Portland State Vanguard

VOLUME 68 | ISSUE 21 | JANUARY 28, 2014

5TH AVENUE CINEMA PRESENTS ‘SPECIAL FEATURES,’ A DIGITAL LECTURE SERIES NEWS

OPINION

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

Portland State is looking for feedback from students and faculty on sexual relationship policy. pg.6

While your workload intensifies, relationships tend to fall by the wayside.

How to balance school and love. pg. 14

The Portland Art Museum explores hunger, food and animal rights in their new exhibit ‘Feast and Famine.’ pg. 9

PSU Tennis and Track and Field seasons are underway. Here’s what to expect from the Vikings this year. pg. 20

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CONTENT NEWS ARTS & CULTURE COVER OPINION SPORTS CALENDAR

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

COPY CHIEF

EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Whitney Beyer

COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Chelsea Lobey

MANAGING EDITOR MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jordan Molnar

NEWS EDITOR NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Coby Hutzler

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Turner Lobey

OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Breana Harris

SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jesse Tomaino

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Ashley Rask

COPY EDITORS Allie Clark Margo Pecha

ADVERTISING MANAGER JGEKELER@PDX.EDU Jordan Gekeler

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Michelle Leigh

ADVISER

Reaz Mahmood

ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman

DESIGNERS

Alan Hernandez-Aguilar, Rachael Bentz, Brendan Mulligan, Christopher Peralta

WRITERS

PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Miles Sanguinetti Corinna Scott

Claude Akins, Joshua Benson, Andrew Echeverria, Hannah Griffith, Joel Gunderson, Hana King, Adam LaMascus, Alex Moore, Katharine Pedersen, Jay Pengelly, Kerry Politzer, Gwen Shaw, Brandon Staley, Derek Sun, Stephanie Tshappat, Heather Wilson

ONLINE EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Sean Bucknam

PHOTO EDITORS

ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Claudette Raynor

LECTURE EXAMINES CONFUCIAN IDEALS IN KOREAN ART

Alex Hernandez, Morgan Knorr, Brittney Muir

ADVERTISING SALES

Lisa Bauman, Robin Crowell, Muhsinah Jaddoo, Casey Jin

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

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Cover: Photo by Miles Sanguinetti, Design by Sean Bucknam ©2013 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY VANGUARD 1825 S.W. BROADWAY SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION, RM. S-26 PORTLAND, OR 97201

MILES SANGUINETTI/PSU VANGUARD

On Thursday, Jan. 23, Dr. Kumja Paik Kim discusses Confucian ideals in the scope of Korean art at the Portland Art Museum.

For the full story and more photos go to psuvanguard.com

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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NEWS

UNITY IN THE LAND OF PLENTY DR. DAPO SOBOMEHIN LEADS A CONVERSATION ABOUT ABUNDANCE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE US

DAPO SOBOMEHIN compares his life in Nigeria to life in the U.S. at last week’s lecture.

HANA KING

On Jan. 21, Dapo Sobomehin gave a lecture titled “Social Justice Theory and Practice” to an audience of roughly 20 Portland State students and their fellow community members in the Multicultural Center. The lecture centered around the necessity for community in an age of international and social strife.

Sobomehin is the executive director of Operation EASY—a program that assists at-risk youth with their education. He began his discussion by advocating a celebration of life with a bit of humor that elicited laughter from the audience.

“When I pick up The Oregonian, I look at the obituary: I’m looking for myself in there, and then if I don’t see myself it’s ‘yay this guy is still here,’ and then I look at my friends and ‘yay.’

“You know I celebrate each day, and I’m telling you to do that while I’m here.

This is a time of celebration,” he said.

Sobomehin’s enthusiasm never dissipated over the course of his presentation, despite veering into difficult political and social issues.

He spoke passionately about the abundance of material goods in U.S., contrasting his

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childhood education in Nigeria with his experience in the American classroom.

“Growing up as a little boy in that village, the first chalk that I wrote with happened to be the excrement of a pigeon,” Sobomehin said. “It came in two colors—the grey is the one we used to write with, but in American schools, I have an after-school program, and I will ask for a teacher to give me a chalk, and she gives me a box. A box of it. Don’t ever ask for a pencil; they’ll give you a pack because we’ve got it!”

Sobomehin used the anecdote about his childhood to illuminate more pressing concerns about racial inequality in this country. He believes inequality stems not from a lack of money, but rather from a lack of education.

“The African-American kids—they’ve not been educated…When I look at the schools, I say, ‘Hey, money is not the problem’…The issue is disconnectedness,” Sobomehin said. “We’re not together. The reason why we despair is because we are disconnected.”

Sobomehin continued with the theme of unity throughout his presentation, emphasizing the importance of fellowship

MORGAN KNORR/PSU VANGUARD

in even the most dire of circumstances. When speaking of U.S. involvement in international conflicts, his advice was simple.

“Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk together to save humanity. The suffering is deep.

It’s unbearable, but we can do it.”

While Sobomehin is very outspoken about his thoughts on foreign policy, he also practices his theories of togetherness here at home. He spoke briefly about his advocacy on behalf of alleviating homelessness, an issue that he has taken to heart.

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

He says that while he still had his house, he invited two homeless people to live with him.

“When I brought them to my neighborhood, they were wondering about me.

I had to speak to them, and then one of them said to me, ‘You know, Dapo, I never thought about it that way.’

Yes. Just share. You do the example.” He went on to say, when addressing the audience directly, “You have to share. You do, because we’ve got plenty.”

Sobomehin concluded his lecture by encouraging his

audience to embrace positivity and one another.

“Be happy in America together. Together. Together,” he said. Event attendees described how Sobomehin’s words impacted them.

Cultural sustainability coordinator Kevin Thomas, who just began his doctoral coursework in urban studies, said that the presentation was inspirational and that it gave him a lot of things to think about, particularly concerning how we treat one another.

“We need to do better by each other. It’s a very big con-

cept, but it can be applied in many different ways,” Thomas said. “I feel very privileged to be able to sit here and come to school and have time to hear things like this. I wish the room was more crowded, because I think people need to hear this.”

Melissa Bennett, program coordinator for the Native American Student and Community Center at PSU, shared that sentiment.

“Dr. Dapo has been a friend of mine for a few years. He is a wonderful speaker. I am inspired every time I hear him speak.”

SHAC TALKS FLU PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

NEWS

GWEN SHAW

The start of winter term marks the beginning of another significant time of year—cold and flu season.

This year is no different, with an abundance of different viruses going around, including the return of the dreaded swine flu—now more commonly referred to by its proper name, H1N1.

A recent KATU news article reported that though this round of H1N1 is nothing like the last that killed nearly 300,000 people worldwide in 2009, a large number of Oregonians have been admitted to hospitals this flu season, many with H1N1.

There are three types of flu viruses: influenza A, influenza B and type C. H1N1 is a subtype of influenza A. At Portland State, the test available at the Center for Student Health and Counseling does not distinguish between the two types of influenza, so it’s unclear if any students have been diagnosed with H1N1.

“We treat it all the same,” said Tara Gardner-Brown, a family nurse practitioner at SHAC. “It’s still the flu. [In] the cases we’ve had, students had a really high fever and felt very bad.”

However, one important thing to distinguish is whether the illness is the common cold or the flu.

“Looking at the differences between them, it’s difficult for anyone to determine how you know it’s the flu versus a regular virus,” Gardner-Brown said.

The symptoms can be very similar, but there are a few differences that can make the determination easier. One of the most significant is the high fever, which is a fever around 101 degrees.

“Not everyone gets that, however, so there’s that little caveat,” Gardner-Brown said. Symptoms like body aches, headaches, nausea and coughing are also signs it could be the flu instead of a cold.

The other main difference is that a cold will oftentimes give a warning before hitting in full force.

“You can usually tell when you’re starting to feel under the weather—you have a runny nose, you’re sneezing—you know it’s coming,” Gardner-Brown said. “But the flu gives you the feeling like it hit you like a truck overnight; you were fine, then all of a sudden you’re really sick.”

Armaan Roshani, a sophomore in computer engineering, is currently fighting off the flu. His sister was diagnosed with H1N1 right around Christmas time.

“I don’t know if what I have is H1N1, but it is most likely some sort of flu because the first onset of symptoms was body aches, headaches and some nausea, which you don’t really get with a cold,” Roshani said.

Roshani’s sister was actually diagnosed with both H1N1 and Influenza B at the same time.

“I didn’t have a lot of contact with her at that point,

as I’m sure she was trying to stay away from everyone,” Roshani said. “The experience was more like a cold with body aches than the flu, even though she definitely had both types of the flu.”

Gardner-Brown pointed out that it’s hard to know how the flu will affect each individual person. Health problems like asthma and diabetes can exacerbate flu symptoms and can also put people at a higher risk of catching it.

The flu usually entails about three or four days of high fever, but carriers can be contagious for a full day before any symptoms show.

They then continue to be contagious for up to five days, regardless of whether they are feeling better.

“It’s really important that students are staying home if they have a fever. We really consider a fever to be around 101 degrees, so if you‘re having a fever, you’re sick, you’re coughing—stay

home until your fever has been gone for 24 hours,” Gardner-Brown said.

If a fever persists, or comes back for another couple days, Gardner-Brown suggests going to a doctor, because that’s a sign that it’s more than a minor flu or cold.

“If you [don’t start] feeling better after three to four days, and you’re feeling like you’re going downhill— you’re getting crazy fevers and coughing really hard— you should see someone,

because there can be complications and it can get really bad,” Gardner-Brown said.

“The people who are getting super sick with the H1N1 flu are those that are ignoring it and just pressing on and pressing on and not doing anything about it.”

Dr. Mark Bajorek, the medical director for SHAC, shared Gardner-Brown’s sentiments, stating that the best way for students See FLU on page 6

SHAC is currently out of H1N1 vaccinations but offers the vaccine each fall.

CORINNA SCOTT/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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NEWS

CONSENSUAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP POLICY UNDER REVIEW HEATHER WILSON

Portland State’s policy governing consensual sexual relationships is currently under review, and the university is seeking feedback from students and faculty on the proposed revisions until Feb. 17.

The Oregon University System requires all Oregon universities to have a written policy on consensual sexual relationships that may involve a power differential.

The current policy describes these relationships as,

“The actual or perceived imbalance of power that exists in a relationship when one of the parties in the relationship is an instructor or a supervisor and the other is a student or supervisee.”

The written policy is required to state the rules of relationship disclosure and steps required to mitigate issues of supervision.

According to Chas Lopez, executive director of the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion, “The old and new policies are very similar. The revisions are to

provide clarity to the current policy.”

The proposed changes to the new policy include: 1. The addition of “casual, informal, temporary, or episodic” to the description of consensual sexual relationships.

2. Clarifies that both parties should report the relationship immediately, but confirms the individual with greater power maintains primary reporting responsibility.

3. Places the Office of Equity and Compliance in charge of evaluating adherence to the policy, along with specific

FLU Continued from page 5 to treat H1N1 is “at times Tamiflu, largely rest, fluids and hand-washing.”

The flu is spread mainly by droplets exiting the mouth or nose while sneezing, coughing or talking. These droplets can travel up to six feet.

Roshani said that his mother has spent time in Japan, where surgical masks are common during cold season.

“I live with her at the moment, so she’s been wearing one and I’ve been wearing one as well,” Roshani said.

“Who knows if it is going to

lower the chance that she will get what I have, but it should definitely help.”

Roshani highly encourages other students to wear masks, which can be found at SHAC and are free to students. “It looks annoying and freaks people out because it’s not in our culture, but it will really help if people that have the flu are wearing one.”

Angela Abel, the marketing and communication coordinator for SHAC, said in an email that even though SHAC is currently out of the

flu vaccine, there are still places to get the shot. This year’s vaccine covers the H1N1 strain.

“We only get an allotted amount of flu vaccinations each year. We administered 500 [doses] throughout fall term,” Abel wrote. “Students seeking a flu vaccination right now should visit [flushot.healthmap.org] or [getaflushot.org].”

For more information, visit the SHAC website at pdx.edu/ shac/ or call 503–725-2800 to make an appointment

THE H1N1 VIRUS as seen close up through an electron micrograph. ©NIAID

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Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

steps to resolve conflicts, and lists additional resources for individual questions.

The current revisions are still in the draft phase, and the university is looking for feedback and suggested changes to submit to the University Policy Committee.

“We need and welcome feedback from faculty and the student body,” Lopez said.

Both the current and proposed policies and a PowerPoint of specific changes can be viewed at: pdx.edu/ogc/consensualrelationships-policy

OFFICE OF EQUITY AND COMPLIANCE, located on the 8th floor of the Market Building, is where students and faculty can file reports of discrimination and harassment.

CORINNA SCOTT/PSU VANGUARD

Students United for Marriage begins campaign at PSU Students at Oregon campuses rally for same-sex marriage to reach the Nov. 4 ballot KATHARINE PEDERSEN

Across Oregon this week, groups of students from eight campuses have become involved with Students United for Marriage—a subset of Oregon United for Marriage, which is an advocacy group working to legalize gay marriage in Oregon.

The group focuses on collecting signatures, registering people to vote, running campaign events and spreading the word about equal marriage rights.

Besides Portland State, some of the other campuses involved are the University of Oregon, Oregon State, Portland Community College and Willamette University.

According to the Students United for Marriage website, students are a huge part of the marriage equality movement.

“Eighty-one percent of young adults, 18 to 29 years old—regardless of political affiliation—support the freedom to marry,” the website states.

“As students, we value freedom and equal treatment.

The freedom to marry the person you love is a fundamental freedom that should not be denied to anyone,” stated an Oregon United for Marriage press release. “Oregon is the only state where marriage for same-sex couples is slated to be on the ballot this year.”

The press release also said that Oregon is the only state on the West Coast that excludes same-sex couples from marriage.

So far, there are more than 127,000 signatures collected in support of placing the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protections Initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Students have collected more than 5,500 of those signatures and are still working to collect more.

In order for the initiative to qualify, 116,284 valid signatures are needed. The campaign is aiming to submit thousands of additional signatures to ensure qualification.

NEWS

REMEMBERING SMSU’S PORTER OF NEARLY 20 YEARS STEPHANIE TSHAPPAT

For almost 20 years, Kenny Simila patrolled the hallways of Smith Memorial Student Union as its day porter. His tasks included sweeping, mopping and picking up trash in Smith as well as in the Box Office. He was responsible for opening up SMSU in the morning, and would get there as early as 7 a.m. to make sure the doors to the Disability Resource Center were propped open to make it easier for those in wheelchairs who had to access the center.

Simila passed away on Nov. 23, after battling many health issues for several years. He was 59 years old.

“It seemed like everyone knew Kenny. He was very friendly, talked to the students and interacted with them,” said Kori Wapelhurst, residential dining manager for Portland State, and Simila’s former supervisor.

“He was a kind soul, and I was sad when I got the news that he passed away. But he’s not suffering anymore, and he’s in a better place.”

Mark Russell, operations manager for SMSU agreed, and said that Simila loved the building; he knew the needs of each individual office, knew the rhythms of the building and would do whatever he could to help the students, staff and faculty members working there.

In October 2012, Simila suf-

fered a ruptured gallbladder that sidelined him until February 2013. That didn’t diminish his professional appeal to those in charge of keeping SMSU up-and-running.

“He carried over through three or four different transitions with janitorial companies throughout his years here because he knew the ins and outs of the building, and did such a good job,” Russell said. “It’s hard to replace that kind of institutional knowledge. He was really the pulse of the building.”

Joe Dahmen, custodial supervisor for SMSU, said that during these transitions “the manager of the building would say something like, ‘You’re keeping Kenny, right?’ meaning ‘You better [keep Kenny!].’ Even though he had physical challenges, he always did a good job, he always kept busy.”

Simila had a reputation for going above and beyond.

“He was always doing what he could to help [the people in the building],” Wapelhurst said. “He was such a nice guy.

He was so apologetic when he had to call in sick due to his health problems. I told him if he had to miss a day, it was fine, we’d figure it out. We tried to be as accommodating as possible, and held his position when he had to take time off.”

Even when he most likely could’ve retired on disability, Wapelhurst said Simila didn’t because he wanted

to be working, and he was doing all he could to help his family.

Simila, Russell said, used to “hold court” every morning in the hallway on the ground floor of SMSU, next to the Starbucks coffee counter. It was here that staff and faculty knew they could find him if they needed something, and where he connected with the students and the rest of the building.

“I think he made it a point of being, that’s how he got to know people and what they needed,” he said. “He would talk while standing in line about the weekend.

Students and staff would see him and say hi. He was the first person I saw every morning when I came to work. My morning was immediately altered if he wasn’t here.”

Simila had a knack for stories—one of the more memorable he shared with Russell was about a rat he encountered once outside of Smith.

“He said something like, ‘I don’t know who was angrier, me or [the rat], but I knew I wasn’t going to take him out with my broom!’” Russell said, chuckling.

“Kenny had a commitment to the people here. It was much more that he felt connected to the life in the building than the type of work he did,” he said. “He probably affected your life more than anyone else in that building.”

KENNY SIMILA’S day porter supplies are in the same spot as where he left them.

CORINNA SCOTT/PSU VANGUARD

CRIME BLOTTER

Jan. 21–27

STEPHANIE TSHAPPAT

Jan. 23 HARASSMENT

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

Parking structure three At 1:20 p.m. Officer Nichola Higbee received a report from a female student of a suspicious male subject harassing her and following her over the last several months on about six separate occasions. Subject has approached student, trying to hug her and then follows her. Student had just encountered subject prior to reporting in the stairwell in parking structure three, even after attempting to elude him.

Subject has a possibly French accent and is often seen by the science buildings on campus.

Art building parking lot Officer Jon Buck and Officer Brenton Chose received a report at 6:48 p.m. of a suspicious male subject who followed a group of female students and tried to engage them in conversation by saying things like, “I like pretty girls.” When the females did not respond he said, “I like to kill pretty girls.”

One of the females then turned around and said to the subject, “Really” at which point he stopped following the group and left the area eastbound on Southwest Lincoln St. Subject was described as a white male adult, between 35-45 years of age, approximately five-feet seven-inches tall with a stocky build and a “salt and pepper” goatee style beard, and was

wearing a grey stocking cap, unknown style or color top, and light colored blue jeans.

Jan. 25 UNLAWFUL ENTRY INTO MOTOR VEHICLE

Parking structure three Officer Denae Murphy received a report from an unknown victim at 3:40 p.m. who stated his car was entered and his R2D2 USB car charger was taken.

Somehow the suspect gained entry into the locked vehicle without breaking the glass and left a first-aid kit from a Nissan in the victim’s car.

Read the full Crime Blotter at psuvanguard.com

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE BAMF AT PSU STUDENT GROUP, THE BRONY ALLIANCE FOR MAGICAL FRIENDSHIP, CELEBRATES ALL THINGS 'MY LITTLE PONY' BRANDON STALEY

There was a time when the term “fandom” was reserved for only the most enormous and far-reaching of enthusiast communities; the Star Trek and the Star Wars groupies of the world.

The digital age has destroyed such barriers. Nowadays, groups of like-minded individuals can convene around even the most unlikely of games, television shows and movies and share their excitement with peers.

Bronies are just one such fandom to erupt from this new era of communication. A brony is an adult fan of the revived My Little Pony series, now in its fourth season. While the brony community is largely online, there are pockets of physical groups that meet up regularly, scattered across the world.

Luckily for any bronies at Portland State, there’s just such a group on campus.

The Brony Alliance for Magical Friendship, or BAMF, is a PSU school group that celebrates all things My Little Pony.

“It’s providing a place for people who feel outside of the norm because they enjoy the show,” said William Sanders, the current president of BAMF. Sanders is also the treasurer for the Brony Thank You Fund, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that helps raise funds and awareness for charitable donations.

Sanders said he originally came across the show on Netflix when he was trying to find something to watch with his chil-

dren. Once they watched the first season, they were hooked.

Sanders began researching the show and learned about the brony fandom. He found out about BAMF after becoming a PSU student and joined up. Now he runs the group.

“Everyone is welcome,” Sanders said. “The only major requirement is that you need to be a student, obviously, but we do open our doors to non-students too.”

Johsua Olmsted, co-founder of BAMF, said the group was established to run fun pony-related events on campus, to help casual fans get more involved with the fandom, and to expose a wider audience to My Little Pony. There are no requirements to join the club.

Olmsted said the group hosts activities such as arts and crafts nights and screenings of the show. Beyond that, BAMF acts as a venue for enthusiasts to converse and debate about the show’s various nuances and plot points, among other things.

The BAMF is also an easily accessible place for PSU students to meet and celebrate the fandom.

“A lot of PSU students come from other states, other places, and they might not get out into Portland,” Olmsted said. “We were afraid that they might not reach out to the Portland organization, so we wanted to reach out to students who might not have another place to meet other bronies.”

The Portland organization is Portland Area Bronies, a meetup group comprised of several hundreds of members. Over the years, Portland Area Bronies has grown to such a size that it requires a governing body. The group held elections for positions last week.

Like BAMF, the Portland Area Bronies group hosts weekly events. Unlike BAMF, most of the events are held at game shops in Southeast Portland—not terribly accessible for a student at PSU. Sanders said one of the goals of BAMF is to make sure PSU bronies with limited transportation options aren’t forgotten.

Sanders said there are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be a brony.

“What everyone thinks a brony is, is a middle-aged, grown adult male who lives in their parents’ basement watching a show about colorful ponies, which is not the case,” Sanders said.

In reality, a brony is simply a fan of the show that falls outside of the target demographic. Despite being derived from the word “bro,” both Sanders and Olmsted were adamant that the term brony is not gender-exclusive. Some adult female fans of the show opt to refer to themselves as “pegasisters.”

Olmsted said the fandom focuses exclusively on the recent reboot of the show and is not concerned with the series in its various past incarnations.

“Nothing in the past is worth watching,” Olmsted said. “We just pretend it doesn’t exist.”

Sanders said there are plans for the group to help at Everfree Northwest, the largest Brony convention on the West Coast.

Everfree Northwest is held in Seattle annually. This year, the convention is set to run July 4–6 at the Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center.

Sanders said that any member of the brony community interested in volunteering need only sign up through the convention’s website.

Miranda Sanders, William Sanders’ wife, said that she isn’t a brony, but she appreciates the community for its creativity and generosity.

“It’s about getting together and having fun,” Miranda Sanders said. “It’s not just because they like ponies; it’s because they all have fun together.

“And that’s coming from an outsider.”

For more information regarding the Brony Alliance for Magical Friendship, or to subscribe to the group’s newsletter, inquiries can be sent to bronies@pdx.edu

PSU’S BRONY ALLIANCE FOR MAGICAL FRIENDSHIP converses at Guardian Games.

BRITTNEY MUIR/PSU VANGUARD

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Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

ARTS & CULTURE

A GLUTTON’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING HUNGER PORTLAND ART MUSEUM HOSTS NEW GALLERY, 'FEAST AND FAMINE: THE PLEASURES AND POLITICS OF FOOD' ANDREW ECHEVERRIA

“Sir, we’re closing for the night. I’m turning out the lights now.”

An old mustachioed security guard’s stern voice broke my concentration, if only for a second, on the headless mannequin’s paper dress in front of me. The disposable “Souper Dress,” covered with repeating likenesses of Campbell’s soup cans, had been designed by the company in response to Andy Warhol’s iconic “Campbell’s Soup Cans” (1962). In the late 1960s, the dress could have well been mine had I sent in the labels of any two Campbell’s vegetable soups, $1 USD and my dress size.

I could feel the cheap paper material crinkle against my skin almost as vividly as I could taste thick tomato soup on the back of my tongue.

This decades-old advertisement, cashing in on the success of pop art, was working wonders on me.

“Feast and Famine: The Pleasures and Politics of Food,” the new exhibit on display at the Portland Art Museum, is full of thought-provoking works such as the aforementioned garb. Compiling art from around the world since 1850, the exhibit offers a look at how artists have used the seemingly prosaic subject of food to examine the self, reflect society and promote change. And it does so with a wide range of art: from Picasso to Pissarro, fine china to faux cookbooks.

“What first piqued my interest was, I noticed that we had

some beautiful artist-designed menus in our collection… and I started thinking about artists and food,” said Mary Weaver Chapin, curator of graphic art at the museum.

“I started with this core idea of looking at the private rituals of dining and these beautiful menus that were done for just a select group, and then I started thinking in broader terms. I realized that artists have been engaging with the topic of food for hundreds of years in many different ways: from very playful themes, like in pop art…to really serious themes about hunger, food production and animal rights.”

I’d remembered Chapin’s words earlier as I’d crossed from the vestibule into the gallery, struck by the abrupt change between the vibrant commercial-European poster art of the first and the bleak portraits of field laborers and starving children in the second. One moment I was soaking up Henri Privat-Livemont’s “Absinthe Robette,” a Belgian advertisement for the anise-flavored drink; the next I was buried in Jean-Francois Millet’s evocations of back-breaking agrarian life in the French countryside and Kathe Kollwitz’s lithographs of the hardships of the poor in post-World War I Germany.

“There’s not one message, but a host of themes that I hope will get people thinking about how food is consumed and how artists have engaged with this topic,” Chapin said.

And though it may more than likely be the fault of space and layout restrictions, the juxtaposition of these different thematic sections in “Feast and Famine” come across as more than slightly comical.

I had been intently studying Picasso’s “Le Repas Frugal,” depicting an emaciated couple sitting down to a very meager meal, when I heard the shrill cackle of a woman coming from directly behind the pillar Picasso’s etching was mounted on.

“Haha, well would you look at that? Whole pigs, $4.90 a pound! Haha!”

The work the woman and her family were so entertained by was an untitled piece in the pop art section of the exhibit by Robert Gober: a mock grocery store coupon insert advertising, you guessed it, whole pigs for $4.90 a pound.

As I tried to puzzle out how the price of a pig could be so humorous, I began to imagine Picasso’s couple reaching out, with their long spindly arms wrapped around the pillar, attempting to grab that whole hog, to fill their empty plate and their empty stomachs. They could even share a bit with Kollwitz’s starving children right next door, if they could only get their hands on it. A whole cooked pig right behind a starving crowd, just out of reach. What a world.

And then the lights went out.

As I passed the mustachioed security guard—who didn’t seem to like how slow-

‘SOUPER DRESS’ by Cambell’s Soup is now on exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.

ALEX HERNANDEZ/PSU VANGUARD

ly I was leaving—I took one last look at the Campbell’s “Souper Dress” and the rest of the incredible “Feast and Famine” gallery. How strange that such a seem-

ingly simple topic could be so well represented and thematically diverse, yet unified? I felt inspired. I felt awestruck. Most of all, I felt hungry.

When the lights came back on, I was in a grocery store with a basket full of Campbell’s soup, trying my damnedest to find some absinthe.

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ARTS & CULTURE

PSU’S SAXOPHONE STAR MAKES JAZZ LOOK EASY NICOLE GLOVER, armed with her saxaphone, is a rising star in PSU’s School of Music.

KERRY POLITZER

BRITTNEY MUIR/PSU VANGUARD

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Nicole Glover decided she had to play the saxophone after hearing jazz on her father’s car radio.

“My dad first started listening to jazz when I was only eight or nine; he discovered it,” Glover explained. “And then he would play it in the car and the house and I immediately took a liking to it.

The earliest records that my dad had were records from [John] Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. I just fell in love with the sound of the tenor saxophone. And I was pretty sure that that’s what I wanted to do.”

Now, at the tender age of 22, the Portland State senior has already performed at the Jazz à Vannes festival in France and recorded with pop-jazz celebrity Esperanza Spalding.

Glover’s musical philosophy is to maintain an active ear. “I try to check out as much as I can,” she said.

While she is especially influenced by saxophonists Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, she also counts French composer Maurice Ravel as a main inspiration.

“His music moves me in a special kind of way that very few people do,” she said.

Glover’s current projects are just as diverse as her listening routine. She is a member of pianist-composer Barra Brown’s group, which incorporates elements of pop and folk in an

improvisation-based music.

She also plays with R&B legend Ural Thomas. In addition, she plays and writes for an avant-garde free-jazz trio with drums and guitar.

“I’m trying all sorts of stuff!” she said.

As one of only three recipients of the William Bradford Mersereau, Jr. Endowed Scholarship, Glover feels endlessly grateful.

The scholarship, which was established by PSU music composition alumnus Brad Mersereau, is awarded to outstanding jazz instrumentalists and composers in their senior year.

“It’s just an amazing gift, a big help to push me through college, because I wasn’t sure I was going to finish at all,” Glover said.

She credits much of her recent success to PSU. “[The school] has definitely helped put my name out there,” Glover said.

Glover feels that PSU’s jazz program is unique because of the amount of personal attention paid to students’ musical development.

“The educators in the program…are sincerely committed and motivated to help the students progress, grow into themselves and learn as much as they can. At some schools, it seems like teachers show up, do their thing and leave. I just feel like that’s something special that

PSU has—that personal investment,” Glover said. “It’s more intimate.”

That close attention translates into deeper musical relationships between the students.

“There’s a community of people my age who really want to play, and I’ve made some very strong personal relationships with other PSU students that I learn a lot from. It’s not just learning from the teachers. Everyone learns from everyone,” Glover said.

PSU jazz professor Alan Jones said, “Nicole does every musical assignment with a sense of joy and wonder. She works consistently and very hard, but to the outside world that work appears effortless.”

The saxophonist has an exciting February planned.

Activities include several appearances at the PDX Jazz Festival, including a performance with the quartet of New York pianist Helen Sung and an onstage interview with saxophone prodigy Grace Kelly. Future goals of Glover’s include developing a body of original music, recording her own album and touring internationally.

“I would love if music could be a catalyst for me being able to see the world,” Glover said.

More information about Nicole Glover at www.nicoleglover.com

COVER

portland state vanguard

L O O H C S M L I F S Y A D I FR presents

written by

turner lobey and hannah griffith

SEAN BUCKNAM/PSU VANGUARD

Portland State’s local cinema house, 5th Avenue Cinema, has been a university staple for decades. Originally opening as the Cine-Mini Theater in October of 1970, it began as a first-run venue but quickly changed to an art house cinema. During the ‘80s, the cinema was shut down and acquired by PSU, where it was transformed into a nonprofit organization. What opened in 1989 was an entirely student-run theater, the only one of its kind in the state of Oregon. Since coming under student control, the cinema has emerged as a leading figure in Portland’s art house film scene.

For years, members of the theater have prided themselves on being “celluloid crusaders,” or advocates of traditional 35-millimeter film presentation. Despite this, the venue began the process of incorporating digital projection as an addition to film during the summer of 2013. While 35-millimeter is still the heart and soul of 5th Avenue Cinema, incorporating the digital medium allows them to expand their repertoire.

This quarter, 5th Avenue has plans to use the newly acquired digital projection to their advantage. No longer

content with simply screening films, PSU’s cinema will be taking education out of the classroom and putting it in the theater. In a new ongoing digital lecture series, 5th Avenue Cinema is creating an engaging cinematic experience that both entertains and educates.

Special Features The addition of a digital screening series at 5th Avenue is the first step in building a more community-driven theater. Breaking away from a passive viewing experience, the members of the studentdriven theater are shooting to

enhance the community’s involvement with a new digital lecture series.

“We’re calling it Special Features, and what we’ve essentially done is put together a time for PSU students and people in the community to come together,” said projectionist Evan Burchfield.

As an addition to their regular showings, viewers can come in several times throughout the term for the Special Features series.

Regular film-projected movies will still play in the main

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See FILM on page 12

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COVER FILM Continued from page 11 auditorium, while the new digital lecture series will be held in theater two, free and open to the public.

What each Special Features event offers is entirely unique. Presenters will introduce the movie before the viewing, but what follows will be different at each screening. The film could be followed by lectures, presentations or question-and-answer sessions. Each Special Features event will be a uniquely crafted presentation that one will only be able to experience once.

“The digital screening series incorporates a moderated discussion about the film that can range anywhere from technical aspects of the production to analyses of themes and ideas the films may bring up. It really depends on who’s involved in the discussion and where they decide to take it,” said projectionist Leif Fuller.

Script to screen The series is the brainchild of Cinema Coordinator Matt Ellis, who conceived it as a way to expand the scope of

the cinema’s involvement in screenings while simultaneously spreading a film education to incoming viewers.

For the past year, there has been talk between members of the student-run theater about ways to enhance the public’s involvement during screenings. Seeking to create an interactive experience where moviegoers can be informed as well as entertained, Ellis turned to his fellow cinema workers with the idea, and the project began to take form.

“What I planned to do when I got the job was to do additional screenings beyond the regular screenings. The idea is that beyond showing films, we engage in a broader discourse with a wider audience and engage with people who want to talk about film,” Ellis said.

“We can be more than just a theater. We can have a greater conversation. We can use what we have at the university educationally.

If our motto is ‘let knowledge serve the city,’ then we should do more than just

provide a place for people to watch movies.”

In a time of mass streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, which provide instantaneous access to thousands of films, it’s all too easy to critically disengage during a movie and take a surfacelevel reading of the film.

With Special Features, the cinema hopes to alter this type of viewing by inspiring critical thought and film inquiry.

“For me, the digital lecture series came from our interest to involve students in discussions about film.

We hope to broaden ideas about watching movies.

With today’s easy access to cinema, it’s too easy to passively watch a movie on your laptop and forget about it entirely,” Fuller said.

“The goal isn’t merely to provide an opportunity to see important, canonized films or talk about them the way you might in a car ride home…We can do more than just talking about why a character did something. There’s a story, context. That’s something you can’t get just by talking about character development. The goal is to introduce people to these ideas through films,” Ellis said.

COMING SOON

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A reel test As it stands, the project is entirely student-run. Students conceptualize, create and carry out each aspect.

In the future, they hope to incorporate faculty members and outside commentators for particular projects, but students will continue to be the masterminds. If a professor is an expert on a particular film, director or

topic relevant to what is being screened, the members of 5th Avenue Cinema hope to reach out to them to get involved with the discussion. “[The] desire was to make something that is integrated with the film department, if we can. And we’re trying to get cross-involvement right now so people in the film department can see great films and we can expose them to students and show

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them on the big screen,” Burchfield said.

Fall quarter saw the group experiment with a test run for the Special Features series. Screening four films specifically chosen to align with the goals of the series— Nosferatu, The Seventh Seal, Martyrs and 8 ½—the group dipped their toes in to the lecture waters, gauging what it would take to craft the most intriguing

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LEIF FULLER, a projectionist at 5th Avenue, plans to moderate a discussion about the films of Kenneth Anger next month.

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COVER and enlightening presentations possible.

On good nights, attendance for the digital screening was equivalent to that of the main theater’s showings. Each night proved to be a learning experience for those involved.

“Every one was a challenge. Nosferatu was good; there were about 30 people that went to that. Martyrs is the one where everyone left because it’s so extreme and shocking and we didn’t even have a discussion about that. It was all a test run,” Ellis said. “[It was a chance to] see the audience and hear what they were talking about. It was definitely a trial run for sure. We were experimenting with group discussions so they weren’t intimidating,” Burchfield said. “I think I learned that the discussions have to be casual and encouraging for people to notice things and acknowledge things in the movie.”

sion of Joan of Arc and a collection of short films entitled A Night of Anger: The Films of Kenneth Anger, were chosen for being important works in film history that the group feels demand examination and conversation.

“We planned [the lecture series] to be a little more than ‘Hey, here’s a few movies.’ We’re trying to build an audience and provide something that interests people.

We want to design something that is meaningful and worthwhile. Otherwise we’re just standing around talking about movies, which is fun,

but would be betraying the opportunity we have with this cinema,” Ellis said.

Kicking off on Friday with In the Mood for Love, the group sets to explore the importance of the film and examine the impact director Kar Wai Wong had on global cinema.

“Generally, these movies mattered in their time. Because they mattered in their time, they’ve lasted. And that’s something we’re trying to talk about,” Burchfield said.

This type of examination will continue with future films in the series. For spring term, Fuller has plans for a

series that would examine films of the New Hollywood/ American New Wave film scene of the 1960s through the 1980s.

“People didn’t know what to expect when watching films like Easy Rider, Badlands and Apocalypse Now. Not only were these films exciting and wellmade, but they spoke to a new generation of people frustrated with the country’s social and political turmoil,” Fuller said.

“Right now I’m interested in the overlooked films that brought the death of

the New Hollywood era.

While directors were given free rein to transform their passion projects into a big-budgeted reality, these films lost money and were ignored by the general public in favor of more traditional blockbusters. While they were still fantastic pictures, these films were virtually ignored for years but are now getting beautiful HD transfers from original negatives thanks to a growing support for specially treated video release, and we’re happy to feature them in our lineup.”

Coming soon As time passes and Special Features evolves, the members of 5th Avenue Cinema hope to continue to do the best they can while expanding their audience, because creating a stable sense of community where film education is encouraged is their most important goal.

“The digital series is allowing us to be more of a part of the PSU community in an intellectual way. If you want to have a good educational and entertaining experience you can go to 5th Avenue Cinema,” Burchfield said.

5TH AVENUE CINEMA’S ongoing digital lecture series marks one of the theater’s steps in branching out from 35mm film.

Showtime Currently, the group is in the process of gearing up for the winter term’s Special Features run. The films selected for this quarter, In the Mood for Love, Rashomon, The Night of the Hunter, The Pas-

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CORINNA SCOTT/PSU VANGUARD

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13

OPINION

MAKING TIME FOR LOVE WHEN SCHOOL GETS CRAZY “Do you need more time alone to work on school stuff?

Tell them. Do you need more attention? Tell them. Do you feel like your needs are not being met? Tell them.

Many of these topics can get touchy, so remain calm, rational, open-minded and understanding.”

The Cuddlefish

by Adam LaMascus Last term, due to some miscommunications and misunderstandings, I wound up taking double the suggested course load for graduate students. While it is nice to effectively have two terms under my belt after one term at Portland State, I didn’t exactly have much free time.

Needless to say, this negatively impacted my relationship with my girlfriend. I became upset because she was going out to do things, and though I was invited, I was unable to go. Being stuck at home working on yet another damn paper was incredibly depressing. We were both upset because the volume and quality of our sex declined. For the roughly 70 percent of women who can’t orgasm just through vaginal intercourse, it takes time and concentration to bring them to orgasm; neither of which I had.

However, we worked through it. Things between us are just as good as ever, and probably even better now that I am not on an insane schedule. As college students, it is almost certain that you will find yourselves in similar situations, where you or your partner—or both of you—will have little time for each other. It is important to realize that those situations, while never pleasant, need not end your relationship.

First, there’s the sheer importance of communication with your partner. Talk to them as often as you can. Talk about your schedules, what you have to do and what you need, both in a personal and professional sense. It is worth mentioning that you do not necessarily need to talk a lot, but rather shoot for quality over quantity. Obviously if you are a quieter individual, it can’t be expected for you to be a chatterbox.

Anyway, discuss your feelings and your needs, and also listen closely to what your partner is needing and feeling themselves. Do you need more time alone to work on school stuff?

Tell them. Do you need more attention? Tell them. Do you feel like your needs are not being met? Tell them. Many of these topics can get touchy, so remain calm, rational, open-minded and understanding. Also, if you want to keep things calm or de-escalate a brewing argument from one of these discussions, never ever include these phrases in your conversation:

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CHRISTOPHER PERALTA/PSU VANGUARD

1. Calm down.

2. I don’t see what the problem is.

3. I don’t see why you’re upset.

4. You’re being irrational.

5. Are you on your period?

It’s important to be honest, too; it can become easy to just respond “I’m fine,” when asked, “Are you alright?” because you don’t want to hurt their feelings or don’t want to burden them somehow. An astute partner will be able to tell you are not telling the truth, which will only distress them further. Or, if you are like me and wear your heart on your sleeve, it won’t take an astute partner to notice you are not being honest.

Also, make time to do romantic things with your partner.

Figure out when you have some leeway or free time and do something thoughtful and fun with them. Having fun together

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is essential, and the effort you have made will mean a lot to them. To be fair, this is a general relationship rule as well, it just takes on an extra level of importance in times of stress and busy schedules. Small things are doable and make a disproportionate impact. Snuggle, eat ice cream, watch an episode or two of a mutually-loved TV show, etc. These small things often make all the difference.

Lastly, it is often helpful to talk about or generally plan what you are going to do when your schedules open up. Depending on you and your partner’s relationship, tell them with a dash of humor, sugar or spice what you want to do with or to them when you have free time again. I’m personally a fan of the saucy type of talk. Conversations like that can be funny or titillating and will serve to act as a moment of levity, in addition to reminding all parties involved that the situation you are in is temporary and surmountable.

OPINION

THE BRILLIANCE OF BEYONCÉ HOW MARKETING COMPROMISES ART The Pop Culture Ephebe

by Joshua Benson

Oh man, Beyoncé really did it this time. If you haven’t experienced her new self-titled album, the rock you’re living under must be warm and well-decorated. Beyoncé infuses experimental hip-pop, sudsy sex, arrogant feminism, motherhood, death and pop cheese in one phantasmagoric visual release.

The most exciting thing though, is the way destiny’s most blessed child avoided the fabled marketing campaign, requisite leak and weight of critical reception by releasing the surprise album suddenly through an Instagram post.

The first thing that gets me jazzed about this is the popular audience’s response. The internet teemed with instant feedback, from those who sang Beyoncé’s praises to others who created countless GIFs out of the already iconic music videos. As pop critics scrambled to publish rushed, insignificant reviews, and Target wept like a dessert-denied toddler in the corner, word of mouth shot the album past significance into phenomenon. Without reviews or anticipation to fulfill or disappoint expectations, the public was given the primary voice in deciding the album’s quality.

The internet seems to have reached its full pop potential with Beyoncé. While there are still some problems like leaking and product overflow, the internet creates accessibility that allows audiences to have their own say.

Similar to Mrs. Carter, Netflix originals—particularly Orange is the New Black—gained popularity by word of mouth.

Surprise and bulk releases allow a democratized voice to decide pop art consumption and flatten the hierarchy of opinion.

I personally think Orange is the New Black is completely disorganized and overwrought, and that it whores out television tropes as if its audience isn’t totally post-“Who shot JR?” and I feel comfortable saying that, because the only people whose voices matter are average viewers just like me!

The marketing process that these releases avoid has become way too bloated in other instances. Marketing and image invention during the months leading up to album releases has become as much of a release as the album itself. We saw it with Lady Gaga’s new album Artpop, which a lot of music writers think paled in financial and critical comparison due to Gaga’s focal shift from Born this Way’s fight for the outcast to a more alienating concern with art and obscurity. I don’t know enough

BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD

about Lady Gaga’s audience to confidently agree. However, I do think Gaga’s loss of popularity signifies something important about contemporary pop music. The marketing campaign and the personality pop music artists attach to their albums sway public and critical opinion. Honestly, Lady Gaga’s new album struck me as just as annoying and addictive as her other ones, so I can’t logically conceive of her loss in popularity except to see it as an effect of her persona.

Then there’s the idea of an artist’s long-term narrative and how each album factors into that. Arcade Fire has released great stuff for the last ten years. Their hit debut Funeral and its equally melting follow-up Neon Bible made the band sad-kid rock icons. Next, they came out with something a little rockier and mainstream, The Suburbs, and that overrated gem got them the Grammy for album of the year. These brilliant Canadians had lived the American dream, rising through talent from the bottom to the tippity top.

This year they came out with something a little more experimental. No matter how brilliant the album was (and it was), critics were just overjoyed at the opportunity to bring them down a peg. Reviewers can throw around the album’s length as much as they want, but nobody’s going to convince me that Reflektor’s lukewarm reception has to do with anything other than preconceived notions about the narrative of their career.

You can almost see the reviewer’s self-confident smirk when he or she writes about Reflektor as a comparative disappoint-

ment. The indie rock “it” kids have gotten enough praise at this point, or something equally petty like that.

The point with both Gaga and Arcade Fire is that the marketing campaign and the narrative surrounding an artist’s career attaches a sense of disappointment or satisfaction to each release. Audience expectations rely on the way these artists act or even exist outside of their music, which is sort of insignificant when it comes down to it. This is why the surprise release is so genius. Beyoncé shocked the listener out of preconceived notions and forced them to evaluate the release on its own. I haven’t heard anybody mention that they’re disappointed that she doesn’t use heavy choreography “like she always used to.”

Something similar happens in the case of Netflix Originals.

Viewers watch whatever crops up on their screens, without any of those marketing or critical impositions on their opinion. There’s no running marketing or critical dialogue to suggest what the show will, may or should be, because it comes as one cohesive story. In other words, bulk releases require valuing final assessments as opposed to those based on the way something’s pitched in ads, or in episode-by-episode grading systems. The audience chooses to be in or out and can decide what they think from a blank slate instead of a narrative surrounding the show.

The untethered release gives a voice to all: the viewer, the artist and even the critic.

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OPINION

Remembering the important people who died in 2013 Why those who change the world matter more than celebrities

Global Thinking

by Derek Sun

The end of every year features the media compiling lists of famous people who died, and whom certain journalists and critics have deemed worthy of being memorialized. I read through Time magazine’s list of several dozen politicians, chefs, singers, actors and writers who had shuffled off this mortal coil in 2013, and I was reminded for the umpteenth time that we had lost folks such as Lou Reed, Paul Walker and Cory Monteith, and never would we have any new movies, albums or tabloid covers with their faces on them.

Virtually all of the celebrity obituary anthologies included the same people, whether they came from Entertainment Weekly, The Daily Beast or GQ. It eventually dawned on me that all of these lists were terribly incomplete: Instead of featuring the most important people who had recently passed on and improved our world, the lists instead glorify people who need fame the least. Where was the inclusion of Frederick Sanger, the Nobel Prize-winning British biochemist who advanced our understanding of proteins and nucleic acids, dramatically increasing our knowledge of biology and medicine?

Why did no one mention Cuban American playwright Oscar Hijuelos, or Irish poet Seamus Heaney? How come I had heard of the death of Robert Edwards, the co-inventor of in vitro fertilization and winner of a Nobel Prize, only from the BBC and The New York Times, but never from anywhere else?

After some further searches through Google, I learned of the lives and deaths of dozens of accomplished scientists, inventors, artists, writers, soldiers and activists, many of whom I had barely heard of in the past. I felt ashamed that while I unintentionally

What about me?!

I discovered in vitro fertilization.

ALAN HERNANDEZ-AGUILAR/PSU VANGUARD

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possessed quite a bit of knowledge about Z-list Hollywood celebrities and media fixtures who were famous for being famous, I could not elaborate much on the epidemiological discoveries of David Barker or the literature of Richard Matheson.

It seemed perversely unfair to me that people who indulge in drugs and affairs and provide work for paparazzi are fondly remembered and praised, while people who labored hard, avoided making public nuisances of themselves and produced great discoveries or works of art receive, at most, a lengthy and appreciative tribute in a newspaper.

The people we remember most say a lot about the state of our society and our values, and the assessments are sobering. Too often we find that the vast majority of people one meets can discuss at length the accomplishments, both savory and unsavory, of people such as Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse or Whitney Houston. The fact remains that, despite all of their talent and contributions to the world, these people were celebrities through and through.

They may have amazed us with wild dance moves and impressive vocals, but they torpedoed their reputations with drug use, irresponsibility, alleged child molestation and a host of other crimes. Meanwhile, the true role models and hard workers of the world live quietly and receive next to no recognition for their success in staying on the straight and narrow path.

There are many reasons why our world suffers from so many issues currently, but our adulation of celebrities and our firm belief that “entertainers are the popes of our age,” as writer Thedore Dalrymple puts it, is certainly a major factor in impeding any social progress we can make. We place our interest and faith in the people who least deserve to be lauded, while we ignore and marginalize people who have provided us with the inventions, medicines, techniques and pastimes that make our lives better.

Our world is still easily summed up by “The First Class Passenger,” a short story by Russian writer Anton Chekhov.

While it is not Chekhov’s longest or most creative story, it is undoubtedly one of his most relevant works.

An eminent engineer sitting on a train bemoans the fact that while he has built bridges, made scientific discoveries and avoided corruption, he remains obscure, while uncouth and unattractive singers and actors are frequently lionized by the media and known by all people across Russia. Even after receiving awards for his engineering work and publishing academic articles, the engineer Krikunov is hardly ever mentioned by the newspapers, while the actress he had an affair with is praised to the skies.

“Talent, you say? Genius? Originality? Not a bit of it, sir!…

People have lived and made a career side by side with me who were worthless, trivial, and even contemptible compared with me. They did not do one-tenth of the work I did, did not put themselves out, were not distinguished for their talents, and did not make an effort to be celebrated, but just look at them!

Their names are continually in the newspapers and on men’s lips!” Krikunov exclaims.

“Are Russian navigators, chemists, physicists, mechanicians, and agriculturists popular with the public? Do our cultivated masses know anything of Russian artists, sculptors, and literary men?” When Krikunov’s conversation partner asks him if he is familiar with the name Pushkov, Krikunov admits that he does not. The man reveals himself to be Pushkov and points out that he is also a distinguished academic with 35 years of teaching experience and numerous published works.

Chekohv’s lesson is as biting and true as ever. We remember those we ought to forget, and we forget those we ought to remember.

OPINION

DEFUNDINGATHLETICS, PRIORITIZING ACADEMICS Guest Column

by Keegan Meyer

If Portland State students actually want to have an athletics program at PSU, then we’d be willing to fund it through our student fees. So why hasn’t anyone advocated for that? It’s simple.

Students already pay thousands of dollars to attend PSU, and I doubt anyone wants to pay more money to go here. Keeping tuition and fee costs frozen for students is already an incredibly difficult and complex task. Over the past decade state funding for higher education has decreased across the nation.

Unfortunately, Oregon ranks near the bottom in state support for universities. State funding now contributes to less than 14 percent of PSU’s operations. Thus, PSU will have to cut $15 million from the next academic year’s general overhead budget. PSU’s administration is still determining how to handle this shortfall.

Before I pitch why defunding athletics could serve as an effective method for handling this shortfall, I must admit that defunding programs is not a sustainable solution. The lack of stable and adequate funding for Oregon’s Department of Education is by far the most important issue to address. However, convincing the state to increase and stabilize funding for education is an ongoing battle. Despite the need to resolve that systemic issue, PSU unfortunately still needs to figure out where to cut $15 million.

Why do students attend PSU? To get an education, acquire a degree and become qualified for more jobs. If PSU’s administration truly values strengthening futures for the majority of students, defunding athletics would serve as an effective method.

To clarify, I’m not suggesting defunding the Rec Center and intramurals. Athletics refers to the official sports teams. Defunding PSU’s athletics would simply free up a lot of money. An estimated $2,265,445 would be saved from the general overhead budget and $3,702,909 would be saved from student fees.

Fun fact of the day: 25 percent of total student fees went to PSU’s athletics department this year.

What’s the student fee? Any person who is currently enrolled for one or more credit hours at PSU pays it. Student fees are used to fund university programs and services that, in addition to the traditional academic elements of the university, further the cultural or physical development of the students at large. What does this have to do with PSU athletics? If PSU’s athletics program receives no funding, not only would PSU be able to significantly account for the general overhead budget shortfall, but other vital university areas such as the professors, the Rec Center, Smith Memorial Student Union, etc. will

have a better opportunity to sustain and/or improve funding without increasing tuition and fee costs for students.

Last year PSU athletics spent $447,000 more than it gained in revenue. From a business model perspective, PSU athletics does not develop enough revenue to break even. The university takes a hit to keep the program alive. That may not be the case if more students and people in general attended games and bought more merchandise. Ask a student, and you’ll discover that the majority of the over 28,000 students enrolled have not attended or participated in an athletics event.

A study shows that when University of Oregon’s football team was winning, students celebrated more and the average GPA gradually declined. Developing a more popular athletic program may damage PSU’s academic progress and goals. Regardless, in order to recruit better athletes, increase revenue and improve facilities for athletics, more money that PSU doesn’t have will be required.

Despite plans for the Viking Pavilion, PSU will still be constrained by facilities. There’s only one field on campus: the Peter W. Stott field. Students can’t play soccer or Ultimate Frisbee whenever they choose because the Peter W. Stott field is often reserved for practices and club sports. For example, the football and softball teams practice on the same field, even though there isn’t a softball diamond. Having only one field to meet the demands of all campus activities proves that PSU wasn’t prepared for a large athletics program. PSU’s campus can feasibly only grow vertically. How can an athletics program sustain or improve with such constraints?

A large reason why PSU has an athletics program is because it’s utilized as a marketing tool. Yet, developing national recognition for PSU’s brand doesn’t have to incorporate an athletics program. Funding for a program that most other large

universities have as well doesn’t uniquely market PSU. The university sets itself apart from all of the other Oregon universities for one reason alone: the city of Portland. Students attend PSU to integrate into the city more than the campus. PSU could benefit by marketing itself as a university that’s focused toward a student’s academic success and intellectual stimulation through engagement with the city.

Athletics does provide opportunities for those who only make it to college because of athletic scholarships. Without sports, many would never consider college an option at all.

Still, I find it problematic that people assume lower-income backgrounds and minorities have to “kick a ball” to get into college. If PSU is actually concerned about this issue, they could always choose to compensate the lack of scholarships they give through athletics by allocating funds to offer meritbased scholarships strictly to minority groups. If PSU athletics is committed to equal opportunity, then shouldn’t they recruit whoever is the best athlete available and ignore demographics anyway? Sure, athletics provides opportunities for historically oppressed communities. However, isn’t the actual intention of the athletic program to win more games, generate more attention and make more money for PSU? Overall, preventing raises in tuition and sustaining opportunities for academic areas at PSU to flourish is more of a priority than athletics. If PSU’s administration truly values strengthening the futures of the majority of students, defunding athletics would serve as an effective method to handling this budget shortfall. To those who disagree with me, please note that I’m solely trying to make a better PSU for future students before I graduate.

To learn more or sign the petition, visit www.change.org/ petitions/defund-portland-state-university-s-athletics-program

©HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG/PETITIONS/DEFUND-PORTLAND-STATE-UNIVERSITY-S-ATHLETICS-PROGRAM

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

17

SPORTS SCORES

UPCOMING

PSU MEN’S BASKETBALL

PSU MEN’S BASKETBALL

SOUTHERN UTAH PSU

Top Performers: DaShaun Wiggins, 15 points

PSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

PSU SOUTHERN UTAH

Top Performers: Mikaela Rivard, 16 points

PSU TRACK AND FIELD

CHERRY AND SILVER COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL Top Performers: Gifton Okoronkwo, triple jump of 14.54m

NBA

PORTLAND GOLDEN STATE

Top Performers: Wes Matthews, 21 points

WHL

PORTLAND EVERETT

Top Performers: Oliver Bjorkstrand, 3 goals, 1 assist

64 NORTHERN COLORADO vs. PSU 67 THURS. 1/30 7:05 p.m. | STOTT CENTER NORTH DAKOTA vs. PSU SAT. 2/1 7:05 p.m. | STOTT CENTER

60 PSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 69 PSU @ NORTHERN COLORADO THURS. 1/30 6:00 p.m.

PSU @ NORTH DAKOTA SAT. 2/1 12:00 p.m.

PSU MEN’S TENNIS

IDAHO vs. PSU SUN. 2/2 10 a.m.

CLUB GREEN MEADOWS | VANCOUVER, WA PSU WOMEN’S TENNIS

88 PSU @ OREGON 103 SUN. 2/2 3 p.m.

PSU TRACK AND FIELD

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 6 INVITATIONAL FRI.–SAT. 1/31–2/1 | SEATTLE, WA 2 NBA

MEMPHIS vs. PORTLAND TUES. 1/28 7:00 p.m. | MODA CENTER WHL

EVERETT vs. PORTLAND WED. 1/29 7:00 p.m. | MEMORIAL COLISEUM

DEFUNDING ATHLETICS? IT’S A SLIPPERY SLOPE JOEL GUNDERSON

Recently a petition surfaced regarding the full-on cutting of athletics at Portland State in response to the school’s budgetary crisis.

The man behind the petition, KPSU manager Keegan Meyer, states that with PSU’s nearly $15 million budget deficit, cutting athletics altogether—the football team was made “self-sufficient” earlier this year—would be a giant step forward in alleviating the crisis.

Point taken. But I needed to hear more, so I went to the man himself.

Keegan was open, forthcoming and candid about his petition and what it stands for. He made it clear that his intent was not to bury athletics in general, but simply to do what’s best for the university and all that encompasses it. That’s understandable, and quite frankly, he makes a lot of valid points in his argument.

But cutting athletics is just putting a Band-Aid on a situation that needs much more.

The school’s budget committee has bounced figures around—some say the $15

million is overblown—but the fact remains that cutting athletics would only drop the number to $12 million, $10 million if we’re being generous. What you’re left with is a major college in a big city that has no athletic department and a deficit that is still too big to ignore.

Meyer’s arguments, as I said, are valid. Last year the school spent $447,000 more than it gained. For a school like PSU, athletics don’t drive the budget like they do at other schools. However, the point that is being pushed to the side is that cutting the entire athletic department would put off a major part of the student population: the athletes themselves.

Look up and down the roster for the major sports teams, and they are littered with kids from out of state who are here for an opportunity that may not have been given elsewhere. These kids are transplanting to Portland to see how great the city is, get an education and make themselves better people.

Can we deny them that opportunity because the

school wants to cut a small chunk of their budget off?

That seems worse to me than anything.

PSU’s motto is “Let knowledge serve the city,” which is one of Keegan’s arguments toward putting more emphasis on academics. But no one is denying that focusing on academics is a must and should receive viable attention. However, this is college: a time to grow as a person, inside the classroom and out.

For many athletes, the lessons they learn on the playing field are more valuable than anything they could learn sitting in a lecture. Sports help people learn how to work as a team and how to lean on someone else while strengthening yourself in the process.

It’s about learning to come together as one; it’s about sportsmanship and leadership—tools that are necessary when these young men and women graduate and go out into the real world.

It’s a nice thought that money saved from cutting sports would be well spent; it could help aid in lowering student costs and help raise teachers’

salaries. Or it could be spent in other ways, where no one would benefit and only the people at the top are rewarded.

It’s no secret that at major universities the highest of the high are paid as such, and others are left to squabble over the crumbs. And while no one can say that is what would happen, you must ask yourself: What has the school done lately that would give you faith in them?

It’s easy to sit and state facts about this issue, either for or against. But it’s not a black and white issue— there’s too much grey. And in reality, there’s not even a right or wrong, there’s simply doing what’s right. Don’t deny these kids the chance to shine. Don’t take away an opportunity that could change their lives forever.

Cutting athletics is a temporary stop-gap to a problem that is so much bigger.

Unfortunately, the wounds it would open up would be deeper than the ones it would close.

Where do you stand on the petition to defund athletics?

Weigh in at psuvanguard.com

SPORTS can build relationships among teams and the PSU community.

NUMBER OF EVENTS RUNNER JAZMIN RATCLIFF HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AFTER ONLY TWO MEETS. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE BRENNER

18

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

SPORTS

WOMEN’S HOOPS SHOWCASES BLOSSOMING NEW PLAYERS

DESPITE A LOSING RECORD, THE YOUTH MOVEMENT SHOWS SERIOUS POTENTIAL JAY PENGELLY

As prominent veterans miss games, some of the younger players on the Portland State women’s basketball team have emerged. It may be time to look toward the future.

After losing to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds Thursday the team fell to 3–5 in the Big Sky Conference, which is good for ninth place out of 11, and 5–12 overall.

The coaching staff will continue to try and win; it’s their job, and you never know what could happen in a smaller conference like the Big Sky. “It’s conference season. Every game is a different challenge. With our schedule and our conference, there’s no game that’s going to be an easy one,” said second-year assistant coach Brad Strickland.

“The magic number, at least for last year, was seven wins.”

The team’s Montana road trip was rough; the Lady Vikings lost a pair of games, as well as emotional leader, senior big Angela Misa, to a season-ending knee injury.

This is the second straight year Misa’s season has been

cut short. She finished her season with three straight double-doubles and averages of 11 points, 9 rebounds, and shooting almost 50 percent.

In a two game homestand against Sacramento State and Northern Arizona, senior guard Kate Lanz was benched for violation of team rules. Senior forward Keaton McFadden was also benched for one game. Lanz later returned to action against Southern Utah; she did not start but played down the stretch, logging 30 minutes and scoring 14 points.

Into the gulf came sophomore guard Emily Esom and freshmen Delanie Parry and Lauren Holt, who both started their first collegiate game in PSU’s win over the Sacramento State Hornets.

The pair of first year players had career nights: Holt scored 18 and pulled down 8 boards, while for Parry it was all about lucky number seven.

She had that many points, assists and rebounds (the latter two career highs), in addition to only two turnovers as the primary ballhandler. She sur-

EMILY ESOM is one of several underclassmen stepping up for the Viks.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY LAWSON

prised many by also notching three blocks, and tying Misa for the season high. Parry, at 5’6’’, is the shortest player on the Vikings squad.

Parry’s contributions were expected by some. “Delanie Parry is not a surprise. We thought she was going to come in and play right away and that’s what she’s doing,” said Strickland.

In these recent games Esom has emerged as the Lady Vikings go-to offensive

player. While only a sophomore, Esom logged serious minutes as a true freshman when she played 26 games, starting in 10. In her first year she was third on the team in three pointers with 24 and averaged 5.4 points per game.

Sporting her signature headband and playing with her signature hustle, Esom has averaged 17.2 points in the last five games, racking up 13 of her team-leading 30 three-pointers.

Finding outside offense is an area the Vikings struggled with early in the season. “We’ve got to be able to make shots, especially from the perimeter,” said Strickland.

Lanz is certainly capable of creating her own shot, forward Allie Brock is an accurate spotup shooter and now with Esom showing her adroit ability, this team should be able to score against anyone.

The defensive side of the game remains the ques-

tion. With Misa out, the porous interior defense of PSU will only get worse.

Their strengths appear to be guard play and timely three-point shooting.

If all the young weapons this team possesses can get the minutes and touches they have earned, and the seniors can lead as their experience would suggest, the PSU women’s basketball team may just get to that magic number of seven conference wins.

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

19

SPORTS TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Last week this space was filled with a column from Alex Moore bemoaning the proliferation of Bay Area sports fans in Portland—specifically 49ers fans on the Portland State campus. While the results of last week’s NFC championship game will probably curtail some of the visible signs of San Francisco sports allegiance around town, Alex’s column set off some fierce debate in the Vanguard newsroom. Here are a few words from Production Manager Sean Bucknam to take up the side of the non-native Oregonian sports fan: Dear Alex Moore, You grew up in the Northwest and you have every right to cheer for whatever teams you choose to support. I grew up in California and am an avid fan. In this day and age people move all over the country for various reasons—school, a job, or just to try something new and experience a different region of our country.

I’m sorry that people who cheer for other teams offend you, but just because I switched cities doesn’t mean my loyalties changed as well. What kind of fan would I be? If a job took you to Los Angeles would you all of a sudden become a Lakers fan? Or would you be the one guy in the middle of a Southern California bar wearing your Rip City jersey with pride?

It’s true with any fanbase outside of their respective city that you tend to see more paraphernalia when the team is winning. As fans we show our pride and want to flaunt it a bit more when we have something to back it up. Personally, however, I’ll wear my Dodgers, Lakers, and 49ers gear whenever a game is on. Win or lose, I bleed those colors.

I’m also humble about my teams. I trash talk a bit, but I’m no homer either. I recognize when the opposing team plays well. The NFC championship was an example of that. For the majority of the game the 49ers made the Seahawks look amateurish and dealt well with the 12th Man. However, the last 5 minutes were all Seahawks. Playing the entire 60 minutes of a game is what defines champions, and the 49ers couldn’t close.

So congratulations to your team on a hard fought effort. I hope Peyton Manning lights Richard Sherman and the rest of the Seahawks up.

Sincerely, Sean Bucknam

Lively banter and provincial animosity are part of what makes sports so interesting. Just remember that sportsmanship should extend from the field to the bleachers, so play nice! And if your differences of opinion are irreconcilable find something that everyone can agree on—Go Viks!

Jesse Tomaino Vanguard Sports Desk

CALLING ALL SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS

PSU RACQUETS TUNED UP AND READY CLAUDE AKINS

“I’m more excited than I’ve ever been,” said Marina Todd, senior on the Portland State women’s tennis team, who opened their season at the Indoor Tennis Championships in Corvallis Jan. 17.

Ranked eighth in the Big Sky Conference (the men’s team was ranked ninth) by a preseason coaches poll, the tone of Todd was not merely optimistic, it was brimming with excitement.

Excitement in the PSU tennis program is not unusual— it’s the way they play tennis. Junior communications major Brent Wheeler, who had a strong preseason and advanced to the round of 32 in singles at the Nordstrom Open in November, was more than ready to begin the season against the 52-ranked University of Oregon.

“I’m so excited, I’m ready to go. I’ve been waiting for this day,” laughs Wheeler.

One gets the impression when talking with the players and coaches that this eagerness to play is not merely an ideal or a preseason routine, but the basis of their approach to tennis.

Coaches Toby Krauel and Jay Sterling have had the pleasure to personally recruit the majority of the players.

Krauel, who coaches the men’s team (which until this year was also coached by

Sterling) has recruited two players, and Sterling, for the first time in his career, will field a team constituted entirely of players he recruited.

This means that the excited approach is a direct result of the coaches’ visions for their teams.

“I want guys that are still passionate about tennis,” says Krauel. “A lot of guys when they hit college and get a scholarship, or hit the D-1 level, they feel like they’ve peaked.”

These players—both men and women—don’t feel as if they’ve peaked. Hardly. In fact, they feel as if they’ve just begun.

Dané Vorster, a transfer student from Australia who came to Portland for the exposure and opportunity offered by American athletics, says that she hopes to one day play professional tennis.

Playing tennis professionally is hard (and also economically backward, to the point where one can actually lose money while winning a tournament), but to Vorster and her teammates, playing hard and working hard is the status quo—so much so that the PSU women’s tennis team has an astounding cumulative GPA of 3.9.

Krauel had similar sentiments. “I want every guy to graduate and I want them to graduate with honors.”

This may seem like a lot of pressure, but it is simply everyday business in the PSU tennis program. They play with heart. Or as Krauel put it, “If I have to dive, I dive.”

One can tell immediately when talking with the coaches and players, or while watching as the players compete against each other during practice, that this goes far beyond simply winning and losing. It is about being passionate, working hard and caring for what you do.

“We don’t fill stadiums,” said Sterling—home games are played at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, Wash.—“but that doesn’t mean we’re any less important.”

In the end, this excitement and work ethic comes natural to our PSU tennis program and this, as coach Sterling pointed out, is great for PSU. “The faces of these girls is the face of PSU. We work hard, and we win and lose with grace and class.”

Todd probably summed it up best, thinking about her final season at PSU: “I want to end with a bang. I don’t want to have any regrets, or look back and think I could’ve worked harder.”

The first conference match for women’s tennis is Feb. 9 at Northern Colorado. The men play Idaho next: Feb. 2 at Club Green Meadows.

MORGAN GOVI, one of the top three Vikings tennis players expected to do well at the Big Sky Conference, practices at the Stott Center.

THE VANGUARD IS LOOKING FOR Sports Writers Apply online @ psuvanguard.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY LAWSON

20

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

SPORTS

VIKINGS TRACK AND FIELD SETS THE BAR HIGH Both the men’s and women’s teams have Big Sky hopes ALEX MOORE

The Portland State Vikings have begun their 2014 track and field season, starting off the year with indoor meets which will ultimately lead up to the Big Sky Conference indoor championships.

That meet is a long way off, but preparation begins now for head coach Ronnye Harrison and his team.

PSU is coming off a very successful 2013 season in which Harrison saw his women compete for a Big Sky championship in both the indoor and outdoor season. Unfortunately the women fell just short, finishing second place in both seasons.

The goal this season is the same as last year’s: to challenge for a Big Sky championship.

Ultimately, the Vikings hope to be in the same position as last year—if not better—when it’s all said and done. However, there is a major difference between this year’s and last year’s teams: seniors.

The men did not have the same success as the women, but saw a season of growth in which their athletes set themselves up for the future.

Now the men are hoping to work their way up in the conference. Mid-table is the goal for the Vikings at the Big Sky championships, which would be a large improvement over the last few seasons, which have seen the men finish around the bottom.

Last year’s seniors played an important role in getting the team to the second place finish by getting PSU points in the Big Sky championship.

But even with a young crew this time around, the Vikings coaching staff has not lowered their expectations at all.

“We graduated a lot of potent point scorers,” assistant coach Johnathan Marcus said. “A lot of the coaches this year were kind of sweating bullets, thinking where are we going to make up the deficit, but we’ve actually been able to reload with a lot of young, talented recruits.

They’ve really proved themselves in training, and their first race at [the University of Washington].”

The track and field squad was very successful at the University of Washington, which concluded with eleven Vikings qualifying for the Big Sky Conference tournament. Continuing with the trend of youth, six of the Vikings’ qualifying times came from underclassmen. One of those underclassmen was sophomore T-Roy Brown, who broke the PSU record in the 3,000-meter. His time is also currently second in the conference.

The success continued up in Seattle with junior Jazmin Ratcliff. The sprinter qualified for the championship meet in the 60-meter dash with a time

HIGH JUMPER CECELIA JACKSON qualified for the Big Sky Indoor Championships in two events at the meet on Jan. 18.

COURTESY OF LARRY LAWSON

of 7.65 seconds. She also qualified in the 60-meter hurdles.

This meet took place on Jan. 18, very early in the indoor season that runs until March.

Even though the Vikings want to peak in late February, this meet was a good preview of what PSU can accomplish this season.

One of the reasons the Vikings could be successful this season is a very large squad.

Coach Harrison and his staff have a lot of athletes to work with, who could all potentially step up if other athletes have problems.

“Having a large team will help raise the level of ability for all the athletes on our team,” Marcus said.

“It also helps with flexibility, in terms of what kind of team we can bring to specific meets during the regular season. If someone is sick, banged up or stressed, it allows us to bring more bodies in different events to represent the university well. It’s also more fun to see more Portland State athletes at a meet.

It shows that our track and field squad is alive, healthy and excelling.”

This big group of Vikings is exciting for the coaching staff because of the potential they have. When a large group like this is so young, there is no way to know how much they can accomplish, and for the athletes, that makes them want to do as well as possible.

“We feel like we have the firepower,” Marcus said.

“With the youth, there is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. They bring a fresh perspective and attitude and they are hungry. They are a really hungry group

who wants to accomplish as much as they can.”

After returning from the Cherry and Silver Collegiate Invitational in New Mexico where they inset results Monday. The Vikings will compete next at the UW Invitational, on Jan. 31. That meet is the first of three meets, leading up to the Big Sky Championships on Feb. 27. If any Vikings qualify for the NCAA indoor championships, they will travel to New Mexico on Mar. 14, continuing their indoor season.

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

21

ETC FEATURED EVENT Chinese New Year Celebration Gala Friday, Jan. 31 5:30–9 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, ballroom (355) 1825 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 Celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Horse with the Chinese New Year Celebration Gala, which will feature a look at traditional Chinese culture and will be hosted by the PSU Chinese Students and Scholars Association and the Confucius Institute.

©JOE MABEL

EVENT CALENDAR Tuesday, Jan. 28

Let’s Talk: Drop In Counseling 2–3 p.m.

Women’s Resource Center 1802 S.W. 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97201 Let’s Talk sessions are an opportunity for students to access free and confidential mental health consultations from the experts at the Center for Student Health and Counseling. These sessions provide valuable resources for those who need support getting through the term. Any and all students are welcome to attend and no appointment is necessary. FREE

Wednesday, Jan. 29 Women on Weights 9–10 a.m.

Academic and Student Rec Center, weight room 1800 S.W. 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97201 Women on Weights is a session offered to women who are interested in learning how to properly utilize the weight room. A certified personal trainer will be available to instruct those who attend on basic workout principles and strengthening specific muscles groups. FREE

22

Intercultural Coffee Hour

3:30–5:30 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, Multicultural Center (228) 1825 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 The Multicultural Center hosts an intercultural coffee hour every Wednesday, where students from a variety of cultures are invited to mingle and enjoy free coffee.

Everyone is welcome at this event. FREE

Thursday, Jan. 30 Modernity in Common: Japan and World History 6 p.m.

Lincoln Hall, room 75 1620 S.W. Park Ave., Portland, OR 97201 Professor Carol Gluck, the George Sansom Professor of History at Columbia University and celebrated social scientist, will be at Portland State to talk about the history of modern Japan in relation to a global history of modernity.

FREE

Testimony and Accountability: Witnessing and Observing in War Crimes Tribunals and Truth Commissions 7 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, room 236 1825 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201

David Cohen, professor in the graduate school at UC Berkeley, professor of law at the University of Hawaii, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and at the East-West Center in Honolulu, will be giving a talk on the role of observers/monitors and witnesses in international and national criminal tribunals in Indonesia, Cambodia, East Timor, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. This talk will highlight the difficulties in evaluating witness testimony in various situations. FREE

Friday, Jan. 31 Friends of Chamber Music: Gerald Finley with pianist Julius Drake 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln Performance Hall 1620 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 Gerard Finley is an awardwinning baritone from Canada who will be perform-

Vanguard | JANUARY 28, 2014 | psuvanguard.com

ing live at Portland State, with accompaniment from pianist Julius Drake. The program will include a preconcert talk beginning at 6:30 with Theresa Koon, followed by their perfomance of Schubert’s Winterreise song cycle. For more information, including information about how to purchase tickets, visit focm.org/concertse v e n t s /2 01 3 -14 - s e a s o n / gerald-finley-with-pianistjulius-drake/2832

Saturday, Feb. 1 Yuan Ming Yuan: Garden of Perfect Brightness 9:30 a.m.

Urban Center, 250 506 S.W. Mill St., Portland, OR 97201 Learn through this fascinating lecture, presented by the First Saturday East Asian Program Series, how one of China’s most iconic monuments survived near destruction by British and French troops and became a powerful symbol of modern Chinese nationalism. FREE

Master of International Management Lunar New Year Festival

5:30 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, Multicultural Center (228) 1825 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 Everyone is welcome at this celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The event will include traditional lion dancers, traditional Chinese food, performances of Japanese and Chinese dance, a raffle, and much more. This event will be held in the Multicultural Center in SMSU, room 228. Feel free to bring family and friends along.

RSVP with Angela Wright at ajw6@pdx.edu. FREE

Monday, Feb. 3 Free Taijiquan/Tai Chi Practice Class Noon–1 p.m.

Millar Library 1875 S.W. Park Ave., Portland, OR 97201 This free class offered every Monday in front of the library will teach you the basics of Taijiquan/Tai Chi and is a great way to fit some exercise and meditation into your life. All are welcome to attend. FREE

FREE

21+

PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER

The Living Newspaper 7:30 p.m.

Brody Theater 16 N.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97209 Join Brody Theater’s expert improv ensemble as they pull inspiration from actual newspaper headlines to create the content for a show you will not soon forget. The Living Newspaper runs every Saturday night through Feb. 8. Tickets are $9 for students and seniors and $12 for adults.

For more information, visit www.brodytheater.com.

GET THE DEETS IN TWEETS @PSUVANGUARD

ETC

Aquarius Jan. 20–Feb. 18

Believe it or not, Aquarius, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You may be feeling rather puzzled by something, but that doesn’t mean you won’t solve your problem. Step outside your normal realm of thinking for a fresh solution.

phrase for that: “pot calling the kettle black.�

done, you’ll feel bigger than ever.

Aries Mar. 21–Apr. 19

Gemini May 21–Jun. 20

Do you ever feel like you’re just kind of out there floating in space? Like you have no clue if you’re on the right track or the wrong track, so you just keep on floating? Truth is, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, Aries, so float on.

Pisces Feb. 19–Mar. 20

Taurus Apr. 20–May 20

When someone makes you feel like you are a low priority in his or her life, you have every right to be upset.

But would it be fair for you to speak out about it and then imitate that behavior toward other loved ones? There’s a

There’s no denying it, Taurus: You feel like you’re underwater right now. In the midst of all your worry and chaos, try to stop and remind yourself of everything you’re accomplishing— even if it doesn’t feel like it. When it’s all said and

The difference between a good day and a bad day is sometimes as simple as the attitude with which you approach the situation.

Your optimism will come in handy this week, Gemini, so try to look at the bright side.

Cancer Jun. 21–Jul. 22

You’ve been cruising at altitude speed for a while, dear Moonchild, and you’ve wondered if that next step is ever going to come. You’re ready for a new chapter, so keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities.

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Leo Jul. 23–Aug. 22

You’ve had your sights set on a certain goal for quite some time, Leo, and in the last few months, that goal has started to feel more and more difficult to attain. Be open to a change in direction and listen to your inner voice—perhaps your heart is trying to tell you something.

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Capricorn Dec. 22–Jan. 19

This might sound tacky, Scorpio, but it does get better. Things aren’t ideal at the moment, and your optimism may be running on E, but I’d encourage you to hold onto that positivity just a little bit longer. Soon enough you’ll see a return.

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Real talk, Libra: You’ve got work to do. Resist the urge to play now and work later. When push comes to shove, you’ll be content with the quality of your work—and your overall sense of health and wellbeing (read: sanity).

As a practical and unflashy Capricorn, When bad things happen, you’re the last person we begin to dread that to turn around and they will come in threes. pat yourself on the The storm has been back for small victorocky, dear Virgo, but try ries. After the last few not to anticipate strife. months you’ve had, Like attracts like and however, I’d urge you the last thing you need is The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation to congratulate yourmore of what you’re dealThe New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation Sagittarius Nov. 22–Dec. 21 self on the sum of all 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 Eighth Avenue, New York, 10018 ing with now. 620For Information Call: What a 1-800-972-3550 ride it’sN.Y. been, Sagityou’ve overcome.

ForRelease Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Tuesday, January 28, 2014 For Release Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Virgo Aug. 23–Sept. 22

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CA RT OT PI C MS A T EO O RH A FK TI SR

tarius! Ups, downs and in-betweens; and unpredictable, just like you like it. Or is it? A close relationship is feeling tumultuous, and the problem is an unwillingness to communicate honestly on both ends.

Take a bold first step to solving the problem.

Libra Sept. 23–Oct. 22

CP RB ES S CH II N C C SD PG EE R I M N O I G GD YE M B NK EE V EI AE SA C T TB T O T A H Q U D EB TA G BE H O O ES P H R E OA EA N R CS H G I N V HO A NE O SN T ED RE

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G Y R E TE G E G N TS K I S T AS Y H EE D D

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For aa credit Foranswers, answers,call call1-900-285-5656, 1-900-285-5656,$1.49 $1.49a aminute; minute;or,or,with with credit card, card,1-800-814-5554.

1-800-814-5554.

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