Portland State Vanguard 10-18-2012

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Celebrities stoop to new social media lows Opinion page 11

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Portland State University Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 | vol. 67 no. 15

Clean air coming your way

Gearing up for election

Smoke-free zones to be enforced Erik Mutzke Vanguard Staf

It’s happening all over Oregon.

In 2009, Portland Community College became a tobacco-free campus.

On Sept. 1, Oregon State University and the University of Oregon also became smoke-free.

Starting Jan. 1, 2013 Portland State is introducing a Clean Air Corridor— officially beginning the university’s campaign for a clean air environment on campus.

The corridor will be a designated pollution-free zone in the heaviest foot traffic areas of campus: between Lincoln Hall and Cramer Hall; Cramer Hall and the Smith Memorial Student Union; SMSU and Neuberger Hall; and Neuberger Hall and Shattuck Hall.

The university currently has no plan in place for a designated smoking area on campus.

The hardest question for planners to answer has been where smokers are going to go, according to Alex Accetta, campus rec director, who helped put the plan together.

“We understand that there will be unintended consequences and it will take at least two years to figure out.

We are still in a stage of forecasting and have decided to begin with one compact area,” Accetta said.

See clean air on page 3

KAYla nguyen/VANGUARD STAFF

amanda fritz (left) and MAry Nolan face off about Portland’s issues at the city commisioner debate. Flouridated drinking water and urban renewal were among the topics discussed.

PSU hosts city commissioners Josh Kelety Vanguard Staff

Portland city commissioner candidates Amanda Fritz and Mary Nolan came to Portland State Monday night for a verbal wrestling match.

About 50 people gathered in the Cascade Room in the Smith Memorial Student Union to listen as the candidates sparred over the city’s Education Urban Renewal Area plan, fluoride and each other’s political records.

With elections just around the corner, the exchange served as a

critical chance for both candidates to prove their worth, not just to the Portland community but to PSU students in particular. The debate was organized by the Associated Students of Portland State University and the PSU Debate Team.

Fritz, the incumbent, is a retired registered psychiatric nurse. She was elected to the Portland City Council in 2008 and was a member of the Portland Planning Commission for seven years. She was born in England.

Nolan, a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2001, was House Majority Leader from November 2008 to November 2010.

One of the first topics was the city’s planned Education Urban Renewal Area, a plan projected

to provide up to $169 million in tax increment financing for investment in educational facilities, affordable housing and private taxable development in the downtown University District.

Nolan said she is a strong advocate of these development programs.

“It [urban renewal program] has lots of potential and has done wonderful things,” she said, calling the plan a “top priority.” “[Because of ] the critical role that Portland State plays, and the critical need for having a really strong university, I support the education urban renewal district,” she said.

Fritz, on the other hand, does not support the plan, and voted against it in May.

Life in the extreme Studying nature’s most uncanny embryo Maya Seaman Vanguard staff

COURTESY OF Claire Riggs

killifish embryos can survive in mortally harsh enviroments.

There is a creature that can survive without oxygen. It can live for weeks without water.

It stops its own heart for months at a time, and starts it up again without physical repercussions.

This organism could be an evolutionary key to helping humans survive life-threatening illnesses.

To hear it described, one might envision something out of a superhero comic—an indestructible mutant or a genetically advanced alien. A being that is larger than life.

In reality, it’s a fish embryo.

The annual killifish is a fish found in the deserts of Africa and South

America. Yes, you read that right— deserts.

They live in small puddles and ponds that form after intense seasonal rains and are called an “annual” because they only live for one year.

Once the ponds dry up, the adult fish die. Any spawned eggs are left in the hot, caking mud, where the embryos somehow survive without oxygen.

Claire Riggs, a graduate student of biology at Portland State, studies the killifish’s tolerance for zero oxygen, a state called anoxia.

“As humans, we don’t do very well within a matter of minutes without oxygen,” Riggs said. “If we can learn some of [the killifish embryo’s] tricks, maybe that can be applied

“Urban renewal is supposed to be for blighted areas,” she said, adding that PSU has already had much investment and that there are other, more deserving, areas of Portland.

“If we are going to invest more in blighted areas, we should invest more in really blighted areas,” she said. “If we look around at Portland State, it is not a blighted area. It already had its turn at urban renewal.”

The moderator asked several questions about how the candidates approach civic engagement and how elected leaders should interact with and respond to their constituents. The issue first came up via a question about representation See debate on page 4 to help people survive heart attack or stroke.”

During development, killifish embryos go dormant when exposed to harsh conditions such as anoxia.

They reduce their metabolism to base levels, put their cell development on pause, and can even stop their hearts for more than 90 days with no consequences. f that mechanism could be developed in humans, it would be a major breakthrough for cancer therapy or reducing the damage caused by lack of oxygen during a heart attack or stroke.

To determine how the killifish survives and, moreover, how it can start its heart back up without tissue damage, Riggs examines its microRNA. “MicroRNA can suppress genes.

The thinking is that maybe something is being suppressed during this See killifish on page 4

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Vanguard • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • news

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NEWS

Editor: Deeda Schroeder news@psuvanguard.com 503-725-3883

Tandem treats New Park Blocks vendor sells vegan hot dogs Cassandra Moore Vanguard staff

When Cicada Zayda moved west to Portland, his life in Akron, Ohio wasn’t the only thing he left behind.

The day he moved, he gave up coffee, cigarettes and animal products. The crosscountry drive he and a friend made to the Northwest was edgy, to say the least. “[In the car] my friend was like, ‘Dude, I think you’re driving over the [yellow] line,’” Zayda recalled. “I was like, ‘No I’m not,’ Jesus!”

The son of a Holocaust survivor, Zayda and his wife, Rocks, are the Park Blocks’ newest food cart vendors.

Settled into a life far removed from his old vices, Zayda and his wife ride to work on a rainbow-colored tandem bicycle and sell vegan hot dogs bedded in homemade organic buns with a choice of vegan mayonnaises.

“My wife, a lot of the time, is like, ‘You have to understand, people are kind of afraid of you,’” Zayda said. “‘You can look big and mean.’”

Zayda, who is playful and chatty with customers, looks

anything but big and mean as he tells a customer to hold out a finger to try homemade almond-based cheese sauce.

“I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything like this,” the customer said, to which Zayda responded by pumping his hands in the air.

Zayda is happy he left Akron behind. “You always have to front in Akron,” he said. “Mad dog, yeah. You have to mad dog people. You can’t be nice in Akron.”

One of those small American towns with little else for young people to do but party and run from the cops, Akron is a place where people get stuck, he said.

“I have a friend that was always like, ‘You gotta get out of Akron,’” Zayda recalled.

“Then one day I was sitting in Akron’s town square when this old guy came up and told me, ‘I always wanted to leave Akron, too, but I never did.’ I thought: This is going to be me if I don’t get out of here.”

A friend of animals who hopes to someday open an animal sanctuary, Zayda throws bits of bread to the Park Blocks pigeons.

“I want people to tell their children to stop chasing the pigeons,” he said. He thinks it scares them, and that pigeons

CAssandra Moore/VANGUARD STAFF

Cicada Zayda dresses a vegan hotdog. All of Zayda’s products are vegan. have feelings, too.

“My dream is that, one day, if I get robbed, the pigeons [because I’ve befriended them] will come to my aid,” he said.

Zayda tries to befriend all the creatures in the Park Blocks. “Did you know crows bury things? I never knew that. Oh, and pigeons don’t like blue corn chips,” he said.

Handing a customer a chili dog, Zayda pulls change for a $10 bill from his pocket, where he admits he also sometimes keeps a lucky 20-sided die.

“It’s the stupidest thing.

I’m thinking that when I car-

ry it around all day I’m putting my good luck into it and then when I play [Dungeons and Dragons] that luck will come out.”

Like many Portlanders, Zayda and Rocks dream of living off the grid and building their own cob house. Like many Portlanders, their business endeavor is an homage to DIY culture.

For months they pushed their handmade cart over the Hawthorne Bridge, Rocks pulling it on the tandem while Zayda pushed from behind.

Having worked his share of mindless jobs, and having

turned down an offer to manage Portland’s only vegan strip club, Zayda feels, finally, that the cart business is a fit.

He certainly appears to be in his natural element, chatting up customers and making jokes with people who come over and give him half-hugs like old friends. “[Rocks and I] are good people that love animals, and, I don’t know, we just want the world to be a better place, and want people to drive less.”

Handing a customer a chili dog, he says, joking, “OK, that’ll be 40 bucks, please.”

Singing out, looking for the spotlight The Green Note inspires and entertains with vocal talents Austin Maggs Vanguard staff

Students strolling through the Park Blocks at half past noon on any given Wednesday will likely be surprised by an unfamiliar sight— and sound.

It’s soulful and well-crafted, and listeners are lured closer to hear them sing.

Portland State’s only a cappella group, The Green Note, performs every week to gain recognition.

Senior theater major Devin Wieser, internal manager for The Green Note, described a cappella as music without instruments—everything is done using just voices.

“We have a beat boxer that holds the beats to all of the songs,” Wieser said. “It’s very percussive…you have to sound like an instrument.”

Formerly an all-female group, The Green Note became coed three years ago when the group’s current music director, Ian AdamsDirks, joined the team.

“When I joined, there were about nine girls and I was their beat boxer,” AdamsDirks said. “[T]hen we added dudes the next year.”

Elisabeth Scott, the group’s

external manager, said the group has an ambitious vision.

“We wanted to be a competitive coed, a ‘Why do it if you don’t want to be the best?’ kind of group,” Scott said.

Scott, Wieser and AdamsDirks joined at the same time, and have spent the last year and a half working toward that vision.

Now, they’re simply working toward getting noticed by performing in the Park Blocks.

“We’re all students here, so we just make sure people know who we are,” Wieser said.

Performing in such a public place has helped recruit new members.

“That’s part of our weekly performances,” said sophomore Alexa Mansur, who joined after seeing the group perform. “It is to get our name out there and to make a name for ourselves, but also to see if people are interested and come to auditions.”

Sophomore Chris Stumpf also joined The Green Note after seeing the group perform.

“I cut back on my music because I wanted to focus on my communication degree,”

Austin Maggs/VANGUARD STAFF

Justin Bueley works the crowd with The Green Note a capella group behind him. The singing ensemble performs in the PSU Park Blocks every Wednesday.

Stumpf said. “[T]hen I just saw them performing, then all of those feelings and everything I just loved about music, I saw in them and thought, ‘I need that and want that.’”

Aside from their weekly Park Blocks performances, The Green Note also schedules free on-campus concerts for PSU students.

They hope to land paying gigs for holiday parties and produce their own CD. The goal is to raise $5,000 through paid performances

and assistance from PSU’s Student Activities and Leadership Programs.

Because the group is new, they receive the lowest amount of funding available from SALP. “We currently have $3,000 a year,” Scott said. “When you’re trying to record an album, it’s going to cost $8,000 or $10,000.”

Scott and the rest of The Green Note intend to help record the CD, a process that requires members to record individual parts, load

recordings onto a terabyte hard drive, and then mix each one into eight songs for all 16 members.

Competitions, uniforms and T-shirts were cited as other general expenses for The Green Note and, should the group hold a concert off campus, they’d be burdened with the cost of the space.

“Our biggest challenge this year isn’t going to be being financially independent from SALP, but raising far more money than SALP can give us,” Scott said.

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS •• TUESDAY, TUESDAY, • Thursday, • TUESDAY, JANUARY JANUARY Oct. MAY24, 18, 17, 1, 2012 • VANGUARD

Global problem, local solution Discarded electronics a growing modern problem Andrew Morse vanguard staff

Have you ever surfed the Internet, planning your dream vacation? You may not ever reach your destination, but there’s a good chance your computer or iPad will.

Last week, Portland State’s Campus Sustainability Office and the Environmental Club presented a screening of the new documentary Terra Blight, a film that explores the negative health and environmental effects of discarded electronics.

Filmmakers Isaac Brown and Ana Habib, joined by Liane Kocka, a representative from local nonprofit Free Geek, were at the screening to answer questions from moviegoers after the film.

The problem of electronic waste—often called e-waste— is out of sight and mind for many Americans. Bombarded with a constant flow of new devices, it’s easy to toss an old monitor or laptop in the trash without considering where that material will go.

The volume of waste is increasing at an alarming rate.

“These things are becoming antiquated faster,” Brown said.

Kocka echoed those sentiments, warning that the total amount of e-waste will double by the year 2015.

Peter Daeges, an economics major and coordinator of the Environmental Club, helped organize the film screening.

He hoped to raise awareness among students about ways that they can get involved.

With previous experience recycling electronics at work and through Free Geek, Daeges said, “I wanted to make it apparent to people that this needs to become normal.”

Even if the effort is made to recycle an old device, there

is no guarantee that it won’t eventually land at a dump site in a developing nation overseas.

Areas most plagued by e-waste are those with a large second-hand market for electronics. The film’s main area of focus is Ghana, but the filmmakers also mentioned China, Vietnam and India as problem areas.

Terra Blight depicts a common scenario: Overseas companies buy up computers from recyclers in the United States with the intent of selling them locally. The computers aren’t always tested by the recyclers beforehand to see if they work, and some models are obsolete and unsalvageable.

Once the unusable devices are shipped abroad it’s entirely up to the new owners to dispose of them. That’s when American electronics begin to pile up in foreign landfills.

It’s not just an issue of space and material waste; a number of chemicals from electronics seep into local groundwater.

Government institutions are one of the biggest sources of e-waste in the U.S. Ordinary consumers also contribute, with smaller electronics being an underappreciated factor.

Efforts to combat the problem at a global level have involved domestic recycling projects and legislation such as the Basel Convention, making it illegal to ship used electronics overseas.

Other ideas have been proposed, such as take-back laws, which would hold manufacturers responsible for disposing of products once their working life is up.

The hope is that this would lead to more environmentally friendly designs to begin with.

Some have even suggested compostable parts for devices like cell phones.

Awareness is increasing, companies are getting more involved,” Habib said. She places her hope in the consciousness of consumers to make responsible choices about electronics.

Daeges pointed out that the EC’s Green Space, next to Food For Thought Cafe in the Smith Memorial Student Union basement, has bins for recycling batteries and small electronics.

Students can also propose ideas and projects for the EC at any time, or just stop by the Green Space and strike up a conversation.

Similarly, the Institute for Sustainable Solutions provides funding for student-led sustainability projects.

Called the Solutions Generator, their program “is specifically hoping to fund a project that improves battery and e-waste recycling at Portland State,” Laura Gleim, communications coordinator for the ISS, said in an email.

The ISS is holding an information session Oct. 18 from 6–7:30 p.m. Ideas for this or any sustainabilityrelated campus project are being accepted until Oct. 22.

In regard to the issue of electronics, Daeges is not a fan of using the term e-waste.

“It’s seen as waste when it’s not,” he said.

Daeges thinks the problem is a lack of understanding and effort being made to recycle and reuse electronics.

Locally, Oregon has a program called Oregon E-Cycles, run through the Department of Environmental Quality. It accepts computers and monitors, but currently not peripherals such as key boards and mice.

Free Geek is an official Oregon E-Cycles collection site. The nonprofit stresses reusing computers before recycling them.

They have donated over 10,000 refurbished computers within the local community and have kept over 3,500 tons of electronic waste out of landfills by responsible recycling.

Free Geek is always accepting donations and volunteers.

Tech Waste: Terra Blight highlights the effects of e-waste in Ghana. PSU’s Enviromental Club helped organize a recent screening of the film.

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clean air from page 1

No plans for designated smoking area on campus at this time.

CLEAN AIR CORRIDOR

COURTESY OF pdx.edu

the shaded area from Lincoln Hall to Shattuck Hall is the new Clean Air Corridor. The smoke-free zone goes into effect Jan. 1 and will include a ban on idling vechicles, leaf blowers and small utility vehicles.

The existing smoking shelter between SMSU and Neuberger Hall will be removed and replaced with bicycle parking.

Largely unknown to the students and public, the university implemented a campus-wide no-smoking policy that banned smoking within 25 feet of most buildings’ doors and windows.

“PSU’s smoking policy since 2007 has never been followed the way it was implemented. Now we are focusing on enforcing the policy,” Accetta said.

Enforcement is only one facet of the corridor.

It is designed to create an environment free of exhaust from idling vehicles, gaspowered leaf blowers, pressure washers and small utility vehicles. Smoking, however, is clearly the issue of highest concern.

Survey data was used to gauge community sentiment about the issue.

An extensive survey went out to all students, faculty and staff in 2007, when dialogue for the Healthy Campus Initiative began.

Another went out early this year, created by Gwyn Ashcom, health educator at PSU’s Center for Student Health and Counseling. Its purpose was to see how the community felt about smoking on campus and in the Park Blocks.

Of the 4,005 respondents, 66.98 percent were nonsmokers, 17.01 percent were current smokers and 16.01 percent were former smokers.

Of students surveyed, 57 percent strongly agreed to a smoke-free campus, while 62 percent agreed to a smoke-free Park Blocks. There has been a 7 percent increase of favor for a smoke-free campus in the four years since the 2007 survey was issued. Furthermore, the response rate almost doubled, from 2,100 in 2007 to 4,005 this year.

“This survey guided the work and considerations for the smoking policy at PSU. The research helped me to make an informed assessment and recommendation for PSU, with information straight from the community,” Ashcom said.

“I’m optimistic about this because the majority of people who answered the survey felt that PSU and the Park Blocks should be smoke-free.”

Starting in January, there will be signs and posters in and around the corridor area.

At first, enforcement will be through education campaigns on the new policy. PSU Transportation and Parking Services will enforce policies regarding vehicles idling around SMSU. The Dialogue Dome, located in the Southwest corner of SMSU, is a busy place for smokers to gather. It was originally built by graduate

student Heidi Moore, and intended as a covered place for students to chat, but it has become almost exclusively a place for smokers.

“It’s taking away from the other people who would want to use that space who don’t smoke,” Accetta said. “We have had people complain about the smoke as they walk through these areas to take their kids to day care.”

Will Laubernds, an exsmoker and former PSU student, has been a major contributing force to the corridor, with his background in public health.

When speaking with Accetta during the early stages of designing the corridor, they came to the conclusion that the corridor represents more than just a smoking ban. It comes down to a broader model of “clean air” in general, and providing protection and safety from air pollutants and secondhand smoke for anyone on campus.

“Everyone sees this as a smoking ban, but it’s more than that. Our goal is not to target any certain group and say what is bad and what you should not be doing,” Laubernds said. “Rather, this is about offering and creating a greater sustainable solution to improve the lives and wellbeing of people on campus.”

For more information about the corridor, visit pdx.edu/ healthycampus/clean-air.

kayla nguyen/VANGUARD STAFF

The Dialogue dome is a popular smoking spot near the corner of the Smith Memorial Student Union.

COURTESY OF Jellyfish smack productions

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VANGUARD • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • News

debate from page 1

Tension rose with criticism of 911 dispatch system

COURTESY OF jason Podrabsky

adult killifish live in desert ponds and puddles that form after heavy rainfall. Jason Podrabsky studies their tolerences; his biology lab is a world resource for captive Killifish.

Killifish from page 1

Killifish: a potential biomedical treasure trove metabolic dormancy,” Riggs said. By exposing killifish embryos to anoxia at different developmental stages, Riggs can examine the DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid) of the embryo and see if there’s a change in the microRNA over time.

“The embryo has all these genes, and they aren’t all necessarily expressed,” Jason Podrabsky, Riggs’ advisor, said. “We’re interested in that nexus between the gene expression program that’s critical and essential for development, and how that gets altered by the environment.”

This reversible control of its metabolism is what makes the killifish unique among vertebrates and a potential biomedical treasure trove.

Podrabsky’s biology lab is currently the world resource for captive annual killifish.

Podrabsky personally collected a large population of killifish in Venezuela, and

maintains more than 60 breeding pairs that produce the embryos his students study.

His research on killifish began with an interest in how the environment affects development. While Riggs studies how killifish embryos can go dormant, Podrabsky and his other students study additional tolerances.

For example, killifish embryos can withstand being placed in liquid with a pH level of 2, the acidic equivalent of lemon juice. They can withstand high ultraviolet radiation and salinity twice that of seawater, and they can survive without water entirely by forming a “biological glass” around themselves to keep water inside their eggs.

“They become like little marbles,” Podrabsky said.

“They even clink.”

Called cross-tolerance, it is possible that the killifish embryo’s resistance to life without oxygen has similar genetic mechanisms that allow

it to thrive under additional adverse conditions.

“Tolerance to one thing ends up making you tolerant to another,” said Josiah Wagner, another graduate student studying the killifish and its grab bag of survival traits.

Podrabsky calls the killifish embryos “vertebrate extremophiles,” and believes that their developmental processes in the face of such severe environmental conditions could provide insights into how animals—including humans—might similarly alter development.

“All vertebrates share the same basic developmental mechanisms, so if we can understand how to alter development in a fish, it’s very likely we can apply that in some way to humans,” Podrabsky said.

Given that environmental conditions can affect developmental progression, the killifish embryos are an anomaly. Their developmental environment should kill them; instead they have established ways to thrive.

“The argument would be that evolution has already solved all of these problems.

Maybe not for our lineage, but it has for this fish,” Podrabsky said. “If we can figure out how evolution solved it, then maybe we can mimic that in humans to alter people’s survival times and reduce damages.”

Though a practical application for humans is a long way off, Riggs’ research has garnered plenty of attention: She received a predoctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation. This highly prestigious award will give Riggs three years of funding, allowing her to continue her research as she pursues her doctorate.

“Claire is so intelligent, and is really dedicated to using science for the betterment of the human condition; that’s what’s always driving her forward,” Podrabsky said.

While the answers to surviving anoxia may come from an embryo smaller than a pea, it is clear Riggs is onto something big.

PSU hosts Food Justice Symposium Portland State recognizes national Food Day Gwen Shaw Vanguard staff

In honor of Food Day, Portland State will host a Food Justice Symposium on Monday, Oct. 24.

The symposium—put on by PSU’s Food Action Collective, PSU faculty and various community partners—will be held at the Native American Student and Community Center on campus, 4–7 p.m., and is open to all.

Food Day is a nation -wide celebration highlighting healthy, affordable and sustainable food. This is the first time PSU will participate with an event.

“The goal is to highlight the inner connections of our food systems,” said Carolyn White,

a graduate student studying research policy in the public administration program and one of the event’s organizers.

The symposium will consist of a welcome and an overview, followed by an hour of panel discussion.

After the panel discussion, there will be a facilitated question-and-answer period with the panelists and audience, leading up to a community dinner and networking time.

Confirmed panelists are Martin Donohoe, a PSU professor of community health and senior physician at Kaiser Permanente; Sharon Thornberry of the Oregon Food Bank; and Jaime Arredondo, board member and treasurer of Capaces Leadership Institute.

Fresh Produce at the Portland Farmers Market can be purchased with food benefits.

corinna scott/VANGUARD STAff

Food and drink will be provided by Nawitka Catering, a nonprofit community organization that, according to its website, provides work experience, training and employment for the local Native American community.

White explained that the

event is a way for people to become aware and learn more about the food available to them.

“Hopefully people will leave with a better idea of what food justice is,” she said.

The NASCC is located at 710 SW Jackson St.

within city council, and the contrast in development of Portland’s west side and east side.

“I do think we have issues of inequity in access to decision making, to sharing of power, to influence around the city,” Nolan said.

Both candidates were quick to spotlight their commitment to engaging Portlanders.

Fritz noted her creation of the Office of Equity and Human Rights, her attendance at 1,000 neighborhood events and her responsiveness to citizen emails and phone calls.

Nolan spent long hours going door to door and talking with everyday citizens, she said.

The candidates discussed fluoride in city drinking water and expressed contrasting opinions.

“While I think it’s important to listen to the voters, I think there are times when leadership says it’s time to bring this issue up again,” Nolan said, noting that the fluoride issue was last brought up in 1980. She also cited women’s suffrage in Oregon, which made seven attempts before women got the right to vote.

In a change of tack, however, Nolan called out Fritz and city officials for passing the fluoridation measure. “I do think the city conducted an inauthentic process in making this decision,” she said.

When Fritz was asked to respond, she reiterated her commitment to hearing people out before taking action, noting that Nolan had given her support to the city council’s decision to fluoridate the water in the manner in which they did.

“Since it [fluoridation] had been defeated three times at the polls, it should go to the vote,” Fritz said. “I was not able to get a single member of the council to agree to that, so we had a public hearing and I listened.”

While Fritz agreed with the council and Nolan about fluoridating the water, she tried to contrast herself and her opponent by saying, “I listened first.”

The discourse got heated when Nolan brought up the city’s controversial 911 dispatch system and expressed concerns, citing supporting articles in Willamette Week and the Portland Tribune. Fritz fired back, saying the articles were outdated.

The debate ended on a lighter note, with the moderator posing questions like, “Where is your favorite place to eat breakfast in Portland?” and “What is your favorite Portland park?”

Afterward, students and community members milled about, shaking hands with the candidates and conversing with them.

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New faculty profile: Stefan Talke Fluid dynamics and beyond

5 3

Every week, the Vanguard interviews members of the Portland State community in the Park Blocks and asks them a timely question.

This week’s question:

“Where did you buy your textbooks and how much did they cost?”

Gwen Shaw Vanguard staff

Stefan Talke came to Portland two years ago to work with David Jay, a Portland State professor in the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. Talke is now a senior research associate, and will be teaching one class per term.

Talke’s current class is “Introduction to Fluid Dynamics.”

“It’s not an easy course, because fluids is not easy,” Talke said.

Through his class, he’s hoping to convey to students that the topic is something they have to work on for a while.

He admitted that even he is still learning new things about fluids all the time.

Aside from teaching, Talke is working on a number of research programs at PSU. The project with Jay is one that looks at the long term changes to tidal dynamics, or looking at how the tides in rivers change over time.

“It’s been observed that tidal

Senior economics major Kyle Trisler, 24, purchased his books through different sources, including Craigslist and the Portland State Bookstore. “I bought my Spanish textbook in the bookstore and spent $140 on that. I bought my calculus textbook on Craigslist for 40 bucks, which was $100 off. And I haven’t purchased my textbooks for my conflict resolution class because they’re all on course reserve, so I spend my time in the library studying those,” he said.

Kayla Nguyen/VANGUARD STAFF

Liberal arts major Jake Hardman, 23, purchased most of his books through the Portland State Bookstore, with the exception of one book he bought at Powell’s. “For the most part, I got them at the PSU bookstore, and I spent $110,” he said. “I got one book at Powell’s for about $5, so I spent $115 altogether.”

Stefan Talke is a new professor at the Maseeh College of Engineering. properties are not constant, and in the eastern Pacific—our part of the world—the tidal range and the properties of the tides have been increasing over the past century or so,” Talke said. “[I]t’s not really known why, so there’s this mystery we’re trying to solve.”

Though there are many ways Talke and Jay are looking at this mystery, one thing they’re doing is looking for lost data.

“It turns out that there’s a lost generation of data from the 19th century that’s not on any website—it’s been forgotten,

more or less,” Talke said.

But he went on to explain that, though the information is not available online, it can be found in old archives.

Talke and a student researcher recently went to Astoria, Ore., where they found original tide data from 1853–76. These archives contained hundreds of what can basically be called scrolls.

Each scroll is about 60 to 70 feet long and has a pencil trace of the tide over a one month period. This was done for about 25 years.

Talke took photographs of these scrolls, and is now working to digitize them and find uses for the data they contain.

“The hope is that once we have that, we’ll be able to say something about the evolution of tidal properties in the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean,” Talke said.

Junior international studies major Hayley Moore, 20, purchased her books through Amazon.com, Alibris.com and the Portland State Bookstore. “I went on Amazon, mostly, and Alibris.com, and I spent about $200,” Moore said. “I had to get a couple from the PSU bookstore that were $30 and $50, so probably a total of $350.”

Sophomore political science major Chris Dollar, 22, purchased two textbooks through the Portland State Bookstore—one of which was much more expensive than the other. “I bought my textbooks at the PSU bookstore,” he said. “I spent about $225 on one book, and I bought another book for my French text for about $30.”

All Photos Austin Maggs/VANGUARD STAFF

New faculty profile: Charles Klein Brings experiences in Brazil to PSU Gwen Shaw Vanguard staff

“So much as [Portland State] is the land of untraditional students, I’m the untraditional new faculty person, because I haven’t been in academia for 15 years,” Charles Klein, the new applied medical anthropologist at PSU, said.

Since getting his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1996, Klein has worked at a number of places around the globe, as well as in a number of different areas: the private sector, the public sector and, now, the world of higher education.

This term, Klein is teaching “Social Theory” and “Peoples and Culture of Latin America.”

In the past, a lot of his work involved research in Brazil.

Klein’s work includes community-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations,

AIDS activist organizations, women’s feminist groups, sex-worker organizations and violence and sexuality.

“I’m interested in this question of nongovernmental organizations, or communitybased organizations, and the state and who does what,” Klein said. “Especially in a place like Brazil, that’s not one of these hot economies— and though income inequalities are still really shocking, they are diminishing.”

As a new person in town, Klein said that he’s very much looking forward to finding the organizations all around Portland that fit his interests, and getting himself involved.

Something Klein has noticed is a wide range of students at PSU. One student might be straight out of high school and the next is coming back to school after a number of years.

“I like that,” Klein said.

“And I like the fact that

Kayla Nguyen/VANGUARD STAFF

Charles Klein is the newest applied medical anthropologist at PSU. people want it to be practical and want to know how it can be applied to their lives and to the community.”

Klein encourages all students to be open-minded in their classes, and to say something. “If it’s not making sense to you—if it’s not relevant or pertinent to you—speak,” Klein said. “Because if I don’t

hear it, then I don’t know.”

Outside of academics, Klein is excited to be in Portland and have the opportunity to see what the city offers. He enjoys the outdoors and loves everything about snow.

Living in Northeast Portland, Klein joins the hundreds of other PSU commuters and rides his bike to campus.

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VANGUARD •• Thursday, THURSDAY,OCTOBER TUESDAY, JANUARY Oct. FEBRUARY JANUARY 18, 2012 10, 25, 26, 2, 2012 2011 2012 • ARTS •• •OPINION OPINION ARTS & CULTURE & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE

EDITOR: Louie Opatz ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5694

British culture wars Center for Public Humanities holds lunch and lecture

scholar-inresidence Tracy J. Prince with her book Culture Wars in British Literature.

Robin Crowell Vanguard Staff

“The last 100 years have brought dramatic changes to Britain,” said Tracy J. Prince, scholar-in-residence for the Portland Center for Public Humanities. These changes are revealed in her upcoming lecture, which will touch on issues raised in her book Culture Wars in British Literature: Multiculturalism and National Identity.

Prince’s lecture is part of the center’s Faculty Lunch and Lecture series, which PCPH Director Marie Lo said provides “opportunities for faculty to share their work with the rest of the PSU community.

“This series, in particular, enables faculty to present recently published work or works in progress,” Lo said. “Having an audience and interlocutors can help faculty refine their projects and create cross-fertilizing possibilities. This is one of the great things about the series.”

In Culture Wars, Prince analyzes how British literature reflects evolving ideas of “Britishness” and what it means to be British, and how literary anthologies do not reflect these changes.

“Many decades of debates over multiculturalism, political correctness and what it means to be British have contributed to changed ideas of Britishness,” Prince said. “Thus the teaching of 20th and 21st century British literature tends to remain focused mostly on Anglo-English writers.”

Prince first became interested in this discourse while studying at the University of Oxford in the early ’90s. During her studies and time teaching, she analyzed American literature through the lens of race, gender and class, and she wanted to look at British literature in a similar fashion. Through these studies, she found few writers of color or

Miles Sanguinetti/VANGUARD STAFF

writers from countries like Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland represented in British bookstores.

With these exclusions drawn, Prince reflects on current times.

“These days, non-Anglo-English writers are much better represented in British bookstores than in the early ’90s,” Prince said, “yet British literature anthologies remain focused on a mostly Anglo-English perspective.”

Culture Wars takes textual evidence from a handful of works to argue these exclusions.

Instead of going deeply analytical, Prince finds that narrowly focusing on a few works without diving in too deeply is most effective.

“The literature ranges from Rudyard Kipling at the beginning of the 20th century to Zadie Smith [in the 21st],” Prince said. “Instead of deep textual analyses of a few books, I use a huge number of quotes about what it means to be British from British novels and poetry, author interviews, news stories and literary criticism. My book is a cultural study of how the British literary canon is taking

shape in the last 100 years—who is included and who is excluded and why.”

Though seemingly focused on British literature alone, the lecture will appeal to a variety of PSU departments, according to Prince. First, the English department will find interest in the fact that the lecture relies heavily on the British literary canon. Second, strong cultural studies overtones will appeal to both the history and sociology departments. Third, the Black Studies department will find racial constructions interesting as detailed in the chapter “The Difficulty Defining Black British.”

There is also a chapter entitled “British Jewish Writers,” which will appeal to PSU’s Judaic studies department, and the women’s studies department will be interested in topics of gender and information regarding the Booker Prize, Prince said.

In addition to detailed studies of British literature and British cultural issues, Prince has also worked extensively in countries such as Turkey, Australia, Canada and the United States studying social equity issues.

“I enjoy fully immersing myself into different cultures to observe and feel cultural differences,” Prince said. “During my two years in Turkey, I fell in love with the warmth of the people, the gorgeous architecture and design that are legacies of the Ottoman Empire.”

Prince has also worked more locally, specifically with Oregon Humanities, a nonprofit organization that works to connect Oregonians in an effort to promote the humanities through programs and publications throughout the state; Prince is able to spread her scholarship across Oregon through the organization.

“As one of the featured speakers with [Oregon Humanities’] Conversation Project, I travel throughout the state teaching and having a conversation about Oregon’s Native American art and history,” Prince said.

The Portland Center for Public Humanities presents Faculty Lunch and Lecture series: A lecture by Tracy J. Prince Friday, Oct. 19, noon Neuberger Hall, room 407 Free and open to the public

Walk of life Healing Feathers fights suicide in new way Melinda GuillÉn Vanguard Staff

Portland ranked number 12 in a 2011 article listing the top 15 suicidal cities in the United States, according to businessinsider.com. The Healing Feathers Suicide Prevention Awareness Project has made it its mission to lower these numbers.

“I know we have one student here that told us there were about two or three suicide completions in her old school, which doesn’t speak well for us as society as a whole,” said Dean Azule, coordinator of both Native American Student Support Services and the Healing Feathers project.

The program, however, has taken a different spin on the subject. Azule and members emphasize the gift of life and the joy that comes with being alive.

“In our Indian culture, you have to have balance; it can’t be all just mental,” Azule said. “Even with all the hurt in the world you have to have some humor—it can’t be all serious.”

For this reason, on Oct. 24 Healing Feathers will hold its annual Fun Walk, in which any student or member of the public can join in an informative open house and then a short walk with a $5 lunch afterward. There are two possible routes, both of which begin at the Native American Student and Community Center. The first includes a

trip to the waterfront that circles back through the Park Blocks. The second includes a trip to Oregon Health and Science University, where walkers will receive a brief lecture from qualified specialists.

“Anybody that wants to get out for a breath of fresh air should come out; anybody that wants to, basically, just do this in memory of somebody, or anybody that just wants to get out there and get their adrenaline going,” Azule said. “Come out with what you have left in life, come out and share that—it’s open to anybody and everybody.”

Katie Gargan, a senior majoring in social science and minoring in Indigenous Nations Studies, believes in the importance of the program and the Fun Walk.

“I think it’s really important for people to know that we’re around as a tool,” Gargan said.

“The goal is to help keep students stay active both mentally and physically. The idea of doing the Fun Walk—it kind of takes up both aspects at the same time.”

Healing Feathers began through a grant awarded for suicide prevention seven years ago.

It focuses on outreach among youth and utilizes paid students to help in those endeavors. The Fun Walk spawned from a similar walk Azule had witnessed and has been a tradition for six years.

Participation in Healing Feathers, according to Azule, hits close to home not only for him but for the students involved, as well.

“I think in Healing Feathers, a majority of our students have been participating with it because

Corinna Scott/VANGUARD STAFF

they have been touched by suicide either personally or they were survivors or knew people,” Azule said. “Their families have been suicide survivors: a sister, a cousin, a relative, a parent who has committed suicide. I think that’s one of the driving forces of why students have become involved, so in that respect there is a personal spot in there.”

Layla Woelfle, a sophomore double majoring in social science and art history and minoring in Native American Studies, explained the role Healing Feathers has played among PSU students.

“I think that one of the things that’s really tough for kids is that they’re leaving home for the first time and this is a new experience—you’re meeting new people, and you’ve got this whole big thing in front of you and if things don’t happen the way you envision them in your head, sometimes things can go badly,” Woelfle said. “I think Healing Feathers specifically helps being able to handle those pressures.

With all the societal and school pressures this really is a safe place.”

Throughout the event, Healing Fathers hopes to share cultural aspects with the public, including community and food.

“Part of our Indian culture is: Whenever you invite people to your house, historically they did not have a lot to offer, but one thing

that you did try to do you is you made sure that people were fed,” Azule said. “When we have our workshops we provide food. It’s just that balance. We’re going to be helping you at Healing Feathers to get this mental, emotional and physical balance.”

Healing Feathers plans to hold many awareness events throughout the year, including Zumba classes in November, hosted dinners, guest speakers and a relational abuse prevention workshop on Valentine’s Day. “I hope people gain more awareness about the Healing Feathers and even find out that Healing Feathers exists,” Azule said. “I hope people take the time for inquiry—if they are there, if they’re aware of somebody in need of help—they can ask how they can contact us.”

The Healing Feathers Suicide Prevention Awareness Project presents Fun Walk Wednesday, Oct. 24 10:30 a.m.–noon Begin at PSU Native American Student and Community Center 710 SW Jackson St. Free for all $5 lunch, proceeds of which go to providing food to local families

Arts & Culture • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • VANGUARD

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Euro-style art party The Projects festival blends comics and experimental art Tristan Cooper Vanguard Staff

A comics festival usually conjures up the same image from person to person: one imagines a wideopen floor with many tables full of shops selling geeky knickknacks and apparel, comic writers and artists signing their work from a chair and more than a few comics enthusiasts squeezed into illfitting superhero garb.

The Projects, held this weekend at the Independent Publishing Resource Center, is a different kind of comics event. This free show is modeled more on the European style of comics festivals than on homemade Green Lantern outfits.

Jason Leivian, who owns and operates Floating World Comics in Old Town, is organizing the event with Dunja Jankovic and Lisa Mangum, two comics program teachers at the IPRC. Leivian talked about the event while manning the cash register at the front counter of his store, in between helping customers bringing up the newest issues of The Mighty Thor and Punk Rock Jesus.

“In Europe, it’s not about selling stuff,” Leivian said. “No one is sitting behind tables, you know, just selling comics. The focus is more about meeting other artists, making art together, collaborating. It ends up like a huge party—an art party, basically.”

The Projects initially began with the support of a successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $8,500 from online donors who wanted to see a new kind of comics show in Portland. Since then, the fest has garnered local sponsors like Sizzle Pie, Ninkasi Brewing Company and Blossoming Lotus. In addition, the IPRC itself has donated its venue for the full three days of the event.

Instead of a show floor lined with tables of artists selling their wares, The Projects aims to create an open space for creators and attendees to interact directly. A large part of the Kickstarter funds went to plane tickets for European artists like Igor Hofbauer, who plans to make a large outline of a mural on the back wall of the IPRC and encourage participants to paint by numbers.

This sort of spontaneous, freewheeling environment is what The Projects seeks to replicate from the European comics festivals. Jankovic in particular has experience in this arena, having organized the Skver Festival in Croatia. Mangum also spent time in Serbia engaged in graduate research on contemporary comics and underground art. “[European festivals] are so drastically different from our comics festivals,” Mangum said. “It resembles more of a music festival in America, where people get together, they perform, they hang out—it’s sort of a party atmosphere. That’s how comics festivals are in Europe.”

Each day of The Projects is split between interactive activities and workshops during the day and panels, screenings and live events in the evening. On Friday night, Floating World Comics is hosting a book signing with Jonny Negron and Sammy Harkham, two cartoonists who have books coming out in October on PictureBox. The Hollywood Theatre is hosting a special screening by art collective Pink Flojd on Saturday night, to be followed by performances from local bands Nice Nice and Regular Music.

The closing party, curated by local TV show Experimental Half-Hour, will take place at Holocene on Sunday, with guests Atole, Goodnight Billygoat, Apartment Fox and Wild Thing. Though the rest of The Projects is free to the public, the shows at the Hollywood Theatre and Holocene will both have a $7 cover charge, and the Holocene event will be open only to those 21 and older.

The broad range of events casts a wide net; the organizers hope this will dissolve the divide between comics and other forms of art.

“We’re trying to open up the comics scene to other artistic scenes (and introduce international artists to local artists), and invite artists from other art fields to take a closer look at everything comics as a medium can offer,” Jankovic said in an email.

Some local experimental artists have been more open to the idea than others. Sean Christensen is one of the founders of Gridlords, a monthly comics performance and reading series that started this year in Portland. He encourages his rotating panelists to come up with unique or unusual ideas for their Gridlords sets, but he has run into some trouble when trying to get non-comics artists to participate.

“Some of the persons who I have contacted to do performances, who are strictly conceptual or performance artists and don’t have anything to do with comics, are immediately pretty not receptive to do a presentation alongside comics,” Christensen said. “Comics are frustratingly, kind of controversially, not necessarily considered art, still.”

The Projects-specific Gridlords panel takes place on Saturday evening, and despite Christensen’s problems in the past, the lineup is suitably diverse. Plans include creator readings, short films and even a dance interpretation of a comic.

“I want the comics artists to do something more multidimensional, sort of, and then I would like more conceptual performance artists to do something that’s specifically linear, that you could relate to that in some way,” Christensen said. “Getting them to like hang out together and do the same event, it’s a little difficult. But it seems like it’s coming together, so that’s good.”

Portland is known for one of the biggest comics communities in the country. Publishers Oni Press, Top Shelf Productions and Dark Horse Comics all reside in the Portland area. Several superhero comics creators have also found a home in this part of the Northwest, including Marvel alumni Jeff Parker, Matt Fraction and Brian Michael Bendis, who teaches a comics writing class at Portland State. The relatively low cost of living and a less dense population has contributed to Portland’s appeal to artists, comics and otherwise.

“To get a foothold in the art world in [Paris or New York] is a herculean task,” Mangum said. “You come to a place like Portland and there’s space, it’s affordable, and there’s room to do something.”

Though the vast array of events might seem strange or intimidating to someone not familiar with the comics or experimental art worlds, the organizers of The Projects are emphasizing an open atmosphere.

“We want total strangers to come out to this,” Mangum said. “It would be awesome if PSU students came. We absolutely don’t want this to be an insular activity, it’s not for any clique or group of people.

We want kids, we want anybody to come out here and play and meet people and discover stuff.”

The IPRC is located on the corner of Southeast Division Street and 10th Avenue. The festival begins Friday with an opening reception at 8 p.m. and ends Sunday evening. For more information, visit theprojectspdx.tumblr.com.

COURTESY OF Igor Hofbauer

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VANGUARD •• Thursday, THURSDAY,OCTOBER TUESDAY, JANUARY Oct. FEBRUARY JANUARY 18, 2012 10, 25, 26, 2, 2012 2011 2012 • ARTS •• •OPINION OPINION ARTS & CULTURE & CULTURE

A night of platforms, pumps and poses Portland’s own Solestruck celebrates its first anniversary Tamara Alazri Vanguard Staff

Last weekend, in a smoke-filled warehouse just off Interstate Avenue, Portland-based shoe company Solestruck teamed up with Ladygunn Magazine to ring in the one-year anniversary of its flagship store in Portland.

This one-night, fashion-filled bash felt like a modern interpretation of Studio 54 and was the perfect ending to a three-day celebration dubbed Deja Vu. Consisting of a blowout shoe sale, an art exhibit, a fashion show and live music, Deja Vu was topped off with champagne and must-see designer clothing.

A glamorous crowd clothed in swanky attire gathered to celebrate the event. Plushy drag queens wore heavy makeup and metallic fingernails and dressed in elaborate costumes of leopard-printed ball gowns—a perfect mixture of naughty and nice.

Music played throughout the evening as designers prepped in a frenzy backstage. The event showcased a stream of designers including Brady Lange, Hello Eliza, Degan and New Zealand’s Stolen Girlfriends Club. Music included DJ Tah Rei, White Rainbow and Yacht.

Taking center stage on the first floor, models stood stoic as tombstones on white platform boxes lined up, one after another, under the beam of gel lights. Hello Eliza’s fun and retro vintage line was one of the first showcased: models were scantily dressed, baring their legs in spandex boy shorts, graphic tees, beanies and sunglasses.

It was all casually sublime. Bold colors seemed to be the hot trend: fitted gold minis, neon green and fluorescent pink platforms were last night’s “it” items.

Contemporary women’s label Esque by Leslie Pennel followed Hello Eliza, with each model deliberately swaying through the crowd to take her spot on stage. Esque incorporated overtly glamorous garments, including a mocha leather peplum bodice and cool driving gloves. Showcasing lots of bold prints, vertical and horizontal stripes and chic pencil skirts, it was a mix of modernism and prettiness.

Karl Kuchs/VANGUARD STAFF

Stoic in Stilettos: Eight incredibly tall women refuse to smile despite the world being a pretty great place, all things considered.

Models wore side-parted braids with floral decorations of green leaves and red roses.

Brooklyn designer Lindsay Degen stood backstage and discussed her latest clothing line and how she has managed to stay in the game for three consecutive years. At just 24 years old, Degen has shown at New York Fashion Week and currently collaborates with stores like Solestruck, International Playground and Vfiles.

She designs mainly women’s wear, and her latest collection is craft-inspired knit wear.

“It’s fitted knitted,” Degen said. “I had this woman approach me once at a show saying my designs looked totally crafty. I was completely offended but felt motivated to go totally mental with that and create an overtly crafty knit collection. It’s a giant explosion of craftiness.”

With that motivation she has managed to take artful, homemade garments and turn them into cool, urban street wear. Degen is inspired by today’s New York hip-hop movement: You can expect to see a multicolored range of psychedelic Converse platforms in her current collection.

In her previous collections, Degen’s designed glitter Popsicle sticks mixed with macaroni necklaces, and is inspired by the do-it-yourself movement that has boomed in the fashion industry over the last couple of years.

On the second floor, an exclusive gallery displayed unique jewelry by Chris Habana, Nettie Kent and Bjorg. Their work was arranged in tiny glass boxes that hung from ropes attached to the ceiling, taking originality to a whole new level. With a minimal gothic appeal, New

Grab a chip for eggplant dip A creamy, healthy seasonal snack Kat Audick Vanguard staff

Unusually light in weight with a body like a bulbous, purple alien baby, the eggplant is a deliciously misunderstood vegetable. Some are perplexed by its preparation; the eggplant’s spongy qualities and interesting texture make it prime for culinary confusion. But with this simple recipe, you can deconstruct the eggplant and transform it into a savory, Greek-inspired dish.

When preparing the eggplant, don’t be afraid of charring the purple skin. If cooked properly, your eggplant should emerge from broiling mostly blackened. Be sure to wear proper oven mitts, or molten eggplant flesh could scorch you while you’re scooping it out. While you’re scooping, try to simultaneously mix the eggplant with lemon juice: The acidity will keep it from discoloring.

More mature eggplants can get a tad bitter, so don’t hesitate to balance that out by sweetening with a dash of sugar. The texture of the dip is all up to you. Leave it thick and chunky or toss the final product in a blender or food processor for a smooth, silky finish. This recipe also works well as a topping for baked chicken breasts. It

York designer Habana’s collection featured silver and gold metal necklaces with geometric shapes, clean lines and simple chains.

Norwegian-based designer Bjorg managed to make the simple appear elegant. White mannequin hands displayed a set of spine cuffs, gold opal and seductive finger rings and a dagger necklace that looked to be inspired by old Hollywood.

Bjorg’s designs are timeless and have graced the pages of Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris and Marie Claire.

Having been on the scene for more than a decade, Solestruck shows no signs of slowing down. Collaborating with designers including Black Milk, Jeffrey Campbell, Dr. Martens, Sam Edelman and Senso keeps Solestruck relevant while also attracting a loyal following around the world.

blackened in 15–20 minutes. Remove eggplant and let cool until ready to handle.

In a frying pan, sauté bell pepper, onion, jalapeno and garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil for 3–5 minutes, until tender. Put lemon juice into a medium nonmetallic bowl. Cut eggplant in half and carefully scoop innards into bowl and toss with lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and stir until well incorporated.

Mix in feta, bell pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeno, basil, parsley, salt and paprika. Add salt, pepper or sugar to personal taste and garnish with parsley.

Ingredients

Karl Kuchs/VANGUARD STAFF

Chips and dip: Be the health nut at your next tailgate with this eggplant dip.

also tastes great spread inside a pita with some mixed greens for a quick Greek wrap.

Directions Position oven rack 6–8 inches from broiler and preheat. Rinse eggplant and pierce with

fork several places all over the skin to vent steam. Cover a rimmed baking pan with tinfoil and place eggplant in center under broiler.

Using metal kitchen tongs, turn the eggplant approximately every 5 minutes as the skin becomes charred; entire eggplant should be

1 medium sized eggplant (approx. 1 lb) 2 1/2 tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp olive oil, divided 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles 1/2 red bell pepper, diced 1/2 red onion, diced 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced 2 cloves garlic 2 tbsp fresh basil, julienned 1 tbsp fresh flat leafed parsley, chopped 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp paprika Additional salt and pepper to taste dash of sugar (optional) parsley leaves (garnish)

OPINiON • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • VANGUARD

OPINION

EDITOR: Meredith Meier OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5692

Corinna Scott/VANGUARD STAFF

Last spring, my first class of the morning was held in a moldy classroom in the basement of Neuberger Hall.

Kevin Rackham I spent most of that term sneezing.

There are also a lot of classrooms in Cramer Hall with water damage. I don’t think all of our classrooms need to be modeled after the business school’s learning studio or anything, but it’d be nice if they looked like they’ve been updated since 1970.

By comparison, all of the classrooms I’m in this term are really nice: cushioned seats, tables instead of desks, or at least desks that are wide enough to fit things on them. They’re laid out in half circles, which makes discussion-based classes go a lot more smoothly.

Uniform resources in the classroom is a must-have: All classrooms should have a whiteboard, a computer, a ecently the Vanguard the weird left-handed desk projector and a doc cam. The ran a piece on the means taking notes is an university has done a fairly new classroom in the uphill battle. Obviously this good job with that; as a matSchool of Business Adminis- is a prime example of a first- ter of fact, tech problems are tration, and it made me jeal- world problem, but I hate usually the fault of the user ous because, for the most part, how disorganized these tiny rather than the technology (for the most part).

Portland State’s classrooms desks make me feel.

Having space for my stuff And where, you might ask, are terrible. The business school has its own operating helps me stay focused be- should the university get all funds, but I wish the rest of cause I’m not worrying about this money to remodel classthe university would follow switching between having rooms? Well, like I’ve said suit and bring its classrooms my laptop on the desk and before, I’d much rather have having the textbook in front new classrooms and desks into the 21st century. than new athletic centers and The desks are a big a part of me.

The seats, however, are student unions. of the problem.

PSU spends a ton of money I feel like desks have gotten as bad as or worse than the on new buildings, on sustainsmaller and smaller every desks.

I’ve said it before: I fully able this and sustainable that, year since elementary school.

I remember, as a kid, being expect these seats to be the but our classrooms are so able to spread out papers cause of my future chronic outdated. It makes a lot more sense to me and books to improve all over my the things desk. In midPSU spends a ton of money on new buildings, that get the dle school on sustainable this and sustainable that, but most use by they got a our classrooms are so outdated. It makes a lot students, little smaller, more sense to me to improve the things that get and those are and I started the most use by students, and those are definitely definitely the having to the classrooms. classrooms. pile things on I’m not top of each saying PSU’s other. In high classrooms school, I was down to generally having to back pain. I can’t compre- have made me incapable of have one item on my desk at hend why students have to learning, or that it’s a masit 2–3 hours in hard wooden jor crisis. But we could have a time.

Now I’m lucky if I can fit seats, besides the fact that much nicer classrooms, and I they’re cheap. They’re un- do think it would make a posianything on my desk.

My laptop is carefully bal- comfortable and loud and tive impact on education.

We should always improve anced to prevent it from tip- not particularly conducive where we can, and our classping off the side; I rarely to learning.

More classroom mainte- rooms should be at the top of can have a textbook fully open, and getting stuck with nance would be great, too. the list.

miles sanguinetti/VANGUARD STAFF

That’s What’s the Matter

Making room for class PSU classrooms in need of major updates

R

11

Everywhere and Here Eva-Jeanette Rawlins

I just tweeted… to say I love you Celebrities stoop to new social media lows

W

e all know that Twitter is a marketer’s dream.

Who would have known a few years back that in 2012 a celebrity’s public relations strategy would entail typing a sentence about where they just picked their nose, and as a result gain a couple hundred new fans.

They now gauge their popularity almost entirely by the twittering of their tweeting followers, and they’d be twits not to.

The money is literally at their fingertips.

Recently, though, it’s been getting ridiculous, even by Twitter standards. Forget simply using the social medium to get your name out there— that’s old news. Now it’s all about tarnishing someone else’s name or, even better, doing damage control and trying to clean up your own.

Celebrities are now taking to Twitter in droves to apologize for cheating on their significant others, the most recent example being Jason Aldean—and who could forget the Stewart/Pattinson phenomenon? Has it really come to this? That the act of asking for forgiveness is now achieved by typing “:(”?

First of all, it’s insulting that they even think I care, but

that argument holds little credence, because the fact is that millions do care.

The lives of countless “Team Edward” fans hung in the balance upon Stewart’s admission of her “momentary indiscretion,” and within minutes—literally—the Twittersphere roared with homicidal reactions.

It seems as though we have heralded a whole new era of cyber-confessing, and there’s little doubt that we will live in a future of tweeted declarations of iniquity.

Forget simply using the social medium to get your name out there—that’s old news. Now it’s all about tarnishing someone else’s name or, even better, doing damage control and trying to clean up your own.

Aldean obviously thought it effective. After being photographed in a compromising position with former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr—let’s just say

he wasn’t gazing into her eyes—the married country music star knew exactly what he needed to do to make things right: Tweet.

“The truth is that I screwed up,” were his meaningful words. “I had too much to drink, let the party get out of hand and acted inappropriately.”

Too bad he didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about his apology. Perfect country song lyrics, though.

It’s really disturbing that somebody’s first instinct after having been caught cheating is to let fans know how their marriage is going by writing a well-crafted sentence in a 140 characters or less.

Spending less time on the Internet and more with the person you claim to have devastated might be the smarter move. But it seems it’s more important to control the damage to your reputation.

Unless you’re Nicki Minaj, that is. As they say, “any press is good press,” and boy, is American Idol lucky they’ve got someone so willing to oblige.

Twitter is very handy for mudslinging—now, along with apologies, we can enjoy wellarticulated celebrity fights.

Minaj’s most recent tirade against cohost Mariah Carey explained: “I don’t call tmz n Barbara Walters cuz I stand on my own two feet…God is good…I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge…

Awww, poor u.”

Nothing like wielding the Lord’s name mid-insult to drive your point home.

When celebrities have nothing better to do than provide us with typed play-by-plays on their relationships or engage in real or not-so-real cyberfights, it makes me wonder where social media is headed and if relating with each other—humanly, that is—will become a thing of the past.

If marketing yourself has reached such depths that it now means humiliating your significant other with a pathetic string of apologies or embarrassing yourself with grammatically inferior character assassination, then it’s official: The value of human beings is fast being replaced by bluebird signs, not heartbeats.

12

VANGUARD • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • Opinion

Sans the Salt Alyck Horton

Scoring high C Kayla Nguyen/VANGUARD STAFF

The Emphatic Observer Rabia Newton

Pay up, Oregon Battling climate change in our own backyards

T

wo local teens have filed suit against the state for failing to adequately battle climate change.

Olivia Chernaik (12 years old) and Kelsey Juliana (16 years old) claim that Oregon hasn’t taken the steps necessary to stave off impending environmental doom. They fear living in what they imagine the world will become: a veritable wasteland.

Way to go, girls.

Your actions, though potentially misguided, are still inspiring and serve as a much-needed reminder of the shared responsibility we all hold as citizens to effect change. To shake things up.

To battle the collective cultural apathy that seems to have taken hold of many, especially when it comes to issues like climate change.

While suing the state may ultimately prove ineffectual—and cost Oregon a small fortune in legal defenses— these girls’ behavior demonstrates a level of awareness and agency most of us adults noticeably lack.

These days the prevailing attitude about climate change seems to be one of defeat, as if environmental catastrophe is inevitable at this point.

We’re simply waiting it out, living on borrowed time.

Climate change seems unmanageable, and for good reason. Not only does the human brain literally lack the capacity to fathom the devastating

ramifications of such an abstract concept, but also the task of conquering a global, environmental phenomenon this complex is enough to make any sane person feel powerless.

Climate change seems unmanageable, and for good reason. Not only does the human brain literally lack the capacity to fathom the devastating ramifications of such an abstract concept, but also the task of conquering a global, environmental phenomenon this complex is enough to make any sane person feel powerless.

But we’re not powerless, as misses Chernaik and Juliana have so kindly reminded us.

Every single one of us has the ability to actualize change on a local scale. Just look at some of the amazing advances we’ve seen on our own campus.

Take Back the Tap, a student-run campaign, was responsible for installing 11 “hydration stations” around campus, each of which is estimated to save 38,000 plastic bottles per year. Not too shabby, I say.

There’s PSU Recycles, our university-wide recycling program, which managed to divert 966 tons of reusable waste from landfills during the year 2011 alone.

Plus, beginning in 2004, all new constructions and major renovations on campus have been required to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, giving us a total of eight LEED-certified buildings.

PSU also manages to garner an impressive 28 percent of its energy from natural gas—a number that outweighs the campus’s use of coal by 3 percent.

Portland isn’t exactly losing the climate change battle, either. Since 1990, Portlanders have successfully cut their per-person emissions by 26 percent. (Interestingly, during this same time period, the national average for carbon missions actually went up by 12 percent.)

And in recent years, Mayor Sam Adams pioneered the Climate Action Plan, whose ambitious objective is to decrease Portland’s overall carbon emissions by 80 percent before the year 2050.

Our city offers amazing options in public transportation, as well as a thriving (and somewhat infamous) bike culture. The local food scene is flourishing—a fact well established by the TV show Portlandia.

And the renewable energy sector is going strong, as evidenced by the popularity of programs like Clean Energy Works, an area business that will assess individual homes and help pinpoint opportunities for energy conservation.

Is any of this enough to satisfactorily combat climate change? Not even close. But by looking to what’s already been done, we help overcome that sense of powerlessness.

And, we remember that we can always—and should always—do more.

And when we’re feeling defeated by the seemingly inevitable specter of environmental calamity, let’s not forget Olivia and Kelsey. Because they’re the ones who’ll have to live in the wasteland of our inaction.

Establishing credit is important but risky

ollege is an institution established with the intention of preparing bright young folks for the future. Here we not only earn our degrees but establish ourselves as productive members of society. A part of doing this lies in establishing and building a good credit score.

A credit score is looked at for virtually any financial transaction in which money is being borrowed or a contract is being signed.

When you finally graduate and go to purchase your dream car, the dude from the car lot is going to run a credit check before giving you a loan for that beautiful 1988 Ford Aerostar.

The report he gets back will determine the down payment, interest and the amount of money he’s willing to lend you.

The fastest way to build up one aspect of a credit history is to open a credit card. This card, if you feel ready for one, should be used as a financial tool and never to just “treat yo’ self.”

I’ve used mine to spread the pain of paying a large speeding ticket over a few months, as well as for purchasing textbooks before being reimbursed by student loans.

These aren’t the expenditures that your parents worry about, though—it’s when your Starbucks and $80-sweater habits get put onto the card that you need to consider cutting it.

A credit card should be thought of as a loan that has to be paid back the next month, not in several years. If you have to pay for groceries on credit, the solution isn’t to increase your limit, but to reevaluate your finances.

If you don’t think you’ll have a steady income and know that there’s a chance you may not be able to pay even the minimum payment, don’t even consider applying for a credit card.

The Obama administration recently started requiring credit card companies to verify student incomes before issuing credit cards, but it’s

really up to you to decide what you can afford.

It’s incredibly easy to fall into debt, and the repercussions of damaging your credit score can outweigh the benefits of your initial attempt to build a good score. There are things you should consider before applying for a credit card, chiefly: Can you afford it?

The minimum payment on a typical card is around $30–50 per monthly depending on the company and your credit.

This is a very digestible sum of money, but it increases as your balance increases, and if you have multiple cards it’s easy for debt to become one of your largest income-guzzlers.

While they may not directly impact your credit score, there are other factors that lenders take into consideration, especially if you lack retail credit.

For example, a lender may check to see if you pay your bills on time. It’s also beneficial to have held a job for an extended period of time; in fact, it can be almost as useful as a good score.

There are 50 million American adults who don’t have credit history. Having credit is not a necessity—it will just make purchasing things like a house or car easier.

So before you jump on the first credit card application that graces your mailbox, know what you’re getting into, and know how to say no to that awesome $400 sweater you don’t really need.

Online comments The story doesn’t stop when the print hits the page. Don’t like something you read in the Vanguard? Want us to cover a story? Do you feel there’s more to be said? You have the opportunity to praise us or rip us apart here at the Vanguard. Post a comment online or write us a letter. Tell us what you think. Here are some online highlights from psuvanguard.com.

“Obama’s student debt reform” Michelle Mundt Oct. 15 I agree that student debt is the nation’s problem. let’s unite. i applaud how you say we need pro-active solutions. i applaud you showing the pro-active efforts on the government side to groom, hook, and keep student as debt servants on the leash paying forever. mmm20121015.

“Don’t take no for an answer” Elaine Oct. 15 I have to politely disagree entirely with the second half of your article, starting with “Lara set the record straight.” I am quite sure that what I’m reading there is *either* her response *during the Q and A* to *MY* question, or are quotes that she gave you directly during a brief interview. I took notes during the talk and wrote in my blog in great detail about what I heard at the talk (published last night, before this article came out). I adore Lara but this is not at all an accurate description of the talk she gave at PSU. Most of the talk was an entertaining series of fascinating anecdotes about her life as a journalist, and most of it did not concern the talk she gave in Chicago or her thoughts on Afghanistan. *Those* thoughts were *only* addressed during the question and answer portion of the evening. You can read my (longwinded!) description of the evening here: laney-lanesworld.blogspot.com.

“Women in politics” Andrew Oct. 15 Understanding that gender equality is not yet established in positions of power, I am always curious why the idea that more women occupying low-level jobs than men is seen as a negative. Success shouldn’t be measured just in terms of money and power. Sometimes it’s about simply earning a living-wage and surviving. In this sense, women seem to have a significant edge over men if such a statement is true. I’m sure there are plenty of unemployed men who would love to be able to have jobs which are predominately held by women. If, however, they’re being occupied by women it’s probably because we’ve reached a point where women are more qualified, or, in other words, they have the education and experience to back up their skills and talents. At some point the scales tip and I’ve read things recently which suggest that boys/ men are, in fact, falling behind in education because of the emphasis placed on pushing women forward.

True equality must start from the foundation not the top.

ETC. • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • VANGUARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Erick Bengel EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5691

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ETC.

UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, Oct. 18

PSU Blood Drive 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom, room 351 1825 SW Broadway

Portland State teams up with the American Red Cross to conduct a blood drive and help save lives.

Volunteers will receive a free Qdoba burrito in thanks for their donation. Please make an appointment to donate by contacting Gwyn Ashcom at gwyn@pdx.edu.

Show and Tell Lecture Series: Amanda Buck Noon–1 p.m.

Art Building, room 320 2000 SW Fifth Ave.

Amanda Buck, a designer for the Barack Obama reelection campaign, will take part in a live video chat at Portland State. FREE

Polaris Dance Company Presents: Tangled 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln Hall 1620 SW Park Ave.

Polaris Dance Company presents Tangled, a performance that ventures to depict the many ways that love can be expressed and the many complex forms that love can take.

For tickets and more information visit app.ticketturtle.com/index. php?show=%2830254%29.

Transportation Seminar: Urban Arterials

you will also find a log jib, some tasty barbecue, live bluegrass music, beer and a pumpkin carving contest.

Daddies Log Jam is free for all ages and everyone is welcome. FREE

Noon–1 p.m.

Urban Center, room 204 506 SW Mill St.

Zombie and Monster Pub Crawl

Friday, Oct. 19

Join fellow students and community members for a presentation that discusses results related to the evaluation of a new Adaptive Traffic Control System on Powell Boulevard in Southeast Portland, and the challenges and opportunities associated with the evaluation of new technologies and the development of comprehensive urban arterial performance measures. FREE

Pacific Island Club Meeting 3 p.m.

Native American Student and Community Center 710 SW Jackson St.

Every Friday, the Pacific Islander Club meets to establish connections and a sense of community, and to have some fun! Join them at the Native Center.

Saturday, Oct. 20

Daddies Log Jam 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Daddies Board Shop 7126 NE Sandy Blvd.

If you are looking for snow in October, you will find it at the Daddies Log Jam! Along with this

PSU blood drive

2–11:30 p.m.

Start at Paddy’s Pub 65 SW Yamhill St.

Join other costumed folks for the second annual Zombie and Monster Pub Crawl! The theme for this year is “Apocalyptic Rampage,” and there will be no cover charge at any of the bars on the map so long as attendees are in costume and over the age of 21.

Sunday, Oct. 21

Bloody good cause: Our university is proud to collaborate with the American Red Cross. Help save lives by making an appointment with Gwyn Ashcom at gwyn@pdx.edu.

Portland Crest Wind Symphony 3 p.m.

Lincoln Hall 1620 SW Park Ave.

Music lovers will want to see the Portland Crest Wind Symphony performance at Lincoln Hall on Oct. 21. Pricing for the event is listed as: Adult $15, Senior (age 62+) $10, Student (with valid student ID) $10, Child (age 10 and under) free when accompanied by adult. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Visit pcws.org/Home.html for more information.

Monday, Oct. 22

Careers for Psychology Majors with Bachelor’s Degrees 4 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, room 294 1825 SW Broadway

The PSU Psychology Club hosts guest speakers from the Career Center to talk about the options available for those seeing a career in psychology with a four-year degree. Whether you plan on graduate school or not, this is a good way to gather the information you may need to get a job in the future and to ask any questions you may have. Healthy snacks and beverages will be provided. FREE

Tuesday, Oct. 23

Film Screening: Words of Witness 7 p.m.

Portland Art Museum, Whitsell Auditorium 1219 SW Park Ave.

“Defying cultural norms and family expectations, 22-year-old Heba Afify takes to the streets to report on an Egypt in turmoil using tweets, texts and Facebook posts. Every time Heba heads out to cover the historical events shaping her country’s future, her mother is compelled to remind her, ‘I know you are a journalist, but you’re still a girl!’” – Northwest Film Center website. For more information and to purchase tickets visit nwfc.spotlightboxoffice. com/purchase/step4?ticketID=3039.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

Healing Feathers Fun Walk and Lunch 10:30 a.m.–noon Native American Student and Community Center 710 SW Jackson St.

Join Healing Feathers for a walk around campus to promote good health. After the walk concludes, lunch will be served at the Native Center for $5 a plate, proceeds of which will be donated to putting together food baskets for native families during the holiday season.

Fright Town 7–11 p.m. (or 10 p.m. on weeknights) Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum 1401 N Wheeler Ave.

A $20 entrance fee grants you access to three of Portland’s largest and scariest haunted houses, all housed inside of the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. For coupons and more information visit frighttown.com.

Idealist Grad Fair 5–8 p.m.

Peter Stott Center 930 SW Hall St.

Idealist.org and the PSU Master of International Management program will host a graduate school fair to connect prospective students with 125 graduate schools to further their social impact careers. Interested attendees are encouraged to register online at bit.ly/IdealistPortland2012.

Thursday, Oct. 25

The Mystery Box Show 7:30 p.m.

Brody Theater 16 NW Broadway

Come to the Brody Theater for a live storytelling event that features very adult themes to help the Mystery Box Show break down social stereotypes and stigmas. Attendees must be 21 or over and tickets range from $10–12.

40 Years of Domestic Violence Reform: An Assessment 1–3 p.m.

Women’s Resource Center Lounge Southwest 10th Avenue and Montgomery Street

The Portland State Women’s Resource Center offers a look at the history of domestic violence activism and discusses how successful various people, groups and agencies have been at promoting the decline of domestic abuse.

FREE = the event is free of charge

14

VANGUARD •• Thursday, TUESDAY, JANUARY Oct. 18, 2012 10, 2012 • SPORTS • ETC.

SPORTS

EDITOR: MARCO ESPAñA SPORTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM 503-725-4538 the tone for the match. The Beavers scored again on a penalty kick midway through the second half and held on for a 3-0 victory.

The Vikings, keenly aware of OSU’s size advantage and aggressive game plan, sought to control possession and make precise passes to relieve defensive pressure.

“We knew what we were going to see out here today,” head coach Jamey Berg said.

During halftime, Berg stressed adherence to the game plan and more thorough communication among his players.

MILES SANGUINETTI/VANGUARD STAFF

A Men’s Club Soccer player from Portland State battles for possession against Oregon State. PSU fell behind early and lost the game 3–0. The Vikings play the University of Oregon on Nov. 2.

No longer a Brees Gino Cerruti Vanguard staff

“Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?”—the rallying cry of New Orleans and Louisiana.

Its resonant echo in the Superdome has been a mainstay, and has become slightly deafening these past few years. It doesn’t seem to carry the same tone of confidence, however, that it did during the postseason years, and four out of the five teams the New Orleans Saints have faced so far this year have answered the question with a resounding, “OUR TEAM.” Coming from three consecutive playoff appearances and a Super Bowl win in 2009, the Saints seemed destined to continue with their string of dominant seasons.

Then, in this year’s offseason, the NFL imposed some of its most severe penalties upon the Saints staff for their supposed involvement in an illegal bounty program that paid out bonuses for quality performances and inflicting injuries on other players.

These penalties included sanctions on head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams—all calling for their immediate suspension, with

Payton and Williams being suspended for the entire 2012 season.

It was a harrowing experience for the “Who Dat Nation,” and one that continues to bring shame to their beloved organization from players, coaches and other fans. As such, I hate to mention it because doing so just beats a dead horse, but it proves essential evidence in the Saints’ dreadful season so far. They are without the defensive coordinator and head coach who led them to a Super Bowl, and have not only lost the distinction of being one of the most imposing offensive powers in the NFL but have gained the reputation of having a penetrable defense.

If there is one bright side to the whole “Bountygate” fiasco, it’s the continued success of veteran quarterback Drew Brees. Even with a one-win-four-loss record, Brees has pushed New Orleans to the number-one spot in passing yards average and, aside from the Carolina game, Brees has thrown a minimum of three touchdowns per game this season. If you need another reason Brees is the heart of New Orleans,

then you only have to look at the game two Sundays back to witness him breaking an NFL record of 48 consecutive games with a touchdown pass. It’s my humble opinion that true superstar athletes shine brighter when their team is in shambles, and they find innovative ways to pull everyone up to their level.

Brees does just that.

Unfortunately, you can’t push a struggling team into the postseason with just one person, and I believe the Saints know it. However, I do not expect the Saints to have a 2011-Colts kind of season.

They are a resilient team— each Saints loss this season has never reached below an eight-point deficit, which only proves that the Saints (and Brees’ ridiculously accurate arm) will not go down without a fight.

It is up to running backs Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles to make up the lack of rushing yards; it is up to the Saints defense to strengthen their hold on the opposing team’s offensive line (especially their rush game); it is up to the Saints fan base to not lose resolve and support this team. Hope is truly the only thing that can save this team from crumbling.

Too little, too late Men’s soccer club falls to Oregon State Bryan Zinschlag Vanguard Staff

The cool rain could not stop the Beavers from getting off to a hot start in the men’s soccer game on Saturday. Portland State’s early mistakes

were taken advantage of at Stott Field, as Oregon State University converted on their first two scoring chances, jumping ahead 2-0 and setting

“We’ve played them in years past and they pretty much have the same approach.”

The early deficit only made it more difficult for PSU to relax and settle into their game plan.

During halftime, Berg stressed adherence to the game plan and more thorough communication among his players. PSU’s improvement in the second half was apparent, but OSU warded off a series of shots on goal early in the half with strong goaltending. What momentum PSU had gained was more or less thwarted when OSU delivered on a penalty kick and increased the lead to three.

Berg commented that the team’s mental performance was its downfall on Saturday.

“A lot of the guys, after the game, said, ‘I wasn’t really in the game. I wasn’t there mentally,’” he said. They had a clear plan and had success when they executed, but they were not consistent enough to erase the deficit.

The club will have ample time to regroup before their next home match, when they will face the University of Oregon on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. After that they will host the University of Portland and Portland Community College.

For more information, fans can go to psumenssoccer.wix. com/psu-soccer.

SPORTS • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • VANGUARD

15

The Flash or Superman?

Find out who’s faster at the annual Run Like Hell half marathon Maya Seaman Vanguard Staff

In 2010, thousands of people dashed through Portland dressed as rabbits, mad hatters and Cheshire cats. Last year, they ditched their teacups for torn pants and blood-spattered shirts and were driven through town by an endless hunger for brains.

This year, Portland will be overrun with superheroes. The ninth annual Run Like Hell costumed half-marathon will pit Spiderman against Catwoman, Green Lantern against Wolverine, the Hulk against Thor, and Batman against no one—because he’s Batman.

Run Like Hell is a Halloweenthemed half-marathon, 10K and 5K, that takes place Oct. 21. It also features a half-mile route just for kids, called Run Like Heck, held on the same day.

Run Like Hell will once again lead thousands of costumed runners and walkers through the city as a benefit for the ALS Association, a nonprofit organization helping to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Runners will meet near Pioneer Courthouse Square, where

the route begins. From there, Portland’s men of steel and wonder women will run faster than a speeding bullet through the city and its parks.

Half-marathon runners with be led down Naito Parkway and Barbur Boulevard, along George Hines Park, up through Terwilliger and Duniway parks, then back down toward Pioneer Square. The 10K and 5K runners will be treated to lovely views of the waterfront, followed by a zigzag dash through downtown.

Michelle Foster, a twotime Run Like Hell participant, warns participants to take costumes into serious consideration.

For 2010’s Alice in Wonderland theme, she dressed as Alice and ran alongside her boyfriend, who used large poster board to become the three of hearts playing card. “I was worried about wind resistance for him,” Foster said. “Turns out it was the drizzle I should have been worried about, with his not-so-waterproof paint.”

For 2011’s zombie theme, she dressed as an uninfected human, so the zombies would

courtesy of Terrapin events

heroes: A man participates in Portland’s 2010 Run Like Hell half marathon dressed in a tutu. This year’s costume theme is superheroes. have something to chase. “Being chased by a mob of zombies really is motivational,” Foster said.

This year, organizers hope that being a superhero for a

day will be just as motivating.

And as any good city should, Portland will celebrate its superheroes’ feats with a super shindig. Live music, free beer and food await all par-

ticipants at the Run Like Hell afterparty.

So dig out your tights, capes and cowls, Portland— it’s time to Run Like Hell.

Registration is open un-

Adam wickham/VANGUARD STAFF

Batter up: One of Portland State’s softball players makes contact during a preseason game earlier this month. The Vikings are preparing for the first year in which softball will be part of Big Sky Conference.

Hard expectations Softball prepares for spring season and the first ever Big Sky softball championship

Travis Kremer Vanguard staff

This month, Portland State’s softball team is preparing for the spring season. They’ve played four exhibition games so far and have two more to go. This is the first year that the softball team will be competing in the Big Sky

Conference, as it’s the first year the conference is sponsoring a softball championship, though this is not the first time the Vikings softball team has played for a championship title.

The players in this season’s team are no strangers to victory, and neither is their coach. They did well in the

2011–12 season, claiming the team’s third total and second consecutive championship victory in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. Portland State was also awarded Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Pitcher in the 2012 PCSC Championship Series.

til the day of the race, but the price increases for day-of registrants. You can register online at terrapinevents.com/runlike-hell-portland_register.htm.

Start times for each race vary.

Last year’s team even broke a five-year slump at the NCAA tournament: During the 2012 season they scored PSU’s first win in the tournament since 2006, before being knocked out of the running by Brigham Young University.

“I think getting our first win last year kind of said a lot, and proved something to the kids that are on the team. The great thing about it is we return all but three people. So they have that experience, they know what it’s like to be there and actually win a game…This last year, winning a game, will just add to our confidence and our experience level and will hopefully carry over into this season,” head coach Tobin EchoHawk said before fall term.

With a veteran team at her disposal, things should be looking up as she moves her team into the 2012–13 season.

The Vikings softball team’s next game will be on Oct. 27, in Corvallis, against Oregon State University.

“I think that, because we have been so successful the last couple of years, we’re always going to be the team to beat, and every team is going to play their best against us,” Echo-Hawk said. “I think we got a good show of that last year, just with the different teams, with Weber [State University] playing really well against us as well as [the University of] Northern Colorado, and I think it’s just going to be the same this year. We’re going to be that team, and we’ve got to make sure we step up every single game.”

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VANGUARD • Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 • SPORTS

Second round of play begins Volleyball hosts Eagles and Hornets

Friday, Oct. 19

Women’s Soccer vs.

Vikings (4-1-1) vs.

Idaho State (2-1-2-1) Hillsboro Stadium 1 p.m.

Forecast: High of 69 degrees, showers

Cross country Beaver Classic Corvallis TBA

Forecast: High of 62 degrees, cloudy

Women’s Tennis University of Oregon Duck Invitational (Oct. 19–21) Eugene TBD

Saturday, Oct. 20

FOOTBALL vs.

miles sanguinetti/VANGUARD STAFF

serving: Portland State’s volleyball team pulls together on the court. They are 9–1 in conference play this season.

Championship time Portland State’s cross country team prepares for season end

A look at two of Portland State’s top runners

Marcus said. “I was really pleased with how they performed in spite of all the excuses they could have relied on.”

The next meet is in Flagstaff, Ariz., where the altitude is 7,000 feet above sea level. Because the Vikings are used to running in Portland, the effect of racing at a high altitude is tremendous.

Portland State’s success will rely on execution, but it will help prepare them for the Big Sky championship.

The Vikings will compete in the Beaver Classic this Friday, in their last meet of the regular season. The conference meet will be held Oct. 27.

VOLLEYBALL vs.

Vikings (9-1) vs.

Concordia University (3-9) Stott Center 7 p.m.

Vanguard staff

Amber Rozcicha, who finished second overall. Senior Sarah Dean was right behind her, finishing third overall. Dean finished in less than 18 minutes for the first time in her career.

“I don’t know where it came from,” Marcus said. “But she really picked a good time to let the dogs out.”

The men were led by freshman Neil Seibert, who finished 26th overall. A lot of the men have been fighting injuries all season, but that didn’t stop them from finishing in the top 10 as a team. Freshman Jonathan Talik also had a big race, with his best time of the season.

“The men are fighting a lot of illness and health issues,”

Vikings (1-2) @ California Polytechnic State University (4-0) Alex G. Spanos Stadium 6:05 p.m.

Forecast: High of 76 degrees, partly cloudy

Alex Moore

With the season winding down, the Portland State cross country team is looking to finish strong by sending runners to the Big Sky Conference championship and the regional, and maybe even national, meets.

“We’re entering that championship time of year,” head coach Jonathan Marcus said.

“We’re going to make some minor tweaks, really get ourselves prepared to perform at the highest level possible.”

The Vikings are coming off the Warner Pacific Open meet, in which six of the seven women on the team had season-best times. Portland State was led by senior

VOLLEYBALL

Vikings (9-1) vs.

Eastern Washington University (0-10) Stott Center 7 p.m.

Vanguard staff

have seen success from their middle hitters: sophomore Talia Fermantez and freshman Kellen Barfield.

On Saturday the Vikings take on Sacramento State.

The Hornets, 7-12 overall and 3-7 in conference, grabbed their first conference road win against the Montana State University Bobcats on Saturday. The Hornets were led by outside hitter Janelle Currey, who saved six set points for the Hornets to hit a total of 20 kills for the night.

The hosting Vikings come off a split weekend with a loss to Idaho State University and a win against Weber State University. The two teams have notably different playing styles, which forced the Vikings to fall back on their practiced technique.

“We have time now to look at Idaho State and Weber State—and, in general, look at all our first half,” head coach Michael Seemann said. “We won’t be necessarily ignoring and scouting the second round of playing these teams, but especially playing at home and following our first conference loss it’s imperative to keep confidence in all our systems and tweak and improve those.”

The Vikings will bring their talents to the Stott Center against Eastern Washington on Thursday and against Sacramento State on Saturday.

Both games begin at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 18

vs.

Rosemary Hanson

The Portland State women’s volleyball team had a decisive first round of Big Sky Conference play. They kick off the second round this weekend with two games, the first on Thursday against the Eastern Washington Eagles and the second on Saturday against the Sacramento State Hornets. The Vikings suffered their first conference loss last weekend, but still sit tied at the top of the standings.

Although the Vikings, 13-8 overall and 9-1 in conference, beat both Eastern Washington and Sac State in the first round of conference play, the team understands no opponent should be taken lightly.

One of last weekend’s top Viking performers, outside hitter Aubrey Mitchell, said, “In our minds we treat every team the same…we have to stay disciplined and keep our identity.”

Thursday’s opponent, Dam Cup rival Eastern Washington, has yet to make their mark, suffering a 0-21 overall and 0-10 conference record. The Eagles’ season has been plagued with injuries, with five of their nine returning players starting the season on the injured reserve list. Although three have returned to the court, the team has had to rely on heavy subbing.

The Eagles have turned to their younger players to take charge and, most notably,

Upcoming games

Wednesday, Oct. 24

WOMEN’S SOCCER (non-conference game)

Amber Rozcicha From Newberg In her last year of running for Portland State, senior Amber Rozcicha has been impressive, racking up four top-10 finishes.

She finished first place at the Charles Bowles Invitational, and last week she finished second in the 5K at the Warner Pacific Open with a time of 17:33:62.

Sarah Dean From Vida Senior Sarah Dean cut her time down on the 5K from 18:26:13 to 17:54:21 at the Warner Pacific Open last week. This is a personal best for her.

vs.

Vikings (5-2-1) @ California State University, Bakersfield (2-2-1) Bakersfield, Calif.

7 p.m Forecast: High of 81 degrees, sunny