Portland State Vanguard

VOLUME69 68||ISSUE ISSUE109 VOLUME 68 | ISSUE 33 | MAY 6, 2014 VOLUME

OCTOBER 8, 14,2013 2014

107,000 and counting Sexual assault policy petition calls for greater emphasis on Title IX

NEWS

OPINION

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

Portland State community convened to discuss the possible hiring of sworn officers. pg. 6

Two opposing viewpoints on arming CPSO officers and the risks involved in allowing guns on campus. pg. 9

Campus art show celebrates the achievements of scholarship recipients. pg. 16

PSU student Susan Smith talks about setting the pace at the Portland Marathon. pg. 23

tomorrow exchange buy * *sell*trade sell*trade

DOWNTOWN: 1036 W. Burnside St. • 222-3418 HAWTHORNE DISTRICT: 1420 SE 37th Av. • 234-1302

BuffaloExchange.com

Radiation City at The Smith Memorial Ballroom

October 18 at 7pm Students Free with ticket General public $10/$15 Tickets pdx.edu/boxoffice

Don’t forget to check out...

Oct. 18 Homecoming football game & tailgate Oct. 21 Scavenger Hunt Oct. 21 Oregon’s Great Pot Debate in partnership with KATU-TV Oct. 22 Campus Sustainability Day Oct. 23 Tweetup Oct. 25 Day of Service

pdx.edu

Named Best New Band in 2012 by Willamette Week, Radiation City continues to make waves with the successful release of Animals in the Median and a new album on the way.

Also featuring Hustle & Drone, TxE, DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid. Get your free ticket at the PSU Box Office, 503-725-3307

CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

4 8 12 14 18 20 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 Turner Lobey

Tessa Millhollin

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 Colleen Leary

PRODUCTION MANAGER PRoDUctIoN@PSUVANGUARD.coM Rachael Bentz

PHOTO EDITOR Photo@PSUVANGUARD.coM Jeoffry Ray

COPY CHIEF coPy@PSUVANGUARD.coM Chelsea Lobey

ONLINE EDITOR oNLINE@PSUVANGUARD.coM Jaime Dunkle

ADVISER

ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman

friend us on faceBook

DESIGNERS

Conrad Crespin Elise Furlan Brendan Mulligan

WRITERS

FACEBOOK.COM/PORTLANDSTATEVANGUARD

Claude Akins, Andy Anady, Sam Bakkila, Victoria Castellanos, Cassia Gammill, Shezad Khan, Ruby King, Missy Lacock, Alex Moore, Jordan Paige, Jay Pengelly, Jessica Pollard, Matt Rauch, Sebastian Richardson, Amy Rush, David Wooldridge

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Devin Courtright Adam Grace Christian Profeta Miles Sanguinetti Christopher Sohler

ADVERTISING SALES

Tori Christensen, Bri Robinson, Dustin Clevenger

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 design by rachael Bentz, cover photo by Jeoffrey ray Š2014 POrtLAnD StAte univerSity vAnguArD 1825 S.w. BrOADwAy Smith memOriAL StuDent uniOn, rm. S-26 POrtLAnD, Or 97201

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

3

NEWS

Portland State community discusses deputization at safety forum CASSIA GAMMIll

Officials from the administration and Campus Public Safety Office held an open forum on Oct. 7 to make a presentation on campus safety and gather input from members of the Portland State community regarding a current proposal to transition CPSO to a sworn police force. Over 160 people attended.

PSU President Wim Wiewel introduced the forum by stating that “without safety, nothing else really matters…

There’s no dispute about the goal that we share, which is to have a safe work and learning environment for everybody, even as there might be different opinions about how to achieve that.”

President Wiewel noted that the final decision will be made by PSU’s governing body, the Board of Trustees, and that there is still time to deliberate on the issue.

Wiewel said he had been resistant to a deputized campus police force in the past.

Wiewel formed the Task Force on Campus Safety in 2012, citing the Reynolds High School shooting and other national events as reasons for his consideration of a sworn police force.

“I cannot feel that I am acting responsibly and executing the responsibility I have for keeping people safe, by continuing the way we have,” Wiewel said.

A complex task The first half of the forum was a presentation of the findings by the Task Force, given by Kris Henning, a professor from the College of Urban and Public Affairs and member of the Task Force.

The Task Force compared PSU’s campus safety resources and crime statistics with other college campuses.

They found that PSU has the highest rate of both property and violent crimes of any higher education institution in Oregon.

When compared to 21 other urban universities, PSU has the lowest rate of violent crimes and is in the middle range for property crimes. PSU is the only university in this group that does not have a sworn campus police force.

The Task Force detailed the understaffing of CPSO. They cited a lack of resources dedicated to the services the office must provide 24 hours a day to a campus that hosts over 30,000 people, and spans dozens of buildings and multiple city blocks.

“One of the other things we found was that campus safety here at PSU has been chronically understaffed,” Henning added.

The Task Force also considered the potential of an active shooter situation and issues of accountability related to profiling and use of force.

The best response, the Task Force offered, “is one that allows PSU [on-site] access to dedicated professionals who

STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF gathered in the SmSu Ballroom on Oct. 10 to respond to the recommendations of President wim wiewel's task Force on Campus Safety.

are part of the PSU ethos and community, and have sworn police officer status.”

Charting progress Dr. Kevin Reynolds, the interim vice president of Finance and Administration, presented a detailed picture of the outreach about campus safety issues that has taken place since 2011. During 2013 and 2014, there were over 60 outreach efforts including publications, presentations and forums.

Addressing questions that have been raised over the past year regarding the issue of a potential police force on campus, Reynolds said that if established, the department would be accountable to an oversight committee, whose membership would be decided by the university president, and consist of faculty, staff and students.

Training, recruitment and cultural competence are other areas that have been considered. Of the cost, Reynolds said he thinks of it in terms of other investments that the university has a history of making, such as tenure track hires, research and sustainability.

Pleading the case for the proposal

coURtESy oF cRAIG WhIttEN/cPSo oPERAtIoNS

4

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

The first segment neared its end with CPSO Chief Phil Zerzan, who presented a set of arguments for the implementation of a sworn police force specific to PSU. Focusing on issues of jurisdiction, which would be broadened if the transition to sworn officers were to occur, Zerzan illustrated the limitations of his officers.

“My officers currently operate in between the sta-

tus of security guards and sworn police officers,” he said. “With that patchwork of jurisdiction, my officers can walk from the Science Research and Teaching Center to the Market Center Building and walk in and out of jurisdiction between five and eight times, depending on whether they walk into Starbucks or not.

That makes it extremely difficult to provide consistent law enforcement.”

Sworn officers, on the other hand, would not be limited to university controlled property.

Community raises intersecting issues During the concluding segment of the forum dedicated to questions and comments, students, staff, faculty and members of the community took turns speaking to address the issue at hand.

The students who stood up to speak expressed a wide range of concerns and opinions.

One student, who identified herself as a survivor of sexual assault, endorsed the proposal in hopes that it would decrease the time that survivors would have to wait for follow up on their cases.

Several students stood up and raised concerns over police violence toward individuals and communities of color.

Political science student David Martinez said, “I believe that instead of bringing a sense of security onto the campus, that police will bring a sense of insecurity to these students.”

Other students asked for more student involvement in the decision-making process

and the creation of alternatives to an armed presence on campus. Members of the PSU Student Union stood together to formally request that the Board of Trustees delay its vote on the current proposal until alternatives to deputization can be seriously considered.

Danielle Ali-Cassim, who identified herself as a senior and a student of color, reminded the audience that “we have the option, even if our officers are sworn, to not arm them with guns” and relayed that PSU's Black Student Union would like to have conversations about alternatives to officers with guns on campus.

Zerzan responded to the concerns that had been brought forward, acknowledging that “policing in America is fraught by a history of institutional racism and really poor relationships with communities of color. This is an opportunity to create a police department whose history begins the day the police department begins.”

next steps PSU's Board of Trustees has formed a committee from their ranks to further explore the issue of campus policing. Their first meeting will take place on Oct. 27 from 3–6 p.m. in the Willamette Room of the University Place Hotel. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to attend and sign up to offer comments at the meeting.

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss, and potentially vote, on the proposal on Dec. 11.

For the full version of this story, visit psuvanguard.com.

NEWS

cHief diversity officer meneses resigns JordAn PAIGe

Chief Diversity Officer Jilma Meneses will vacate her position at Portland State’s Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion on Nov. 10.

After four years at PSU, Meneses plans to fill a new position as chief operations director at Concordia University. “[Meneses] has been a great partner and advocate for social justice and equity on our campus and throughout the region,” said PSU President Wim Wiewel in a press release Oct 3. “She is a champion for all students’ rights and we will continue to build on her efforts to enact positive change.”

As the first chief diversity officer at PSU, Meneses made strides for greater diversity within the PSU community.

She led the charge to start a scholarship for historically marginalized students with the President’s Equal Access Scholarship. She emphasized the recruitment of minority faculty. Since she began at PSU, 30 new faculty members of color have been hired.

When Meneses started at PSU, less than 20 percent of the incoming freshman class were students of color, and today that number has increased dramatically. Meneses said that unofficial numbers for this term show 42 percent of this term’s freshman class are people of color. Official numbers will be released the fourth week of fall term.

“That’s an amazing accomplishment,” Meneses said.

“There’s no other university in the state of Oregon or in Washington with those numbers, to my knowledge.

I am so proud of all of the hard work that the faculty and staff and students have

done on this campus to increase that.”

Scott Gallagher, director of communications, commended Meneses for her work as chief diversity officer.

“It’s hard to argue against the fact that having a chief diversity officer who’s sitting at the executive committee, whose job it is to help increase and support diversity on campus, hasn’t had a big role in that,” Gallagher said.

Meneses emphasized the need for ongoing efforts in the areas of diversity and inclusion.

“We still need to build cultural competency on this campus, unfortunately. I call it cultural intelligence.

We all need to be culturally intelligent,” Meneses said.

“That’s a big goal on the agenda that needs to continue. We wanted to have more conversations with African-American students on improving the black experience on campus. We want to have more conversations with other groups on improving their experience at PSU, because it’s not just one or two groups—it’s many.”

Tony Funchess, multicultural affairs director for the Associated Students of PSU, said that student groups have organized campus conversations in order to be involved in the hiring process of a new chief diversity officer. Meneses has been in attendance.

“The Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion is the arm of the institution that reaches into those communities,” Funchess said. “It’s the voice of the institution with diverse limbs. It’s the unit that holds us accountable to the promises and missions of

inclusion. It’s an opportunity to reincarnate the future of diversity at [PSU].”

“We sit in an urban setting.

We should be the model of diversity and inclusion for other institutions, and we’re just not,” Funchess added.

“As long as that statement is true, that is how long we need a chief diversity officer. Until we have diversity without working for it, then we need someone in our administration working for it.”

Meneses said that she has spoken with Wiewel about the future of the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion and the chief diversity officer position. “[Wiewel has] assured me he’s going to hire a chief diversity officer and he’s going to appoint an interim until one is hired after I leave,” Meneses said.

Gallagher spoke about filling Meneses’ vacated position.

“When you have the opportunity to hire someone, that’s a good opportunity,” Gallagher said. “You have a chance to bring someone in who has another skill set than the previous person to build upon.

[Meneses has] done a great job, so again we’re trying to identify what are the needs and we’re trying to find somebody who can enhance that,” Gallagher said.

Funchess said ASPSU will host another campus conversation with Meneses to help students understand the role of the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion and have a voice in the future of the chief diversity officer position.

“Students are very much part of the conversation,” Meneses said. “They want diversity, they want a safe environment inclusive of all people.”

CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER JILMA MENESES is leaving PSu for Concordia university.

DEVIN coURtRIGht/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

5

NEWS

ThorVolt battery charges entrepreneurship at PSU JordAn PAIGe

Finalists competed on Sept. 15 in the second annual PSU Cleantech Challenge, a competition designed for students and professors to develop environmentally sound products.

Andrew Thorsvik, a graduate student of engineering and technology marketing, and his brother Jonathan Thorsvik won first place for their lead and acid-free ThorVolt car battery. The Thorsvik brothers’ design features supercapacitor and lithium-ion technologies.

They were awarded a $10,000 grand prize for their winning design.

The Thorsvik brothers found inspiration for the ThorVolt battery while repairing Jonathan’s old van.

“Current batteries are composed of lead and acid.

We found that his battery had leaked and it had rusted out where it leaked,” Andrew said. “We knew it needed to be replaced, [but] if it’s not recycled properly, you end up having that contaminating a lot of municipal waste and you have it entering the water stream. That’s when we started looking around and came up with the idea of using supercapacitors.”

The Thorsvik brothers purchased a kit to build a 3D printer, which they used to print the cases for their battery design.

“We looked into having professionally manufactured cases for us, and we found

the cost to be high,” Andrew said. “So that’s when we said, ‘Hey, we can buy a [doit-yourself ] 3D printer kit’ and it saved us money and allowed us to change things as we go.

“The actual product is printed circuit boards and other components that we soldered together,” he added.

By the end of the competition, the Thorsvik brothers had four working prototypes, some of which were used in their own cars over the summer.

“Without the Cleantech Challenge we wouldn’t be where we are now. It provided the funding, it provided the motivation and it really helped us identify the market,” Andrew said.

Campus Sustainability Day presents

Other finalists in the competition received benefits as well. The second place winner, Alex Bigazzi, was awarded $5,000 for Sensing Pollution Exposure by Community, a device that uses a smart phone app to record levels of air pollutants.

“Any of the challenge finalists who didn’t win [have] been offered a space at the Portland Business Accelerator to continue working on their ideas. It’s a really supportive community for entrepreneurs who are trying to figure out business plans,” said Erin Flynn, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships at PSU. “We’re hoping to roll out the program statewide so that more universities can be involved in it. We need as many good ideas as we can get in this country, so let’s not limit this to [PSU],” Flynn said.

“We are living in a world right now that is so resource constrained and we have so many social, environmental and economic challenges,” Flynn said. “It’s the next generation of young people who are going to both inherit these

ANDREW THORSVIK, POrtLAnD StAte grADuAte StuDent in engineering AnD teChnOLOgy mAnAgement, with hiS AwArD-winning thOrvOLt BAttery.

coURtESy oF PSU

problems and they’re going to have to solve these problems.

But people need incentive to solve problems.”

Andrew expressed the importance of responsible design and production when developing new products.

“When it comes to manufacturing, we look at a product and we say, ‘We’re going to make, hopefully, a million of these.’

If you haven’t gone through that thought process: How does it cradle a grave? When does it come back around? Do we recycle it? Do we put it in a landfill?” Andrew said. “Anytime you multiply anything by a million, you need to consider those things. It’s important to be responsible to your community and the world in that way.”

PSU Future Teacher Fair

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Room 296 Smith Student Union SESSION 1—GENERAL INFO. 4-5 pm Presentation at 4pm, plus information about our six teacher training programs.

see a full lineup of the day’s events at pdx.edu/sustainability

6

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

SESSION 2—BILINGUAL EDUCATORS 5-6 pm Are you bilingual? Learn about the increasing demand for bilingual educators in Oregon’s classrooms.

Register: pdx.edu/education/FutureTeachers OR gseinfo@pdx.edu

NEWS

student fee committee aPProves funds for food for tHougHt JordAn PAIGe

The Student Fee Committee convened on Monday to discuss the future of Food For Thought Cafe. The committee voted to approve a proposal that will release funds for FFT’s rent and a point of sale system, pending the student-run cafe is ready to begin operations on Jan. 5.

The committee first discussed a motion to amend FFT’s proposal. The amendment would strike an approval to also fund a POS system for the student-run cafe.

“I think it makes no sense to separate [the POS system],” said Juan Carlos Rueda, a member of the SFC. “If we finally approve something now, it would be a month before we have to ap-

prove something again. Then, they’re going to have a month less to work and a month less to get things done.”

“They supplied everything and beyond for us to release the funds,” added Antoinette Wayne, also an SFC member.

The amendment to remove the POS system from the proposal did not pass with three approving, four disapproving and none abstaining.

The debate surrounding the main proposal focused on how students benefit most. The SFC questioned whether a large, urban student body benefits more when the university invests in a long-term learning experience, or when the university generates income by

leasing student space to outside businesses.

“I have a responsibility, that is [to consider] whether my decision is going to benefit the student body at large,” said Khalid Alballaa, member of the SFC. “I feel confident that opening this cafe would not benefit the student body at large, because it’s a huge drain on the budget and I think other ways could get us the same benefits.”

Despite the concerns, the SFC approved to fund FFT. “This is a special way to learn,” Rueda said. “I don’t believe a big business is willing to commit to the learning process that [FFT] is willing to commit to. At the end, it’s not about the investment of money, it’s about the investment in [students].”

STUDENTS raise hands in support of Food For thought at the request of the Student Fee Committee.

JEoFFREy RAy/PSU VANGUARD

Portland (state) on my mind JeSSICA PollArd

The 10-day event Portland State of Mind will hit campus Oct. 17, offering something for every Viking.

“There are athletic events, lectures, a wide array of what we’re interested in at [Portland State],” said Associate Vice President for Communications Chris Broderick. “It’s been really successful for [PSU]. So many Portland people have climbed on board.”

Portland State of Mind launched three years ago to connect campus events that occurred in October, Broderick said. Now, Portland State of Mind features over 50 events, including a variety of concerts, art exhibits, alumni gatherings and other socials.

Portland State of Mind kicks off with PDXTalks, an event where students,

faculty and alumni share stories. This year’s speakers include PSU professors from a variety of departments including mechanical engineering professor Mark Weislogel.

“Our normal work isn’t showy, it’s [applying] math to problems that we want to solve for engineers who design spacecrafts. But we’re nutty. We get weird ideas and do them just because we can,” Weislogel said. “I want to show maybe a little bit about what we [mechanical engineers] do, and show different experiments.”

Portland State of Mind will also feature a variety of sporting events, including the Viking homecoming football game against Northern Arizona University on Oct. 18.

“With the talent that we have, we’ve done pretty decently this season,” said freshman Stetson Kinnison, who believes the Vikings’ defensive backfield is going to win them the homecoming game.

A tailgate party will take place before the game.

“I will probably bring my George Foreman [grill] and a lot of energy,” Kinnison said.

In addition, KATU-TV and PSU will be sponsoring Oregon’s Great Pot Debate over Measure 91 on Oct. 21, a week before the ballot for the measure goes out to vote.

“It’s not a slam dunk. It’ll be close, that makes for a great debate,” Broderick said.

For more information, go to http://www.pdx.edu/insidepsu/ portland-state-of-mind or visit the PSU Box Office.

MARK WEISLOGEL, PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, stands before the Dryden Drop tower where he conducts experiments in low gravity. the Drop tower is housed within PSu's engineering Building atrium.

ADAM GRAcE/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

7

OPINION

Have them, don’t use them Arming CPSO with caution

BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD

Simply Complicated

by David Wooldridge

With gun violence in schools and in public places becoming a more pressing concern, many governing bodies have enacted policies that attempt to make law-abiding citizens feel safer. Though these policies are full of good intentions, they typically oppose citizens’ rights to defend themselves through the defensive use of a concealed firearm.

In March 2012, the Oregon University System enacted a policy that forbids any person other than on-duty law enforcement officers, public safety personnel and military program participants from carrying a firearm on university property.

For the most part, this is in agreement with Oregon statute 166.370, which states that no firearms shall be carried in any public building, except by officers of the peace or concealed firearm license holders. The conflict between the two is in regard to concealed firearm license holders who, while protected under the law, would still face punishment through the OUS. These steps definitely prevent citizens, including students, faculty, passers-through and people experiencing homelessness or suffering from mental illness from having firearms on campus. Such rules might even make said groups feel safe, but they still don’t address the reality that if an individual makes the horrifying decision to go on a shooting spree, they’re unlikely to consider the rules.

8

With a student’s right to carry a defensive firearm squelched, it makes sense for the Campus Public Safety Office officers, whose job is to protect the student body, to be prepared for an event where lethal force might be necessary.

In order for CPSO to legally carry firearms for service purposes, they would need to be qualified as peace officers or have the same qualifications as police officers. This would necessitate costly training, firearms purchase and upkeep.

Spending sufficient quantities of Portland State’s money to train an armed police force would also require initial and continuous justification.

The crimes committed on the PSU campus for which discharging a firearm would be an appropriate response are nonexistent. According to the Clery Act report, the most common crimes at PSU are burglary and drug offenses. Even very uncommon crimes on the report like sexual assault and motor vehicle theft would not be appropriate times to use a firearm, save in the hands of someone fending off a forcible assault, which seems unlikely (though not impossible) to happen to a CPSO officer on duty.

It just doesn’t make sense to train and maintain a police force whose skills aren’t needed when the university is strapped for cash and tuition already causes the student body sufficient insomnia.

The thing is, a shooting spree is not a regular event. You can’t hire security for the one day you need it, and it doesn’t make sense to throw buckets of money into the insatiable black hole labeled "comfort and safety."

All that being said, it also doesn’t make sense to me that a campus security officer who owns a concealed firearm license and carries responsibly for personal protection is allowed to carry a firearm when not on duty, but when working as a security officer must keep their weapon at home.

Having CPSO officers who possess a concealed firearms license carry a weapon of their own while on duty seems the

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

logical and financially responsible course of action. This might sound irresponsible and naïve, but think about this: Until the OUS passed their gun moratorium, any student who had a concealed firearm license could legally have a gun while in a classroom. And yet there aren’t any rippling memories of gun violence at PSU. I see no problem having CPSO officers carry their own firearms with licenses acquired on their own dime so that if an active shooter situation occurred someone on campus would be able to respond with the appropriate tools until betterequipped peace officers arrived. This is the only situation that I can conceive of in which discharging a firearm would be a suitable response.

Even with these very narrow parameters of use, it would be necessary for firearm-carrying officers to have special measures of accountability in order to protect themselves as well as the public from potential abuse of the weapon.

In order to further this end, I propose that any officer who chooses to carry a weapon must also have the conduct surrounding the use of that weapon recorded on video and audio.

It’s very intrusive to record every carrying officer’s day, I admit. But with the events in Ferguson still fresh in the minds of the masses, I think this could be a good opportunity for public servants to reassert the earnestness of their service.

To be completely obvious, the problem with giving CPSO officers firearms isn’t actually them having the firearms at all.

The problem is that some equipped and trained officer will think that using a firearm is an option that isn’t worth more than a millisecond’s consideration when it should be.

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, a firearm is just not the tool for the job. If, however, an officer finds him or herself being fired upon then they should be allowed to defend themselves responsibly and accountably.

OPINION

Armed PSU Police?

No thanks Against the Current

by Sebastian Richardson The current issue before the Board of Trustees regarding whether or not to arm our campus security makes me a bit nervous.

It doesn’t take a skilled political analyst to understand why this Portland State student is a little hesitant to embrace having sworn police officers packing heat all over campus. With violence happening all over the nation due to police misconduct and abuse of power, it’s a wonder there isn’t more obstinacy toward such an idea.

I’m not one who often gets in trouble with the campus security here on campus, so I know that overall my life will not be affected by such a change (assuming the university was being honest when they said that the $1.5 million it will take to upgrade security won’t result in higher tuition).

Nevertheless, when it comes to issues of security, surveillance and police work, I’m tired of hearing the mantra: “If you have nothing to hide and aren’t a criminal, then you have nothing to worry about.”

You don’t have to be an offender, a criminal or a troublemaker to be worried about the militarization of our campus security.

Such mentality is particularly typical of post-9/11 America.

People hardly hesitate to oppose greater government intrusion and are eager to hand over more rights in return for feeling like they have more security. Anyone who’s been through a TSA screening at the airport lately knows exactly what I’m talking about.

I acknowledge the arguments that have been made which claim that having sworn officers will allow campus security to respond better to mental health crises and cases of sexual assault, but I am not sure how having sworn armed officers prevents mental health crisis or sexual assault from happening. Guns and police will solve nothing.

I’ve also read that the Campus Public Safety Office isn’t allowed to respond to the report of an overdose, but quite frankly, I’m sure medical responders will be more useful than any security officer, sworn or not. Let’s also not forget the fact that PSU still lacks a good samaritan policy, so the newlysworn police force could respond and then proceed to arrest both the user and the person who made the call to save his friend’s life if they felt so inclined.

The potential risk of an active shooter makes people open to the idea of armed police officers. People often cite the fact that we’re the only public campus in Oregon that doesn’t have sworn police officers, casting the image that our campus is unsafe or at risk.

Comparing us to other universities doesn’t make much sense given the fact we have a very different, non-traditional campus. A large amount of our student body commutes, and

we are surrounded and intermingled with the city.

Supporters of arming CPSO cast the picture that a shooter might appear on campus and the defenseless CPSO will have to handle it while we wait desperately for the police to respond and deliver us with their powers of shooting things and legal precedence.

However, I would argue that the presence of sworn police officers doesn’t make a campus the least bit safer.

Virginia Tech, the site of the most prolific university school shooting, had sworn police officers. Even though they were able to respond within three minutes, they were unable to stop the assailant before he killed 32 students, injured 17 and took his own life.

In addition, according to a survey conducted at the University of Oregon, which has sworn police officers, one in three women has been sexually assaulted and 10 percent of women surveyed have been raped. The worst part is that 90 percent of such crimes were never reported.

It’s clear that a sworn and armed campus security only casts an illusion of security and would probably be no more effective than the sworn and armed officers on other campuses.

Along with this, the current trend of trigger-happy police officers, especially toward young minorities, makes me a bit worried that such “upgrades” might, in the end, endanger students rather than protect them.

For me, school shootings, sexual assault and other crimes deserve attention and the most careful response. However, the issues of sexual assault and school shootings are a cultural and moral battle—not one that can be won with police officers and guns.

BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

9

OPINION

Psu or P$u?

THE CASHIER STATION in neuberger hall.

chRIStoPhER SohLER/PSU VANGUARD

The Pagemaster

by Shezad Khan

This is my fifth year at Portland State and hopefully my last, at least for my undergraduate career.

For the most part, my journey through college has been smooth enough, but there have definitely been some bumps in the road. Many of these bumps have come in the form of financial issues. Maybe calling them potholes on the road to success is more accurate.

However you want to look at it, the fact remains that dealing with money as a college student is frustrating, scary and sometimes depressing. I know I don’t like seeing those emails telling me how much debt I’ve accrued so far, and you probably don’t either.

I had such a wonderfully unpleasant experience with PSU over summer term. I had a hold put on my registration, which I’m sure many of you are familiar with, because I didn’t pay off my summer balance at the end of summer term.

As a student who doesn’t receive financial aid for summer term, I didn’t have the means to pay off the entirety of my balance with my personal money alone. My plan was to wait for my financial aid to come in and help me out so I could take care of whatever balance I had remaining. But here’s where things started getting tricky.

10

Before the hold was put on my account, I had registered for four credits. I didn’t know that you have to be registered for at least six credits to receive any financial aid whatsoever. So here I am, trying to start my final year as an undergrad at PSU, and I’ve only registered for four credits, which means no financial aid, which means I have to tack on two more credits. But I can’t do that because there’s a hold on my registration, which means, what the hell am I supposed to do now? The first step is to call Student Accounts.

When I first called Student Accounts, the only thing I got was more annoyed. The person I talked to over the phone didn’t help me out in the least. The only thing I was able to grasp from the phone conversation was that, essentially, PSU doesn’t trust me enough to let me register for classes. Because the financial aid I had for fall 2014 wasn’t enough—as far as they saw—to cover my fall balance and my summer balance, the hold could not be lifted.

Let’s just say the phone call ended with me letting the Student Accounts representative know that they were not doing a very good job.

I called back a few minutes later (because they hung up on me, no joke) to try and get through to a supervisor. Unfortunately for me, no supervisor was available. Luckily for me though, I got a different, much more helpful rep who helped me understand the registration agreement process.

The registration agreement basically says that you promise to use the financial aid you receive to pay off the balance from your previous term. Well yeah, PSU, that’s what I intended to do the entire time, so why do you have to make me jump through hoops?

I thought this was a university that cared about its students’ educations and well-being, not some corporate bank.

I shouldn’t have to hurdle obstacle after obstacle to sign my name on a contract promising the university that I’m going to do something I’ve been trying to do all along.

Recently, I’ve been hearing about this new Four-Year Degree Guarantee that PSU has come out with. Here are the main points, as described on the web page.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Full-time freshmen starting at PSU in fall 2014 have to submit their Four-Year Degree Guarantee agreement. New undergraduates have to attend orientation where they register for their first courses. PSU urges new freshmen to attend the earliest orientation session in order to be able to meet up with an adviser from their major.

Students that decide to sign up for the Four-Year Degree Guarantee program must earn a minimum of 45 credits per year, maintain good standing and satisfy the requirements outlined by their major's degree map. PSU will provide academic advising and the required courses each year.

Students are able to change majors and continue on in the Four-Year Degree Guarantee program, but only if they can still meet the graduation requirements for their new major in four years. If students meet all the requirements of the program but are still unable to graduate within four years,PSU will not charge them tuition for any courses needed to complete their degrees.

Did you read that last part correctly? Are you sure? Because it’s telling you that these new students won’t pay for any year after their fourth. I’m sorry PSU, but where’s our guarantee?

What about the rest of us that the video on your website pretends to care about by throwing out the fact that the average college student will leave school with $24,000 of debt?

I’m in my fifth year and instead of guaranteeing that I won’t pay for it, you’re making me go to unnecessary lengths to make sure you get to collect your money from me. That seems unfair, don’t you think?

Don’t get me wrong though, congratulations to all you new undergrads. Hopefully this will inspire more people to pursue higher education. I just think it’s a little backwards that the rest of us still have to have PSU’s hands in our wallets.

It’s sad because PSU is a beautiful university with wonderful faculty. But I cannot stand the business side of this school because it’s too much like, well, a business.

Talk the talk

OPINION

Why introverts hate polite conversation

Stage two: Body language Introverts are big fans of the Awkward Stun Gun Pose: no smile, no eye contact and no facing body. If you want to have a conversation without looking completely hostile before you even open your mouth, just don’t do that.

Introverts, Unite

by Missy Lacock

Small talk is the bane of an introvert’s existence for more reasons than you’d expect.

First, we’re thinkers, which is not conducive to the rapid-fire nature of small talk. When we can take our time responding via email or text, we’re articulate, witty and smart. In person, however, we’re fumbling, hot messes.

Suddenly, “How about this rain?” is a very complicated question to answer. Quick! What’s a clever, funny and gregarious response?

“Yep” is not it, but that’s usually all we can come up with on short notice. You think it’s awkward talking to an introvert?

Try being one.

Second, introverts think small talk is stupid, and we don’t give a damn about the weather. We get bored, and we don’t have the stamina to gush about menial topics. To an introvert, those are minutes of our lives we’ll never get back. Introverts prefer meaningful conversations that interest us. We would much rather talk about our biggest fears than how our days were.

But above all, the awkwardness, the pressure to keep a conversation going and the energy we need to sound friendly is exhausting as hell. We can do it (some of us even pretty well), but it takes enormous effort. One of my introverted friends said engaging in small talk is like putting on a “social mask,” and it’s true. Even when it goes well, small talk can be like a performance. We usually need a big nap after the curtain call.

As much as introverts dread it, however, interacting with people is a necessary part of life. If we want to succeed, we may not only have to tolerate small talk but nail it, whether it’s during an interview or on a date.

In fact, this point in the term has more meet and greets than ever—students have started classes, joined student groups and intramural leagues and landed new jobs. Luckily, I know a few tips for not-disastrous small talk.

Stage three: The answer Answer with more than one word. Give the other person something to work with like, “Montana. And, yes, we have speed limits now.”

Stage four: Keeping it going What comes next? Focus on the other person. People love to talk about themselves, and they appreciate others taking in-

terest. Ask questions that require more than one-word answers.

Don’t just ask what their major is, ask how they got interested in the subject. With any luck, they’ll do most of the talking for you.

Plan B: Think ahead For certain important conversations, take time to anticipate the exchange (remember, introverts need time to think to be their best selves). Interviews, for example, can be fiascos.

True story: Last month I interviewed a source for an article and ended the call with, “Best of luck with everything you do for the rest of your life.” Needless to say, I now write my “how to not look like an idiot” list before any interviews.

In cases when you’re just not up for it, however, don’t be afraid to fake a phone call. If they’re really persistent, try to convert them to a religion you just made up or show them pictures of your cat.

Stage one: The approach “Where are you from?”

OK, don’t panic. Instead of reacting with the old standby (averted gaze and a one-word answer), take a moment to consider your fight-or-flight response. In many ways, our aversion to people is unnecessarily self-protective. Maybe he really is interested in the answer. Give the person the benefit of the doubt, relax and even offer a little kindness in return.

christopher sohler/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

11

COVER

107,000 and counting Sexual assault policy petition calls for greater emphasis on Title IX

SAM BAKKIlA

A change.org petition started by Portland State student Suzanna Ruiz regarding a sexual assault case impacting one of her friends at PSU has reached over 107,000 signatures as of Oct. 13.

PSU student Eden Paul, survivor of the alleged assault, said that the PSU Code of Conduct Committee did not enable her to fairly seek the justice and safety that she needed to continue her education following her report of sexual assault.

The petition states, “After this tragic incident it seems as though following the guidelines of reporting a sexual assault with hard evidence existing of said assault, justice and safety to a victim will not be guaranteed.”

The petition claims that by not taking disciplinary action against Paul’s alleged rapist, PSU is in violation of Title IX. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs receiving any type of federal financial assistance.

There has been increased action on improving university compliance with Title IX this year, with the founding of the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault, as well as many high profile sexual assault cases and protests moving forward on campuses across the country.

According to the White House Task Force report,

12

“One in five women will be victims of sexual assault by the time they graduate...Title IX makes clear that students who report sexual violence have a right to expect their school to take steps to protect and support them.”

The petition emphasizes the severity of sexual assault incidents on campus.

“I wanted to raise awareness about sexual assault and that it shouldn’t be taken lightly by schools or authorities,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said that she is excited that the petition has attracted so much attention, but she is not sure that this will be translated to action on campus.

“I’m not really sure what it can accomplish, because the school isn’t really taking note of it," Ruiz said. “I don’t think they care. I’ve emailed [administrators] to let them know about the petition and so far I haven’t received any replies.”

Scott Gallagher, director of communications at PSU, declined to comment on this particular case, citing rules protecting student privacy, including those laid out in the Family Education Records Protection Act. “We cannot discuss private matters that concern our stu-

dents,” Gallagher said. “The goal is to protect their privacy. Certainly in cases like this, we don’t talk about any kind of sexual assault.”

Paul said that she was thankful for the petition and surprised by how quickly it was attracting signatures.

“I appreciate it so much, it was one of the kindest things someone can do because it really made me feel less alone in the whole situation,” Paul said.

Paul also said that the timing of the hearing was to her disadvantage.

“They made the decision without having all of the information. I still was trying to get information from the hospital that I went to because they needed any sort of evidence,” Paul said.

Alyssa Peterson, an organizer at Know Your IX, a survivor-run campaign to end campus sexual violence said, “I don’t think any person would think [a phone call] is a good way to handle allegations of sexual assault…

It very clearly isn’t giving her the opportunity to share her story and seek the justice that she needs.”

Paul was also disappointed in the hearing’s brevity and the committee’s focus on alcohol.

“We were supposed to have [several] questions that the school committee would ask us…They asked me one question and then they went to make their decision,” Paul said.

“They really did not put any focus on the physical bruising on me from the attack,” Paul said. “Instead the school was asking about how drunk I was, whether I was too drunk to consent. That really wasn’t the case.”

“I felt like every time there was any discussion about my state of mind—because I was traumatized, I couldn’t remember everything that happened—they assumed that I [could not remember] because I was completely and utterly wasted,” Paul said.

Peterson expressed her frustration that the role of

alcohol seems to have been misunderstood by the Student Conduct Committee.

“The fact that the victim was repeatedly asked about alcohol shows that there continues to be a victim blaming culture,” Peterson said.

The university also may have failed to take interim actions that are suggested by the Federal Office of Civil Rights to protect the victim from the accused.

“They did not inform me that he’s in the same building that I’m currently living,” Paul said. “It’s really unsettling and I just don’t feel safe. It’s University Pointe, so technically not part of university housing…

I’m not really sure how much control the school has over that.”

BRUISES sustained during the alleged assault.

the Student Code of Conduct hearing What follows is the survivor’s account of the hearing and the assault. The alleged assailant was not named and the university declined to comment on this case, citing FERPA. Paul was not on campus over the summer when the PSU Student Conduct Committee held the hearing for her case.

“I left Portland after the assault, and a trial was set up with the school back in July or August,” Paul said. “The student who assaulted me had a representative, a lawyer or something like that, present. I was on the phone in a conference call.”

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Photo PRoVIDED By EDEN PAUL

COVER –

“It was one of the kindest things someone can do because it really made me feel less alone,” Eden Paul said in reaction to the petition.

ANDREA HAMBERG, MELINDA JOY AND CAMMISHA MANLEY (LEFT TO RIGHT) coordinate for the student group Students Active For ending rape. the group has worked to promote Susana ruiz's title iX petition at PSu. JEoFFREy RAy/PSU VANGUARD

Peterson said that Title IX includes interim measures for keeping survivors safe while waiting for their case to be decided.

“Interim measures are basically on a request basis. If she feels uncomfortable and wants him to [be moved to another dorm] and the school knows that, they are violating Title IX,” Peterson said.

implementation gap Peterson spoke of an emerging gap between the policies that universities are required to have on paper through Title IX and the process that survivors go through once a sexual assault is reported.

“What’s happening now at [PSU] is very indicative of what’s happening [nationally],” Peterson said. “Two years ago, it would be easy to see who wasn’t in compliance

because everyone’s policies were terrible. They wouldn’t be complying with the Department of Education preponderance of the evidence standard, or they wouldn’t be having hearings.”

Even though many schools have changed their policies, this has not necessarily lead to better outcomes for students reporting sexual assault.

“We’re still seeing the issue; people aren’t being expelled for committing violations against other students,” Peterson said. “You’re seeing this at [PSU], even though the written policies look pretty good.”

Many colleges have adopted policies recommended by advocates and federal officials to hold hearings with lower standards of proof than in criminal cases.

Melinda Joy, a senator with the Associated Students of PSU, identifies as

a survivor of sexual assault and has been active on campus advocating for policy changes because of her dissatisfaction with campus resources for survivors.

PSU follows the preponderance of evidence standard that Peterson mentioned.

The PSU code states that a preponderance of the evidence “means whether something is ‘more likely than not’” to have occurred.

“Because Title IX is a civil rights law, we use the civil standard,” Peterson explained.

This gives the school more flexibility to hold students accountable for violations that may not have been proven beyond reasonable doubt, which is the standard used in criminal cases.

Joy mentioned a few specific issues that she would like to see added to the PSU Code of Conduct’s section on sexual assault.

“To make the process more survivor centered, we need an amnesty clause in regard to the survivor being under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Joy said.

“I’d had people in power tell me to take time off [from college] until this is over. But [post-traumatic stress disorder] is lifelong,” Joy said.

“That’s expressing to someone that they are not welcome in this space.”

Joy also said that this often comes with a financial burden and delays the graduation of the survivor, which are costs that the survivor should not be the one to bear.

“As a survivor, Eden did absolutely everything that she could to give them a chance to make a case,” Joy said. “Together, we are two examples of how Title IX is being violated at PSU.” Gallagher recognized that additional efforts are needed to address the issue of sexual assault on campus and mentioned online training in D2L. “We continue to work on additional efforts to address this serious issue,” Gallagher said. “As of last spring, all students at [PSU] are required to complete a lengthy questionnaire to raise their awareness of sexual assaults, including what constitutes consent, how assaults can be prevented, how to report assaults and what services are available to students on the campus and in the community.

“In particular, we encourage students to report sexual assaults because we know that many assaults go unreported at universities,” Gallagher added.

However, Peterson noted that mishandled cases can prevent other survivors from reporting sexual response.

Joy also proposed clauses that exclude discussion of the survivor's dress and past sex-

ual history during hearings, as well as more clearly defined procedures students can follow for voicing concerns throughout the process.

Students taking action Last spring, Joy formed a PSU chapter of Students Active For Ending Rape, a national organization for reforming college sexual assault policies.

Joy mentioned that resources on campus can be difficult to access, and that for someone who recently experienced trauma, what might seem like a minor barrier can become a major hurdle.

“I walked into the Women’s Resource Center and I asked, ‘What do you offer? Are there support groups for survivors?’

I was directed at a wall of pamphlets and told that they have an interpersonal violence program. That was all that was told to me, and that doesn’t sound like anything that a survivor is going to know to look for when they are seeking out resources,” Joy said.

Joy said that she was frustrated that the WRC had not taken on a more active role in promoting sexual assault prevention and policy change within the university, since the university itself is charged with upholding Title IX. Jessica Amo, director of the WRC, declined to comment and directed all questions to Gallagher in the Office of University Communications.

Paul, on the other hand, reported having a very supportive experience seeking help at the WRC. “I’d say that the Women’s Resource Center is definitely the safest place that you can go to [following sexual assault],” Paul said. “They only want to do what you want to do, they’re not pressuring

you to do anything that you’re uncomfortable with.”

The Oregon Student Association, a statewide, studentled nonprofit organization, has taken on sexual assault prevention and improving services for survivors as one of its lobbying campaigns for this legislative session.

Mario Parker-Milligan, legislative director of the OSA, said that they will be lobbying for legislation that will come in mid-January to improve and standardize how sexual assault is handled across all of Oregon’s universities and community colleges.

“One of the recommendations that we will be moving forward with is standardizing best practices for Oregon universities and community colleges in terms of reporting,” Parker-Milligan said.

“The other part that we’re looking to do across the state is to create and implement some preventative education on campuses, not just for students, but for all campus stakeholders [and] all campus community members.

So everyone is given tools and resources to prevent and even combat sexual violence on campus.”

Parker explained that these priorities were informed by feedback that they have received from other states and institutions that have more survivor-centered sexual assault policies.

Despite any reforms that might be coming, the next steps are unclear for Paul, who is currently in the process of appealing the Student Conduct Committee’s decision and rethinking her future at the university.

“I’m not currently enrolled at PSU right now,” Paul said.

“I’m thinking of taking community college classes. I’m still playing it by ear whether I’ll take classes at PSU again.”

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

13

ARTS & CULTURE

Wild ride: A review of David Lynch’s 'Lost Highway' Victoria Castellanos

David Lynch’s 1997 neonoir psychological thriller Lost Highway’s reputation as a box office failure hasn’t stopped it from becoming a cult classic, much in the vein of Lynch’s other films. Lynch playfully touted Siskel and Ebert’s two thumbs down rating on the film’s posters as “two more great reasons to see.”

Fred Madison (Bill Pullman) is a Los Angeles saxophonist whose life turns into a living nightmare after hearing a strange message on his home’s intercom: “Dick Laurent is dead.” He and his wife Renee (Patricia Arquette) start receiving videotapes in the mail, each more ominous than the last.

The two attend a party where Fred meets The Mystery Man (Robert Blake), who first appeared to Fred in a dream. Another tape arrives, showing Fred with Renee’s brutally murdered body. No doubt confused, flash to Fred in prison, swearing to police that he didn’t kill Renee.

The tape serves as evidence enough of the crime.

After complaining to authorities of sleeplessness

and headaches, prison wards find that Fred has been replaced in his cell by Pete Dayton (Balthazar Ghetty), a young auto mechanic who has not committed a crime.

Pete begins having his own weird run-ins with strangers, like as a bystander to a road rage murder committed by local thug Mr. Eddy (Robert Loggia). He begins an affair with Mr. Eddy’s girlfriend and porn actress, Alice Wakefield (Patricia Arquette), and commits murder himself before transforming back into Fred Madison.

The film plays out like an extended fever dream, making the plot at times difficult to follow. Fred Madison appears to be in the midst of psychogenic fugue, but that’s difficult to discern until near the end. Ignore the fact that you’re not quite sure what’s going on, ride the wave of chaos and be rewarded with a psychological thriller that’s subtly genius and off the wall.

Lost Highway is, even in its most seemingly innocent scenes, unsettling and perfumed with underlying anxiety. You wait with bated

breath for the moment in which it all comes together, and that anxiety belongs to both you and the characters.

The first 20 minutes are slow, but undeniably tense as Lynch favors sparse dialogue and relies on Arquette and Pullman’s body language to convey their awkward, faintly unbalanced relationship. It’s important to note that Lynch never over tells the story. He demands that viewers pay close attention and engage in the plot on their own level.

Lynch fans will revel in the presence of all his usual quirks. There’s plenty of leather and the customary red velvet curtains. Plus, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see Robert Blake in a pin-up wig and ghostly Kabuki makeup (which he came up with himself ). It’s also the final film performances for Blake, Richard Pryor and Jack Nance, as well as Marilyn Manson’s acting debut.

Lost Highway serves as a wonderful companion to Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire, and in many ways is more surreal and emotional than some of Lynch’s other

Film still courtesy of Asymmetrical Pictures

films. Film buffs familiar with Lynch won’t be disappointed, and newbies looking to get acquainted with his work will likely leave feeling a little bit enchanted by his storytelling prowess. Lost Highway is absolutely worth a watch in a theater setting where you can let the darkness envelop you and truly find yourself engulfed in its originality.

5th Avenue Cinema presents Lost Highway 5th Avenue Cinema 510 S.W. Hall St. Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 & 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 & 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3:00 p.m.

Archives Crawl displays historical texts, media Andy anady

The fourth annual Oregon Archives Crawl will celebrate all things dusty, yellowing and sumptuously crinkled this Saturday, Oct. 18.

The event, which collects and displays precious archived materials from numerous sources around the city, will be spread across three venues: the Multnomah County Central Library, Oregon Historical Society and the Portland Archives and Records Center.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each respective location, and will be brimming with historical information and special goodies. Archivists from

14

more than 30 participating organizations will be on hand.

There will be tours of the facilities, tabletop exhibits, and talks on projects, research, activities and collections.

Door prizes will be given away throughout the event.

Cris Paschild, head of special collections for Portland State, said the event is great for people who are interested, and for people who don’t know that they’re interested.

Generally these collections are open by appointment only, but at this event they’ll be exhibited as an open house and the public will be able to chat with archivists.

Oregon Historical Society will offer postcards of nearby historic locations, which participants can visit between the crawl’s three locations. Visitors can also get their passports stamped and enjoy free admission to many of the galleries, including Worth/Worthless: Valuing our Collections and Plastics Unwrapped.

Jim Carmin, a special collections librarian, will be providing tours of the John Wilson Special Collections room at the MCCL. There will also be an Ask an Archivist table where visitors can ask any questions about organized personal or aca-

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

demic research projects, or alleviate any burning archival related questions.

Along with the crawl, there will be a Home Movie Day, an international event in which actual home movies are screened by and for the public.

Home Movie Day will be hosted locally at the Northwest Film Center on Oct. 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It’s the perfect opportunity for anyone who might have some dusty rolls of film (16 mm, 8 mm and Super 8 film, but no videotapes).

Matthew Cowan, an archivist for OHS, said some people bring a single reel while others will bring whole boxes.

According to Cowan, the key is to get people to bring in home movies, but many people show up to enjoy watching the movies others bring.

According to Cowan there’s even a home movie bingo with squares like “mustachioed uncle.”

Portland State is holding a similar, smaller event on Oct. 24. The event will be held on the first floor of Branford Price Millar Library, at University Archives and Special Collections. There, visitors can see medieval manuscripts from the 10th century in an early form of Arabic called Kufic, rare books and more contemporary materials that

document the development of Portland as it is now.

This year the city of Portland wanted to focus on multiculturalism. Visitors can see the Rutford Family Collection, which recalls the history of a three-generational African-American family of Northeast Portland. Records date back to the 1890s and recount their involvement in the NAACP and church groups.

Millar Library will also have its Oregon Public Speakers Collection on display, historic audio tapes from university records since the establishment of the Black Studies Department.

ARTS & CULTURE

camPus galleries eXHiBit scHolarsHiP reciPients' artWork rUBy KInG And BrAndon STAley

For many prospective students, money is the deciding factor for attending school. Lacking funds, some turn away from the idea of higher education completely, fearful of debt. But when given a helping hand, students are empowered to create. And with that freedom comes confidence.

That is the message of the Portland State Art and Design Scholarship Show, which celebrates the work of PSU scholarship recipients by collecting and publicly displaying their artistic works.

The scholarship show is being exhibited in the AB Lobby Gallery and the MK Gallery, both of which are located in the Art Building on Southwest Fifth Avenue.

The show will run until Oct. 31 and admission is free.

“All students who received any of the various scholarships offered by the School of Art and Design were invited to submit one piece,” said Travis Nikolai, the exhibition preparator for the show.

Nikolai said of the roughly 35 students who were invited to have their work featured in the show, 30 applied and were approved. Other than size, there were no limitations to the types of artwork students could submit. The show includes examples of painting, illustration, photography, sculpture, time arts and more.

Amounts awarded to students via scholarships varied, ranging from hundreds to several thousands of dollars.

“It’s what really allowed me to come here,” said Kensey Anderson, a first year Master of Fine Arts student.

Anderson was awarded the Simon Benson scholarship as a first-generation college student.

Anderson said she had considered several graduate schools before receiving a call from a professor, offering her the scholarship.

“It pushed me over the edge,” Anderson said. “I was right on the cusp and, that phone call and being able to get this, it really did make me come here.”

Anderson’s piece “Eros of Urbano,” which depicts the cherubic latex Greek god of love reclining on a crocheted bed, was inspired by the famous painting “Venus of Urbino.” Anderson sewed the cherub together by hand, stuffing it with gel beads to give the piece a realistic skin tone and a fleshy jiggle.

The opening reception, held on Oct. 6, attracted people from all throughout the community to contemplate the works, displayed on the minimalist walls of the two galleries.

Shep Austad, a sophomore engineering student, was particularly drawn to the portrait “Mike Nesmith,” which depicts the eponymous band member from The Monkees clad in a stitched hat. The artist, Natassia Haas, a senior pursuing a double major in both psychology and art, defied 2D conventions by adding physical cloth texture to the woolly hat.

“When you walk up at first I was like, ‘wow she’s really good at her texturing from just the visual effects.’ But she even went all that much further and made it physically textured,” Austad said. “This is blood, sweat and tears you’re looking at right here.”

Haas, who was awarded the School of Art and Design general scholarship, said receiving the scholarship was a confidence boost. Knowing that there are people who took interest in her work was important, but it also meant being able to pay for tools like paint.

Maggie Heath, a fine arts student in her last year, said she understands the importance of a school willingly giving recognition to those pursuing a life in fine arts.

“It’s more about the professors and shows, people that saw the work, and knowing people thought it was good enough,” Heath said.

“To know that this school stands behind my work, as opposed to the money—I’m not really thinking about it in terms of the money. People have told me that I should continue to pursue what I’m doing, and that’s what really matters to me.”

Unlike many of the canvases that received recognition, Heath’s Richard Muller award-winning piece “If I Only Had (Unravel)" is more of a performance, and includes an elegant round coffee table, a music box, a motor and ball of string.

“It’s activated by a motor that I hook up. I put a ball of thread in my mouth and attach it to the brass tubing between the motor and the music box, and then as I allow string to come out of my mouth you slowly start to understand what the music box is playing, which is ‘If I Only Had a Brain’ from The Wizard of Oz,” Heath said.

Heath made the table and motor herself, explaining that the physical act of creating something was extremely important, and a driving inspiration in all of her projects. She usually works with strings and textiles, believing it stems from an informed feminist critique.

“I wanted to use materials that weren’t classically or traditionally male used. I mean painting and sculpting from metal, all of that’s been done enough and I think there are materials out there that people haven’t explored,” Heath said. She said sewing and textiles are traditionally viewed as practices of craft and women’s work, rather than materials of the fine arts realm.

Edward Ershbock, a senior graduating with a double ma-

jor in philosophy with honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, also chose to submit something slightly different that earned him the Simon Benson scholarship. The scholarship will allow him to finish school at PSU. He will be the first person in his family to graduate.

A fan of aerial videography and thinking about contradictions within humans, Ershbock created his short film “Birth of Tragedy,” which explores such notes of fascism and following governmental control. In the film, a group of dancers weed out

the member that chooses to follow their own path.

“I think about those things a lot, in terms of communities I’ve lived in and seeing changes happen that I don’t understand. I want to know why people do what they do,” Ershbock said.

KENSEY ANDERSON'S 'eros of urbano' is one of several works by scholarship winners at PSu's mK gallery.

chRIStoPhER SohLER/PSU VANGUARD

SCULPTOR MAGGIE HEATH works with a variety of materials in the PSu BFA studio. heath is one of several award-winning artists on display in the Art Building.

chRIStoPhER SohLER/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

15

ARTS & CULTURE

no reverB: local Band mr.

Bones Plays live at kPsu BlAKe HICKMAn

“Those kids are magical,” said Pete Banjaro, KPSU programming director.

Banjaro smiled as he waited for a freshly recorded in-studio performance by Portland lo-fi rockers Mr. Bones to mix down. As we waited for the session to save, Banjaro showed me pictures he had taken during the session.

These included a snapshot he had taken during the band’s interview. The image had captured the crowd that had formed to watch the band perform. Peering through the glass of the interview room,

members of the crowd seemed unaware of the eight second delay between what they were hearing piped through the KPSU studios and what was being said behind the doors of the broadcast booth.

The session itself was everything rock should be: under rehearsed, fraught with technical issues (frontman Leland Brehl’s guitar failed him less than a minute into their first song) and most importantly, absolutely electric.

Like all great rock bands, Mr. Bones are more than just the sum of their

parts. It’s hard not to notice the kinetic drumming of Asher McKenzie, or the versatility of guitarist Jackson Machado, or the pure punk bass tones of Benjamin Burwell. It was Leland Brehl’s vision that struck me most that evening in the KPSU studios, though.

“I don’t want any reverb on the vocals,” Brehl said.

“Like, none?” Banjaro said.

As one of the most experienced technicians capable of recording a KPSU in-studio session, Banjaro knows his stuff.

“Yeah, none at all,” Brehl said. “It has to sound raw.”

Mr. Bones took to the airways after releasing their selftitled debut on cassette. Their eponymous release is the best Portland album of 2014 that you haven’t heard yet. There are a lot of bands that spring to mind when you listen to the self-titled Mr. Bones.

You might think of lo-fi gods Guided by Voices, The

Pixies (particularly on the bass-driven “You Don’t Have a Skull of Your Own”) or even Portland legends The Exploding Hearts, but much of Brehl’s songwriting has been influenced by J-Rock.

J-Rock is the Japanese answer to American punk and indie rock. It’s those underthe -radar influences that make Mr. Bones such an instant classic. From tracks like “Tony” that breeze by in the same blink-and-you’ll-missit fashion as Guided by Voices, to fully realized rockers like “You Don’t Have A Skull Of Your Own,” Mr. Bones sounds familiar enough.

It would be easy for armchair music critics to cast Mr. Bones aside as just another lo-fi ‘90s revival release, but the start and haunting quality of “Starfingers” and the borderline ZZ Top douchiness of “Glaring at U” sets it apart. Lyrically there are so many references to the Internet (particu-

larly on “Another Fucking Summer”) that place Mr. Bones in a distinctly millennial orientation.

That orientation was also present in a new song that Mr. Bones premiered during that session.

“It’s your Internet presence that makes me sad,” Brehl sang, his wistful lyric discordantly meeting waves of heavy guitar riffs. The lyric, like so much of Mr. Bones manages to be sophisticated and provincial at the same time.

Listening to the lyric now, it’s hard for me to not think of the Internet presence of so many young music fans.

Those that lack the talent or discipline to create art of their own flocking to Twitter and tweeting the most flattering things possible at their favorite artists, hoping for a favorite or a retweet.

I recently spoke with someone that works for McMenamin’s and the subject of their Instagram account came up. He

mentioned that, from a marketing standpoint, it’s been a great thing for them. But in terms of the presentation, it’s hard to not notice the photos taken from the band’s point of view, of a sea of music fans viewing their performances through the screen of a smartphone. A quick glance at the #crystalballroom tag yields dozens of blurry concert photos that are interchangeable.

Those blurry concert photos are in great contrast to that snapshot Banjaro showed me. That night as Mr. Bones played, as unpolished as it was, we were all watching them in real time.

Our phones were in our pockets.

Blake Hickman is the promotions director at KPSU, Portland State’s campus radio station. Student hosted shows can be found on KPSU, at www.kpsu.org. Listen to Mr. Bones play live on KPSU at http://www66.zippyshare. com/v/40791477/file.html

JACKSON MACHADO, LELAND BREHL, BEN BURWELL AND ASHER MCKENZIE (LEFT TO RIGHT) of the Portland-based band mr. Bones.

GET STUDENT TICKETS AS LOW AS $10!

SIGN UP NOW TO GET TICKET ALERTS SENT TO YOUR PHONE! trailblazers.com | 844.RIP.CITY |

@trailblazers Photo coURtESy oF MR. BoNES

16

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

oregon Historical Society explores impact of political cartooning

ARTS & CULTURE

nascc Hosts annual craft fair and Potluck

MODERATOR KERRY TYMCHUK (left) from the Oregon historical Society and Jack Ohman, columnist and cartoonist with 'the Sacremento Bee.'

AMy rUSH

chRIStoPhER SohLER/PSU VANGUARD

Former Oregonian cartoonist gives an inside look at world of cartooning VICTorIA CASTellAnoS

The Oregon Historical Society hosted an event titled Line of Fire: Cartooning’s Political Impact on Sept.

29. The event was hosted by The Oregonian’s longtime cartoonist, Jack Ohman, in his first public appearance in Oregon since his move to The Sacramento Bee in 2013.

Ohman, a Portland State alumni and politics and history buff, spoke to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and to celebrate the legacy of Oregon Senator Wayne Morse.

In 1964 Morse was just one of two senators to oppose the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization to use armed military forces in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war from Congress. Morse predicted that the resolution would lead to escalation of combat, and it did ultimately result in the Vietnam War. Over the course of his political career, Morse collected upwards of 150 political cartoons featuring himself in various lights. Ohman said that he frequently receives

requests for original cartoons from the politicians he caricatures. Politicians are not always his doting fans, though.

Ohman recounted an instance last year in which Gov. Rick Perry called for his firing following a cartoon about the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas.

“It was my first real exposure to the power of the Twitter-sphere, the explosive, viral nature of the culture,” Ohman said. “A couple of days later, just on CNN.com there were 10,000 comments on the story. The Twitter feed on it was unbelievable, apparently you can threaten to murder people on Twitter and get away with it.”

This begs the question, what is political cartooning’s place in contemporary culture? Shannon Wheeler, a visiting professor at PSU and creator of the Too Much Coffee Man comic strip series, taught an introductory comic illustration class this past summer. Wheeler said he noticed common influences in his students’ work.

“They were up on pop culture. Politics were less impor-

tant to them,” Wheeler said.

“Societal issues regarding feminism and racism were important, and toward the end of the semester started showing up in their work. As they got more comfortable expressing themselves with comics they became more ambitious with their content.”

Editorial cartoons of all kinds draw attention, inciting both entertainment and indignation. Especially appealing to our image-filled culture, they can divulge a lot with few words. Humor and current events mingle to result in a cartoon that, in some way, strikes a chord.

“When art does what it should there’s a feedback loop,” Wheeler said. “It takes inspiration from current culture and turns around to influence it. If nothing else, art helps prioritize events.

The football player incidents might have been swept under the rug in the ‘70s or ‘80s— when it’s the subject of cartoons it’s harder to ignore.”

However, political cartooning is not the industry it once was. When Ohman first began cartooning profes-

sionally in the ‘80s, political cartoonists were plentiful.

Some publications even had multiple. Today, there are a quarter of that.

In light of an especially problematic and gruesome summer, domestically and abroad, political cartooning is capable of both alleviating and exacerbating tensions. A cartoon depicting the comical birth of Chelsea Clinton’s firstborn provided laughs, while Ohman repeatedly risked getting heat from his more provocative cartoon commentaries.

Ohman took questions from the audience after the talk, during which he was asked if there had been an event during his career that he was unable to draw.

“I have yet to draw a cartoon about this beheading,” Ohman said. “Sometimes these things leave you absolutely flat-footed. I could have done one that I didn’t like. They’re so horrible. That guy kneeling there was a very real human being and you’re just going to put ‘U.S. Foreign Policy’ on it?”

“I just couldn’t go there on this one,” he added.

The Native American Student and Community Center hosted its annual potluck and craft fair on Oct. 1. The event featured numerous Native American vendors selling everything from jewelry to photography, and offered students a chance to learn about native cultures, enjoy good food and marvel at the various crafts.

Birdie Wermy, a Portland State graduate, said the NASCC is a hub of friends, opportunities and native-centered events. As a former graduate herself, Wermy said she was happy to participate in the NASCC event as the profits go to a special springtime graduation celebration for native students.

Melissa Bennett, program coordinator for the NASCC, said the NASCC has a great deal to offer both the community and student body at PSU. “Our events are open to all students and community members of all faith traditions, all cultures and all communities,” Bennett said. “We have a really nice space and want people to come and see what it is all about.”

Bennett said her hope for the potluck and craft fair was to bring all people together to learn about native culture, enjoy delicious food and perhaps even purchase some art.

The month of November marks Native America Heritage Month. The NASCC has numerous events planned for the month. Bennett said the NASCC is planning events for every Monday in November, which will include presentations from Jillian Joseph, the executive director of the Native Wellness Institute in Portland, on Nov. 3.

The NASCC will also host a talk by Demian Dine Yazhi regarding queer and transgender native identity on Nov. 10, as well as an event that will deal with the topic of Thanksgiving and what it means to be native on Nov. 24.

The NASCC’s latest event was held on Oct. 13 on Indigenous People’s Day. Luis Alfaro, a playwright in residence for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, held a workshop entitled Stories of Home.

PROFESSOR CORNEL PEWEWARDY, director of indigenous nations Studies at PSu, gives a blessing just prior to the potluck.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

MILES SANGUINEttI/PSU VANGUARD

17

ETC

EVENT CALENDAR Tuesday, Oct. 14

Dive-In movie at the Academic & Student Rec Center: ‘The Lego Movie’ Movie Starts at 8 p.m.

Academic & Student Rec Center, pool The Academic & Student Rec Center will be hosting a divein movie! Bring your swimsuit and join us in the pool for free food and a movie.

Inner tubes will be provided or you can bring your own.

The movie will be The Lego Movie. This event is open to all PSU students. FREE

Author and mad scientist Theodore Gray Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m.

Alberta Rose Theatre 3000 N.E. Alberta St. Portland, OR 97211 At this special Science on Tap event, Theodore Gray, author and co-founder of Wolfram Research, Inc., will tell fascinating stories and show stunning photography in this exploration of some of the most interesting, essential, useful and beautiful chemical structures that make up every material in the world. Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy

a pint and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun–all you need is a thirst for knowledge! This event is open to the public, and tickets are $15.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 GoGreen Portland 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Oregon Convention Center, Oregon Ballroom 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR 97236 The seventh annual GoGreen Portland conference brings together private and public sector leaders to share their work on the key components of a framework for a socially sustainable community. Experts will discuss social equity advocacy, the development of new economic models, competitive city strategies, behavioral change, new innovations and corporate responsibility.

GoGreen creates a platform for attendees to engage in interactive, peer-to-peer and solution-based learning to generate practical solutions to our region’s most pressing challenges. Register online and save 30 percent by entering in the code PSU.

2014 All Jane No Dick Comedy Festival Times vary, shows through the 19th Locations include: Helium Comedy Club, Curious Comedy Theater and Alberta Street Pub

This curated festival focuses on selecting the very best female stand up, improv and sketch comedians working in comedy today.

Our selection process aims to showcase a wide range of styles among women in comedy. Keeping the festival relatively small guarantees that every show and every performer delivers top-notch comedy. This year’s All Jane No Dick Comedy Festival will take place October 15–19. Individual shows range from $10–15, but an all week pass is $80. These events are 21+.

Friday, Oct. 17 2014 Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibition From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 24 Autzen Gallery, Neuberger Hall 724 S.W. Harrison St. Portland, OR 97201 Portland State Of Mind presents the Visual Arts Prize Exhibition with first-prize winner Jea Alford, secondprize winner Katie Holden and third-prize winner Pam

Minty. Normally the event only features two artists, but thanks to an additional contribution from the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, the jury was able to make a third-place award this year to Minty. Come see these amazing artists in an art exhibit right here on campus! This event is free and open to the public. FREE

Weekly Social Sustainability Colloquium featuring Jeff Goebel 2–4 p.m.

Academic & Student Rec Center Room 660 1800 S.W. Sixth Ave. Portland, OR 97201 The environmental handprint is the good we do for the environment. It builds on the concept of the environmental footprint. The potential of the handprint is unlimited.

One’s personal handprint can be magnified by influencing the actions of others and can be accumulated over a career. The handprint’s positive feedback harnesses the power of creativity, idealism and profit. Jon Biemer and Willow Dixon will show during these weekly meetings how handprint thinking complements the better known footprint thinking, using case studies and examples from their own

FEATURED EVENT PSU October Blood Drive

Oct. 13–17 Smith Memorial Student Union, room 355 Walk-In hours are 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Portland State often hosts weeklong blood drives throughout the year in support of the constant need of blood in order to save millions of lives. This year, the drive will be in SMSU and the Red Cross is willing to take walk-ins. However, you are also able to make an appointment online at the Red Cross website, or by calling 1-800-733-2677 directly. A single donation can save up to three lives—so what are you waiting for? FREE

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Grisham/U.S. Navy through Creative Commons

18

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

experience and illustrating the development of collective handprints. This week features speaker Jeff Goebel and two critical elements in climate change. This event is free and open to the public.

FREE

Saturday, Oct. 18 Homecoming football game & tailgate Pre-game Tailgate: 2–4 p.m.

Game: 4–7 p.m.

Tailgate party: 1730 S.W. Taylor St. Portland, OR 97201 Game: 1844 S.W. Morrison St. Portland, OR 97205 Come celebrate the homecoming football game where PSU will play Northern Arizona at Providence Park.

Cost ranges from $24 to $64 for general public. Discounts available for seniors (65+), non-PSU students, Coke Zero Kids Club (14 and under), and Big Kids Club (18+).

Tailgate is free and open to the public. Tickets available at the PSU Box Office by calling 503-725-3307 or visiting the office at 1825 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201.

Portland Retro Gaming Expo Saturday: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Oregon Convention Center 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97232

Retro Gaming Expo Inc. is a Portland-based 501(c)4 nonprofit cooperative organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, classic video and arcade games through the presentation of events and conventions that celebrate the historic contribution video games have made and continue to make in popular culture. Come to see speakers, partake in auctions, see and play hundreds of games, listen to nerdy music, buy/sell/trade video games, play in gaming tournaments and more!

FREE

21+

PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER

ETC

Libra Sept. 23–Oct. 22

Things are really ramping up for you, Libra, and now is the time to choose how you will handle all the stuff that has been added to your plate. Resist the urge to run in the other direction. You’ve worked through much worse in the past.

Scorpio Oct. 23–Nov. 21

Are you feeling disillusioned with false promises of better days, dear Scorpio? If so, try to abate that thinking for just a little longer. The reprieve you so desperately seek is just around the corner.

Sagittarius Nov. 22–Dec. 21

Aquarius Jan. 20–Feb. 18

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Well, that or they fake it until they make it. You may not be super stoked about something right now, but try pretending to like it for a bit. Who knows? You might actually end up liking it.

Time flies when you're having fun, am I right?

You've got a lot going for you right now, but don't let it all pass you by. Do what you can to remain present and in the moment. You'll be grateful you did when it comes time to close this chapter of your life.

Capricorn Dec. 22–Jan. 19

Pisces Feb. 19–Mar. 20

Cat got your tongue, Capricorn? Some days it is easier to articulate your thoughts than others.

You may be experiencing a mental block of sorts this week. Don't let it get to you; like all things, this too shall pass.

Things have really been working in your favor, dear Pisces, and you have every reason to celebrate.

Remember to stay motivated, though; after the glow wears off there will be plenty of work to be done.

Sudoku 6 4 9 3 8 1

5 9

8 6 9 4 2 7 2 9 8 3 5 7

6

Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FRE E.

Play Sudoku and win prize

s at:

prizesudoku.com

The Sudoku Source of

“Portland State Vanguard�.

Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com

2 7 8 5 4

When things don’t seem to be going our way, it’s really easy to assume that it’s entirely out of our control.

This week, it might be beneficial to remind yourself that, regardless of what it may seem, choice is almost always a factor.

Taurus Apr. 20–May 20

Kicking ass ain’t easy, but you’ve got it down to a science. Do what you can to take a breather this week.

You’ll be happy you did when things get even crazier!

crossword

5

Aries Mar. 21–Apr. 19

ACROSS 1 Language spoken in American city by native Norwegian? (7) 5 What Flaubert's topless Madame does regularly (7) 9 Old Roman money houses (5) 10 Two articles about the digestion, mostly, of lowest order of insects (9) 11 Main route for vessel (6) 12 Geometry of the Earth, for example, is static (8) 14 The end of Pilgrim's Progress (5) 15 The key to understanding God is held in Sanskrit philosophical treatise (9) 18 Academic terms for selenium meso-compounds (9) 20 Avifauna in a Cornish habitat (5) 22 Reduce as much as possible the payment on the car (8) 24 The centre of Verona, with pairs of Corinthian columns, displays this architectural style (6) 26 Lawyers go into metal storage building (5-4) 27 Time for the heartless politician to find love (5)

Gemini May 21–Jun. 20

Hey there, moneybags, how’s it hanging? The cosmos are spelling out dollar signs in the sky, and your name is written all over them. Be sure to save as much as you splurge—you deserve it!.

Cancer Jun. 21–Jul. 22

The world is not going to fall to pieces if you take a break, Cancer. As important as you like to think you are, this ship will sail without you. Get some sleep, delegate and restore. You’ll need your wits about you in the coming weeks.

Leo Jul. 23–Aug. 22

You’ve always been a showboat, Leo, and now is no exception.

You may feel like your input is important, but be careful not to take over. It’s probably best to take a backseat on this one. Let someone else shine for once.

Virgo Aug. 23–Sept. 22

Always a skeptic, Virgo.

You smelled a rat from a mile away, and this time you’re skepticism is spot on. Don’t let others play to your compassionate side for their own selfish gain. Be loyal to yourself and ake a bubble bath.

courtesy of alberichcrosswords.com

28 Avert goal after penalty–but tie unfortunately is lost (7) 28 One with a distant ideal, like Martin Luther King? (7) DOWN 1Nasty, smug criminal has eye trouble (9)2 Brief moment for a lyricist?

(5) 2 Tyneside academic gets most of the credit for description of molecular arrangement (7) 3 Rose garden not unknown to Scotsman and Pole, if they are these (9) 4 Sleep soundly by hillock (4) 5 Is in conversation to Lord too much? (10) 6 Edict puts a thousand back into employment (5) 7 I throw up into powdered remains of fire axe (7) 8 Snakes endlessly glide away (5) 13 Place in Victoria's country? (10) 16 Oxygen intake has so developed in algae (9) 17 D. Brown perhaps is brought in – to spoil Hugh, we hear (9)18 Commander in chief to the Queen has

love for orator (6) 19 To get to Lizard Point I go in the car (7) 20 Leak incomplete crossreference (7) 21 Most reckon to turn up before Mother makes the fish sauce (4,3) 22 Missouri model provided the design (5) 23 Dance graduate leaves cake (5) 25 Lop off ends (4)

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

19

SPORTS

viks fall to team WitH no name MATT rAUCH

Coming off of a gritty home win against the UC Davis Aggies at Providence Park, the Vikings headed into Saturday’s game looking for another Big Sky win on the road against the University of North Dakota, formerly The Fighting Sioux, currently sans nickname.

The Vikings dominated the first half, outscoring UND 13–3. The only touchdown drive of the half took place early in the first quarter and consisted of three plays for 75 yards. The key play on the drive was a beautifully thrown 50-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Kieran McDonagh to Stevie Coury.

The other six points of the half for the vikings came off two Jonathon Gonzales field goals for 23 and 45 yards.

Even though the Vikings offense showed a lot of life

in the first half, the real story was a dominant performance by the Vikings defense which held UND to only three points.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, the rest of the game wasn’t so dominant. After receiving the second half kickoff, UND drove down the field for a touchdown bringing the score to 13–10.

On the ensuing possession, McDonagh threw a pick that resulted in a lead-taking touchdown by UND. After a couple of exchange punts by both teams, the Vikings closed the gap to only one point with a 37-yard Gonzales field goal.

The Vikings defense held strong on the following drive, forcing another three and out. However, when the Vikings got the ball, they also failed to get a first down. On

the fourth down punt, UND’s Alex Tillman returned it from the 5–yard line for a touchdown to give UND a 24–16 lead.

All was not lost for the Vikings though, as they ended up with a great starting field position on UND’s 18-yard line with just over a minute left in the game. The Vikings struggled, but finally converted a fourth-down pass to give them first and goal from the five. Plagued by a sack, a false start penalty and a few incomplete passes, the Vikings failed to put the ball in the end zone within the allotted amount of downs and time, resulting in a 16– 24 loss.

This game was very similar to last week’s game against UC Davis with the only difference being that Portland State pulled out the home

victory. In both games the Vikings defense came out strong in the first half, only to ease up in the second.

Once again, the Vikings’ passing game showed highlights of brilliance with deep, on target throws, but also showed that if the throws aren’t on target, they can very easily end up as picks that result in points for the opposing team.

Moving forward, the Vikings need to figure out a way to carry the momentum and lead gained in the first half throughout the rest of the game. Fans should not lose faith yet. The Vikings have shown signs of dominance on both sides of the ball during conference play this season, and if they can eliminate some mental mistakes, there is no reason they can’t make it to the postseason.

KASEY CLOSS fights for extra yardage.

Photo coURtESy oF KoRy WALLEN/NoRth DAKotA AthLEtIcS

PSU student Susan Smith wins the Portland Marathon SAM BAKKIlA

Portland State student Susan Smith was the women’s winner of the Portland Marathon on Oct. 5, finishing the 26.2 mile course with a personal best time of 2:53.31.

She posted a time over five minutes faster than her closest competitor. At age 21, only three men her age or younger finished with faster times.

Smith had another recent win at the Newport

SUSAN SMITH, PSu student and Portland marathon winner, with her medal.

chRIStIAN PRoFEtA/PSU VANGUARD

20

Marathon at the end of May. However, the Portland Marathon is a much larger race, ranking among the top-10 largest marathons in the U.S. in terms of the number of finishers. This year, the number of finishers was over 9,000.

The model of a patient distance runner, Smith seemed to be more enthused by her progress lowering her personal record and by her steady pacing throughout the marathon than she was about winning the event.

“I passed the leading lady around mile 15 or 16, and I was in the lead for the last 10 miles,” Smith said. “But my focus was not to win, my focus was to pace myself.”

Smith mentioned that she had started too quickly at the Newport Marathon and “hit the wall” around mile 21. This is a common experience for many marathon runners, as it is the point where the body runs out of stored carbohydrates and has to begin

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

burning fat to fuel the final five miles.

But there was no wall for Smith at the Portland Marathon, and she said that she impressed even herself by staying near her planned 6:30-permile pace until the end.

“I just lowered my marathon [personal record] by five minutes, to 2:53.30, which is incredible progress in marathon running, especially given the fact that I also injured my hamstring a week after Newport,” Smith said.

“I was out of running for all of June and like half of July.”

She said that her favorite part of the course was going over the St. John’s Bridge.

“You get there around mile 17,” Smith said. “Right before the bridge there’s that really big hill, but going over the bridge really makes it worth it.”

Smith also mentioned that time seems to compress and expand over the course of running the marathon.

“Something happens at the end and those last three miles

seem to take forever—it’s just brutal no matter what,” she said.

Smith, who graduates at the end of this term, spoke honestly about the extreme dedication that juggling elite marathon running, schoolwork and work has demanded.

“I wake up pretty ridiculously early. I was doing my internship for my community health education major this summer and I was also working. I think I was attempting to wake up at 4:30 every morning so I could run, and have time to stretch, and have time to bike to my internship,” Smith said.

She said that running helps her find the motivation to succeed and prosper in other areas of her life.

“It takes your dedication and discipline and work ethic to another level. It makes you want to do your best,” Smith said. “I think running is amazing, because all the lessons you learn in running, they translate to real life.”

So what’s next for the marathon champ?

“This is so far-fetched,” Smith said, “but I really want to qualify for the B standard at the Olympic trials in 2016.”

Smith said that she would need to improve her time by about 10 minutes in order to make that happen. However, at just 21 years of age, she has plenty of potential for improvement.

“Really, in endurance running, you peak in your early 30s,” Smith said. “Marathon running is about patience, and you learn that with maturity.

Distance running takes years and years to work up to…you’ve got to have literally thousands of miles that you’ve ran and it has to all come together.”

Qualifying for the Olympics would be a particular treat for Smith.

“In 2020, the Olympics are going to be in Tokyo. My mom is Japanese, and my family lives in Tokyo. I just think that would be really amazing and some crazy dream if I could make it there,” she said.

SPORTS TIMBERS FANS rally at a 2011 match in Providence Park.

SCORES

UPCOMING

PSU Football

PSU Football

PSu nOrth DAKOtA

Top Performers: Stevie Coury with 2 catches for 89 yards and 2 TDs.

PSU Volleyball

eAStern wAShingtOn PSu Top Performers: Cheyne Corrado with 15 kills.

0 PSu @ nOrth DAKOtA 3 thurs. Oct. 16, 5:00 p.m.

PSU Golf

new mexico State Aggie invitational 9th Place

Pat Lesser harbottle invitational

PSU Soccer

PSU Soccer

weBer StAte PSu

it’s going doWn, i’m yelling timBers

PSU Volleyball

PSU Golf

Top Performers: Hansol Koo finished 8th individually with a three-under par 213.

Photo coURtESy oF PAMELA RENtZ thRoUGh cREAtIVE coMMoNS

16 PSu vS. nOrthern AriZOnA 24 Sat. Oct. 18, 4:05 P.m. | PrOviDenCe PArK

Top Performers: Kayla Henningson with the difference-making goal.

MLS

SAn JOSe POrtLAnD

Top Performers: Diego Valeri with two goals including one on a penalty kick.

mon.–tues. Oct. 13–14 | Seattle, wA

0 PSu @ nOrthern COLOrADO 1 Fri. Oct. 17, 6:00 p.m.

PSU Cross Country

0 BeAver CLASSiC 3 Fri. Oct. 24, 4:00 Corvallis, Or MLS

POrtLAnD vS. SALt LAKe Fri. Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m. | Providence Park

AleX Moore

The Portland Timbers have two games remaining; two games that will determine whether or not they can extend their season into the playoffs.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Timbers have been battling for the last playoff position for a majority of the season, and it is still difficult to find separation between the two in the standings.

Every point matters for both teams, but for the Timbers it’s a tougher road to the postseason, with games against Real Salt Lake and Dallas left on their schedule. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff race, and will find themselves in the postseason if not for a drastic collapse. Portland does get to play Real Salt Lake at home, where the Timbers have only lost three times all season.

This late in the year, however, a draw will not be ideal with Vancouver right next to Portland in the standings.

Their season has hung in the balance for awhile, but never as much as Oct. 8 when the San Jose Earthquakes came to Portland for a game that the Timbers desperately needed three points from. The Earthquakes haven’t exactly been impressive of late, not winning a game since early August heading into their matchup with Portland.

Portland came out aggressively against San Jose, attacking upfield with numerous scoring opportunities. In front of a sellout crowd, the home team looked like a squad that wanted to make the playoffs early, and they continued their pressure until they finally broke free in the 41st minute.

The goal came from midfielder Rodney Wallace, who has been hot lately. Wallace scored a brace in the Timbers last outing, and added another goal to his resume this season when he found himself in the box and slid a left footed shot past San Jose keeper Jon Busch. The Timbers walked into the locker room with Wallace’s goal the only one on the scoreboard.

The second half was scoreless for much less time than the first half, after Rodney Wallace was pulled down in the box on a Portland set piece. Diego Valeri calmly stepped up to take the penalty kick, and netted it on the right side to double the Timbers' lead. Valeri even put in a third goal in the 73rd minute on a Portland fast break.

If the San Jose game was a preview of how the last two games for the Timbers are going to go, Portland fans should not have much to worry about. The Timbers were in control for the entire 90 minutes, and controlled the Earthquakes on both ends of the field. It showed in all three of Portland’s goals, as well as their shots—they more than doubled San Jose (20–8)—and their shots on target, where they blanked the Earthquakes (10–0).

Next up for the Timbers in their penultimate game of the season is Real Salt Lake, who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 17. Portland’s final game of the regular season will be on Oct. 25 in Dallas.

RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS IN THE FIRST FIVE GAMES FOR FORMER VIKING JULIUS THOMAS, ON PACE TO SHATTER THE NFL RECORD.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

21

SPORTS

softBall undefeated in fall Play JAy PenGelly

It may come as a surprise to some Portland State students, but the school’s softball team is about to wrap up a brief fall season. The team is allowed eight fall exhibition games, and it gives the coaches and players a chance to play some competitive ball prior to their regular season schedule. The main season will begin in the spring and recent games have taken place at the team’s new home field, The Gordon Faber Recreational Complex in Hillsboro.

The Lady Viks started off this abbreviated season on

fire, going 6–0. The teams PSU matched up against were all smaller, in-state institutions.

PSU’s first opponent of the year was the Mt. Hood Community College Saints, who are the defending Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges champions.

The Saints soon realized they were sorely outmatched

by PSU, losing 8–0 in a runrule victory. Junior Karyn Wright was near flawless on the mound, pitching a fiveinning complete shutout with zero walks and four strikeouts.

The Viking defense was clicking, with no Saint getting

past second base. Most PSU players got into the flow offensively, with the team totaling 14 hits.

In the second game of a doubleheader, PSU later played Western Oregon University. The Wolves are fresh off their best season in school history, where they played their way into the Division II tournament. They offered stiffer competition for PSU but ultimately fell 3–2 in an evenly matched affair.

Sophomore Meagan Hendrix was the starting pitcher and had an impressive nine strikeouts, but bal-

anced by giving up six hits.

Wright came in as the closer and deftly handled each Wolves batter she faced.

The game’s hero was senior Brittany Hendrickson, who won the game with a walkoff hit in the seventh. Last season Hendrickson was the Vikings' go-to player offensively, with a .338 batting average and 28 RBIs. Next up for PSU was a game against Concordia University, who also had one of their best seasons ever last year, winning 34 games. Concordia was recently accepted to the NCAA and will be eligible for Division

A PLAY AT SECOND in a recent game against Corban university.

DEVIN coURtRIGht/PSU VANGUARD

22

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

II postseason play in 2017.

Their matchup with PSU was all about defense for both squads, but it was the Vikings who got the timely hit that led to a 1–0 victory.

Kristen Crawford, a junior transfer, made her Viking debut pitching a seven-inning shutout. PSU's defense had zero errors and a clutch hit from sophomore Alex Flores was all the offense they needed for the W. Another doubleheader was concluded with another PSU victory, this time against Clackamas Community College. Junior Melissa Masters, who won two games in 48 innings pitched last year, was all about the number two in this game. She gave up that many hits and walks, as well as throwing a pair of strikeouts in a complete game. The Viking offense really came alive in this game; they had 11 hits—including a triple— and the year’s first home run from senior Aubrey Nitschelm. Nitschelm is a leader by example and known as a fierce competitor in the weight room.

Last weekend PSU had yet another doubleheader—this time both games were against the same opponent, Corban University. In game one the Lady Viks struggled early; the Warriors had an 8–2 lead going into the fifth inning. But the PSU bats came alive by scoring five runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. The final score was 10–8.

In the second game PSU was dominant. They took the momentum they gathered late in the previous game and it propelled them to another win, an 8–0 run-rule in five innings.

PSU softball has two more fall games remaining, against Northwest Christian University and University of Oregon, with both games taking place in Eugene on Oct. 25. Head coach Barb Sherwood sees the game against Oregon as a quality test for her team.

“Oregon’s always going to be good,” Sherwood said.

“Since Mike White’s been there they have stepped up their game. Last year they were number one in the country at times. Playing against them is a chance to see where we are going into the spring.”

The recent stretch of games has also been an opportunity for PSU softball to get comfortable in their new stadium. It offers more sight lines for the masses to watch games, and plans are in the works for construction of a new press box and bullpen.

The complex in Hillsboro will also offer a tailgating area. Winning their first six games at the new facility is a great start for a new era of PSU softball.

Coach Sherwood has been impressed with the positive attitude and enthusiasm from her players so far. They are four months away from their real season but are already shaping up to be a formidable opponent for anyone. They certainly hope to have a stronger spring than last year, where they went 8–36 (3–14 in conference).

Sherwood said, “They like each other, they play for each other, they have a happy-golucky mentality. They love being on the softball field.”

SPORTS

HoW to Build a footBall tradition twO OregOn SChOOLS hAve DiFFerent APPrOACheS—AnD eXPeCtAtiOnS ClAUde AKInS

Attendance at Viking football games has hovered in the 5,000 to 10,000 range for the last several years. It's usually closer to 5,000 because some of those games reaching near 10,000 were in part due to supporters from opposing teams helping to fill the stands. The last time PSU consistently topped 10,000, as reported by the Vanguard in 2012, was the early ‘90s, when attendance was in the range of 12,000 to 13,000 per game.

Amidst scattered calls for the end of Viking football and the continued representation of PSU as a nontraditional school, especially

in terms of sports, one may be inclined to say that if a school of 30,000 (and then some) can’t muster a regular crowd equal to a quarter of the school’s population, then perhaps it’s time to give up on the idea of creating a healthy sports culture at PSU. Perhaps it is what it is.

But let’s turn away from that narrow definition of sports culture and look at George Fox University, who just fielded their first football team in 45 years. Seating capacity for the first home game was 2,800.

Extra bleachers were needed and the final attendance count was near 3,700.

Now, of course it is about proportions, and so the traditional football feel is more pronounced at George Fox. Add to that mixture the highly different make-up of the student body and that this was their first game in 45 years, and perhaps this initial game is not a great indicator of games to come—but it’s close enough.

The point is that PSU can still create a fan base. It may have to do so in a way that other schools do not, but it is possible, (and, you know, winning helps). So the plan for PSU football does not necessarily have to be solely focused on attendance

numbers, or merchandise bought, or any other monetary equivalent (though of course, PSU has a big bill it needs to pay with its program), but rather a careful and continued cultivation of the fan base that exists already. If George Fox can recreate its image, so can PSU. This is a kind of quality over quantity argument—but, more than that, it is arguing that you cannot do one without the other. Creating a quality program, and creating new ways of enticing fanhood, will eventually lead to those attendance numbers which are forever linked to the perception of a school’s sports culture.

PORTLAND STATE EMPLOYEES show their viking spirit.

Photo By EDIS JURyS/coURtESy oF PSU

Vanguard | OCTOBER 14, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

23

tHe vanguard needs you NOW HIRING

Sports Writers Apply @ psuvanguard.com

INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF FOREVER. The Willamette MBA allows graduates to return and enroll in select MBA courses free of charge.

So you can update, refresh and recharge your MBA, as needed, for the rest of your life.

Visit us at the PSU Career Fair on October 28, 2014.

Devin Rottiers Intel Class of ‘12 & forever

The Willamette MBA. Never Settle.

Learn more at: neversettlemba.com Or call 1-866-622-2476