Portland State Vanguard

VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 19 | JANUARY 5, 2016

News Opinion Arts & Culture International

PSU EMPLOYEES ACCESS SICK LEAVE p. 4 SHOULD WE HELP SYRIAN REFUGEES? p. 6 YOUR NEW NEW YEARS RESOLUTION p. 10 SAU: WOMEN VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME p. 14

CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE ETCETERA INTERNATIONAL

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR

EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Colleen Leary

INTERNATIONAL@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly Ozier

MANAGING EDITOR

Associate News Editor

MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Tim Sullivan

NEWS EDITOR NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Aislinn Renninson

OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Brie Barbee

ONLINE EDITOR

DESIGNERS

ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jaime Dunkle

COPY EDITORS

Molly Hunt Alexis Woodcock

MARKETING MANAGER Ryan Brewer

ADVERTISING MANAGER NEUB@PDX.EDU Stuart Neuberger

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Tessa Millhollin

ADVISER

Reaz Mahmood

ADVERTISING ADVISER

Terra DeHart Elise Furlan Rachel Goldstein Hunter Sharp

WRITERS Nathan Anderson, Devin Courtright, Kevin Hadsell, Catherine Johnson, John Pinney, Sarah Mustafa, Erin Ritchie, Thomas Spoelhof

PHOTOGRAPHERS Devin Courtright

ADVERTISING SALES Eva Spencer Becca Propper Dennis Caceres Kayla Clemens

Ann Roman

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PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Nimi Einstein

PHOTO EDITOR PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray

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ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Ellie Bradley The Vanguard is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members; additional copies or subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge.

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Welcome back!

Resolve to get involved

It’s a new year, a new term and there’s lots going on at PSU. When you’re not in class, or holed up in your favorite coffee corner, here are a few extra resolutions you could consider: • Pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – PSU cultural resource centers offer a week of activities honoring the civil rights leader, Jan. 18-22. Also, on Feb. 16, founders of Black Lives Matter will deliver the MLK Tribute keynote address. Tickets available Jan. 11.

• Read the plan – We have a new vision and a new five-year strategic plan that puts students first and calls for a more equitable, engaged and resilient campus. Take a look at pdx.edu/president.

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• Support your Vikings – Watch the men’s and women’s basketball teams take on the Big Sky Conference at the Stott Center. Schedules and tickets at goviks.com.

Have a great winter term and remember: Spring is coming.

Wim Wiewel President, Portland State University @PresidentWiewel

NEWS

PSU POLICY CHANGE EXPANDS SICK LEAVE ACCESS JAIME DUNKLE

The newly-passed Oregon law activated on Jan. 1.

According to the official email issued by Kevin Reynolds, vice president of PSU Finance and Administration, eligible employees will accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a maximum of 40 hours of sick time a year.

Those who are eligible consist of “[p]art-time employees, including part-time [PSU Faculty Association] represented faculty, graduate assistants, academic wage, temporary staff, student workers, [International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees], and other employees whose appointment is less than .50 FTE and not benefit-eligible,” stated Reynolds’ email.

Contracted workers are ineligible for paid sick leave

CRIME BLOTTER Dec. 11 THEFT II

Urban Center

Officer David Troppe took a report from a woman who stated that her silver iPhone 6, $50 in cash and a Bank of America credit card had been stolen out of her office in the Urban Center. The woman reported that she had last seen the items on her desk at 1450 hours, and when she returned at about 1545 hours, the items were missing. A witness saw a male that was described as white with blonde hair, mid-thirties, wearing all blue.

Dec. 12 THEFT II

Science Education Center

Office Shawn McKenzie took a report from an employee of USGS who witnessed a white male with curly blond hair,

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since the PSU Sick Leave Policy excludes “independent contractors or those paid on Personal Service Contracts” as employees.

The official PSU Sick Leave Policy states that it is issued in accordance with state and federal laws, university policy and collective bargaining agreements, and ensures that “the policy or law that is most generous to the employee will take precedence.”

PSU employees who already received paid sick leave won’t need to expect any changes to policy or accrual rates, according to Reynolds’ email statement.

This includes Regular Classified employees who are members of the Service Employees International Union, and unclassified employees who work at half-

day rate—or .50 Full Time Equivalency—or more “on a 12-month or 9-month benefits-eligible appointment.”

For more on the difference between classified and unclassified positions at PSU, go to pdx.edu/ hr/position-types.

PSU employees can expect more updates about the newly-implemented PSU Sick Leave Policy from Human Resources via email.

To read the Sick Leave Policy, scroll pdx.edu/ogc/ adopted-policies, or use our convenient direct link: bit. ly/1YZl31i.

For more information, go to pdx.edu/hr/2016-oregonsick-leave-faqs.

To read a requirements summary of the Oregon Paid Sick Leave Law, go to oregon.gov/ boli/WHD/OST/Documents/ Sick-Time-Poster.pdf.

COURTESY OF CLAUS REBLER THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA FLICKR

Week WeekofofNov. Dec.16–Nov. 11–Nov. 22 27

ELLIE BRADLEY dark clothing and a BMX-style bike reaching into a broken car window. This occurred right after the employee heard the car window get smashed in on the street in front of the Science Education Center. The victim, a non-student, reported that a grey and white Adidas bag and some athletic clothing had been taken.

Dec. 14 FAILURE TO REPORT AS A SEX OFFENDER Parking Structure III

Officers Gregory Marks and Troppe were patrolling Parking Structure III when they recognized a male talking on the phone. The man was known to go by the false name “Avril Lavigne” and was taken into custody after he tried to run away. He had two warrants and has not registered as a sex offender in over a year.

The man was also issued a PSU exclusion.

Dec. 15 LAPTOP THEFT

Simon Benson House

A staff member reported that a PSU-owned laptop at her work station was stolen sometime after 1600 hrs on Dec. 14. There was a window open adjacent to her work station, which could be where the thief gained entry into the building.

Dec. 16 SUSPICIOUS ENVELOPE

Transportation and Parking Services

Officer Matthew Masunari was dispatched to a call of a suspicious package that arrived at Transportation and Parking Services. After investigation and consultation with Portland Fire Bureau, the package was determined safe and disposed of.

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY AND USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT II Parking Structure III

Officer Michael Anderson found a white 2000 Honda Civic on the 1st floor of Parking Structure III. The passenger window was down, the ignition was on and the doors were unlocked. The car was not listed as stolen, though the registered owner had tried to report the car as stolen earlier that day from the same parking structure. The owner came to look at the car and reported that Christmas presents had been stolen from the trunk. It was unclear if the car had ever been driven out of the parking structure.

Dec. 23

Officer Dewey located a man disassembling a bicycle locked to a rack. The man stated that because the bike had gone unclaimed for several days that it was “free.” He also explained that he was taking off parts to use on his own bike.

The man was arrested for theft and criminal mischief, then issued an exclusion from PSU property.

CAR PROWL

Ondine Parking Structure – Upper Level

Officer Marks took a report of a car prowl on the upper level of the Ondine parking structure.

The rear passenger window was broken and a laptop and a Bluetooth headset had been taken from the vehicle.

THEFT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

WARRANT ARREST

Officer James Dewey responded to a Portland Police Bureau dispatch of a person disassembling a bicycle at SW 6th Ave and SW Hall. Upon arriving in the area,

Officers McKenzie and Chris Fischer observed a suspicious male wearing a face mask walking towards Parking Structure III. The officers then spotted

6th/Hall

Parking Structure III

the male standing in an alcove near PS3. The man was making furtive movements with another male and walked away from the area upon spotting the officers. When approached the man provided a false name and again attempted to leave.

The officers then used force to place the man into handcuffs; he had a felony drug warrant from 2012 and a second warrant for resisting arrest.

Dec. 24 CAR PROWL

Ondine Parking Lot

Officer Gary Smeltzer took a report from a student whose car had been broken into sometime on the evening of Dec. 23. The student’s car window was broken out and her laundry and Christmas gifts were taken. The gifts included a mustard yellow Madewell sweater and Star Wars memorabilia.

NEWS

VIKINGS SLAP HORNETS TO OPEN BIG SKY

STRONG START TO CONFERENCE PLAY DEVIN COURTRIGHT & JEOFFRY RAY

The Vikings preempted Winter term with a pair of wins at the Portland State Stott Center last week, ending a five-game losing streak and opening the Big Sky Conference with a 76-68 victory over Sacramento State.

The PSU Vikings ended the non-conference season on Tuesday with a seven-point victory over the California State Fullerton Titans before heading into Big Sky play on Saturday against the Hornets.

The star players during both these games from the Vikings lineup were Isaiah Pineiro, Donivine Stewart, Cameron Forte, Collin Spickerman, Bryce White and Calaen Robinson.

The Vikings kept better hold of the ball offensively during Tuesday’s game, recording 10 turnovers and improving on a 14.8 turnover

average during the previous five games. They also made 30-57 shots on the court, 1826 in just the second half. The Vikings used foul line shots to increase their second-half momentum against Cal State, shooting 17-23 free throws.

Pineiro and Stewart were pivotal during this game, putting forth what GoViks.com termed “the glue in one of the most efficient offensive performances of the season for the Vikings.” Pineiro scored 21 points and five rebounds overall, sinking one layup in the first half while taking a hit in back of the head from a defender.

The momentum from Tuesday’s game carried over to Saturday when the Vikings put pressure on Sacramento State, converting 16 forced turnovers into 21 points. PSU dominated the

bulk of the first half with a 20-7 lead, but by halftime the Hornets caught up to trail by three, at 36-33.

Although the Hornets closed in during the second half, tying the game twice at 45-45 and 51-51, the Vikings prevailed with an offensive push in the end to rout an otherwise formidable defense. PSU walked away in the final five minutes with 25 to Sacramento State’s 17.

White took the lead in the final charge, scoring 10 of the Vikings’ 25 points, including six free throws. That last-minute tally brought White to 19 for the game, one shy of his career high of 20 against Pacific Lutheran in November.

The next game will have the Vikings face off against the Montana Grizzlies in Missoula, Mont. Thursday at 6pm.

BRYCE WHITE TAKES THE OFFENSE against the Willamette Bearcats in a 2014 game. White Nearly Matched his personal scoring record on Saturday during the Big Sky opener against Sacramento State. DEVIN COURTRIGHT/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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OPINION

HAS THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS FAILED? Musings From the Sub-basement

by Kevin Hadsell

Another holiday season has come and gone. The new year is now in full swing, providing some much-needed space for sober reflection on the events of the past year, particularly regarding the ongoing war on Christmas. What began as a series of small skirmishes has escalated to a full-scale war, one in which we continue to lose ground against the horde of Yuletide forces. I would like to illustrate my point with an anecdote from winter break.

While I was home for the holidays these last few weeks, gathered around the luminous glow of the television with family and a mug of hot cocoa, I saw a commercial for Macy’s “afterChristmas” sale. I paused.

I quickly looked at the date on my phone: December 21. Why was there an “after-Christmas” sale four days before Christmas? Where had it come from? And wasn’t there an actual Christmas sale going on too? These questions led to further questions: Would they be merged into one homogeneous sale, or would they be separate and distinct? And which sale would take priority during Dec. 21–25, the Christmas sale or the after-Christmas sale?

These questions were not answered in the brief 30-second advertising slot. But it was clear that this amounted to another counteroffensive in the annual war on Christmas. I realized that this had gone on long enough. What have we been doing wrong? And is there a way to stop it? At that moment it was clear: Now, more than ever, we must do whatever it takes to destroy this holiday season once and for all.

It is no secret that other holidays—and, increasingly, entire seasons—have been losing ground to Christmas. What has been dubbed the “war on Christmas”—also known as the “war of holiday aggression,” to some—has, for the past two decades, been waged against an increasingly invasive and belligerent Yuletide. The Christmas season has annexed territories from Thanksgiving and Halloween. Reports indicate that Christmas

has reached as far as the outer reaches of September. At this rate, it may reach August by 2017.

Sure, we have had victories, the most notable (and notorious) being the removal of any and all “holiday” symbols from this year’s disposable Starbucks cup. Every snowflake, snowman, pine tree: gone. It was as if the Grinch himself had descended from Mount Crumpit to take every last trace of holiday cheer, leaving only a barren red cylinder in its place.

We have, in one stroke, transformed the respectable, holiday-themed coffee cups into the disreputable red Solo cup of beer-pong infamy. It was a resounding victory, to be sure. But the Christmas season continues to advance.

What is to be done? It seems that every year, the war on Christmas drifts further and further from its stated mission.

Does anyone even know there is a war on Christmas? This may sound like a strange question to those of us waging it year after year. “Of course there is a war on Christmas,” you say. “What have we been fighting for this entire time?”

And yet in every news report I have seen covering the topic, the focus is always on the fact that there is a war on Christmas. Its mere existence is the entire story, usually phrased as a question. For example, a recent Google search turns up an article titled, “Is There a War on Christmas?” If we apply the same logic to other wars, the problem becomes immediately clear.

Imagine reading an article in 1945 entitled, “Is There a War in the South Pacific?” Of course there was a war in the South

Pacific. Everybody knew there was a war in the South Pacific: That’s why newspapers focused on things like how to win the war and how the war was actually going in the South Pacific.

That there was a war was common knowledge. Nobody had to be reminded that it was happening.

Is this media blackout a deliberate strategy to marginalize the resistance? Some people certainly think so. Morale already appears to be on the wane: The war on Christmas is regarded by many to be an unwinnable quagmire similar to the war in Iraq. It is no coincidence that the present-day war on Christmas roughly lines up with the United States’ “war on terror.”

Both have their modern origins in the early 2000s during the Bush administration. And both are potentially unwinnable wars against America’s enemies, foreign and domestic.

This leads us to the question: What now? What should our next move be? Do we opt for a “surge” in the hopes that we can finally break through our current impasse and achieve victory? Is victory even possible under current conditions?

Or do we stand aside for the time being in the hopes that the Christmas-industrial complex will collapse beneath its own weight? Rome did not last forever, nor did the British Empire of the 19th century, when it controlled 25 percent of the globe.

Christmas may shrink back to its pre-1990 boundaries at some point in the future due to imperial overreach and the exhaustive, unsustainable conditions of colonizing so much of the calendar year. And yet nothing is certain. Christmas has not won the holidays yet. What we need, now more than ever, is to strengthen our resolve for 2016 to finally defeat, once and for all, the Yuletide forces that threaten the health and safety of all holidays throughout the year.

ELISE FURLAN

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Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

OPINION

NO, NOT ALL SYRIANS ARE TERRORISTS A Political Commentary

by Erin Ritchie

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (perhaps better known as ISIS) is a terrorist group based in the Middle East that has been causing mass terror and committing heinous crimes. In American politics, a debate has come up over whether we should let refugees from areas controlled by ISIS—particularly Syria—find freedom and safety here in America. Republicans and Democrats have been battling it out, giving reasons as to why we should or should not help the refugees from Syria.

In general, the Republican party is hesitant to allow refugees into the country, worried that they might be terrorists.

Many Democrats believe that allowing refugees into the United States is the only humane thing to do.

I personally identify as a Democrat and generally agree with their politics. However, I can usually see why people take the Republican side as well. In this case, no one wants to bring terrorists into the United States. We have enough people shooting up schools already; We don’t need more people causing mass fear and terrorizing our communities.

However, I am all for helping people; I do not want women, men and children being gunned down in their homes, which are usually considered safe places. Over 250,000 people have died due to terrorism in Syria since 2011. A quarter of a million people have died because of this terrorist organization. I can’t even begin to fathom a quarter of a million people, and all the heinous ways they must have died.

I want to help all of these innocent people living in a war zone, the young kids being bred into terrorism, the fiveyear-olds who are being handed a grenade by their elders and told to hand them to U.S. soldiers. What kind of people must the members of ISIS be to hand a young child a grenade so they could do their dirty work for them? All of this is absolutely disgusting.

As of Nov. 17, 23 state governors had declined Syrian refugees access to their states. The declining states are Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine, Iowa, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas. President Obama described the actions taken by these governors as shameful. The majority of the governors in the preceding states are Republican.

I understand why people are saying no to refugees: You want to protect yourself, and you want Americans

DON’T FEEL LIKE ATTENDING A VIKINGS GAME? YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE to handle their own problems before we try to solve others’ problems. But you use this as an objection to helping innocent people, and then you go back to your plush life and don’t give a damn about the homeless, or the violence, or all “our own problems” that are taking place on our streets. I don’t intend to generalize, but we all know how easy it is to not care about what’s not right in front of our faces.

Recently, Canada decided to allow Syrian refugees into their country, and the Canadians have welcomed them with open arms. Justin Trudeau, the current prime minister in Canada, said he planned on getting 25,000 refugees into the country before the end of the year and plans to continue letting them in throughout 2016.

To this date, there have been no ISIS-related terrorist attacks in Canada due to refugees.

Over a quarter of a million people are dead because of the cowardly members of ISIS. Women and children need new homes that are not located in a war zone.

No, I don’t want to let terrorists into my home. But no, not all Syrians are terrorists. We can’t handle our own problems first, because you know as well as I do that we will never be able to completely solve them, and historically we’ve never fixed our problems before policing the rest of the world. If you’re going to dispute helping people who desperately need assistance, then at least come up with a better argument.

The Campus Oracle

by Nathan Anderson

VIKINGS FANS show their spirit during a 2015 game at Providence Park.

Five thousand people saw Casey strike out that day in Mudville. Five thousand people cheered on their small-town team, despite the ups and downs of nine innings, only to leave disappointed. Despite this, the men still laughed, the children shouted and the town quickly recovered.

Today, Casey would be batting in front of nearly empty bleachers.

Sports, especially college sports, have always been about one thing: money. Most schools, no matter how needy or struggling, have at least given lip service to the idea that sports are about school pride and empowering students. However, the forces of capitalism are slowly pushing away fans and exposing the dark underbelly of organized college athletics, showing us what they really are: moneymaking schemes.

I first noticed something was amiss a few weeks ago when I was having dinner with some family near campus. The restaurant was nearly empty and when asked why, the waiter responded that the Vikings were playing a rare evening game and many of the restaurant’s regulars were sitting in the

DEVIN COURTRIGHT/PSU VANGUARD

bleachers at Providence Park instead of enjoying the alwayspopular BBQ pork that was the special that night.

For the Portland State Vikings—and indeed, many Pac-12 teams—playing a haphazard schedule isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is getting noticed for one big reason: fans are sick of it and are showing their displeasure by denying what the schools covet most—money.

Recently, the Oregonian noticed this and floated several theories as to the origin of declining attendance at sporting events. They were overwhelmingly convinced it came down to one main factor: television. Pac-12 schools have sold out to TV stations that carry college games, allowing the stations to set kickoff times that best fit programming schedules.

While I would agree that college sports have become sellouts for commercial television, I would also argue that declining attendance over the past few years is rooted in the disgust many people have toward the over-commercialization of college sports. The University of Oregon becoming a hobby for Nike and Oregon State renaming Parker Stadium are both small changes that contribute to a growing dissatisfaction with the game itself. Added to that is the rising cost of tickets.

College games were once a cheap way to spend an afternoon, but recently they have become a huge expense for fans who want to see a live game. An acquaintance of mine purchased Duck football season tickets for her family—and spent over two month’s salary for the privilege of doing so.

So what does all this mean for modern sports fans? It means that our teams are becoming more commercial, becoming less school-oriented and drifting further from their starting goal of remaining open and nonprofessional. It means being pushed further into irrelevance as market forces dictate how, where and when games are played. It means that soon, our only recourse may be to pony up the money for a subscription sports package.

But we do have one other option. We can support our school, cheer academics and learning, and sneer at the bourgeoisie who attempt to control the flow of money into and out of our institutions of higher education. Maybe then universities will start once again catering to students and their communities, and Casey will have a full park to play in.

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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HELL NIÑO? AGAINST PREDICTIONS, PDX BRAVES A COLD, WET WINTER

JEOFFRY RAY

FLOODING ON DEC. 7 reached up into the PSU campus, logging drains and walkways.

JAIME DUNKLE/PSU VANGUARD

Winter weather mayhem continued to plague the Portland area throughout Portland State’s holiday break, which began Dec. 11, amidst a rainy stint that would go on to break precipitation records for the area.

Portland is no slouch when it comes to winter rainfall, with an average of over two-thirds of the city’s precipitation spilling over the downtown area from NovMarch, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assessments.

But as NOAA noted, last month set records for the

COLLAPSED TREES TRAPPED CARS on SW Columbia and SW 6th, causing MAX delays during the Dec. 22 evening storm.

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Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

COURTESY OF TRACI GARE

wettest calendar day (on Dec. 7) 24 days of consecutive rain and wettest December at the Portland International Airport at 15.24” of rainfall.

December’s precipitation appears to be carrying into the new year and the start of winter term, with current forecasts by the National Weather Service of rain carrying into the weekend.

While weeklong stints of winter rain are commonplace in Portland and the Pacific Northwest, the ongoing trend flies in the face of forecasts on the effects of the 2015-16 El Niño event. Described in a

Dec. 21 advisory statement by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Departure of Forestry as very strong, El Niño was projected to produce a mild, dry winter for the Pacific Northwest.

But the advisory statement also pointed to a lack of sufficient analogs to make a clear forecast, noting “the precipitation forecast is less certain.”

El Niño is a weather event characterized by warm temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which impact temperature and precipitation

on a global scale. Weather effects include “increased rainfall across the southern tier of the U.S. and in Peru, which has caused destructive flooding, and drought in the West Pacific,” according to NOAA. NOAA also predicted a warmer, drier winter for the region this winter as late as September, a forecast contested by the meteorologists at KGW-TV. Weekend-evening meteorologist Rod Hill pointed to a viewer question during a broadcast about the Dec. 10 tornado in Battle Ground, Wash.

A COMMUTER STUDENT’S FAMILY BARN after the weekend snowfall, in Rainier, Ore.

COURTESY OF PSU STUDENT LESLIE SLAPE

VEHICLES TRUDGE THROUGH SNOW up Broadway on Monday after a night of ice and snowfall.

JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

PSU COVERED IN SNOW after the weekend flurry JAIME DUNKLE/PSU VANGUARD

“It’s a record wettest December; was it all tied to El Niño?” Hill said. “I said yes.”

Hill pointed to KGW-TV reports as early as July refuting NOAA’s predictions and forecasting a wet winter on account of the El Niño event.

“What we started to tell people in early fall, late summer, is that the strongest El Niño we’ve seen so far is an extreme weather event; it’s expected to produce extreme weather events,” Hill said.

“You can get a little dicier when you get into individual weather events, but I think when they look back at this years from now they’re going to pin it on El Niño, absolutely.”

“Confidence was high that we were not going to be dry, we were going to have a good, solid water year,” Hill said.

Following is a look back at how weather has shaped up for the winter thus far.

DECEMBER FLOODS Persistent storming left parts of Portland flooded in rain and sewage backup in early December, leaving residents stranded and many streets submerged. The flooding drove landslides and road closures elsewhere in the state, forcing Gov. Kate Brown to declare a state of emergency for 13 counties on Dec. 10.

The December storm front also produced an EF-1 tornado in Battle Ground, Wash. with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, according to KPTV.

A STORM CALLED FERUS Winter Storm Ferus blasted the west coast from Washington to northern California with a combination of rain, snow and wind from Dec. 21-23.

The Portland area was subject to wind gusts reaching 55 miles per hour at the Portland International Airport on Dec. 21, according to the National Weather Service. The brief windstorm left trees and downed power lines in its wake, forcing Trimet into service delays and damaging property and vehicles throughout the area, including near PSU campus.

JANUARY: THIS WEEK AND AHEAD As of this reporting, Portland was subject to roughly three inches of snowfall over Monday evening, with a layer of ice added overnight as temperatures remained below freezing. The university canceled the first day of winter term classes, an overnight upgrade from a two-hour delay as of Sunday night. KGW-TV forecasted

warmer, drier weather for the midweek before heading into the weekend.

According to Hill, it all depends on whether temperatures pull and remain above freezing.

“The matter at hand right now is getting Portland’s temperature up, which is a slow, grueling, tooth-pulling process,” he said. “Help soften the ice, if you will.”

Hill also looked ahead, predicting a winter advancing with average or greater-thannormal rainfall. But he also cautioned that the El Niño could produce additional weather events in the coming weeks.

“I think this El Niño pattern has a potential to shift somewhat and shoot our snow levels up higher,” he said. “I can’t say that’s going to happen. We do have the snow right now, but this El Niño pattern is inherently warm overall.”

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

TURN YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION INTO A LIFESTYLE DON'T TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT ON FAD DIETS, FOLLOW HEALTHY HABITS FOR SUSTAINED RESULTS THOMAS SPOELHOF

So the new year is here and you’ve made a commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

For weeks you’ve lingered over the holiday cheeseballs and chocolates, and an extra twenty pounds of butter now lingers around your waistline.

Not to worry, solutions to help you lose that muffin top and get in shape are abound.

The honest and straightforward formula for sculpting a leaner, healthier body is simple: intake fewer calories than you burn. That is the only way to lose weight.

“You have to short yourself 3,500 calories to burn off a pound of fat. Aim for a half to 1 pound per week of weight loss. More aggressive dieting is associated with more frequent failure,” said Dr. Mark Bajorek, Director of Health Services for Portland State’s Center for Student Health and Counseling.

However, caloric intake needs change according to caloric output. For example, a woman who runs 20 plus miles per week and weighs 115 pounds has different caloric demands than a weightlifter who trains in the gym for an hour at a time, four times a week and weighs 210 pounds. The same is true for the overweight twenty-something college student who only exercises his thumbs but sets a goal of living healthier.

For long-term success and real change, think smarter and healthier.

“Small changes are more likely to give sustainable results,” Bajorek said. “If you frame things as ‘denying yourself certain things’ you’re more likely to fall out of the new healthy habit.”

Experts advise doing away with any thoughts of quick fixes or fad diets. Those who are successful maintaining long-term changes in body

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composition take on a mindset, a change in attitude. Begin to see food as your fuel source, your means of nutrient delivery, not as comfort or as a social tool.

“Identify if you need fuel or is it just boredom, anxiety, sleepiness, avoidance of studying, or just a go to habit with family, friends or activities,” Bajorek said.

But there are so many prescriptive diet plans out there, and each has its own benefits and challenges. Here is an overview of a few popular diets:

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

The Mediterranean diet features legumes such as chickpeas and lentils, as well as heavy consumption of nuts. Fresh fish and poultry are encouraged in moderate amounts, while red meat is rarely eaten. Red wine is endorsed in moderate amounts for its antioxidants. Substitute sugary desserts with fresh fruits.

The end product is a lean, heart-healthy torso with arteries so clean that your little blood cells will be slippin’ and slidin’ like happy kids at a water park.

The Mediterranean diet gets most of its caloric fat from olive oil as opposed to saturated fats.

“Fats can be good. Avocados and almonds provide good fats. Salmon has a lot of Omega 3s which helps brain function, is good for hair, skin, and nails too,” said Chris Hill, Fitness Manager at 24 Hour Fitness in Portland.

TH E PA L EO DIET

The Paleo diet mimics what we believe our ancestors would have eaten in a purer, pre-industrialization utopia.

“The Paleo diet gets rid of the processed foods. It’s

higher protein, higher fats, lower on the carbohydrate scale,” Hill said.

This plan endorses natural, whole foods which can greatly reduce instances of degenerative diseases such as cancer or diabetes.

“The Paleo diet’s use of nuts, roots and berries is great. Stick to the allotted calories by age/activity recommendations unless you have a significant training component,” Bajorek added.

The Paleo plan is similar to the Mediterranean in that its fats are derived from nuts, olive oil, fish oils and grass-fed meats. The Paleo diet encourages people to avoid dairy, processed foods, starches, and alcohol. The higher protein content in the plan can be appealing to those who exercise with intensity.

T H E V E GA N D I E T

The Vegan diet eliminates any consumption of animals or animal products.

“Vegans generally are vegan for one of three reasons: personal health, the welfare of animals otherwise eaten and/or raised in captivity, and the ecological impact of eating meat,” said Dinae Horne, Chef/Owner of Portobello Restaurant.

A Vegan diet draws its protein from plant-based products: beans and nuts. The creativity and commitment aspect comes into play when learning to cook without butter, milk, or any animal product–even honey. For this reason, the Vegan lifestyle might take the prize for highest level of determination.

“Vegan diets really cut down on heart disease. It’s still about reasonable quantities and making sure to get enough vitamins and nutrients,” Bajorek said.

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

ELISE FURLAN

With so many choices and plans available, what works?

The simple truth is that it depends on your unique nutritional needs, lifestyle, philosophy and attitude, but here some tips from the pros to help you succeed: Planning: “It’s the execution aspect. Plan ahead each day. Spend the extra five or

ten minutes in the morning or the night before to plan ahead so that when you are in a time crunch you don’t go all day without eating or use a vending machine. Having food ready and available in your backpack or car provides good food sources and keeps the metabolism going,” Hill said.

Approach: “Stop cleaning your plate. Much successful weight loss is through portion control. What would it be like to eat just half this sandwich?”

Dr. Bajorek said. “In addition to looking at types of foods look at quantities of foods. Aim to be about 70 percent full; after eating, give it an hour. If you’re still hungry consider an apple.”

ARTS & CULTURE

INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH AT THIS YEAR’S CHOCOLATEFEST CATHERINE JOHNSON

From Jan. 22 to 24, the delectable festival, ChocolateFest, will return to the Portland Convention Center for its 11th year. The fest will feature dozens of chocolatiers from the Pacific Northwest and all over the country.

Not only are attendees invited to sample a variety of chocolates, but they will also have the opportunity to be educated about the cacao tree and how chocolate is produced, from the bean to the finished product.

The event, which is a fundraiser for the World Forestry Center, started at the WFC’s campus in Washington Park.

However, it was moved to

the Convention Center after five years in order to accommodate the 9,000 to 10,000 expected visitors. This year, they are offering a new level of indulgence for guests that want more.

“We are selling VIP tickets to those 21 and older that provides access to the VIP lounge,” said Jennifer Kent, producer of ChocolateFest.

Kent said the VIP lounge will have complimentary wine, savory snacks, chocolate cupcakes and a nice place to relax and digest.

Many of the scheduled exhibitors are small-scale, artisan producers, like Elyce Zahn of CocoTutti. Zahn

is excited about the festival because of the variety of chocolatiers and their interpretation of what chocolate can be.

“I look at chocolate as not just something delicious, but also as a material,” Zahn said.

“The way that other artists use material, I enjoy using chocolate.”

All of Zahn’s chocolates are handcrafted, without the use of machines, and boxed to order; they also create their own recipes from scratch. There is an extensive multi-step process with sometimes as many as 60 iterations before the chocolates go to market.

Randi Holm of Holm Made Toffee Co. shares a similar passion for this work. For Holm, it’s a family business; she joined her mother-inlaw, Donna Holm, who has been making toffee for over 30 years as a hobby. After her mother-in-law retired from a teaching career, the hobby grew slowly into a business and now their toffee is available in over 50 stores and online.

“We personally handcraft each batch from start to finish, and nothing reaches the shelves unless it is the same quality that we would serve friends and family,” Holm said.

The Holms attend many farmers markets and festivals, but ChocolateFest is one of their favorites.

“We love that it is an event dedicated solely to one of the main ingredients we use in our product: chocolate,” Randi Holm said. “That translates to meeting lots of other like-minded vendors and customers. Everyone at the festival shares the passion of good confections and we’ve met and chatted with some amazing folks over the years.”

While the festival will welcome back many veteran producers, there will be new ones too, like Lura Longmire, the owner and founder of Luralu’s Dark Bark. She also creates her own recipes and developed her chocolate bark as a healthy, all-natural alternative to other candy.

“I hope to educate people about my brand and how to live a healthier lifestyle without sacrificing sweets,” Longmire said.

Other chocolatiers boast vegan, gluten-free and fairtrade chocolates. With dozens of chocolatiers and 17 wineries and distilleries present, in addition to presentations and demonstrations, ChocolateFest promises to be an educational, artistic and delicious weekend.

Editor’s Pick Movie: The Hateful Eight Aislinn Rennison Quentin Tarantino has proven himself a genius for the eighth time! Filmed in 70mm, “The Hateful Eight” is one of a kind.

The entire movie takes place in a cabin in Wyoming during a deadly blizzard. Strangers are forced to stay together for a few days until the storm passes, including a bounty hunter, John “The Hangman” Ruth, with his fugitive prisoner, Daisy Domergue. The film revolves around a lack of trust, racial tension (because of course Samuel L. Jackson is in the QT movie) and attempts to escape.

I had the honor of seeing one of the premier shows that were only presented in select theatres that had the proper equipment to show the 70mm film.

Of course there was a line out the door but there were a few things that made Tarantino’s masterpiece stand out even more; we were greeted with a program about the movie, filled with set pictures and there was also a intermission in the middle of the film. The intermission was nice for a restroom break because trust me, you do not want to miss one word of dialogue.

Everything the characters say factors back later in the plot, in a crafty and intelligent way.

And even though the work of art is almost three and a half hours long, I was disappointed that it was already halfway over at intermission.

Of course there is blood–it wouldn’t be a Tarantino film without it! However, it is not the usual amount of massacre that you would be used to if “Kill Bill” and “Inglorious Basterds” are you favorite QT movies. I would compare it more to “Reservoir Dogs”–the story has a longer build up with less constant action.

The Hateful Eight however, is different than any other, though; through interesting and mysterious conversation, you will stay on the edge of your seat. Tarantino’s commitment to his directing and filming ability truly stands out. For example, QT actually kept the set at a below freezing temperature, like it would normally be for the characters in a snowy Wyoming.

Do not miss out on this slice of film history! Get there early, get a good seat and be ready to have your mind blown.

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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ETC EVENT LISTINGS FOR JAN. 6 TO JAN. 10 WEDNESDAY JAN. 6 Education Abroad 101 10 a.m. or 3 p.m.

East Hall 109

This event fulfills the requirement of attending an advising session for the education abroad program.

Come and meet the team, discuss the realities of studying abroad, and navigate through both the website and funding options.

Patti Smith 8 p.m.

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Fee: $49 or $53

Patti Smith will celebrate the 40th anniversary of her legendary album Horses by performing the whole enchilada. Her vast catalog of work has most likely touched you or someone you know right in the soul.

JOHN PINNEY Horoscopes for the week of Jan. 3

Aries (March 21–April 19)

I know you feel like you blew your chance on something big this week. Well, take comfort in the old adage being true: When Cthulhu closes a door, somewhere they open a portal.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

The problem you’ve been facing that seems insurmountable might be worked through if you can take a look behind the curtain, like Dorothy. There’s always

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THURSDAY JAN. 7 Contemporary Native Arts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Portland Art Museum Tickets: $12 student, $15 general

Come celebrate the opening exhibition of the newest wing of the Portland Art Museum, featuring the works of three contemporary Native artists that show the growth of Native artistry over the years. The gallery’s opening exhibition, Thlatwa Thlatwa, will be available to view through March 13.

A Hungry World 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mercy Corps Action Center Free

Come and see the dynamic relationship of food, income inequality and trade. This exhibit will challenge how you view what you have on your plate and will make you realize how few are so lucky as we. Exhibit runs through March 31. Although the event is free, donations are highly encouraged for all Mercy Corps.

FRIDAY JAN. 8 Skylight 7 p.m.

Imago Theatre Fee: $15 or $20

Brought to you by National Theatre Live, Skylight is the story of two lovers whose passionate romance rekindles after many years apart. Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan star in this adaptation.

Friday Night Coffeehouse 7:30 p.m.

Artichoke Music Fee: $5

This is a year-round, weekly event featuring local and live eclectic music focused on sounds from folk and world tastes. Each week will be a little different and will feature either six performers alternating or four dueling songwriters in the round.

SATURDAY JAN. 9 Balletlujah 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Whitsell Auditorium Fee: $9

One of the many entrants from Contact Dance, this entry is based on the work of k.d. lang. Bodyvox Troupe, which collaborates with filmmakers, is helping the NW Film Center create this hybrid affair.

Bourbon and Bacon Fest 7 p.m.

OMSI Fee: $15 to $35 21+

Take the Streetcar to OMSI to have some adult-beverage shenanigans in this afterdark series. There is no note on this event about how many types of bacon and bourbon will be available, but it’s most likely local and appetizer/tapas style.

JOHN PINNEY

SUNDAY JAN. 10 Jane Eyre Matinee 2 p.m.

Imago Theatre Fee: $15 to $20

Another event from the National Theatre Live, beamed in from the National Theatre. Though this story is over a hundred years old, the relevance of Jane Eyre and her belief in freedom cannot be understated. Viewings will continue both matinee and evening until Jan. 23.

Oboe Concerto 7:30 p.m.

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Fee: $23+

Though it was not his favorite instrument to compose for, Strauss worked through the idea to create this sublime treat and ode to the woodwind.

someone in control somewhere, and they’re not always benevolent.

this is a good moment to treat yourself if the means are available.

respecting boundaries and others don’t know how to draw them.

your own trail. Choose for you, no one else.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Take care of your plants this week with plenty of water and food, or not much water if you’ve just gotten a cactus.

See what flourishes when you really make the effort.

When I’m feeling down, I always decompress with a nice bubble bath. This week, you might need to heed that advice and grab the ole rubber ducky. You’ll find that there’s nothing better.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Treat yourself this week to some hard-earned pizza.

Whether you’ve been craving it or you’re just sick of homemade soup and rice,

Seeking approval from others is a horrible way to get things done. What you need to do this week is reach deep inside your heart and look to yourself for approval instead of looking for it in external sources.

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Following the golden rule of respect will come in handy this week when you find that some people have trouble

Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

You can’t lead a revolution without an idea of what you’re trying to revolutionize. A mission statement with clear goals will open the path to you that has remained obscured until now.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

You could choose either the road less traveled or the road well worn as you’re under no obligation to either follow the crowd or blaze

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Somebody is blowing smoke in your eyes this week, making it hard to see. Grab some eye drops and squint through the fog for your own good.

FEATURED EVENT Community Cleanup!

Thursday Jan. 7 12 to 12:50 p.m.

Rec Center Entrance (next to Cafe Yumm!)

Be part of the altruistic work of the school, burn some calories while you walk and pick up some trash around your city. Come for the good feelings; stay for the prize raffle. Though the event doesn’t say how far the walk is, just cleaning up around campus is probably a good-size jog. Buckets, gloves and pickup beaks will be provided as part of this ongoing community outreach. Cleanups will be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month for just one hour, starting at noon, from January to May. No registration needed.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Sometimes you feel like the scarecrow from The Wiz, poisoned in spirit and mind by those around you. But an opportunity this week is coming to make a new friend and to get down from that post in the cornfield.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

Your desires come to fruition this week, but always be wary of what you desire.

What you receive may not be what you actually wanted after all.

ETC

TERRA DEHART

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Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

DOT: SMARTWATCH FOR THE BLIND NEW MOBILE BRAILLE TECHNOLOGY MAY HELP IMPROVE LITERACY FOR THE BLIND YUNI CHOI

The use of smartwatches has increased substantially in the recent years. Since its launch in April 2015 Apple smartwatch sales have skyrocketed to 457 percent increase last year. That is almost 4 million watches sold in less than a year.

While many of us praise the advent of information technology, there are people who recognize something different: “Every time technology moves forward we see more real-time information, but for the blind, that’s a widening discrimination gap,” said Eric Ju Yoon Kim, co-founder and CEO of Dot startup.

According to the World Health Organization, 285 million

people in the world are severely, visually impaired. 39 million of these people are completely blind. Lack of access to braille education and materials imposes a serious challenge of literacy in the blind community. As well as access to information. For example, a blind reader will have to endure 40 volumes of text just to read the Bible.

In response to the challenges faced by the blind, braille technology was developed about 10 years ago; condensing the physical forms of text and expanding the gateway of information to the blind. Named Active Braille Technology, this hardware for the blind consists

of keyboards with attached braille cells that are connectable to the computer via USB. However, obtaining access to this computer-based Active Braille Technology, can be costly. An Active Braille Technology can be purchased at around $3,000 and this figure has remained constant for the past 10 years.

Dot, a South Korean startup company, was the first to adapt Active Braille Technology in mobile form.

Compared to the previously available computer-based model, this revolutionary mobile adaptation has brought down the cost of access to $300. Now, a blind person may have access to a

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Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

braille communication tool at a much lower cost.

In appearance, the Dot smartwatch looks like any other smartwatch on the market, except for the absence of a screen. Instead, there are four ‘cells’ with six dots on the module. These dots change accordingly to display information at a speed that can be modified and controlled. This type of information is transferred through ‘touch’ called “haptic technology”. With this fundamental technology, Dot smartwatch can be linked to any Bluetooth device to pull out information from personal text messages.

“Until now, if you got a message on iOS from your girlfriend, for example, you had to listen to Siri read it to you in that voice, which is impersonal,” said Kim in an interview with Time Magazine. “Wouldn’t you

rather read it yourself and hear your girlfriend’s voice saying it in your head?”

In fact, the inception of the idea for braille smartwatches rooted from a clear mission to provide better information access to the blind. It is the hopes of Dot to “return equal information access to a demographic that has been left behind in the age of real-time digital text.”

With its team based in Seoul, Dot is currently seeking international investors to help promote its products globally. While hitting the U.S. and Canada market soon, Dot is continuing to develop new applications for Braille technology, contributing to availability of Braille texts in the public sector. This includes installing Braille modules at train stations and ATM machines in South Korea.

Although the potential market in the public sector seems promising, Kim sees that there are challenges of broadening interest and demand for the product. According to Kim, braille literacy has decreased significantly over the past 50 years due to lack of effective education tools. Kim hopes to tackle this deeper problem by developing new devices- such as a tablet- to make complex learning possible for the blind. It may not be long before complex texts, diagrams, graphs, and mathematics may be accessible to the blind community.

In a recent TED presentation, Kim remarked, “advanced technology is important, but we need technology that gives equal opportunity and equal accessibility for the minority.”

Dot’s innovation resonates with this mission.

New Cascadia Traditional is a dedicated gluten-free bakery in SE Portland.

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INTERNATIONAL

SAUDI ARABIA OPENS POLLING DOORS TO SAUDI WOMEN SARAH MUSTAFA

For the first time, polling stations opened for female voter’s in Saudi Arabia to finally contribute to a society of which that they make up almost half. Making its mark in history was a change that didn’t go unnoticed on Dec. 12.

For the first time women’s voices are being heard, according to a Saudi Arabian Portland State Alumni, Summer Musa, who stated, “It is about time!…It’s a good move towards reform in implementing the start of Saudi women’s equal rights in the country.”

About time indeed. A change has taken place for Saudi women’s voices to be heard publicly, despite a number of limitation of restrictions, like the ban on women driving.

Although, Musa is seeing this sign of reform as a stepping stone for more modification by having an optimistic attitude when she said, “For something like this to happen it does take some time.

For instance, when we look at a strong country like the United States, women also had limited restrictions as well,” Musa continued, “Like

the struggle to vote and to have equal rights at one time here, and it took many years and a lot burning brasseries for women of the U.S. to be where they are today.”

Musa shed some light on the mirroring change that could take effect in Saudi Arabia one day when she added, “Like the U.S. years ago, change had to start somewhere, where women came together and stood in unison to see that something were to happen for them to feel valued in their own country.”

When it comes to the voting matter, Musa drove a

point home stating, “Women were seen but their voices weren’t heard and this new adjustment brings our voices right into the spotlight.”

According to the Washington Post, “The municipal council races across the kingdom also included the first female candidates – more than in total – seen as pioneers by many but also denounced by some hard – line Islamist’s as unfit for public role.”

Only trying to bring the significance of women voting down, a lot of people will probably think it is a sliver of change that occurred in the kingdom. But to challenge their thoughts, one might say change shouldn’t be measured but seen as a start for more to follow in its place, like a domino effect.

Allowing women to vote and be elected into politics is

something that could change the status of women in Saudi Arabian society forever. Having a chance for women to articulate their issues can lead to an even greater change like women holding positions in higher up places.

With the help of social media, having its hand in spreading change has made this adjustment knowledgeable to millions of people around the world. Giving Saudi women a push to either register to vote or run for election in 2019.

Not every woman showed up to vote when the change occurred. For reasons such as being too jaded to vote because they didn’t think their vote would matter, or if they simply didn’t know they had the option to.

Nevertheless, the fact that 130,000 women voted shows that it’s a step in the right direction. Musa, expressed

that “It is normal for people (women) to be scared or feel uncomfortable to vote at first.

With more time that passes on, as this change continues to make a big impression on publicity with bringing awareness that now the women of Saudi Arabia can vote will make a bigger impact in the long run.”

“We would not be a universal world if we all lived under one specific way of life,” Musa said, “If we did live that way it would be like global communism, if everyone would be expected to live the same exact way under the same laws.”

Although not everyone votes, the point is that the option is now available. A lot of this forward change has to do with the political spotlight that now the world is looking at through a microscope.

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Vanguard | JANUARY 5, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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