NEWS OPINION ARTS & CULTURE INTERNATIONAL
VIKS SAIL AWAY WITH ANOTHER WIN! P. 5 BEING AMERICAN ISNT SO BAD P. 6 PROMOTE YOURSELF! P. 10 ABUDDYUP BUDDY’S UP WITH SYDNEY, AU. P. 15
VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 11 | OCTOBER 20, 2015
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CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR INTERNATIONAL
4 6 8 10 12 14
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 INTERNATIONAL@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly Ozier
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Lisa Dunn
PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Hunter Sharp
PHOTO EDITOR
ADVISER
ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman
DESIGNERS
Terra DeHart Nimi Einstein Elise Furlan Shannon Kidd
WRITERS
Nathan Anderson, Yuni Choi, Terra DeHart, John Pinney, Job Raby, Jeoffry Ray, Sebastian Richardson, Thomas Spoelhof, Miles Sanguinetti, Kayla Townsley
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeoffry Ray Steven Young
ADVERTISING SALES Eva Spencer Becca Propper Dennis Caceres
PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray
COPY CHIEF 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 ELISE FURLAN
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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NEWS
‘PORTLAND REVIEW’ IN FLUX LISA DUNN
The Portland Review, Portland State’s 59-year-old student-run literary journal, lost its entire staff to turnover this summer. (Full disclosure: the author of this article was a volunteer reader for the Portland Review in the 2014–15 school year.) Former Editor-in-Chief Alex Dannemiller, who is now an adjunct professor in the English department, said the turnover is not necessarily cause for concern. “Part of that is just the regular changeover, people just graduating and moving on,” he said. “Because of the nature of the journal—the fact that graduate students are here for a short time—it’s not that surprising,” Dannemiller said. “People are usually here for two years, and they move on. It’s hard sometimes to create a sense of continuation.” Recent budget cuts, however, have also presented challenges to the Review in recent years. The Review is a Student Media organization funded entirely by student fees, and its budget went from $28,216 in 2009–10 to $6,499 for the 2014–15 school year. With the exception of a 1.63 percent increase in 2010– 11, the Student Fee Committee has cut funding to the Review every year for the past five years. “The issues back then may have been on better,
CRIME BLOTTER Oct. 6 DISORDERLY GUEST
Multicultural Center
Officer Chris Fischer took a report of an unwanted person at the Multicultural Center in Smith Memorial Student Union. The unidentified person attended an event open to the public. Staff members said the unknown female was verbally disruptive and completed an event survey with responses that made staff concerned she may be violent. Information received from a social worker confirmed she has a history of violence.
4
higher quality paper with color images,” Dannemiller said. “We’ve still been able to print three issues a year, which is standard.” “Sometimes [in the past] they would do a summer issue as well, but we haven’t done anything like that,” he continued. “For the most part it covers what we need, but we could always do more.” Educational Leadership Service Awards—monetary compensation awarded to student leaders running student fee–funded campus organizations—were also cut as a result of budget cuts. “We get $4,500 split among the positions,” Dannemiller said. “The editor-in-chief receives $900 [per term]. There are only three paid positions, and we used to get paid more.” Print and online editors each receive $300 per term for their work, which is often time consuming, depending on the timing of the Review’s production schedule. Section editors receive no compensation. Dannemiller said he had both print and online editors drop out last year due to the demanding schedule and low pay. Despite the valuable experience of working for the Review, he said, “That’s time away from doing another job that you might
actually make money off of, or something like your thesis.” With an increased budget, Dannemiller said it would incentivize the work more. Dannemiller also said that with the current budget the Review cannot afford to pay contributors, which severely limits who will publish in the Review and, by extension, who subscribes to the journal. In the past, the Review published local writer Ursula K. Le Guin and other renowned authors. Most known writers, according to Dannemiller, won’t submit due to the lack of payment. Dannemiller said he has talked to several people from the English department about taking the Review out from under the Student Media umbrella and running it through the English department in order to ensure more oversight from English professors and a higher quality journal. “That’s still in its infancy,” he said. “I don’t know when it would happen…it’s a matter of working out funding and the logistics and making sure, in bringing over Portland Review, that it wouldn’t cause it to fall apart.” “It’ll be fine, anyways,” he said. “I have confidence in whoever takes it over.”
JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD
October 6-October 17
COLLEEN LEARY
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
SW 5th & Lincoln
Officer Shawn McKenzie responded to a report of a group of 6–7 skateboarders at the intersection of SW 5th & Lincoln. The group, reported to consist of young men under the age of 20, had surrounded the vehicle of a student whose vehicle ran over one of the boy’s boards and caused damage. They reportedly blocked her from leaving and made verbal threats. Neither the student nor her vehicle was harmed or damaged in the incident.
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Report by Phone
CPS Office
STUDENT CONDUCT
OfficerMatthewMasunaritooka12:25 p.m. report over the phone of an altercation between two students, both military veterans. The reporting faculty member said one student instigated an argument and threatened another. The report includes a note that both parties involved have physical and mental issues associated with their time in service, though they do not appear to present an immediate physical danger to themselves or each other. Masunari referred the incident to the Veterans Resource Center and the Office of the Dean of Student Life.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
MISSING PERSON Officer Shawn McKenzie responded to a report of a student who had not contacted parents for nearly 24 hours. The student’s father said this was abnormal behavior.CPSOforwardedthereportto the Portland Police Bureau for further investigation. PPB filed a missing person report. Policy restricted pinging the student’s cell phone at the time.
MISSING PERSON LOCATED CPS Office
Officer Peter Ward reported that several members of CPS offices assisted in investigating a Missing Person case re-
garding a student. The student reported missing was confirmed to be attending a weekend retreat. Officers closed the missing person report upon contact with the individual in question.
Oct. 11 STUDENT CONDUCT
Ondine Residence Hall
Officer Fischer responded to a report that a student in Ondine was selling marijuana and using meth and cocaine. The student allowed Fischer to search the room, where Fischer found several “cylinders of marijuana” and a straw with suspected cocaine residue. Fischer reported the incident to the office of the DSOL.
TOGA PARTY, INTOXICATED STUDENTS Broadway Housing
Officer Fischer responded to intoxicated students in Broadway Housing. The students reported drinking at a “frat house” and said they were concerned for their own welfare. Medical respondents examined the students, who declined to go to the hospital.
Oct. 12 PUBLIC INDECENCY
Millar Library
Officer Michael Anderson responded to a report from someone on the second floor of Millar Library who said a male had been
NEWS
‘WITH ODIN ON OUR SIDE’ JEOFFRY RAY
VIKINGS PILLAGE MONTANA STATE, LEAVE NO SPOILS
NATE TAGO RUSHES through the Bobcats’ defense.
looking at him while masturbating in a restroom stall. According to Officer’s report, the victim “did not see a penis, but saw the male undo his pants and hand movement consistent with masturbation.”
Oct. 13 DISORDERLY CONDUCT Cramer Hall
Officer Brian Rominger responded to a student report that an unknown male approached the student, forced her back into a wall and asked her inappropriate questions outside of a classroom on the first floor of Cramer. A representative from the Women’s
STEVEN YOUNG/PSU VANGUARD
Resource Center met with the student, and a check of the area did not result in officers finding anyone matching the unidentified male’s description.
Oct. 14 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Multicultural Center
Officer Fischer responded to a report of a verbal disturbance in the Multicultural Center. According to the report, “an unknown male with a Captain Hook mustache” yelled at a student worker who was unable to provide a printed list of events. “An area search yielded
When the Portland Tribune’s Steve Brandon wondered if the Vikings were for real this season, he pinned the likely answer on last weekend’s Big Sky match against Montana State. Well, it looks like we have our answer. Yeah, Steve, the Vikings are for real. Saturday’s Big Sky showdown between the Vikings and the Montana State Bobcats was nothing less than a gloves-off slugfest from start to finish. Billed as a clash of PSU defense against Bobcats offense, the tournament match turned into a game of high scores from the top of the clock. Montana brought on the heat at the top of the first quarter, with an initial 61-yard charge by Bobcats quarterback Dakota Prokup. Portland State matched Montana State touchdown for touchdown, ending the first quarter neck and neck at 14–14. The Vikings turned the tables in the second quarter with an immediate rush
no bad guy,” read the report.
PHISHING SCAM
Shattuck Hall
Officer James Dewey took a report from a student who received a threatening phone call the night before. Dewey listened to the voicemail and described it as “very clearly the opening of a phishing scam.” The report described a call back to the number that resulted in a bizarre conversation with a series of people working in “different departments of a law firm”, all of whom sounded like the same person on a cell phone. A Google search resulted in several complaints of phishing scams from the number in question. Officer
PATRICK ONWUASOR LEAPS FOR A PASS. Onwuasor would go on to make an interception that effectively shut out Montana State.
from 10 by Paris Penn, pushing PSU ahead. After routing the Bobcats’ first possession of the quarter, the Vikings proceeded to run away with the ball, taking the first half at 35–21. But Montana State didn’t lie down and surrender. Defense went out the window in the third, when the Bobcats’ Logan Jones tore through the Vikings’ line for a stinging 100-yard touchdown. The Bobcats kept up the fight, but
Portland State had an answer for each push. Each team took the end zone three times: a real crowd-charger, but also a virtual stalemate illustrating both teams still had enough fight to take the game. Montana State seemed to rally at the start of the fourth with a scrappy fumble recovery by Tucker Yates, but the Vikings grounded their rush at the 11-yard line before playing a savvy, time-killing 77yard push that ended in a field
VIKINGS SUPPORTERS show their spirit as they make noise for the home team.
Dewey told the student to ignore the voicemail and contact CPSO if any further contact occurs.
Oct 16 PPB ASSIST—ASSAULT II
SW 6th & College
A report from Officer Nichola Higbee described an incident at the intersection of SW College & 6th, where she observed a group of people in the midst of a commotion. She found a male lying on the ground being cared for by a number of females. According to the report, the victim was “sucker punched and knocked unconscious by an unknown His-
goal by Jonathan Gonzales for the final score of the game. Saturday’s win puts the Vikings at 5–1 for the season and 2–1 in the Big Sky. It is also a record-breaker for the Vikings in rushing yardage at 465 yards, over their 437 push in 2012 against Montana State. The Vikings will meet Cal Poly this weekend in San Luis Obispo, before their next home game on Halloween against Montana at Providence Park.
STEVEN YOUNG/PSU VANGUARD
panic male, who ran away after the punch.” The report said the victim’s head hit the concrete and he bled profusely from the back of his head. Medical personnel responded and transported the victim for care, and PPB took over the incident. CPS Officers recorded witness statements for PPB.
Oct. 17 FIRE AT HOUSELESS CAMP
SW 13th & Montgomery
STEVEN YOUNG/PSU VANGUARD
Officer Gary Smelzter and Officer David Troppe encountered a small fire at a camp of houseless persons near SW 13th and Montgomery at approximately 12:55 p.m. A person
at the camp said the fire started when attempting to burn a rope that held a radio to a fence. The officers extinguished the fire using a CPS vehicle’s fire extinguisher.
CAR PROWL
Parking Structure I
Officer Smeltzer took a report from a non-student whose car was broken into on the seventh floor of Parking Structure I. According to the report, loose change and marijuana were stolen from the car.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
5
OPINION
BEING AMERICAN IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF Against the Current
by Sebastian Richardson Like most undergraduates, a large portion of my time spent here at Portland State has been focused on the development of self; who I am, who I want to be, what I believe and how I think. For the most part, my sense of self has changed throughout my undergraduate career. I’ve learned to leave certain perceived conceptions about myself in the dust and embrace others. One that I initially left behind was an invested importance in my national identity and heritage. I was the sort of person in high school who thought America was the best thing since sliced bread and that being American gave a person some sense of importance and dignity in the world. As I began my freshman year of college and dove deep into the social sciences, I found myself aligning more with my appreciation for certain types of literature, philosophical schools and my love for Prince’s album Purple Rain more than my national heritage and culture. As a foreign language major, I spend a large portion of my time learning how to interact with cultures that are not my own. I’ve begun to see my citizenship as an arbitrary coincidence that has no real weight aside from who issues my passport. After all, America was the cause of a lot of problems in the world; we were a bunch of ignorant, gun-toting, imperialist xenophobes who cared more about Starbucks and material wealth than anything else. However, my perspective changed while I was living in Russia this past summer. Before leaving for Russia, I was told to be careful about whom I told my nationality to. We were taught how to blend in while on Russian public transportation and to avoid doing things that would be perceived as being too American, which would make us stand out. I felt as though I was entering into some pseudo-Cold War reality where I might be followed everywhere I went and would be silenced for trying to talk about the western world. It was only after about two weeks I realized that despite the picture both the Russian and U.S. media were painting, everyday people not only had minimal hostility toward the U.S., but were overjoyed that I was spending time in their country. People bought me drinks and asked me questions, and were eager to share their culture with me and for me to share America with them. It was during these conversations that I found a new love and appreciation for my country, history and culture that I hadn’t had since I was in high school. I found that I could not escape my American identity. No matter where I went, or who I talked to, the second I mentioned I was an American, that was what stuck. However, I began to be OK with that. Slowly and surely, while discussing the themes of Steinbeck novels and dissecting CCR lyrics with my Russian acquaintances, I came to realize that not only did I think differently from them because I was an American, but there was a certain spirit found in American literature, history, music and culture that could not be replicated on the vast steppes of Russia. It was in Russia that I realized being American is nothing to be ashamed of and that those who try to delude themselves into thinking it’s not important to their identity and manner of thinking are doing themselves a great disservice.
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ILLUSTRATION BY TERRA DEHART
In fact, even amidst global conflict and struggles regarding America’s role in the world today, the vast majority of people in other countries have a favorable view of the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center on Global Attitudes and Trends, in 2014 the general median of the entire world showed 65 percent of foreign respondents viewed America favorably. Countries in Asia, Africa and Europe have overwhelmingly favorable views of the United States with only the Middle East harboring ill sentiments. In 2015, the countries who have the least favorable views of the United States are Jordan at 83 percent unfavorable, Russia (81 percent), Palestine (70 percent), Pakistan (62 percent), Lebanon (60 percent) and Turkey (58 percent). Interestingly enough the countries that see the U.S. most favorably are the Philippines (92 percent), Ghana (89 percent),
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
Kenya (84 percent), South Korea (84 percent), Italy (83 percent), Israel (81 percent) and Ethiopia (81 percent). Having been in a country that has the second worst view of the U.S. in the world, I can say with confidence that being an American is nothing to be ashamed of. The American spirit is not found in a McDonald’s or on an iPhone, it’s something found in our musical traditions, the great novels of the 20th century, our films, our complex history, our language and our customs. It’s OK to appreciate the culture of other nations, but not at the expense of turning one’s back on their culture and heritage. Living in another country taught me that and this past Fourth of July, as I was running through a Russian park with sparklers singing “God Bless America,” I was never happier to be an American.
OPINION
CAPSTONES ARE NOT AS BAD AS THEY SEEM The Campus Oracle by Nathan Anderson
When I first arrived at Portland State, I was a bit taken aback by the University Studies requirement. As a transfer student, I wasn’t required to subject myself to the freshman and sophomore inquiry courses, but I did have to take the upperdivision cluster classes and the capstone. I had no idea what to expect from my capstone. As one acquaintance put it, “It’s like homeroom all over again!” Another said, “Four years of remedial classes taken from the same playbook.” Clearly, I knew both were using some poetic license, and I took both comments with a very large grain of salt. However, as I progressed through my upper-division cluster (which had absolutely no similarity to homeroom nor remedial courses), I began to plan for my capstone. As someone who has spent his life trying to help other people, finding a capstone that fit my personal goal of not being a selfish jerk was at the top of my list. Similarly, finding a capstone that did not place me into the indentured servitude of local or-
ganizations was also paramount. (Seriously: Several capstones are very open that they want students to be free labor for their partner organization. Yeah, I don’t think so.) However, I also began to hear, again, the grumblings of students, both current and former, about the requirements capstone courses place on those taking them. The fact that capstones are six credits of 400-level work is in itself daunting for many. The time commitments for many capstones (or maybe all) are significant: several hours of seminar per week, followed by a day in the field. Written assignments, projects…it all adds up. As I chose my capstone and readied myself, I was truly worried I was getting myself deeply over my head. But now that I’m actually taking my capstone, it’s…not a big deal. Admittedly, the time commitment takes a bit of getting used to. I spend one day a week in the field, working with K–12 students to help them learn forest and wetland ecology. It’s physically exhausting and takes a full day to complete—quite
literally 7 a.m. until nearly dark. However, the work itself is fairly easy. There’s a bit of reflective journaling involved, and each week there’s a seminar lecture to discuss progress completed and progress yet to be made. But really, it’s no more difficult than any other class I’ve taken, and certainly not as difficult as I had dreaded. Many have said it’s not as hard as a six-credit class should be, but I’ll reserve that judgement until the end of the term. So capstones are a good thing; I don’t think there is any doubt in my mind. I know some dread them, some find them boring and others love them. I’m not sure if love is the adjective I would use, but it’s certainly been valuable so far. The instructor is great, and my fellow students are amazing, dedicated people. I’m certainly grateful to be given this opportunity, and I hope anyone who has to take a capstone keeps an open mind and approaches them not as a chore but as a wonderful opportunity to better their city, their community and those that benefit from both.
BY KAYLA TOWNSLEY
STUDENTS WORK OUTDOORS in the 2008 Learning Gardens capstone, taught by Denissia Withers.
COURTESY OF ROBERT MCNARY PHOTOGRAPHY
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
7
VANGUARD STAFF
Portland State kicks off its annual 10-day celebration of
house, panel discussions on social and political topics, cultural
university knowledge and culture this Thursday, Oct. 22.
celebrations, artist lectures and plenty of other opportunities
Portland State of Mind runs through Oct. 31 and features over
to get into the Portland State of Mind. It’ll be impossible not
50 events for students and community members. Events in-
to find something that’s up your alley—the hardest part will be
clude PSU Viking sporting events, a music festival, a haunted
trying to decide what you’re going to attend.
Let your mind journey beyond Portland Molly Ozier
On an urban campus like PSU, you’ll find a mixture of cultures, interests, beliefs and knowledge. PSOM started three years ago as a way to bring together alumni for one weekend. In those three years, PSOM has grown into a 10-day event for students, faculty, alumni and the Portland community. “I used to think [PSOM] was more of a university-wide thing, but now it involves something a little larger than the university: how the university affects Portland, the relationship between PSU, PSU students, then the larger Portland community,” said Pedro S. Torres, program coordinator for La Casa Latina. The Vanguard International section is highlighting four events taking place during PSOM. The first will be held at LCL on Oct. 22 at noon for a viewing of “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History,” a documentary series that explores the history of Latino Americans in what is now the western United States. This is the first episode of a six-part series; three episodes air during fall term and three during winter. Torres collaborated with an assistant professor from Chicano/Latino studies, Melissa Bennett. “Latino Americans” is part of a series of events that will be put on as part of Bennett’s application for a grant. This movie is Latino-focused, although many of the events will highlight different cultures. “The idea is to promote, to foster a cultural identity and pride in the students that identify with said cultures but also to promote the cultures,” Torres said. “Collaborations with other academic departments tends to be fruitful because they invite their students to take part and participate.”
Torres said LCL is not only a safe, open place to visit but a home away from home. An evening of storytelling will be held at the Multicultural Center on Oct. 23. The storytellers will be an array of seven PSU students, faculty and staff members who will tell their personal stories of struggles, challenges and families. On Oct. 27, LCL will host Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—a traditional gathering for honoring loved ones lost. A community altar will be set up for those who want to create traditional Day of the Dead memorials. If you’re thinking of a greener tomorrow, look no further than “Beyond the Limits to Growth: New Ideas for Sustainability from Japan.” Join the Center for Japanese Studies on Oct. 29 as they introduce Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, a knowledgeable, academic leader on global sustainability. All four of these events are free to students. If you’re interested in finding out more about your Portland culture, get out there for PSOM.
Extra, extra News all about it Colleen Leary
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ELISE FURLAN
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PSOM includes several events related to current affairs, political movements, PSU’s Strategic Plan, community engagement and Viking sports. The university will host a community engagement event on Oct. 24 where students can volunteer at PSU’s Day of Service. On the same day, they can also attend the PSU Farmers Market in the Park Blocks. PSU’s ongoing Strategic Plan project will hosts its second installment of the Strategic Ice Cream Social on Oct. 27, where students will
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
engage with and offer feedback on PSU’s future goals. Attendees get free ice cream. Because ice cream. Later in the evening, a town hall discussion on Oregon’s minimum wage will be broadcast live from Smith Memorial Student Union’s ballroom. KATU’s Steve Dunn will moderate a panel of experts who will respond to questions from a media panel, including Vanguard editor, Lisa Dunn. Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Huffington Post, will host PSU Foundation’s Annual Simon Benson Award Dinner and fundraiser on Oct. 29. Huffington will host an RSVP-only Q-and-A event with a small group of students and journalists prior to the Awards Dinner. The week closes out with a Vikings Homecoming celebration as the football team squares off against University of Montana on Halloween night.
Get your Arts & Culture on PSOM is offering a myriad of art and culture events, talks, exhibits and performances this year. Although they will all be worthwhile, there are a few that definitely can’t be skipped. One event on the can’t-miss list is the Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibit and Reception. The top three winners of the highly reputable arts award will have their work on display in the Autzen Gallery on Oct. 22, 4 to 6 p.m. Although their art will be on view from Oct. 6 to 30, going to the event offers the opportunity to meet the artists, listen to the presentations and enjoy the reception, free of charge. The 2015 winners and master’s students from PSU’s School of Art and Design are Amanda Evans for first place, Chris Freeman for second and Melodee Dudley for third. Evans, an art and social practice MFA student, competed against 60 other applicants for the prestigious place title and $5,500 reward. Evan’s ceramic artwork, Objects for Digestion, appear to be beautiful sculptures for home decor. However, the containers are also functional and meant to be for practical use. According to her artist statement, Evans plans to give each piece to a different person or place, including a community CSA farm and a classroom. Freeman and Dudley, also awardees of the highstatus prize, received $4,000 and $3,000 in rec-
Event Calendar Visit pdx-edu/events for the full list of PSOM’s 50+ events.
Thursday, October 22 12:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM
Latino Americans - 500 Years of History, Episode 1 The Cutting Edge - Printmaking Exhibit and Reception Portland State Volleyball - Viks vs. Montana
Friday, October 23 8:30 AM
PDXTalks
4:00 PM
PSOM Music Festival
5:30 PM
Obama, Carbon and the 2015 Paris Climate Negotiations
Aislinn Rennison
ognition of their artistic achievements. Freeman focused his work on a social experiment that examines gender roles and human behavior. Dudley’s photographic art is both emotionally moving and introspective, as it is inspired by losing her parents. The Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize was created in 2013 in hopes to increase public awareness of art at PSU. Attending the exhibit can help this goal. Another notable event for the PSOM festivities is the Museum of Natural History open house. For one day only, the Science Research and Teaching Center is highlighting a scientific exhibit of different kinds of animals in rooms 219 and 257 of the SRTC building. The collection will be on display from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 24. Free and interactive, this brandnew presentation is perfect for families. The PSOM Music Festival is one more event you should squeeze into your schedule. Seven hours of seven performances will start at 4 p.m. on Oct. 23. The first three acts—David Bazan, Luz Elena Mendoza and Ezza Rose—will play their acoustic sets at the Green Roots Cafe in the Smith Memorial Student Union building. At 8 p.m. the party will move to SMSU Parkway North for the remainder of the festival, featuring THEESatisfaction, Beat Connection, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid and Hutch Harris (of the Thermals). Although the concerts are free for PSU students with a valid ID, non-students will need to swing by the PSU Box Office; tickets cost $25 for all day, $10 for the Green Roots Cafe shows and $15 for the Parkway North concerts. There are plenty of fun and exciting PSOM happenings for our art and culture community— seize the opportunity and get to as many as you can!
CALENDAR BY NIMI EINSTEIN
Wednesday, October 28 3:00 PM
Political State of Mind
Sunday, October 25
4:00 PM
Fall Midterm Stress Relief
4:00 PM
7:00 PM
Van Jones - Environmental Justice for All
4:00 PM
4:00 PM
PSU Alumni Night with the Portland Timbers Portland American Chemical Society Undergraduate Poster Symposium & Career Fair Music Forward Preview
Thursday, October 29 12:00 PM
Monday, October 26
6:00 PM
2:30 PM
6:30 PM
4:30 PM 6:00 PM
Bringing Equity into Focus - The Past, Present and Future of Juvenile Justice in Oregon Community Environmental Services 25th Anniversary Celebration Care & Repair of Books - Tips from the PSU Library
Friday, October 30 12:00 PM
Saturday, October 24
Beyond the Limits to Growth - New Ideas for Sustainability for Japan Gray Matters - School of Architecture Film Screening Intersections - An Evening of Storytelling about Identity, Culture, Community, and Pride
Victor's Pep Rally
Tuesday, October 27
Saturday, October 31 8:00 AM 12:00 PM 2:05 PM
8:30 AM
PSU Day at the Farmers Market
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
College of the Arts Open House
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Portland State Volleyball - Viks vs. Montana State
7:30 PM
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Altar & Craft Making PSU Convenes - Raising Oregon's Minimum Wage Transmit Culture: Women in Writing and Publishing
7:00 PM
Preview Day Homecoming Tailgate Homecoming Football Game - Viks vs. Montana Portland State Volleyball - Viks vs. Sacramento State
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
9
ARTS & CULTURE
CREATIVE CROWDSOURCING CONCEPT THOMAS SPOELHOF
Cory McAbee spoke to students and guests at Smith Memorial Student Union on Tuesday, Oct. 6, regarding the evolving concept of crowdsourcing creative collaborations. McAbee held no reserve in sharing his experiences of engaging the eager and setting them free to create what they will, using all artistic avenues. “This project is crowdsourcing,” McAbee said. “But not crowdsourcing financing. This is crowdsourcing talent.” McAbee’s current work and first album, Small Star Seminar, is a difficult endeavor to categorize under traditional labels. It’s a movie. It’s a blog. It’s a soundtrack, graphic novel, chapter patches and trifold brochure. It’s beyond the reach of any one artist, and that is perfectly all right with the idea’s founder. McAbee is a pioneer of the free and open exchange of creative energies.
“If it is of its time, it is organic,” McAbee said. “Either I read it or I dreamt it. The truth is more important than the facts. I was thinking in retro thought. For younger people, the Internet is organic, part of their lives. What does organic mean now? This led me to a new way of thinking, working with things I felt were organic for this time.” The director/musician/visionary offered insights to Portland State students interested in initiating a crowdsourced collaborative of their own. “Two important things that are necessary: getting people’s emails and getting their locations. With this global collaborative thing, you can section off your areas and know who you need to talk to,” McAbee said. Through utilization of a bevy of communications media— Patreon, Mixlr, MailChimp and JotForm, to name a few—
McAbee shared his ideas and put them in the hands of anyone who would care to join him, anywhere in the world. “I wanted to make a global collaborative for anyone who wanted to work with me. A nice outsider name was Captain Ahab’s Motorcycle Club. The name itself allows people to create visuals and opens itself up to graphics. Participation constitutes membership,” McAbee said. McAbee then described the whirlwind of feedback he received in response to the free license his experiment allowed. Colorful, innovative chapter patches from Switzerland, Russia, Australia—animated shorts from Germany—the list grew on as the project began to take on a life of its own. “The kindness that rolls off of people is unbelievable and it really makes me happy to work with them,” McAbee said. “People step
up and they’re nice, and the jerks just don’t get involved. With all the bad things happening in the world, to do something like this and know that you have three friends in any given city…that’s a good thing. Everybody who works on it is supportive of it because it is all ours.” McAbee explained that people are volunteering to create their own ideas. He encourages them to make what they think is beautiful. “The stuff we’ve been getting is amazing,” McAbee said. “Everything starts piecing itself together as we had hoped.” He went on to explain that the idea of crowdsourcing creative collaboration is not exactly new. He cited the musical act the Grateful Dead and their unheard-of practice of allowing concertgoers to record their shows and trade them freely amongst themselves in the 1970s.
“What it was really about was the peripheral. [The Grateful Dead] did something different, empowered their fans and let people do things record companies normally wouldn’t do: record their concerts,” McAbee said. The fans transformed from consumers to collaborators because they were bootlegging the music. It was an underground movement that continued to involve more people. McAbee placed emphasis on how important it is to communicate with others. This is why Patreon is such a vital resource for crowdsourcing. “The reason I like Patreon is that people can help,” McAbee said. “And people can also communicate with each other. You can post PDF files to download; it’s a great library. It’s a good place to put things when you want people to go and download quality
files. They have really good audio uploads.” After utilizing mobile distribution to share a short film he produced through the Sundance Film Festival in 2007, McAbee did the same for his feature-length film The American Astronaut in 2009. The resulting success ignited a spark that, by his own choice, has spiraled out of any one person’s control. This same visionary means of collaboration inspired event coordinator and PSU film student Shannon Neale to recruit McAbee to campus. “There were five or six student organizations that collaborated on this. I think anybody that has an idea of some event or speaker they want to bring to PSU, get your ducks in a row and it will happen,” Neale said. “You have a greater reach than you think, and things are more within your reach than ever.”
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CORY MCABEE DESCRIBES his crowdsourced projects at a guest lecture in Smith Memorial Student Union. JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD
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Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
DOWNTOWN: 1036 W. Burnside St. • 222-3418 HAWTHORNE DISTRICT: 1420 SE 37th Av. • 234-1302
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ARTS & CULTURE
MASTERWORKS OF LANDSCAPE BEJEWEL ‘SEEING NATURE’ EXHIBIT THOMAS SPOELHOF
Carve out a date on your calendar for Portland Art Museum’s exhibit Seeing Nature: Landscape Masterworks from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection, on display now through Jan. 10, 2016. The collection of landscape masterpieces, which spans five centuries, offers the rare occasion to experience an eclectic feast of images no other medium can replicate. Be sure to allot an extended period of time; you’ll want to linger in the orbit of these 39 paintings. The exhibit constitutes a share of the personal collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen. The Allen family generously loaned the pieces to the viewing public via the curation of PAM through early next year. The collection will then undergo a national circuit tour and come full circle to the Seattle Art Museum in early 2017. “These masterpieces have never before been on dis-
play together. Paul Allen is one of the Northwest’s most significant art collectors and philanthropists, and his willingness to share his landscape masterpieces with our visitors offers an unprecedented chance to be inspired by works of art,” said Brian Ferriso, the Marilyn H. and Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. director of the Portland Art Museum. Every piece in the collection is noteworthy, and every artist represented conceives an inimitable style. The display includes work from Georgia O’Keeffe, David Hockney and Gerhard Richter, to name a few. Professor Rita Robillard of Portland State’s School of Art & Design was impressed with the exhibit and even surprised by some of the rare paintings. “This colorful exhibition of landscape paintings, that Portland has the honor of
COGNITIVE SCIENTIST STEVEN PINKER reads about writing at Powell’s City of Books.
being the first venue for, includes four hundred years of secular art. There are many surprises like the Gustav Klimt painting of a birch forest. It is unlike any other work I have seen by him,” Robillard said. Additional favorites include Impressionist works from French master Claude Monet and architectural wonders from Italian artist Canaletto. “Many of the paintings focus on Venice, still a pilgrimage site for artists— a gateway to the Middle East and depictions of Orientalism. There is a large dark and mysterious painting by an artist I had never heard about Henri Le Sidaner, The Serenade, 1907, showing Venice at night with beautiful lanterns reflecting in the waters of the Venice Lagoon,” Robillard said. Also notable is a series of paintings dedicated to
each of the five senses, by 17th-century Dutch master Brueghel the Younger. The works, commanding a solo act on one of the three showrooms’ walls, is bound to generate discussion. “Like much contemporary art, this exhibition presents many fascinating puzzles and historical points of view. Paintings bring life to the history of facts and culture,” Robillard said. “There are several views of the Grand Canyon, including Thomas Moran’s beautiful work that was sponsored by the Santa Fe Railroad—a visual representation of the concept of Manifest Destiny seeking to bring settlers west.” PSU students can purchase annual student pass with PAM for only $20, which grants full access to all exhibits at any time. With a location a mere stone’s throw from campus, and the option of $5 Fridays after 5 p.m., Seeing Nature is a must-see.
EDITOR PICK OF THE WEEK RESTAURANT: NOBLE ROT AISLINN RENNISON
Noble Rot sounds like the last place you would want to get dinner. Despite the decaying name, move this fourthfloor restaurant to the top of your must-try list. With the option of sitting outside next to their large glass windows—which slide completely open or closed— or inside next to the full bar and expansive wine collection (over 300 bottles), you will see beautiful downtown Portland scenery all around you while you dine. Although the regular menu can be a tad pricey for a college student, happy hour (5–6 p.m., Monday through Friday) is completely within reason. If you do have a little extra cash, though, and you’re feeling adventurous, order the Rot Meat Plate. I know, that sounds absolutely revolting. And although I only recognized the name prosciutto, surprisingly every piece of meat on the platter turned out to be extremely tasty; plus, the dish comes with an assortment of fine cheese. The Rot Meat Plate is a testament to the phrase “don’t knock it till you try it,” and this time it turned out to be amazing! If the name still nauseates you, stick to a more traditional dish like macaroni & cheese, which they are famous for. No matter what you try, do not leave there without ordering the delectable creme brulee.
The most impressive piece to the restaurant was learning about their 3,000-squarefoot rooftop garden, which supplies most of their veggies. To get even more sustainable, the restaurant and garden use their own aquifer system. Even though drinking water from a 8,000-yearold water source is just another thing to add to the sounds-disgusting list, the water is clean and pure. If you want to try some of their rooftop veggies, get in soon before winter sets. During early fall, Noble Rot highlights Mediterranean veggies like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. I must admit our service was slow, on what looked like a pretty relaxed night. However, the view, wine and delicious fare experiment was well worth having to track our waitress down. So stop by the Leed-Platinum building with some friends after class and enjoy the view, before it’s completely covered with rain and clouds this winter.
FYI Where: 1111 East Burnside Street, Portland Hours: Monday–Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. Cost: $$
KATI VALDERRAMA/PSU VANGUARD
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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ETC TUESDAY OCT. 20 Effective Interviewing 2:30 p.m. USB 402 Free
You might incorrectly believe that half the battle of getting a job is just showing up to your interview. And that’s fine. But how do you explain what your assets are? How do you dress? Do you have a good handshake? Should you floss in front of human resources? The answers to all of these questions, and practice interviews, will be available during this two-hour interactive seminar and interviewtechnique refresher course.
Sista in the Brotherhood 6 p.m. Clinton Street Theater Free
Event Listings for Oct. 20–Oct. 26 WEDNESDAY OCT. 21 Grad School? Y/N? 10:30 a.m. USB 402 Free
The Advising & Career Services folks are always available to help you scope out your big picture, and they may be able to tell you specifically if grad school is the right move for you. If you have pushy parents, this might actually also get them out of your hair—a big bonus along with having the right information. Offered twice in the term, this will also help familiarize you with the steps for grad school applications and see if it’s a good fit for you.
Ape Caves Pre-Trip Meeting
As part of the Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. Social Hour, this film focuses on the doctoral thesis of Dr. Roberta Hunte, which is best explained by its title: “My Walk Has Never Been Average: Black Tradeswomen Negotiating Intersections of Race and Gender in Long-Term Careers in the United States.” The film is directed by journeylevel carpenter and filmmaker Dawn Jones Redstone.
5 p.m. Outdoor Program Office Fee: $25 (rec member), $50 (non-member) Apparently the Ape Cave is one of the longest lava tubes in the continental U.S. Go explore while wearing a fashionable headlamp, but be warned: There is a small eight-foot wall to deal with. There will be scrambling, but no caving experience is needed.
THURSDAY OCT. 22 Latin@ Americans: 500 Years of History, Ep. 1 12 p.m. La Casa Latina (Smith 229) Free
This documentary viewing (I don’t know how many parts there are, but 500 years is a lot of history to cover) is being sponsored by the Chicano Latino Studies group and La Casa Latina. The documentary is open to the public and accessibility accommodations are available.
Nosh 4 Nonviolence Various Restaurants Fee: Varies
If Thursday is your date night or you’re OK with moving around your night out, this is a great time to go out to support this fundraiser for femaleidentified domestic abuse victims (both a crisis line and a women & children’s shelter is supported). At this time, there are 12 participating restaurants listed on the Nosh 4 Nonviolence website (including one place that does this deep-fried deviled egg that will blow your mind).
FRIDAY OCT. 23 PDXTalks
8:30 p.m. Lincoln Hall 75 Free Like a TED Talk but way more local, PDXTalks will feature Professor Seltzer as host, Jack Ohman as cartoonist, Katie Poppe from Blue Star Donuts, Evan Thomas as engineer, Comm Professor Lee Shaker and Walidah Imarisha, a black studies instructor and poet. Although free of charge, tickets are required through the PSU Box Office.
Disney on Ice presents Frozen 3:30 p.m. Moda Center Fee: $20–$75
Say what you want about the brand, the princesses and the gouging prices just to get into the parks, but Disney is an experience, and Disney on Ice is a masterclass of acrobatics, skating technique and character recognition, seamlessly integrating movie and genre. Sure, there’s a lot of overpriced merchandise, and sure, there are more than a couple commercials for GoGurt, but it’s really all worth the price of admission to see it—with or without kids.
JOHN PINNEY
SATURDAY OCT. 24 Housing Fright Night
7 p.m. Montgomery Court Residence Hall Suggested donation: $2 at door, $5 with a friend, $10 to skip the line This annual haunted house happening right on your own turf is a great way to support charity and enjoy some chills and thrills that never fail to stay fresh.
Growler Fest 2015
12 p.m. Eutectic Gallery Fee: $15 (early-bird special), $20 (regular) If you don’t know, a growler is a large container of alcohol that can fit on a variety of bikes. In fact, bike people are infamous for going on growler tours, and this handcrafted-brew event features brews from across the country and decorated growler containers, including glow-in-thedark ones!
FEATURED EVENT Day of Service
Sat., Oct. 24 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Meet at SMSU 238 Portland State, it’s time to put our service where our mouths are. We talk about this school being ingrained in our community. We talk about social consciousness and good work spreading far and wide. We talk about sustainability and local impact. We talk a lot. This is an opportunity to back up our words with action and serve in a variety of capacities. Last time I checked, it wouldn’t kill us to give up one Saturday of our year in order to help out all over the city. Let’s show Portland that we, as a school, mean business. Get out your gardening hoes, hammers, paint brushes, trash bags and gloves, and come join the fight to make our little corner of the world better.
JOHN PINNEY
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)
Some of your more imaginative friends this week may be the key in helping you to complete a project you’ve been struggling with.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)
Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing, Sagi. It can allow your mind to wander and glorify the past while ignoring the problems created in the present.
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Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
There will always be those haters who think that business should triumph over pleasure in these uncertain times. Bite your thumb at these people by being selfish and taking a mini-vacation.
Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)
Cameras can capture memories that will warm the soul for a lifetime. Be respectful of such a power in this day and age of instant gratification.
Pisces (Feb. 20–March 19)
This week you’re going to find out that you’ve been receiving mixed messages, and though painful, the message that seemed less likely was the correct message.
Aries (March 21–April 19)
There are always going to be those in your universe who march to the beat of a different drummer. Significantly, most of them won’t be lizard people from another galaxy.
Vanguard | OCTOBER 6, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
Any people that like to play games in graveyards, whether it be at day or night, are not your friends. Especially in the month of October.
Gemini (May 21–June 20)
It’s important to pay attention to local legends because even if they are no longer truth, there is still some pearl of wisdom in them to understand.
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
A new friend this week may seem clingy, but you’ll have to learnto forgive instead of to shun. It’s important to accept those who truly enjoy your company.
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)
Any time you get lost in the woods, it’s important to remember that somewhere, there is a path to freedom. Be vigilant of that path at all times.
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
Bear in mind that this week is going to see a rise in spooky and strange happenings and that any pranks or negativity you put out into the universe may come back to haunt you.
ETC
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ACROSS 1 The Evening Star reported escape by rapist – not first bloomer to be made (5,3,4) 9 Cornish town provides setting for final part of Prometheus Unbound (5) 10 It was once standard for old gun to be loaded with ammo, having fired round (9) 11 A time to bring in repair men to make alteration (9) 12 Talk endlessly about fish being dependent on water movements (5) 13 Glossy coating for hair rejected by the European (6) 15 Trunks could be required for such clothing (8) 18 Revolt mostly crushed by soldiers during first wartime operation (8) 19 Unpleasant people who create a stink? (6) 22 Group of eight hundred volunteers found among the returning party (5) 24 Rheingold is cut short and replaced with new opera (9) 26 At heart, describes a
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tailor’s work (9) 27 To some extent dog resented cruel people (5) 28 Flying over once more, airmen start to attack with shells – not half a thunderous downpour (7,5) DOWN 1 House, for example, is turned over to a small community (7) 2 One who wept and was petrified (5) 3 Hasten to find source of water for plant (9) 4 He’s a hero to the Spanish (6) 5 A place with cultural links to another – like BadenBaden? (4,4) 6 Having no New Testaments to share out? (5) 7 A little boy swallows insect (8) 8 Where to find wine vendor, say (6) 14 A fresh flower’s opening (8) 16 Decamping with money originally belonging to a ruler of France (6,3) 17 Cook, having misappropriated
gin, gets persistent questioning (8) 18 Player – one wearing new boots (6) 20 Being employed to fill ship’s cavities (7) 21 One who laments loudly for Ahab? (6) 23 Lawrence has a sash for washerman (5) 25 Country with two rivers (5)
Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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INTERNATIONAL
BUDDYUP APP GOES INTERNATIONAL APP DEVELOPED BY PSU ALUMNUS TAKES OFF IN SYDNEY, AU
JON RABY
Some may remember the desktop-only beta version of BuddyUp, launched in fall of 2014 at the Portland State campus as a part of a capstone project done by PSU alumnus Brian Forrester. Thousands of students and hundreds of classes participated in the trial of the social media/study partner finder. On Sept. 28, BuddyUp’s mobile app was released. Today, PSU BuddyUp users average around 4,500 students from 250 classes. The studybuddy finder is being used at universities not only across the country but around the world, including the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales in Australia. BuddyUp is a free app for students that connects them with others in the same classes looking to study material together. According to Forrester, when universities partner with the program, they typically have to pay a licensing fee. Forrester came up with the idea for the app after failing a statistics class. In light of his failure, he realized the need for a better way to connect with study partners. As his capstone project, he built the program with the help of the PSU computer science depart-
ment and students who offered their time. “It really grew organically, and virally within PSU,” Forrester said. Mark Blackmore is a professor in the department of math and statistics at PSU. Blackmore was Forrester’s teacher during his second attempt at statistics. Blackmore believes study groups are the “single best thing you can do to promote your academic success,” and even put it in the syllabus for his classes. Today, he asks Forrester to come in and talk with his classes about his success after initiating a study group. “What does a study group actually do for you? Well, it gives you engagement, right? It gives you connection, you know people,” Blackmore said. “From a learning perspective, if I’m in a study group and you and I are trying to learn something, you’re going to tell me how you see it, and I’m going to tell you how I see it, and we’re both going to benefit from that. You’re going to use parts of your brain to tell me what you think that you wouldn’t have used had you just sat at home and done it alone.” Originally Forrester applied for a reTHINK PSU grant for BuddyUp. According to the PSU website, reTHINK PSU
BUDDYUP FOUNDER AND CEO BRIAN FORRESTER at Portland State’s 2015 Party in the Plaza.
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is a presidential initiative that funds projects and charts them along a very specific road map to succeed at challenges. After being denied the grant, he took the initiative to create the program on his own. Forrester said in the long run it actually worked out better for him to develop the program solo, rather than be funded by PSU. “Looking back, I’m so happy that I chose to do it independently and then partner with the university, rather than do it from within the university, because unfortunately when you do that there are a lot of constraints and challenges,” Forrester said. Forrester originally got the most support from faculty of the math, world languages and literature departments at PSU. The program’s benefit to linking international students who speak the same language is evident. As a startup company forged on the campus of PSU, Forrester remarked on how it’s going international somewhat on its own. “We get requests all the time from students all across the world who are trying to use it or want to know how they can bring it to their school. We’ve had students
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Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
reach out from China, India, Japan, Scotland [and] Iraq,” Forrester said. One of the major challenges of BuddyUp is finding other students in the classes you are taking who also use the program. Without teacher support, or a push from other students to get classmates participating, the pool of study buddies can be too low to be useful. Blackmore says this fits right in with mathematics. He described the knee of the curve and drew a simple exponential growth graph. It begins in low, low, low numbers, and at a certain point shoots up into the high numbers. Shortly after the knee of the curve, growth becomes explosive. “You need to get a critical
mass. You need some catalyst to get you to the knee of that curve,” Blackmore said. BuddyUp is now run by a team of five out of an office just off the PSU campus. Forrester said he is currently most excited about approaching Waseda University in Japan. “They’re one of our sister schools, and I really am curious to see how BuddyUp takes off in Japan, because I think that’s going to be interesting both culturally and technologically,” Forrester said. When and where BuddyUp will hit its critical mass and explode is still unknown. Born on the campus of PSU, BuddyUp has already gone international. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
INTERNATIONAL
INDIA’S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS COMMENTARY BY YUNI CHOI
The recent tragedy at Umpqua Community College has once again surfaced mental health as a topic of discussion. The stigmatization, ignorance and lack of adequate policy to support those who are suffering are a phenomena observed not only in the U.S., but also the world—specifically India. Without societal and systematic reform, the consequences may not end on an economic and social productivity loss. India has fallen under the radar for crisis as statistics show an exacerbation in the level of mental health care
across the country. In the most recent estimates, at least 5 percent of the population live with some kind of mental illness, translating to 50 million people. Half of the people living with severe conditions don’t receive treatment, and 90 percent of those living with less severe conditions are neglected from adequate care. While the Indian government has announced that one in five people in the country are in need of psychological and psychiatric counseling, progress has been minimal in improving health care on a policy level.
India’s government issued its first mental health policy in 2014. It was an ambitious plan to provide universal mental health services in the country. The policy aimed to attend to the needs of the poor, lift the burden of stigmatization on mental health disorders and reduce high suicide rates. Despite the optimism entailed by governmental intervention, less than 1 percent of India’s health budget is dedicated to mental health care. Although there are now 43 government-run mental health institutions, they are severely underfunded and overpopulated. Furthermore, the number of professionals
and resources in the field are severely lacking. There are a total of approximately 4,000 psychiatrists, 1,000 psychologists and 3,000 social workers in the whole nation, and only 1,022 college seats to educate mental health professionals. This provides one psychiatrist for every four lakh (400,000) Indians. According to the World Health Organization in 2014, India had the highest number of suicides in the world. Suicide rates are closely associated with indicators of effective mental health care in a country. For young women in particular, suicide has surpassed maternal mortality as the leading cause of
FORMER HEALTH MINISTER OF INDIA HARSH VARDHAN (left) at the 2014 UK-India Science and Innovation Council in Delhi. Vardhan helped implement India’s first Mental Health Policy last October.
death. Women who are mentally ill, as reported by Vice News, are regarded as being less than an animal. As a result, many women are abandoned and institutionalized by their families. Once committed to a mental institution, women are unable to leave or have a say in the method of their treatment. In an interview with VICE News, Dr. Bhargavi Davar, founder of Bupu Trust, said, “There is no law or policy which governs what can happen inside an institution.” “We’ve heard about sexual abuse or medication drugging, forced shock treatments, seclusions and solitary confinement,” Davar said. The legal provisions are such that, when
declared mentally ill, a person is considered legally incapacitated. Such a lack of patient rights and the patriarchal attitude of Indian society give leeway for some individuals to abuse the insanity petition to wrongly commit women into the institutions. Social attitude takes accountability for lack of open conversation about mental health. For many generations, mental illnesses have been attributed to supernatural causes, such as divine retaliation and demonic possession. Consequently, those who suffer from mental disorders are stigmatized as unproductive, untreatable and weak.
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Vanguard | OCTOBER 20, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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Free events FOr students
Portland State of Mind Music Festival OctOber 23
Raising Oregon's minimum wage A lively town hall discussion
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 Oct. 24 PSOM Day of Service
7-8 pm Tuesday October 27
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
Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom Free and open to the public. Please reserve a ticket by contacting the PSU Box Office at 503-725-3307.
Organized labor wants legislators to raise Oregon’s $9.25 hourly minimum wage or allow cities such as Portland to raise it on their own. The issue also may end up before Oregon voters next fall, with labor and business groups already gearing up for a fight. The interactive town hall will be televised on KATU-TV (Channel 2) and webcast on katu.com.
pdx.edu/insidepsu
FOllOw #PsOM and win! Watch for scavenger hunt clues every day Oct. 22-31
Featuring more than 50 events pdx.edu
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