PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD
VG
NEWS OPINION ARTS & CULTURE SPORTS
REDUCED TUITION RATES? P.4 HOROSCOPES ARE BULLSHIT! P. 6 89 YEARS, 70 MM, 4.7 ABV P. 10 BE THE STAIR MASTER P. 14
VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 4 | JULY 14, 2015
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CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS
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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 Brandon Staley
OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Chelsea Lobey
ADVISER
ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman
DESIGNERS
Nimi Einstein Elise Furlan Terra Dehart
WRITERS
SPORTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Turner Lobey
Andy Anady, Carli Gibson, Serina Hersey, Brendan Leary, Moriah Newman, Phuoc Francis Nguyen, John Pinney
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
SPORTS EDITOR
PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Hunter Sharp
Ahn Duc Do Silvia Cardullo Seleny Diaz Chavelin Gonzalez Christian Profeta Miles Sanguinetti
PHOTO EDITOR
ADVERTISING SALES
ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Lisa Dunn
PRODUCTION MANAGER
PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray
Eva Spencer
COPY CHIEF COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly K.B. Hunt
ONLINE EDITOR ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jaime Dunkle
COPY EDITORS
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
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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NEWS
BOARD MAY LOWER TUITION RATES BASED ON STATE FUNDING COLLEEN LEARY
The Oregon Legislature recently approved $700 million in funding to be distributed to the seven public universities for the 2015–17 biennium. This is about $30 million more than the expected budget framework drafted by Oregon’s governing co-chairs last fall. According to a July 7 press release from Portland State’s Office of University Communications, PSU President Wim Wiewel said he intends to use the funds to lessen a planned 4.2 percent increase in tuition and fees currently set to take effect in fall 2015. “I want to thank the Legislature for recognizing the need to invest in the success of our students,” Wiewel said in the press release. He said intentional collaboration between the university presidents resulted in the increased funding. Former Associated Students of PSU President Eric
CRIME BLOTTER JULY 6 BIKE THEFT/RECOVERY
University Honors Two bikes were found in the bushes on the west side of the Honors building around 10 a.m. Both of them were taken to PSU Bike Hub. A student later claimed one of the bikes, stating it had been locked up outside of Epler Residence Hall the night of July 5, according to Officer Brian Rominger.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT
Unknown A student flagged down Officer Rominger at around 5 p.m. regarding a car breakin. Several items were stolen from a 2000 black Subaru on the street. The report states
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Noll said he was pleased to see the cooperation between university administrators, and he expects Wiewel to follow through on his pledge to reduce the tuition increase. “I do have a lot faith that he’ll be true to his word,” Noll said. He and former ASPSU Vice President Rayleen McMillan worked closely with Wiewel during the 2014–15 academic year to examine state funding and the university’s budget. At the end of March, the PSU Board of Trustees approved a 4.2 percent tuition increase, citing that final tuition increase rates would depend on the Legislature’s funding allocation. Now that legislators have approved $700 million in funding, PSU awaits a decision from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission that will determine PSU’s share of that money. Trustees and administrators will then revisit tuition and fees and reset rates accordingly.
“I think personally I would like to see tuition somewhere around a 2 to 2.5 percent [increase],” Noll said. “I think that’s reasonable to match the revenue needs of the institution.” He noted that this smaller increase—as opposed to the anticipated 4.2 percent—falls below the Higher Education Price and Consumer Price Indexes. Noll said he expects an initial recommendation would come first from the Finance & Administration Subcomittee of the BOT. “The subcomittee would review the specifics and make a recommendation to the full [BOT] for its approval,” he added. This year, HECC will begin to phase in an outcome-based funding model for fund distribution. The model measures quantifiable outcomes at universities—students with Pell Grant eligibility, underrepresented minority status,
veteran status and rural residency—and assigns funds depending on the distribution of these qualifiers. After base funding for shared services—and special programs are budgeted, the model will split remaining funds 60/40 between outcomes and credit hours. “The determining factors on that have been pretty hotly debated for a couple decades now,” Noll said. “Now they’re switching the formula—which will phase in over a few years. So it’s still a question mark on how much that formula is going to put out for [PSU] and the other six universities in the coming years.” In addition to the $700 million in funding, legislators approved $60 million in state bonds for PSU to renovate Neuberger Hall, which houses classrooms, labs, faculty offices and student services. The UComm press release said Neuberger is a safety hazard
PA SIGN IN PROTEST of tuition hikes at a February rally at the Oregon State capitol building in Salem. SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD
in its current condition. According to the press release, state funds for Oregon public universities have been cut 38 percent since 2007—adjusted for inflation—while overall enrollment has increased by 23 percent. This places Oregon in the lowest three states for public university funding. Though the approved funding is $30 million over the cochairs’ proposal, it is still $55 million below the university presidents’ original ask of $755 million. The press release said
WeekofofJune July29–July 6–July 126 Weeks
JAIME DUNKLE
the individual’s passport and checkbook were recovered.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT Parking Structure Three A Mercury Sable was broken into and a bag containing a Nikon camera and lenses was stolen. Officer Rominger took the report at 7 p.m.
VEHICLE THEFT
Parking Structure Three A 1996 Acura Integra was reported stolen at 9 p.m., according to Officer Rominger. The case was referred to the Portland Police Bureau.
the presidents will advocate for the additional $55 million in the 2016 legislative session in an attempt to bring funding back to 2007 levels. “After the recession, there were five states to receive double digit cuts in statewide funding, and Oregon was one of them,” Noll said. “We got hit really hard. And we’re still digging out of the hole… It’s been rough. It’s been really rough.” The next BOT meeting is Sept. 10. Visit pdx.edu/board for details.
JULY 7
a storage room at 10 p.m.
THEFT II, ATTEMPT UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HEROIN
JULY 8
Blumel Residence Hall
Officers Danae Murphy and David Baker stopped a nonstudent “on suspicion of stealing bicycle wheels.” The individual later confessed to stealing the wheels to replace his flat tires. His story for obtaining the wheels was inconsistent, and the officers handcuffed him after a brief struggle. A syringe with suspected heroin residue and a digital camera was found on the individual after a search. He was taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center.
THEFT
Peter W. Stott Center Two employees reported to Officer Baker that their bags and a bicycle were stolen from
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
WARRANT ARREST, CRIMINAL TRESPASS II
Peter W. Stott Field Officers Baker and Murphy confronted a female student and a male non-student for loitering, later finding out the male was a registered sex offender and had a warrant for a heroin possession misdemeanor. The woman said she met the man on her walk from Goose Hollow. The male was taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center.
JULY 10 EXCLUSION, OFFICER SAFETY INFO
Native American Center Officer Nichola Higbee found two people sleeping on the west side of the building at 12:43 a.m. One of the individuals re-
fused to show identification and tried to “push past” Officer Higbee and leave. Portland Police Bureau was called in and the uncooperative person was handcuffed. Officers found “two heavy cement cylinder[s]” and a box cutter on him. Neither individual had warrants and they were released. Both individuals were issued exclusions.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT III
Parking Structure One, Fourth Floor Officer Higbee responded to a vehicle break-in at 11 p.m. The blue 1999 Honda Civic’s driverside door lock was broken. The front passenger-side window had been tampered with. Two cell phone chargers and “Chapter the Dog’s favorite treats were stolen.”
JULY 12 UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT
Parking Structure One Officer Murphy took a report at 11:15 a.m. about a car break-in that occurred on July 11 at around 5:30 p.m. The driver-side window was broken and it’s estimated about $300 worth of items were stolen from the car.
CAR PROWL
Parking Structure One, Third Floor Officer Rominger took a report at 3 p.m. concerning the theft of luggage, a backpack, identification and an external hard drive from a pickup truck.
PSU FOUNDATION REP WEIGHS IN ON FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT
NEWS
JEOFFRY RAY
Portland State will spend the summer grappling with the moral implications of fossil fuel investments that benefit the university’s endowment fund. Student groups such as Divest PSU have pressured the administration and the nonprofit PSU Foundation to take investment funds entirely out of fossil fuel companies. The PSU Foundation, which handles and invests donor gifts for university scholarships, currently estimates the endowment’s investment in fossil fuel producers is 1.5 percent of its total investment portfolio. Recent Vanguard coverage reported on Divest PSU’s unsuccessful attempts to communicate with representatives from the Foundation. In early June, Divest members said they had not yet been able to connect with their designated point of contact at the Foundation, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Vice President of Development, Paul Carey. PSU President Wim Wiewel has since arranged a July 24 meeting between Foundation
committee members and Divest students. Carey said he will also attend the meeting. With students rallying against the investments, and Wiewel requesting some sort of action, the Foundation now must consider the implications of fully divesting from oil, gas and coal. According to Carey, choosing to take steps toward divestment would be complicated. “[The 1.5 percent] is not a completely distinct energy investment,” he said. “It’s a mutual fund that’s in a variety of things, like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Nike and all that. In order to get rid of that investment, you have to get rid of all the other parts of it, which are not in question right now.” Carey said JPMorgan Chase currently manages the investment portfolio, not the Foundation investment committee. The committee instead lays out and reviews the overall strategy, known as an Investment Policy Statement, which JPMorgan then employs as a guideline to manage the portfolio.
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According to Carey, bringing the endowment to zero percent for fossil fuel-related companies would result in the unloading and reinvestment of roughly 75 percent of the Foundation’s current investment vehicles. He also said that JPMorgan suggested the Foundation could decrease investment to under 1 percent through the employment of an Environmental, Social and Governance protocol, or ESG. ESGs are a sort of investment filter, to which investment managers can refer for guidance on the types of companies an investor like the Foundation would like to avoid. Carey noted that an ESG would enable the Foundation to avoid investing in companies deemed irresponsible in terms of environmental, social and governance parameters, without a complete exit from entire industries, such as energy or retail. “This filter statement allows us to apply a recognition that we want to be conscious of these things happening in the world,” he said. “It doesn’t say ‘don’t do
anything’ or ‘do something.’ It just allows you to have a mindset toward looking at that.” “[JPMorgan] can do that relatively quickly, and the impact on [the endowment’s] projected returns will be minimal,” Carey said. “It will certainly be on the downside,” he added, noting that fossil fuel companies are generally strong performers in the marketplace. “It’s not like taking it out you’re going to make more money, but you’ll probably have very little impact.” Divest PSU, which continues to advocate for total divestment from fossil fuels, already knew about the Foundation’s preference for ESGs over other options, all of which were presented in a January 2015 report by the Foundation. Divest PSU organizer Alfredo Gonzalez expressed misgivings about ESGs during a meeting at the end of spring term. “They always seem to be leaning toward ESGs, which is always a red flag to me,” Gonzalez said. “Why are they leaning toward that versus [Socially Responsible Investments]?”
SRIs are generally regarded as more restrictive because they cut out entire industries in which SRI participants invest, where ESGs are more flexible in terms of where and in which industries they might invest. Gonzalez criticized the Foundation for other decisions made throughout the divestment investigation, such as its choice to bring on Northwest Natural Gas Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Anderson as part of the committee looking into divestment. Gonzalez also criticized the foundation’s reliance on JPMorgan to provide divestment options, rather than seeking a third party. “You cannot be asking your own banker about information that they don’t want to show you,” Gonzalez said. “If you want to buy Nike shoes, are you going to go to the Adidas store and ask the Adidas employee how good the Nike shoes are? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Despite the conversation around ESGs, Carey said the Foundation hasn’t moved toward a decision, and there is currently no deadline set for a final determination. He pointed to other potential alternatives, such as what he referred to as a proactive rather than reactive approach. “What about taking a proactive stance?” Carey said. “Saying we want to create an investment vehicle that invests in local businesses. Invest in Portland, invest in Oregon. Invest in alternative energy.” Though the Foundation has not decided on any particular course of action, Carey noted that the Board of Trustees could decide as early as the next scheduled meeting in September. Carey expects the committee to, at the very least, present an update on the alternative strategies to approaching fossil fuel investments. To learn more about the PSU Foundation, visit pdx. edu/giving/PSU-Foundation. For information on Divest PSU, visit facebook.com/divestportlandstate
OREGONIANS FOR 15 COALITION BRINGS 2,000 SIGNATURES TO LEGISLATURE
LISA DUNN
A ballot measure that would create the nation’s first statewide $15 minimum wage has just hit a milestone on its path to the November 2016 ballot. According to a June 30 press release sent out by 15 Now PDX, Oregonians for 15—a coalition that supports raising the minimum wage— just introduced 2,000 signatures, with representation from all 36 counties, to the state legislature. The press release, sent out by 15 Now organizers Kristi Wright and Justin NortonKerston, states, “The next step is for the Oregon Attorney
General to approve a ballot title. Supporters of the measure must collect over 88,000 valid signatures by July 2016 to qualify for the November 2016 ballot. At least 35 labor unions and community groups have endorsed the ballot measure.” Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles have all recently raised their citywide minimum wages to $15 per hour. 15 Now PDX and Oregonians for 15 hope to make Oregon the first in the nation to raise the statewide minimum wage in order to end poverty wages, according to the press release. For more information, visit oregoniansfor15.org
Demonstrators march in downtown Portland during an April rally in support of a minimum wage hike. The rally is one of several events organized by 15 Now, an interest group currently lobbying Oregon legislators for an increase to $15 per hour. JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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OPINION
A READING ABOUT READINGS: HOW THE HELL ARE HOROSCOPES STILL RELEVANT? The Bigger Picture by Brenden Leary
Most people are generally aware of what their zodiac sign says about them in a horoscope. You may have the reliable, practical, ambitious traits that come from being born a Taurus or the strong-willed, mysterious, charming characteristics of a Scorpio, but have you ever wondered how the hell these ancient constellations know us oh so well? Well, I hope it has came across your mind at least once. Horoscopes come from a concoction of religion and science that we know today as astrology. Astrology goes back quite some time, starting with the ancient Babylonians. They used the same shapes and patterns we observe today to determine future agricultural seasons, wars and even predict the lives of humans. Your sign is developed from the Zodiac, an imaginary band in the heavens centered on the ecliptic (the path of the Sun) that encompasses the apparent paths of all the planets and is divided into the 12 constellations, the signs we identify with today. This is known as natal astrology and is what we see in newspapers and Facebook feeds. These signs can be categorized by elements: Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) and Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). Each group has their own distinct characteristics.
TERRA DEHART/PSU VANGUARD
In natal astrology, your reading is based on your date of birth and what sign the planets were aligned with at that time, with the sun sign being the main determinant. Each planet has its own characteristics. For example, the Sun generally represents power and leadership while Saturn represents patience and discipline. The combinations of their positions determine your reading. The possible number of combinations from these factors is almost endless, because overall they are arbitrary predictions. In day-to-day horoscopes these predictions
are incredibly general, which opens the gateway to confirmation bias. The more good information your horoscope tells you, the more likely you’ll believe and accept it. As an article in Psychology Magazine explains, this temptation to read personal meaning into a general description is recognized by psychologists, who refer to it as the Barnum Effect (after American Showman P.T. Barnum’s famous line, “We’ve got something for everyone”). According to psychologist Bertram Forer, humans are surprisingly willing to attribute the vaguest personality descriptions to ourselves. In 1948, Forer gave each of his students a personality test, telling them they were each going to receive unique profiles of their character and asked them to rate the accuracy of them. The profiles were actually identical, but the students each rated it as an excellent description of themselves. This experiment has been repeated hundreds of times with similar results. I am perplexed as to how horoscope readings are still relevant, and I don’t understand why horoscopes are still printed in newspapers like The Seattle Times and websites such as Yahoo. Why do we still look into and interpret such arbitrary, unsubstantiated readings? After the discussions I’ve had on this topic over the past couple of days, the conclusion I come to is to simply enjoy every day you have on this beautiful planet. If anything, a horoscope might be somebody’s pick-me-up for the day. Just don’t read into a horoscope more than you would into one of the many phrases lodged in fortune cookies (which are American…sorry, guys). I hope that one day these newspapers and websites will write about things that contain more empirical evidence, but for now I suggest grabbing some quality brew and venturing outside to find some meaning in those beautiful celestial bodies yourself.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ON WAVING CONFEDERATE FLAGS ON CAMPUS I am a PSU student and as I was walking to class on July 6, I saw three older people walking through campus and down the Portland Park Blocks waving Confederate flags. I understand the importance of freedom of expression, but as a PSU student and Portland resident, I felt threatened, uncomfortable and unwanted. In light of the recent Charleston massacre and the history of racism, slavery and oppression in the United States, the Confederate flag is viewed, even in South Carolina where the massacre took place, as a symbol of hate, repression and bigotry. Should this symbol be waved in any city or on any campus that seeks to be welcoming and diverse? I believe symbolism should be limited when it becomes threatening. Here is a picture I took of the three people as they passed over Southwest Clay Street, away from campus and into the Park Blocks.
Anna Wolfston 6
PARK VISITORS carry the battle flag of the Confederate Northern Virginia army through the Portland State Park Blocks. The flag has been removed from many Southern institutions in the wake of the racially motivated June 17 murder of nine churchgoers in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charlestone, SC. COURTESY OF ANNA WOLFSTON
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
OPINION
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ME Vices and Virtues by Carli Gibson
Everyone has opinions and we all love to voice them. With social media access right at our fingertips, it’s easy to simply type and post what’s on our mind. Because it’s so easy to post our opinion, we often forget how others will perceive it. Many opinionated posts seem to end with, “I don’t care what anyone thinks, it’s my opinion!” And sure, you are entitled to it and you’re allowed to be confident in your own beliefs, but that doesn’t necessarily make it OK to put down another person, or group of people, simply because their beliefs differ from your own. One of the most recent issues that comes to mind is the legalization of gay marriage. While I was excited about it and spent the day celebrating, there were, and are, those who took to social platforms to let the world know how “sickening” they thought the situation was. And while we could sit and argue over the issue, it won’t resolve anything because the fact of the matter is that you are set on your opinion while I am set on mine; we’re not going to change each other’s minds. My issue is this: Just because you have an opinion that differs from mine does not mean you should post, or say, some-
thing hateful, or something written with the intent to hurt another person. You can tell me, “Well, hey, freedom of speech, lady. Get over it!” While you are correct that we have the freedom to say what we want, that doesn’t mean we should say something to purposefully hurt someone. There’s a difference between having the right to do something and knowing what’s right and wrong. And while some may think I’m trying to tell everyone they need to stop voicing their opinions, that is not at all what I’m trying to do. There are ways to share your opinion without intentionally hurting someone whose views are different. If I have learned anything in college, it’s that you can have a dialogue between two parties without blatantly insulting one another. You can still respect others while having differing points of view. It’s like the saying goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I think we could create a healthier dialogue between differing parties if we at least tried to keep that in mind. For example, it’s OK to ask questions about other’s ideas to better understand them, even though you may never agree with them. What you shouldn’t do is remain igno-
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rant and preach about how you’re better than everyone else simply because of your beliefs. Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings and that your words and actions don’t hurt them. Keep in mind that while you may see their ideas or beliefs as negative, chances are they have similar feelings toward yours.
COLLEGE VERSUS THE ARTIST Guest Columnist Moriah Newman
For many creative people, choosing between an academic career and an artistic career can be a tough decision. For dancers, that decision can be especially hard. The universities that offer advanced- or professional-level dance training are few and far between and come at a significant price. Dancers have a small window of time in which to perform at their best ability. A professional career in ballet begins at the ripe young age of seventeen or eighteen and, even if no permanent injuries occur, only lasts until the early thirties. Dancers who wish to graduate with a four-year college degree often sacrifice their prime dance years, especially if they go onto graduate-level education. Unfortunately, many state-funded universities cut back on dance departments or dance-education programs, offering only beginner-level classes as a physical education credit. This creates tension for dancers who are unwilling to dish out thousands of dollars for private fine and performing arts universities where they can receive a degree and still have the opportunity to perform and audition for company positions. Portland State no longer offers a dance degree at the School of Theatre and Film. Dance minors are offered, but classes at an advanced level are very scarce. The funding for the PSU dance department has significantly dropped, forcing dancers who care about both their academic and their artistic careers to choose universities with larger and better dance programs. PSU recently had a second studio space built on the third
floor of Lincoln Hall, complete with sprung floors and floor-toceiling mirrors, with the hope of relaunching a dance degree. However, the dean has revoked the use of the room, instead using it as an entertainment space for lectures, speeches, lunches and other events of that nature. This has caused severe anger and frustration among many dancers as well as dance faculty, who now face many conflicts regarding reserving space and time for the studio. While dance departments may be on the chopping block for many universities, there are a small number in Oregon that still provide students with the best of both worlds, including Western Oregon University, located in rural Monmouth, and University of Oregon, located in Eugene. On their website, UO hosts bragging rights for “predating the first academic dance major programs in the country by more than a decade.” UO receives more financial support for dance than any other public university in Oregon. A lot of pressure is placed on college students to pursue a degree that will be useful in a career, which can add an even deeper level of stress for a dance student: What career will I choose after my dance career is over? What if I can’t find a job in the dance field? How will I support myself or my family? These are all questions many dancers ask themselves throughout the entire duration of a dance program. “We talk about the benefits of the dance major and coming away with all the wonderful things you get from a dance
DANCERS FOR THE NORTHWEST DANCE PROJECT practice for a 2014 performance in the Lincoln Hall rehearsal space. JEOFFRY RAY/VANGUARD ARCHIVES
major, such as becoming more expressive and aware of the human condition,” said Steven Chatfield, who has taught in the UO dance department since 1989. “Most employers want someone who is liberally educated; these are all the things that dance majors come away with. Dance majors here come away really successfully in the career world now.”
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GET SLOSHED IN THE SUN, PSU! TURNER LOBEY
It’s summertime, Portland State, which means it’s time to put the books down and soak up some sun. What better way to do it than with these awesome bars and patios near campus? Elephants in the Park 877 SW Taylor St. Elephants in the Park is great because it’s close enough to be in walking distance, but still far away enough to make you feel like you’re really escaping PSU on your lunch break. It’s the perfect spot for a midday getaway or a short respite for the non-drinker. Elephants specializes in burgers, but the menu has other staples like hot dogs, soups and milkshakes. If you want, you can booze it up with a cocktail, but Elephants in the Park isn’t a bar like the rest of the options on this list. The patio is essentially the entire square. It’s open and breezy, with a fountain where kids and cute pups splash around. There’s a giant, free-to-use chess set, which usually has adorable old men playing. And if you want to turn your getaway into an all-day escape, Fox Tower is right there.
ILLUSTRATION BY NIMI EINSTEIN
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Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
COVER Momo’s 725 SW 10th Ave. Few things beat munching on some nachos and sipping some cold brews with your buds. If that’s the type of night you’re after, Momo’s is your bar. Momo’s is the right amount of dive-y without falling into the typical pit of smelling like urine, bleach and desperation. The food is solid—really, eat the nachos—and the beer selection is ideal. The patio is smoke friendly, and the bar has a cigarette vending machine, if that’s your thing. The patio is also heated, so if you fall in love with it, you have a go-to spot when Portland gets back to acting like Portland. ILLUSTRATION BY TERRA DEHART
Pizza Schmizza 415 SW Montgomery St. If you’re looking to wet your whistle but don’t want to venture too far away from campus, the only sane choice is Pizza Schmizza. Not to be cheesy, but PSU’s Schmizza is the optimal spot for the student looking to get a bite and a pint (or two or four) on the cheap. Seriously, you can get a giant mug of Pabst for $3.50 during happy hour. Unlike most of the other restaurants in the chain, PSU’s has a full bar, so you aren’t limited to stereotypical college beer choices. In terms of the ‘za, there are plenty of carnivorous, vegetarian and gluten-free choices. The seating options are ideal—covered and uncovered benches wrap around the building along SW 4th and Montgomery. So go forth and raise a mighty mug, Vanguard style. But for the love of God, just stay away from the Fireball.
ILLUSTRATION AND LETTERING BY ELISE FURLAN
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
HOLLYWOOD THEATRE CELEBRATES 89TH WITH EXCLUSIVE BREW AISLINN RENNISON
The Hollywood Theatre will be celebrating its 89th birthday on July 17. To commemorate, the theater is pairing up with Fort George Brewery from Astoria to unveil their new craft beer, Vertigo Effect. The specially crafted beer was made with the theater’s birthday in mind. The celebration will take place July 17–19 at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland. The beer was named after the movie Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock and will be debuted on July 17, during the first showing of the film at the theater. The 1958 film will be presented
in 70 mm for three evenings, serving the new beer at each showing. The Hollywood Theatre opened during Prohibition on July 17, 1926. Fort George Brewery wanted to use Prohibition as an inspiration for their brew. During that time, people would use flaked corn to make the alcohol taste sweeter. Appropriately so, flaked corn is used as an additive in Vertigo Effect, along with Galena and Mt. Hood hops. Vertigo Effect is a light American Pale Ale with 4.7 percent ABV and a final gravity of 1.007. After a few, you
might experience a little vertigo of your own, without Hitchcock’s help. But this won’t be the last time the Hollywood Theatre and Fort George Brewery work together. They will take their beer and movie collaboration to the brewery’s patio in Astoria, Aug. 5–9. The brewery will be serving all of their beers, including Vertigo Effect, during free screenings of Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. What’s better on a hot summer evening than a light, refreshing ale paired with friends and movies? Nothing, that’s what.
RIBBED FOR YOUR LEISURE TIM SULLIVAN
It’s summer time, and the livings, well, they’ve been pretty easy. So should your grilling. Why wait six to eight hours for ribs you’ll probably forget about as you pass out from drinking too many beers in this ungodly summer sun? You want to eat relatively soon, dammit! Use this recipe as a surefire way to feed your face before you fall asleep outside and acquire that horrible red hue only a tasty crustacean should have.
TOOLS:
Grill (charcoal or propane, but really, use charcoal) Spring-loaded prongs 1 large foil roasting pan 1 medium saucepan 1 probe thermometer
INGREDIENTS:
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10
2–3 pounds of spareribs (beef or pork, bone-in or boneless) 16-ounce can of beer (cook’s preference, but something wheaty would be nice) 2–3 cups of water
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
6 peppercorns 1 tablespoon of oil 2 onions, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1/4 cup of vinegar 1 cup of ketchup 1 tablespoon of molasses or brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce 1 dash of hot sauce (cook’s preference) Pepper to taste
STEP ONE:
Prep your grill. If you’re using one of those blasphemous grills that use a form of natural gas popularized by a cartoon Texan, start your flame at around medium-high to high heat. If you’re grilling correctly, meaning with charcoal, get your coals flaming hot via a chimney starter. Once they’re ripping hot, dump those coals into the center of your grill and place the cooking grill on top.
STEP TWO: In a large foil roast-
ing pan, first place the ribs,
one chopped onion and peppercorns. Then pour your beer and water over the top. Place the roasting pan on the hot grill and cover for 20–30 minutes.
STEP THREE:
While your ribs are on the grill, grab a medium saucepan and using either a stove or the burner option on your heathen gas grill, cook one tablespoon of oil, the other chopped onion and minced garlic cloves at medium-high heat. Cook the onions until they are translucent. Then add the vinegar, molasses or brown sugar, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, and bring to a simmer for five minutes. Season the sauce with pepper and hot sauce.
STEP FOUR:
By now your ribs, beer and water concoction should be at a boil. Move the roasting pan off of the grill and onto a stable platform. At this moment, you may want to add more charcoal
(if you’re using this method). But if the coals are still emitting a ton of heat, then you’ll be fine. Remove your cooking surface and split your pile of coals to the sides of your grill; this will help control the temperature. Replace your cooking surface. If you’re using gas, turn down your burners and maintain 350° F.
STEP FIVE: Take the ribs out of
the roasting pan, place them on your grill and slather them with that delicious sauce you’ve just made. Turn the ribs a quarter turn every 20 minutes, applying sauce each time, for one to one and a half hours. Or, if you’re unsure of whether the ribs are done, use a probe thermometer to see if the internal temperature is 145–150° F.
STEP SIX:
Once your ribs are done, throw them on a plate, sit back and relax in your favorite patio chair while sipping on a frosty brew of your choosing.
WHOSE STORY?
ARTS & CULTURE
‘HER STORY’ USES NONLINEAR NARRATIVE TO WEAVE A TRUE MYSTERY BRANDON STALEY
We all have within us the capacity to be voyeurs, witnesses to life come undone. Her Story is a voyeuristic game about murder, but it’s also a story about family and what’s laid bare when we look back years later with an intruding eye. Her Story places you in the role of an unidentified person investigating a 1994 murder in the modern day. The only tools at your disposal are video recordings of a woman under suspicion, played by Viva Seifert, who is being interviewed by police. The narrative is devised in such a way that the videos are broken up into chunks rarely more than a minute in length. The videos have accompanying subtitles though, so you can enter a search query and if the term matches the subtitle content, up to five corresponding videos will be produced. As a result, the gameplay in Her Story is almost completely database exploration, save for a small executable called Mirror Game hidden in the archaic, faux operating system’s virtual rubbish bin. Mirror Game doesn’t seem to do much except act as a coy reference to the Wild West heyday of shareware, but its thematic importance is indisputable. The allure of Her Story isn’t the gameplay—since it’s basically just Googling—but rather the excitement and intrigue of peeling away layers of the story bit by bit. The story itself is everything, so I’m not even going to begin to explain that other than to say a man was murdered and you have to uncover as much about it as possible. The narrative is presented nonlinearly, and lands somewhere between the true crime genre (which hinges on the presentation of reality as fiction) and the
found footage genre (which demands the fiction be presented as reality). The nonlinear nature of Her Story is an artful coup to both genres. By the end of The Blair Witch Project, perhaps one of the most ubiquitously known examples of modern found footage, you cared about the lost campers because you had watched them interact playfully and carefree—like people—until the inevitable climax where one camper is sobbing into the camera, just begging to go home. In Her Story, one lucky or random string of search terms could lead you to a pivotal story moment. In essence, the director has relinquished control and offered it up to the player. It works against all odds, because the game forces you to embody the hapless investigator, trying to make heads or tails out of a constantly shifting change jar. In the end, though, it’s still her story in presentation. Other characters play their roles in the game’s narrative, but they’re detached, ambiguous. The interviewing detectives are never seen or heard. Seifert’s character references several people and places, but the player never sees them. Your only role is to sort and file a story that is explicitly the suspect’s, seen through multiple layers of masterfully edited ambiguity. In many ways, this is the antithesis of what we understand to be a game. While you have control over the order of the narrative, it is wholly chaotic. You choose the order of events, but you can’t do a damn thing to change them. This is, of course, not what many people play games for. Inherent in the word game is the implication you will be able to win, to overcome great obstacles, save the endangered or right a Biblical
SAM BARLOW | 2014
wrong. Her Story takes inspiration from the true crime genre and forces you to simply watch events play out in a controlled yet random fashion. You never win or lose in Her Story, and that’s by design. In this way the player is spurred on only by the desire to know more, to fully embrace their role as the voyeur. This leads to the somewhat obvious question of whose role you are inhab-
iting. Who would want to range is stretched subtly but know more about this crime to great impact. Similarly, so many years later, why are the environment in which they searching now and how you explore her story, a mid much does that really mat- ’90s computer desktop and ter? Am I operating as a sur- workspace, is impeccable rogate for this character, or and seamlessly replicates have I executed such a deep the uncanny feeling of usdive that now I’m the one ing an interactive medium personally invested? out of time; it’s familiar but Her Story’s allure can also disorienting. be credited to the stellar These are perhaps the acting in the game, which two feelings that resonate is a credit to Seifert, whose throughout the whole of Her
Story. The deeper you get into the game, the more you feel for Seifert’s character. So when there’s a dramatic turn and your image of her is shattered, it’s all the more powerful. There are over 250 bite-sized chunks of video to be had, where even a ten-second morsel could completely turn everything you know on its head. How deep you decide to dive personally, well, that’s up to you.
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ETC
EVENT CALENDAR JOHN PINNEY
JULY 14
JULY 15
Lady Onstage: Staged Readings
7:30 p.m. Profile Theatre Fee: $15–35 (lots of different options)
Have you ever heard of Sarah Ruhl? If not, this is definitely your year to experience her plays. This is the third time since I’ve started writing for the Vanguard that I am hearing about an event involving the works of Sarah Ruhl and after having read Eurydice, I have to tell you that I’m definitely anticipating this. I feel you, universe. I feel you.
Ernest Cline
7 p.m. Powell’s at Cedar Hills It’s about time pop culture infiltrated novels. The buzz around Ernest Cline’s newest work is about how it compares to ’80s classic The Last Starfighter. I preferred Galaga myself, but that’s because I’m a ’90s kid. FREE
JULY 16 July Art Spark
5:30–7:30 p.m. Stormbreaker Brewing
Bastille Day
Cocotte Fee: $40
Bastille Day is the inspiration for this four-course family-style French meal that celebrates what it seems like is the French 4th o’ July. Everyone seems super protective over this menu, but one of the prix fixe menu items is categorized as a “burger,” though the quotes make me dubious. Call (503) 227‑2669 for reservations.
Art Spark is brought to you by R.A.C.C., which is a key funding organization for many a Portland artist. This is described as a networking event for all the local artists to talk about the new and exciting things we’re bound to see in the next year from the local art community. Info about R.A.C.C. and its work in the community will also be available.
JULY 17 Top Down Part 1
JULY 18
Crater Lake Camping
8 p.m. Hotel DeLuxe Rooftop Fee: $11 (cash-only event!)
7 a.m. Rec Center Outdoor Events! Fee: Member ($110), Non-member ($220)
Watch some of your favorite movies in style on top of the Hotel DeLuxe. Quite a famous yearly event held by The Northwest Film Center (I prefer the one under the bridge myself ), the first film in the series this summer is the quirky Song of the Thin Man. The last in the detective lineup featuring the original Nick and Nora as a detective duo should not be missed. Don’t worry, you won’t be too lost since all the movies in the Thin Man series kind of work under their own power. Doors open at 7 p.m., byoblanket. BBQ from Gracie’s Restaurant is added onto this year’s food menu.
If you ever crave to get out of the city, especially in the blinding heat of summer, this is your chance. Though a little pricey, the beautiful Crater Lake is known as one of the Oregon’s Seven Wonders (I don’t know what the other six are, please don’t ask) and it’s a great way to cool down and enjoy the stars, the campfire meals, and spend some time communing with nature. Pre-trip meeting and registration deadling is July 15.
Fanna Fi Allah
Sand In The City
10 a.m. Pioneer Courthouse Square Entry donation: $4 individual, $10 for a whole family
It’s a weekend event on the square! In case this is your first year in the city, this event is basically a fundraiser for kids in the PDX Metro area and it’s all about the tunes and fun of a sand castle– building competition, without all that surf and traveling to the shore. You’ll get a kick out of the real-time creations of the 13 corporate teams that are matched with local architecture firms to give the sand the soundest design it could possibly have.
Oregon Berry Festival
8 p.m. Alberta Rose Theatre Fee: $25 (Gen. Admission)
12 p.m. Ecotrust
I’m not even going to pretend I know anything about Sufi music or Pakistan/Indian musical traditions. Statistically, though, there are probably a lot of people that have the knowledge base and would know about the unity and devotional aspects of the music, described as a “rich, rhythmic” groove.
It’s a free weekend–long celebration of pie, farmers’ markets, berry cooking demos and health and wellness seminars. For people with health issues that rely on berries more than sugared treats like Twinkies (which is probably half of my blood content), this free event is probably everything you could need to tide you over for awhile.
PDX Zine Symposium
1313 NE MLK Jr Blvd
Are zines a thing in other cities? I have no idea. I just know some of the most creative and diverse come from Portland and many of them end up on the shelves in the Central Library. They are an intriguing phenomemon and this symposium is all about education and networking in a free environment. FREE
JULY 19 Pickin’ and Grinnin’
3 p.m. Doug Fir Restaurant & Lounge So this is not an amateur pickin’ contest or a chance to learn banjoing (is that the right verb? It feels right), but it is a chance to hear some of the best talent on both a local and national scale. FREE
FREE
21+
PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER
FREE
FEATURED EVENT Music on Main Street
ArtBar & Bistro; 5–7 p.m.
Wednesday evenings in July bring us a variety of music offerings from Portland 5 Centers for the arts. Featuring artists excelling in jazz, salsa, and world music, these free concerts come with tastes from the bistro and the hope that you’ll enjoy yourself and experience some new music and taste sensations. It’s not very far from PSU—it’s halfway between campus and the Central Library next to Arlene Schnitzer—so it would be foolish to miss. PORTLAND5.COM
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Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
This year’s schedule: July 8 — The Minus 5 July 15 — Joey Porter (Stevie Wonder Tribute) July 22 — The Shanghai Woolies July 29 — 3 Leg Torso August 5 — Melao de Cuba August 12 — Freak Mountain Ramblers August 26 — Brothers and Sister September 2 — Jujuba
ETC
HOROSCOPES JOHN PINNEY
Cancer June 21–July 22
Libra Sep. 23–Oct. 22
Capricorn Dec. 22–Jan. 19
Leo July 23–Aug. 22
Scorpio Oct. 23–Nov. 21
Aquarius Jan. 20–Feb. 18
You have the best legs and the most musical talent in your family. You shouldn’t be surprised and should be able to flaunt these gifts. Don’t let anyone ever shut you down! When upping your nerd knowledge about a certain subject, i.e., Equestranauts, don’t let non-canon erotic friend fiction get mixed up in the batch or your cover will be blown.
Virgo Aug. 23–Sep. 22
You are fierce, like Bob Belcher’s moustache. That moustache makes things happen. That moustache is magical. That moustache likes naming burgers things like “She’s A Super Leek� burger.
You have that thing that makes you unique and a little crazier from the rest of your tribe. That zest is what keeps you sharp and forwardthinking, so enjoy it! You have a crush on a person, but your families are rivals. When you see this person, you are captivated, but a crush really is just a crush. You will eventually be able to move on.
Sagittarius Nov. 22–Dec. 21
Maybe not everyone likes to hear your stories about the trivial events in your life, but if you keep showing up and being positive, you will find true friendship before you know it.
Never doubt the power of a burger. It gets you through days that are tough. It is your lifeblood and that which gives you power. Always remember the burger. When your parents tell you not to go too far for Halloween, you should listen. Though there are king-sized, candy bars somewhere, it’s only about 75 percent worth the risk.
Pisces Feb. 20–March 19
When having your bar or bat mitzvah, remember that the party is not just about you. Dial down the pinata of your own head is what I’m saying.
Aries March 21–April 19
Make sure when writing erotic friend fiction, you stick to body parts you admire. The trick to creating symphonic odes to said body parts is to always have the confidence to enjoy them.
Taurus April 20–May 20
This week, embrace your inner Linda. She’s always up for an adventure and even moreso for a bottle of wine. My recommendation is one from column A and one from column B.
Gemini May 21–June 20
Don’t cheat at the pub quiz. It’s not your fault that you haven’t studied everything extensively. As long as you’re having fun with your friends or partner, that’s the important thing.
ELISE FURLAN/PSU VANGUARD ELISE FURLAN/PSU VANGUARD
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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)
COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM
26 At heart, describes a 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 Baden-Baden? (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)
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SPORTS
STAIR HIKING: THE URBAN WORKOUT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTARY BY JACQUELINE C. BRYAN
Personally, I like finding new ways to venture out and get my fitness on. While hiking through Forest Park and the various routes in the Gorge are always fantastic, it’s nice to throw something new into the mix once in a while. Now that it’s summer, the possibilities are almost limitless. The rivers offer options such as paddleboarding and kayaking, to name a few, and riding bicycles around town never gets old. Yet what about doing something completely different? Something that is not only accessible to you anywhere in this fine city but free as well? Now we’re talking. My mom, my aunt and I always enjoy our walks and hikes. We either take to a neighborhood park such as Mt. Tabor or simply venture through our neighborhood, looking at the different houses
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and gardens we pass along the way. That’s one of the great things about Portland: It has so many cute neighborhoods, and sauntering through them is an adventure in itself. One day not too long ago, the three of us stumbled upon a set of stairs that didn’t seem to belong to a particular house or private residence. We decided to follow them up and realized we were being led to the next street. We kept walking down that street and found a set of similar stairs, so we decided to take those down. To our surprise, we stumbled upon another set of stairs that led to another street and we followed them, too, along with the various other stairs we found along the way. Somehow we ended up in a neighborhood at the top of a mountain, with one of the best views of the city I have ever encountered.
Thus, a new trend was born: stair hiking. Or so we thought. After some research, we discovered that stair hiking is a thing. As in, people do it as an outdoor activity all the time. We even stumbled across a book dedicated to the art: The Portland Stairs Book by Laura O. Foster. Within the magical pages of this book, readers will find an array of stair-hiking options and routes as well as the stories behind the stairs. The best part? A couple of them loop around Portland State, ending up right in the Park Blocks, making it totally accessible to students. For those of you who can’t afford a book on stair hiking, there are other options out there. You can visit websites such as communitywalk.com to find the different stairs available throughout Port-
Vanguard | JULY 14, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
land via an animated map. While these sorts of sites don’t offer the same routes the book does, you can use a pull-down menu to map out routes from one stairway to another. Another option is to just wing it. Strap on a backpack filled with sunscreen, a snack and lots of water, and pick a stairway you’d like to start off with. From there, you’ll be surprised what other stairs you’ll stumble across. Hint: There is a small stairway at Lovejoy Fountain Park very near the PSU campus. It’s only 25 stairs, but they’ll get you started! The trick is to have an open mind and a sense of adventure. While you may not always find stair after stair after stair, you’ll always end up somewhere different. With luck and a bit of perseverance, you’ll end up on top of the world, overlooking this beautiful city we call home.
JACQUELINE BRYAN/PSU VANGUARD
Sports Schedule 7/14–7/20 Portland Sports
Champion Thursday Races
Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Fast Twitch Fridays
Portland Thunder at San Jose
Kershaw Rd. Sports Park Thurs., July 16, All Day
Alpenrose Velodome Fri., July 17, All Day
Alpenrose Velodome Challenge Alpenrose Velodome Sat., Sun., July 18–19, All Day
Providence Park Sat., July 18, 7:30 p.m.
SAP Center Sat., July 18, 7:30 p.m.
SPORTS
CYCLE RIGHT: STARTER TIPS FOR SUMMER BIKING JEOFFRY RAY
Move over MAX: summer’s in full swing, and many of us Portlanders will be ripping up our Trimet tickets for a pair of pedals and the crank of bicycle gears. Summer cycling in Portland is probably one of the better biking experiences in the country. We have unending sunlight, relatively mild heat and humidity levels (ahem…we’ll call the previous two weeks a hopeful exception to the rule) and a cast of motorists that are pretty docile (accommodating if we want to be nice) even in the downtown limits, all things considered. But biking in Portland is still city biking, and the summer still provides its own heat-based risks. To that end, we’ve asked for some starter tips from some of the city’s experts to keep your summer cycling experience free of trouble or hassle.
BEAT THE HEAT: KEEP HYDRATED AND DRESS PROPERLY Water, water, everywhere: This is common sense rule number one, but it bears mentioning and repeating. Make sure you’re well hydrated before any trip, long or short. It’s also important to keep water on hand during even a short commute, in case of a flat or any other accident that might take you off the road. Water can also do double duty as a cooling agent during stops: Try soaking a bandana and wearing it under the helmet you’re obviously wearing if you anticipate a trip under the beating sun. What to wear, What to wear?: The debate seems to be ongoing about proper summer wear. Conventional wisdom and Portland’s Naked Bike Ride would dictate that you strip down as much as is decent and acceptable, and it could certainly help with aerodynamics. But Commu-
nications Manager Melinda Musser of North Portland’s Community Cycling Center suggests otherwise. “On hot days, many riders think the less clothes the better,” Musser wrote in an email. “However, wearing a long-sleeved, collared, cotton shirt is best for sun protection. If you can avoid wearing a backpack by placing items in a basket, rack or a pannier, you’ll stay cooler on your ride.” High maintenance equals high performance: Efficiency is key to an easier ride, particularly in the summer heat. It’s sometimes easy to neglect regular bike maintenance on a college budget, but improper upkeep can add up in energy use when you’re on the pedal. Check your tire pressure every week, and make sure to keep them pumped to standard. Deflated tires will make you work harder in the heat and can lead to flats. Make sure to keep your chain lubed, which will also affect the bicycle’s performance. How often you should maintain your chain depends on how often you bike, so if you’re unsure, work with your local bike mechanic to figure out a maintenance schedule that works for you.
ROAD SAFETY Beer does not equal hydration: Not to be a buzzkill, but the hundred reasons against biking drunk go beyond simple criminality. And with a BUI regarded the legal equivalent of driving while intoxicated, the consequences are stiff. But alcohol in even small amounts impairs motor control and reaction time, which are all the more important for the vulnerable cyclist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that one in four cyclist fatalities in 2012 recorded
illegal blood alcohol concentrations. Not a pretty number, but it’s worth keeping in mind the next time you bike to your favorite brewpub—just toss your ride on the front of the bus and play it safe. Night rider: The Pacific Northwestern sun stays up late, and that can make it easy to neglect making yourself visible when it actually does get dark. Make sure to keep lights and reflectors on hand whenever you’re out, and wear colors or reflective gear to help you stand out for the motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists sharing the street. And, on that note, share the road: Whether it’s the above-mentioned motorists, pedestrians or cyclists, you can bet they’ll all be out in droves over the summer. Portland also plays host to a great deal of street festivals, concerts and other events throughout the summer, so it’s always a good idea to keep an ear to the ground for the local happenings and to plan your routes accordingly, particularly in the summer. The Cycling Center also recommends patience and adherence to cycling protocols when engaging with others. “Bike traffic increases in the summer,” Musser wrote. “Remember to pass patiently and let your presence be known with a bell or by announcing that you are passing on the left or right. Do not pass on the curbside, pass in the lane.” Portland is a cyclist’s haven for a reason, and with a little bit of practice and a small bit of research, even a beginning cyclist can learn to safely navigate the summer biking experience. Check with your local bicycle shop for maintenance cues related to your specific ride and keep up with resources like the PSU Bike Hub or the Community Cycling Center for additional help. And step on it!
THE COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER, located in the Alberta District, is a nonprofit dedicated to creating access to bicycles for people from a diverse range of backgrounds and economic conditions. The Center offers an array of community programs, including bike camps and holiday drives, as well as instruction and information sessions. CHRISTIAN PROFETA/PSU VANGUARD
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