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VOLUME 78 • ISSUE 17 • NOVEMBER 23, 2023
S
o l u tion
PSU
s P
.4- 5
HOUSING
INSECURITY
OPINION:
ARTS & CULTURE:
SCIENCE & TECH:
PSU’s relationship with Boeing goes against the university’s values
New MENASA center creates home-like environment for students
New report delves into potential chemical hazards after the Big One
P. 6–7
P. 8–9
P. 10
SU P T A L L A R O F N OLUM C M R O F T A L P N O SU N OPINI
OPE
FILIATION W/P • STATE NAME AND AF OSEN BY THE EDITOR CH D AN ED TE AN AR PAID, NOT GU COM • SUBMISSIONS ARE UN ITOR@PSUVANGUARD. ED TO NS IO IN OP D AN ORIES • SEND THOUGHTS, ST
CONTENTS
COVER DESIGN BY BRIANA CIERI
NEWS Housing insecurity at PSU
P. 4–5
SCIENCE & TECH Navigating post Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake hazards
P. 10
OPINION Portland’s mutual relationship with a war profiteer
P. 6-7
NEWS CROSSWORD Answers in stories
P. 11
ARTS & CULTURE Grand Opening of MENASA Center at PSU
P. 8-9
COMMUNITY & WELLNESS RESOURCES Updated weekly
P. 12
STAFF EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Kat Leon
SPORTS EDITOR COMING SOON
MANAGING EDITOR Brad Le
OPINION EDITOR Cameron Rodriguez
NEWS EDITOR Zoë Buhrmaster
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Alberto Alonso Pujazon Bogani
CO-NEWS EDITOR Alyssa Anderson
ONLINE AND PROMOTIONS EDITOR Alley Henrici
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Macie Harreld
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tasha Sayre
SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Anish Kumar Arumugam
COPY CHIEF Isabel Zerr CONTRIBUTORS Amber Finnegan
PRODUCTION & DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Briana Cieri TECHNOLOGY & WEBSITE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS George Olson Hongzu Pan Sara Ray ADVISING & ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Reaz Mahmood SALP ACCOUNTANT Maria Dominguez STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR Rae Fickle
To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@psuvanguard.com MISSION STATEMENT Vanguard’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-on journalism education and a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market. ABOUT Vanguard , established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com.
CONTRIBUTORS Write. Edit. Photograph. Film. Design. Illustrate. Create. WRITE: News, Arts & Culture, Science & Tech, Sports and Opinion PHOTO & FILM: Create engaging content that captivates our audience in modern and creative ways EDIT: Ensure precision, clarity and consistency in every article DESIGN: Create impactful visual content that empowers, respects, educates, guides and shares truth Learn skills, build a professional portfolio and make your own schedule. We are willing to train inexperienced applicants who demonstrate ability and a desire to learn the skills. Contributors are paid for published work.
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Letters from the editors MEET ANISH KUMAR ARUMUGAM, VANGUARD’S NEW S&T EDITOR ANISH KUMAR ARUMUGAM
COURTESY OF ANISH KUMAR ARUMUGAM
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
Hey everyone! My name is Anish Kumar Arumugam and I am a first term graduate student in engineering and technology management at Portland State. I am the new Science & Tech editor here at Portland State Vanguard. I am responsible for delving into the latest breakthroughs, technologies and scientific activities around our university and around Oregon in general. It is a role that not only aligns with my personal passion for S&T but also allows me to contribute meaningfully to Vanguard's overarching mission of informing and engaging our diverse readership. What I find particularly uplifting about my position is the opportunity to bridge the gap between complex scientific concepts and the wider community. In a world where scientific advancements impact every facet of our lives, it is crucial to communicate these developments in an accessible and compelling manner. This challenge drives my dedication to delivering accurate, engaging and informative content that empowers our readers with knowledge. Being a part of Vanguard goes beyond personal fulfillment, it is about contributing to a collective effort to serve the greater mission of our newspaper. We—as a team—strive to be the voice that amplifies the diverse perspectives, achievements and concerns within our university community. Through my role, I aim to bring S&T to the forefront, making it relatable for all. Certainly, consider joining our team if you are a student who loves to learn, explore and have fun while at it. We can continue to make Vanguard a reliable source of information and inspiration and create a space where ideas can grow and stories can be shared. Come along with us on the exciting journey of telling stories, learning new things and building community at Vanguard. Let's make a difference together!
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HOUSING INSECURITY AT PSU
PSU DOESN’T ALLOCATE ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR STUDENT NEED LUCAS ETHRIDGE AND ZOË BUHRMASTER Within the first seven weeks of the fall quarter, the Basic Needs Hub—or the Hub—assisted over 200 students with housing insecurities. That’s an average of about six students per day—all with minimal funding from Portland State. The Hub provides students with food, housing and financial relief. The Hub has one navigator—Lee Ann Phillips—who handles referrals at PSU. From Monday to Friday, she chats with students face-to-face. “So we have quite a few students who are living in their car,” Phillips said. “I’ve had three this week who have come in who are living in their car right now. So really, universities are really looking at this now.” At the Hub, students meet one-on-one with a social worker known as a needs navigator who works with them through housing insecurities. College Housing Northwest (CHN) can direct eligible students to Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS). The ARCS program subsidizes living costs. Students pay a much more affordable rate through the program, and the deal also includes internet and most amenities. Five other higher education organizations coalesce under ARCS—Clackamas Community College, Portland Community College, the National Education Association, Oregon Health and Science University and Mount Hood Community College. Each branch has a coordinator who refers eligible students. Students eligible for ARCS pay $500–850 monthly to live in CHN. Currently, 34 students live here. Recently, 12 students moved out, seven of whom had graduated, Phillips said. Right now, she has seven on the waitlist. Student Legal Services (SLS) offers enrolled students free representation. SLS can resolve landlord-tenant disputes and other areas. The SLS also wrote the Renters’ Rights Handbook, an all-encompassing guide for the rights and responsibilities of student tenants. The handbook also contains essential information on leases, laws and fees. Phillips stressed how underfunded they are and how the Hub has struggled to secure donors.
FUNDING
The Hub can purchase vouchers for students so they can stay in hostels or hotels. However, PSU doesn’t give the Hub money for this expenditure. The Hub funds services like hotel vouchers in a couple of different ways. The emergency needs fund mitigates housing insecurities and impending houselessness. However, there are some conditions. An ad hoc committee oversees the fund. The student government is then responsible for disbursing the funds.
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NEWS
ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI/PSU VANGUARD
The Basic Needs Hub struggles to get donations and receives no direct financial support from the university
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI/PSU VANGUARD ated, and the rest went into ARCS. Losing the Landing left a mark. Instead of sending students to a place where they can stay temporarily for free, the Hub uses its inroad with campus hotels. University Place Hotels offers students temporary boarding for a reduced price. Phillips has set aside rooms for those in distress. A kingsized bedroom typically costs $130 versus the $89 after the discount. Youth hostels—such as Lolo Pass and Youth Hostel International—also accept students at discounted rates.
THE HUB’S OTHER RESOURCES
The Hub also gives out emergency meal vouchers. Fee-paying students can redeem it at Victor’s Dining Center in Ondine. Vouchers are just one way the Hub addresses food insecurity. SNAP is a state and federal-funded program. All eligible, low-income individuals and families can apply. Any student taking at least partThe hub provides what it can for students but it struggles to meet the demand amid rising student need time fulfills the criteria. First, they confer with an application assistant who looks at all itemWorries about food, housing and finances have increased this ized expenditures—rent, mortgage, grants, financial aid, utilities school year. Worse, houselessness is on the rise. Some students and certain child care and court-ordered support. The amount will end up dropping out. Phillips urges PSU’s administration goes up by household, up to three people. now more than ever to take action. The Hub also links the SNAP Training and Employment The Hub relies on the state. Program (STEP). STEP aims to set up success. Students can “There’s no funding,” Phillips said. “I only get funds through learn skills conducive to gainful employment. A case manager the state. I haven’t been able to find any yet. I’m hoping during works with them. Together, they build a pathway that advances the Day of Giving we can get some more. Because we don’t have their career and education goals. The plan prioritizes the stua lot and everything that I offer [at the Hub] has been donated.” dent first. Each month, they get assigned a task, moving towards “The amount of resources—food insecurity, housing inse- the endgame—graduation. All enrolled students can fill out an curity, financial—are just going up,” Phillips said. “With PSU application. participating in that it would be great. We also understand that enrollment is down. But it would be helpful for us to find a way. A SPIKE IN HOUSING INSECURITY We could use more navigators. I’m the only one for students.” The Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative (HRAC) The Hub reported that half of the student body has experi- collates national data with studies on the PSU campus. The enced food insecurity, 45% have experienced housing insecu- most recently completed study—done in 2019 and published rity and 16% have experienced houselessness. in 2020—showed that PSU students experience slightly higher PSU President Ann Cudd cited the emergency funds and SNAP rates of housing insecurity than the average. To compare, HRAC training program for student success when asked how PSU sup- Co-Founder Greg Townley referenced studies done by the Hope ports the Hub, though both these are funds and programs pro- Center, a temple university that does national studies on housing. vided through the school from the state. Regarding PSU’s support “The numbers are in line with national figures, but slightly of the Hub, Cudd held out a verbal votive. higher,” Townley said. “For four-year universities our numbers “Portland State does feel that it’s really important,” Cudd said. are higher than the average. They’re closer, more comparable, “We do support the administration of that and it is an impor- to community college rates, which isn’t too surprising considtant resource for our students. Again, there are lots of opportu- ering what a large percentage of transfer students we have.” nities to support students on campus. This is one that certainly This fall, HRAC began conducting another study, sending out the need has grown rapidly over time, and we’re doing the best a survey to students focusing on students’ needs and desires rewithin our limited resources to help with that.” garding low-income housing. Previously, the Hub ran two shelters. One of them called The The survey has ended, and Townley and HRAC Assistant Landing shut down in June due to a lack of funding. Before clos- Director Jacen Greene are beginning to lay out data inforing, students were allowed to stay there temporarily while look- mation about housing insecurities, needs and preferences. ing for more permanent options. They said they are hoping to have the results finalized someThe Landing supported a maximum of eight students. Over time in December. 24 students came and went while it existed. At the time of the Greene laid out what each phase of the study would entail. shutdown, the Landing was hosting six students. The Hub and “Phase 1 of the study, which led to this report by PSU’s the Landing advisory board found all six housing. Two gradu- Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative, includes a
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
literature review, a summary of student survey results, a description of programs based on interviews with staff and administrators, an analysis of programs at other institutions and a set of recommendations for better addressing housing needs,” Greene said. “Phase 2 includes the results of a comprehensive survey on housing insecurity and homelessness to be conducted this fall, as well as a pair of reports by outside consultants and options for creating additional student housing and addressing policy barriers.” The Student Experience Survey sent out in 2019 and 2020 revealed a spike, with over 60% of students experiencing some form of houselessness or housing insecurity. “We always need to be working in tandem between hardship funds and emergency shelters,” Townley said. “Those are always needed… but too often, the conversation seems to stop there. You have to constantly keep putting out fires until you actually have the permanent base of housing where students know they have housing they can stay in.” In 2023, PSU secured $750,000 from the Community Project Funding Opportunity, directing the award towards addressing houselessness and housing insecurity. The bulk of the funds was dedicated to supporting at-risk students, while the remaining amount funded three distinct analyses. HRAC oversees the Barriers to PSU Student Housing Security initiative, examining best practices, surveying housing instabilities and exploring potential programs. An external consultant assesses the housing market and identifies new building locations. The concluding report provides recommendations for policy changes based on local, state and federal laws. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) wrote a guidebook concerning housing insecurity in higher education. Greene recommends HUD’s advice alongside the Education Northwest Basic Needs Services Implementation Rubric. The new survey is intended to highlight the needs of those marginalized who are often at a greater risk for experiencing forms of houselessness, such as first-gen students, Oregon opportunity grant students, international and immigrant students, those formerly in foster care and those formerly convicted of a crime or involved in the criminal justice system. Greene endorses several significant changes. First, the university should keep equity in mind. Get students, student resource centers and the office of global diversity and inclusion involved. Many groups need different types of support and engagement. Secondly, build free and subsidized housing. Funding should also be for programs, staffing levels and expertise. Lastly, Greene said the university should streamline emergency fund applications. The different rules and requirements can be confusing. A combined form might clear these hurdles. Bring in other programs, centers and offices so that they can coordinate regular meetings, he recommended. The hope is that the new study will provide HRAC with information on the current unique risks and needs of students so that they can lay the foundation to implement better permanent housing solutions on campus. “It’s important to have the emergency sources but this focus is on housing,” Townley said. “All housing is shelter, but not all shelter is housing.”
NEWS
5
PORTLAND’S MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WAR PROFITEER ONGOING STUDENT RESISTANCE CAMERON RODRIGUEZ A growing wave of student resistance against administration actions mirrors broader protests exposing United States military involvement. This involvement is not without profiting, benefiting both those seizing power and those peddling tools of domination. It is crucial to scrutinize Portland State’s association with Boeing—a war profiteer and lobbyist—and recognize its stark contradiction to the school’s professed ethos. The recent rally for the Cut Ties with Boeing campaign gathered in the Urban Plaza. A flier handed out at the rally read, “PSU holds a ‘special recruiting and hiring relationship’ with Boeing, a major contributor to the PSU Foundation. U.S. documented drone strikes alone have killed over 2,000 civilians since 2004 in Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen. Boeing is a key provider of fighter jets and bombs to the Israeli military in its assault on Gaza. Take Action against PSU’s complicity in war crimes!” As the rally started, it was filled with calls to action and chants, including “From Palestine to the Philippines, stop the U.S. war machine.” People spoke with a sense of collective action and solidarity, understanding that these struggles are intrinsically intertwined. Various people, spanning different ages and demographics, gathered to attend the rally and hear speakers convey their
message to an attentive audience. The primary objective was to raise awareness about the mutually beneficial relationship between Boeing and PSU. “PSU is one of only 13 Boeing supply chain focused universities, meaning that Boeing recruits PSU supply chain students every fall term,” stated the PSU global supply chain undergraduate program. Several organizations organized the rally, including Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and the Resist U.S.-Led War Movement. The Jewish Voice for Peace Portland also joined halfway through after they held their sit-in across town to support the cause. The campus rallies and collective activism are powerful, as students actively participate and speak out, advocating not only for their justice but also for the justice of others. The school’s history of neglecting students and the campus community voices calling for cut ties with Boeing is an ongoing struggle for studentled cultural and anti-imperialist groups. The rally was not only centered on Boeing’s funding to the university, but also raised concerns about the university providing students with opportunities to work for a company involved in war profiteering, potentially causing harm to individuals, including those from their home countries. “At this rally, we had someone talk about the U.S.-Mexico
border whose family actually was forced to migrate and nearly risked their lives coming through the border,” said Cody Urban, an organizer of the rally. “The border fence and the entire border apparatus of the U.S. is funded by Boeing. They give surveillance drones. They actually give the planes that [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] uses to fly migrants away when they’re captured by ICE. So that’s a major point. There is also the Philippines. We had a speaker who talked about how Boeing gives attack helicopters and bombs to the Philippine government that acts on U.S. interests in the Asia Pacific, and that is killing people in the Philippine countryside.” These influences—wielded by both the U.S. and Boeing—are utilized in overt wars, conflicts and aggressive forms of control. Various student groups are joining together in collective resistance against these influences. Corporations like Boeing play essential and highly problematic roles in current conflicts with an incentive to sell their products and services. They have a bias towards the ongoing war machine as that is how they profit the most. A corporation profiting from war will not work to end violence; it will only expand and encourage it. If we want peace and justice for all people, as it aligns with students and the community, PSU would need to cut ties with corporations that make money
CAMERON RODRIGUEZ/PSU VANGUARD Students gathered on Oct. 19 to call on PSU to cut ties with Boeing given the company's problematic connection to U.S. involvement in international conflicts
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OPINION
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
CAMERON RODRIGUEZ/PSU VANGUARD selling weapons of mass destruction. When it comes to selling war, Boeing’s position, ideology, or intent don’t matter as long as someone pays. Does the school want to be aligned with those interests, or is it rather indifferent to both the funding source and the values upheld by the organizations it funnels students into? Is money the only thing that matters? What about community and education? Or ‘serving the city’? How does making bombs serve the city? Neoliberalism is the modern system of politics and economics of our current society, and it seeped into PSU like other schools, making decisions that cut student engagement and care if they are not profitable. It is one thing to be constrained to the conditions of a given system, but it is another to uphold and reify its power. Rather than empowering students, numerous universities— PSU included—confine their students to specific tools, resources and spaces. There is an expectation that degrees must not only be earned but also purchased. After graduating, students lose their previous capacity for protest, rallies and organization. When students push for change, the administration often opts to wait them out, a strategy that tends to be successful. So far, the strategy has been effective with Disarm PSU, an organization predating the 2018 killing of Jason Washington. Despite the school’s assurance of unarmed patrols, armed patrols only took a few months to resume. The strategy has also been effective with the Cut Ties with Boeing campaign, which has existed since at least 2016 when the student government Associated Students of PSU advocated for PSU to divest from Boeing. Most students invest two to six years on campus, engaging in coursework and activism. Although the administration traditionally waits for movements to fizzle out, the current scenario suggests a resilience that might defy this expectation. The struggle has been connected with the city more than ever as calls for ending occupations and wars are gaining traction at PSU and all over Portland—people have been demonstrating. It financially makes sense to allocate limited attention to stu-
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
dents and faculty, seeking support from wealthier donors, as there is a constraint on how much students alone can contribute. The evidence lies in the school’s actions and proposals. Budget cuts have negatively affected student-led organizations and care facilities for students and faculty. Calls for a cost of living increase by adjunct faculty and now PSU staff were met with university barriers and needed mouths of negotiation and threats to strike for minimum action. In Portland, public schools advocate for decent care and safe environments while grappling with crumbling infrastructure. Everyone should be aware of the ongoing struggles against settler colonialism, which was referred to in the rally to cut ties with Boeing. Though many people might think we are past the
days of colonialism or things like that are not happening, it is time to realize that it only adapted with our changing societies. Settler colonialism played a significant role in the development of the U.S., and corporations profit from investing in its ongoing international continuation. What is apparent is that there is money in controlling land, there is money in selling colonialist weapons and there is money in training students to sell those weapons. It is crucial to reflect on these considerations, foster solidarity networks and identify what is worth fighting for in these uneasy times. Resistance is rising from actions all over our university and across the globe right now. Though these demonstrations at PSU have yet to be violently suppressed, the future is uncertain.
OPINION
7
ISAIAH BURNS/PSU VANGUARD
House of Tarab, a Seattle-based Arab band, performed at MENASA’s grand opening
GRAND OPENING OF MENASA STUDENT CENTER CULTURAL CENTER OPENS THANKS TO DEDICATED ADVOCATES ISAIAH BURNS A sizable crowd spilled from the inside of the room outwards, buzzing with laughter and joyful conversation. Once inside this room, one was greeted with warm lighting, smells of warm meals and lively music. Authentic artwork and furniture were scattered with great intention throughout the space—bits and pieces of a variety of cultures, all chosen with care. This is the newly renovated MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) Student Center, located in room 238 of Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU). The center had its grand opening on Nov. 8. Portland State has lacked a center dedicated to the MENASA region for many years, despite the fact that a significant population at PSU have heritage and connections to these places. This center aims to be a welcoming space and resource center for students with ties to the MENASA region, though all are welcome.
SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING
Members of the PSU community have been calling for a multicultural center dedicated to students of the MENASA regions for quite some time, seven years in fact. In the summer of 2016, the proposal for the MENASA Center was first mentioned in a cultural center strategic plan. It wouldn’t be for another five years that this plan would really begin to come into fruition, when a room in SMSU was officially dedicated as the center in 2021. However, the center was incomplete, lacking much of what it has today. It wasn’t until 2023 that
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ARTS & CULTURE
the MENASA Center really came into its own. At the forefront of the grand opening of the fully actualized center is Ahmed El Mansouri, the assistant director of cultural resource centers at PSU and program coordinator for the MENASA Center. “I just want to say that I think PSU is so lucky to have Mansouri here,” said PSU President Ann Cudd in her address to the crowd at the opening ceremony. “Mansouri is an incredible leader. He has really studied conflict resolution and the ideals of peace and dialogue, and we are very grateful for your leadership.” “It took about a year,” said Mansouri in reference to the process of getting this center to its current state. “Eight months of visioning, and then four months of execution.”
A CENTER OF GREAT INTENTION
Mansouri’s work is dedicated to the stability and growth of the center, as a community building resource for MENASA students. During the grand opening, he buzzed around the room for hours, greeting and conversing with everyone who came through. “I feel like I brought a certain part of the house with me,” said Mansouri in reference to the presence and general feeling the center invokes. “I think one of the biggest things is that we’re using this space as a tool, really, to offer students a piece of their home.” Mansouri describes the space as an effort to create a homey atmosphere. Walking in, one is instantly greeted with a plethora of cozy amenities, from the warm lighting and pleasant smells,
to the soft furniture in the northwest corner, complete with a 4K fireplace livestream, which ties everything together in a humorous yet simultaneously comforting manner. To call this place a home would hardly be hyperbole, in fact it’s barely even a metaphor. The center is divided into five different sections, each of them designed after a room in a house. First off is the kitchen, directly to your right as you walk through the door to the center. Complete with a refrigerator, ice and everything you need to prepare food. This one-stopshop is more than one might expect to find in a campus lounge. “You can heat up your food,” Mansouri said. “You can literally cook breakfast here if you wanted, because we have all the tools that you can accomplish that with!” Next up is the living room, straight across from the kitchen. Complete with a library, couches, a television, a gaming console and video games. Then there’s the private study section, a comfortable lounge similar to the living room, but complete with tools for zoning in on personal work. Across is the group study section, where students can use an audio-visual projector and screen, printers, computers and a whiteboard for whatever they see fit. Finally, there’s the meditation area. “If they just want to take a short nap, if they want to meditate, if they want to pray, [they can do that here],” Mansouri said. The meditation area offers comfortable throws, beanbags, pillows and sleeping pads for students to utilize. These areas come together to make a vibrant yet relaxing space
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
which not only honors people from the MENASA region, but is additionally welcoming to all who wish to engage. It is this celebration of MENASA cultures and the desire to share it with others that make this center so unique. All of the decor in the room has a story. Everything was selected as a tribute to the cultures the room aims to serve. “I could have a conversation with you about this light, or about this table, and that is going to be very rich in culture,” Mansouri said. Indeed, the decorations stand out when one walks into the room. On a table in the living room sits two lego sets—one of the Taj Mahal and the other of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The ceiling lights are one aspect of the room’s design which reveal a careful thoughtfulness. At first glance, they may not stand out much, 15–20 light bulbs scattered throughout the ceiling. However, upon further inspection, it becomes apparent that the lights are placed about at seemingly random intervals. Some are only a couple inches apart from one another, while in other sections of the ceiling there are gaps of a foot or more. This is because each of these lights represent a country capital from the MENASA region. For instance, with the entire ceiling representing a map of MENASA, the light in the very center of the room represents Cairo. The reasoning behind this artistic inspiration is complex, and comes back to the initial goals which were laid out when planning out what this center ought to be. “When we were meeting as the cultural resource center team in the summer to plan for [the next year], we were revisiting our values, our mission, and our vision,” Mansouri said. “We had a hard time initially differentiating between vision and mission. We eventually came to the conclusion that when you have a vision, that involves the future.” “Our vision was a campus that has people with intersecting identities being able to show up without any compromise,” Mansouri said. “They don’t have to hide any aspect of their identity. They show up exactly as who they are. That’s our vision in, say, five years, six years, 10 years—whatever the case may be.” Mansouri explained the center’s current missions being undertaken to accomplish a long term vision. “And what would be our mission now?” He said. “Our mission would be to create cultural spaces as a platform for these processes to take place and encourage that through our events, programs and training.”
THE GRAND OPENING
ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI/PSU VANGUARD The center seeks to make an environment where students feel at home
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
The opening of the center began at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8. At 4 p.m., several speakers addressed the crowd which had come for dinner and games at the center, including Cudd. “Portland State University is committed to being a welcome place of support, access and inclusion for all,” Cudd said. “This center formalizes our commitment to providing the same supportive space at PSU for the students of the MENASA region. A place where you can gather, access resources and engage in meaningful dialogue.” The opening event had live music, with four musicians playing a variety of instruments in the study section of the room. Three of these musicians were from a Seattle-based Arabic music ensemble called House of Tarab. “Tarab is a word that doesn’t exist in English,” said Michael Nageub, one of the band members. “It’s the transcendent feeling you get when you listen to music like this.” Dr. Ame Lambert—the vice president of global diversity and
inclusion at PSU—also spoke at the event. “When I think of the MENASA Center, I think of a tale of two dreams,” Lambert said in her address. “First, the center represents a dream realized, that is the dream of having a physical center. It was a long, five-year journey, and I celebrate all of you. All of you are students who raised their voices, advocated and persisted.” Lambert went on to thank the Associated Students of Portland State University and the Student Fee Committee for their efforts in approving $250,000 to fund the new center. “Secondly, the center represents a hopeful dream that has not yet been realized,” Lambert said. “And that is that this center will be a place for transformative engagement across differences, perspectives, personalities and even conflict.” The road to founding this center was long and challenging, but through persistence and determination a passionate group of people have been able to bring this dream to life.
ARTS & CULTURE
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NAVIGATING POST CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS CSZ EARTHQUAKE MAY CAUSE CHEMICAL SPILL, RESEARCH SAYS
BRIANA CIERI ANISH ARUMUGAM
Imagery ©2023 Airbus, CNES/Airbus, Landsat/Copernicus, Maxar Technologies, Metro, Portland Oregon, State of Oregon, U.S Geological Survey, USDA/FPAC/GEO, Map data ©2023 Google Maps
If you’ve lived in Portland for a while, you’re probably familiar with the risks associated with residing in this region along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ)—a fault located 70–100 miles off the Pacific coast. The CSZ increases our vulnerability to 9.0 magnitude or greater earthquakes coequally known by Portlanders as the Big One. However, you may not consider the danger that could arise after a large earthquake when structural instability poses a threat of releasing toxic chemicals. Luke Hanst, partnership coordinator for the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State, has recently researched and published a report on the potential of earthquake-induced hazardous materials releases in Multnomah County during the CSZ earthquake. Hanst’s focus on natural hazard mitigation for the city of Portland evolved into working on the earthquake response plan. “One of the community lifelines FEMA identifies are hazardous material [HAZMAT] facilities, which led us to explore the vulnerabilities and risks associated with them,” Hanst said. HAZMAT facilities at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI Hub) are a significant concern for Portland regarding the aftermath of Portland’s future CSZ earthquake. According to the Multnomah County Office of Sustainability, The Ww is a six-mile stretch of industrial development along the west shore of the Willamette river. Facilities in the CEI Hub store more than 90% of all liquid fuel in Oregon. Various acids, potentially explosive chemicals and toxic inhalation hazards are stored in different container types in facilities across Oregon. If these hazardous materials are released during the CSZ earthquake, it could add to the potential danger. According to Hanst, prior research from Multnomah County and PSU has described a potential catastrophic scenario stemming from a magnitude 9.0 CSZ earthquake, which could lead to a substantial oil spill of 90–180 million gallons of petrochemical
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SCIENCE & TECH
products at the CEI Hub. Hanst’s work for Multnomah County follows the footsteps of those researchers to also look at the risks of other hazardous facilities which store a variety of acids, potentially explosive chemicals and toxic inhalation hazards like chlorine and anhydrous ammonia housed in a variety of container types. This prompted a year-and-a-half-long venture to assess the risks. According to Hanst, many developers constructed these facilities before the state implemented crucial code changes. Therefore, these buildings might not meet the necessary seismic design requirements despite their high safety standards. The report mentions that the proximity of this CEI hub to natural assets—such as the Willamette river, Columbia river and the dense urban core in the city of Portland—make the risk of accident, spill or significant failures due to a seismic event particularly concerning. Additionally, the impact on environmental resources—including agriculture, fisheries, wildlife and coastal ecosystems— highlights the broader consequences of seismic events. Such a catastrophic release will threaten the health of people who live or work near the CEI Hub with exposure to toxic concentrations of evaporating petrochemicals and further the impact of fires which are likely to start during the earthquake. These threats would arrive when public response operations are limited and face significant barriers, including widespread infrastructure damage due to the seismic activity. Hanst’s report also noted the lack of post-earthquake emergency plans for HAZMAT facilities—a gap in regulations not unique to Oregon. While these facilities maintain emergency response plans, they may not be viable after an earthquake when transportation and communication infrastructure are damaged. Addressing long-term impacts, Hanst acknowledged the potential risks to agriculture and the environment. While immediate threats to life safety stem primarily from toxic
inhalation hazards, historical examples suggest the possibility of spills causing harm over an extended period. The need for research and concrete plans to mitigate these risks became evident. In discussing the paper’s direct implications for the PSU campus, Hanst acknowledged the uncertainty, stating that the impact depends on variables—such as wind direction, earthquake magnitude and many other variables—meaning continued research is critical. While the PSU campus is further from high-risk industrial facilities, the complex nature of potential hazardous releases necessitates coordination with local authorities for comprehensive planning. Hanst stressed the importance of standard earthquake preparedness across the board. “Being two weeks ready with sufficient water and food stored is crucial,” he said. The uncertainties surrounding hazardous material releases make it challenging to provide specific guidelines, but if done strategically, sheltering in place could be an option. Folks should educate themselves on shelter-in-place guidelines as well as decontamination guidelines. It is essential to look to Multnomah County and other public agencies for guidance on personal protective actions. Hanst highlighted the need to support earthquake safety in hazardous material facilities through legislative efforts and community engagement. Engaging with local legislators and joining neighborhood emergency response teams were highlighted as tangible steps for individuals to contribute to preparedness. You can build a safer, more resilient community by staying informed and actively participating in preparedness efforts. Understanding and preparing for these potential risks becomes essential to living in Portland. Awareness and being proactive in earthquake preparedness ensures everyone a safer and more secure future.
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
VANGUARD CROSSWORD Answers in stories KAT LEON
Vanguard Crossword - Crossword Labs
11/20/23, 12:20 AM
Vanguard Crossword
Across:
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1. Studied conflict resolution and the ideals of peace and dialogue, “Ahmed El ___”
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3. Student shelter which was shut down in June, “The ___” 5. Corporations profiting from war will not work to end this
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8. This played a significant role in the development of the U.S.
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10. Portion of student body who experience food insecurity 11. Stores more than 90% of all liquid fuel in Oregon, two words
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12. Helps students advance career and education goals 13. Sufficient water and food stored is
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crucial for this
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Down: 11
2. Approved $250,000 to fund the new center, three words
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4. Student center seven years in the making
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6. These represent a country capital from the MENASA region, two words
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7. A war profiteer and lobbyist 9. “Since 2004, U.S. documented drone strikes killed over 2,000 ___” 14. Worries about food, housing and finances lead some students to do this, two words
https://crosswordlabs.com/view/vanguard-crossword-2
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com
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CROSSWORD
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Community & Wellness Resources UPDATED WEEKLY By Kat Leon
Happening soon ASPSU Women’s Basketball Friendsgiving Viking Pavilion Nov. 25, 1 p.m. Free for students Join ASPSU at the PSU women’s basketball game for a Friendsgiving!
VSA Boba and Buddies
Resources
Wellness
PSU Basic Needs Hub
SHAC Mind Spa
SMSU Suite 435 Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free for students
UCB Suite 310 Mon–Fri (by appointment) Free for students
Helps students access resources such as funds, food, housing, employment, childcare and health support.
Solo space to experience biofeedback, light therapy, meditation, massages, relaxation and more. Must be enrolled in at least five credits for summer or fall.
PSU Food Pantry 1704 SW Broadway (temporary location) Tues–Thur, 12–4 p.m. Free for students
SMSU 327 Nov. 27, 5 p.m. Free for students
Access to free groceries in a welcoming, equitable, trauma-informed way. Must be enrolled in at least one credit for summer or fall.
Join the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) for a chill workshop, with boba and games to meet new people!
SMART Recovery Meetings
Harvesting Hope Food Drive
University Center Building 340 E Times vary Free
La Casa Nov. 27, 12 p.m. Free for students Last day you can drop off non-perishable food items in La Casa Latina and the Pan African Commons
Social Hour ESM Student Study Lounge Nov. 27, 1 p.m. Free for students Join the Association of Environmental Science students for a social hour!
Community Vigil Parkway North Nov. 28, 5 p.m. Free for students ASPSU has planned a candlelight vigil this term to honor and remember all the lives we’ve unjustly lost
Trans Women Community Project Printmaking RISO lab (Art Annex 170) Nov. 29, 12 p.m. Free for students Join the Trans Women’s Community Project for an afternoon of printmaking
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RESOURCES
In peer recovery, students with shared experiences connect to reduce stigma and build a campus recovery community.
Bipolar Student Connection Coco Donuts Tues, 12 p.m. Free for students Casual meetup every Tuesday for the remainder of the fall term where you can bring homework and study! It’s a way to meet new people and chat.
Mindful Meanderings Listen on Spotify Available 24/7 Free PSU-produced podcast about being mindful while outside, practicing gratitude, finding joy and being in the moment
SHAC Weekly Online Parent Support Group
Telus Health Student Support
Online Thursdays 11 a.m. Free
Download on App Store or Google Play Available 24/7 Free
Come together as parents in a relaxed setting to support each other, share ideas, collaborate and commiserate
Connecting students with free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support
Community Technology Space
Workshop Wednesday Video Series
730 SW 10th Ave. Suite 111 (entrance on SW 9th Ave.) Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free
Watch on Youtube Available 24/7 Free
Multnomah County official cooling center with access to free technology, internet, limited books and events
PSU Campus Recreation Center staff videos about topics ranging from Leave No Trace and plant identification to hiking spots and land acknowledgments
Oregon Energy Fund
BORP Online Fitness Studio
Varying Locations Mon–Fri, hours vary Free
Watch on Zoom Mon–Sat, hours vary Free
Provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians to support household stability
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program’s (BORP) virtual exercise classes for people with physical disabilities
PSU Vanguard • NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • psuvanguard.com