to catch Palo Verde at Valentine’s on the 22nd to support this extraordinarily driven, talented musician and her endeavors. ■
LKN, Palo Verde Monday, Nov. 22 Valentine’s 232 SW Ankeny St. Doors at 9 p.m. $3
You might not know this, but Attack Attack! is probably the worst band in the world right now. They’re probably best known for popularizing a style of music called “Crabcore,” a throwaway term which initially described the stupid way their guitarists stood in their videos.But now, Crabcore has become a real thing, and it has come to mean all bands that sound like AA!—crappy mall metal made for the preteen set. But there’s a catch—bands who imitate this style usually incorporate really bad synth arpeggios and videos where the members synchronize running in place or some other ridiculous non-metal thing. Also, what is it with bands like this; look at those last two band names. Unbelievable. Watch AA!’s video for “Stick Stickly” to see what started all this, and make sure you watch the whole thing—‘cause if there’s one thing that bad manufactured metal does, it’s try hard, all the time.
Hawthorne Theater, 6:30 p.m., $20, all ages (of course)
PHOTO COURTESY RISE RECORDS
Attack Attack!
Sunday, Nov. 21 SNDTRKR, Gardening Not Architecture, Themes You know, usually when bands do this whole “no vowels/ all caps” thing, they beat you over the head with anything they can, as a name which forces you to double-take isn’t a sign of subtlety. However, SNDTRKR (fill in the blanks) isn’t much what you’d expect. SNDTRKR isn’t bar music at all, but Rontoms isn’t really a typical joint—they’ve recently been putting on some really good shows for cheap or free. SNDTRKR, once you’ve completed the puzzle (and be careful, there’s a hidden C in there) plays stuff you might almost expect. Their “sndtrks” are huge, beautiful sprawling slices of dark, dark music, containing swirling guitars, fairly complicated percussion and even piano. Their music will provide a great atmosphere to Rontoms, one in which the attendee will be able to sit and drink, yet pay the utmost attention. PHOTO COURTESY SELF GROUP
SNDTRKR
Rontoms, 9 p.m., free, 21+
Monday, Nov. 22 The Legendary Pink Dots I know it’s Monday, but whatever plans you have for tonight, cancel them. Legendary Pink Dots are finally earning their hipster comeuppance at the Doug Fir. Since 1980, LPD has released over 40 albums to date, so if you’re just now hearing about them, you have a lot of stuff to sift through. Being a new LPD fan is like being a new Star Trek fan—you can’t just start in the middle, you have to go back to the beginning and dig through the entire canon. LPD are known for playing very strange, abstract psych-rock. Though they’re heavily lauded in Industrial circles, LPD play such free-flowing compositions that fans of all genres will take something away from their performance. Don’t sleep on this one.
Doug Fir, 9 p.m., $16 advance, $18 day of show, 21+
PHOTO COURTESY ALTERNATION.PL
Legendary Pink Dots
12 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ SPORTS
SPORTS
SPORTS ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 13
Men’s basketball finishes strong at SMU Classic
EDITOR: ROBERT BRITT SPORTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-4538
Vikings pull out a record of 2-1 in three games over the weekend KEVIN FONG VANGUARD STAFF
ALL PHOTOS BY DREW MARTIG/VANGUARD STAFF
Senior leaders: From left to right, Christie Hamilton, Diana Villalpando, Lana Zielke and Whitney Phillips.
Volleyball clinches Big Sky title Portland State seniors carry team to victory in decisive regular-season match ROSEMARY HANSON VANGUARD STAFF
Portland State women’s volleyball’s four seniors took their last stand as Viking players and led their team to a second-straight Big Sky regular season title with a 3-1 win over Sacramento State Friday in front of a loud home crowd. The Vikings now enter the PSU-hosted conference tournament this weekend with top seeding. For Portland State (19-8, 14-2 Big Sky Conference), Friday’s win did not come easy, as the Hornets put up a notable fight. Sac State won the first set and continued to pressure the home team in the remaining three sets. The first set went back and forth as both teams struggled to gain a substantial lead in
the match. Sophomore outside hitter Megan Ellis made a PSU kill to even the score at 18-all, but from there it was the Hornets (15-16, 8-7 Big Sky) who finally obtained the lead. Viking errors handed the Hornets five of their remaining seven points, leaving the home team defeated 25-20 in set one. Head coach Michael Seemann said that Sac State runs a non-traditional system, which meant his Vikings needed to play a balanced match. “We expected them to chip and tip in certain layers and for us to pursue balls, and we came out the first set and did none of that,” Seemann said. The PSU coach went on to say that the team made the necessary adjustments to keep them in the match. And the remaining set scores proved his statement to be true. The Viks
Dig and dug: Senior Diana Villalpando goes to the floor to reach one of her 29 digs.
won out the last three sets, with the second having the closest score as the Hornets fell by just three points, 25-22. Mid-set, it appeared like the Viks would be able to take the second set without much resistance from the Hornets. PSU went on a six-point run to make the score 18-11, but Sac State seemed to have an answer for everything the Viks handed them. The Hornets came back and brought the score within just three points at 23-20. A kill by Ellis put the Viks at set-point. The home crowd got on its feet, but it took two points by the Hornets before Portland State was able to secure the final point. It was in the third set that the Vikings turned the match to their favor. They led the entire set and finished it off with a nine-point run to win 25-11. Sophomore setter Dominika Kristinikova set for seven of the nine points in the ending run, which Seemann said helped to get the team back in control. “Domi’s serve really put them out of system,” Seemann said. “We were able to capitalize on that with blocks and also with good digs.” Phillips attributed the change in performance to what she called “scrappy” play. “It was great as a team,” she said. “We decided we were going to scrap back against them and not let the ball hit the floor. It was awesome to see how scrappy we can get.” With the momentum of set three fueling the team, the Viks went into the last frame
Conference champions: The Vikings won their second-straight league title with a 3-1 victory over Sacramento State Friday.
ahead and never looked back. They won the match set 25-15. The fans were again on their feet when match-point was in the air. Phillips had the serve, and an assist by freshman setter Garyn Schlatter gave senior outside hitter and middle blocker Christie Hamilton the ball she needed to make her final regular-season kill. Phillips said that her and Hamilton’s performance tonight was much attributed to their four years of experience and the fact that they have seen situations like this before. The outgoing senior also said that for them to get the kills, they needed the good balls. “We couldn’t do it without Garyn getting us balls,” Phillips said. “That’s awesome on Garyn’s part; that says a lot about how she is going to be in four years.” Schlatter led both teams with 47 assists—more than Sac State’s 39 combined team assists. Even with the high numbers on paper, the match was not as clean of a performance as the Viks usually bring to the court. Seemann said the game looked sloppy, and being out of system was an underlying issue throughout the match. “We weren’t really able to rely on the kind of offense we would typically run, and we found ourselves out of system a lot and we put a lot of pressure on our outside hitters,” he said. “I thought Megan and Whitney responded really well.” Phillips led all players in kills with 21 and had 18 digs, followed by Ellis with 12 kills and 15 digs. Hamilton had 10 kills and a team high .409 hitting percentage. The fourth senior, middle blocker Lana Zielke, chipped in nine kills and a .368 hitting percentage. Alongside Phillips and Ellis, three other Viking players pulled double-digit digs. Villalpando led all players with 29 digs. This was the first time since the Viks matched up against Sac State on Nov. 17, 2008 that PSU has had five
SET SCORES Sacramento State Portland State
25 20
22 25
players with double-digit digs. Portland State had 100 digs to Sac State’s 79. The regular season victory is just the beginning. The Viks will host the Big Sky Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the Stott Center. Phillips said that the team is excited to be on home turf.
11 25
15 25
“We are looking forward to being at home,” she said. “Our fans are awesome; they were awesome tonight.” Portland State’s Big Sky regular title gives them the top seed as they enter the conference postseason. They will play their first match against No. 4 Montana at 7:30 p.m. Friday. ■
Portland State men’s basketball played three games in three days at the Southern Methodist Classic in Texas this weekend and came home with two wins. “It’s tough to prepare and play a team with one style,” head coach Tyler Geving said. “And then have to [face] a team that plays with a completely different style the next day.” The Vikings (3-1) opened the tournament playing the hostteam Southern Methodist University on Friday afternoon. A solid team from ConferenceUSA, SMU finished last season with a 7-9 record in conference and 14-17 overall, including an upset victory over perennial powerhouse Memphis. “SMU has a very talented and athletic roster,” Geving said. Portland State fell behind early, 17-4, and never recovered. Despite their efforts, the
Vikings never got closer than eight points and trailed by double digits the entire second half, eventually earning their first loss of the regular season, 69-53. The Vikings shot just .409 from the field and .278 from three-point range, struggling to find their rhythm offensively. Junior Charles Odum was the only Viking to score in double digits, putting up 17 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, Odum’s aggressive play (2 of 4 3-pointers and 3 of 4 free throws) and senior Paul Guede’s seven points and career-high eight rebounds, weren’t enough to keep Portland State in the game. SMU was able to dominate the inside and get big-time production from their frontline. Forwards Papa Dia and Robert Nyakundi combined for 39 points and 19 rebounds, as SMU controlled the glass and out-rebounded Portland State 30-26 for the game. The Vikings, however, had to shrug off the loss quickly, as they faced a tough Lamar team on Saturday. Portland State again struggled early, falling to an 11-4
WEEKEND RESULTS Thursday Women’s basketball Portland State 69 (O/T) at UC Santa Barbara 66 S. Samms: 14 points from 5-5 shooting, 7 rebounds C. VanBrocklin: 13 points from 5-17 shooting, 2-2 free throws, 6 rebounds, 5 steals K. Valentine: 12 points from 5-14 shooting, 5 rebounds
Friday Women’s volleyball Sacramento State 1 at Portland State 3 Set scores: 20-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-15 W. Phillips: 21 kills, 18 digs, 3 assists, 1 ace G. Schlatter: 47 assists, 16 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace D. Villalpando: 29 digs, 1 ace M. Ellis: 12 kills. 15 digs PSU wins second-straight conference title
PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY LAWSON/PSU ATHLETICS
Storming the court: Junior guard Charles Odum averaged 13.3 points per game at the SMU Classic over the weekend.
deficit in the first half, but a balanced scoring effort that saw five Vikings reach doublefigures and gave the team a 5948 lead at halftime. Led by a career-high 23 points from sophomore Chris Harriel, the Vikings put up their third-highest scoring total in school history since joining the Big Sky Conference and outgunned Lamar 102-98 for the win. “Lamar is an underrated team,” Geving said. Junior-forward Chehales Tapscott was a force inside, and posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Senior starting-point guard Melvin Jones bounced back after a quiet game against SMU and
PHOTO COURTESY OF PSU ATHLETICS
Women win in overtime Women’s basketball overcomes early deficit to defeat UC Santa Barbara STEPHEN LISLE VANGUARD STAFF
SEMIFINALS Friday, Nov. 26 5:30 p.m. No. 2 Northern Colorado vs. No. 3 Idaho State 7:30 p.m. No. 1 Portland State vs. No. 4 Montana BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Saturday, Nov. 27 7 p.m. Winners from Friday’s semifinals
the field. Also, senior forward Philip “Tree” Thomas contributed 10 points off 5 of 9 shootings, with two rebounds and a blocked shot. Odum, a junior-college transfer from Southern Idaho, scored in double figures for his third straight game with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Harriel led the team in scoring again, putting up 18 points, four rebounds and four assists. After four games, the sharp-shooting Harriel leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game. “Chris Harriel had a great game, and Lozeau was great again,” Geving said. “Odum MEN'S BASKETBALL ON PAGE 15
5 3
Men’s basketball* Portland State 53 at Southern Methodist 69 C. Odum: 17 pts from 6-10 shooting, 2-4 3-pt shooting, 3-4 free throws, 1 steal P. Guede: 7 points from 2-5 shooting, 8 rebounds,
Saturday Men’s basketball* Portland State 102 vs. Lamar 98 C. Harriel: 23 points from 6-13 shooting, 2-3 3-pt shooting, 9-11 free throws, 7 rebounds, 3 steals C. Tapscott: 19 points from 7-12 shooting, 13 rebounds, 1 steal M. Jones: 18 points from 5-14 shooting, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
Football Portland State 14 at Northern Arizona 62 T. Howland: 192 yards from 16-31 passing, 1 TD, 1 INT, 4 sacks J. Lilley: 11 carries for 39 yards rushing, 1 TD N. Hutter: 7 receptions for 95 yards, 1 TD
NBA
Kelli Valentine: The senior forward chalked up 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting in Thursday's win over UCSB.
Big Sky Conference 2010 Women’s Volleyball Championship
scored 18 points with six assists and five rebounds. Odum provided big contributions off the bench again, scoring 13 points, dishing five assists and grabbing four rebounds. In their final game of the weekend, the Vikings beat UC Riverside 69-58 on Sunday afternoon in perhaps their best performance of the tournament. After a tied game at the half, Portland State took control in the second half, outscoring UC Riverside 33-22 and holding them to just 7-28 field goals. The Viking’s big men made solid contributions. Junior center Nate Lozeau was hot from the field, scoring 13 points on 6 of 7 shooting from
Club hockey Western Washington at Portland State
An exciting 69-66 victory over UC Santa Barbara in overtime gave the Portland State women’s basketball team its first win of the season Thursday. Portland State (1-1) went into Thursday’s basketball game in Santa Barbara with a much-needed sense of selfconfidence after suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss to Washington four days before.
The Viks came out strong and scored the first five points of the game, but it was a shortlived lead, as UC Santa Barbara (0-3) slowly took over and did not let up. Turnovers were the Vikings’ Achilles’ heel, as seven PSU turnovers translated into a 28-16 lead for the Gauchos with just over six minutes left in the first half. The game calmed down for the Vikings just before halftime and they went on a 15-5 run to close out the first and go into the locker rooms down by just two points, 33-31. The second half seemed to be a tug-o-war as the lead was changing and each team made short runs. The Viks looked good at first, but UCSB regained the lead and did not
give it up for the next 10 minutes of the second half. Junior guard Eryn Jones shot a jumper with just over three minutes left to give the Viks a 58-56 advantage, but it was not enough to close out the win without going into overtime. Regulation ended with a 5858 tie after UC Santa Barbara’s Mekia Valentine scored the game-tying layup. Overtime gave different players on the Vikings a chance to step up and seal the win. Boise State transfer Courtney VanBrocklin scored what ended up being the game-winner and has proven herself early with impressive stats in PSU’s first two games. It has not taken long for VanBrocklin to get into a rhythm—she finished
the night with 13 points, six rebounds and five steals. In the past there have been typical players for the Viks that step up and finish games for the team, and it is a good sign to see others getting their chance to prove their worth. Junior forward Shauneice Samms led the Viks in scoring, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. Samms ended her night shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field. Head coach Sherri Murrell has taken pride this season in the team’s overall ability and sense of confidence in her bench players and starters alike. It is believed that on any given night there could be a different set of starters on the court, and the win last Thursday in Santa Barbara helped reinforce that belief. “Both Shauneice and Courtney have stepped up the intensity on the defensive end,” Murrell said. “They are quick and have brought instant offense to our team this season.” The win was hard-fought and by no means a perfect night for either team, but when it came down to basic fundamentals Portland State edged out UCSB. The Viks recovered 54 rebounds to UC Santa Barbara’s 52, and in a close game that may be all it takes to come out on top. Another key component that helped the Viks lock up the win was that 27 of their 54 rebounds were offensive, which led to 23 secondchance points. The offensive boards helped the Viks regain the lead and get them into overtime. Keeping composure was another important aspect to the win, as coach
Scores by period 1 2 OT F PSU 31 27 11 69 UCSB 33 25 8 66
Utah Jazz 103 at Portland Trail Blazers 94 L. Aldridge: 24 pts from 10-21 shooting, 4-4 free throws, 11 reb W. Matthews: 16 pts from 6-16 shooting, 0-6 3-pt shooting, 4-5 free throws, 2 reb, 2 stl
Hockey
Murrell emphasized. “The most important thing was that we did not back down in overtime and we kept our composure,” Murrell said. “We did not execute exactly as we had hoped to, but we made important stops on defense and put the ball in the right hands to get the win.” UC Santa Barbara forward Mekia Valentine grabbed 14 rebounds and led all scorers with 18 points as well as four blocks. Valentine was one of two on the UCSB squad that put up impressive numbers. Sophomore forward Sweets Underwood added a careerhigh 15 points and nine rebounds for the Gauchos. The balance that coach Murrell has put into the Viks team is showing, as no player is working too hard to try and be the one to score all of the points or get all of the rebounds. In the win over UC Santa Barbara, there were three players that scored in double-figures and five that posted five or more rebounds. Senior forward Kelli Valentine ended her night with 12 points and five rebounds and proved to be one of the many leaders on the night to help lift the Vikings. The win over UCSB makes two straight years of the Viks coming out victorious, and now they have a short stint at home before going back WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ON PAGE 15
Kamloops Blazers 4 at Portland Winterhawks 6 Scoring summary: POR: Aronson (4), 1st/7:35 (PP) POR: Bennett (9), 1st/17:28 POR: Niederreiter (5), 2nd/2:04 (PP) KAM: Ranford (21), 2nd/3:59 KAM: Schaber (10), 2nd/15:09 KAM: Maschmeyer (2), 2nd/17:18 (PP) POR: Rattie (15), 2nd/18:49 POR: Johansen (12), 3rd/3:23 (PP) KAM: Bortnak (6), 3rd/9:34 POR: Niederreiter (6), 3rd/12:15
Sunday Men’s basketball* Portland State 69 vs. UC-Riverside 58 C. Harriel: 18 points from 5-10 shooting, 4-8 3-pt shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals N. Lozeau: 12 points from 6-7 shooting C. Odum: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, P. Thomas: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block
Hockey Spokane Chiefs 3 Portland Winterhawks 1 Scoring summary: SPO: Gal (10), 1st/4:41 SPO: Bardaro (7), 1st/4:48 POR: Pouliot (3), 1st/7:54 SPO: Koper (12), 1st/14:26 (PP) *Southern Methodist Classic
UPCOMING GAMES: Today Women’s basketball Lewis & Clark at Portland State 7 p.m. Stott Center
Wednesday Hockey Everett Silvertips at Portland Winterhawks 7 p.m.
SPORTS ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ VANGUARD 15
14 VANGUARD ■ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 ■ ETC.
ETC.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: VIRGINIA VICKERY EDITOR@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5691
CALENDAR TODAY
YOUR STARS THIS WEEK
Collaborative Research as Healing: Integrating Ethnoecology and Spirituality to Revitalize Native America
★★★★★★★★★★
4 p.m. Women’s Resource Center
Presented by Jeremy Spoon, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of anthropology. This event is a part of Social Sustainability Month.
BY STELLA WILDER
The coming week is likely to start, for many, at a high point, after the promise of the season has been fulfilled, and a year of good work and well-deserved reward has been recorded and enjoyed. Indeed, this can prove one of the high points of the year for some, though others may find that they have just missed grabbing the brass ring for themselves. Those who experience any disappointment can take comfort in the thought that while the present may not deliver as promised, next week -- and the coming year -- bode well for those who do their homework and put in sincere effort when required. A look back provides the perspective needed to launch the coming year in a positive way -- with forward momentum and an outlook that is bright and inviting. Indeed, how one sees the world can prove more important right now than usual; a positive outlook is sure to be rewarded -- and soon. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) You may be asked to take on certain responsibilities in an official capacity, though they are not at all new to you. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) -- You'll receive news from someone that has you thinking that a past difficulty has been resolved for good. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) You can avoid any kind of conflict simply by focusing on your own endeavors and doing what you can to smooth the way for others. (Feb. 4-Feb. 18) -- The best thing you can do for yourself is to get out of your own way; things can be easy. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) You may want to opt out of something that is proving quite popular with those around you; it's not for you, however, and you know it. (March 6-March 20) -- You can bid a certain familiar discontent farewell forever by making a certain right move. ARIES (March 21-April 4) -- Moderation will enable you to position yourself favorably and win the approval of those in charge. You have an advantage. (April 5-April 19) -- Promises come your way, but only a few will truly resonate and inspire your response. TAURUS April 20-May 5 -- Now is not the time to raise personal objections to a public issue, though you'll have a chance to speak out soon. (May 6-May 20) -- The line between the private and the public is likely to be blurred as a result of certain key issues.
GEMINI (May 21-June 6) -- Minor events are likely to have more sweeping effects than you might ever expect -- and the coming days will require your key involvement. (June 7-June 20) -- You can turn in a performance that is both entertaining and meaningful to those around you. CANCER (June 21-July 7) -- You may be tempted to do something ahead of schedule, but the signs that you can see will tell you that this is not advised. (July 8-July 22) -- Someone who has been trying to close the distance between you is making his or her presence felt more strongly. LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) -- You'll want to look back and assess what has been done, but take care that you don't start seeing links and connections where there are none. (Aug. 8-Aug. 22) -- A message you should have received a year ago is likely to arrive -- and it's not too late. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) -- Personal gains may not be as important to you as those enjoyed by another, thanks to your timely involvement. (Sept. 8-Sept. 22) -- Something you started earlier in the year will begin to pay off, and the view ahead becomes more clear. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) -- You may have to speak more loudly than usual in order to be heard by those whose opinions are opposed to your own. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) -- You can't expect to win over all of your critics, but one or two can actually be on your side before long. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) -- It's a good week to retrace your steps and relearn a few lessons that served you well in the past weeks or months. (Nov. 8-Nov. 21) -- While others are looking back, you'll be looking ahead; and you're ready to begin the coming year on a high note. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) -- Where originality is lacking, you can rely on those traditional strategies and tactics that have paid off most handsomely. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) -- That which you've been trying to conceal of late is likely to be revealed before the week is out. Be ready.
COPYRIGHT 2010, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
An Evening with Mara Keisling and Lisa Mottet 7 p.m. The Q Center, 4115 N Mississippi Ave.
Join Basic Rights Oregon and The Q Center for a presentation by Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Lisa Mottet, Transgender Civil Rights project director at the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce. Sponsored by the PSU Queer Resource Center as part of Trans Awareness Month.
WEDNESDAY International Student Coffee Hour 3:30 p.m. Multicultural Center, SMSU room 228
Share your experience of studying and living in the U.S. while enjoying free coffee, snacks and great company. The event is organized by the Organization of International Students and the Intensive English Language Program. ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
THURSDAY
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, November 23, 2010
1 p.m.–4 p.m. St. James Lutheran Church, 1315 SW Park Ave.
St. James Lutheran Church is organizing a Thanksgiving dinner for students who cannot go home for the holidays. The dinner is free and all are welcome.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE U S U R P E D
M I S E R L Y
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63 Pioneering D.J. Freed 64 Home, sweet home 65 Picnic intruders 66 Join with a blowtorch 67 Religious council Down 1 Note from the boss 2 “Terrible” czar 3 What a D.J. speaks into 4 Tabloids twosome 5 Ricocheted, as a cue ball 6 Tasty mushroom 7 Be hooked on 8 Thick carpet 9 Brings on a date 10 Onetime colonial power in the Philippines 11 One-third of a strikeout? 12 “Thatʼs all there ___ it!” 13 Left-handed Beatle 18 Term of address used by Uncle Remus 22 Slum vermin 24 Trample underfoot 26 Edie of “The Sopranos” 27 Homeric epic 28 Statue of a postW.W. II baby? 29 Sloppy joe holder
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La Boutique Fantasque: The Portland Ballet with the PSU Orchestra 7:30 p.m. Newmark Theater, 1111 SW Broadway
Ticket prices range from $12–$45. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Portland Ballet website at www.theportlandballet.org.
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Hear community leaders, authors, scholars and students talk about the American Indian and Alaska Native history and modern experience in Oregon, including statistics on ethnic disparities, land rights and educational needs. Take Back the Tap
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Want to learn more about bottled water and its social and environmental impacts? Take Back the Tap will be having weekly meetings each Monday to inform students about the national campaign and its impacts at PSU.
Puzzle by Fred Piscop
31 Bed-andbreakfasts 33 Unduly severe 34 Like a good singer 36 Wearing a long face 39 Result of a governorʼs signing 40 “Inka Dinka ___”
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Football ends season on sour note ALLISON WHITED VANGUARD STAFF
Entering Saturday’s meeting with Northern Arizona, it seemed that the season could not get much worse for Portland State football—then the Vikings suffered a jaw-dropping 62-14 loss to the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona boasted a
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ferocious defense, so it wasn’t expected that the anemic Viking offense would put up many points. The Viking defense, lousy through the past four games, wouldn’t be expected to contain the Lumberjack offense, but the Lumberjack offense has often struggled within itself this season. Saturday’s loss—the largest point differential the Viks have experienced all season in conference play—closes their sea-
Spirit Mountain hosts Caged Combat
4 p.m. Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd.
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Portland State Northern Arizona
FRIDAY
The Native American Experience in Oregon
Edited by Will Shortz 37 Homo sapiens 38 “The Wizard of Oz” coward 39 What a roof is usually built on 40 Dagger 41 Bit of Web video gear 42 Small earrings 43 A sheriff may round one up 44 Horatian creation 45 Hunterʼs garb, for short 46 Like a mud puddle 47 Cheer (for) 49 Vintnersʼ valley 51 Cash-back deals 54 Condiment at Nathanʼs 59 Touch on 60 $10 bill enclosed in a Valentine card? 62 “Jeepers!”
DeShawn Shead: The junior cornerback had 50 all-purpose yards on Saturday.
Scores by quarter 1 Free Thanksgiving Dinner
MONDAY
Across 1 Mynah bird, e.g. 6 Has to 10 Send by FedEx or UPS 14 Mrs. Perón 15 Worker welfare grp. 16 Noted tower site 17 Seventh day, in the Bible? 19 Westernmost Aleutian 20 “Iʼll have another” 21 “Tired blood” tonic 23 Cheesy sandwich 25 Having all oneʼs marbles 26 Truth stretcher 30 Go hog wild 32 P, in Greece 35 One way to think or read 36 Homo vis-à-vis humans
Over before it began
42 Loch Lomond local 43 Blood bank supplies 46 Cowboy boot feature 48 Solemn vows 50 Make changes in 51 Sitar music 52 Black, to bards
53 Dover ___ 55 Man-shaped mug 56 In a bit, in poems 57 Give a makeover 58 Did some batiking 61 Kilmer of film
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.
Wanderlei “The Axe-Murderer” Silva makes appearance at sold-out event KEVIN FONG VANGUARD STAFF
A packed house witnessed an exciting evening of mixedmartial arts competition Friday night, as United Combat Sports presented Caged Combat II at Spirit Mountain Casino. Fans were treated to a mix of amateur and pro fights, as well as an opportunity to meet special guest and mixed martial arts legend Wanderlei Silva. The 34-year-old Silva, still considered one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s top contenders, was all smiles before the event, signing autographs and taking photos with fans—a stark contrast from the viscous and seemingly remorseless in-ring reputation that has earned him the moniker “the axe-murderer.” “[Local MMA] events open doors for new fighters,” Silva said, who had brought up a handful of fighters from his training camp in Las Vegas to compete at the event. “I love to
come to shows like this.” The night opened with seven amateur fights. In the smallest fight of the night, 125-pound competitors Airi Alcaraz and Jessie Lane threw big blows in a three-round battle. Alcaraz controlled the stand-up action, but Lane was able to use his wrestling background to take the fight to the ground and grind out a decision victory. “With us little guys you know what you’re going to get,” Lane said. “You’re going to get fast pace and hard hits. People think we can’t pack a punch, but while one of the big guys hits you with one punch, we’re going to hit you five times, so I’ll take punches in bunches over power any day.” Later in the night, local-favorite Cameron Holsclaw beat Kelly Nelson via rear-naked choke in the evening’s only heavyweight bout. A rematch from their first meeting where Nelson was the victor after a first round knockout, Holsclaw came into this fight with much more focus this time around. “We [heavyweights] go out there and swing as hard as we can and try to knock each other’s heads off,” Holsclaw said. “And if you can get two big heavyweights rolling
son at 2-9 overall and 1- 7 in conference play. This matches their dismal record from last year when they tallied their worst record in 27 years. The win for the Lumberjacks helped them out of the red, and closes their season with a 6-5 overall record and 4-4 in the Big Sky. The PSU offense—which hasn’t seemed able to find its footing since junior quarterback Connor Kavanaugh went out with an injury against Eastern Washington three weeks ago—could get nothing going through the first three quarters on Saturday. They scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the Lumberjacks answered those points with 14 of their own. The Viks were only able to get 15 first downs throughout the entire game. Junior running back Cory McCaffrey has been a bright spot for the Viks in an otherwise dreary season. However, an injury to McCaffrey in the beginning of the game left them with a huge hole to fill. Without their key rusher, Portland State’s running game sputtered. The Viking average of 2.5 yards per rush was its lowest of the season against a conference opponent. In four of their last six losses, the Viks have had yards per rush averages of at least 5.4 yards. The Lumberjack running game, however, found some serious legs. They had four rushing touchdowns with three of those coming on long runs of 49, 75 and 82 yards. They had 394 rushing yards with 219 of those coming from one Lumberjack running back, Giovannie Dixon. The Lumaround, doing some wrestling, and doing some jits, well, then that’s something you don’t see every day.” The first of four pro fights saw Matt Slasser and Nate Becker trading shots in a 145-pound competition. Making his debut as a professional, Slasser was quicker, tighter and sharper with his strikes, knocking out Becker with a left hook almost four minutes in the first round. “I’ve never knocked anyone out before like that in a fight, so it’s been a long time coming,” Slasser said. “I was pretty nervous before, but after that win, I’m just feeling really excited.” 145-pounder Jason Gybles defeated Silva trainee John George in the night’s bloodiest battle. A wicked back-andforth fight that eventually saw George submitting to a rearnaked choke in a puddle of his own blood. “It’s incredible,” Gybles said with pride. “To know that the guy trains with world-class people, getting into a cage with him is a very intimidating feeling, but in the end it doesn’t matter who you train with, it matters who you are.” However, the best was saved for last, as the main event provided a thrilling finish. Silva-product Massimo Capsuela faced off against possible UFC prospect Jake Mcknight in a 155-pound competition. Capsuela rocked McKnight on multiple occasions and was
berjacks garnered a whopping 10.9 yards per rush average. While the Viking defensive front was dismal against the Lumberjack running game, the Viking secondary wasn’t able to hold up against the Lumberjack’s passing game. NAU quarterback Michael Herrick is a good passer by any measure, but he had a phenomenal day. Herrick was very accurate, going 18 of 22 for 261 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. In the end, the Lumberjacks had 655 yards of total offense compared to the Vikings’ 296 yards. Senior quarterback Tygue Howland, who is in his sixth season with the Viks, started his third game of the season. He finished the game completing 16 of 31 attempts for 192 yards. He also kept the ball and ran seven times but netted only 12 yards. Harland sustained four sacks from an aggressive Lumberjack defensive front. The Lumberjacks only had to punt the ball four times over the course of the game. It would be easy to blame the loss on mistakes. The Vikings had four of them, three fumbles and an interception by senior quarterback Tygue
Howland, and lost three of those. The Lumberjacks turned all of those mistakes into points. Coming off of four turnovers in a row, three of them in the second half, the Lumberjacks went into halftime with a 35-point lead. However, the Lumberjacks committed plenty of mistakes of their own. They too had four turnovers and they lost them all. It was just an ineffective Viking offense that could not turn them into points. Three of the fumbles came in succession during the third and fourth quarter giving the Viks field position in opponent territory, but the Viks could only turn one of them into points. This was the last game of the season for the Viks and the Lumberjacks. This can’t be the ideal way to end the season and there is no doubt this loss will linger. It will be nine long months until Viking fans will get a glimpse of what head coach Nigel Burton has done to fix the deficiencies of this team. There is no doubt he can do it; there is real talent on this team, but he’s going to need some time, as evidenced by this season. ■
Stats comparison PSU
NAU
Yards rushing Yards passing Total offense First downs Fumbles (lost) Sacks by (yards) Time of poss. Third-down conv. Fourth-down conv. Red-zone scores
394 261 655 23 4 (4) 4 (37) 26:16 1 of 8 1 of 1 3 of 3
104 192 296 15 4 (3) - 33:30 4 of 17 1 of 3 1 of 3
MEN'S BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 13
and Thomas gave us a great spark off the bench.” Portland State showed good balance offensively, with 10 players scoring in double figures in the team’s two victories over the weekend. The team moved the ball and played aggressively in their last two games, recording 40 assists compared to just six assists in the loss to SMU. The Vikings bombed away, averaging 18 three-pointers per game and shooting .351 on those attempts. Still, the Vikings seemed to be at their best when they clamped down defensively and controlled the paint. Portland State is shooting .481 from the field, .380 from the beyond the arc and .769 at the line through four games this season. The Vikings have a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving break before returning to practice and playing their next game when the team hosts Seattle University (2-5) on Dec. 1 at the Stott Center. ■ Vikings’ top SMU Classic performers Chris Harriel Sophomore guard 15.3 ppg, 4 rebs, 2 assists, 1.6 steals, .500 FG, .540 3pt, .866 FT Charles Odum Junior guard 13.3 ppg, 3.3 rebs, 3.3 assists, .570 FG, .375 3pt, .733 FT Chehales Tapscott Junior forward 10.3 ppg, 7 rebs, 2.3 assists, .500 FG, .500 3pt, .833 FT
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 13
KEVIN FONG/VANGUARD STAFF
Going for the choke: Fighters at Caged Combat II take the fight to the mat.
winning the fight, until the veteran McKnight capitalized on a mistake by the younger Capsuela, catching him in a triangle choke for the comefrom-behind win. “I wasn’t ready for his power and he came out and beat the [snot] out of me,” McKnight said. “I was thinking ‘quit hitting me,’ cause it hurts...I’m not a triangle choke guy. I would never go into a fight saying that I wanted to triangle someone...I just got lucky.” “[Capsuela] is a great fighter,” McKnight added. “I have a lot of respect for him.” After the fight, the 33-yearold McKnight showed the sportsmanship and camaraderie that’s often overlooked by critics of the sport, graciously giving his opponent credit and offering Capsuela advice from his own experiences.
“I’m not in this to be the bully on the block, I’m in this because I love to compete,” McKnight said. “It’s a sport that I felt like I was able to do well at. I have no interest in fighting on the streets, because I do this every day in the gym with my friends. I like to [compete] in front of people, entertain them, its a sport to me; it’s not just about fighting.” Despite the losses by his fighters, Silva was proud of their performances and looks forward to other local shows by United Combat Sports. “Congratulations on the event, it’s a nice place and there were some great fights tonight,” Silva said. “I have two other guys that I want to try and bring up for another show.” ■
on the road for the Colliers International Classic in Berkeley. The Viks will be tested in the upcoming weeks, as five of eight of their next games are on the road. The win over UC Santa Barbara is huge for helping the confidence of the team going into tonight’s game with Lewis & Clark at the Stott Center. “Just knowing you can win on the road builds confidence in the team,” said Murrell. “I have told the players that we are going to be road warriors and do our best to grind out the always-important road wins.” Murrell stands by the idea of trying to win one game at a time and simply “win the day.” Avoiding thinking about hard losses, and doing the same even when coming out victorious, will be a large component in staying competitive as the Viks chase their first-ever regular season title in the Big Sky Conference. ■ Shauneice Samms 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 of 5 shooting Kelli Valentine 12 points, 5 rebounds Courtney VanBrocklin 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals