Portland State Vanguard

VOLUME 69 | ISSUE 11 | OCTOBER 21, 2014

NEWS

OPINION

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

Wim Wiewel sits down with Student Media to discuss current university affairs. pg. 5

Measure 86 and how Oregon is making important progress when it comes to funding higher education. pg. 8

Spend Halloween waxing philosophical with Slavoj Žižek and Jean-Pierre Dupuy. pg. 25

Valerie Cleary, PSU’s new interim athletic director, talks about her new role. pg. 31

GEEK GUIDE

NEWS OPINION GEEK GUIDE ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS

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OMG!

Conrad Crespin/PSU VANGUARD

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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President Wiewel meets with student Media

PRESIDENT WIM WIEWEL answers questions from reporters from the ‘Vanguard’ and ‘Portland Spectrum’.

ADAM GRACE/PSU VANGUARD

TUrNer loBey

Portland State President Wim Wiewel met with Student Media on Monday to discuss current university events and pressing issues.

In an introductory speech, Wiewel highlighted recent and ongoing events at the university, including the possible hiring of sworn officers, the departure of Chief Diversity Officer Jilma Meneses, Portland State of Mind, and the upcoming Strategic Plan development to prepare for the 2015 legislative session.

The university is currently working with faculty, students, unions and others to build a coalition for the 2015 legislative session, Wiewel said.

“We’ve been cut a lot since the ‘07–09 biennium, and what we’re asking for is to restore the cuts, which would mean raising the funding for

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the seven universities that were part of the former Oregon University System to a total of $755 million for the biennium,” Wiewel said.

“That’s what we want; that’s what we ask for. That would bring us back to where we were in ‘07–09…Even just getting back there would be a huge increase.”

FOLLOWING THE FIRST SEGMENT, A Q&A SESSION WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VANGUARD,

THE

PORTLAND

SPECTRUM AND PSU.TV FOLLOWED.

Many students have been concerned about the impact that possible sworn police officers would have on students of color.

Has this come up in the safety forum or in other discussions associated with sworn police officers?

VaNGUard:

WieWel: “Of course it’s one of the issues. One of the ways to look at it is when something bad happens, we’re going to have sworn police officers on campus, and they’re either going to be ours or they’re going to be Portland Police. So, who would you rather? Who would you rather were here?

I know my answer to that.

“It’s not a matter of, ‘Are you going to have sworn police officers on campus or not?’ No, you’re going to have sworn police officers on campus if something happens...Remember, we’re still going to have public safety officers on campus as well, doing a lot of things. I think the opportunity of having our own campus police force is that these are people who will be trained...they will be around students all the time, so they’re just going to be a lot more comfortable know-

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

ing what is real, [and] what is adolescent, young adult kind of craziness. They’re going to know our constituency and I think that is more likely to lead to appropriate responses, measured responses, than when Portland Police has to come in.

“We’ll make sure they are very well trained in addition to the 16 weeks at the police academy that they all have to undergo. There will be a separate campus training as well, and there will be a non-police oversight body from the campus—faculty, staff and administrators—to make sure that things continue to go well.

I’m going to feel a lot safer with that group.

“And I don’t want to badmouth Portland Police. They have very tough jobs, and that once in a while something goes wrong is extremely unfortunate. But it can happen.

I think we have a chance, like Chief Zerzan I think acknowledged very clearly. He knows the history of police and communities of color certainly has a lot of bad stuff in it, and he’s well aware of that. But that doesn’t mean that therefore you don’t try to figure out what the right way to go is.”

FolloWiNG THe

QUesTioNs

PORTLAND

By

SPECTRUM

aNd THe VANGUARD oN THe sTUdeNT

Fee

coMMiTTee,

PresideNT WieWel said: “It’s

clear they had a very rough start, and I know that when they were told the deadline for when they’ve got to come up with the recommendations their initial reaction was ‘wow, that’s tough.’ But that’s the schedule we’re on. I think they ultimately figured that they just have to do it, just have to buckle down. I don’t

know what this latest resignation does to that, but we will work with them, whichever way we can to make sure they get the job done.”

Do you feel any concern about the SFC being able to make that goal?

VG:

W: “SFC people, I think, underestimate how much work it is, but at times I’ve wondered whether it needs to be as complicated as they make it, to be blunt. I think they will, maybe out of this, find a way to streamline that process a bit.”

VG: There is a current change. org petition that claims that the university violated Title IX after a student was sexually assaulted. I know that because of the nature of the case that specifics cannot be discussed, but have you been made aware of the petition?

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fifth AnnuAl soCiAl sustAinABilitY Month kiCks off eliZaBeTH HeNdricKsoN

Portland State will kick off the fifth annual Social Sustainability Month, starting Oct. 20 and running through Nov. 21. Social Sustainability Month is a collaboration of multiple programs on campus, striving to use communication to build a more sustainable community. Campus Sustainability Day on Oct. 22 will usher in the month of community events.

Events on Campus Sustainability Day include an ethnobotanical service project on the Oak Savanna at PSU, a Shop for Free program for students with children and a speech by Winona LaDuke, an advocate for social justice work and food justice work. More events that promote social sustainability will take place throughout the month.

“We’re trying to promote sustainable activities on campus where students can get involved,” said Kevin Thomas, cultural sustainability coordinator and graduate student in the urban studies program at PSU. “Right now, [PSU] is the only campus in the country to have a Social Sustainability Month, so everything we do here is kind of new and cutting edge.”

Campus Sustainability Day begins with the Reduce, Re-

use, Recaffeinate event in an example effort to reconnect with more people in the community.

“We’ll be handing out free coffee for students who bring their own mugs, and for students who don’t have their own mug, we’ll have mugs available through our ReUse Room,” said Laura Gleim, communications coordinator at the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at PSU. “We want to highlight a holistic perspective of sustainability and hopefully tie in to campus events, like Portland State of Mind and Social Sustainability Month, to bring greater awareness,” said Heather Spalding, the sustainable leadership and outreach coordinator.

Communication is key when in social sustainability. Thomas said PSU has made efforts to work with other schools, partnering on programs with Portland Community College, as well as Oregon State University and Chemeketa Community College.

“We’re focusing on breaking down barriers to a collaborative community,” Thomas said.

“With sustainability, there’s environmental, economic and social. Most people know the

environment. You can see it.

Economic, you can count it.

But how do you quantify social sustainability? Because it’s nice if you have green roofs on the buildings, but if the people working inside the buildings are miserable, it’s not sustainable,” Thomas said. “It’s a quality of life issue, which is very important and very difficult to quantify and measure.”

Spalding said students interested in sustainability have many opportunities at PSU. “We do a lot to promote sustainability. From academics to research operations to student engagement,” Spalding said. “I think we’re working through all of those different lenses for sustainability.

“For myself, I can say I think we need to work on highlighting diversity in sustainability and ensuring we’re getting a lot of different perspectives,” Spalding said.

“I think there are a lot of different approaches to the sustainability challenges that we face, and so the more broad and the more representative we are, the more successful we’re going to be.”

More information on Campus Sustainability Day and Social Sustainability Month can be found at pdx.edu/ sustainability.

“Of course I’m aware of the petition, and of course we feel very strongly that we did not violate Title IX requirements, that we have investigated the case that gave rise to that petition according to our policies and procedures which are spelled out very clearly, and that we’ve followed all the rules.

“Obviously the people who are signing the petition don’t know anything about the case other than what is said in a very one-sided statement, so in that sense, it’s frustrating

to me to have somebody put out something that is clearly one sided—an erroneous statement that is full of assertions that aren’t true. You get a whole bunch of people saying ‘oh, yeah, this must be true,’ signing it. I always wonder about people who think that when one partisan or advocate says something, that therefore it must be the whole story.

“It goes back to the thing I shared with [Student Media] when we first met; that rarely is there just one side, especially when it’s a [conflicting] story

like this. You’ve got to know that when you hear just from one side it probably isn’t, at the very best, not the whole story.

That’s why you guys have such a responsibility in your reporting to find out.

“These cases are very immensely frustrating. I find it very frustrating, because of the federal [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act] rules. We’re not allowed to go into any of the details of what we in fact found out in that case.

“I can tell you though that there’s the general process

W:

HEATHER SPALDING, PSU’s sustainability leadership and outreach coordinator.

MILES SANGUINETTI/PSU VANGUARD

with the Student Conduct Committee, which holds a hearing. And I just want to point out that the Student Conduct Committee differs from a court of law in that it needs to find a preponderance of evidence. That is a looser rule than beyond a reasonable doubt, which is what court cases have to have. But, if it doesn’t find a preponderance of evidence, it doesn’t mean that something didn’t happen, it just meant there wasn’t a preponderance of evidence.

“I’m sure that the Student Conduct Committee—again,

I’m talking just in general, not about this particular case—has times where they just say, ‘We don’t have a preponderance of evidence, so we can’t make a ruling.’

It doesn’t mean that the accuser is wrong or that the accused didn’t do anything, it’s just that we can’t sufficiently find evidence for it. It has to be very clear. It doesn’t mean that the party is innocent, it’s just that you can’t prove it sufficiently.

“To a certain extent, I feel that’s the price we pay for living in a country of laws, and

again, I’m just talking generally, not about this specific case...In a society of laws, you’re more willing to let a guilty person go free than to inappropriately have a notguilty person be condemned.

The worst cases that we have are death penalty cases where subsequently it was proven that the person was not at all guilty, and those have gone through everything. That’s just a challenge we have.”

This is a shortened version of a longer story. For the full version, visit psuvanguard.com

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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New student Fee committee chair elected to asPsU eliZaBeTH HeNdricKsoN

A new Student Fee Committee chair was elected into the Associated Students of Portland State on Friday.

Alexandra Calloway-Nation replaced Devon Backstrom, following his resignation.

Calloway-Nation’s occupancy of the SFC Chair position vacates a commitee member seat. ASPSU is currently accepting applications for the SFC position, in addition to applications for a student senate position.

The SFC chair acts as an intermediate in a set of areas.

“The chair is also the official spokesperson on the SFC, and in the role they may speak to organizations such as Student Media or with administrators on behalf of the committee,” explained Krystine McCants, ASPSU chief of staff via email.

“My understanding is that [Backstrom] agreed to facilitate a new election process, which he intended to participate in, to elect a

chair on a permanent basis,” McCants said.

McCants expects the transition to Calloway-Nation as committee chair to go smoothly.

“I am working closely to onboard [Calloway-Nation] quickly, and to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible from the perspective of anyone who is interacting with the SFC,” McCants said. “[Calloway-Nation] seems extremely capable and responsive, and I expect that she will bring that approach to the committee,” McCants added.

The SFC is responsible for recommending the allocation of the student fee to the ASPSU president, university president and the new PSU Board of Trustees.

SFC budget hearings began on Oct. 20. Initial deliberations are scheduled for Oct. 25–Nov. 30 and the SFC is expected to bring its final incidental fee recommendation to the PSU Board of Trustees by Feb. 12.

FORMER STUDENT FEE COMMITTEE CHAIR DEVON BACKSTROM (LEFT) AND CURRENT SFC CHAIR ALEXANDRA CALLOWAY-NATION (SECOND FROM LEFT), at a recent hearing concerning Student Media and Food for Thought.

JEOffREY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

universitY Goes Green with oreGon’s GreAt Pot DeBAte Madi HiNZe

THE FIRST FEDERALLY LEGAL MARIJUANA PLANT grown in the U.S. COURTESY Of WAMM THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

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Portland State and KATU will host Oregon’s Great Pot Debate tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln Performance Hall.

This event allows panel and audience members to participate in a discussion regarding the upcoming measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Oregon.

The topic has sparked national debate, passionate supporters and widespread opposition. If the bill is passed, Oregon will join Colorado and Washington as the third state to legalize recreational marijuana.

Representatives from the Vanguard, Willamette Week and The Oregonian will serve on the news media panel.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Speaking on behalf of the pro-legalization side will be Richard Harris, former director of Oregon Addictions and Mental Health Services, as well as Inge Fryklund, a former prosecutor and legal consultant with the U.S. State Department and Armed Forces.

Josh Marquis, Clatsop County district attorney, and Dr. Ron Schwerzler, medical services director for Serenity Lane drug and alcohol treatment center, will be the representatives on the opposing side.

This event is part of PSU Convenes, a series of discussions centered around current issues in the community.

Scott Gallagher, director of communications at PSU said, “It’s the role of the university to provide an opportunity to discuss contentious issues… the goal [of the event] is to provide an informed, balanced debate.”

In the past, the PSU Convenes series covered the Portland mayoral debate and financial aid. This year, marijuana legalization was chosen due to its importance not only in the PSU community, but in the entire state of Oregon.

Marijuana legalization is a policy issue as well as a community health issue, and the breadth of its significance to the campus spans across

multiple departments and disciplines. Students and other community members who attend are invited to participate in the dialogue.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to be able to come and participate in a discussion that will affect them—not only as students, but as Oregonians,” Gallagher said.

Tickets to the event are free, but must be reserved online as space is limited to 460 people.

The first hour of the debate will be broadcast live on KATU. The full debate will stream on KATU’s website, as well as Oregon Live. It will be rebroadcasted on KATU on Sunday at 9 a.m.

OPInIOn

the feAr in MY heArt LIVING WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

COURTESY Of BAKER131313 THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

ELISE fURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

Let’s get this out in the open right away. For years, I have suffered with anxiety and depression. It’s been a very tough and enlightening journey for me.

I know a lot of people might be tired of hearing about these mental issues and might find them annoying or trivial, but it’s a very real problem. I think ignoring the fact that there are a lot of us who suffer from these conditions is problematic.

I’d like to talk about my personal battle and allow others to relate and know they’re not alone in their struggle. I’d also like to offer some advice to those who might be starting their battle or who don’t have any methods of getting through it.

My first brush with severe anxiety was at the age of 14, just before my sophomore year of high school. It began when I had a pinched nerve just behind my left shoulder. A pinched nerve to an anxiety-ridden hypochondriac is not a pinched nerve. It’s every type of ailment that exists, from Lyme disease to bone cancer.

Yes, I know how silly that sounds. It even sounds silly to me now that it has been several years, but the anxiety in the moment is terrifying. I lost a lot of sleep. I was constantly drained, both physically and mentally.

The same type of hypochondriac anxiety gripped me just before my freshman year of college. My anxiety got so bad that I developed Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, otherwise known as GERD, and I also lost around 20 pounds. A lot of people don’t realize that anxiety can manifest itself physically, which is why a lot of anxious people are jittery and tend to have shaky hands.

Sadly, anxiety and depression often go hand-in-hand. If you have problems with anxiety, it’s likely you have problems with depression too. At least, that’s how it went for me.

My biggest bout with depression started when I was 19—just a few years ago. It was definitely sudden. I had never dealt with anything so painful before, and it took its toll on me.

It’s a battle in and of itself to get out of bed, or to convince yourself to go to class. Even talking to people can be a struggle.

I won’t make light of it. It’s a lot of tears, a lot of panic, a lot of

hopelessness and a lot of wondering if life is still worth living.

Depression is a darkness that a simple light can’t get rid of. It’s hard to deal with, but it is doable. Hopefully the methods that help me get through my problems can be helpful for you as well.

Writing One of the reasons I love writing is because it’s incredibly therapeutic. Writing about your problems can help put them into perspective. Journaling is great for anxiety. But you don’t have to restrict it to just what you’re dealing with. Write about the positive things that happen during your day. Write about things that you want to do. Really, write about anything you want. Don’t hesitate to express yourself.

Counseling I see a counselor fairly regularly. If you have the means and the health insurance to do so, you should. Talking to someone who is completely detached from your personal life allows you to get advice from someone viewing you from the outside. This means that their advice is objective rather than subjective— something that can be immensely helpful, since the advice is built with logic rather than emotion. It has been very beneficial for me, and I have no doubt that it can be beneficial for others.

Medication Now this one is iffy, and it’s the one option that usually makes people a little uncomfortable. I’ve been on medication for a few years now. If you have considered trying medication, you have to realize that these are not miracle pills. Taking an antidepressant does not make you instantly happy. However, they help to calm you down so that you can use other methods to cope with your problems. They toned down my anxiety enough for me to put other methods in place so that I could start deal-

ing with my problems in a healthy way. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of taking medication, don’t force yourself.

It’s a big decision and one that is left entirely up to you. Regardless of what side you’re on, talk to your doctor anyway. You may learn something new.

Music Do I even need to explain this one? Music is a beautiful thing.

When you’re feeling down, play something you love. Put your headphones on and tune out if you need to. It may sound backwards, but listening to sad music when you’re depressed can actually be quite helpful. Maybe you just need something to relate to. Maybe you want something to cry to, and that’s perfectly okay. Hey, it might even make you sick of all the mopey stuff !

Exercise This one is crucial. My doctor explained anxiety to me in a very understandable way. Humans have lost a lot of their original animal instinct. Because we usually aren’t living in environments where our fight-or-flight responses are constantly triggered, most of our energy goes unused. This becomes a problem when we have anxiety. It’s basically like having too much adrenaline in our systems with no outlet. Exercise allows us to use up energy that’s sitting inside of us. Working out isn’t just for physical health. It does wonders for mental health too.

Breathe This one is self-explanatory. Just stop what you’re doing, stop thinking and breathe. Fill your lungs to their capacity slowly and exhale slowly. Concentrate on nothing but the breath.

You’ll be surprised how much it can help calm you down.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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OPInIOn

MeAsure 86: An investMent for the future ELISE fURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

The issue of funding higher education is on the forefront of most university students’ minds. Initiatives such as Pay It Forward and The Oregon Opportunity Initiative serve as beacons of hope for future generations.

The Oregon Opportunity Initiative will create a constitutionally protected fund that will help improve funding for higher education and vocational training here in the state of Oregon.

Oregon currently ranks 47th in state assistance to education, so such legislation will be long overdue.

The idea of making education more affordable and accessible is laudable, but a lot of plans don’t put forward a realistic and economically sound plan. Measure 86, in conjuncture with the Pay It Forward initiative, will hopefully change that.

The Oregon Opportunity Initiative would work with a longstanding program which borrows money for certain public purposes and then proceeds to repay the money from a general fund. This fund helps pay for the construction of school buildings and prisons, seismic upgrades and transportation.

This measure would make the Oregon Opportunity Initiative an additional purpose for this borrowing authority.

The measure would ultimately give the decision regarding how financial aid would be distributed to future legislators and would also allow the state government to incur debt in order to provide money to education by selling bonds.

The secretary of the treasury has asked for an initial $100 million commitment, backed by bonds and deposits over time, to support this measure. Bonds used to pay for the fund would ultimately be paid back from the general fund—the same as all debt is repaid. Adjustments can be made due to market fluctuation in a similar manner to the Common School Fund.

While some may feel a bit hesitant to grant legislators such control and worry about incurring more “unnecessary” debt, I would argue that this is a necessary step in attempting to craft a system that is fair and accessible to all students, regardless of economic impediments.

No one likes a state that is in more debt than it needs to be, however the rhetoric geared toward postponing progress because of any potential risk is ridiculous.

Every public resource project has its potential negative aspects and may not be successful right off the bat. However, if this was anything but access to higher education, people wouldn’t consider sitting around twiddling their thumbs hoping for something better to come along.

An article by The Oregonian Editorial Board puts forth an alternative: Colleges themselves should be the ones who bear the burden of raising money for the endowment’s initial stake.

In an ideal world, it would be wonderful if universities and colleges took the initiative to help fund higher education. But any university student can tell you that such a

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OREGON STATE TREASURER TED WHEELER brought Measure 86, also known as the Oregon Opportunity Initiative, to the State Legislature.

COURTESY Of THE OREGON STATE TREASURY

concept is equally as laughable as the idea that magical loan fairies will make all your debt disappear if you just believe hard enough.

This particular article scoffs at the notion of the state borrowing money rather than the student. This is characteristic of a single minded way of thinking which assumes that all one has to do in order to earn a degree is be smart, do well and bear the burden of your education.

I think the only thing more problematic than a state incurring more debt is to have an entire generation of Oregonians

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

who have to delay entering the working world, moving out, buying houses, having kids, getting married and becoming contributing members of society all because of crippling student loan debt.

Access to higher education will ultimately create a professional working class that will be invaluable to the state of Oregon in the long run.

After 30 straight years of declining funding, it is time that the Oregon voters send a message that higher education is important and an investment for the future that they are willing to make.

OPInIOn

ADviCe froM A teACher ELISE fURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

Thursday. Day four of the first week of fall term. My first week at Portland State.

As I sit in math class (which had been proceeding along for perhaps 20 minutes), a young man quietly enters the room, takes a seat in the back and pulls out a notebook. I return my attention to the professor and her lecture and promptly forget the interruption.

After class, as I am gathering my things and other students are leaving, the young man who arrived late approaches the professor. He mumbles something unintelligible, and the professor asks him to repeat himself.

“Uh, I wasn’t here on Tuesday. Did I miss anything important?” he says.

I sighed. There are a host of stupid things that students do which make professors furious. This seemingly innocent question is one of them. He (and apparently a good portion of the student population) did not know that.

In an effort to help my fellow students, I’ve decided to offer some sage advice from an old veteran: a veteran student and a veteran educator. I’ve seen it all and heard it all, and I guarantee you that every professor who has

RACHAEL BENTZ/PSU VANGUARD

been teaching longer than a few weeks has heard it all as well.

First off, please don’t ask your instructor if you missed anything important during your absence. I sincerely hope that everyone who asks that question is asking in jest, because the answer is so plainly obvious. Of course you missed something important.

The instructor took the time to prepare a lecture, come to class and deliver that lecture while answering questions and explaining relevant topics. I’m quite confident that pretty much everything the instructor said was indeed important.

Instead of asking stupid questions, a better approach would be to get an idea of the lecture material you missed. Study it and ask questions specific to what you don’t understand.

Next, let’s discuss plagiarism. I’m going to give you a little piece of inside info: Instructors have access to the exact same Internet that you do. Wild, huh?

Rest assured that if you can find it online, so can your instructor. In fact, I’d wager that your instructor can find your source quicker than you did. They teach these classes repeatedly and quickly get a feel for the sources that are commonly used by students.

Plagiarism is a huge problem in colleges across the country. According to plagiarism.org, 43 percent of college students admit to cheating on a written test. That’s an astronomical amount, and college professors are aware of that number.

In the same vein, please don’t turn in papers that would embarrass a sixth grader. All the popularly used style guides (MLA, APA and Chicago are the big three) are available online, and the PSU bookstore has quick reference guides for those instances when someone forgot to pay the light bill and the Wi-Fi isn’t working. Writing clear, concise and professional-looking papers does wonders as far as showing your professor respect and making both your lives easier.

Most people think they will be able to get away with cheating. Some students can be quite clever in their attempts, like the guy who printed up a crib sheet, used a Xerox machine to expand the image and then had it printed on the back of a T-shirt.

This guy then had his buddy wear the T-shirt to the test, with the buddy sitting directly in front of him. Fairly imaginative, but still pretty dumb. The whole class could see the shirt, and within seconds the two guys had been ratted on. They weren’t allowed to take the final and failed the class.

Don’t ask questions that can be answered by reading the syllabus. Doing so shows laziness and proves you did not read one of the most important documents you have been given for the term.

We are all college students. We are here at PSU to learn and to explore boundaries of thought and knowledge. We are not here to slack off and drag ourselves through four years while doing as little actual work as possible. Take the initiative, be an adult and show the world what you are capable of. You’ll be forever grateful that you did.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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GEEK GUIDE

KEEP PORTLAND GEEKY

By BREANA HARRIS

What makes Portland a haven for geeks? You could probably ask a dozen people and get a dozen very different answers.

Both geeks and non-geeks are aware that we’ve been undergoing a cultural shift lately, where the character traits, style aesthetics and hobbies associated with geeks and nerds are no longer shunned by the majority. When I was a kid, I could have never imagined living in an age where wearing glasses was cool, or where nobody would look at me twice for admitting I love Star Trek.

But instead of focusing on the details of geekdom, I think back to that scene in 21 Jump Street where Channing Tatum is giving Jonah Hill advice on going back to high

school. Tatum, whose character was a popular 1990s jock, advises Hill’s character, the overachieving nerd, that people will like him more if he doesn’t care about anything and makes fun of people who do. Much to their surprise, they return to a 21st century high school where the popular kids are into environmental issues, gay rights and getting serious about college applications. Suddenly, it’s cool to care.

In Portland, it has always been cool to care. That might be one reason why the city has entered the mainstream alongside other geek staples, and why interest in the culture here has risen exponentially. Geeks are people with passion, no matter what the passion is.

Portland has made room for

quite a few different passions along the way.

Are you a comic book geek?

Obviously, the city is overflowing with comic book shops, local artists and conventions. Music geek? The local scene has a devoted following. Theater geek? The live theater scene here is fantastic. Gamer? Portland is full of opportunities to meet (and play) with people who love the same video and tabletop games that you do. Film lover?

Enjoy the Northwest Film Center and dozens of events at historic cinemas. Literary geek? The home of Ursula K. LeGuin and Powell’s Books is overflowing with culture for readers and writers.

None of the offerings are necessarily big and flashy or made to court national attention. They’re bands, books,

graphic novels and game tournaments by geeks for geeks.

The plethora of small communities that thrive in this city aren’t limited to the arts, either. We have cyclists, hikers, activists, conspiracy theorists and more. For any kid who spends their awkward adolescence wishing they could find people who share their interests, Portland is a dream come true.

The definition of “geek” is definitely evolving as Comic Con culture becomes mainstream, and Portland is a part of that. No longer the Northwest’s eccentric hidden secret, the way of life here has become somewhat commodified by things like Portlandia, which is a fascinating mix of the old world and the new.

The show manages to poke fun at the city for being

overly earnest, strange and sometimes ridiculous, but there’s also an air of total reverence. It seems to be saying, “Isn’t this really where every geek would choose to live if they could?”

Keeping Portland geeky might seem like a complicated issue when geeky hobbies and passions are more popular than ever before. Bput being true to the spirit of the city means avoiding elitism. Geeks should be as free of judgment as they always wanted others to be toward them.

If more people want to learn to play Magic the Gathering, so much the better. Remember that 12-year-old you would have been thrilled. It’s more than possible for your passion to inspire passion in other geeks who are ready to embrace their full potential.

Now is the time to decide whether being a geek truly means being welcoming, and whether the beloved hobbies that once made you feel isolated can become tools to make friends, understand the world and even build a career.

We live in an age where being a professional geek is no longer a fantasy, and an area of the country where it’s easy to believe that’s possible.

The hundreds of geeky subdivisions in Portland need leaders and innovators, and in this town, you’re always taken seriously.

So smile. Portland is a city where you can fly in the face of convention. Literally, you can dress up as Howard the Duck and go flap your arms at a convention. People will love it.

GAMERS crowd around drinks and joysticks at the Retro Gaming Expo after party, hosted at Ground Kontrol.

CONRAD CRESPIN/PSU VANGUARD

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

JACOB ASHLEY/VANGUARD STAff

GEEK GUIDE

by Breanna Harris

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry 1945 S.E. Water Ave. Universally known as OMSI, this massive, handson museum can trace its roots all the way back to 1903.

Now, it is located at the very top of the CL streetcar route and boasts five exhibit halls, a planetarium, a movie theater with a four-story screen and even a submarine. While geeky adults love it just as much as kids, the 21-andover crowd might also enjoy OMSI After Dark. On the last Wednesday of every month, the museum stays open until 10 p.m. and serves alcohol.

Floating World Comics 400 N.W. Couch St. Portland is full of comic shops, but Floating World

Conrad Crespin/PSU VANGUARD

has become one of the most popular. They offer a wide selection of comics, graphic novels, vinyl, figurines and more, and they even have a section dedicated to work by local artists. Located just after the gates to Chinatown, they also host release parties and art exhibits, and they’ve expanded into publishing.

Their website describes Floating World as “a store for people who still like going to stores.�

Movie Madness Video & More 4320 S.E. Belmont St. Who says the age of renting movies is over? Movie Madness is home to one of the most staggering independent movie libraries in the world, and they can help you find rare and out-of-print films that you can’t get anywhere else. They also have an amaz-

ing movie memorabilia museum with over 100 costumes and props, including an authentic alien head from Alien, one of Julie Andrews’ dresses from The Sound of Music, a Fu Dog statue from Citizen Kane and a promotional bar of Fight Club soap signed by David Fincher.

win prizes and discounts.

Whether you love D & D, Pokemon, Atari or Wii, you’ll find a like-minded crowd.

They are home to events like Beer, Pizza and Games Night and gaming yard sales.

Guardian Games

Ground Kontrol is an arcade and a bar, or a “barcade.�

Inside, you can find a collection of 28 pinball tables, along with every arcade game from Frogger to Dance Dance Revolution. The historic spot

345 S.E. Taylor St. For Portland gamers, Guardian is arguably the most well-known spot to hang out. The store spans 5,000 square feet and hosts over 18,000 products, including tabletop games and electronic games for a variety of modern and retro systems. It’s a great spot to buy refurbished games and systems, as well as participate in different tournaments to The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, located on the Southeast Portland waterfront.

Ground Kontrol 511 N.W. Couch St.

has been hailed as one of the best arcades in the country for its dedication to preserving classic games. On the second Thursday and last Wednesday of every month, you can enjoy free play nights for a $5 cover charge. Besides offering a fullservice bar with great snacks, they also host weekly events with live DJs and karaoke.

The Tardis Room 1218 N. Killingsworth St. As legend goes, the ex-pat Brit who founded the Tardis Room noticed that the

door of his fish & chips shop looked like a police call box and had the idea to open a pub to service Whovians full time. The Fish & Chip Shop still operates as a Britishstyle restaurant most of the time, but the expansive space in the back is now a Doctor Who themed cultural hotspot. There are solar system lights, cardboard cutouts and even a sound effect playlist that adds to the mood. You can play pool, sip Sonic Screwdrivers and attend the weekly screenings in costume if you choose.

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www.orycon.org Courtesy of M.O. Stevens through Creative Commons

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

11

GEEK GUIDE

Portland geek events and meet-ups

By Breana Harris

Meet-ups

Events

Portland Area Bronies

Rose City Comic Con

Artist Talks

http://rosecitycomiccon.com/

https://www.portlandartmuseum.org/artisttalks2014

Do you believe that friendship is magic? You’ll feel right at home among the Portland Bronies. They meet up for game night on Thursdays, but they’re always getting involved in other events. Their recent meet-ups include raffles, game tournaments, a murder mystery dinner and a screening of a My Little Pony film at Vancouver’s Kiggins Theatre.

The third annual Rose City Comic Con was held at the Oregon Convention Center in September, and its popularity has already grown exponentially. The next one isn’t until fall 2015, but if you’ve never been, you should start planning now.

For the art geek, the Portland Art Museum holds a discussion on the second Thursday of every month with artists from various disciplines. The event includes a complimentary happy hour, where you can mingle with both artists and professional appreciators.

Star Trek Fans of the Northwest

Wizard World Portland

http://www.wizardworld.com/home-portland.html

Friday Night Magic

This touring convention hits Portland again in January 2015, also at the Oregon Convention Center. Expect plenty of chances for photo ops with celebrities from your favorite geeky tv shows and movies.

Guardian Games at 345 S.E. Taylor St. hosts a Magic the Gathering tournament. The price of admission includes booster packs and the chance for other swag. Prizes are awarded to first, second and third-place players.

Linework Northwest

The Tardis Room’s ‘Doctor Who’ Screenings

Linework is a new annual comics convention in town, which launched this past April. It’s a low-key alternative for comics enthusiasts who might find that the big conventions don’t give comics enough love. You can attend panels and interviews with local artists at Norse Hall on Northeast 11th Avenue.

Portland’s famous Whovian hot spot features trivia, prizes, free popcorn and $1 burgers surrounding its 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Saturday showings of Doctor Who. And during the rest of the week, the karaoke and fish and chips aren’t bad either.

http://www.meetup.com/Portland-Bronies/

http://www.meetup.com/Star-Trek-Fans-of-the-Northwest/ This Trekkie group is based in Portland but has meet-ups in various locations, including Trekathons in Beaverton and cons as far off as Seattle. They also specialize in game nights and tournaments, and screenings of various Trek-related films and specials.

http://www.ggportland.com/

http://lineworknw.tumblr.com/

PDX Gaymers

http://www.meetup.com/PDX-Gaymers/ For those in the LGBTQ community who love video and tabletop games, this group regularly meets up to play a variety of games, from RPG to Cards Against Humanity. But they’re not opposed to hosting other geek-style events, like a Doctor Who premiere party, either.

Portland Geeks with Kids

http://www.meetup.com/Portland-Geeks-with-Kids/ If you’re a parent and you’ve ever felt like that holds you back from enjoying your geeky interests, this group is for you. The majority of their meet-ups involve book clubs and game nights, but they’ll also hit up the Children’s Museum for a screening of The Wizard of Oz in November. Kids are always welcome.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tardis-Room/281718518561925

Contestants at a brony cosplay contest during the 2014 Brony Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

Science on Tap

https://www.facebook.com/NerdNitePortland Formerly known as Nerd Nite Portland, this monthly lecture series brings together the nerdier geeks amongst us to drink beer while learning some really cool science at locations like the Clinton Street Theater. They even have a podcast called “A Scientist Walks Into a Bar.” Players gather at Southeast Portland’s Guardian Games for a ‘Magic: The Gathering’ tournament.

CHRISTIAN PROFETA/VANGUARD STAFF

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Courtesy of Douglas Muth through Creative Commons

GEEK GUIDE

By Kara Erny

Costuming advice Start small Everyone started somewhere, and no one’s first handmade costume is perfect. Don’t try to do more than you’re capable or are comfortable with. Start with something basic that doesn’t take too much skill and acquire skills as you go.

Learn the basics To start off, research different stitches, fabrics and tools that will get you started. Don’t try to learn everything at once. There’s a lot to learn, and you’ll never stop learning new skills and techniques. Start with the smaller pieces

and work yourself up to the more difficult parts. Once you get the hang of things you can work in whatever order you are comfortable with.

Become well-rounded Many costumers become known for their specific craft, whether it be props, sewing, armor or something else. But it’s important to learn about every aspect of costuming so you can really bring each costume together.

Online tutorials It’s amazing what a costumer can learn from oth-

Custom made costumes on display for rent at Helen’s Pacific Costumers on the corner of Northeast Glisan Street and 75th Avenue.

ers. A quick Google search can tell you how to use rubbing alcohol and acrylic pen ink to dye a wig. Videos are a lot of help if you’re trying something new or complicated, since pictures and text can be confusing and hard to follow.

Procrastination Don’t do it. Just remember that working on costumes at 4 a.m. the day of an event is incredibly stressful and rushing something can lead to cutting some parts out. To ensure your best quality work, leave yourself enough time to get it done.

DEVIN COURTRIGHT/PSU VANGUARD

Costuming in college—on a budget and in a dorm A patron tries on costumes at Helen’s Pacific Costumers.

DEVIN COURTRIGHT/PSU VANGUARD

If you’re buying your fabric local coupons and sales are going to be your best friends. Stores like Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft usually offer coupons online, often at 40–50 percent off one regular priced item. Other stores may send out mailers with similar deals, so it might be worth signing up for them. This also applies to other supplies like craft foam, paints and anything else you can use.

Online fabric is a little trickier. If you buy from a retailer like Jo-Ann Fabric you

can usually use the same coupons but you’ll pay shipping on top of that. Other sites like Spandex World and Corset Making, which sell only online, don’t usually provide the same deals. However, online prices can be fairly good. It’s highly recommended that you purchase fabric samples and swatches ahead of time so you can make sure it’s what you want. Colors on your computer may be different in person.

When you’re confined to a small space like a dorm, it gets difficult to sew even the small-

est pieces. You can sew small pieces at your desk or on the floor, but try finding a place to work outside of your room. Common areas are relatively spacious and free for you to use. If you can find some friends who do costuming too, you can work together.

Try finding clubs or groups in your area that do costume and cosplay work. You can get together in more open spaces and make new friends with similar interests.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

13

GEEK GUIDE

No more boring board games

By Turner Lobey

Growing up, board game nights with the family generally consisted of whipping out a battered Scrabble board or throwing Yahtzee dice from a McDonald’s Batman and Robin tumbler. While this is all good fun, it can be easy to get caught up with classics and miss out on an exciting world of gaming.

With this list, we ask that you spice up your life and take a walk on the tiled side. For now, put aside Monopoly and Life and try one of these on for size.

Arkham Horror This game wants you to lose. Don’t take it personally.

These monsters just really want you dead.

As an investigator, you are tasked with solving mysteries, sealing gates and stopping the servants of H.P. Lovecraft’s Ancient Ones.

You can even square off against Cthulu himself.

The game assumes that you already have some level of familiarity with the mythos, but the game is just as enjoyable if you don’t—you just wont know what an Elder Thing or a Shoggoth is.

Arkham Horror is complex, and the game can run for a long time, but the intense pace and the constantly

shifting environment keeps you actively engaged. You’ll fight for hours, but in the end, you’ll probably lose. The game feels like it’s constantly working against you, because it is. These are Eldritch Gods.

Of course they’re going to work hard to kill you.

most bamboo and keeps the panda full wins.

While the game is easily accessible to players of all ages, it isn’t just for children, and the replay value is high. Simply put, Takenoko is silly, fun and stinking adorable.

Takenoko

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

Takenoko is the greatest board game with a panda you will ever play.

As a farmer for the emperor’s panda, you must cultivate, water and grow three different types of bamboo.

The player who grows the

If you’re looking for a game that will make you feel as devastated as when George R.R. Martin chopped off Eddard Stark’s head, this is the game for you.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is essentially

G33K CHIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE VA NGUA RD A DV ERTISING OFFICE

Risk on steroids. When the Seven Kingdoms go to war, you and up to five of your friends assume command of one of the noble houses as they fight for control of the Iron Throne. The game encourages you to use strategic planning, brutal tactics and diplomacy, but urges you to never trust an ally.

You never know who might want to stab you in the back, but it’s safe to assume the answer is everyone.

Gloom The goal of Gloom is simple. Make your family as

miserable as possible before killing them. This gets tricky, because other players are out to make your family happy before offing them. You don’t want your family to be happy.

Event cards have happiness and misery points that can aid or hurt you in your downward spiral to death. It’s your job to weave a story to explain how that event happened.

You can play up the creative storytelling aspect as much as you want—you can be boring as hell or you can spin an epic yarn, it’s up to you. All that really matters is that you think negative thoughts and drop the axe—literally.

We deliver cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and many other yummy treats!

We carry Portland Bakery items from Ja Civa's, Marsee, Mc Tavish, and Sarah's bakeries. We also deliver Moonstruck chocolate as well as Godvia chocolates.

www.portlandbakerydelivery.com

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

GEEK GUIDE

Comics in pop culture

By TURNER LOBEY AND BRANDON STALEY

1937

1938 Action Comics #1 is released, featuring Superman. The success of the Kryptonian superhero paves the way for caped crusaders to come.

The “Bat-Man” makes his first appearance in Detective Comics #27.

The first issue of Detective Comics is released. The company will eventually be renamed DC Comics.

ACTION AND DETECTIVE COMICS: COURTESY Of JIM CAPALDI THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

1951

1939 Timely Comics, which later becomes Marvel Comics, releases Marvel Comics #1, which features Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner. That same year, Nazi-fighting Steve Rogers is injected with a super soldier serum to become Captain America.

1950

Superman is introduced to the silver screen in Superman and the Mole Man. The film, starring George Reeves, was a trial run for the syndicated television series Adventures of Superman in 1952.

1943

Charles Schulz releases Peanuts, the most profitable comic strip of all time. The adventures of Charlie Brown and Snoopy would achieve iconic status in its 50-year run.

BATMAN fILM 1943: COLUMBIA PICTURES (1943)

SPIDERMAN 1962: COURTESY Of VINTAGE HALLOWEEN COLLECTOR THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

1962

1966

Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider, turning him into the web-slinging, wise-talking crime fighter Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15. He would get his own ongoing solo title The Amazing Spider-Man in 1963.

Marvel addresses the issue of civil rights with its first series of mutants, the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier.

Adam West and Burt Ward star as the Dynamic Duo in the live-action television series Batman. The show ran for three seasons before being followed by Batman: The Movie, the first full-length theatrical adaptation of the Caped Crusader.

1989

The digital retailer Comixology is founded, signalling a sea change in the way we think about comics.

Neil Gaimain’s Sandman is published by DC Comics’ Vertigo.

COMIXOLOGY: COMIXOLOGY LOGO

2008 Marvel releases Iron Man, which revitalizes the superhero genre and brings it to new heights of popularity.

1987

2009 The Walt Disney Company buys Marvel Comics for $4 billion.

Dark Horse publishes Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which effectively heralded the widespread availability of manga in the United States.

1941

Columbia Pictures brings Batman to life for the first time in a 15-chapter serial, with Lewis Wilson starring as the Dark Knight. The serial introduces several modern Batman staples, like the Bat Cave and the secret clock entrance.

1962

2007

ACTION AND DETECTIVE COMICS: COURTESY Of JIM CAPALDI THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

Archie Andrews makes his first appearance in Pep Comics. The publisher MLJ Comics changes its name to Archie Comics in 1945.

1970

1978

San Diego Comic Convention inauguration.

SUPERMAN MOVIE 1978: WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES (1978)

Christopher Reeve revitalizes Superman on the big screen in Richard Donner’s Superman.

1986 The first versions of Art Spiegelman’s Maus are published.

Before Maus became the expansive recollection of artist Art Spiegelman’s father’s experience in the holocaust, it was first published in a series of shorter works.

2011 DC Comics relaunches its entire comic line with the New 52. All previous titles are cancelled and 52 new runs were introduced. The changes made were intended to make characters more modern and appealing to new readers.

1985 Bill Waterson’s Calvin and Hobbes first appears in daily newspapers. Perhaps one of the most enduring of newspaper comic strips, Calvin and Hobbes has influenced an entire generation of writers and artists.

2012

AVENGERS MOVIE: MARVEL STUDIOS (2012)

Joss Whedon’s The Avengers brought the heroes of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe together for the first modern superhero team-up film.

BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

15

GEEK GUIDE

The creators, conventions and shops that make Portland a unique comics locale

By Brandon Staley

When most people think of big names in comics, they tend to think of places like New York City, Los Angeles or San Diego—hubs of creativity in the country’s largest metropolises. It might not be at the top of the comic industry list, but our damp and overcast corner of the world has a lot to offer. Maybe it’s something in the coffee.

Portland is also home to numerous comics creators, such as Brian Michael Bendis, one of Marvel Comics’ top writers at the moment. Bendis has written countless scripts for comics, movies and games. Bendis is responsible for the creation of Ultimate Spider-Man and New Avengers. Bendis’ creator-owned series with Michael Oeming, Powers, has just been picked up for a live adaptation on the Playstation Network. He has also penned some of the biggest events in recent Marvel memory, including Secret War, Secret Invasion and Age of Ultron.

Matt Fraction, who divides his time between Marvel and independent projects, also calls Portland home. Fraction is responsible for the recent revival of Hawkeye, and has written for Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor and Uncanny X-Men. Fraction is also the co-creator of Sex Criminals, the story of a woman who begins robbing banks after she discovers the ability to stop time through intercourse.

Gail Simone, another Oregon local, has had her work cut out for her, helming Se-

16

cret Six, Batgirl and Tomb Raider in her long career in the comics industry. Part of that storied career has involved coining the phrase “women in refrigerators,” which refers to the gruesome deaths of women in comics as a way of furthering a male character’s storyline.

So many big names congregating in the same city must mean something, and in fact Portland is home to several of the biggest comics companies in the industry.

One such company is Dark Horse, which focuses on licensed comics and manga.

Some of Dark Horse’s first releases around 1986 included Aliens, Predator and Star Wars.

After 1988, the company began publishing manga, Japanese comics, in the United States, including titles like Akira, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Astro Boy. Oni Press, a smaller publisher, focuses on more independent titles, like Scott Pilgrim and I Was A Cat. Oni Press was founded in 1997, growing out of a general dissatisfaction with the state of comics at the time.

Top Shelf Productions, which publishes graphic memoirs, erotica and everything in between, has a Portland branch. Craig Thompson’s Blankets and Habibi and Alan Moore’s From Hell and Lost Girls are popular Top Shelf titles.

Sparkplug Books is a Portland-based publisher that puts an emphasis on the book aspect of comic books.

Sparkplug’s releases include graphic novels, comics and zines from comic creators across the country.

For comic fans, there’s no greater celebration than the comic convention, to which Portland plays host to several.

Stumptown Comics Fest was started in 2004 by a group of local cartoonists who wanted to fill the gap of local conventions. The convention formally changed its name to Stumptown Comics, Inc. in 2012. Stumptown later merged with Rose City Comic Con, a more pop culture themed convention with ties to Seattle’s Emerald City Comic Con. While Rose City is in the style of the national convention model, Linework NW celebrates Portland’s comic scene. The local convention, which focuses on homegrown independent creators, kicked off last year with plans to reconvene in April of next year.

At the heart and soul of every comic scene is the local comic book store. No shop has been around longer than Portland’s Excalibur Books and Comics, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Excalibur boasts an extensive collection of back issues, including Golden and Silver Age comics.

Dark Horse Comics’ Mike Richardson opened the first Things From Another World store in 1980 in Bend, Oregon. Thirty years later, TFAW has grown to become the third largest comic book retailer in the country, with

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Comics at Cosmic Monkey Comics Inc. located at 5335 N.E. Sandy Blvd.

Christopher Sohler/PSU VANGUARD

four physical locations and an expansive online store.

Shops like Cosmic Monkey Comics Inc., Floating World Comics, Bridge City Comics and many others create the backbone of Portland’s comic book scene.

The artists, the writers, the companies and the comic shops—all of these aspects of Portland’s comic scene intertwine to create a unique tapestry. Portland is the kind of place where names big and small can mingle, where art-

ists can live comfortably and small presses are still viable.

Maybe it has something to do with the coffee, but in all likelihood Portland comics thrive because of the smart, dedicated people who worked hard to make it what it is.

GEEK GUIDE

Local comic book shops

By KARA ERNY

Excalibur Books and Comics

began publishing books, magazines and newspapers.

store in 2005 after working for Dark Horse Comics.

2444 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214

Cosmic Monkey Comics Inc.

Future Dreams Books

Excalibur, the oldest comic book store in Portland, just celebrated their 40th anniversary. This shop has history and a big reputation. The store carries a large collection of Golden Age and Silver Age comics, back issues, graphic novels and current issues. They also host events throughout the year relating to comics.

This store carries an array of comics and graphic novels, including almost 500 new comic titles, over 500 manga titles and over 50,000 back issue comics to sort through.

This shop also carries comics for all ages, including titles like Scooby-Doo, Archie, Spongebob and Star Wars.

With a focus on science fiction and comics, this store carries both new and back issue comics, as well as magazines, hardcover novels, posters and more. The shop is also open to emails if you are looking for a specific item.

5335 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR 97213

1847 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214

I Like Comics

Bridge City Comics

400 N.W. Couch St., Portland, OR 97209

3725 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR 97227

2101 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661

Opened in 2006, this shop puts more of a focus on the new and alternative. Not only specializing in comics, the store carries books and magazines related to many forms of art, and in 2008 they

This store offers new comics, new and used graphic novels and trade paperbacks (collections of comic series in one graphic novel). They also offer supplies to organize and protect your comics. Owner Michael Ring opened the

Located just north of Portland in Vancouver, this shop has a solid reputation for their comics. Founded in 2010, the store carries a large supply of new and back issue comics. They buy and sell comic books, graphic novels, original artwork and other collectables.

Floating World Comics

COMICS on display at Excalibur Books and Comics located at 2444 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD

The best comics, according to the clerks who sell them

By ANDY ANADY

SHANNA MATUSZAK of Floating World Comics recommends ‘Mega Hex’ and ‘Island of Memory.’

When you’re looking for the best, go to the experts.

That’s exactly what we did for our list of the best comics around, as recommended by a handful of Portland’s finest comic clerks.

Zak from Cosmic Monkey recommends Haunter, written

CHRISTOPHER SOHLER/PSU VANGUARD

and painted by Sam Alden and published by Study Group. Zak (who asked for his last name to be withheld) recommends it as an excellent adventure story with bright and nightmarish watercolors and line art that either lends itself to melting, or is entirely angular. The story is about a young hunter who, while chasing a boar, stumbles across an ancient temple. The comic is free online.

Zak also recommended The Wrenchies, written and painted by Farel Dalrymple and published by Study Group. Zak said that it is one of the best comics to come out this year. It’s a gritty metaphysical sciencefiction that follows the stories of a young boy from our time, and a group of powerful children through a disturbed future.

and tells the story of anthropomorphic animals in a late ‘50s America.

Michael A. Tobias, also from Excalibur Comics, recommends

Rat Queens, published by Image Comics, written by Kurtis J. Wiebe and illustrated by Roc Upchurch.

Tobias said that he’d liken it to Dungeons and Dragons, with an all-female cast of total badasses who run the town.

Debbie Fagnant, an owner of Excalibur Comics, recommends Blacksad a French Shanna Matuszak, from Floatnoir-style comic that’s gor- ing World Comics, recomgeously written and illus- mends Mega Hex because it’s trated. Written by Juan Díaz Canales and illustrated by Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad was published by Dargaud

“super funny and relatable to anyone who’s ever been around or near a college campus, with cool, fun vignettes.”

Mega Hex was written and illustrated by Simon Hanselmann and published by Fantagraphics. The story centers on a drug-addicted, depressed witch and her similarly downcast friends.

Matuszak also recommended Island of Memory, which she described as historical, but still easily read and beautiful.

Island of Memory was written and illustrated by T. Edward Bak. This volume of his work is historical-fiction centering on George Wilhelm Steller (1709–1746), a naturalist who traveled with the Second Kamchatka Expedition and was the first non-native to arrive in what is now recognized as Alaska.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

17

GEEK GUIDE

Women fight to be nerd

By Whitney Beyer

There are lots of spaces in this world where women and girls are neither welcome nor safe, and geek communities are not exempt. Whether it’s female cosplayers enduring sexual harassment at conventions or female-identified users receiving threats and intimidation in geek-centric online forums, the ‘other’ sex that constitutes roughly half the population has to work extra hard to gain acceptance with her nerdy peers.

Bored with assumptions that women and girls who participate in nerd culture are somehow faking it—or worse, that they are only doing it to appease their geeky boyfriends—feminerds are turning up the volume to air their grievances

with widespread sexism in geek communities.

While many people of varied sex and gender have come out in support of this message, some very loud and obnoxious responses have leveraged real threats of physical harm as a means of silencing these women.

Anita Sarkeesian is one of the women on the receiving end of these violent threats. Sarkeesian is the creator of a video series exploring the use of women as passive objects and sexualized decor in video games and other forms of media, and since she began posting her videos online she’s received countless threats to her safety. Just last week the feminist critic was forced to cancel an appearance at Utah State University after

the school received threats of a massacre if she spoke as scheduled.

This threat of attack is just one of many that have been leveled against prominent female figures in the video game industry this year, many of which have had ties to the so-called Gamergate movement. While Gamergate as a movement is difficult to define and disjointed at best, many proponents claim that it is solely concerned with bringing ethics front and center in video game journalism.

Gamergate exploded on the interweb after false rumors of a female game developer sleeping with an industry journalist for better coverage were circulated by the developer’s ex-boyfriend. Despite the

fact these claims have been unsubstantiated and proven false, game enthusiasts have banded together in an effort to audit the gaming industry’s ethical practices.

Zoe Quinn, the indie game developer who was implicated in the rumor, has since become the target of a fullfledged Internet harassment campaign. User forums on sites like 4chan and Reddit exploded with chilling threads of detailed rape and murder threats, and conspiracies to make Quinn so miserable that she would commit suicide.

What is perhaps even more frightening is that the loud subset of gamers who feel as though it is their duty to bring order to the industry have launched attacks at any woman who speaks out against

story of a hunter that awakens something terrifying when she enters a watery, ancient temple. Moments of pristine beauty are paralleled by moments of absolute savagery, all without the guiding hand of language. Alden seems to have come out of nowhere, but since 2013 he has been making a name for himself in the Portland comics scene.

Ibrahim Moustafa

in reception between cat ladies and lady-cats, as well as the technology required to woo a mermaid. A member of Periscope Studio, Dewey is a freelancer who frequently works with the likes of Marvel, Dark Horse and IDW Publishing.

Both a writer and illustrator, Benjamin Dewey is a name you should be watching out for.

By Brandon Staley

Slowly but surely, Portland is building a comics empire. Not only is it home to numerous big names in comic publishing like Dark Horse and Oni Press, but it also boasts an impressive stable of both rising and

established stars in the industry. Here’s a list of local comic artists and writers that we think you should keep an eye on as they proceed on their respective onomatopoeia-filled paths to fame.

Sam Alden Sam Alden’s Haunter is a special kind of gem. Presented in eye-catching watercolor and without a hint of dialogue, Haunter tells the

Local comic book artist Erika Moen works on her latest comic at Periscope Studio in the Oregon Trail Building downtown.

Erika Moen

devin courtright/PSU VANGUARD

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

Erika Moen is perhaps best known for her comic Oh Joy, Sex Toy, a weekly educational sex-positive series that explore all things relating to sexuality and the sex industry. Oh Joy, Sex Toy focuses on reviews of sex toys, conventions and birth control, among other things.

Moen’s art has been published by Dark Horse, Image Comics and Penny Arcade, among others. Moen got her start with her autobiographical series DAR!, which recounts her journey of self-identity.

Ibrahim Moustafa is one half of the duo responsible for High Crimes, a thriller that weaves the tale of some unsavory individuals tasked with retrieving bodies from Mount Everest.

Moustafa worked with writer Christopher Sebela to create High Crimes from scratch, and their dedication shows. High Crimes was nominated for two Eisners in the categories of Best New Series and Best Digital/Web Comic. Moustafa’s art is crisp and clean, bringing to bear the stark whiteness and impenetrable dark of the highly mythologized mountain. High Crimes began as a digital comic, but a 12-issue series will be collected and released in hardcover format by Dark Horse in 2015.

Benjamin Dewey Benjamin Dewey’s Tragedy series might be the best source of advice you’ll find anywhere.

A collection of existential, educational comics, the Tragedy series teaches the difference

Steve Lieber For many, Steve Lieber will need no introduction. Lieber has been working in comics since 1993, when he started his work on Hawkman. You may also know Lieber for his work on Whiteout and its Eisner award-winning sequel Whiteout: Melt. Lieber is a big name in the comics industry, but he still finds time to attend conventions and will occasionally review convention-going artists’ portfolios at pre-designated booths and times, with emphasis on predesignated. Do not try to get Steve Lieber to look at your portfolio while he’s buying a convention hotdog.

GEEK GUIDE Gamergate or in support of other women receiving threats and harassment online.

Earlier this month yet another female game developer was forced to flee her home after online harassers had threatened to rape and murder her for her criticism of misogyny in the gaming community. Brianna Wu was the subject of retaliation after she made some snarky comments about Gamergate on Twitter.

Within minutes Wu’s personal information and home address were circulating on Gamgergate forums, thus prompting the death threats.

There is a common perception in the gaming community that everyone experiences harassment. Many of those slamming women who speak out against industry sexism online claim that women are simply being too sensitive about it. This, coupled with the claim that women are actually the recipients of special treatment (mostly in the context of using their looks to get ahead), detracts from the seriousness of Gamergaters’ threats against these women.

Taken all together, the future of women in nerd cul-

Anita Sarkeesian has been subjected to numerous threats of rape and murder since she began posting videos online about sexism in video games.

ture seems both violent and bleak. However, the simple fact that people are bringing these issues to light and attracting support from men, women, nerds and non-nerds alike is great news for women looking to root and grow in geek communities.

Women are neither sexual props nor damsels in distress, and with so many talented women bravely speaking out against rampant misogyny in nerdcentric industries, it’s only a matter of time before the loud and obnoxious are the ones being silenced.

Courtesy of Susanne Nilsson through Creative Commons

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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GEEK GUIDE

How Portland Indie Game Squad changed the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game scene

PORTLAND-BASED BAND TONIGHT WE LAUNCH plays guitars and reprogrammed Gameboy music for a party hosted at Ground Kontrol by the Portland Indie Gaming Squad.

By BRANDON STALEY

JACOB ASHLEY/PSU VANGUARD

Most people who play video games at some point have the thought: Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be cool to make a video game?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the Portland Indie Game Squad comes in.

PIGSquad is a local group of game enthusiasts and cre-

ators that meet on a regular basis to make and discuss games. The group is comprised of a healthy mix of total newcomers and industry veterans. While the games community at large can sometimes feel insular,

PIGSquad prides itself on inclusivity and openness for members of all skill levels.

PIGSquad frequently hosts events like Art/Code Night, where game creators get together in the same space and work on their respec-

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

tive projects. But not every event the group hosts is based solely around creating games.

Some events, such as Board Game Night, are just about getting together with friends (or making some new ones) and having fun. If the topic of conversation turns toward the underlying mechanics of the game in play, then all the better.

PIGSquad was founded by Will Lewis, a Portland State alumni. For a time Lewis was running the PDX Film Collective. Not wholly satisfied with the Portland film community, he set his community organizing skills to a new goal:Â games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started holding monthly meetings no matter how small, and consistency ended up bringing more people in,â&#x20AC;?

Lewis said.

But Lewis isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t standing still. PIGSquad has only been growing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting more events with more variety, and the attendees and participants of those events are more diverse than ever,â&#x20AC;? Lewis said.

Lewis said that as time has gone on members have been making games with more polish, and gaining more notoriety. Games like Cartoon Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake and Skullduggery, which won Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice on the iOS App Store, are both games that got their start at PIGSquad.

A local video game creator, who goes by the pseudonym Wick, started attending PIGSquad meetings while raising funds for his game Rubicon through Kickstarter. Wick

said attending his first meeting was eye-opening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As far as I can tell, it is the community for indie game designers in Portland,â&#x20AC;? Wick said.

For the last several years PIGSquad has hosted the Portland chapter of the Global Game Jam, an international event in which game creators all over the world devote just a couple of nights to the creation of one game. In the past this has resulted in everything from story-driven games to virtual reality experiences.

Among other things, Wick said he is particularly fond of game jams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My impulse is to take responsibility for everything in a project myself, but game jams have absolutely been humbling experiences that have taught me how to play well with others,â&#x20AC;? Wick said.

PIGSquad also serves as a testing ground for game developers, offering a much needed outside perspective in what can be a highly creative yet isolative occupation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;PIGSquadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intermittent game showcases are my primary avenues for play-testing,â&#x20AC;? Wick said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;something which I consider an absolutely essential part of the development cycle.â&#x20AC;?

Matthew Hunter, coorganizer and head of artist relations at DataPort, a monthly music event that celebrates all things chiptune, said PIGSquad sometimes matches musicians with game developers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a great resource to get chiptunerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music out there,â&#x20AC;? Hunter said.

Chiptune is a genre of music that most closely resembles the music heard in older video games. Some artists use modern technology to replicate this retro sound.

Some, like local band Plain Flavored, go straight to the source, creating intelligent dance music using the Gameboy handheld console.

Alix Banegas, a game designer and artist, said she was drawn to PIGSquad because of the focus on smaller, independent games. Banegas worked as a character artist at Sony Online Entertainment for four years, during which she helped ship two massive, online games.

Banegas said she has retired from the game development industry. She now finds joy in smaller projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was growing tired of producing games as a means to make money and was heavily drawn toward the games as art idea,â&#x20AC;? Banegas said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decided PIGSquad was a great way to meet others who shared the same passion for game creation.â&#x20AC;?

Banegas said PIGSquad reintroduced her to the fun she had initially associated with game development, sans the corporate setting.

Banegas said she is most proud of her game Womb Room, which she helped to create at a game jam hosted by PIGSquad. Womb Room is an interactive experience about life, death and the endless possibilities that exist between. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had so much fun working on this project with my group, and look forward to participating in future game jams.â&#x20AC;?

GEEK GUIDE

by Brandon Staley

Video games. They’re not just Pac-Man anymore. You can enjoy this terrible joke, and so many others, with a group of likeminded peers if you join one of Portland State’s many video game oriented student groups.

Which group you choose to pursue depends on what kinds of games and atmospheres interest you. Do you want to kick back and chill with friends, or be forged in the fires of competitive online multiplayer?

Gamers Republic of University Players The Gamers Republic of University Players is dedicated to inclusivity and laid-

back community events. The group meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. for a weekly board game night in the common area of Smith Memorial Student Union, located on the first floor. The group also hosts a bi-weekly RPG night for those who are into roleplaying, storytelling and being a half-orc.

Guild of United Video Gamers The Guild of United Video Gamers recently opened their doors again after a brief hiatus. The group meets weekly and keeps both an active Facebook group and OrgSync account, where you can find which games are being played during the next meeting.

Portland State University League of Legends

Officers of Gamers Republic of University Players Griffon Jillson (left) and Niko Webb, displaying the group’s board game collection.

The world of Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas can be intimidating for newcomers. Like almost any other online game, League of Legends is better with friends. That’s where the PSU League of Legends group comes in.

Meet up and throw down, or organize a pickup game through the group’s Facebook account, which can be found under Vikings LoL. The group has more than 340 members, which is no surprise considering how popular the MOBA genre has become.

ADAM GRACE/PSU VANGUARD

Ground Kontrol’s secret arcade machine history

By Brandon Staley

Ground Kontrol is a bar and arcade located in Portland’s Old Town district.

Ground Kontrol is Portland’s premiere barcade, collecting decades worth of rare arcade cabinets and pinball machines under one roof. With so much history contained in one place, it would be criminal not to look back at a few of the crazy histories and minor details inherent to these cabinets.

Mark Kart Arcade GP 2 A relatively innocuous version of Mario Kart, it contains many of the same tracks and karts found in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS, but also includes an additional playable character: Mametchi of the Tamagotchi series. Mametchi’s inclusion was the result of a merger between two game companies: Namco and Bandai, the resulting company of which developed the arcade Mario Kart games.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Often considered to be one of the most egregious “quarter eaters” back in the day, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of a handful of arcade games popular enough to warrant a console release. As with most arcade to console ports in those days, the game took an overall hit to quality in sound and video.

While the arcade version supported four players, the home version supported only two. The arcade version also supported multiple enemy types on screen, whereas the home version did not.

Arkanoid

CHRISTIAN PROFETA/PSU VANGUARD

Unlike Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arkanoid received a port to the Amiga that was largely touted by media as one of the best arcade ports to date. Arkanoid, the original block breaker, lives on today in the form of mobile games that have adopted its gameplay mechanics as a genre unto its own.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

21

GEEK GUIDE

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO LITERARY COMICS

By TURNER LOBEY

Comics aren’t always seen as something for everybody, but they should be.

Even with the rise of the superhero and the dominance of comic book adaptations in movie theaters, the print medium is often regarded as work for the young or the uneducated.

The graphic medium allows for a diverse and vast range of content that isn’t always about caped crusaders or masked men punching crime in its stupid face. With over 100 years of comics under its belt, the literary world is starting to recognize the medium as one worthy of merit.

If you’ve been skeptical of comics in the past, or you are only familiar with superhero stories, let this list serve as an introduction to the literary and storytelling value comics have to offer.

Happy reading.

ferent races, Spiegelman uses anthropomorphism to examine and condemn one of the darkest moments in world history.

Generally recognized as one of the greatest comics of all time, Maus was awarded comics’ first Pulitzer Prize in 1992.

COVER OF ‘Y: THE LAST MAN,’ issue 16, published

by Vertigo Comics.

‘Essex County’ by Jeff Lemire Jeff Lemire’s Essex County is one of the most moving works in graphic literature.

Set in a fictional version of the creator’s rural hometown, Essex County weaves together three stories that deal with grief, memory, depression and hockey. Tackling both the writing and the illustrating, Lemire’s gorgeous black ink paints a powerful story that is not easily set down or forgotten.

‘A Contract With God Trilogy’ by ‘Black Hole’ by Charles Burns Black Hole is the story of Will Eisner Written in an illustrated short story format, A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories, as well as its sequel books A Life Force and Dropsie Avenue, follow the lives of Jewish residents of a poor New York City tenement.

Will Eisner, whose name is now immortalized as an icon of comics, helped to popularize the term “graphic novel” with the trilogy, as well as vaulted his status as a cartoonist and storyteller.

‘Maus: A Survivor’s Tale’ by Art Spiegelman Maus: A Survivor’s Tale is, in part, a graphic retelling of Art Spiegelman’s father’s experiences during the Holocaust. Part memoir, part history, part fiction, Maus is a gripping story of memory, racism, guilt and survival. With animals representing people of dif-

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four teenagers in mid-70s Seattle who contract the Bug, a sexually transmitted disease that causes mutations. Though the difficulties of budding adolescence are a common theme in comics, no other book deals with the sexual awakening that occurs when one enters adulthood with such realism, even with the addition of a fictional STD.

‘Y: The Last Man’ by Brian K. Vaughan Don’t let the stagnation of post-apocalyptic stories keep you away from this series. Y: The Last Man is set in a world where some unknown phenomenon causes the death of everything with a Y-chromosome on the planet, except for one man and his pet monkey. Set over 60 issues, Y does more than ask what happens to a man in a woman’s world, it asks what it means to be human.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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arts anD cUltUrE

action/adventure Theatre to host serial stage space comedy MelaNie coPe

They touched down on the red planet in the year 2024.

There were four of them: Steve, Tabitha, Marritt and Ryan. These are the names of the colonists, the original four who were brave (or crazy) enough to take a one-way trip to Mars. They settled there.

Their aim: to survive, to discover and maybe even grow a little in the process.

They have been on the red planet for two years, five days, 33 minutes and 27, 28, 29, 30 seconds.

This is the situation in which the characters of Mars One, a new stage serial comedy, find themselves. The se-

ries is being put on by Action/ Adventure Theatre, nestled in a small building on Southeast Clinton Street.

Mars One premiered on Oct. 16 and will run through Nov. 9. The play will consist of four episodes. The season pass costs $40.

“Serial comedy is a super unique way of doing theater. It is a combination of improv with structure,” said Katie Michels, who plays Marritt Friedricksen.

In serial comedy the play follows a story line, and like any other play, there are certain key points and plot twists and turns that are set

in stone. But along the way any number of things could transpire, changing small parts of the production on the fly. Anything can (and will) happen.

For example, although Mars One is technically not a musical—no chorus line is included in the script—some of the actors do like to sing.

And in light of the structure of the play being somewhat improvisational, and song having not been forsworn, if the muse so strikes, you might just find one or more of the characters breaking into song. Such is the nature of improvisation.

Off world Mars One is based upon the proposed Mars One mission that plans to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. The project was spearheaded by Bas Lansdorp and Arno Wielders, the former a Dutch entrepreneur and the latter an accomplished scientist, both from the Netherlands.

Action/Adventure Theatre was inspired by this concept.

Nick Fenster, the production’s director, took it and turned the theme into a pilot with a story line.

MARS ONE runs through Nov. 9 at the Action/Adventure Theatre in Southeast Portland.

Prime directive

COURTESY Of PATRICK MORAN

24

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

“I am a huge fan of this model because it enables you to build a following for your character that’s harder to do in a single play,” Fenster said.

“We are trying not to get lost in the world of sci-fi. It is going to be about the characters and the relationships they build with each other. It is going to be a world that is really, thoroughly lived in. It makes for a very rich experience.”

The premise might sound simple, but the production’s secrets run deep. Fenster could not reveal a full list of characters. One he specifically avoided naming.

“I can’t say,” Fenster said.

“It’s a bit of a surprise.”

This comedy is not just for laughs.

“I worked to push them in a darker direction,” Fenster said. Over the course of the evening fantastical themes will be explored: Science fiction, mystery and fantasy will mingle.

One aspect of serial theatre is that the characters become so familiar that the viewer feels like they know them personally, going beyond simply observing.

“Many people who see me on the street, out and about, still yell ‘Hey, Hambone,’” said Fenster.

Fenster played a character named Hambone in Fall of the Band, which ran for two seasons. Though he hasn’t stepped into that role in years, its memory still lingers with audience members.

Fenster and Noah Dunham, promotions and marketing

director at the theatre, both look forward to sharing Mars One and more serial comedy with a wide audience.

Many of their shows sell out, but there is always a chance for a new crowd to get in on the action.

The cast facilitates new audience members by presenting a repeat performance of the previous episode, along with a performance of the new episode, each weekend during the run of the series.

One giant leap Bringing the Mars One production to the public started last December, when there was a call for written proposals for a new play for the Action/Adventure Theatre.

Fenster’s idea was selected, along with four other finalists. They all came to present their submissions in person and, following that, Fenster’s was chosen. The rest was written in the stars.

Many people who were able to see the pilot run in the very beginning have now been waiting all summer to see what happens next.

“I specifically try to keep my nose out of it,” Dunham said, who often doesn’t stay for the rehearsals.

Dunham said he wants to be able to experience the next episode fresh and for the first time, like all the other people in the audience. He wants to be surprised.

If the Mars One dress rehearsal was any indication, it is safe to say that ticket holders are in for a number of surprises, and a bit of mayhem.

arts and culture

Mouthfeel: A review of ‘Ravenous’ Miriam Perala

If there’s one thing which Hall & Oates, Nelly Furtado and Stephanie Meyer are absolutely positive about, it’s the appeal of maneaters.

Such harrowing tales of cannibalism have long haunted the lore of nearly every culture, but Antonia Bird’s 1999 feature Ravenous focuses on the Algonquian legend of the Wendigo: A person powered and possessed by an uncontrollable hunger for human flesh.

The narrative centers on John Boyd (Guy Pearce), a cowardly captain whose actions in the MexicanAmerican War are answered with exile to the seemingly dreary Fort Spencer. Upon his arrival, however, tedium is conveniently replaced with tragedy.

A bearded and bloodied F.W. Colqhoun, played by Robert Carlyle, stumbles up to the

gates of Fort Spencer and stirs the serenity with the details of his escape from the cruel and cannibalistic Colonel Ives.

What remains of this film’s 141 minute run time is spent watching the Spencer soldiers’ insufferable attempts to confront the supposed suspect. But amidst an unimaginable myriad of plot twists, everything about their attempt goes horribly wrong.

Unfortunately for this erratic plotline, a combination of postmodern orchestral folk tunes, seriously questionable volumes of blood and heavy doses of morbid punnery leads more easily to confusion than compliments.

If the film were to be viewed as more of a dark comedy than a horror flick, all of its overly theatric antics might be a bit more palatable. Because watching Colqhoun and Boyd take turns wishing one

another bon appétit whilst (borderline erotically) intertwined in the jaws of a bear trap is anything but horrific.

Yet despite its flaws, Ravenous is still one of very few films that I can honestly say I didn’t see coming. Whether this is actually due to originality of script or just sheer absurdity is even less clear, but still a notable feat for a ‘90s gore flick.

And while Pearce’s depiction of Boyd may be both lackluster and twitchy, Carlyle’s Colqhoun is convincingly anguished, yet charismatic—maniacal, yet facetious, which, if we’re being technical, builds a villain that lies perfectly between Hannibal Lecter and Gollum.

Does it necessarily save the hours of vacant rigidity offered by Pearce, or the awkward cameos of David Arquette? Maybe. But mostly

it just makes you genuinely appreciate how polarizing casting decisions can be.

Does the myth of the Wendigo technically belong to the Canada and Great Lakes region? Is Calqhoun’s monologue about the miraculous ability of cannibalism to cure tuberculosis absolutely ridiculous? Do three-minute sequences of frontiersmen falling down hills start to get on your nerves? Yes. Absolutely.

But if you’re tired of watching elegant vampires daintily sipping on debutantes, then try this rugged rampage on for size. Because with Ravenous, not only are you getting twice the blood and half the brooding of more traditional “vampages,” but you’re also getting zero sex appeal.

And frankly, having no reason to care for a murderous monster makes stomaching their slaughters far simpler.

Film still courtesy of Heyday Films/1999

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To the quick with ‘Nailbiter’ Gorey comic collection assembles first five issues Andy Anady

Before you even crack open the first volume of Nailbiter, clip your nails to the quick, file them all the way down. Maybe wear gloves. Writer Joshua Williamson and artist Mike Anderson have teamed with Image Comics to release Nailbiter Volume 1: There Will Be Blood, which collects the first five issues of the series, and is delightfully more disgusting and gore riddled than the bad habit would suggest.

Nailbiter takes place in the fictional Oregon town of Buckaroo, which is a name that sounds like something your hick uncle would call

you after tipping his stetson back with his thumb and adjusting his bolo. Buckaroo is the hometown of 16 separate serial killers, which demands that we, as the audience, have to ask: Are killers born in Buckaroo or are they raised there? It’s nature versus nurture, but with more blood. Like, a lot of blood.

One of my criticisms of Nailbiter is its scapegoating of mental illness. All the killers seem to be inspired by childhood grievances and neuroses. The most famous of the killers is Edward Warren, who is just so obsessed with fingernails that

he just has to kidnap people to chew their fingers off and then kill them.

It isn’t until issue four that there’s a possibility of a greater scheme or mystery responsible for this weird phenomenon. Sure, the volume starts with a cop telling his friend he cracked the secret of the Buckaroo Butchers, but it isn’t a real possibility until late in the first volume.

But hot damn, when that doubt gets sown it’s a pretty crazy read. The drama can get heavy handed, like when characters delay giving each other information because “you won’t believe it,” or

when characters spend too much time explaining things to each other (obviously only for the benefit of the reader).

But those minor infractions don’t actually detract from what’s really the point of Nailbiter. This comic book is really best enjoyed by reading it all at once and without bothering to pause and think. It’s the suspense and excitement of finding out what’s actually going on behind the serial killer scenes at Buckaroo that makes Nailbiter worth reading.

Our reluctant hero, Nicholas Finch, tells the local sheriff

Shannon Crane that he’s just not at all interested in finding out why Buckaroo is apparently a breeding ground for some twisted killers, all of whom have been christened with spectacularly terrible nicknames by the media.

Instead, he is just interested in finding his cop buddy who called Finch to tell him that he’d cracked the secret. But of course, the secret was too grandiose or dramatic, or whatever, to be told over the phone. Now he’s missing and Finch has to find him—but he’s definitely not interested in figuring out this secret haunting this rural town.

At least, until the mystery gets super weird. Then his interest is piqued, and it’s pretty understandable why he finally gets hooked. Generally I dislike reluctant heroes.

We all know you’re the hero and we all know you’re going to be the one doing stuff in the story so just give in. But I was definitely with Finch the whole way through and became interested in his story at about the same time he did.

Nailbiter is definitely worth the bloodied ride from one weird murder to another, through the driving rain and jaded locals, all of which are related to one serial murderer or another.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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arts anD cUltUrE PcPH to host slavoj Žižek and Jean-Pierre dupuy talk

STANFORD PHILOSOPHER JEAN-PIERRE DUPUY will speak at PSU on Friday, Oct. 31.

Halloween talk to replace spooks with deep introspection VicToria casTellaNos

The Portland Center for Public Humanities at Portland State will host Slavoj Žižek and Jean-Pierre Dupuy in a talk titled Is God Dead, or Unconscious, or Just Evil on Friday, Oct. 31.

Doors will open in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom at 4 p.m. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. A large attendance is expected, so arrive early.

The two scholars will be in conversation with one another on the quandaries of violence, religion and the sacred. They will explore the intersection of faith and secular culture in the political sphere.

The event is sponsored by the Religion, Secularism, and Political Belonging Project, which links PSU, University of Arizona, Utrecht University, Tel Aviv University and the Chinese

University of Hong Kong through their respective humanities centers.

The event was funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and written and arranged by the former chair of PSU’s English department, Lee Medovoi.

Dr. Michael Clark, head of the PCPH and a longtime PSU professor, said that this event has been years in the making.

Medovoi began the grant proposal nearly a decade ago with an interest in the secularization thesis, which made the claim that society would become increasingly secular and religion would fade into more private spaces. Years later, that has not proven entirely true.

“If you have strong beliefs about, let’s say, care for the elderly based on your faith and you lead a generally secular life, that faith-based notion might have profound impli-

cations on your sense of political belonging,” Clark said.

Known to refer to himself as a prophet of enlightened doomsaying, Dupuy is a social scientist and professor of French and political science at Stanford University.

The author of nearly a dozen books, his most recent work The Mark of the Sacred is a reflection on religion and reason in society, and argues that humanity is on the verge of self-destruction because it has put too much faith in reason and lost contact with its sacred origins.

Clark said that Dupuy pushes for a reaffirmation of the sacred origins of human reason as a potential remedy to earthly crises, like environmental toxicity and global warming.

“He’s interested in the sacred in society and how it manifests itself. He’s trained as a logician and scientist,” Clark said. “This is not some new age mystic, he’s very down to earth.”

Žižek is a philosopher and one of the world’s most renowned living social theorists, inspired by the extensive work of Theodor Adorno and Jacques Lacan.

He has dedicated his life to cultural critiques and ideology, and spent much of the past decade examining the legacies of religion and spiritual thought.

Often referred to as the Elvis of philosophy, Žižek’s last public appearance in Portland in 2008 attracted hundreds to a filled Powell’s City of Books. He’s been characterized as eccentric, sardonic and brilliant.

He’s unique in that he is just as likely to analyze the films of David Lynch or The Sound of Music as he is the meaning of existence.

Sarah Gaspari, a senior majoring in film studies, said she’s been looking forward to this talk for weeks after watching

COURTESY Of JEAN-PIERRE DUPUY

The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology, a film featuring Žižek currently popular on Netflix.

“His ideas were unlike anything I’m familiar with. They’re so abstract, but then he uses contemporary examples that make them far more accessible. He was really captivating to watch,” Gaspari said.

“I don’t know much about Dupuy, but from what I’ve read it’s going to be great hearing them work off one another.”

Clark said reading Žižek is like going to a carnival.

“You’ll find something fun and interesting every time.

[He’s] a restless scholar and that’s a good thing.”

nw DAnCe ProJeCt to PreMiere three PerforMAnCes At linColn LOCAL TROUPE PARTNERS WITH FAMED CHOREOGRAPHERS FOR DEBUT DANCES rUBy KiNG

Northwest Dance Project will be lighting up Lincoln Hall’s performance stage for New Now Wow, a showcase of three world dance premieres arranged by different choreographers, exhibiting what’s hot and current in contemporary dance.

The event will run from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets range from $29 to $49 dollars, but students will be able to pick them up for $20 with a valid student I.D. “We titled it [New Now Wow] because everything is new in the show, all world premieres,” said Sarah Slipper, the founding artistic director for Northwest Dance Project.

“It’s an investigation on very internal emotions.”

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If not acquainted with the dance world, it can be difficult to understand the significance of an event such as this. Most ballet companies now buy shows to include in their repertoire without consistently creating new work themselves. Northwest Dance Project operates very differently.

“What makes Northwest Dance Project so unique is every work you see on the stage is created by us. We take risks.

We like innovation. That’s our niche,” Slipper said. That risk and innovation can be seen firsthand through the company’s rehearsals at Lincoln Hall.

This year New Now Wow will feature works by New York based Yin Yue, local favorite Minh Tran, and Jirí Pokorný, a Czech choreog-

rapher working on his first piece outside of Europe.

“I don’t use a lot of physical contact between the dancers. They partner each other without physical contact, there’s a connection in the distance,” Pokorný said.

This much is true in Pokorný’s quick and exact direction. The main couple creates a lucid tension in their relationship without ever touching, held together only by powerful eye contact and sweaty magnetism.

Tran, on the other hand, said he had no vision for what he wanted before working with the dancers.

“The way I work, I tend to throw out a lot of combinations.”

Tran said he then goes on to master whatever seems to be working, working closely

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

with the dancers. He remains as lithe and spritely as ever in restrictive blue jeans and striped socks.

“The piece is actually called ‘Unexpected Turbulence,’ and it’s about the air, the rough air. You can see how air physicalizes,” Tran said.

The troupe has been a source of inspiration for both Pokorný and Tran, and it’s easy to see why. An ensemble of nine dancers, all of whom are classically trained, have a great deal of commitment when working on the floor, watching and not veering away from a question or even a suggestion to choreography.

“The dancers here, they are so dedicated, so hungry, really present in every rehearsal,” Pokorný said.

NORTHWEST DANCE PROJECT PERFORMERS practice in their Lincoln Hall practice space.

JEOffREY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

etc

EVENT CALENDAR Tuesday, Oct. 21 Portland State of Mind: Scavenger Hunt 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

PSU Park Blocks right in front of the Simon Benson House “Get into a Portland State of Mind! Join them for a downtown scavenger hunt that will challenge bodies and brains about their knowledge of the city of roses and the PSU campus. Grand prizes include tickets to the Simon Benson Awards Dinner featuring Leon E. Panetta, gift baskets, gift certificates, signature Portland State of Mind gear and more. This event is free to all students, faculty, staff, alumni and Portland citizens.

You must RSVP and register online at http://bit.ly/ PSOMHunt14”* FREE

Employer on Campus: Amazon

discover anything they want to buy online.”* They have job offerings of brand specialist, associate account executive-inside sales, talent acquisition development program, financial accounting internship and financial analyst internship. Come meet their corporate recruiter to learn more about these positions. Aside from the tabling, there will be an information session from 4:30–5:30 p.m. FREE

Portland State of Mind: PSU Convenes—Oregon’s Great Pot Debate 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Lincoln Performance Hall, room 175 “Should marijuana be legalized? A live—and lively—debate on Measure 91 brought to you by PSU and KATUTV.”* This event is free and open to the public. Get your ticket at the PSU Box Office.

11 a.m.–4 p.m.

School of Business Administration Lobby, First Floor “Amazon was founded in July 1994 with a vision of building the Earth’s most customer-centric company where visitors can find and

Wednesday, Oct. 22 Portland State of Mind: Reduce, Reuse, Recaffeinate 9–11 a.m.

PSU Park Blocks, outside of Smith Memorial Student Union “Drop by for morning coffee in the PSU Park Blocks. Bring your reusable mug, or pick up a free new-to-you mug salvaged by PSU’s Mug Runners program, and get free coffee provided by Ole Latte, a new, locally-owned, gourmet coffee cart at PSU.”* This event is free and open to the public.

FREE

The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology Event begins at 6:15 p.m.

PSU Park Blocks, outside of Smith Memorial Student Union “As part of its three-year series on Religion, Secularism and Political Belonging, (funded by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation) the Portland Center for Public Humanities at Portland State University is pleased to announce a series of lectures, discussions and film screen-

ings leading up to a public conversation between Slavoj Žižek and Jean-Pierre Dupuy on the question of religion and the sacred today, on October 31.”* FREE 21+

Thursday, Oct. 23 Portland State of Mind: #PSUTweetup 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, Ballroom room 355 “Who You Gonna’ Call?

Ghostbusters! Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters with a free movie, refreshments and snacks, photo booth, giveaways and a Halloween costume contest.”* This event is free and open to the public. FREE

Portland State of Mind: Show and Tell Graphic Design Lecture Series Art Building, room 320 “Free weekly presentations by local and nationally renowned designers, design firm principals and graphic

artists.”* As always, these lectures are free and open to the public. FREE

Friday, Oct. 24

Portland State of Mind: School Portland State of Mind: of Theater + Film Costume Intersections—An Evening Sale of Storytelling about Identity, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Culture, Community and Pride Lincoln Hall Boiler Room Theatre, room 55 Smith Memorial Student Union, room 228 6:30—8 p.m.

“This evening of storytelling will feature a line-up of seven diverse PSU students, faculty and staff who will reveal stories from their lives. They will weave together experiences they have had as members of underrepresented cultures, communities and identity groups. The shared struggle, challenges and frustration make way for a sense of community, connections, family and pride. Come spend the evening with us as we delve deeply into an aspect of humanity often overlooked— the intersection and celebration of our differences.

Hosted by Cheryl Green, a disabled community leader and an alumni of PSU.”* This event is free and open to the public. FREE

“Come to the basement of Lincoln Hall in the Boiler Room Theatre and check out the sale of period costumes, vintage clothing and fun accessories starting at 50 cents.”* The costumes may cost money, but this event is free and open to the public FREE

FREE

21+

PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER

*All event descriptions courtesy of www.pdx.edu/events

FEATURED EVENT the impact entrepreneurs logo

Portland State of Mind: Igniting Your Inner Changemaker— Turning Ideas Into Action Friday, Oct. 24th Smith Memorial Student Union, room 228 1–4 p.m.

“Have you ever dreamed of charging forward with your own idea to create change in your community or world? Have you felt motivated to do it one day, and then discouraged about it the next?

Ashoka’s Youth Venture has worked with university students in 23 countries around the world to help them find the confidence and drive to take action in their communities and become changemakers. Ashoka, Youth Venture’s parent organization, is the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs.

Join Tia Johnston Brown from Youth Venture on Oct. 24 for a workshop drawing lessons from Ashoka’s 30 years in the field of social entrepreneurship—from supporting young changemakers to helping leaders of organizations increase their global impact.”* This event is free and open to the public. FREE

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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etc

Libra Sept. 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Oct. 22

You are skilled at putting up a strong front, Libra.

People turn to you when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not sure of something. Where do you turn for help? If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t immediately answer that, start seeking out some people you can rely on.

You may need the help very soon.

Scorpio Oct. 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Nov. 21

As you approach the anniversary of another year, Scorpio, step back for a minute to take inventory of your life. What are your priorities? Do your actions and words match up? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re finding discrepancies here, you can be sure others notice, too.

Sagittarius Nov. 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Dec. 21

Aquarius Jan. 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Feb. 18

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wearing yourself out, Sagittarius. Now is a good time to sit back and let someone else take the lead.

If you give yourself a break this week, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel far more prepared for the big changes coming in the next few months.

You know how you feel the day after you finally make it to the gym for an overdue workout? You just gave your heart some muchneeded exercise, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling that post-workout pain. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the good kind of hurtâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;relish it. It means you challenged yourself.

Capricorn Dec. 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Jan. 19

Pisces Feb. 19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Mar. 20

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over, Capricorn. Let it die. Give yourself time to grieve, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wallow. Just as plants die to make way for new life, so you are facing loss for the sake of growth. The next season will be a time of rest, and soon you will emerge feeling more alive than ever.

Jump in, Pisces. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been holding onto cheap excuses for sitting on the sidelines of your life.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your fear define youâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be surprised to see how much risk-taking suits you.

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Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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4 9 3 8 1

8 6 9 4 2

Taurus Apr. 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 20

Cancer Jun. 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Jul. 22

You are known for your patience, Taurus. You will need to exercise that patience this week. You may be tempted to push back against some injustices you encounter. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably not the right time to act. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have more success when you have more answers.

across 1 Fruit drink (6,6) 9 Member of Tinnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

2 7 8 5 4

Gemini May 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Jun. 20

You took a pretty big tumble, Aries. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we all stumble sometimes. Your ego is feeling a little bruised as a result, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use that as an excuse to selfindulge. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the only one with troubles.

crossword

5

Aries Mar. 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Apr. 19

Parliament requires tin to be brought to a height (9) 10 One is left nothing (5) 11 Terribly rude filth (6) 12 Operatic heroine gives thanks (8) 13 Ex-president of Yugoslavia doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start in the usual manner (6) 15 About-turn can be employed more than once (8) 18 The enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s returning old silk to the front of the ship (8) 19 Turn over hotel heartlesly (6) 21 The privileged can use it to pay for diamond perhaps (4,4) 23 C-convexity of surface (6) 26 Out of practice for a year (5) 27 Birnam Wood marched to here? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;S absurd (9) 28 Drivers end up here, of course, having drunk up dry gin mix (7,5)

You needed some help, Cancer, and you asked for it. Was that as difficult as you thought it would be? Now that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been granted the assistance you need, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fill your time with more obligations.

courtesy of alberichcrosswords.com DOWN

Greek hero lost doughty exterior, having swallowed ring of bone (7) 2 Give notice over conflict (5) 3 Turning traitor, initially, renegade is produced (9) 4 Bristle at extremely egregious upset (4) 5 Held aloft... plutonium? (8) 6 Part of plant could become petals with time (5) 7 Leaderless town in Beds is liable to flare up (8) 8 Writer embracing revolting militia movement ends up in the soup (6) 14 Pupil has ordained learning experience cut short, having no master (8) 16 Browning in Australia, giving offensive snub to a monarch? (9) 17 Attribute good character to a church leader (8) 18 Work out to keep or 1

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on a winning streak, Gemini. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t noticed it yet, you will see it soon enough. This is a good time to tackle some of those more difficult things youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been putting off. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be pleased with the results.

improve it (6) 20 Old dish for 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; could be casserole, we hear (7) 22 Shy bear weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re told â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or another animal (5) 24 Minor poet like Wordsworth? Hardly!

(5) 25 Nameless woman in Massenetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opera gets beheaded (4)

Leo Jul. 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Aug. 22

You have a big personality, Leo. Sometimes your boisterous nature and strong opinions can be intimidating for others.

This might be getting in the way of your goals.

Remember to leave space for other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s input. You might learn something unexpected.

Virgo Aug. 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sept. 22

You may be feeling a bit sheepish after the weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s antics, Virgo. Sure, you got a little dramatic.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat yourself up.

In the future, remember that you have a tendency to be picky about trivial matters. Try to let the little things slide.

sPOrts

interiM AthletiC DireCtor stePs into new role VALERIE CLEARY INHERITS AN EVOLVING ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT Jay PeNGelly

On Oct. 13 Valerie Cleary officially took over as interim athletics director of Portland State.

She replaced Torre Chisholm, whose seven and a half years at the helm were the longest in PSU history. The search committee for a new AD has already begun the process to find the new permanent leader for PSU athletics. In the meantime, Cleary will

head up the Vikings program with a busy future ahead.

Chisholm will most likely be remembered for Vikings Pavilion, the multimillion-dollar arena/event space which has been in the works for years, but still without a groundbreaking date. Progress on the building is being handled by top administrators from the athletic department, now Cleary.

“[Chisholm’s] done some fantastic things here,” Cleary said. “Even though it hasn’t come to fruition yet, the pavilion project is huge, just getting that off the ground.

I’ll be really excited when there’s a mound of dirt and a shovel outside. We are still generating those last funds and making sure we have the plans in place, so once those funds are secured we can get to work as soon as possible.”

Cleary started her tenure at PSU last year as associate athletic director and senior woman administrator. Before her time at PSU, she worked extensively in the athletic departments for several collegiate programs, including Boise State, Pacific University and Cal State Fullerton.

While only in the top spot of PSU athletics for a little

over a week, Cleary has already noticed changes in her role and outlook.

“I think I have to look at things a little bit more critically than I did before when I wasn’t directly involved,” Cleary said. “There’s a lot more meetings, that’s for sure.

People bringing me up to date on things I might not have been involved in the last year.”

When asked if she was interested in becoming the full time athletic director for PSU, Cleary responded that she is not applying for the position.

“I really like my role as the senior woman administrator here, it allows me to do a lot more things internally which is where I gain my energy, being around the student athletes,” Cleary said.

She does believe that she can offer a unique and repre-

sentative perspective to highlevel conversations.

“I think I add a different element when I’m the lone woman and probably minority in any given meeting on any given day. I think it enhances the lens I look through,” Cleary said.

A 2011 report states that of the 120 Division 1 athletic programs, only five have female athletic directors.

Cleary is not only an athletic administrator, she’s also a fan. Sports are a big part of her personal as well as professional life. Cleary’s husband Tim is the head basketball coach for Pacific University and both their children are student athletes.

“I was not a student athlete, so I think what they do is just amazing, on any given day.

It’s amazing. I’m just a sports fan. I just like watching peo-

INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR VALERIE CLEARY in the Stott Center during a women’s basketball practice.

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ple compete and doing what they love to do,”Cleary said.

Every athletic director at a major college must confront the issue of student athletes being paid. Cleary identifies likeness rights in video games as one area which may need to be addressed, but overall has not worked at places where these kind of talks are taken too seriously.

“I think the schools that I have worked for haven’t ever been in the position where we are generating the revenue to pay student athletes,” Cleary said. “I think it’s a fine line between what’s the college experience [and] what’s fair to them as a person versus entering into that professional sect. There’s so many pros and cons to each side of the argument, but it’s never been a hot topic at any of the schools I’ve worked at.”

One initiative Cleary saw at a previous school she would like to try at PSU is Teams for Teams. It encouraged players from all sports to support their fellow teams and attend games. Cleary would even like to expand the idea to include the entire campus. The way she sees it, PSU athletics has a lot to offer the university community and vice versa.

“Athletics cannot operate in a silo. We can’t, and that’s not our function. Whether that’s encouraging our student athletes to carve out time to go to speaker series’ or different clubs and organizations based on their majors, but then also to encourage those students to come out to the games.

I think they’re doing some great things. How can you resist Get Stuffed? It’s free food!

That’s like every college students dream, right? Show up, be fed and entertained.”

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

29

sPOrts

vikinGs Golf wrAPs uP fAll seAson

A RAM CHOI with last year’s Big Sky Championship trophy.

aNdreW GleasoN

Last week Seattle University hosted the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational at Tacoma’s Golf and Country Club. The University of Washington was able to walk away with the victory, posting a 1-under-par score of 863. With Washington State finishing second, at 897, 33 over par, the Huskies didn’t have any competition in their rearview.

Coming off of a poor first round start, the Portland State golf team was able to bounce back for the second round behind strong play from Valentina Trillo, who lead the team with six birdies in the tournament while freshman Hansol Koo added five birdies of her own. Koo tied for 12th in the 77-player field, and shot 78–71–77 for a score of 226 over the 54-hole event. Koo lead all Vikings as well as 20 other Big Sky golfers, which in turn led to her being named Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Week “Prior to this tournament, [Koo] has been really consistent, not spectacular, but always consistent. This was her chance this week and she knows she could have played better than she did, but I have high expectations for her. She’s very talented,” said head coach Kailin Downs.

A Ram Choi, the back-toback Big Sky Player of the Year was sitting out to rest an injured wrist she has strug-

30

gled with throughout the year. Choi suffers from tendinitis in the wrist and is hoping that she will be prepared for the spring season.

“She is currently in a brace and not using it at all for 2 to 3 weeks. It hurt more than she wanted it to while playing golf, and it’s something she has to be careful of. As far as I know it’s her first time sitting out from a tournament, but it wore on her with the tournaments all back to back throughout the fall. The positives of the spring schedule is it’s spread out and more time to rest in between tournaments,” Downs said.

PSU placed eighth in the 13-team tournament. The Vikings shot a 320 in Tuesday’s final round, as they were unable to maintain the pace of their Monday afternoon score of 298.

“I’m not happy with an eighth place finish,” Downs said. I am disappointed in the last round because we moved to fifth after the second round and I felt really good about how we played that afternoon. I thought we would be able to use the performance as momentum and carry it to the next day and we just couldn’t get anything going. It was a missed opportunity to finish well and beat some good teams, but I didn’t have any number in mind in terms of finishing, and I didn’t really

have any specific expectations except to play well and feed off of the previous four tournaments.”

This was the last event of the fall schedule. Vikings golf will return to action Feb. 9–10 at the Long Beach State Gold Rush.

For the spring season, the team will be focused on the conference. “The goal is to be Big Sky Champions come April, and I look at every tournament as an opportunity to get better. We’ve beat and lost to both Big Sky schools (Idaho and Montana) in the tournament and its going to be a battle when it comes down to the championship. It’s exciting because I would rather have that than have one dominant team. It’s going to make us work that much harder. It’s going to be a little tougher this year to reach the championship, but we were the team to beat last year,” Downs said.

Idaho, Sacramento State and Northern Arizona are the Vikings’ biggest threat for the conference title.

“Northern Arizona can be better than they’ve been playing this fall. It should be a race between four or five of us,” Downs said.

Coming off of an unsatisfactory tournament finish with their biggest swinger Choi healthy and rested, look for the Vikings to make some noise in the Big Sky in February.

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

JACOB ASHLEY/PSU VANGUARD

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is 12 the geekiest number?

sPOrts SCORES

UPCOMING

PSU Football

PSU Football

NORTHERN ARIZONA PSU

Top Performers: Steven Long with 16 carries for 253 yards and 1 TD.

PSU Volleyball

PSU SACRAMENTO STATE

Top Performers: Kasi Clark with 18 digs.

aleX Moore

All sports fans are essentially geeks for their teams.

While the Seattle Seahawks recently suffered a rare home loss at CenturyLink Field, their home stadium is nationally known for its intense crowd. Every home game, the television broadcast mentions the fan noise, and opponent use of silent counts and other strategies to overcome the raucous environment.

I have been a big Seahawks fan for a while, and I absolutely love the crowd’s involvement. Seahawks fans are called 12s, which stands for the 12th man. Seattle has been pushing the idea that their fan base is so strong, it adds an extra man to the 11 that play on the field. I can’t remember the last time I missed a Seahawks game. This is a fan base that protects their home field. Seahawks fans are always upset at a loss, but losing at home cuts much deeper.

I haven’t exactly kept it quiet that I’m a Seahawk fan. In fact, I’ve made it very

well known recently. So I do get texts and notifications from a number of social media sites from people making sure that I know exactly the score of their games (for some reason I only get them when they lose). I imagine this has something to do with Seattle’s football fan base and football team being seen as having a teeny bit of an ego problem.

Yeah, Richard Sherman yelled into a camera for a bit, and he talks a good amount of trash when he’s on a field. The defense is called “The Legion of Boom,” and they sure do look confident on both sides of the football when they play. I imagine winning a Superbowl 43–8, while making one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen look like children on the field, could create a bit of an ego too.

Based off the reaction I get from other football fans when I say I’m a Seahawks fan, Seattle fans are not well-liked.

But is the hate justified? Or

are the Seattle Seahawks a program that just knows how to do everything right?

False starts are a good way to judge crowd noise. Although there are a number of reasons why a false start can occur, one of those reasons can be a loud crowd. According to Seahawks.com, CenturyLink Field has the most opponent false starts since 2005, 1.8 per game.

Lately there has been a competition in the NFL for the loudest stadium between Kansas City and Seattle.

They have been going back and forth breaking the world record for loudest stadium.

Kansas City currently holds the record, but they aren’t known for having quite the same home field advantage that Seattle has.

I’ve never seen a team like the Seahawks of last season, who knew they were getting to the Superbowl after the regular season ended. They knew it because they got to play every postseason game

other than the Superbowl in Seattle. At home. In all the noise. Those fans are so loud and so impactful, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

It showed in that playoff run.

It showed when Seattle’s biggest rival, the San Francisco 49ers, came up north and played fantastic football—but it still wasn’t enough to get them to the Superbowl.

It’s completely fair to give me a hard time when the Seahawks lose. I get it. But remember, the kind of environment the Seahawks get to play in is not fake in any way.

That home field advantage is real. It was real last season, and it’s real this season, even after a loss to (ugh) Jerry Jones’ Cowboys. That false start statistic goes all the way back to 2005, and there were a lot of not-so-good years before Seattle became the dominant football team it was last season. These are not fair-weather fans. 12s love their team, we are the best geeks in football.

21 PSU @ WEBER STATE 17 Sat. Oct. 25, 12:00 p.m. | KPOJ 620 AM PSU Volleyball

3 PSU VS. MONTANA 0 Fri. Oct. 24, 6:00 p.m.

PSU Golf

PSU Golf

PAT LESSER HARBOTTLE INVITAIONAL 8th Place

New Mexico State Aggie Invitational

PSU Soccer

PSU Soccer

Top Performers: Hansol Koo finished T-12 th with a ten-over par 226.

PSU NORTH DAKOTA

Top Performers: Torie Morris with the lone goal.

Mon.–Wed. Oct. 6–8 | Las Cruces, NM

1 PSU VS. IDAHO 0 Sun. Oct. 26, 1:00 p.m. | Hillsboro Stadium PSU Cross Country

BEAVER CLASSIC Fri. Oct. 24, 4:00 p.m.

Corvallis, Or MLS

SALT LAKE PORTLAND

Top Performers: Donovan Rickets with 3 saves to give the Timbers a share.

MLS

0 PORTLAND @ CD OLIMPIA 0 Tues. Oct. 21, 7:00 p.m. | Root Sports

THE 12TH MAN FLAG flies during a Seahawks game in Seattle.

PASSING YARDS FOR THE VIKINGS ON SATURDAY. RUSHING FOR 336 WASN’T ENOUGH TO OVERCOME NORTHERN ARIZONA’S LATE RALLY. COURTESY Of SEAHAWK SCREAMER THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS

Vanguard | OCTOBER 21, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

31

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