VOLUME 69 | ISSUE 2
July 1, 2014
F O ASS
M L A C I T I
R C A
Newly Rediscovered audiotapes provide a look back at dialogue and discourse at PSU NEwS
OpINION
aRtS & cULtURE
SpORtS
The Clean Air Corridor revisited: How effective is it at eliminating emissions? pg. 4
Are there problems with PSU’s graduate teaching assistant program? Secrets from an anonymous insider. pg. 7
What’s happening on the frontiers of theatre? Sea cucumbers, apparently. pg. 10
After the college World Series hangover, the Vanguard pines for a college baseball team to call its own. pg. 15
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CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
4 6 8 10 12 14 COPY EDITORS
EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Whitney Beyer
Sabrina Parys Margo Pecha
MANAGING EDITOR
ADVERTISING MANAGER
MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Tobin Shields
JGEKELER@PDX.EDU Jordan Gekeler
NEWS EDITOR
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Ashley Rask
Michelle Leigh
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Reaz Mahmood
ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Brandon Staley
OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Breana Harris
SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jesse Tomaino
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Turner Lobey
PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Rachael Bentz
ADVISER
ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman
DESIGNERS
Brendan Mulligan, Christopher Peralta, Nicole Worthington
WRITERS
Claude Akins, Mike Bivins, Andrew Gleason, Patricia Grant, Jeremy King, Kennedy Martin, Caroline McGowan, Matt Rauch, Rosie Yanosko
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PHOTO EDITOR
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PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray
ADVERTISING SALES
COPY CHIEF
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COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Chelsea Lobey
ONLINE EDITOR ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jaime Dunkle
The Vanguard is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Publications Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members; additional copies or subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Cover: Designed by Rachael Bentz ©2014 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY VANGUARD 1825 S.W. BROADWAY SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION, RM. S-26 PORTLAND, OR 97201
CORRECTION In the article that ran last week titled “ASPSU conducts first Senate meetings after controversial elections,” the name of a newly elected SFC member was misspelled. Her name is Alexandra Calloway-Nation, not Calloway-Nations. In the same article, Devon Backstrom is listed as a senator. Backstrom is currently an SFC member, not a senator.
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
3
NEWS
Efforts to curb emissions idle in the clean air corridor Kennedy Martin
The introduction of the Clean Air Corridor, a designated pollution-free zone at Portland State between Lincoln Hall and Cramer Hall, Cramer Hall and Smith Memorial Student Union, SMSU and Neuberger Hall, and Neuberger Hall and Shattuck Hall, carved out a place for students free from smoke, emissions and other pollutants. When the corridor was first proposed in response to documented complaints about air quality, many agreed that a place protected from air pollutants and secondhand smoke was a good idea. However, some have been vocal in raising concerns over where smokers would be allowed to go and how the policies would be enforced. A year after the corridor was unveiled on January 1, 2013, the university rolled out a plan to expand the policies of the corridor and make the PSU campus and the Park Blocks smoke-free by fall quarter of 2015. “Prohibiting smoking outright certainly benefits people with sensibilities to smoke, but the university should take into account concerns from
all students, both smokers and nonsmokers, when implementing its tobacco policies. Designated smoking areas are a no-brainer: they redirect smokers to more considerate locations, promote proper disposal of cigarette butts in ashtrays, and can improve public safety in several ways,” said PSU student Romain Bonilla, a member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. “For instance, a designated smoking area makes it possible for nighttime smokers to stay in a well-lit space,” Bonilla continued. “Without designated smoking areas, smokers who live on campus must either break the rules or walk off campus at their own risk.” While it is a primary target, eliminating smoking isn’t the sole aim of the corridor. According to the Clean Air Corridor website, “the Corridor is really about reducing all types of air pollution.” This leads to new concerns that have arisen over the use of large delivery trucks from companies like Aramark, which provide food services to PSU, as well as vehicles involved with the Portland Farmers Market in the Clean Air Corridor.
“The Clean Air Corridor is unsuccessful at meeting its very goal, which is to improve PSU’s air quality,” Bonilla said. “The policy declares the corridor is smoke and exhaust-free and yet does not provide viable alternatives for smokers or delivery trucks, which is unreasonable. “The Clean Air Corridor bans polluting vehicles, but doesn’t account for the lack of an alternative for delivery trucks or patrols. I think it’s absurd that administrators implemented this policy without considering its side effects.” The Clean Air Corridor policy states that idling vehicles, gas powered leaf blowers, pressure washers and small utility vehicles are not allowed in the corridor. Aramark and other companies are allowed to drive into and park in the designated emissions-free zones, but they must turn off their engines immediately, and no idling is permitted. According to Ted McClain, food service director at PSU, “[PSU receives] deliveries from Aramark once a week, Sysco twice a week and CocaCola once a week. They each
Looking for Crime Blotter? Go to psuvanguard.com for this week’s updates. 4
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
Cars and vendor trucks sit in the Clean Air Corridor for the PSU Farmers Market. JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD
sit in the corridor for varied amounts of time depending on what they are delivering that week.” While being a central aspect of the corridor’s mission statement, Gwyn Ashcom, a health educator at Student Health and Counseling and Student Affairs, said that the effect of emissions isn’t a major health concern. “While exhaust from idling cars is definitely a form of air pollution, it does tend to disperse much more quickly than, say, cigarette smoke,” said Ashcom, who helped guide the establishment of policies put into place when the corridor first began. “It’s much more diluted in the air so we breathe a lot less of it in, unless you happen to be standing right next to the source.” A January 2010 report by the Health Effects Institute states that “motor vehicles
are a significant source of urban air pollution and are increasingly important contributors of anthropogenic carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.” The report links exposure to vehicle emissions with cardiovascular and respiratory issues. Chief Phillip Zerzan of the Campus Public Safety Office reports that they have received no official complaints on the issue. “If we do see someone smoking or with an idling vehicle in the corridor we simply ask them to stop,” Zerzan said. “Our focus with the corridor is for it to be an educational and cooperative experience. It is not designed to be enforcement heavy and we have had good compliance with the rules and regulations of the corridor so far. If someone is caught violating a rule more
than once or twice they will be referred to the student conduct office.” Alex Accetta, director of the Academic and Student Rec Center and co-chair on the Healthy Campus Initiative, said that concerns surrounding vehicle emissions are understandable. “I think what a lot of people don’t realize though is that many of these types of large food delivery trucks contain refrigerating units that must stay on even while the truck is parked. The engine may be turned off but the noise that refrigerating unit makes can sound as though the truck is idling.” “It’s super cool that people are concerned; I think that’s really positive,” Accetta said. “That’s what we want to do with the Clean Air Corridor. It was implemented to start conversation and change culture.”
NEWS
clsb open house highlights collaborative efforts of Oregon universities Patricia Grant
Students, faculty and staff roamed the floors of the new Collaborative Life Sciences Building during an open house held last Thursday. Guests were treated to refreshments as they toured the promenade, first, second, third, fourth and 12th floors of the building, which were opened up for the event. Erected in the South Waterfront, the 650,000-squarefoot building is the result of a unique partnership between Portland State, Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University. Approximately 3,000 students from the three
universities are expected to attend the CLSB daily. The project is the first of its kind to combine the efforts of multiple institutions to provide students of different sciences the opportunity to learn and collaborate under one roof. The building’s first floor is home to PSU’s largest lecture hall and will hold over 400 students in auditorium-style seating. Dr. Jason Podrabsky, professor of biology at PSU, explained the design of the room. “The lecture hall is set up to be collaborative. The first row of seats in each tier swivel so the students can turn around
and have discussion groups,” Podrabsky said. A projector screen occupies a full-length wall of the room, allowing students expansive views of lessons and presentations. The lecture hall also includes cameras and large televisions to enable distance education learners to interact with classmates and professors in real time. “We can do distance education,” Prodrabsky said. “There is a camera with a screen so you can see what the other students are seeing, or you can see yourself, depending on what you prefer.” PSU’s new state-of-the-art teaching labs are located on
open house attendees explore the new Collaborative Life Sciences Building, which opens in fall 2014.
the building’s second floor and will offer students the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Ken Stedman of PSU’s department of biology is excited about the design of the labs. “The labs are very much designed for group work and the space is very flexible so we can exchange all kinds of different things here,” Stedman said. “We have a plant lab, we have our aquarium, and the idea is that this open, central space will allow us to have much more interactions.” Perhaps the main attraction at the open house was OHSU’s Interprofessional Simulation Center. Guests viewed both a
simulated birth and a simulated surgery while OHSU Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. Jeffrey Gold shared his thoughts about the new facility. “We finally have a place where everybody in the university system can train together,” Gold said. “We are no longer training the doctors separately from the nurses, separately from the pharmacists. If we’re going to act as a team, if we’re going to work as a team, we have to train as a team.” The open house featured animated displays of the sustainable aspects of the new building, as well as a film that detailed the 32-month
construction period. Anticipating a LEED Platinum certification, the CLSB’s design features green roofs, storm water collection, energy efficient lighting and climate control systems. Located at the end of the new Tilikum Crossing bridge, the building will be accessible by the Portland Streetcar. Students from PSU can also take a 17-minute walk to the CLSB, or a short six-minute bike ride. Trimet bus lines 35 and 36 also run near the new facility. Biology and chemistry departments will begin holding classes at the building in fall 2014.
the clsb’s lecture hall is designed to foster collaboration and group discussion.
CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD
CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
5
OPINION
Wikipedia Scholars College students still don’t understand credible sources
The Illuminator by Mike Bivins
Somewhere along the line, Portland State got complacent. PSU has started to falsely assume that everyone who comes through these doors will sooner rather than later be able to tell the difference between a reliable source and a source that is garbage. Sources such as About.com, Sparknotes, the dictionary and Wikipedia are extremely unreliable and will draw a professor’s ire. Not being a professor, I was still shocked during spring term when I saw these sources mentioned in the body of graded assignments, as well as in research papers I was reviewing. How could such a thing happen? Until I saw it with my own eyes, I thought it was just a myth perpetuated by professors to poke fun at students. Surely no one would have the gall to cite a content mill such as About.com. There is no chance that a student would have the nerve to cite a source that is designed to enable a student to essentially cite material without the original, right? Unfortunately, seeing is believing. Apparently these students did not get the memo. Didn’t WR 222 cover what is and is not a reliable source? When I took WR 222, our class went over what is and is not a reliable source. Our professor made a fun game out of it and quizzed the class about different sources. But what if a student had missed that pivotal day of class? Perhaps they were not paying attention? How do we really know that this student will get the idea early on that it is not OK to cite the dictionary, let alone mention Wikipedia in the body of any graded assignment? My suspicions regarding students not getting the hint were confirmed when, upon reading another student’s assignment in one of my 300-level communications classes, I noticed they mentioned something and said that they got that info from Wikipedia. All I could do was slap my forehead. What is going on with the world today that grown people in an academic setting are even mentioning Wikipedia? At best, Wikipedia is a middleman of sorts. You can go to your topic and find out what someone has asserted in regards to the topic. You can use this as a place to start, with the next step being to dig around Google Scholar or a similar source for scholarly articles regarding the assertion to see if you can find anything credible. Another strategy is to go directly to the reference list at the bottom of a subject’s Wikipedia page and see if there are any good scholarly articles or books referenced. Perhaps the list might contain links to informative government websites with statistics, or perhaps a .edu source will provide a good push in the right direction for your budding research paper. With that said, I love Wikipedia. However, I have sense enough not to bring it to the surface in conversations with peo-
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Jeoffry ray/PSU VANGUARD
“How do we really know that this student will get the idea early on that it is not OK to cite the dictionary, let alone mention Wikipedia in the body of any graded assignment?” ple, let alone a graded assignment which a teaching assistant, or God forbid a professor, will observe with consternation. During the course of an online class last term, I encountered research papers at several different phases, as well as the associated reference lists. During every stage of the peer review process, I noticed the aforementioned dubious sources. At every stage, I mentioned to them that they should probably ditch the dictionary, and that popular magazines are also generally not desirable sources. However, upon reading final drafts (and after at least one direct module done by the T.A. regarding reliable sources), the unreliable references remained. They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. I think these students might have the same problem. I just want to know what kind of grade you give a student who turns in a paper with Sparknotes, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and About.com in the reference list. Are these students doing this knowing they will only get a slap on the wrist and a
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
low C on the paper, which will result in a B in the class if their other work is satisfactory? I do not know what happens, because I try to stick to scholarly sources. However, I am guilty of using regional newspapers in a pinch rather than The New York Times, even though I have had professors who disagree on whether or not The New York Times is an appropriate source at all. I am asking professors to weigh in and explain to me how this could have happened in multiple classes. We should make efforts in good faith to rise above the siren’s call of Wikipedia. It is all too easy to click a link and think you know enough about a subject to talk about it as if you were competent. It is much harder to go to the library catalog, find a suitable scholarly book, reserve the book and then go pick up the book. I can definitely see why students would use Wikipedia. But that doesn’t mean I have to like or accept it.
OPINION
The ugly truth about being a T.A. letter to the editor
$530 a month. $130 a week. That’s how much a graduate teaching assistant makes. Well, of course, we get a $3,000 tuition break, too. And, yes, we get the benefit of having access to the break rooms and lounges. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the biggest perk: keys to certain offices and classrooms (oooooh). But going inside the world of T.A.s, is it really the perk most other students believe it to be? The first thing to understand is what a T.A. really is. A T.A. is not a student teacher, as most people think. Yes, the T.A. will sometimes lead classes (and most definitely side study sessions), but this isn’t the primary aspect of the role. The main facet of being a T.A. is, in actuality, being exactly what the name says. You’re the assistant to the teacher, which pretty much means that you do exactly what the teacher tells you to do. Coffee, lunch and even illegal activity. No details were shared on the record about that third facet. One of the T.A.s I spoke to passed along a story that a fellow T.A. had shared. During a particularly busy time, with lots of work and such, the professor sat him down and told him that T.A.s should consider the meaning of “teacher’s assistant” to be an abbreviation of a longer version of what the position actually stands for: “teacher’s ass.” As in you do what you’re told to do and when you’re supposed to do it. But it’s not only just that, of course. You’re also supposed to do the tasks given in the precise way the teacher wants them done. Never mind that there may be more efficient, productive and/or successful ways to accomplish certain things. If you don’t do the assigned tasks exactly how they want them to be done, you’ll be “taken to task,” without a doubt. Because certainly, there’s more than enough time, right? Well how about that part then? The time portion. A T.A. at Portland State is required to take at least 9 credits to get their “massive” monthly stipend, and this may or may not be in addition to the classes they need to work for their professor, though that is definitely in addition to the work they will do for the professor. One of the T.A.s on campus is more or less teaching three classes for the professor while also taking a full load of classes just so graduating on time is a possibility. A T.A. position is only a two-year appointment after all (with no summer term considerations, either), so the program’s credits need to be finished, all while taking on teaching some classes, as well as side work for the professor. Upon hearing all that it entails versus the positives, another student who was gunning for a T.A. post decided against it. Smart move. But speaking of the positives while considering the negatives, why do we do it? Well clearly it can’t be because of the
pay. In talking with several T.A.s, the consensus is that they’re looking for the same things: a) To learn more about their particular field. b) To be able to get on-the-job experience (assuming what their professor does falls into that category). c) To network. d) To get a good letter of recommendation. Those are all good things, certainly. But one needs to keep in mind that, depending on the relationship between T.A. and professor during and/or at the end of a T.A. appointment, not to mention the professor’s willingness, some or all of the things on the list may not be achieved. But that aside, we can also take a look at something that is simply black-and-white: the numbers. Graduate Tuition–College of the Arts (9 credits): $3,528.00 Student Health Insurance (mandatory): $594.00 Mandatory Fees: $423.00 Other Fees on Account(assorted): $115.00 Graduate Matriculation Fee: $150.00 T.A.s think they’re getting a good gig that not only comes with a tuition break, but a paycheck. And, in fact, a T.A. will get $3,000 in tuition waived per term, combined with $531 per month (after taxes, rounded up). The math is pretty clear. Based on the amount above (not including the matriculation fee), the costs are around $4,800 a term. A T.A.’s total income, waiver and all, is $4,593 after taxes. I know what you’re thinking: “But it just about evens out!” True... but what about food? And a place to live? And electricity to power that place? If it evens out, that means none of the paycheck is able to go toward living expenses, which are required to, well, live. In fact, T.A.s often need to take loans out to meet both their academic cost obligations and their living expenses, not simply because their costs outbalance their income, but because being a T.A. often means you do not have the schedule space to have a job to cover the rest of your expenses. So clearly the costs of schooling plus living are much more than the incoming money. Is this made clear to T.A.s by the professors, the departments or financial aid, either in verbal or written form? Of course not. Why would they make it clear? They’re getting unlimited labor for cheap, and in return they provide a position—if it can even be considered such—that is certainly much less significant than we are led to believe in tandem with a pittance of a paycheck. And who really cares if T.A.s need to take out loans even though they’re working their asses off? It’s not the school’s problem, after all. Hell, I know T.A.s who have moved here to take the post because they think it’s more than it really is. And I know of
at least one T.A. who is leaving the post because of what it really is. It’s the biggest bait-and-switch there is today (aside from what’s in Taco Bell’s beef product). So, to sum it all up: low pay, long hours, no guarantees of benefit, possible illegal activity, oh, and the ol’ bait-and-switch. So tell me: Why are T.A. positions coveted again? Signed, B.K.
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD
7
COVER
A CRITICAL MASS OF
Christopher sohler/PSU VANGUARD
Newly rediscovered audiotapes provide a look back at dialogue and discourse at PSU turner lobey
Carl Sagan, one of the most recognizable figures in the history of science, visited Portland State on March 5 and 6 in 1968. During his visit, Sagan gave two lectures on planetary exploration. For decades, the recordings of the renowned astrophysicist and science educator’s visit were lost, existing solely in the memories of the presentation’s attendees. Now, those lost recordings have been rediscovered and are available for streaming, once again giving a voice to forgotten words. The discovered recordings of Sagan are two of over 200 newly recovered speeches, readings, interviews and panel discussions captured during the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s on the PSU campus. The recordings are available for streaming as part of the Special Collections Oregon Public Speakers Collection. The list of guest speakers featured is expansive, containing figures like Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary and Robert F. Kennedy.
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A Reel Find
Recorded on campus, the audiotapes were initially available for listening on reel-to-reel players at the university’s library as a resource for students. As technology advanced, the reelto-reel players and their tapes were made obsolete and taken off site, where they fell off the radar and out of mind. The recordings were forgotten until 2010, when they were found in an off-campus warehouse by University Archivist and Head of Special Collections Cristine Paschild. “We just found them kind of by accident. We were walking around, and it’s a giant warehouse but it’s fairly well organized, so some random boxes with an ambiguous label was intriguing. So when we popped them open and pulled them out, we realized that they seemed to be unique,” Paschild said. Throughout the years of reel-to-reel usage, the university acquired many commercial copies of national addresses or
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
lectures for academic use, but these boxes of tapes proved to be something unique. “When we started looking at the boxes that were there, and that the dates were very specific and had locations on campus, we realized that they were original recordings at that point and unique to PSU,” Paschild said. Realizing what they had found was an exciting moment for Paschild and Special Collections and Conservation Technician Carolee Harrison. “When you pick up one and go, ‘Henry Kissinger!’ you run around and say, ‘I found Henry Kissinger on tape!’ Then the next you know, ‘Jean-Luc Goddard is in here too!’ So it’s crazy after a while,” Paschild said. “I was looking at the speakers’ names and it was blowing my mind that we had David Brubeck here, we had Allen Ginsberg here, we had Robert F. Kennedy here, we had Louis Lomax
COVER here, we had all these amazing speakers. And there were also a lot of Portland relevant [speakers],” Harrison said. “There was a whole series in that collection that has to do with urban renewal and urban development in Portland during that critical time in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and how Portland State plays a role in that with the university and city relationship.” After realizing what possibly had been found, the next step for the archivists was to confirm that what they found was actually what was listed on the boxes. “We didn’t listen to them because we wanted to be very cautious and treat it like we have one listen that has to be captured when we listen to it. So we didn’t know what was actually on the tapes. The boxes said what was on there, but we couldn’t confirm,” Paschild said. “That was very unnerving.” Apart from their fragile state, Harrison said that students listening to the tapes in the past had the capacity to record over or erase them due to the machine’s inability to be locked. Because of this, the tapes very well could have been blank. “We had the things, we might be able to get to play it, but we didn’t know if they were damaged, if pieces of the speeches were missing or blank altogether, we didn’t know,” Harrison said. “There was a lot of trepidation and a lot of feelings about that before we got started.” After acquiring a grant to fund the project of digitizing the recordings, Special Collections was able to purchase a reel-toreel player off eBay. Using a handheld digital audio recorder plugged into the player’s output, the tapes were played for the first time in decades and digitally rerecorded. Several of the tapes were unplayable or slightly damaged, but many were able to be spliced together and repaired. Other than some of the audio files being recorded at odd speeds or segments where audience members who asked questions weren’t miked, but the majority were in great shape and very audible, Paschild said.
After a little editing, the files were backed up and the process was complete. The recordings are available for free streaming on the Special Collections & University Archives website.
A SPECIAL COLLECTION
“It’s exactly what the university is still, what we are trying to promote. And it’s all about this partnership with Portland and how we are unique in being here in the metro region and what Portland State can do in that partnership. That’s fascinating to understand that that’s an outlook being laid way back then,” Paschild said. “You can start seeing where we came from, early in those moments.”
“There are several moments in different recordings where there are these prophetic moments, that either you can’t believe that someone came up with an idea or had this concept in mind. Like Margaret Mead talking about where all of our information is going to be computerized and we’re going to be at the mercy of the accuracy of that,” Harrison said. “There are numerous moments where I feel there’s a mirroring, a relevance, where many of the same issues are echoed back to us from the past. It’s been an interesting experience listening to these.” One of Harrison’s favorites is a speech by Marline Dixon, a professor at the University of Chicago and writer on equal rights for women. “She comes in and she’s telling the women in her audience that the leftist movement at the time can’t be relied on by women to support equal rights for women, and she cites the whole centuries of the oppression of women and how women in the ‘70s can’t turn to figures, can’t turn to the socialist movement, to Marxism and so forth, to champion equal rights for women,” Harrison said. “She had a lot of good zingers in there too. She’s very emphatic when she’s talking, and she was a really inspiring figure.” As well as featuring prominent figures from across the globe, there are also a lot of recordings relevant to the university and the development of the university, Paschild said. One of the pieces in the collection is a radio promotion piece by former PSU President Bradford Millar, recorded at the time PSU was attempting to transition from college to university status.
Paschild said that part of what makes this collection unique is the critical mass of voices from this period. “There doesn’t seem to be this mass of breadth and depth of discussion out there somewhere else. This collection, as a collection, I think is pretty rare. Where you can see the whole kind of discussions and interests and issues and ideas going on in America kind of across the board—arts and culture and politics—everything together. I think that makes it very unique,”Paschild said. “The reason I think it’s very relevant is, for me listening to it, it’s easy to view this as ‘nothing ever changes, we’re talking about the same stuff,’ but that’s not what’s happening. These are the ideas that have dominated the late 20th century, and still dominate us. They’re still the things that have been important to the United States for three generations now, that we’re still talking to and still figuring out, and you see the currents of them there.” “I think it’s really important for people to not think it’s Groundhog’s Day with every political campaign and suddenly now we care. No, we’ve been talking about this for a long time and it’s mattered, we’ve all recognized it’s mattered and it still matters. To me, that’s what’s relevant. The long picture.” The recordings are available for streaming at: pdxscholar. library.pdx.edu/orspeakers/
courtesy of nasa Public domain
courtesy of PSU archives
courtesy of mdc archives through creative commons
“There are hundreds of billions of billions of planets. We live on one. How typical is our one? Is it a very common sort of planet? Are the things that happen here things that happen everywhere else? Or is this an extraordinary planet, in some respect? We’ll never know if we don’t look at other planets.”
“To any observer of the American scene, it must be obvious that the schools of today are caught in the eye of a social hurricane. But at the same time, I also believe that we are moving toward a national consensus that says, in effect, ‘the journey and search of this country’s true destiny must begin in the elementary and the secondary schools of America.’”
“As far as I was concerned I was delighted to see it, naked and all. So it wasn’t any insult to me because that was me. I’m certainly not insulted by myself, and I hope nobody else is. I don’t see how anyone really could be insulted by oneself.”
CRITICAL MASS OF VOICES
Memorable Moments
—Carl Sagan, “Planetary Exploration (Lecture One),” May 5, 1968
—Allen Ginsberg, “Poetry Reading,” May 22, 1967
—Edith Green, “Speech,” February 10, 1968 Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
A real risk/reward proposition Local theatre company hosts experimental performance festival Jeremy King
The Artists Repertory Theatre hosted the 2014 Risk/Reward Festival of New Performance, an event dedicated to the exposure, encouragement, and exhibition of new and experimental contemporary theatre acts, from June 20 to June 22. In addition to encouraging the production of bold and original content, another emphasis of the festival was its commitment to covering a broad array of performative stylings. Jerry Tischleder, the festival’s director, said the event was devised to get people from different disciplines working together. Tischleder said artists were asked to provide a description of what they wanted to create, background on their artistic identity, and video samples of a finished work as well as a studio work in progress. The festival began with Laura Heit’s The Letting Go, a visually mesmerizing and haunting piece of work interspersed with puppetry, animation, projected shadows and eerie, ethereal sound design. Heit sought to build a performance that transformed perceptions between the live, recorded and the livingdeparted. Heit’s work mesmerized, blending multiple artistic practices seamlessly to produce a cohesive whole that juxtaposed the harrowing with the soothing.
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The Neutral Fembot Project’s Untitled #__________ was a frenetic and powerful performance. Untitled #__________ explored the process of renowned American-born visual artist Cindy Sherman, whose work deals extensively with the notions of contemporary identity and self-representation. Through examining the in-between moments and vulnerabilities separating persona from identity, the performance provided a vicious and stirring insight into the fragility of these ultimately fleeting disguises through the use of various costumes, wigs, meaningful posturing and presentation. Ilvs Strauss’ Manifesto was a poignant and often humorous performance centered around the notion of womanhood and conception. The performance was presented with no set and only minimal use of props and costumes. A prerecorded voice-over drove the narrative forward. Strauss managed to convey a moving and deeply personal look into the conundrum of birth, gendered expectation and existential angst using the example of a California red sea cucumber as a vessel by which to explore these topics. The second half of the festival began with Erin Pike’s That’swhatshesaid, written by Courtney Meaker. The performance utilized nothing but female dialogue taken
from the most produced plays in America. Pike’s performance veered from one extreme to the other, encapsulating a chaotic spectrum of emotion that served to demonstrate the largely supporting role of women across modern theater. With no male characters to interact with, the performance dissolves into psychosis, reiterating predefined female tropes and in the process, highlighting just how one-sided and gender-
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
biased many of these works really are. Lucy Lee Yim’s Devastation Melody was a gradually evolving dance that sought to address the idea of the body as a means for transporting physical aspects of sadness and sorrow. Yim’s performance was interspersed with shifting wordplay, alternating between elements of the inquisitive and the performative. “I think that contemporary dance, what really
attracts me to it is this questioning of political values and aesthetic values,” Yim said. “I find that, more so than with any other art form, there’s this exciting amount of questioning that’s happening that feels really important.” The festival ended with the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble’s (after thought), a work-in-progress production taken from a wordless play designed with specific attention given
to the aural and the physical. The performance involved extensive physicality, heightening tension and sheer, unadulterated experience with little in the way of overarching narrative. Risk/Reward easily lived up to its name. The festival provided an insightful glimpse into an original, experimental and often unorthodox array of productions from a selection of talented artists venturing into exciting and unknown territory.
Jerry Tischleder, producing artistic director for Risk/Reward. CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD
ARTS & CULTURE
Hacking packing
How to travel with your luggage light and your flair on lock Caroline McGowan
Class is out, but staying classy is in whether you are flying first class or coach. Studying abroad this summer? Making a city getaway? Hitting the road with friends? Student budgets call for pinching pennies, but there are ways of fashion-hacking summer travel. It just takes a bit of know-how. Before you pack, consider your resources. Does your destination have laundry? Dry cleaning? How much room are you allowed in your backpack, carry-on or car trunk? Will you have access to emergency shopping? Asking yourself these questions ahead of time can help you lay the groundwork for what you will need, and gives you the chance to think about how to reconcile space with style.
daNgIt that’s
Not much space? Pack a few key interchangeable garments. A day of sightseeing in style can be followed by an equally stylish night out on the town with minimal effort if you plan ahead. While packing, pick one or two basic shirts and have bottoms that complement both. This might mean a black shirt and cotton shorts for walking during the day, with a quick switch into a printed maxi skirt for night. You can still stay stylish with bright colors and a key piece like a funky accessory. If you are really strapped for space, find a pair of shoes that are great for walking and inconspicuous enough to transition into night mode. Avoid any heels or blistery straps. The whole pain is
beauty thing does not quite apply when agonizing over your feet in front of a beautiful cityscape. If you have the space, think about adding a colorful cardigan or pashmina for the cooler nights. Having a sweater and a jacket on hand can be good for layering because you never know when a chill may roll in. Black goes with everything, but can easily be mistaken for someone else’s. Take an opportunity for flair with a bright color. It will look great in pics! Flowy clothing is in, and that is great news for travelers who are staying savvy and comfortable. A couple of basic, loose tops make for minimalist chic and can keep you cool in both senses of the word.
This summer is great for finding a blend of comfort and style when clothing your bottom half. A printed cotton skirt may be a $20 steal, but can look like a million bucks. Even warm summer weather can have cool nights, so pack a pair of jeans or sturdy pants that can protect you from the elements. If you will be on the go for an extended period of time, always have a just-in-case dressy outfit. Make a little extra room for an outfit that is appropriate for a restaurant, club or social setting with a dress code. Close-toe shoes and a dress shirt, or an easily packable dress for women, can come in handy when you least expect it. To maximize space and efficiency, try to choose fabrics that do not wrinkle or take
CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD
up much space. Polyester and spandex blends won’t. Avoid cottons, linens and silks that need extra care. If you are planning on traveling internationally, familiarize yourself with the
culture’s clothing. America is known for being a bit more laid back when it comes to skin, and it would be a shame to be turned away from the gates of a famous monument for being underdressed!
Flapjack decadence: Lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry syrup Rosie Yanosko
Blueberry Syrup 2 cups blueberries (roughly a pint) 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 tablespoon vanilla 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons cold water
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 cup ricotta cheese 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Juice and zest of one lemon 2 tablespoons melted butter ROSIE YANOSKO/PSU VANGUARD
One of the benefits of cashiering at a grocery store is picking up neat recipe ideas. A few weeks ago a fella came through my line with the ingredients for lemon ricotta pancakes, and I’ve been itching to make them ever since. Maple syrup didn’t seem appropriate, so I went with blueberry syrup. Though this recipe required a bit more effort than I usually put into breakfast, the end result made it worthwhile. The pancakes are fluffy, moist and surprisingly filling. The blueberry syrup is thick, tart and sweet, pairing perfectly with the pancakes. Rinse and sort through the blueberries, making sure there aren’t any stems
or squishy ones. Put the berries in a small pot and add in the sugar, water and lemon juice. Over medium heat, bring the berries to a simmer and stir often. Take a moment to mix the cornstarch into the cold water. Stir the mixture thoroughly, then pour in with the berries. Continue to stir and simmer the berry mixture for about five minutes. Mine was nice and thick after four minutes or so. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla and set aside while you make the pancakes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir thoroughly and set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the milk, ricotta, eggs and vanilla.
When combined, stir in the butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. The milk and ricotta will want to curdle after being combined with the lemon juice, so quickly stir it all together and then pour the mixture into the dry ingredients bowl. Mix this up and you have your pancake batter! Put your blueberry syrup on low heat so it will be ready when the pancakes are finished. Heat the butter up in a skillet and dollop 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan. When the pancake begins to bubble and the bottom is brown, go ahead and flip it. Batter makes about 12 pancakes. Blueberry syrup recipe adapted from mybakingaddiction.com. Pancake recipe adapted from cookingclassy.com.
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
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ETC
EVENT CALENDAR Tuesday, July 1st
Author at Powell’s: Miranda Beverly-Whittenmore Powell’s City of Books 1005 W. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97209 Miranda Beverly-Whittenmore visits Powell’s this Tuesday to discuss her New York Times best-selling book Bittersweet. Miranda writes about searching for one’s self in the world, which she describes as what she had been doing for most of her own life. Favorably reviewed, this talk about Bittersweet should be an interesting one, and would be a great time to pick up a copy of the book if you haven’t gotten it already. FREE
Wednesday, July 2nd Pix Pâtisserie’s Movies as Dusk: ‘Airplane!’ Starts at Dusk 2225 E. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97214 Throughout the summer, Pix shows an interesting range of French anime, indie films and classic comedies free to the public. This event takes
place every Wednesday, with this week featuring the 1980 cult hit Airplane directed by trio Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. While they bill this event as free, everyone is attendance is required to spend at least $5 on food or beverages—but hey, there is free popcorn!
Oregon Bach Festival: St. Mark Passion 7:30–9:30 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 147 N.W. 19th Ave. Portland, OR 97209 As part of the Oregon Bach Festival’s summer line up, Matthew Hall conducts OBF’s Berwick Chorus and Baroque Orchestra in his own reconstruction of the St. Mark Passion, created in collaboration with scholar and organist Dominik Sackmann. This festival has been occurring since 1970, and has consistently offered high level performances in the Portland area for the entire Northwest.
Thursday, July 3rd Gold & Youth Doors open at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. show Crystal Ballroom 1332 W. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97209
Come see Toronto based indie rock/post-punk revival group Gold & Youth at the Crystal Ballroom for an inexpensive midweek show. The group released their first album in 2013 after releasing an EP in 2012. According to the band, their latest album is “built with dark, expansive synthetic textures, punctuated by programmed drums and interwoven with melancholy vocals, detuned synth melodies and understated guitars.” Tickets are $12 at the door. All ages welcome.
Waterfront Blues Festival July 3–6 Tom McCall Waterfront Park Southwest Naito Parkway Portland, OR 97204 Come celebrate a 27-yearold tradition in Tom McCall Waterfront Park at the annual Portland Blues Festival. Growing in size each year, the festival has raised more than $9 million and 800 tons of
food to donate to the Oregon Food Bank. Come see famous featured artists like Gregg Allman, Los Lobos, Dumpstaphunk and dozens of others. Check out their website at waterfrontbluesfest.com for this complete line-up and schedule. One day tickets start at $50, and a weekend pass is $60 (other more premium passes are also available).
Friday, July 4 Free Admission to Portland Children’s Museum 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Portland Children’s Museum 4015 S.W. Canyon Rd. Portland, OR 97221
Thanks to their cooperate sponsors, the Children’s Museum can offer free admission to their building the first Friday of each month. Founded in 1946, the museum is the sixth oldest children’s museum in the country, and sees over 316,000 children a year. Makes a fun family outing before going to see the fireworks! FREE
Love Affair R&B 4th of July Party Doors open at 9 p.m., music at 10 p.m. Goodfoot Pub and Lounge 2845 S.E. Stark St. Portland, OR 97214
Billed as “a sleek, business casual R&B party,” you can expect some of the best DJ selections in genres like modern soul, boogie, electro, disco, funk and much more from their hi-fi system. The DJs for this event are Rev Shines (Lifeavas) and the Sex Life DJs. Instead of seeing those boring fireworks every year, head over to a unique late-night party! Admission is $5.
Saturday, July 5 Shakespeare in the Park: ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ Starts at 7 p.m. Laurelhurst Park 3756 S.E. Oak St. Portland, OR 97214 Known generally as one of Shakespeare’s most actionpacked plays, Antony and Cleopatra tells the story of a world directly after Caesar’s death in ancient Rome. Director Elizabeth Huffman is excited to perform this play with the Portland Actors Ensemble. The show
FEATURED EVENT FEATURED EVENT Cloud City Circus One-Year Anniversary Thursday, July 7 9:30 p.m. Analog Café and Theater 720 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97214 Cloud City Circus is a monthly event that performs consistently every first Thursday of the month at Analog Café. These amazing performers are celebrating their one-year anniversary performing at the theater, and are offering a performance that is “high-energy, with new music and choreography for the aerial, juggling, belly dancing and other acts.” Admission is $5. Courtesy of cloud city circus
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Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
is free to the public, and is one of Shakespeare’s lesser performed plays. Take advantage of such a cool opportunity this Saturday! FREE
Sunday, July 6 A Walking Tour of Portland’s “Sinful Pass” Starts at 4 p.m. Thirsty Lion 71 S.W. 2nd Ave. Portland, OR 97204 Portland has quite the history of being a rugged and rough tumble town prior to be taken over by the hipster community. This walking tour goes through and explores the dark past that our city holds in Old Town. This tour visits famous saloons, bars, bordellos, card rooms and gambling dens (some of which are still in operation). Hosted by Doug Kenick-Crispen (the resident historian from orhistory.com) the tour is bound to reveal some surprising facts about the city you live in. Tickets are $15, and you must be 21+ (you are visiting bars and strip clubs after all). 21+
FREE
21+
PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER
ETC
Cancer Jun. 21–Jul. 22
Virgo Aug. 23–Sept. 22
If Rome was built in a day, imagine what you could be building right now. This week, build your Rome. That could be anything. A swing set. Some Ikea furniture. A better world. Just, you know, not Rome. That would be improbable.
There’s someone in your life who’s putting a crack in your self-image. Not everybody sees you as cool, calm and responsible as you’d like to think you are. Remember the most important lesson, Virgo: You don’t need to meet anyone’s standards but your own.
Leo Jul. 23–Aug. 22
Libra Sept. 23–Oct. 22
You’d never admit it to anyone, but you’re feeling a little sensitive these days. Even the big, bad lion gets a thorn in its paw sometimes. Go ahead and cry if you need to, buddy. Nobody’s gonna laugh at you.
It looked like some ominous clouds were heading your way, but some generous being must have changed his mind at the last minute and diverted that storm. Things seem to be looking pretty sunny, so you might as well enjoy
it, or whatever. You’re safe for now.
Don’t sell yourself short, Scorpio. Aim high! Shoot for the moon, because if you miss, you’ll still be in the stars. Wait! That’s no moon! That’s a booty! Get dat Great Booty in the Sky.
You’re a workaholic; it’s no secret. You get your shit done. Just be cautious this week, Capricorn. Sometimes working too hard can make relationships fall to the wayside. Pay attention to those in your life who need a little extra love this week.
Sagittarius Nov. 22–Dec. 21
Aquarius Jan. 20–Feb. 18
Scorpio Oct. 23–Nov. 21
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Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
5 2 9 7 5 9 4 8 8 1 6 7 2 3 2 5 9 1 2 3 8 2
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ACROSS 1 Centers 5 Greetings from Oahu 11 Carrier in the Star Alliance 14 Amo, amas, ___ ‌ 15 Actor Radcliffe 16 The Cowboys of the Big 12 Conf. 17 Kemo ___ 18 *Like software that can be freely used and altered 20 One with whom your safe is not safe 22 Veiled vow? 23 Wineglass feature 24 Walk about 26 *Samsung or LG product 28 Aleve alternative 30 Flew the coop 31 Museum docent’s offering 32 F.B.I. file, e.g. 36 Prez on a fiver
37 Shelf prop ‌ or a hint to both parts of the answers to the six starred clues 38 ___-toothed 41 More cheerful around the holidays, say 42 Ask, as a question 43 Bog fuel 45 Tiger’s home 47 *Tournament competition 51 Fanta and Sprite 52 One of a pair in a fast-food logo 53 Suffix with bass 54 Nimble 55 *Class assignments 58 Many, many moons 61 Go out with 62 Cinco de Mayo celebration 63 Get under control 64 Windy City transports
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE K P OI W T T G E A T R E S A N T UI M R A B L O
A H U G HI O A T S M I E N E M AI C L AI W E S D
M I T O CI S S A S CI D T V E V C E N N O ET D E
LP E O T K U E P O S K CI O E R E K D A T
A DF EL N A C K H E A R K N I E T SA AI R D
Taurus Apr. 20–May 20
The winds of change, they are a-blowin’, dear Pisces. This week, the potential for new opportunities will have you feeling inspired. Make use of this motivational energy while you can.
Earth will reach aphelion this week, and it’s a cold, dark universe out there, Taurus. Always remember to bring a buddy and a blanket.
Gemini May 21–Jun. 20
Aries Mar. 21–Apr. 19
The Buddha said, “What you think, you become.� It’s almost lunchtime and everyone is getting hungry, so why don’t you think about becoming someone who goes to get sandwiches, Aries?
L E RE U I O NL D PE I CS T EU I C R C E O
SA N D AD P T M O O O S E M AO W B AS LT LE SR
C A B A N M CO RF SC N M O O N V E E
UH NE BN RT OO KF EF N L PE OO T EB NO TS
BA AL I U O M N OA L AD I I R LT E RU P C
AM SI TT C O SA S AT NH W AE YR NE EA CN RT E A H A TA RU BT ET AE NN R AE
IC DL OA TR OO O A TR EO LO L AD LO IT EE
MC OO RS EE NC O S TI EC AK L I LC TO RN
PS EN EE RA EK D E EE DK DS Y E SK AE OS
The moon shines in your favor this week, but don’t get too cocky. I mean, it thinks you’re cool and all but, like, it’s going through this weird phase right now. It just needs some space, you know? Anyway, hope that tides you over.
Edited by Will Shortz
Crossword
Pisces Feb. 19–Mar. 20
After a long busy streak, slowing down can be harder than juggling a thousand tasks at once. Don’t get too down on yourself for your lack of productivity, Aquarius. Sometimes you need to power down to power up.The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Let me be real with you for a minute, Sagittarius. Your ever-positive personality can be really annoying sometimes. Don’t get me wrong; it’s good to be optimistic, but sometimes it’s better to let people be moody if they want to be. We can’t all be you, Sag.
Sudoku 4 5
Capricorn Dec. 22–Jan. 19
65 “Bambiâ€? setting 66 Start of a conclusion DOWN 1 Owns 2 Thurman of “Kill Billâ€? 3 *Like many a heartthrob’s eyes 4 Pittsburgh pro 5 Sick as ___ 6 Drink like 5-Down 7 Baseball great Buck 8 Language that gave us “guruâ€? and “punditâ€? 9 “The Tortoise and the Hareâ€? storyteller 10 ___-mo 11 A bit 12 Mountain climber’s climb 13 “Guys and Dollsâ€? song whose title follows “Call a lawyer and ‌â€? 19 One who walks down the aisle 21 Brig. ___ 24 Lead-in to girl 25 Rebuke to an eavesdropper, for short 26 Speed away, with “itâ€? 27 Made a case 29 Skunk’s defense 33 Word with bunny or bum 34 Run-down 35 About 37 “Little Womenâ€? woman
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PUZZLE BY JAMES TUTTLE
38 *Company whose 42 Divide logo includes the appropriately winged foot of 43 Mail carrier’s Mercury charge 39 Home to the 44 Makes a lasting Himalayas impression? 40 Strokes ‌ or 46 Dosage amt. ones getting 47 Shot for those stroked who have mastered 41 Full of swagger, English? say
48 Vaccine target 49 Let down 50 Win by ___ 54 32-card game 56 On leave 57 Some football linemen: Abbr. 59 “Wow!,� in textspeak 60 Prefix with colonial
Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
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SPORTS SCORES
UPCOMING
PSU TRACK AND FIELD
PSU TRACK AND FIELD
USATF Junior Outdoor Combined Events Championships
0 USATF Junior Outdoor 1 Championships Sat.-Sun. July 5-6 | EUGENE, OR
Top Performers: CeCeila Jackson placed seventh in the heptathlon with personal best marks in four events.
AFL
world cup soccer
NEW ORLEANS PORTLAND
Top Performers: Kyle Rowley 22/36 for 265 yards and 7 TD
56 usa VS. belgium 62 Tues. 7/1 1:00 p.m. | ESPN
AFL
MiLB
EVERETT HILLSBORO
Top Performers: 1B George Roberts 3/5, 2R
3 PORTLAND @ CLEVELAND 4 Sat. July 5 3:00 p.m.| KXTG 750 AM
WORLD CUP SOCCER
MiLB
USA GERMANY
HILLSBORO VS. EVERETT Tues. July 1 7:05 p.m. | RON TONKIN FIELD
Top Performers: Keeper Tim Howard stopped all but one shot, helping the US side advance to the knockout round.
Winterhawks head coach moving up to the big time. Mike Johnston was recently hired away by the Pittsburgh Penguins. 14
More football in Portland?
FXFL looks to bring an NFL style team to the area Matt Rauch
With the National Basketball Association having the developmental league, better known as the D League, and Major League Baseball having a 3-tiered minor league system in place to develop young talent, what is the NFL’s version of this? Well, other than college, the AFL and the CFL, there isn’t a league dedicated to developing NFL talent. That may be about to change. The Fall Experimental Football League—or the FXFL—is a new league that is angling to serve as a developmental stage for aspiring NFL players to hone their skills in hopes of one day making an NFL roster. As of now, there is no official affiliation with the NFL, but the FXFL hopes that one develops. The problem with the current system is that the NCAA, AFL and CFL all have different rules from each other and the NFL. Though it is still football, these other leagues are not specifically geared toward developing players to play in the NFL. Not only will the FXFL develop players, but it also plans on developing new rules, coaches and referees as well. According to a recent press release on the FXFL’s website, “The FXFL will operate as a true developmental league in every facet, even serving as a testing ground for proposed rule revisions. The league will poll fans this summer on whether to eliminate the punt and point after try during games. The FXFL will also provide additional opportunities for coaches and serve as a training module for prospective NFL referees.” Also noted in the previous quote is how the league
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
FXFL LOGO
plans to rely on fan opinion for whether or not to include certain rules or parts of the game, such as kickoffs and extra points. This, coupled with implementing modern interactive technology to enhance game day experiences for fans, is just one way the FXFL plans to succeed where so many other professional football leagues have failed. Another important piece the league feels will make it successful is that they plan to create partnerships with existing MLS and Minor League Baseball owners to use smaller stadiums, rather than paying the exorbitant fees associated with major arenas and stadiums. As far as the players are concerned, there will also be rules for eligibility that they must meet as well. The same FXFL press release mentioned earlier states, “Only those players who are less than two years removed from college will be eligible for the league’s draft, which takes place in September following the conclusion of NFL training camps. Once acquired, players will be allowed a maximum of three playing seasons in the FXFL.” Though the exact reasoning for these restrictions is still unclear, it can be speculated that these limits are
put in place to help ensure that players don’t spend their lives chasing a dream they are unable to obtain, and to get fresher recruits in while doing so. One major difference from the NFL will be that the seasons will be much shorter and won’t take place on the weekends. The plan is to start the 2014 season with six teams who will play eight games throughout the months of October and November. Though this occurs during the early phases on the NFL and college seasons, the FXFL games are slotted to take place on Wednesday nights, so as to not interfere with the big dogs. So what does this all mean for Portland? Well, as it stands now, it looks like Portland will be one of the six cities selected to host a team. However, the league won’t make an official announcement until an owner or ownership group is in place. A recent Oregonian article quoted FXFL founder Brian Woods, “Portland is a great city, I think it’s an outstanding sports market and I think there’s a lot of sports fans there. Professional football will generate a lot of interest, and I think we’ll be quite successful in that market.”
And Woods is probably right. Oregon’s passion for the Blazers, Timbers, Ducks, Beavers, Winterhawks and Vikings proves that creating a successful league in the Portland area is not only doable, but that there is a high probability it will be quite successful—especially in the football deprived metro area. Though nothing is official, there are a few locations in the Portland area that could host Portland’s new developmental team. Since the league’s business model is dependent upon using smaller venues to host its teams, it’s a pretty safe bet that they won’t be playing in the Moda Center. A safer bet would be that the league would play at Ron Tonkin Field or Providence Park. The location, however, will largely be determined by the owner or ownership group of the team. Wherever it is played, however it is played and whoever is playing doesn’t matter. The only thing of importance is that NFL-style football will finally be making its way to Oregon. In a deprived market such as Portland, there is no doubt that the fans will show up, the money will roll in and hopefully the future stars of the NFL will rise out of Oregon’s new team.
SPORTS
summertime baseball blues Claude Akins
Every year, the culmination of collegiate baseball takes place in Omaha, Nebraska, where the final eight teams from a starting field of 64 battle it out for baseball supremacy in the College World Series. It begins May 30, and this year it ended on June 25 as Vanderbilt beat Virginia to win their first ever National Championship. Among other things, like a lot of fun (even withstanding this year’s home run drought), the College World Series has always been a rite of summer. If the summer solstice is the climactic marker of the beginning of summer, the beginning of baseball is the cultural marker. And all this has one wondering: Why doesn’t Portland State field a competitive baseball program? The cost of fielding a baseball team is relatively low
compared to other programs. To put it in perspective, the cost of football operations is $1,257,567. The cost of men’s tennis is around $50,000. The grand total of our athletic budget is $4,085,108. Baseball’s budget, one can assume, would lean toward that of tennis as opposed to football—an affordable operation. PSU indeed had a baseball program at one point, but it was discontinued in 1998. Add to the equation the existence of a fully functional, competitive baseball club, and it seems something’s got to give for PSU baseball. The PSU baseball club began back in 2011. It was founded by Michael Abrams, who envisioned it as eventually blooming into a schoolsponsored sport. The same restrictions apply as before— namely, that the funding isn’t as simple as gathering enough
solely for a men’s baseball team. In order to fund a men’s baseball team, an equivalent women’s team would also have to be added or a men’s team eliminated because of Title IX scholarship restrictions. And there is the impasse. Meanwhile, Oregon State was the top overall seed in the College World Series after winning the Pac 12 with a 24–6 record. Seventeen OSU players are MLB bound. This includes Michael Conforto, who was selected tenth overall by the New York Mets, and Jace Fry who was selected in the third round by the Chicago White Sox. The Ducks also fielded a great team this year, finishing 18–12 and nationally ranked at number 20. Besides Oregon and Oregon State, Sacramento State, PSU’s long time intercon-
ference rival, won the WAC and played in Omaha. There were also a bevy of smaller schools who fielded competitive teams. My favorite moment of this year’s CWS: Ro Coleman of Vanderbilt hitting a pinchhit, walk-off single to send the Ducks home. It was heart-
breaking and thrilling, but the real joy came when the 5-feet5-inch Coleman kept running, past first and into the outfield, to avoid his charging, readyto-dogpile teammates. These are the kind of moments that PSU ought to celebrate. Or, without CWS appearances, there should at
least be the opportunity to partake in the summertime joy of baseball. Until then the only thing to do is to continue to work— well, work and play. Or as the PSU baseball club’s Facebook page puts it: “Offseason, what’s that?” Now if we only had a season. Beaver baseball players like Michael Conforto are the closest we can get to cheering for a local college team.
Courtesy of Scobel Wiggins and OSU beavers
alive and kicking in portland Andrew Gleason
To the Portland State community, he was Zach Brown. To the professional football world, he is Zach Ramirez. The former First Team All-American Vikings kicker has been signed by the local 4–10 arena football team, the Portland Thunder. “This is an opportunity here in Portland and I train anyway, so if I can kick with a team, it’s even better. I feel like the coaches here are looking for their players to go to the next level,” Ramirez said after the Thunder victory over the New Orleans VooDoo Thursday night. Ramirez was previously invited to tryouts for the Thunder where he was informed that he was out-kicked by Michael Braunstein, who later became the original starter for Portland. “I didn’t really know if this was going to happen again, I kind of forgot about it because
I was focused on the NFL. They called me in the morning while I was at work and I signed four hours later,” Ramirez said. The kicker came about the opportunity after he had been introduced to owner Terry Emmert after a PSU football game, and his phone rang a few weeks later with an invite to the Portland Thunder tryouts. When asked about the name swap, Ramirez said, “The change really started at Portland State. They got tired of me being called Zach Brown, and then they have to go to the airport and have me legally known as Ramirez. I went by Brown because that’s the name my mother married into when I was two years old. Eventually I was told to stick with one name. After college, traveling to different NFL teams, they didn’t want to mess with it so they told me to just go by Ramirez because that’s what they were going to call me.”
Ramirez finished his PSU career with 10 school kicking records. In 2012 he was set to break the Big Sky Conference record for field goals before he was injured on a late hit after the first extra point of his senior season. Despite his college career ending with an injury, Ramirez has fully recovered, and with what could have been viewed as a major setback, has far from slowed his pursuit of an NFL job. His first professional football exposure came in Seattle, where he attended the Seahawks mini camp. From there, Ramirez found himself in Green Bay, and nearly grabbed a roster spot. “I kicked well, but the last day, Mason Crosby kicked better,” he said. After what could have been the last straw in the football career of Ramirez, he was off a year later to participate in a tryout for the New York Jets. Then came a mini camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Upon
arriving home from a long, unsuccessful trip, Ramirez found himself back at the airport the very next day headed for Cleveland to try out for the Browns just a few weeks ago. “I felt that I kicked well and right now I am just waiting to see what happens,” Ramirez said. When discussing his current one-year contract, Ramirez clarified that the Thunder will comply and release him if an NFL opportunity presents itself. Not only was Zach an outstanding football player, but he had offers to play soccer at the collegiate level and an opportunity that would have taken him overseas with a career as a soccer player. PSU had extended a full scholarship offer to the future star kicker, and because he ultimately made the decision to stay here, he felt that the U.S. provided a better opportunity to further a career in football than it did soccer. He made his decision
to continue in football, even though PSU was his only scholarship offer. Despite being denied an NFL roster spot so far, the
former Viking has far from lost his determination to make it to the NFL. “All I need is a phone call and that one chance.” zach Ramirez hits an extra point during the Thunder’s win over the VooDoo at the Moda Center.
Vanguard | JULY 1, 2014 | psuvanguard.com
Devin Courtright/PSU VANGUARD
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