PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD
VG
NEWS OPINION ARTS & CULTURE SPORTS
ELECTRIC AVENUE UNPLUGGED P.5 ‘LIKE A GIRL’ IS OUT P. 8 VG SUMMER READING LIST P. 10 WHAT’S ALL THE RACKET ABOUT? P. 14
VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 5 | JULY 21, 2015
THE 19TH HOLE IS OPEN! GREAT FOOD CART HUGE SELECTION OF NW BEERS, WINE AND CIDERS NO COVER SW 15th & YAMHILL | OPEN WED. - SUN. AT 3PM
@19thHolePDX
CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS
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 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
Brie Barbee, Carli Gibson, Alesya Izoita, Phuoc Francis Nguyen, Molly Ozier, 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 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
3
NEWS
OFFICE OF GLOBAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION HIRES CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER CARMEN SUAREZ ALESYA IZOITA
Dr. Carmen Suarez, former Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Idaho, has been named new Chief Diversity Officer at Portland State. Beginning on Sept. 8, Suarez will lead PSU’s mission to build a more inclusive and diverse university community. “Portland and PSU continue to change rapidly and need the kinds of insights and wisdom she can bring. Rarely have I seen such unanimity on campus around a candidate, so I’m really looking forward to her joining us,” PSU President Wim Wiewel said in a press release. Suarez will replace Charles Lopez, who has acted as interim Chief Diversity Officer since 2014 when PSU’s first Chief
CARMEN SUAREZ, Chief Diversity Officer
4
Diversity Officer, Jilma Meneses, accepted a position as Chief Operations Director at Concordia University. Wiewel formed a search committee in February, and an active hunt for a new Chief Diversity Officer began in early March. The search committee was on the lookout for someone to align and integrate new and existing initiatives meant to expand diversity, equity and inclusion at PSU. It took three and a half months to select Suarez, who was one of over 90 applicants. “The Chief Diversity Officer position is an outgrowth of working the 1964 Civil Rights Act into all aspects of life,” Suarez said. At one time or another, Suarez has held positions that
encompass all of the aspects within the portfolio of the Global Diversity and Inclusion office. She works to connect with students, faculty, staff and community members, and is knowledgable in both theory and practice of inclusionary education. Sona Andrews, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, described one of Suarez’s strengths as “her ability to use her own personal stories to engage people and get them thinking about how decisions and actions affect individuals.” Suarez received her Bachelor and Master of Arts in History and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois
COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
University. Her dissertation focused on faculty members of color. During her time in and out of academia, she gathered a broad range of experience. In the late 1980s, she assisted migrant farm workers in Chicago. At University of Idaho, she served as a university Affirmative Action Officer and Director of Diversity. She directed university minority student recruitment, worked with minority-owned business certifications and conducted training programs for minority students. Suarez has focused on practical application of policy, which included affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, equal education
opportunity, gender equity and race/ethnicity equity. She slowly moved into the more inclusive language of diversity before tackling the language of inclusion, which strives to overcome bias and bring diverse people to work together. “Difference is scary,” Suarez said. “We all notice difference.” The goal of higher education, she continued, is to notice the difference and to take interest rather than be daunted by it. Combating bias is one of Suarez’s passions. Shining the spotlight on unconscious and conscious expressions of bias is something she said she would like to focus on at PSU. Creating conversations around
defining and understanding bias, how it’s manifested, how it’s different from hate crimes are the first steps toward addressing the complex problem, according to Suarez. In the past, she invited speakers from national organization Campus Pride to present on a number of topics from their Stop Hate program. The program teaches people how to stop dehumanizing others through stereotypes, in order to see individuals rather than groups. “She is passionate, not just in her words but in her actions in the local and national community,” Andrews said.
NEWS ELECTRIC AVENUE, recently displaced due to renovations on the School of Business Administration
MEGAN MACLAGGAN/VANGUARD ARCHIVES
YOU CAN’T ROCK DOWN TO ELECTRIC AVENUE SBA construction dislocates car charging stations
COLLEEN LEARY
Portland State’s Electric Avenue, a block-long strip of free charging stations for electric vehicles, has been disassembled to make way for a new School of Business Administration building. The charging stations have occupied Southwest Montgomery Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway since Aug. 2011. It started as a collaborative sustainable transportation project between PSU, Portland General Electric and the City of Portland, according to a June press release from PSU’s Office of University Communications. A $60 million construction and remodel of the SBA building is scheduled to be-
gin late this summer. PGE is currently searching for a new home for the charging stations. “PGE’s partnership with [PSU] and the City of Portland on Electric Avenue is a great example of how we’re helping lead the charge for electric vehicle adoption in Oregon,” said PGE President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Piro in the press release. “Projects like this provide the important charging infrastructure that supports more sustainable transportation options for Oregonians.” John MacArthur, a manager of the project at the Oregon Transportation Re-
search and Education Consortium at PSU said in the press release that Electric Avenue’s usage has been tracked during its nearly four years at PSU. Research data provided urban planners, and utility and car companies with information about electric vehicles and driver behavior. MacArthur said that in 2011, Oregon drivers owned about 500 electric cars. That number has increased to nearly 6,000 vehicles. He said Oregon now has about 850 publicly available charging stations. The project extended beyond its original 2-year timeline because of its high demand and functionality.
CRIME BLOTTER
JAIME DUNKLE
JULY 13
CONCERNED CITIZEN
COURTESY REPORT, CAR PROWL
A concerned citizen sent an email to CPSO regarding a comment a student left on the “Liberal America” Facebook page. “The screenshot of the comment came off as unsettling and extreme,” according to Officer Murphy, who also stated in the report that “[t]he poster…is extremely anti-gun and is very open with [this] opinion” and that the student doesn’t appear to be a threat.
A non-student flagged down Officer Chris Fischer on Southwest Broadway and Mill Street to report her car had been broken into on the street.
TRESPASS II
Branford Library
Facebook Price
Millar
A non-student was “yelling racist comments at the [sic] students” on the west side of the library. Officers David Troppe and Danae Murphy warned him about the hate speech and disorderly conduct. He was arrested for trespassing and sent to the Multnomah County Detention Center where he was held in isolation.
JULY 14
THEFT
BURGLARY
The Outdoor Program’s trailer was stolen from the dumpster area. Officer Troppe referred the case to the Portland Police Bureau because Campus Public Safety Office is currently unable to take stolen vehicle reports.
The wire fencing was cut and thieves entered through the garage. A plasma cutter and child’s bike trailer were stolen, according to Officer Peter Ward.
University Pointe Hotel
Corbett Building
“It became vital as a charging node in Portland— one of the only places where you could charge your car in a public right of way,” MacArthur said. He added that use of Electric Avenue steadily increased during its time at PSU. “During its operation, the
site used almost 400,000 kilowatt hours of electricity,” he said. “That represents nearly a million miles of tail pipe-free emissions and a reduction of approximately 540,000 pounds of CO2.” PSU’s campus still has two charging stations at Parking
Structure 1, as well as two stations at the Market Center Building. PSU Transportation & Parking Services will track the use of those charging stations, and additional stations may be added in the future in order to meet electric vehicle demand.
Weeks of July 13–July 19 Unknown city street
JULY 15 CAR PROWL
Ondine Upper Parking Lot
A non-student’s car was broken into between 8:30 p.m. on July 14 and 8 a.m. on July 15. An emergency kit containing flares, a backpack, yellow safety vest and a multi-tool were stolen, according to Officer Gary Smeltzer.
EXCLUSION
Park Blocks near Branford Price Millar Library
Officer Ward and Sergeant Robert McCleary found a non-student with a small hatchet or rock pick. It was reported that he was throwing it at
trees in the park. He dropped the hatchet when ordered by officers. He was issued an exclusion and left.
JULY 16 EXCLUSION
Parking Structure One, Roof
Sergeant Michael Anderson spotted two suspicious people on the roof, in the northeast stairwell. Officers Nichola Higbee and Fischer contacted the two males who reportedly “had just injected both meth and heroin.” One of the individuals had an abscess and said he was going to the hospital. Both individuals were issued exclusions.
PROBABLE CAUSE FOR ARREST
Parking Structure Three
Officers Fischer and Higbee saw a previously excluded male talking on a walkie-talkie. “[A] long string with an altered spark plug wrapped in black electrical tape” was attached to his belt. He at-
tempted to run when officers asked him to sit down. He threw the bike at Officer Fischer and ran northbound on Southwest 13th Avenue. Officer Fischer later spoke with a known friend of the individual, who stated the man on the run was responsible for several Portland State car break-ins and that he has been camping nearby.
JULY 18 CAR PROWL
Parking Structure One, First Floor
A student reported a car prowl to Officer Troppe, which occurred between 10:30 p.m. on July 17 and 8:45 a.m. on July 18. Nothing was stolen.
CAR PROWL
Parking Structure Fourth Floor
One,
A non-student reported that a pair of Oakley sunglasses and a GPS were stolen from his black Nissan
Frontier truck between June 28 and July 12.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLE, THEFT Parking Structure Third Floor
One,
A student reported to Officer Higbee that a purse, wallet, chemistry book and some make-up were stolen from her 2011 Nissan.
JULY 19 FOUND AMMUNITION Shattuck Lot
A non-student showed Officer Troppe a paper bag in the lot that he said was sitting outside the dumpster. The bag contained an orange sock filled with 45 caliber bullets. The bag was taken to the PPB. An area check yielded no firearm.
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
5
COVER
THE VERY HINKY SUMMER DRINKY GUIDE BRANDON STALEY
College is a time for experimentation, and summer can be really boring. So why not take these two completely disparate opinions, discard them and do what you were going to do anyway: drink. Of course, it’s always cheaper to indulge on your own dime. That’s why you’ll find plenty of drink recipes in this issue—from the classic to the questionable. If you’re set on going out, we’ve got you covered with our choice for the best, cheapest and most surprisingly competent bar that’s not too far from campus. Maybe summer hasn’t taken hold of your heart just yet, and you’re still determined to learn. If that’s the case, we’ve got a brief rundown of what Portland was like during our nation’s darkest hour: prohibition. It’s all here in the Very Hinky Summer Drinky Guide!
COCKTAIL RECIPES, THE BEST BAR FOR YOUR BUCK AND THE SORDID HISTORIES OF PORTLAND BOOZE!
CLASSY CLINKS These drinks are for the refined professional in all of us. May we drown him or her with expensive liquor.
The Hancock
This cocktail is from the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book of recipes and has been updated for modern ease. The Waldorf-Astoria bar book was published right after prohibition, as American bartenders were returning from Europe (one of the few places they could find work during the government-mandated dry spell). The drink itself is almost purely bourbon served on the rocks with sweetener and lime juice. A splash of spiced rum adds a little twist. Shake with ice: Four dashes simple syrup or agave (to taste) Juice of one lime Three dashes spiced rum 1.5 oz. bourbon Strain into lowball glass, serve on the rocks
will garnish much favor at a mixer. Tonic water helps to muddle the strength of the drink, but don’t go too fast just to look cooler. I posset you’ll have a better time if you, well, drink it slow! Shake with ice: 2 oz. vodka 1 oz. plum sake 1 oz. orange liqueur, like Cointreau Strain into highball glass, serve on the rocks
Fedora Punch
There are so many things I like about this drink, found in the 1900 Modern American Drinks by George J. Kappeler. First of all, it’s actually a pretty competent beverage, if a little strong for my taste. Second, its name pretty much sums up my feelings on modern American discourse. Take that for what
you will, just don’t judge the Fedora Punch for its name. Shake with ice: 1 tbsp. simple syrup Juice of half a lemon 1 oz. brandy 1 oz. bourbon 1 oz. Curacao 1/2 oz. Jamaican rum Strain into long punch glass, sip with straws NOTE: You can serve this on the rocks, but a handful of tropical fruit makes a delicious substitute for ice.
Pun Trouble This neat little drink is an altered version of the Plum Trouble served over at MiHO Izakaya on North Interstate. Sweet and rejuvenating, the Pun Trouble TERRA DEHART/PSU VANGUARD
6
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
ELISE FURLAN/PSU VANGUARD
COVER MILK PUNCH!
PORTLAND’S PROHIBITION Portland might be a paradise of craft brews today, but back in 1916 the state of Oregon was a very different place. It was a dry place. That’s because 1916 was the year Oregon voted alcohol prohibition into effect. Oregon’s statewide ban on alcohol came four years before the national mandate. Oregon first took a stab at prohibition in 1914 by making the sale of alcohol illegal, meaning you could still bring booze in from
NIMI EINSTEIN/PSU VANGUARD
COLLEGE STAPLES No university experience is complete without exposure to these cocktails, which is perhaps the most generous application of the word cocktail ever.
Rum & Coke
Sometimes it feels like the Rum & Coke is as old as sweaty dorm mistakes themselves. But this classic drink doesn’t have to be boring. There are plenty of ways to spice it up if you use the original recipe as a base. 6 oz. cola (preferably swee tened with cane sugar) 2 oz. rum Serve on the rocks
The Sidewalk Slammer This drink materializes only when the night has taken a malevolent turn. Comprised exclusively of humanity’s most foul liquid concoctions, the Sidewalk Slammer was not designed for the faint of heart, or really anything with a heart for that matter. It could probably power some decently sized farming equipment, though. Beware the dark lures of this world, so clothed are they in malt liquor. 40 oz. malt liquor, drank to halfway mark
Optional additions: Juice of one lime or key lime 1/2 oz. amaretto Cherry-flavored cola or cream soda in place of regular cola 2 dashes angostura bitters, for extra spice Coconut rum in place of dark rum A dash of hot sauce, to embrace this drink’s Medterranean origins
20 oz. energy drink Pour energy drink into malt liquor container Serve as such Punch a stop sign to death
ANCIENT MYSTERIES
Looking back at the long history of bartending, it’s reasonable to wonder if our ancestors were certifiably insane. All of these drink recipes were popular and widely circulated in print, but try them at your own risk.
Milk Punch This recipe, updated for modern consumption, was originally published in 1862 by famed bartender Jerry Thomas in his seminal How to Mix Drinks. Many of the recipes in the book were later adopted by Leo Engel in his more digestible 1878 cocktail recipe book American and Other Drinks. The linchpin of this recipe is milk, which is fascinating considering the pasteurization process had only just been established by Louis Pasteur and the glass milk bottle had yet to be patented. It’s pretty much history in a cup. Shake with ice: 1 tbsp. simple syrup 2 oz. cognac 1 oz. dark rum Strain into lowball glass Fill with milk 1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg to top NOTE: This recipe can be made as a hot drink simply by warming the milk and omitting the ice.
Mulled Wine with Eggs
Admittedly, I stared at this recipe for quite some time trying to tease out what misHUNTER SHARP/PSU VANGUARD
“BEWARE THE DARK LURES OF THIS WORLD, SO CLOTHED ARE THEY IN MALT LIQUOR.” fortune had befell my eyes, to determine what neurological misfire had caused this—clearly a hallucination—to take form before me. In the end, I’m forced to assure you this is a real recipe, also taken from Engel’s American and Other Drinks. I’ve updated the recipe only for modern measurements. Aside from that, it remains as the author intended: utterly baffling. Boil: 1 qt. wine 1 pt. water 1 tbsp. allspice and nutmeg Beat separately: Six eggs Sugar, to taste Pour the boiling wine into the eggs, stirring constantly NOTE: Do not pour the eggs into the wine or it will curdle (as if that’s the least of your worries).
out of state. Given the ingenuity of the human mind in times of desperation, the 1914 ruling proved insufficient. Alcohol in all forms was simply banned two years later. Did it work? Of course not. This is Portland. We love booze. Most of the alcohol seized in raids was stored in the basement of the Portland Police Bureau, except for a few casks that were destroyed publicly and for publicity. The rest frequently went right back into circulation. Portland was rife with speakeasies, moonshine and corruption until prohibition was repealed in 1933.
THE MOST WEIRDLY COMPETENT OFF-CAMPUS COCKTAIL BAR Portland State is a dry campus, so let’s not mince words: Our bars are abysmal. Rogue Hall is prohibitively expensive, McMenamins belongs in an airport and the Cheerful Tortoise is a predictable shit show. To find a bar that won’t break your bank that’s actually worth your money, you’re going to have to look off campus. The Vanguard suggests Momo’s on Southwest 10th Avenue as its most weirdly competent off-campus bar. We categorize this selection as weird, because while nearly everything about Momo’s outward appearance suggests a dive bar (the interior is entirely black save for the illustrations of semi-naked women that adorn the walls), the reality is anything but. The patio is nearly as spacious and secluded as the interior. The cocktails are cheap ($4 for an Old Fashioned, $6 for a Manhattan) and delicious considering they’re priced at half the citywide average. Even the food—your typical bar fare of nachos, quesadillas and macaroni and cheese—hits the spot. Momo’s sits right on the Portland Streetcar’s NS Line, so it’s highly accessible to boot. Commit to the trip and make this your new watering hole.
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
7
OPINION
I WROTE THIS ‘LIKE A GIRL’ Vices and Virtues by Carli Gibson
There are words and phrases that have become such a strong part of our day-to-day vernacular that oftentimes we don’t realize what we’re actually saying. One of the most common phrases that comes to mind is “like a girl.” Ever notice how “like a girl” has become this phrase to insinuate that whatever you are doing is weak or incorrect? For example, “You run like a girl.” This simple sentence has the implication you are not running fast enough, hard enough or strong enough. I don’t know what’s more sad: The fact that women have proven themselves time and time again only to still have a phrase like this around, or the fact that women have to prove themselves just to seem equal to the rest of the world. Because these phrases have been around so long, it’s easy to forget they actually have meaning behind them. It’s easy to assume they’re just phrases that have no actual negative impact behind them. But the thing is, they do. When we say things such as “like a girl,” we’re putting women all around the world down. If you watch the Always ad that aired during the Super Bowl last year titled #LikeAGirl,
pay attention to what happens when they ask the little boy if he thinks he just insulted his sister. He’s quick to say no, but second-guesses himself just as quickly. You can see the cogs turning in this child’s mind as he processes what he’s just learned: Running “like a girl” is surrounded by the idea that women must be slower and weaker—something he doesn’t actually believe. It was a powerful moment that really solidified the idea of how these phrases are unknowingly hurtful. When we say “like a girl” to young girls and women, I think what we’re actually telling them is that, to be worth anything, they have to stray from their sex, and they should try to be more masculine. It pushes this idea into their minds that if they want to be strong, or smart, or worth anything, they have to try their best to stray from seeming too “girly” or feminine. Seems like a double standard, right? We as women shouldn’t do things like girls, but if we appear too masculine in physical appearance then we’re immediately judged as butch or unattractive. We’re stuck in a purgatory between femininity and masculinity, and if we
SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD
want to make it out alive we have to find the right balance between the two, something which seems equally impossible and ridiculous. We have to remember that our sex doesn’t necessarily define our personalities. Some women are assertive, but so are some men; some women are more reserved, just as some men are. Let’s make a conscious effort to remove “like a girl” from our vocabulary and do away with it once and for all. We’re women, we’re not weak, we don’t need to “man up.” We do things like girls because we are girls, simple as that.
DATING ADVICE: REALISTICALLY SPEAKING DON'T LET BUZZFEED DICTATE YOUR LOVE LIFE New Kid on the Park Blocks by Molly Ozier
One of the best parts of dating is being excited about someone new. One of the worst parts about dating is listening to what everyone else has to say about it. I recently came across a BuzzFeed article telling college students how to date, “21 Life-Changing Dating Tips Every College Student Needs to Know.” Let me just tell you, they’re not life-changing. It’s the same dating advice I’ve heard since I started dating back in middle school. I began to read down the list: “Don’t get into a relationship for at least the first month or two of college,” “Don’t disconnect from the world the moment you start dating someone,” and “If you have control over it, avoid dating anyone who lives in your building.” They weren’t all bad, but some of them really irked me. First of all, anyone who says they’re not looking for someone is just lying. You may not be looking for a relationship, but you’re more than likely looking for some sort of human contact.
8
Nobody wants to be told what to do, especially when it comes to dating. As humans, it’s natural for us to feel excited about someone we’re just getting to know. Suppressing those feelings will only hold you back from something that could be as exciting as you feel it is. If someone you really like comes along in the first month or two of college, don’t push that person away because BuzzFeed told you to. This is not to say that you should dive head-first into dating someone new with no caution, but don’t be afraid either. Especially in college, where a lot of things are new—looking for comfort from a human source other than friends is a natural tendency. It is inevitable to lose some contact with those closest to you when you begin dating someone. If the feeling between you and the person is mutual, you’ll both want to start spending a lot of time together. And if your friends are really your friends,
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
they’ll understand and won’t hold it against you. Above all, remember to have fun. This is something I have to constantly be reminding myself when I begin to date someone. I can get way too caught up in what I should and shouldn’t be feeling, wondering whether or not he likes me (when shouldn’t it be more about whether or not I like him?) and wondering where it’s going. Just remember it’s OK to have these feelings. Reading the article, I saw a lot of things that you shouldn’t be doing. No one should dictate your love life but yourself. There are always consequences to your actions. With that being said, if you want to fall head over heels for someone, I say go for it! But if s/he isn’t the one, don’t forget there’s always another fish in the sea. The disappointment will hurt for a while, but you have to keep moving forward because the world won’t wait for you. One of my favorite quotes from the movie The Fault in Our Stars is, “You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have a say in who hurts you.”
OPINION
LET’S TALK ABOUT GENRE Page by Page by Brie Barbee When Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest novel The Buried Giant was released, it sparked a heated debate about the borders between fantasy and literary fiction and the importance of genre. Although it was never marketed as a fantasy novel, Ishiguro’s book incited passion from the literary community, especially from those who are fantasy fans. Science fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin said of the novel (although she would later retract it), “This is fantasy, and your refusal to put on the mantle of fantasy is evidence of an author slumming it.” Readers and writers alike were quick to speak up against the supposed mislabeling of the book’s genre and voice their frustration that Ishiguro wasn’t doing the same. But Ishiguro never thought of his new novel as a work of fantasy. So why are literary enthusiasts so quick to become defiant and outspoken about a book that isn’t labeled the way they expect? When a book’s genre has little to do with the content between its pages, why does it matter so much to the people who read and write them? Speaking as an avid reader and would-be fantasy writer, I can understand where people like Le Guin are coming from and what their intentions might be.
POWELL’S BOOKS on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.
In 2013, I wrote another article about genre, but on a smaller scale. I talked about the differences I saw between the science fiction and fantasy genres and voiced my desire to see the two genres more clearly defined. However, revisiting that idea and digging deeper into the impact of genre on the literary industry, I find myself agreeing with Ishiguro. Ishiguro suggested in a conversation with fellow writer Neil Gaiman that genre boundaries are likely a recent invention of the publishing industry, created in order to categorize the mass of books that have flooded the market. Not so long ago, books like The Lord of the Rings were considered fiction and not fantasy. New genres emerged to reflect the market trends. Rather than a means to divide the literary world into different groups, with people only reading and writing within a certain collection, genre might be better suited as a way for book buyers and publishers to easily organize their inventory. We shouldn’t be worried about what genre the books we are reading fall under. Genre—much like my own opinions—is subject to change. Literary genres and sub-genres will rise to power and fade away at any given moment. Categories like horror, which used to be its own separate section, are not categorized within larger genres. Now horror novels are of-
ten grouped with other books in thriller, mystery and even fantasy. Certain genres have expanded to accept more books, while others have shrunk to nothing. Science fiction likely arose as a sub-genre of fantasy and for this reason still bears elements of the older genre. If you were to look up “fantasy genre” or any other variation of this idea online, you will find aspects that books in the genre commonly have or elements they might share, but nowhere is it stated what a fantasy novel has to be. At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter whether a book is considered literary fiction, fantasy, science fiction or anything else. Genre is only likely to help you when you are browsing the shelves of a bookstore. Genre has little to do with the people who read and write books. Being labeled as one thing and not as another does not affect the story that you have to tell or the words that you will be able to write. Readers and writers, instead of worrying about whether a book fits the ever-changing guidelines we attribute to genre, let the novels themselves do the talking. We should form our own opinions based on the words on the pages, not the words that categorize them.
DEVIN COURTRIGHT/PSU VANGUARD
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
9
ARTS & CULTURE
GET ‘ER DUNN: THE SUMMER READING LIST YOU CAN FINISH
LISA DUNN
Ahhh, summer. Time for inappropriately short shorts and socially acceptable public drinking. A time, for most students, to take a little breather from the insanity of the school year. By mid-July though, summer can be boring. You can only set off so many fireworks in public parks before that gets old. Drinking yourself silly becomes, like, passé by August. But what else is there to do with your free time? You can’t break out your phone at Sauvie Island, for fear of
getting sand in the cracks. So why not break out a book and make your own head-movie instead of reading another trite Elite Daily article? As a college student, it probably seems like sacrilege to suggest that you read during your limited free time, what with all the reading you do in school, but I promise that if you play your cards right, reading can actually be, like, fun.
For the Overworked College Student: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
A book just for you, burnt-out psychology major. Your brain needs a break. You’re sick of reading thick textbooks bogged down by complicated sentence structure and jargon. All that jargon. Even if you’re not actually a psych major, overworked college student, you probably armchair diagnose people anyways so you might as well read a humorous pop psychology book. Ronson’s writing is accessible in a reading-the-Wikipedia-page kind of way. In The Psychopath Test, you’ll find an emotional checklist and stories about psychopaths as low on the food chain
as the Englishman who faked mental illness in order to avoid prison (but ended up in a maximum security psych ward anyway) and as scarily powerful as corporate downsizer Albert J. Dunlap. Ronson himself will also grapple, right along with the reader, with whether or not he himself is a psychopath. It’s kind of like reading a book by your anxiety-ridden neighbor who is unintentionally funny in his pathological self-consciousness. Not for you? Try Rational Mysticism by Jon Hogan. A quick read on the science behind hallucinogenic drugs. Fascinating to read on mushrooms if you can keep the words from jumping up at you.
For the Autodidact:
The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner
You’re a go-getter. You don’t need a syllabus to tell you how or what to learn. But at the same time, you probably don’t want to crack open a textbook if you can avoid it. This 1995 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction is for the person who actually wants to exercise his brain without reading a technical manualofsomesort.Doyoulikescience?Andnotthepictures-of-space-Neilde Grasse-Tyson kind of science but actual science? You know, the small stuff. Weiner’s narrative follows married biologists, Peter and Rosemary Grant, while they study finches on Daphne Major, trying to figure
out exactly how much Darwin got right. (Hint: a lot, but he seriously underestimated the gravity of his own observations.) You need to have a cursory understanding of biological terms and definitions, but you don’t need a degree in biology. Not to mention Weiner is particularly adept at creating narrative tension, so you’re constantly on the edge of your seat. Not for you? If you’re either offended by evolution or it’s just not your thing, take a gamble at Mary Roach’s Bonk. Read about sex while learning! It’s a win-win, you dirty thing, you. Or, if Bonk doesn’t work for you, try reading some Snapple facts or something, I don’t know.
For the Snobby Depressive: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Like, seriously? Do I even have to explain this one to you? You haven’t read Tolstoy before? Oh. How sad for you. Well, go on. Get to work. It’ll only take you all summer, and people will totally notice you on the beach. Russian aris-
tocrats! The French invading Russia! Napoleon! Philosophy! Names you’ll pray you never have to pronounce out loud! This book truly has everything, and it better, given that it’s almost 1,300 pages. Try not to fling yourself from any cliffs. Not for you? Try Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Anyway, he’s got more street cred with fellow depressives.
For the Modernist Try-Hard: Infinite Jest
by David Foster Wallace
So you like thinking about capitalism, right? And the American dream? Rampant commercialism? You like endnotes? Math? Tennis? Jokes that go over your head but you laugh at anyways? Of course you do. Of course you do, modernist try-hard. Make sure to read this one in public, and pepper in the occasional “hmmmm” when you do. Chicks dig DFW. To be honest, though, this one is a literary feat that takes time and hard work to read. Don’t be surprised if you have a couple of
10
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
false starts before you can get into the rhythm of tennis-alcoholism-commercialism. If you really don’t care about going out into the sunlight and you’re looking to take on a project this summer, I highly suggest this book. Not for you? Try Bluets by Maggie Nelson. Not only is it shorter— much shorter—but it’s a hybrid form prose-poem that combines philosophy, personal narrative and research. To boot, Nelson is just now gaining national attention so she’s not yet bogged down by that lame cult of personality that DFW suffers from.
ARTS & CULTURE For the Celebrity Worshipper:
IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas by Chuck Klosterman
You’re embarrassed to be seen with Us Weekly, as you probably should be. But you still want to read about rich people. That’s fine. There’s something for everyone. Klosterman, of Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs fame, is particularly gifted at writing about famous people in unexpected ways. His profiles aren’t the typical “she’s wearing boyfriend jeans and a t-shirt, and she picks at her spinach salad while laughing openly” celebrity circlejerks. No, this is the man who wrote that M.I.A. complained about third-
world poverty while eating overpriced truffle fries in a five-star hotel. This is an actual book that won’t give away your creepy obsession with people you will never meet. Also, Klosterman has included in this collection some of his smarter essays on pop culture ephemera. Star Wars is overrated! People go on REO Speedwagon and Styx cruises! Not for you? Try any New Yorker celebrity profile. You’ll be reading the New Yorker, which is shorthand for cultural intelligence or whatever, while simultaneously feeding your need to read about people you’ve never and will never meet in your life.
For the Girl Who Wears Too Many Chunky Rings: Glaciers
by Alexis Smith
Do you love thrifting? Do you collect old postcards and imagine what your life would have been like in the 1960s? Do you like cats and Portland and finding the romanticism in loneliness? Do you hardly speak a word to anyone? Do you like supporting local writers? I mean, you actually do wear lots of scarves and chunky rings, so most likely, yes, you love all of those things. If you read this book, you will have the privilege of spending a day in the life of Portland-based Isabel. She’s a mousy, stereo-
For the Unemployed Angsty Teenager: literally anything by Chuck Palahniuk
I think this speaks for itself. Fuck your parents, angsty teenager. It’s not your fault there’s no such thing as a summer job anymore. Take advantage of your free time and dive into the wide world of
typical hipster librarian who sifts through damaged books all day, wanders around in a haze of hope and loneliness, and goes to parties where people sit in circles and tell each other sad stories. She also hardly speaks a word and yet you’re supposed to ~relate~ to her. Glaciers is well-written—stylish, if you will—but very bland, kind of like the protagonist. But hey, it’s only 100 pages. Not for you? Of course it’s not. Instead, try The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Same self-satisfied special-snowflake angst, more appropriately aged characters.
Palahniuk. Like witchcraft? Try Lullaby. Like cannibalism and the horrors of reality television? Try Haunted. Like time travel and rabies? Try Rant. Now go pull a Durden and piss in your parents’ soup or something. Not for you? Try The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell. Rebellious and informative!
For the Incoming High School Freshman or for the Overprivileged White 20-Something Male: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
You’re probably a starry-eyed romantic, aren’t you, overprivileged white male high school freshman? You think there’s more to life than what the man tells you. Oh, Jack. He knew how to live, didn’t he? His level of knowing how to live is inversely proportional to his level of knowing how to end a goddamn sentence. If you like the idea of wheeling your way around the country, go-
ing from place to place, scamming everyone you meet in the name of freedom, you’ll love this book. Just remember to take deep breaths before the really long sentences. Not for you? Try One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. Linguistic playfulness, romanticism of the struggle that is life, and an author whose mythos is bigger than his books. This one is slightly more palatable than On the Road to our cynical readers.
For the World Traveler: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
Traveling, man. Seeing the world. Living your truth. Getting as far from your trust fund as possible. You seek adventure and new experiences. Hostels with other western travelers, hamburguesas and plenty of photos of you standing on a cliff in far-flung locations. Simultaneously expansive and claustrophobic, Chatwin’s writing often mimics Patagonia. Just the language is reason enough to read this book. In Patagonia is beautifully written, if problematic. See Chatwin, an English journalist, decided to hop on a plane to
Argentina and seek out other white people in a land with a rich, complicated history and a large indigenous population. You’ll read about all the hardworking Welsh, Italian, German and English immigrants strewn across the windswept plains. Occasionally a drunk Mapuche pops up, just for a little local flavor, you know? Not for you? Try The Global Soul by Pico Iyer. This book is about more than checking locations off lists. It’s about travel as a personal, transformative experience.
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
11
ETC
EVENT CALENDAR JOHN PINNEY
JULY 21
Effective Interviewing
9:30–11 a.m. USB 402
Part of the ongoing career workshop series, the Advising and Career Services office is here to help you prepare for any interview with common questions, employer expectations and some practice time. Bring your resume!
Clothing Showcase
10 a.m.–5 p.m. Pittock Mansion Fee: $10
The grandeur of the Pittock Mansion is perfect to help showcase the expressionistic and social attitudes of clothing as it changed from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, focusing specifically on the more feminine over the masculine. Marvel at the change in silhouette and bead, giving yourself some insight into the lives of those now gone.
Dogs on Parade
5:30–8 p.m. Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market Fee: $5 A dog- and family-friendly event featuring interactive games for your favorite pooch and a Dogs on Parade contest. One would assume at least a few of these dogs would be pettable, which is
an important thing for those of us who can’t see a dog without stopping for a pat. Sponsored by the Bonnie Hayes Animal Shelter and the Frontier Vet Hospital, who will be providing dog-friendly sno cones.
Rush
7:30 p.m. Moda Center Fee: $46–126 Everything I know about Rush I learned from Paul Rudd and Marshall from How I Met Your Mother and I Love You, Man. So I suppose if you know more about them than me and really like Rush or you only know Rush as that Canadian band (not 100 percent sure on the Canadian-ness here) from the best bro movie, you might consider going. This is also their 40th anniversary concert tour.
JULY 22 Coffee Crawl
10 a.m.–1 p.m. Case Study Coffee (across from Central Library) Fee: $40 This three-hour walking tour should help your craving for the lean mean bean machine, or it’ll just make you so hyper that you’ll never sleep again. Either way, it’s happening at least biweekly until the end of December, so never fear if you miss this one! At least seven micro-brewers are a part of this tour, which is impressive consid-
ering you apparently only cover a square mile.
JULY 23 Summer 5v5 Soccer League
4 p.m. Fee: $25/team or $5/individual
If you like sports or running or the hexagoned Dalmatian ball, this is probably the event for you. Occurring most Thursday nights during the summer, small goals and smaller fields make this a unique mini-taste of soccer glory. Don’t worry if you can’t find four friends to come with you, you can always show up as a free agent for the draft (soccer has a draft, right?).
Portland Latino Gay Pride
All weekend long See latinogaypridepdx.com for more information I firmly believe that these smaller, community-centered Prides are important to bridge cultural issues that have kept inclusion from being more than a pipe dream. The Latin@ community faces some specific prejudice battles, and I wish them all the best. If you’re looking to march or represent, the website should have all the info, dates and times. FREE
JAW Kick Off!
8:30–10:30 p.m.
Gerding Theater at the Armory (near Powell’s)
This free weekend of plays kicks off with the promising playwrights, six staged readings of six high school playwrights deemed the best in the city! Just Add Water has been getting a lot of interest in the past few years and it’s not just for locals anymore. I’m only slightly jealous of these high school kids and I’m actually really interested to see what they have to say.
Family Picnic
4–6 p.m. The Green Space on the corner of 12th and Market If you’re around this summer with your kids—and I’d imagine having to take classes while missing out on their summers is no fun—mark this in your calendar. Free games, food and family events will be available. FREE
Harry Potter and the GoF
5 & 9 p.m. Fifth Avenue Cinema Fee: Member ($110), Non-member ($220) As always, the Fifth Avenue Cinema showings are free for students and come with free popcorn (which is vegan). This is my least favorite in the Harry Potter franchise, with the most book versus movie mistakes and featuring the guy that would lat-
Top Down Cinema Presents...
Fee: $9 advanced general admission, $11 at door.
One of the highlights of the NW Film Center summer calendar, this outdoor cinema-tastic event takes place on the roof of the Hotel DeLuxe’s parking structure at SW 15th and Yamhill. This year marks the 11th anniversary, which means you know they have it down pat, and food, beverages and different musical talents play at the different showings. Doors open at 7, along with select food carts and brew from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Music starts at 8 and the films begin around dusk, so about 9 p.m. It’s advised that you bring your own folding chair or blanket for the event, as well as a light jacket. Think of it like you would for the Flicks on the Bricks where you definitely need to bring your own chair. If you see a movie that really piques your interest, make sure to purchase advanced tickets! Call the NW Film Center for more info.
12
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
and the Giant Peach! Hosting over 100 critically acclaimed local authors (and some from other states, but we won’t hold that against them) for meet ’n’ greets and to hob nob with publishers and others in the industry, FREE this is a not-to-miss event for people who like books with spines and pages!
JULY 26 Totally ’90s Dance Cruise
JULY 24
FEATURED EVENT
er go on to be in Twilight (you’re never gonna live it down, RPatz). But if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you can’t miss the dragons and the awkward dancing and the moment that everyone realized Hermoine Granger was going to beautiful as well as bad to the bone. See it on Saturday night at the same time or catch the 3 p.m. Sunday matinee!
11 p.m.–1 a.m. Portland Spirit Fee: $20/person plus $4 landing fee Groups of 8 or more get discounts
For the aged 21 and over set (fun fact: ’90s kids are starting to have their own kids now and isn’t that terrifying because we couldn’t keep our own Tamagotchis alive), this costume party and dance encourages reminiscences of things like songs about thongs and about people letting dogs out. Ah, the ’90s, where Kriss Kross was threatening to make you “Jump Jump” and Kel loved orange soda.
JULY 25
Comprehensive Bikeway Design 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Engineering Bldg Room 315 (ITS Lab)
This five-day workshop features a rotating list of course faculty teaching about advancements in the field of bike planning, from fundamentals to field tours. Innovation is the focus (because you can’t see the road ahead without the mirrors also pointing behind!). Skills should help those in this field gear up for their next projects. Daily field tours means you should be able to bike 10 miles a day and be OK with some elevation shift (mild). Week-long bike rentals for 75 bucks, please request when registering, and some CEC are available.
NW Book Festival
11 a.m–5 p.m. Pioneer Courthouse Square This free literary event is for all book people, from those only high as a grasshopper to those who are bent over like the grasshopper from James
FREE
21+
PSU FREE OPEN TO PUBLIC 21 & OVER
This year’s schedule: July 23rd — Sexy Beast (Britain): Classic heist film, like if Taxi Driver was set in Cockney London. July 30 — The 10th Victim (Italy): A black comedy about an unfaithful husband and the wife and lover who team up against him. Film history majors will recognize the protagonist Marcello. Aug. 6— Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Spain): A real-life heartbreak is mirrored by the use of the soap opera and tabloid news. Aug. 13 — Rock ’n’ Roll High School (U.S.): Imagine a world where, instead of Zac Efron, the Ramones take over a high school and make everyone sing and dance. Aug. 20 — Strangers on a Train (Hitchcock): Two unhappy men plot murder on a train. It’s Hitchcock, so expect helpless blondes, psycho men and a lot of homoeroticism. Aug. 27 — Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life: With such classic songs as “Every Sperm is Sacred,” this is not as well known but is just as satirical a Monty Python movie and should not be missed.
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
Dearest Cancer, this week your fondest wish is for your favorite food to appear in a dish. Be it lunch, dinner, breakfast or brunch, I know you want something with a great big crunch! Do not doubt what’s inside, your heart is amazing! There’s nothing that can keep you from the heights you are raising. Even little rain clouds give a smile as you pass by.
Virgo Aug. 23–Sep. 22
The last thing you need is to feel somber this week, there’s a joyful message from beyond the deep! Aunt Judy has buried some money somewhere, she says that you’ll know! Get out there!
SUDOKU 7 1
6
3 5 2 6 5 8 7 1 5 1
1 2 4 9 8 6 4 7 2
2
4
6 8
Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
3 1
9
The greatest song now stuck in your head would make a great addition to your karaoke bed. Give it a sing, give into the tune. You sound better than you think, much like a migrating loon.
Sagittarius Nov. 22–Dec. 21
If nautical nonsense is something you wish, maybe learn the skill so you can swim with a fish! Bubbles will rise as you see down below, invading and watching the fish, don’cha know.
CROSSWORD
4
I see what I see, what’s written in the stars. You have a crush on a person named Lars. This Lars likes his bike and leaves you in the dust. This relationship will soon turn to rust.
Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FRE E.
Play Sudoku and win prize
s at:
prizesudoku.com
The Sudoku Source of
“Portland State Vanguard�.
ACROSS 1 Dorset town’s home for Penny Barker (6) 5 It’s unpleasant when crowd almost swamps island state (6) 9 Spin fabric, changing direction before the end (5) 10 Drunken bum’s outwardly dead ringer for body-builder’s pick-up (4-4) 12 Lad turning to booze over time finds remedy (7) 13 Monkey going without oxygen displays listlessness (7) 14 Travel round America – east of Connecticut – with great enjoyment (5) 16 Ancient style of writing in clay, principally, that’s consistent around the East (9) 18 Old measure of distance’s always a problem for the motorist (9) 21 Go around one European city (5) 22 Girl from Israeli town returned after noon with answer (7) 24 Smash hits involving
Don’t forget Capricorn, this week to take caution. You never know when people lack the skills to be awesome. Be patient, be wise and fervent to boot. I’d hate for you to say something that’s moot. Under the stars, in a blanket see heaven. You aren’t alone, be thrilled for the comfort. You know what I mean, it’s very exciting. This new crush of yours sounds ohso-inviting.
Pisces Feb. 20–March 19
One last rhyme is all I have to go. Dear Pisces, don’t forget that in winter comes snow. Prepare for the weather, for good and for bad. You never know when wet socks can make you sad.
Aries March 21–April 19
Nothing makes more sense than indulging. Not only is it hotter than Blake Griffin in the city this week, but you miss the taste of an Otter Pop like you wouldn’t believe.
Taurus April 20–May 20
The Cat in the Hat was a way to teach kids how to moderate their fun and how to be responsible for themselves when done. Maybe you could learn that, too.
Gemini May 21–June 20
Never give up, never say die. The word die doesn’t have a handy rhyme. I don’t know why I try. Screw it! Let’s go have some pie.
COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM
controversial rap musician (7) 26 Is virgin about to get reprimand? (8) 27 Mr Jones has daughter out of the blue (5) 28 Lean bit of steak eaten rare (6) 29 Loudly express relief when given the cutting tool (6) DOWN 2 I put most rubbish outside in skips (5) 3 Delighted when getting tasty recipe for cold starter (9) 4 One wanting medicine for treatment of disease (7) 5 This town’s rat-catcher took issue when he was not paid (7) 6 Hood of gown finally replaced by one that’s new (5) 7 Sick jokes can cause bad feeling (3-6) 8 Notes clue for a type of flour? (11) 11 Pontiff in Rome dismissed two fellows, possibly as warning (11) 15 Toils hard, having obtained work here (9)
17 The train from Bury to London? (9) 19 Recluse regularly yearned to have child (7) 20 Renovates part of Oxford at last? (7) 23 So one side is up at end of game; the other side will be this (5) 25 National flag seen over hospital (5)
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
13
SPORTS
WILLIAMS AND DJOKOVIC ARE NUMBER ONE PHUOC FRANCIS NGUYEN
Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are both number one in the world. They came into the 2015 Wimbledon Championships and played their best tennis. As favorites, they needed to navigate through a tough field to win this major. At the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, Williams failed to reach the second week of the tournament when she was upset by Alize Cornet of France 6–1, 3–6, 4–6. Since then, she has gone on to win the 2014 U.S. Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 French Open. From there, she looked to complete the “Serena Slam”—a term created by the press that indicates holding all four grand slams simultaneously—at Wimbledon. For Djokovic, 2015 saw him achieve his fifth Australian Open Crown and another final appearance at the French Open. As the 2014 Wimbledon Champion, he was looking to defend his title.
WILLIAMS’ RISE TO VICTORY
NOVAK DJOKOVIC prepares to serve during Roland Garros 2013. COURTESY OF YANN CARADEC THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA FLICKR
14
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
Williams faced off against qualifier Margarita Gasparyan of Russia in the first round. Gasparyan was entering in her second grand slam singles match after making her debut at the 2015 French Open. Williams won 6–4, 6–1 to head into a second round clash with Timea Babos of Hungary. In the third round Williams faced off against England’s number one, Heather Watson, who had the crowd behind her. After winning the first set 6–2, Watson stormed back behind a British crowd that willed her into a 6–4 second set win to force a third and deciding set. Williams had to fight back from 0–3 down with the momentum of Watson winning six consecutive games against her. The world number one’s determination showed with a break of serve to get her back to 1–3. She clawed herself back to 4–4 before Watson bumped it up to 4–5. Watson was two points away from winning the match before Williams made her trademark comeback, ending the match at 7–5. Williams moved onto a fourthround encounter against her sister, Venus. The one-seed versus sixteen-seed matchup would be their twenty-sixth meeting, with Serena up 14–11. After a 6–4, 6–3 victory over her sister, Serena booked a ticket to the quarterfinals against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Azarenka quickly took the first
“It is tough to say who will stop her. I honestly think, at this point, no one will.” —Sabina-Elena Preda
SPORTS set 6–4 before Williams stormed back to take the next two sets 6–2 and 6–3. In the semifinals she faced off with another tournament favorite, fourth seeded Maria Sharapova. Williams led head-to-head 17–2, winning her last 17 encounters. She made it 18 in a row with a 6–2, 6–4 win against twentiethseed Garbine Muguruza of Spain. Williams would win in straight sets 6–4, 6–4 to complete her second “Serena Slam.” She now heads into the U.S. Open with a chance to become the fourth woman ever to win the calendar grand slam. She now has 21 career grand slams, which is third on the list behind Steffi Graf with 22 and Margaret Court with 24. To get a grasp of the number of grand slams she has won, it’s the same total all active players on tour have together. Four days after winning her fourth consecutive grand slam in a row, Williams withdrew from her second-round match against Klara Koukalova at the Swedish Open. The right elbow injury took place during her practice on Thursday. Williams won her first-round match in straight sets 6–2, 6–1 over Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium on Wednesday. There are no further details on the severity of the injury. The hope is that it’s a minor ailment that will allow her to play in tune-up tournaments before she attempts to make history by winning the calendar grand slam at the U.S. Open.
DJOKOVIC WINS BIG Djokovic cruised to straight set wins in his first three matches over quality opponents Philipp Kohlschreiber, Jarkko Nieminen and Bernard Tomic, which set up a fourth-round match against hardserving Kevin Anderson of South Africa. The serve paid off in the first two sets with tiebreak wins of 8–6 in both sets to take a commanding 2 sets to 0 lead on the tournament favorite. Djokovic fought back with three breaks of serve in the third set to take it 6–1 and another break of serve in the fourth to make it 6–4. The fifth and deciding set had to be played the next day after finishing the fourth set so close to sunset. The defending champion responded in the eleventh game by breaking serve to make 6–5 with a chance to serve it out. Djokovic closed it out 7–5 to advance. He recorded straight set wins over Marin Cilic of Croatia and Richard Gasquet of France to reach the final against Roger Federer, a rematch of the 2014 final five set thriller. Djokovic and Federer split tiebreak sets to make it a best out of three match. Novak Djokovic won the third and fourth sets 6–4 and 6–3, securing his ninth grand slam. Djokovic will now attempt to make his fourth consecutive final of the year and win his third grand slam in 2015, which would be his tenth overall. Williams can complete the calendar grand slam, tie Graf for second in all-time grand slam titles, and win her fifth consecutive major at the U.S. Open later this summer. Check out the 2015 U.S. Open from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.
PSU TENNIS WEIGHS IN To get additional commentary on the two champions, members of Portland State’s tennis teams weighed in on the subject. “I think Djokovic has been really successful lately because he is an all-around player who has been doing everything well. His movement, accuracy with his shots has been so good. He does a great job of getting his opponents out of position while also being deadly on the run. Basically he is doing everything right with little fault.” —PSU Men’s Tennis player Wil Cochrane “I was expecting Serena Williams to win Wimbledon. She is in great shape and she looks very confident in herself and her game. She is invincible at the moment and I think it will take awhile until she will lose a match. She is very good, I feel like no one can keep up with her game. Serena Williams is unbeatable because of her high level of tennis, great physical condition, and, above that, she has an incredible physical strength. Her serve and her forehand are
SERENA WILLIAMS defends in a 2013 match. COURTESY OF IAN GAMPON THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA FLICKR
incredible and it is very hard to compete with that. She can definitely win the calendar slam. She won four grand slams in a row (U.S. Open last year and Australian Open, Roland Garros and now Wimbledon this year), so she can and I think will win [the] U.S. Open this year also. It is tough to say who will stop her. I honestly think, at this point, no one will. Even though she had a tough match at Wimbledon with Azarenka, I don’t think Azarenka could stop her.” —PSU Women’s Tennis player Sabina-Elena Preda “I think that what Serena has been able to do [is] illustrate her passion and drive to perfection. I believe that she very well can—if she wants to complete the calendar year, she needs to prepare herself not physically but mentally, because the amount of stress that will be anchoring her every shot through the year. As far as it concerns Djokovic, all I can say is that he earned his victory, that his struggle to earn his way into the top ten and eventually to number one shows the character he has. While I’m disappointed that Federer lost, I know that Djokovic’s skill and talent have warranted the success and victories he has achieved at this point.” —2015–2016 PSU Tennis Club Vice President Robert Brodeanu
Vanguard | JULY 21, 2015 | psuvanguard.com
15