VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 10 | OCTOBER 13, 2015
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CONTENT NEWS ARTS & CULTURE OPINION ETCETERA INTERNATIONAL
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISING MANAGER
EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Turner Lobey
NEUB@PDX.EDU Stuart Neuberger
MANAGING EDITOR
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Tim Sullivan
Tessa Millhollin
NEWS EDITOR
Reaz Mahmood
NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Colleen Leary
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Aislinn Renninson
OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Chelsea Lobey
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR
ADVISER
ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman
DESIGNERS
Terra DeHart Nimi Einstein Elise Furlan Shannon Kidd
WRITERS
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Allie Clark, Catherine Johnson, Brenden Leary, John Pinney, Jon Raby, Sebastian Richardson, Miles Sanguinetti, Thomas Spoelhof, Kayla Townsley
ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Lisa Dunn
PHOTOGRAPHERS
INTERNATIONAL@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly Ozier
PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Hunter Sharp
PHOTO EDITOR PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray
COPY CHIEF
Chavelin Gonzalez Vincent Huynh Catherine Johnson Thomas Spoelhof Michael Stoltenow
ADVERTISING SALES Eva Spencer Becca Propper Dennis Caceres
COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly K.B. Hunt
ONLINE EDITOR ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jaime Dunkle
COPY EDITORS
Kellie Doherty Cora Wigen Alexis Woodcock
MARKETING MANAGER Ryan Brewer
The Vanguard is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members; additional copies or subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Cover: Nimi Einstein, Elise Furlan and Terra Dehart, Photograph by Christopher Sohler/Vanguard Archives ©2015 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY VANGUARD 1825 S.W. BROADWAY SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION, RM. S-26 PORTLAND, OR 97201
ILLUSTRATION BY TERRA DEHART
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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NEWS
PRESIDENT WIEWEL WEIGHS IN ON CAMPUS ISSUES COLLEEN LEARY
Portland State President Wim Wiewel sat down with the Vanguard at a quarterly Student Media Press Conference on Oct. 9. He began by discussing a list of topics, including Campus Public Safety, the university’s annual Portland State of Mind event Oct. 22–31, current and upcoming building projects and renovations, labor negotiations with faculty unions, new additions to PSU’s faculty, and what he described as the new spirit in PSU’s athletics.
Campus Public Safety “The first thing I want to talk about is Campus Safety,” Wiewel said. “After the events at Umpqua Community College… One thing that is important [is] that we still don’t have all the students signed up for the PSU Alert [System], which is our main way of letting people know quickly if something happens.” The PSU Alert System sends messages to the PSU community via phone, text and email in the case of emergency situations on campus. Wiewel emphasized the importance of students enrolling in this system to aid in campus safety and emergency response. “We are going to work with individual units—both academic departments and administrative units—to provide them with more assistance to be prepared for emergencies of all types,” he said. “Information about what to do in certain cases is available on the CPSO website, but like so many things in life, people forget about that.”
Healthy Campus Initiative Wiewel mentioned the newly implemented smoke and tobacco ban on campus as part of PSU’s Healthy Campus Initiative, a project spearheaded by the Center for Student Health and Counseling and the Campus Rec Center. He said CPS officers have spoken with over 250 students using tobacco on campus since the start of fall term. “We’re seeing this as an educational effort,” he said.
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“The point is…making people realize the dangers and negative effects of smoking, both for themselves and for the people surrounding them.”
Public University Funding Last year, Oregon Legislature approved $700 million to be split between Oregon’s seven public universities. This was greater than the predicted budget, which meant the university lessened an approved 4.2-percent tuition increase to a 3.1-percent increase. “We were able to do this in time so it was already lowered for fall term,” Wiewel said. “And we will continue to lobby for more money when the legislature reconvenes in February.” “The economy has been slowing down and there are a lot of other expenses,” he continued. “So legislators have been giving us caution flags about how much more money—if any—we could expect in February. All I can say is that we will push to get the last $55 million for the biennium for all seven universities.”
Changes in Athletics Wiewel also applauded PSU’s athletics department and new Director of Athletics Mark Rountree. “They are really changing what they do and how they’re doing it,” he said. “They’ve got their athletes doing move-in for the freshmen. They are just getting the athletes engaged on campus, and off campus as well.” He said Vikings football games are featuring several of PSU’s colleges, including the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. They’ve also highlighted the Women’s Resource Center.
like SHAC, the WRC and CPSO,” he said. “She will also be in charge of conducting the campus climate survey that will have to do with experiences people have with assault and other [subjects] on lack of safety,” he added.
University Labor Negotiations Wiewel included an update on PSU’s labor negotiations. “We settled the contract with the [Service Employees International Union],” he said. “That’s one that we negotiate collectively with the seven universities, so it’s a statewide thing. SEIU still has to complete the voting on it, but everybody feels pretty confident that the contract will be approved.” “We are in the midst of bargaining with both the [American Association of University Professors]—which is the full-time faculty—and the union for the adjunct faculty,” he continued. He said this year’s newly employed interest-based bargaining tactics have improved the atmosphere of labor negotiations. “While everybody agrees that it’s a lengthy process,” he said, “it is going much better and we’re making good progress on it.”
PSU Strategic Plan “The other thing that we’ve made very good progress on is the Strategic Plan,” Wiewel said. “We are now at the stage where we have a completed draft that will be circulated the middle of next week.” He mentioned the Oct. 27 Strategic Plan Ice Cream Social, which will take place as a part of Portland State of Mind. “[We’ll be] repeating what we did in the spring for students to be able to weigh in on [the Strategic Plan],” he said. “And you know this has just been an amazing, broadly participatory process. And in many ways that was probably as important as the actual content of the plan.” He said the Strategic Plan reaffirms many of the initiatives the university has already prioritized and highlights areas that require more attention going forward. “But it’s not any kind of a radical redirection of who we are and where we’re going,” he continued. “And indeed, we’re calling it—very originally—‘Let Knowledge Serve the City’ as a real clear affir-
mation of the fact that that [motto] continues to be what we’re about.”
Building & Renovation Projects The last item on President Wiewel’s topics of interest was current and upcoming campus building and renovation projects. “In addition to the [School of Business Administration], we will be breaking ground on the Viking Pavilion and the Stott Center renovation,” he said. “It’s really a double project— it’s a renovation of the existing building and turning part of it into a Viking Pavilion.” “The Viking Pavilion will create space for academic study space, for events, student events, faculty events, as well as outside [presentations] and lectures,” he said. The space will also host Viking basketball and volleyball.
Violence Prevention & Sexual Assault Wiewel continued by announcing PSU’s new Violence Prevention Coordinator, Amy Collins. Collins is scheduled to begin at the end of October. “She will initiate programs that will do primary prevention of sexual assault on campus, and very much will be in charge of collaborating with the other campus resources
PRESIDENT WIM WIEWEL answers questions at a fall term press conference.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
VINCENT HUYNH/PSU VANGUARD
“The Student Fee Committee contributed $1.5 million to that, which I think was a very smart and strategic investment, because it gives the students a clear place at the table in both the design phase and the use of the building,” he said. He said the initial groundbreaking on the Viking Pavilion is set for spring 2016.
Wiewel Responds After his initial address, Wiewel responded to questions from the Vanguard staff regarding CPSO’s transition into a sworn police force, his relationship with this year’s student government leaders, recent changes in the PSU Foundation, and where he thinks the university could most use improvement. To see the full Q&A and for multimedia content, visit psuvanguard.com
NEWS
NEW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING COLLEEN LEARY
This week Portland State officially breaks ground on its $60.3 million renovation of and north-end addition to the School of Business Administration building, located at the corner of Southwest Harrison and Broadway. Though initial construction began over the summer, the university will host a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 15 where the new building’s name will be announced, followed by a reception and community mixer. At an Oct. 9 press conference, PSU President Wim Wiewel said he thinks this is a fascinating project. “As you can tell, the ground has already been broken, quite solidly,” Wiewel said. “I just stopped by there this afternoon. It’s really impressive.” In a project update from March 2014, Senior Project
CRIME BLOTTER September 5 HARASSMENT
Smith Memorial Student Union Park Blocks A street preacher described an incident to Officer David Troppe, where he reported being shoved, headbutted and punched by a non-student. The victim did not sustain visible injuries. A witness described the incident as a shoulder check “at best.” According to the report, the accused individual initially contacted officers, but left before they arrived.
September 8 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS, TRESPASS, THEFT
Parking Structure I After 11 p.m., Officers David Baker, Matthew Masunari and James Dewey responded to a report of
Manager of Capital Projects Mark Fujii said planning included design concepts that would open the space to more light and create a tall, iconic structure for the university. “We’ve interviewed nearly every faculty member in the [SBA], and many of the students,” Fujii said. “[W]e are very excited about the possibilities,” he added The new building will use less than half the energy of the existing building, according to an Oct. 7 article released by SBA. “This is very important for the University’s goal to be more sustainable,” the SBA article said. “This is possible in large part because the new addition will be passively cooled and ventilated.” The updated building will house 21 classrooms, study spaces, conference rooms,
outdoor terraces, eco-roofs, an atrium, concrete floors, sheer walls, large ceiling fans and strategic design to maximize daytime lighting. The university acknowledged donations from Rick and Erika Miller, Portlandbased philanthropists, as important factors in the making of the new SBA building. Rick Miller is an alum of the PSU Master of Business Administration program. Funding also comes from the State of Oregon’s capital projects funding and other university donors. Building projects at PSU are not funded by tuition or fees, but from an entirely separate budget. “The completed space will have a significant impact on the entire campus community, while making a demonstrable statement to the Portland
ONGOING CONSTRUCTION at the site of the School of Business Administration building, slated for completion in November 2016. MICHAEL STOLTENOW/PSU VANGUARD
business community that we are deeply committed to serving the city—that we are Portland’s Business School,” read the SBA press release.
Fujii said the project’s expected completion date is Nov. 30, 2016. “[J]ust in time for winter term,” he added.
Week of Sept. 5–Oct. 1
COLLEEN LEARY
two car prowlers in Parking Structure I. They contacted two non-students, one of whom was in possession of a loaded Springfield semi-automatic handgun, a metal glass breaker tool and a folding knife. The other suspect was in possession of several items said to be stolen. Both were apprehended and issued exclusions.
September 12 SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR
Millar Library Officer Nichola Higbee responded to a report at 7:20 p.m. of a suspicious male, possibly in possession of a knife, who had followed a female student near Millar Library. The student reported that the suspect followed her from the downtown library to the street car, and continued to follow her on foot around campus. Higbee contacted the suspect, who denied following anyone. The
The Groundbreaking Ceremony is Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m., at the School of Business Outdoor Courtyard, 631 SW Harrison St.
suspect appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic and was “acting odd.” After escorting the student home, Higbee was unsuccessful in re-contacting the suspect to issue an exclusion.
September 17 FIRE
Sky bridge between School of Education and University Services Building Officer Shawn McKenzie responded to a call of an electrical fire on the sky bridge between the School of Education Building and USB at approximately 7:30 p.m. The area is currently under renovation. The Portland Fire Department responded and blocked off the area. PSU facilities personnel and the hired construction company were contacted with reports of the fire.
September 21 VEHICLE CRASH
Epler Hall At about 4 p.m., Officer Chris Fischer responded to Epler Hall regarding a vehicle that had crashed into the building. Staff members at Little Vikings said a driver of a U-Haul attempted to drive between two cement pillars and the building and scraped the awning. The driver provided identification to Little Viking staff and no criminal charges were filed.
September 23 SEX ABUSE III, HARASSMENT, TRESPASS II, MENACING Ondine and University Center Building At approximately 9 p.m., Officers Peter Ward, Manusari and Dewey responded to a report of suspicious persons, though the suspects had left before the officers arrived.
Later, Ward and Manusari responded to a student reporting being groped near UCB by a suspect matching the description from the original report of a suspicious person. The officers located and apprehended the suspect and referred the victim to the Women’s Resource Center.
gender-neutral bathroom. A stall had been marked in red with “ARM TRANS WOMEN” and “ARM THE POOR.” Similar graffiti was reported on Aug. 27 in the third-floor women’s restroom of the Art Building.
September 28
SMSU
THEFT
Lincoln Hall Officer Troppe responded to a report of theft on the third floor of Lincoln Hall. A computer and camera had been stolen from a cabinet that appeared to be damaged. The items were likely last seen mid-June.
September 29 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF II
SMSU At 7:30 p.m., Officer Troppe responded to a report of graffiti in the SMSU fourth floor
October 1 Officer Fischer reported that Officer Ward received report of fliers posted in SMSU displaying the photo of a student, with the student’s name and the title “rapist” displayed beneath.
BAG THEFT
SMSU Day Care A student reported at 5:45 p.m. that, while picking up a child from day care, an unknown male entered the childcare center and stole the student’s bag containing a wallet, keys and school supplies.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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NEWS
HARVEST SHARE RETURNS WITH FREE PRODUCE VANGUARD STAFF
Portland State hosted its fifth installment of the monthly Harvest Share on Monday. The volunteer-run event is marked by a row of tables in the Park Blocks behind Shattuck Hall loaded with free, fresh produce meant for members of the PSU and greater Portland communities. PSU’s Committee for Improving Student Food Security and the Oregon Food Bank host the Harvest Share every second Monday of the month. According to PSU’s Harvest Share event page, “The goal of this partnership is to reduce food insecurity on our campus and in the neighborhood.” CIFS reported that its Aug. 10 Harvest Share provided
4,866 pounds of food to community members and addressed the needs of 323 area households. Eight hundred and forty-seven individuals passed through the line last month. Previous installments during terms with higher student enrollment turned out upward of 1,200 individuals receiving free produce. Any leftover food from the event is donated to the Associated Students of PSU Student Food Pantry, located in room 325 of Smith Memorial Student Union. The next Harvest Share will be Nov. 9 at noon and is first come, first served. More information is available at www.pdx.edu/studentaffairs/ CISFS
MICHAEL STOLTENOW/PSU VANGUARD
EDUCATION•COUNSELING
FA L L O P E N H O U S E
Open House
Discover GSE
The Graduate School of Education invites all prospective and current students to explore new and advanced opportunities in education and counseling.
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At this event, you will:
Workshops include:
• Learn about our 50+ programs
• Tips for writing successful grad school essays
• Meet with faculty and advisors
• Demo of our new online application system
• Tour our new building
• Preparing your scholarship application
• Talk with current students
• Resources for first generation students
• Receive application information
• Tour of the Universal Design Lab
gseinfo@pdx.edu 503-725-4619 pdx.edu/education
Get a head start Admission applications for all programs are now open Scholarship applications open October 15
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
1-3pm Thursday, Oct. 22 Fourth Avenue Building 1900 SW 4th Ave
Join us! Event is free and open to the public. Drop in or preregister at: pdx.edu/education/ DiscoverGSE Graduate School of Education PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
ARTS & CULTURE
A MUSICIAN’S ENTERPRISE: THE STREET VENUE THOMAS SPOELHOF
As marketgoers meander through cornucopias of freshly harvested vegetables on a soft, sun-draped Saturday morning, sweet sounds of country blues and folk waft
KARYN PATRIDGE AND DRUMMER MATTHEW JAM at the PSU Farmers Market in late September.
THOMAS SPOELHOF/PSU VANGUARD
through the air and into the ears of passersby. A young woman strums her guitar soulfully from the steps of Portland State’s Branford Price Millar Library, pouring emotion into the lyrics, crooning for anyone who cares to listen. Children play on the steps around her as an impromptu percussionist hands out shakers and maracas while keeping time on the bongo. The children are lulled, captivated by the magic of music as it is performed live without a net, before their amazed eyes. Farmers market shoppers stroll past, often noticeably slowing their stride as they match sight with sound. Many smile and nod. Occasionally listeners drop a dollar into the open guitar case at the performer’s feet. Some stop to snap a photo; some simply walk on by. “I like performing on the street because there is no
stage,” said Karyn Patridge, an acoustic blues artist. “I think it facilitates more interaction between performer and audience. You are more reachable and relatable when not placed on a pedestal of stage.” Even amid the age of electronic self-promotion—YouTube, SoundCloud and social media—nothing cements a connection between artist and audience as powerfully as the live performance. The art of busking, as street performing is officially titled, is often made to appear easy by the plethora of musicians, artists, human statues and flaming-bagpipeblowing unicyclists in Darth Vader helmets who adorn the streets of Portland. PDX streets are awash in professional-level musical talent, and any pedestrian within a city block of the Saturday Market, Centennial Square or many a random street corner is bound to catch a show. Mastery of the act, however, is more elusive than meets the eye. “You play guitar? So does everyone else. What makes you stand out?” said Seth Christman, a unique handpan percussionist who claims to have busked everywhere from D.C. to Georgia to Portland. “Before you go out and play, you have to practice first. A lot. Remember, the only way you’re gonna get a tip is if you impress someone.” While gleaning a few wellearned dollars from soundsated bystanders is a bonus, it’s not the main impetus behind many successful buskers’ work. “Street performing exposes you to such a diverse audience, people you may never meet otherwise,” Patridge said. “I like PSU marketplace because it is on a campus, and college students like music. There are ample performance opportunities that might present themselves if the right person is walking by.”
It may sound tempting to open up shop on the next available esplanade, but there actually are a few unspoken rules by which the street performer abides. The “Street Musician Partnership for Portland” is a document established in 1994 through a collaboration of artists, business people and government officials with the objective of helping street performers reach their audiences while minimizing impact on businesses in close proximity to the gigs. According to the agreement, musicians should space themselves a minimum of one city block apart, rotate their location every 60 minutes, play at a volume that is inaudible from over 100 feet away, not play the same location more than twice in one day and have a 60-minute break in order to return. The document also declares that police will attempt to resolve any dispute that should arise due to the occurrence of street performance without making arrests or issuing tickets. This is not to say that other challenges for street artists are unheard of. “Plenty of people... will at some point or another try to interrupt your playing,” said Devin Smith, a funk-andjazz fusion entertainer. “It is usually someone who is struggling with mental health or current substance abuse.” The bottom line, however, is the opportunity for exposure. “Bringing your sound to as many ears as possible is important to maintain and create a fan base,” Smith said. “To get a group of musicians together regularly to play all at once is much harder than it sounds with conflicting schedules. Busking serves as a way for the group to rehearse together in front of a constant, revolving live audience, which also happens to pay.”
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
RELEASE OF NEW BOOK OFFERS CONSIDERATION OF A LARGER ISSUE CATHERINE JOHNSON
On Sept. 30, author Ellen Bravo promoted her new book, Again and Again, through a discussion about women’s rights and sexualassault awareness. The talk and reading, held at YWCA of Greater Portland, was hosted by the Portland State Women’s Resource Center, the American Association of University Women and the National Organization for Women. Although Again and Again is Bravo’s first published jaunt into fiction, she has an impressive resume, including three books of nonfiction and positions as the executive director of Family Values at Work and the former director of 9to5, National Association of Working Women. “One of the things that made me write fiction rather than nonfiction is I think there are a lot of people who don’t read nonfiction who will read a novel,” Bravo said to a mixedgeneration audience in a YWCA meeting room just a few blocks from PSU. Her extensive experience was undoubtedly helpful as she crafted the novel’s protagonist, Deborah Borenstein, into a leading women’s rights advocate. The story’s central drama unfolds when Borenstein finds herself in a profoundly difficult and complicated situation: The man
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who raped her college roommate thirty years prior is now a prochoice Republican, running for Senate with the support of major feminist groups. She must decide whether or not to reveal his crime. The book asks this question: What happens when rapists become powerful men in society? However, Bravo clearly stated that the novel is about more than rape. “It’s about friendship, and love and marriage, and trust, and regret, and second chances,” Bravo said. Bravo read from several chapters of the book with animation, explaining the complexities of her characters and their situations, feeding the novel’s suspense and the audience’s curiosity. More than being a well-written page-turner, Bravo’s work is a reminder of what has yet to be achieved for women’s rights and, more specifically, women’s safety on college campuses across the country. Bravo referred to the recent survey from the Association of American Universities, which found that 20 percent of female undergraduates had experienced some kind of sexual violence. However, Events and Publicity Coordinator of the PSU Women’s Resource Center Kari Anne McDonald couched these
figures differently. “I think there’s this idea that if more assaults are being reported that it’s a more dangerous campus. I don’t necessarily believe that. If there are higher rates, that means people are reporting,” McDonald said. “And that means the issue is being talked about and taken care of.” Fortunately, Bravo added that there are new efforts that bring attention to this issue, including Lady Gaga’s music video “Til It Happens to You,” President Obama’s “It’s On Us” campaign and new consent laws that require colleges and universities to adopt “Only ‘yes’ means ‘yes’” policies, instead of the previous “‘No’ means ‘no.’” Nonetheless, during the reception that followed the reading, Bravo and women in attendance spoke to one another with an urgent determination to expand the conversation and continue pressing for progress. With this aim, PSU’s Women’s Resource Center is screening The Hunting Ground, a documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers that investigates these statistics of sexual violence on college campuses, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. A panel discussion will follow the film.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
ELLEN BRAVO during a reading of ‘Again and Again’ for a Portland audience.
CATHERINE JOHNSON/PSU VANGUARD
ARTS & CULTURE
A DIAMOND DOG IN THE ROUGH: A METAL GEAR SOLID V REVIEW MILES SANGUINETTI
In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, players assume the identity of Big Boss, a legendary soldier who—in the world of the game series— played an unprecedented role in shaping global politics and power dynamics during the second half of the 20th century. As Big Boss, you will travel across Cold War-era Afghanistan and central Africa, making a name for Diamond Dogs, Big Boss’ mercenary group, and fighting the machinations of the powerhungry Cipher organization. Where MGSV most succeeds is in its core gameplay, which is dominated by a mix of objective-oriented stealth and open-world roaming. With gadgets developed by Diamond Dogs’ R&;D team in your hands, you have a delightfully large number of ways in which you can complete missions. Maybe you need to stop a convoy of Soviet tanks from annihilating a band of Mujahideen rebels that have contracted your services.
Well, you can blast them from range with a barrage from your rocket launcher or track their movement and lay mines in their path. You can even take the convoy by surprise and steal their vehicles with the balloon-equipped Fulton device before they have a chance to counterattack. This ensures that missions rarely become boring or formulaic and that the overall game has a lot of replay value for its genre. Additionally, enemy artificial intelligence is smart enough that you’re best left using your brain to overcome enemies, rather than mindlessly rushing in and mowing them down with a machine gun. With cultural touchstones like David Bowie and Kim Wilde songs throughout the soundtrack, MGSV feels like you’re playing through an ’80s action movie, in a very good way. The open-world dynamic and side missions also give you more freedom in how you play the game, though their effectiveness is greatly tempered by a clunky
transportation system and substantial penalties for staying in the field for too long; returning to Mother Base to shower after every mission gets old fast. Unfortunately, MGSV has very mixed success in its systems outside of stealth and combat. While it can be fun to kidnap skilled Soviet soldiers to work on your base, managing them becomes an absolute chore after a plot twist in the last third of the game that potentially forces you to click and drag over an arbitrary 100 staff members from one list to another. Though they are limited in scope, the game also includes micro-transactions for some aspects of its online play. As of a recent patch, you can purchase insurance to limit the damage that other players can do when invading your base. Though these micro-transactions do not confer sweeping pay-towin gameplay advantages, they come across as a cheap cash grab that works to the game’s detriment.
The game’s writing and characters are something of a mixed bag as well. One thing that is refreshing about MGSV’s writing is that it doesn’t glorify the killing of enemy soldiers. If you commit too much senseless violence, Big Boss will envision himself as a bloodsoaked demon with a horn growing out of his head. Conversely, your staff members will thank you for rescuing prisoners, child soldiers and even wild animals. Big Boss’ solemn thousand-yard stare on board his helicopter adds humanity to a character that could easily have been rendered as a gleeful sociopath. If any one character’s portrayal falls short, it is Quiet, a silent young woman with superhuman physical abilities and unparalleled talent as a sharpshooter. Quiet definitely isn’t a powerless damsel in distress, but her “combat gear” consists of nothing but her underwear and some torn-up tights. MGSV completely fails to add
what could have been a compelling female protagonist to its roster and instead winds up with yet another skinny, conventionally attractive woman wearing a combat bikini—a character archetype that should have stopped be-
ing written into video games at least a decade ago. MGSV absolutely has its faults, but its incredible central gameplay and sprawling amount of engaging content results in one of the best games to be published so far this year.
EDITOR PICK OF THE WEEK
ACTIVITY: THE FEAR ASYLUM AISLINN RENNISON
October is my favorite month of the year for many reasons: boots, changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and warm fires. But most importantly, October means Halloween. Sure, it’s fun to dress up and get candy for one day (though if you’re still knocking on doors to get that candy, we should probably have a talk). But the best parts of Halloween are the terrifying events and activities: scary movies, horror corn mazes and haunted houses. If you’re a real scare-thes***-out-of-yourself adrenaline junkie, then keep reading. The Fear Asylum made me literally sprint toward the nearest exit. I almost peed my pants...twice. Take that as you wish, but hear me out: I love haunted houses. I look forward to them all year. Even though the Fear Asylum was a TON of fun, there was a moment when I could feel my heart beating through my chest. Still don’t believe me? Check out their Facebook page, which has comments about full-grown men screaming and running away from monsters. Before you even enter the pitch-black hallway that takes you into the horrifying building, you are greeted by a number of bloody nurses, rotting kid-zombies and friends.
And, of course, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre lookalikes (yes, with a chainless chainsaw) are either hiding or actively chasing someone around the property. I won’t give away much about the Asylum, but I will tell you that every room has a different theme, each more petrifying than the last. But be warned—the line will be long! So take advantage of the low-cost snacks and drinks that are outside. While waiting in line, you can also check out the Coffin Cruisers—limo-like cars decorated with long coffins and other Halloween tricks. One last tip: Watch your ankles. It’s dark in there.
FYI
Where: 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie, OR When: Every Friday and Saturday in October, 7 to 11 p.m. Lights-out shows: Oct. 11, 18 and 25, 6 to 9 p.m. (Four at a time, all lights out, one glow stick) Cost: $15 (I promise, it’s worth it! Get two dollars off by bringing two non-perishable food items for donation)
SCREENSHOT | KONAMI/2015
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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OPINION
THE POPE EVERYONE (STILL) MISUNDERSTANDS Against the Current
by Sebastian Richardson
This September, Pope Francis made history by being the first pontiff to address a session of Congress, as well as being the fourth pope to address the United Nations. Pope Francis’ visit to the United States included visits to D.C., New York and Philadelphia. While touring the East Coast he celebrated mass with the faithful, met with American bishops and canonized a Spanish saint who was a missionary in California. This trip marks the fourth time a pope has visited the U.S. and only the third time a pope has been received at the White House. While Pope Paul VI was the first pope to visit the United States in 1965, the first meeting between an incumbent U.S. president and a pope happened in 1919 between Woodrow Wilson and Benedict XV. Following WWII, the majority of U.S. presidents have sought an audience with the pope at one time or another, usually within the walls of Vatican City. The U.S. has always had an interesting relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, ever since the founding of our nation. John Adams, the second president, once wrote in a letter to Thomas Jefferson that the Jesuits (the order of Pope Francis) deserved damnation more than any other group. In contrast, during his presidency Thomas Jefferson was gracious enough to send his assurance to some nuns in Louisiana that the Constitution guaranteed them the free exercise to run their institution according to their beliefs. Anti-Catholicism in the U.S. has primarily been associated with xenophobic attitudes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as with attacks from the Evangelical right prior to the election of John F. Kennedy. While suspicion and hostility toward the Catholic Church have not been completely eradicated, Catholic Americans no longer need to hide their faith for fear of outright persecution. In light of this, the most recent visit by the pope was a big moment for Catholicism here in the U.S., and it seems everyone has a soft spot for the Holy Father, be it for his joyful countenance, his humility or his commitment to the environment. That is, everyone except conservatives. While I’ve never been a big fan of the left’s appropriation of Pope Francis, there is something particularly insidious about the right’s hostility toward him. The pope has received a lot of bad treatment over his encyclical “Laudato si,” which discusses the issue of climate change,
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY TERRA DEHART
consumerism and humanity’s responsibility to take care of the Earth, earning him the title of “most dangerous person” from one pundit on Fox News. Besides this, Pope Francis has come out in support of migrants, refugees and the working class, making people attach labels such as “leftist” and “Marxist” to his Pontificate, further misconstruing what the Pope stands for. While it is true that the pope has criticized the negative effects of capitalism, calling the love of money a “subtle dictatorship” which “condemns and enslaves men and women,” merely chocking up his criticisms to some Marxist rhetoric fails to see the bigger picture. Pope Francis, while technically a head of state, is primarily a religious figure. What he does cannot be separated from the religious context in which it’s presented. The rationale of Pope Francis is not bound in some 19th-century manifesto about the working class but is rooted in scholastic tradition, Christian anthropology and an understanding of scripture that is vast and complicated, and cannot be surmised by a simple exhortation against greed, war, irresponsible waste and environmental issues. The Catholic Church, along with the papacy, is as old as Christianity itself, and trying to label the pope using post-
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
Enlightenment concepts such as socialism, Marxism or progressivism would be an anachronism. One does not need to be a socialist or a Marxist to recognize the dignity of the worker. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical “Rerum novarum,” criticized both capitalism and socialism while calling for just treatment of the laborer, the right to form labor unions and the right to private property. The teaching of the Catholic Church does lie on a spectrum that can be aligned with for political reasons, and the American right has failed to see that more so than the left. Contrary to what Fox News and conservative bloggers would have you believe, the pope is not trying to engross himself in politics, he’s merely preaching and being a good pastor of souls. At the end of the day, without the eyes of faith, everything the pope says will just seem like rhetoric, but for those who are practicing their faith, his words are instruction on how to live more in line with the teachings and theological understanding of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So please, to all you Rick Santorums and Rush Limbaughs of the world, please leave Pope Francis alone. Go back to your job spreading angry and hateful speech while the Holy Father continues his mission of love, peace and charity.
OPINION
Impress your friends, join clubs and gain knowledge ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE FURLAN
Science for Everyone by Allie Clark
Are you an eager science enthusiast struggling to find your bearings? Are you feeling overwhelmed with indecision as you gradually fall into the daily milieu of fall term? Here’s a tip. Actually, it’s more than a tip, it’s a series of bread crumbs designed to steer you in the direction of your interests. First, you’ve got to understand that Portland State is more than just a liberal arts campus. There are innumerable resources for those wanting to entertain their interests in the sciences, however diverse or outlying they may be. You might be wondering how one finds these bastions of the likeminded—these fortresses of solitude, if you will—and I assure you, they exist. They’re usually called clubs, by the way. Clubs are all over this campus, and you certainly don’t need to be an expert of anything in order to participate in them. All you need is interest. In these clubs, you will find people who share your interests. Intensely. You know that Cards Against Humanity card (in the science deck expansion, of course) that says, “Knowing way too much about an extremely narrow topic that nobody cares about”? These people care about that thing. These people will be happy to talk with you about that thing for long periods of time. These people will not nod and smile just to be polite while silently praying for an earthquake to come save them from their misery. These, my friends, are your science bros. These clubs are ridiculously difficult to find on the PSU website because—let’s be real—everything is difficult to find on the PSU website. Luckily there’s a thing called OrgSync. On the surface, OrgSync is a national database linked to every major academic institution. Its purpose? Galvanize the clubs. All of them. Best of all, every club president is pretty much required to tend to their club on OrgSync, and that includes everyone at PSU. As it stands, there are 267 clubs currently listed under PSU on OrgSync, and that’s a fantastic thing. Not all of these are science clubs, obviously (unless there’s been some drastic shift in the definitions of science and/or Bronies), but there are enough of them that clubs will collaborate together to put on events for the rest of PSU. Last spring the neuroscience, biochemistry and environmental science clubs did an event on the science of e-cigarettes. Specialists from each area talked about the effects of e-cigs on your brain and the environment, plus the whole revelation that there’s formaldehyde in e-cig vapor. (Yup, that’s an actual thing that researchers discovered here at PSU in Dr. David Peyton’s lab. And you thought we were all about doing slam poetry in the Dialogue Dome.) The cool thing about these talks is that you don’t need to be a specialist to understand them. You don’t even need to
be majoring in the topic. Unlike lectures, no one will suffer grievous loss of GPA if they don’t show up to a talk, so the presenters make sure they communicate in a way that is accessible to everyone and boring to none. You get to walk away with the most current scientific information about a niche topic that you can then use to dazzle your friends, impress people at swanky cocktail parties and settle even the most heated Facebook debate. Just remember to use your power responsibly.
by Kayla Townsley
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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ETC
EVENT CALENDAR
JOHN PINNEY
Tuesday, Oct. 13 Advising and Career Center Day USB 402 9–11 a.m. Fee: $20 Career Workshop, 1 of 3 MBTI
To help guide you in choosing a major and career path, the Advising & Career Services Center will use proven personality tests to help guide your interests toward a path. Participants must attend all three sessions; the fee covers all three.
Career Workshop: Test-Taking Strategies USB 402 12–2 p.m. FREE
For those who wish to go on to higher education, the GRE and GMAT are two of the tests that measure skills that will help you along either of those paths. This insider seminar will help you to prepare for those tests more efficiently.
Post Typography
Also it’s free, which is honestly pretty rare for the outdoor program office.
The Nation Live! Newmark Theatre 7:30 p.m. Fee: $15–65
Blue Sky 40th
The Nation is one of the oldest weekly magazines in this country and is celebrating its 150th anniversary this week. The Nation claims itself to have been at the “forefront of American politics” since a few months after the death of Lincoln. Experience this celebration with some of the voices of this famous magazine.
Chvrches
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom 8 p.m. Fee: $27–30
Usually well-known touring bands are a lot more expensive than what Chvrches, a Scottish electronic band, is charging. Though not quite as famous as Hozier, you should not mix those two bands up because they have profoundly different tones and messages.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 Columbia River Service Project Pre-Trip Meeting
Shattuck Hall Annex 7 p.m. FREE
Did you know that typography can be punk rock? That designs that don’t always go as planned can be wicked-awesome cool? Strals and Willen from Baltimore are here to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the design process using those designs that just “fell short.” If you buy their book, they’ll even deface it for you for free.
Outdoor Program Office 5 p.m. Free
Blue Sky Gallery 12 p.m.
For 40 years, Blue Sky Gallery has supported the photographic arts, and for this anniversary event over 330 prints were donated by an “impressive roster of artists” who have presented at the gallery in the past. These 8” x 10” prints are a glimpse into the evolution of the photographic arts in Portland.
Science on Tap
Kiggins Theatre 7 p.m. Suggested Donation: $10 Science on Tap is a marriage of beer and science, but the event is also all ages for you science-y non-brew types. This science on tap focus is on NASA’s venture across the solar system with Dawn. Dawn helped discover that Ceres was more than a moon and is now in fact classified as a dwarf planet, along with everyone’s favorite, Pluto.
Thursday, Oct. 15 Cookies and Convo
Not only is this a service project for the beautiful Columbia River, which is always in desperate need of some TLC, but then there’s sea-kayak paddling and exploration. The trip is officially on Saturday the 17th, but today is the day for the pre-trip meeting.
Cramer 161 “The Hub” 3 p.m. FREE
Provided by the Advising & Career Services Crew, I can personally verify this is a great way to get a quick one-on-one checkin with an adviser to make sure
you’re on track for graduation and to answer any questions you have about the great college beyond. For any longer conversations, they’ll probably recommend an appointment at A&CS.
All Jane Comedy Festival
Curious Comedy Theater 7:30 p.m. Fee: $80
This all-female comedy weekend is a festival of events featuring female-identified comedians. Comedy by women billed as the very best of female stand-up, sketch comedy (like SNL) and improv (like Whose Line). The website for the festival hosts the full line-up; most nights have comedian sets at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Latin@ Entrepreneurs in Oregon
Portland Mercado Market Hall 7:30 p.m. Suggested Donation: $10
blends dance, song and music to an original story by Rebecca Martinez. This play will focus not on the living, but on the ancestors unsure if they really want to return and interact with the living.
Taylor John Williams + Noah Guthrie Alberta Rose Theatre 7:30 p.m. Fee: $18–22
You’ve heard of Noah Guthrie as Roderick from the final season of Glee. Now he’s coming to Portland with that lion’s roar of an amazing voice. His rendition of “Take Me to Church” was one of the best covers I’ve heard yet.
Friday, Oct. 16 Gaslight
The official name of this exhibit, highlighting Latin@ business contributions to Oregon since the 1800s, is “El Espiritu de Emprendedor.” Celebrating culture through the lens of business will also involve light appetizers and some adult beverages. Portland Mercado wishes to recognize these important cultural milestones and immortalize them into all memory.
La Muerte Baila
Milagro - Miracle Theatre Group 7:30 p.m. Fee: $24+
The Whitsell Auditorium 8 p.m. Fee: $9 George Cukor directed this hit featuring Ingrid Bergman, which gave her the first of her three Oscars. Wondering why the term sounds familiar? Well, this movie inspired the term gaslighting and deals with a husband trying to have his wife committed. One of the ways he convinces her that she’s insane deals with how he controls the gas that lights their home. Sunday matinee also available.
Part of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations happening across the city, this original production
Brewing up a Cure
Castaway Portland 10 p.m. Fee: $65 21+
This charity event, described as being for the “beer geek,” will offer unlimited hand-crafted beers and food to raise funds for cystic fibrosis. A silent auction and Tower of Beer raffle will also be available.
Saturday, Oct. 17 Killer Pumpkin Festival
Green Dragon Bistro 11 a.m. Suggested Donation: $5
This benefit for Camp Ukandu asks the question: What if you were on one of those Travel Channel Halloween specials where people obsess over all the things that can be done with a pumpkin, from carving to bowling to brewing? A family-friendly event featuring a lot of our favorite holiday squash.
Guide: 21 FREE +
PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER
FEATURED EVENT Portland State Musical Series
CHAVELIN GONZALEZ/PSU VANGUARD
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As a new academic year begins, it’s always important to keep your mind open to new experiences. For instance, I’ve started trying to trust Ryan Murphy’s writing ability again, and it only took him three episodes to let me down. Anyway, Portland State offers a lot of free events at the beginning of the year to help you get in the right mindset of community engagement. I found a list of two
concurrent musical series to get your heart and mind pumping with creative possibilities. The Jazz Concert series will take place in Lincoln Hall, Room 37, at noon on Tuesdays. Or if you’re more available on Thursdays at noon, you can join the music majors for a variety of group performances (required for them but fun for you) in Lincoln 75! Everything is free.
10/13 - PSU Jazz Concert Series Colligan Men/Colligan 2 10/20 - Guitar Heroes 10/27 - Valdez Group 1/2 11/3 - Sandovals 1/2 11/10 - Salsa Band 11/17 - Jones/Medler groups 11/24 - 194 A/B groups 12/1 - Vocal Jazz
Performance Attendance Series 10/15 - Music Forward 10/22 - Adam LaMotte - Violin 10/29 - Desert’s Edge - Clarinet and Percussion 11/5 - PSU Choir, Ethan Sperry 11/12 - Sarah Kwak - Violin 11/19 - Oregon Guitar Quartet 12/3 - Opera Scenes
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
ETC
HOROSCOPES Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)
Always be who you are, for that is enough. Trying to be “cooler� or “with it� may inadvertently cause a breakdown in the universe and you wouldn’t want to be responsible for that, would you?
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)
Please remember that whatever your economic status, there is always someone worse off and better placed than you. Kindness is more important than wealth.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)
If you become lost this week, avoid that creepylooking house your car breaks down in front of. They won’t have a telephone, and they never will.
SUDOKU
Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
3 5 9 8 7 2 3 6 4 4 8 7 5 3 2 2 7 5 8 2 8 4 5 7 6 1 3
Aries (March 21–April 19)
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
Aquarius (Jan. 2–Feb. 18)
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 20–March 19)
Gemini (May 21–June 20)
Don’t judge the person who collects certain items. Just be honored that they are sharing that collection with you, because it’s a glimpse into their inner heart. Guilt is a powerful force in the universe. You can spend so much time reminiscing about failure that you can forget the very moment you are living in. The world cannot exist without rules and that can be tough for you to handle sometimes. But rules are important to keep the universe in order.
CROSSWORD
Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FRE E.
Play Sudoku and win prize
s at:
prizesudoku.com
The Sudoku Source of
“Portland State Vanguard�.
ACROSS 1 Axes elm, possibly, to obtain woody tissue (5) 4 Wise guy runs story during interminable strike (5,4) 9 The Italian general is set back by information deficit ultimately – that’s careless (9) 10 Wine producing region prepared for unfavourable weather? (5) 11, 22 dn I hope inn’s cooking with some quality ingredients – thus observing this motto (4,4,3,3,1,5) 12 Powerful drug needed by hospital department (6) 14 Going hungry around Spain? Far from it (8) 17 Approved translation of Norse Edda mostly (8) 19 One has to go through the wardrobe to locate it (6) 22 Travelling bag accompanying wife to old road motel, perhaps (11,4) 24 I complain about her (5) 25 Slow scoring? (9)
You may have the best intentions while looking for work this week, but be vigilant. You never know when your boss might be an evil wizard with a pinball fetish. A warning this week: Fairy tales may appear sweet on the outside, but sinister things always lurk within. Wishing for a happy ending may be your undoing. It is of the utmost importance that when you make a bargain, you see it through. The universe does not like to see imbalance and will do all it can to rectify the situation immediately.
Every person has the power to decide their own fate, which sometimes we forget. It’s important to remember the responsibility and honor that we should give to this power. There is a reason that people avoid thirteenth floors. They are spooky interdimensional places and nobody has time to deal with that nonsense in this day and age.
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
The creative-thinking Virgo this week is on the verge of a breakthrough. A new business venture or story may come to mind that should be pursued to the bitter end.
COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM
26 Never failing to be naive at all times (9) 27 One is required from the stage designer – and then again, not! (5) DOWN 1 Will she get cross with husband that is very quietly engaged digesting a set of books? (9) 2 Stone has a new record at No 1 (5) 3 Pottery made originally by one in German city (7) 4 Have a mind to observe seizure (3,3) 5 As describes quite new pieces in collection? Yes and no (8) 6 Birds – cat’s eating one of them (7) 7 Reportedly was short of an empty container for milk production? (9) 8 Shrewd woman invested in Cyprus (5) 13 Henry VII stood for it and vice versa (5,4) 15 Ostentatious dignitary is reserving love for the higher placed of the two Europeans (9) 16 Once more use fruit
that’s no good (2-6) 18 Swindling cartel includes a politician (7) 20 Article – one of five – on God by Italian philosopher (7) 21 Inert metal principally extracted with nitrogen (6) 22 See 11 23 I’m stoned, man – that’s not right (5)
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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INTERNATIONAL
U.S.-CHINA FORWARD MOVEMENTS, A REVIEW COMMENTARY BY JON RABY
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the U.S. for his first state visit on Sept. 22, 2015 since his election in 2012. While here he met with various CEOs, spoke before the United Nations and discussed climate change, cybertheft and security issues with President Obama, among other U.S.China relation issues. “The trip [was] billed as the most important U.S. visit by a Chinese leader in a generation,” wrote Andrew Hammond, senior correspondent at Reuters, in a Reuters blog. A large portion of President Xi’s intentions during his visit appear to have been economic. Reuters reported that he met with executives from Microsoft, Apple, Boeing and even Facebook, which is banned in China, among other companies. The first stop on his seven-day trip was to Washington State,
not Washington, D.C. On Oct. 5, Amy Celico spoke at Portland State about the impact of the president’s visit, as a part of PSU’s Institute for Asian Studies and the Northwest China Council of Portland, called China Town Hall and presented by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. It is a yearly event where a webcast of panels discusses ChinaU.S. issues, followed by a local discussion headed by an expert on the subject. Celico has worked in U.S.– China relations at the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. State Department and the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. Currently she works in the private sector, advising on Chinese business relations. “Major issues on the U.S. agenda while he was here included cybertheft, humanitarian causes and market access restrictions,” Celico said. “Because of the slowdown in China’s GDP growth, and
its effect on global economy, we thought a topic focusing on economics and trade would be appropriate this year,” said John Wong, who was responsible for creating the focus of the meeting of the NW China Council and co-hosted the China Town Hall meeting at PSU. Celico commented that Xi’s first leg of the U.S. tour in Washington State was for a push to let U.S. businesses know that China could be a working ally. This comes at a time when Chinese restrictions could be a deterrent to many companies wanting to do business there. “They said that they would look at national security considerations in a way that doesn’t discriminate against foreign companies.” Celico said, “That was very positive from our perspective.” The most focused topic of the webcast panel was bilateral trade relations, mostly
tomorrow exchange buy * *sell*trade sell*trade
focusing on Chinese investment in the U.S.—that is, Chinese factories in the U.S. One of the panel speakers was Sheldon Day, mayor of Thomasville, Alabama for nearly 20 years, who spoke of the Chinese company Golden Dragon moving into his small town. He said they have created opportunity, success and cultural sharing in Thomasville. There was no mention of dangers, or lack thereof, that the coppertubing company might have on the community. As for cybertheft, Celico was optimistic. “It was one of the more significant outcomes of the visit,” Celico said. “President Xi acknowledged this problem, and said that China and the United States would work together when their private entities try to steal intellectual property and commercial secrets.” On the front of climate change, the U.S. and China plan to work together. A White House press release stated, “On the occasion of President Xi’s State Visit to Washington, D.C., the two
Presidents reaffirm their shared conviction that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity and that their two countries have a critical role to play in addressing it.” Among other contributors, the two countries are the top two emitters of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Xi Jinping’s agenda largely revolved around a positive and powerful press image back home. “They wanted President Xi to be afforded the respect of a global leader,” Celico said. “It was from the Chinese perspective a very successful visit. While President Xi was in Seattle, in Washington, D.C. and in New York, he was treated like a global leader, and that’s what China wanted to get.” “The U.S. and China agreed to very positive cooperative steps,” Celico concluded, saying that the two countries will have to work together in the future, noting issues such as currency devaluations, global health is-
sues, wildlife trafficking and climate change—and that there were issues where no headway was made, including human rights, territorial disputes and altering nongovernmental organization (NGO) management laws. On the morning that Celico spoke, the twelve countries involved in the TransPacific Partnership—a trade agreement among numerous Pacific rim countries—reached an agreement. Participating countries include Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Peru, Chile, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia, but China was not included, according to the New York Times. Although President Xi’s visit was a step in the right direction, the U.S. and China’s relations are still tense and may contain many challenges down the road. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea look to be a roadblock in upcoming relations between the two countries. President Xi’s visit was a show that we need to work together economically and politically to better both countries futures.
DOWNTOWN: 1036 W. Burnside St. • 222-3418 HAWTHORNE DISTRICT: 1420 SE 37th Av. • 234-1302
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Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
PRESIDENT XI JINPING OF CHINA (right) meets Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Beijing during a 2012 trip.
KERIN A. KIRK-CUOMO/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
INTERNATIONAL
THE DE-DEVELOPMENT OF GAZA ONE YEAR AFTER THE 2014 GAZA-ISRAEL CONFLICT
COMMENTARY BY BRENDEN LEARY
ISRAELI ARTILLERY FIRE during a military operation in the Gaza Strip in July 2014. IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS
Within the past six years, Gaza has gone through three consecutive military operations: the first from Dec. 27, 2008 to Jan. 18, 2009, the second between Nov. 14 and 21, 2012, and the third for 50 days from July 7 to Aug. 26, 2014. With such violence occurring over a short period of time, the small Palestinian territory continues to persevere. As the marking of one year passes since the 2014
Israel-Gaza conflict, most have hoped to start over once again. Unfortunately, with the current economic and political state today, those 1.8 million Palestinians living on the Gaza Strip have bleak prospects of reconstruction. A recently published article from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said Gaza could become uninhabitable in less than five years if current
economic and population trends continue, classifying the strip as being in a state of “de-development”—meaning that the current state of Gaza is deteriorating rather than improving. Gaza’s economy still continues to suffer tremendously. Fourty-three percent of Gaza’s 1.8 million residents are unemployed, with youth unemployment reaching an alarming 60 percent. Steen Lau Jorgensen, World Bank country director for the West Bank and Gaza, stated that “the ongoing blockade and the 2014 war have taken a toll on Gaza’s economy and people’s livelihoods. Gaza’s exports virtually disappeared and the manufacturing sector has shrunk by as much as 60 percent. The economy cannot survive without being connected to the outside world.” One of the ways they’ve continued to stay connected is through Hamas’ sophisticated smuggling tunnels, which cross under both the Israeli and Egyptian borders.
Since the land, air and sea blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007, those tunnels were used to smuggle supplies and goods necessary for survival, as well as weapon smuggling. Egypt responded by creating a buffer zone that has demolished around three thousand homes in order to seal off the tunnels. Egypt also flooded the nine-mile border area twice, which has caused tunnels to cave in and become unavailable for use. Without this source of smuggling, Gaza and its citizens continue to be economically crippled. Violence has escalated and spread throughout both sides of the conflict. Four Israelis were killed in stabbings in Jerusalem, a driveby shooting in the West Bank on Thursday, Oct. 1, and two Palestinians have been shot dead and multiple others wounded in fights with Israeli security services. Stabbings have now occurred in various places in Jerusalem and its Old City, and in
Tel Aviv, Hebron, Kiryat Gat, Beit Sahour and Beit El. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has increased military presence in Jerusalem and the West Bank in response to recent clashes. Tensions are continuing to escalate as each day passes. While this vicious cycle of violence continues to make its rounds, many Palestinians are helplessly stuck in the middle of it all.
One local organization in Portland that works to help those in need is Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (AUPHR), an association united by a mutual concern for human rights, as well as Palestinians specifically. They post news, resources and calendars with event highlights of ongoing conflict in the occupied region. Visit auphr.org for more information.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 13, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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FREE EVENTS FOR STUDENTS
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program
Are you interested in living, working and teaching in Japan? The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program provides college graduates a unique opportunity to teach English to students in the Japanese public school system. Graduates help develop foreign language education by serving as Assistant Language Teachers or Coordinators for International Relations. This successful and respected program helps promote international exchange at the local level by fostering ties between Japanese youth and JET Program participants from around the world.
Portland State of Mind Music Festival OCTOBER 23 4–7 PM
Acoustic acts featuring David Bazan SMSU Green Roots Cafe, room 26
8–11 PM
Concert featuring THEESatisfaction SMSU Parkway North, room 101
Featured Events
The Consular Office of Japan in Portland, Oregon will be at Portland State University for an informational orientation on the JET Program on the following day: Date: Time: Bldg: Room:
October 15th, 2015 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Smith Memorial Student Union 296
APPLICANTS MUST Have U.S. Citizenship Or hold citizenship of one of the other 42 participating countries. Hold a Bachelor’s Degree by July 2016 No Japanese language ability required for the Assistant Language Teacher position. Applications due to the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. by November 13th, 2015. Applications are available at: http://jetprogramusa.org For more information, contact Career Services, the Consular Office of Japan at (503) 221-1811x314, or visit us online at the URL above.
OCT. 24 PSOM Day of Service OCT. 27
#PSUTweetUp + Strategic Ice Cream II
OCT. 28
Van Jones: Environmental Justice for All
OCT. 30 Victor’s Pep Rally OCT. 31
Homecoming Football: PSU vs. Montana
FOLLOW #PSOM AND WIN! Watch for scavenger hunt clues every day Oct. 22-31
Featuring more than 50 events pdx.edu
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:
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