Portland State Vanguard

VOLUME 69 | ISSUE 24

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

VIKING STICKER CAMPAIGN RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT INCLUSION

NEWS

OPINION

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

ASPSU’s offi cers. pg.

J-Board 6 releases Elections Packet for spring term’s student body elections. pg. 6

Studentspg. campus. rally 9 to freeze tuition in Oregon, because investing in education pays off. pg. 8

How thepg. pients. anime 16 artform developed under the twin influences of war and political pressure. pg. 15

Viking's Women's Marathon. pg. 23 Ultimate Frisbee team defeat their opponents with a mighty hammer throw. pg. 20

CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE CALENDAR SPORTS

4 8 12 14 18 20

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING MANAGER

EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Turner Lobey

JGEKELER@PDX.EDU Jordan Gekeler

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

SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Matthew J. Ocasio

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Lisa Dunn

PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Rachael Bentz

PHOTO EDITOR PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray

COPY CHIEF COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Margo Pecha

ONLINE EDITOR ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jaime Dunkle

ADVISER

ADVERTISING ADVISER

The Student Media Board, which oversees and guides Portland State's officially recognized Student Media organizations, is seeking student members to help shape this vital aspect of campus life.

Currently, there are openings for five students, of which only one may be held by an elected or appointed member of student government. To be eligible, a student must be in good standing with Portland State and not currently part of the staff of any Student Media organization.

Independent contractors within Student Media are eligible. Undergraduate students must be registered for at least six credits and have an institutional GPA of at least 2.5. Graduate students must be registered for at least five credits and have an institutional GPA of 3.0.

Interested students may visit the Student Media website at pdx.edu/student-media or contact the Coordinator of Student Media at reaz@pdx.edu to find out more about the board and the various media organizations.

To inquire further and apply for board membership, contact ASPSU to begin the nominating process.

Ann Roman

DESIGNERS

Nimi Einstein Elise Furlan Brendan Mulligan Rico Macias-Zepeda

WRITERS

Andy Anady, Nathan Anderson, Evan Birkeland, Jacqueline C. Bryan, Kara Erny, Serina Hersey, Amanda Keener, Shezad Khan, Ruby King, Alex Moore, Lauren Moore, Phuoc Francis Nguyen, Jordan Paige, John Pinney, Jon Raby, Kevin Rackham, Jordan Rasmussen, Matt Rauch, Sebastian Richardson, Amy Rush, Lauren Schlangen, Joseph Thiebes, Kayla Townsley

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Silvia Cardullo, Devin Courtright, Seleny Diaz, Christian Profeta, Joseph Thiebes

ADVERTISING SALES

Tori Christensen, Bri Robinson, Dustin Clevenger, Dennis Caceres

COPY EDITORS

Sabrina Parys Roberta Kelley

MARKETING MANAGER Vivian Vo

The Vanguard is published weekly as an independent student newspaper funded by the Student Fee Committee and 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 design by Nimi Einstein ©2014 PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY VANGUARD 1825 S.W. BROADWAY SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION, RM. S-26 PORTLAND, OR 97201

CORRECTION: In the Feb. 17 issue of the Vanguard, Coordinator of PSU's Native American Student Support Services Dean Azule’s name was misspelled. The web version of the story has been changed to the correct spelling.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

3

NEWS

sWEEtlab deploys half million water filters in rwanda josEPh thiEbEs

A WATER FILTER in the SWEETLab.

JOSEPH THIEBES/PSU VANGUARD

Leading, learning, life changing Prepare for your future career in: • Teaching • Counseling • Adult Education • And more!

pdx.edu/education PSU Graduate School of Education Graduate School of Education PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

4

OPEN HOUSE Thursday, March 5, 2015

Noon—2pm | Room 296/298 | SMSU

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

There are 783 million people in the world who lack access to clean drinking water, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Water availability is projected to decrease while demand increases through 2050.

In January, Sustainable Water, Energy and Environmental Technologies Laboratory (SWEETLab) finished setting up nearly half a million filters and stoves in Rwanda, many of which contain new sensors that communicate their status over the Internet, according to SWEETLab Director and Portland State Mechanical & Materials Engineering Assistant Professor Evan Thomas.

“This is one of the first times that we’ve used sensors to actually measure health behavior in developing countries,” Thomas said. “In an environment where people don’t have clean running water, they don’t have sanitation, they don’t necessarily have paved roads, but there’s almost universal cell phone coverage.”

Five years ago, PSU founded SWEETLab, which now collaborates with many other universities around the world, like UC Berkeley, Texas A&M, Oregon Health & Science University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The lab is upgrading lifesustaining appliances like water filters and cook stoves in developing countries with sensors, wi-fi, cellular connectivity and GPS in order to measure the health behaviors of individuals in developing countries.

By monitoring the use and performance of these devices, SWEETLab closes

a feedback loop with data.

That data shows how well the gear works and how it correlates to human health in the region, according to Thomas.

“Our primary research is around using instrumentation to measure the effectiveness of health interventions,” he said. “We also deploy those health interventions ourselves.”

Thomas said the sensors can be tailored to the needs of a specific project. SWEETLab has worked with the Indian government to deploy water testing kits, for example, which provide information about water quality.

In Indonesia, SWEETLab partnered with Mercy Corps to put sensors on hand washing stations to find out when they were being used.

Data could be gathered by surveying people in the area, but this method can be prone to error or bias. Using sensor data, on the other hand, can lead to new insights into the way people use the gear, Thomas said.

At PSU, Thomas involves graduate and undergraduate students in his research.

“We’ve had [PSU] students in Rwanda, in Kenya, in Haiti. In the past few years we’ve had students in Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, all over the world, participating in the deployment of these projects,” Thomas said.

PSU Master's of Electrical and Computer Engineering student Zdenek Zumr has been at SWEETLab since its founding, when he was pursuing his undergraduate degree at PSU. Zumr designs waterproof enclosures for the sensors and electronic circuits.

“It’s my job to figure out how to get these things to

gather the data that we need, and do it safely, reliably, and also stay put,” he said.

Sarita Tellez, a recent graduate of PSU’s Master’s of Electrical Engineering Program, analyzes data from backpacks that are used to haul water.

Sensors inside the backpack transmit the data, including their volume levels and distances traveled.

“My work is basically trying to make sense of the data that is coming from the sensors, to see how well the system works,” Tellez said.

Kwasi Boateng, a PSU Technology Management doctoral candidate, is originally from Ghana, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He specifically sought out the work that is being done at SWEETLab. “When I saw there were projects in Africa, I naturally got interested,” Boateng said.

Thomas previously worked on life support systems for spacecrafts at NASA, and his work with SWEETLab is a natural continuation of that work.

“We were concerned about: how do we provide clean air and clean water to astronauts on long-duration space flights? So on a technical level, there’s a close relation,” Thomas said.

SWEETLab has projects in 12 countries and collaborates with groups like the Gates Foundation, USAID and the UK Department for International Development, according to Thomas.

“In all cases, we are engineers, using engineering tools to help public health professionals do their job better,” he said.

More information is available at sweetdata.org.

NEWS

J-BOaRD kicks Off electiOn seasOn With Release Of electiOn packet sErina hErsEy

The ASPSU Judicial Board is preparing for spring term's student body elections. The board is releasing Election Packets on Tuesday, Feb 24.

The packet will outline rules and regulations candidates must follow. It will also include a slate waiver to make sure all members of the slate are responsible for each other’s actions. Furthermore, it consists of a list of qualifications such as credit and GPA requirements that candidates must abide by.

“The main point of the Election Packet is for candidates to be aware of their responsibilities,” said ASPSU Chief Justice Nathan Claus.

“It has the requirements of the jobs, how to figure out how to campaign, list of the important dates that the individuals need to know about, and the slate waiver.”

Specific requirements include having an undergraduate minimum GPA of 2.5 or graduate minimum GPA of 3.0, be enrolled in six graded credits, and be in good academic standing.

“Besides academics, they have to be willing to do the job, and…know what they’re signing on for,” Claus said.

“For instance, if they want to work in the Student Fee Committee, they must work over the summer, and…they must be committed to go to senate meetings throughout the year.”

ASPSU Adviser Candace Avalos said, “The main thing is that they campaign by getting the word out, talking to students, etc. I always tell the candidates that while, yes, the election is about them trying to get voted into office, what’s more important is that they engage the campus in the political process and encourage their peers to care about their student government and learn more.”

The packet will be due on March 20.

The Elections Committee has been finalized, the committee’s bylaws have been approved, and the elections manual was approved on Feb. 23.

Last year, the elections lacked many of these regulations, which led to confusion among the candidates and the J-Board. The JBoard hopes that all of these changes will ensure a smooth election with a greater voter turnout.

“Some of the cool things we have done this year to essentially make the elections flow more easily is we have done backwards planning from basically the beginning of this term,” Claus said.

“Last year there really was not a whole lot of planning. I feel like we are going to be in a lot better position once the elections start.”

“We have the Elections Committee Bylaws along with the J-Board Bylaws,

and also the Elections Manual,” he continued. “We also have a separate Elections Committee.”

Last year, the J-Board and the Elections Committee were the same group.

“If you were to appeal an Elections Committee decision to the J-Board, you would have the exact same group of individuals, just wearing different hats, so it was confusing,” Claus said.

“Whereas this year, with two

separate groups, if a candidate decides to appeal, it will actually go to a separate body that will not be as directly involved as the Elections Committee has been.”

Campaigning will begin on April 6, the start of spring term. The ASPSU Senate, J-Board and Elections Committee will all be working together to eliminate confusion and have as much participation from the student body as possible.

CHIEF JUSTICE NATHAN CLAUS currently spearheads the ASPSU Judicial Board, which recently released its 2015-16 Elections Packet.

SELENY DIAZ/PSU VANGUARD

“The biggest thing we are talking about right now in student government is how to recruit students to run in the election and to have a fairly good and competitive student election,” said ASPSU President Eric Noll.

“We want a minimum of 40 students, and basically the more the better. ” Noll continued, “We want to ensure that the student body has choices and a kind of competitive perspective on who is going to represent them next year.”

Noll further emphasized the key to diversity in the elections.

“In the past, we’ve seen elections with only 20 candidates all in the 20 slate, so it does not give the student body much of a choice of who represents them, which is the purpose and intent of the elections,” Noll said. “We’re hoping to see an election with folks who are running as plentiful as there were last year, if not more. We’re working on our outreach and efforts there to get people to run.”

ASPSU hopes to have a voter turnout of at least 3,000 students, which is about 10 percent of the student population.

Noll stated that average voter turnout for commuter universities across the nation is around 5–15 percent, therefore 10 percent will mean a “very engaged student body.”

The voter turnout last year, with four to five slates running, was around 2,900 students.

Avalos encouraged students who are interested in running to contact her about any questions.

“Running for student government can seem intimidating but it’s absolutely doable and I want to make sure students know I’m a resource for them,” Avalos said.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

5

NEWS

aspsU tO hOlD cUltURal cOmpetency celeBRatiOn Kara Erny

the Associated Students of Portland State University will hold a Cultural Competency Celebration on March 2, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Smith Memorial Student Union.

Tia Gomez-Zeller, ASPSU Academic Affairs director, said, “We define cultural competency [as] the ability to effectively and respectively interact with people of different backgrounds.”

The event will start with workshops from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. which will consist of informational sessions about cultural competency and how to make culturally competent spaces.

From 5–6:30 p.m. there will be student groups tabling in the SMSU ballroom where students can connect with groups on campus.

Finally, from 6:30–9 p.m. there will be a celebratory gathering including a presen-

tation on cultural competency at PSU and giving out awards to faculty and staff members who have been working toward making PSU more culturally competent. Students will be able to nominate faculty members for those awards.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sona Andrews and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Charles Lopez will both speak during the celebration gathering.

ASPSU has been working with faculty, staff and members of the PSU community to promote cultural competency throughout the university.

“There’s not a lot of avenues for peoples’ voices to be heard, and cultural competency, I think, can put a spotlight on things that are present and we don’t want to handle or deal with or that aren’t a part of our daily lives because it doesn’t

happen to us,” said ASPSU Senator Melinda Joy. “Hopefully, this is a way to get students more direct contact with the people who make a difference in the classroom.”

ASPSU members said they hope to use the day to teach about cultural competency as well as celebrate PSU’s and ASPSU’s success so far. According to Gomez-Zeller, the celebration is a way to recognize student voices and present the cultural competency policy ASPSU has been working on.

“A couple months back, ASPSU…created the Policy Committee on Cultural Competency,” said Equal Rights director and ASPSU senate chair Galen Russell. “So what PCOCC has been doing is drafting a university policy to help change the culture at PSU to one that cultural competency can flourish in.”

Last spring, ASPSU collected over 800 surveys and conducted 17 focus groups on cultural competency at PSU. Committee members will present their findings, along with the current cultural competency policy, during the celebration gathering.

“One of the things we’re asking is for students to either do signs or do a little video to say why they want or why PSU needs cultural competency,” Joy said.

ASPSU held an event for individuals to make these photos and videos, but they are

also accepting submissions by posting to the Facebook event page or by emailing them to Tia Gomez-Zeller at aspsuad@pdx.edu.

More information can be found at the event’s Facebook page or by visiting ASPSU.pdx. edu and clicking the event’s flier.

ASPSU ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR TIA GOMEZ-ZELLER AND JIMMY HSU of the Intensive English Language program discuss policy presentation for the upcoming Cultural Competency Celebration.

SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

CRIME BLOTTER

Week of Feb 9–16

jordan PaiGE

FEB. 9 EXCLUSION

Smith Memorial Student Union Sergeant Michael Anderson and Officers Jon Buck and David Troppe stopped a nonstudent on the west side of SMSU around 4:30 p.m.

The individual appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine or heroin, as he had run up and down the Park Blocks three times, was jerky and alarmed several students with his behavior. He admitted that he had dirty needles on his person, but refused requests to search his person. The individual was issued an exclusion.

STUDENT CONDUCT

King Albert Hall At approximately 10:20

6

p.m. Officers Troppe and Buck were dispatched to assist a resident assistant with reports of marijuana odors coming from a student apartment. The student resident admitted to the possession of marijuana and allowed officers to enter her room. Buck seized a glass jar of marijuana, several glass pipes and bongs with marijuana residue. The items were logged and placed in the Portland Police Bureau’s possession for destruction.

FEB. 10 GRAFFITI

Smith Memorial Student Union Around 1:50 a.m. janitorial staff reported the “Saem” graffiti bandit had struck again, this time in the fourth floor men’s restroom inside SMSU. Officer Buck noted that this time the tag was

done in white paint and there were three vertical lines coming off the “e.” It is estimated that the tag was painted at some point between the early morning of Feb. 9 and 1:50 a.m. on Feb. 10 when it was first discovered.

FEB. 11 CRIMINAL TRESPASS II

5th Avenue Cinema Around 7:08 p.m. Sergeant Michael Anderson found a non-student sleeping against the door on the north side of the movie theater and arrested the individual for a criminal trespass II warrant.

EXCLUSION

Market Center Building Officers Buck and Troppe responded to a Portland Police Bureau dispatch reporting a vehicle break-in in the parking lot around 10:52 p.m.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

The officers were flagged down by a non-student who stated that someone was sleeping in the back of her maroon Toyota Highlander.

The individual in the back of the car was removed from the vehicle and charged with unlawful entry and theft II and was issued an exclusion.

FEB. 12 CAMPUS SAFETY ALERT

Shattuck Hall Around 11:45 a.m. OHSU police arrived to inform PSU Campus Public Safety Office of an offender named James R. Tudor whom OHSU had arrested for criminal trespass. According to the OHSU officers, Tudor plans on making PSU his next target when he is released from jail.

Tudor has a history of methamphetamine use and was in possession of a makeshift

weapon upon arrest. He is a 5'7" white male, sports a shaved head, and has a tattoo on his forehead of an arrow pointing down, originating at his widow’s peak. He is listed as a person of interest.

FEB. 13 CRIMINAL TRESPASS II

Cramer Hall Around 5 p.m. Officers Chris Fischer and Shawn McKenzie contacted a nonstudent in the basement men’s bathroom of the building. The individual had been previously arrested for trespass in the basement of SMSU and for possession of an open container of alcohol. McKenzie noted that the individual did not have an open container this time but did smell of alcohol.

FEB. 14 HOMICIDE WARRANT ARREST

Parking Structure Three Officers McKenzie and Fischer and Sergeant Robert McCleary contacted two non-students in response to reports of suspicious activity inside the northwest stairwell.

A background check came up with a warrant for one individual’s arrest on charges of homicide. He was arrested without incident.

FEB. 16 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Shattuck Hall Around 8:34 p.m. a student reported that a window in the northwest stairwell had been broken.

The student explained that he was outside when

NEWS

cOmmUnity memBeRs heaD tO salem fOR psU Day at the OReGOn state capitOl CollEEn lEary

Portland State will be participating in PSU Day at the Oregon State Capitol on March 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Salem, Oregon. Members of the PSU community will travel to the capitol to advocate for funding and support from Oregon legislators.

PSU Director of Communications Scott Gallagher said this is an opportunity to advocate for the needs of the university and ask legislators for funding.

“We go down there and say, ‘Here’s what we’re doing, here’s why we’re important, here’s why the state needs us, so please fund us,’” Gallagher said.

“We have staff, faculty, students, alumni and stakeholders go around and talk to legislators, and say, ‘We’re here, and we’re trying our best, but we need your help,’” he added.

THE OREGON STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.

Gallagher said the university expects 150–200 people to participate in this year’s events.

Conversations in Salem will include advocacy for the Legislature to replenish funding of PSU’s general fund.

“We’re trying to get the Legislature to fund us at 2007 levels, as they’ve done to other to state agencies, and we think they should do the same for higher education,” Gallagher said.

Participants will also advocate for Oregon Legislature’s continued prioritization of funding for Neuberger Hall renovations.

Funds for PSU’s infrastructure, including renovations, come out of PSU’s capital fund, which is separate from the general fund.

“Neuberger is in great need of renovation, so we

PUBLIC DOMAIN

have to advocate for that,” Gallagher said.

He said Gov. John Kitzhaber had approved a budget of $60 million for Neuberger renovations. Given recent changes in the Oregon Legis-

lature, Gallagher emphasized a need to ensure this funding is still a priority for the state government.

“Neuberger is one of our most used buildings,” Gallagher said. “We have to

make sure that stays the priority in capital funding.”

Free lunch and round trip transportation from PSU will be provided for volunteers who sign up. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 27.

CRIME BLOTTER

Volunteers who sign up by the deadline will participate in an orientation on Feb. 28.

More information is available by contacting alum@pdx.edu.

Sign up is available at pdx.edu/ event/psu-day-capitol-2015

Week of Feb. 19–22

jordan PaiGE

he heard it break and saw a white male in his early 20s, approximately 6'0" with sandy-blond hair in the window. The area was searched, but the search did not produce any suspects.

FEB. 19 GRAFFITI

Smith Memorial Student Union Around 12:31 a.m. Officer Baker took a report that between Feb. 18 and 19 two large graffiti tags were made in the first mezzanine single occupancy restroom. The tags read “Bush lied” and “Saem.”

FEB. 20 MEDICAL ASSIST

Academic and Student Recreation Center Around 9:28 p.m. Officer Nichola Higbee was dispatched to the third floor basketball courts to respond to reports of a student with a rolled ankle. Upon the officer’s arrival, the student declined transportation by American Medical Response and instead opted to have a friend transport him to OHSU for medical attention.

GRAFFITI

Cramer Hall Around 10:00 a.m. Officer Fischer was dispatched to reports of graffiti in second floor west exterior balcony.

The graffiti read “Saem” and “Bush lies.” Over the course of the day, campus safety

fielded reports of the same graffiti in Neuberger Hall and Parking Structure Two.

FEB. 21 MEDICAL ASSIST

Parking Structure Three Around 2:55 a.m. Sergeant McCleary and Officers Peter Ward and Higbee responded to reports of a student slumped over in his vehicle, which was parked on the third floor of the structure’s southwest corner. The student did not respond to shouting, knocking on the window or rocking of the vehicle. The Portland Fire Bureau unlocked the car and AMR evaluated the student, who admitted to the consumption of alcohol.

EXCLUSION

Smith Memorial Student Union

Arround 7:47 p.m. Officers Gary Smeltzer and Troppe responded to a report of non-student James Tudor, whom OHSU police had warned CPSO about. Tudor was holding a shank and asking to see the dean. Tudor provided CPSO a fake spelling of his name as well as a fake date of birth and refused to give a clear answer as to whether he was threatening anyone with the makeshift weapon. Tudor admitted to being under the influence of an amphetamine salt that he asserted was not illegal.

Tudor did not consent to a search of his person and was issued an exclusion by Troppe.

PERSON OF INTEREST

Cramer Hall A student has been identified as a possible graffiti sus-

pect related to the “Saem” graffiti that has left CPSO stumped. It was determined that the student used his ID badge to gain access to Cramer around the same time graffiti showed up despite having no apparent reason to enter the building. He was arrested in Columbia County last November on a warrant related to counts of five criminal mischief. The student’s badge has been flagged if used again on campus. Officers have been informed they should respond to the men’s restrooms in Cramer Hall first if a trace alarm is set off by the use of his badge.

sponded to a report that approximately 100 guests with the U.S. Handball Association were exhibiting unruly behavior. The guests consumed alcohol and started creating a lot of noise around 10 p.m., at which point the hotel began fielding complaints from other guests. When attempts to quiet the unruly guests failed, the hotel staff called CPSO for assistance. The guests left the hotel in order to drink at bars. Around 2:15 a.m. CPSO returned to the hotel to ensure that the returning guests didn’t resume their unruliness.

FEB. 22

Read the full crime blotter online at psuvanguard.com

NON-STUDENT CONDUCT

University Place Hotel Sergeant McCleary

re-

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

7

OPINION

Freeze the tuition!

Spending money on education pays off

Against the Current

by Sebastian Richardson On Feb. 12, over 500 college students from all over Oregon went to Salem in order to show their support for higher education on the steps of the capitol building.

The primary goal of the rally was to try and secure an allotted $755 million for public universities and $560 million for community colleges in the 2015–17 state budget in order to ensure a two-year tuition freeze. Without this government support, tuition at Portland State could go up nearly 10–12 percent in the upcoming years.

For students, a tuition freeze seems like a no brainer. Higher tuition would ultimately mean more loans, and students are already struggling in order to afford school. The primary problem is that many people in the state of Oregon don’t see the value of investing tax dollars for education.

Over the course of 10 years, funding per student here in Oregon has decreased by 32 percent. Adjusted for inflation, this means that on average the state of Oregon contributed $5,663 per student in 2002 compared to only $3,650 in 2012.

If you look at how student loan debt is affecting students, it would be foolish to think that raising tuition and lowering state funding would be an appropriate response. Student debt is not only bad for students, it’s bad for the economy.

On average, students graduate with more than $25,000 in debt, which is a huge burden they must carry when they enter the professional world. Some economists believe that many sectors of the economy are slow to recover due to the massive student loan debt.

Prior to the fall of the housing market, the U.S. was producing 1.4 million new households annually. During the recession, this plummeted to only 500,000. However, while the market is slightly recovering, the figure remains at 700,000.

Students who graduate with loan debt are less likely to buy a car, take out a mortgage or contribute in a solid way to the national and local economies. Probably because student loan debt has exceeded $1 trillion and the number is climbing.

Eighty-one percent of borrowers with the most debt have private loans with interest rates at over 8 percent. Many of these loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, and they are often difficult to refinance, which makes them the enemy of economic recovery. A snapshot on consumer debt released by TransUnion shows that student loan debt has grown 150 percent since 2005.

College graduates are coming out of school with no disposable income and don’t have good credit scores, often forcing them to move back in with their parents or stay in cheap, affordable housing with lots of roommates. Meanwhile, lenders of student loans are able to garnish wages and social security benefits, which further puts college students in a disparaging financial situation.

fUsiOn VOtinG is GOOD fOR OReGOn 8

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

A STUDENT SIGN at a recent march advocating a tuition freeze in the Oregon state capitol.

SILVIA CARDULLO/VANGUARD STAff

However, while private loans play a large role in this crisis, federal loans are also becoming a huge a burden on students.

At the start of the 2014–15 academic year, the interest rates for federal undergraduate loans were 4.66 percent, 6.2 percent for graduate students and 7.2 percent for parents borrowing through the PLUS program. These rates are only projected to go up in the coming years.

According to a study conducted by Wells Fargo, nearly 4 out of every 10 millennials are overwhelmed by economic debt, with a large portion of them using up to 50 percent of their monthly paycheck to pay off debt.

I have no real solution for this whole problem, but clearly the answer does not lie in raising tuition, raising interest rates and continuing down the road we’re on. I would encourage the Oregon State legislature to invest more money in the future of our students, which, in turn, might just be the push our economy needs.

I am actually for free higher education, and while I think access to education should be a basic right, I also think the university system should be a bit more selective when it comes to admission. Universities should be invested more in contributing to their individual fields, conducting research and crafting future professionals and academics, not about admitting any liberal studies major whose wallet they know they can suck dry. But that’s a topic for another article.

Surprisingly, rather than looking at these trends and spiraling out into an alcohol-infused depression, millennials are hopeful about the future. Nearly 72 percent are certain that they’ll be able to pay off their loans and save enough to have their ideal lifestyle.

I guess this unrealistic hopefulness is the reason only 500 students showed up at the capitol this week.

That's What's the Matter

by Kevin Rackham This legislative session, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 555 will be pushing a bill to restore fusion voting in Oregon, an elections model that was common in America throughout the 1800s but banned by the legislature in 1958. The death of fusion voting crippled the ability of third parties to successfully run candidates, but this year Oregon has a shot at bringing it back.

Disclaimer: I’m an intern for Oregon Working Families Party, one of the groups who have endorsed the new fusion bill.

It’s a sad truth of modern American politics that there are only two political parties that have real power. Prior to the 1900s, that wasn’t the case. The Populist Party, (or People’s Party, depending on the state you were in), joined

OPINION

BiG BeeR is still BeeR A Grump About Town

by Chelsea Lobey

NIMI EINSTEIN/PSU VANGUARD

with the Democratic Party in almost electing William Jennings Bryan in 1892, while at a state level the Populist Party elected governors and legislators across the nation.

Fusion voting allowed a candidate to run on both tickets.

Minor party voters could still vote for a good candidate without compromising their values, and candidates who won on a fusion ticket were more accountable to minor parties. The Republican Party felt threatened by Bryan’s near victories, and eventually the Democrats absorbed the Populist Party into their ranks. Over the next few decades, state legislatures passed bills banning fusion voting. Oregon was one of the slowest to ban fusion voting and one of the first to bring it back in its current form.

Six years ago, the Independent Party sued to challenge the fusion ban, and a coalition of minor parties, unions and other progressive political groups brought forward a bill that brought back a limited version of fusion, dubbed crossfusion. Cross-fusion has worked out OK. The Independent Party and Working Families Party have primarily been the only parties to utilize it, but it allows minor parties to exert more influence over a legislator than a simple endorsement.

Those of you who are registered to vote at an address in the Portland State dorms, for example, probably saw Jennifer

Last November, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. from Bend, Oregon, sold to Anheuser-Busch. This January, Elysian Brewing from Seattle, Washington, also sold to Anheuser-Busch. People are outraged.

On 10 Barrel’s Facebook, people accuse them of being sellouts and wrote about how disappointed they are. Someone even writes, “We will miss you,” as if a person died. Elysian’s Facebook page was hit with a number of one-star reviews with people leaving mournful and angry comments. One woman wrote that she won’t go there anymore “now that the beer will suck.”

It is a scary thought that large corporations have the power to buy and take over small companies that are trying to change the way things are done. But that isn’t necessarily what is happening here.

Elysian’s website has a statement to their customers in which they talk about what changes will take place now that they are owned by Anheuser-Busch. “AB does not, and will not, decide our beer recipes or dictate changes to our beer. AB is not sending in people to take over, and our current teams are staying intact…We will probably see some changes at the brewery in the form of new equipment, access to new (quality) ingredients, and educational opportunities for our brewers.”

That doesn’t sound so bad to me.

According to the Brewers Association, small and independent craft breweries “contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S.

Williamson–D, WFP on your ballot. Without full fusion, Rep. Williamson knew that there were people voting for her that were registered with the Working Families Party, just like there were people voting for her from the Democratic Party. But with both parties listed together, it was impossible to tell how many votes were coming from each party specifically. Under full fusion, she would show up as Jennifer Williamson–Democrat and Jennifer Williamson–Working Families Party on separate lines on the ballot, allowing people to see just how many votes are coming from each party. Fusion voting lets people see the real impact a minor party has, and it also removes the risk of the infamous spoiler effect that people attribute to Ralph Nader in 2000 when he “spoiled” the election by taking away votes from Al Gore.

Beyond all the populist history and my political biases that make me like fusion voting, I think it’s a less disruptive and more egalitarian system. When you compare America to other modern democracies, we have a noticeably weaker minor party system and a much more glaringly unrepresentative two-party system.

According to the Secretary of State’s voter registration numbers from December 2014, more than a third of all voters are not affiliated with any party. Many of these people are really disillusioned with the system and unhappy with both of

economy in 2012.” And that figure is only going to continue rising. Meanwhile, there is a noticeable shift away from beers like Budweiser, at least in Portland. Maybe that’s why Budweiser got super defensive and felt the need to imply that craft beer drinkers were sissies with too much free time on their hands in one of their Super Bowl commercials. “The people who drink our beer are people who like to drink beer.” Oh, okay.

But really, Anheuser-Busch isn’t trying to totally eradicate craft brewing. In fact, I don’t think they have the means to do that. My guess is that they’re just trying to survive in a market that increasingly favors craft beer over domestic beer and get a slice of that $33.9 billion. I don’t think I can really fault them for being a successful company.

With the financial backing of Anheuser-Busch, craft breweries can do anything. They will be given the resources to make and distribute the best beer they are capable of producing.

People like to think that there’s some major philosophical difference between a small brewery making creamy stouts and the bitterest of IPAs with funky art on their labels and a large brewery widely distributing their generic cans of mildly alcoholic water. But really, it’s all beer. Beer for different types of people and different types of occasions. Sure, small breweries are offering people the chance to try new things (I mean, who doesn’t love the giant wall of beer at Fred Meyer) and flex their beer tasting muscles (“Mmmm, this IRA has a clean finish with hints of…nutmeg? Innnnnteresting!). But imagine what craft breweries like 10 Barrel or Elysian will be able to do with the financial resources of Anheuser-Busch.

There will still be those small breweries who refuse to sell out to the big guys, because who likes money? And I’ll continue to support them along with 10 Barrel and Elysian and the other craft brewers who sell to Anheuser-Busch in the future. And who am I kidding, I’ll probably continue to buy PBR most of the time anyway—I’m a broke college kid!

If selling to Anheuser-Busch means that breweries get to make more beer and sell it on a larger market, then I’m happy for them and for my ever-present (no matter how many planks and crunches I do) but much adored beer belly.

BRENDAN MULLIGAN/PSU VANGUARD

the major parties. Fusion voting is a step toward rebuilding some faith in our political system and making a more participatory democracy.

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OPINION

tread lightly with Rate my professors

The Page Master

by Shezad Khan

ELISE fURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

Kayla toWnslEy

10

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It would surprise me if most college students today haven’t haven’t heard of or used RateMyProfessors.com when selecting their classes. I, too, have been an avid user of this website over the last five years. Admittedly, Rate My Professors does have its flaws, but for the most part, it has been a useful tool for me when planning out my terms.

Now, for those who have never visited Rate My Professors, the simple breakdown is that it provides a rating for professors across the nation—as its name suggests. Essentially, when you’re looking at classes and you want to know about the professor teaching the class, you can plug their name into the website and see what people have said about them, how they teach the class, how fair they are, how knowledgeable they are in their subjects, etc. It’s kind of like a ton of people writing course evaluations at the end of the term, except these evaluations are public for everyone to see.

The three main categories that a professor is rated on are helpfulness, clarity and easiness. The average of these three numbers makes up the overall quality score of the professor, with five being the highest rating possible.

Rate My Professors has recently updated their website. Students can now add three different tags to describe their experience with the professor. Some of these tags include “tough grader,” “get ready to read” and “inspirational.” This all seems very helpful and useful—and for me it has been—but the flaws of the website cannot be overlooked.

I have had very few bad experiences with professors throughout my college years. Rate My Professors has helped me find great professors to whom I gave great ratings on the website.

I do admit, however, that I gave one professor quite a bad rating during my sophomore year. To try to justify myself, this is a class where the professor’s incessant talking about random subjects made me so bored that I dropped the class after the second day. Also, he was almost a half hour late on the first day.

Looking at this professor’s rating now, he stands at 3.1 out of 5; I don’t feel too bad since a lot of other people have had the same opinions about him.

But the problem with Rate My Professors lies within the students who are doing the rating. The website can’t take into account any personal animosity or bias toward a professor.

I once heard from a professor that one of her students actually wrote that they thought she was trying to brainwash her students. This clearly stems from either absolute misunderstanding or maybe from a personal agenda. Statements like that can be unfairly harmful when posted on a very public website. Slandering a professor who probably doesn’t have the time or the want to defend themselves is hitting below the belt, especially when these comments can possibly sway someone’s decision.

Then there’s the obvious fact that students who don’t receive good grades are more likely to lash out at the professor rather than realize their own incompetence when it comes to the class and subject material. It’s just easier to blame someone else.

Last but not least, there’s the fact that all of these ratings are subjective. Sure, there are professors whose ratings are very constant—and those are probably the more “accurate” ratings.

However, a student’s experience with a professor is going to change with the student. One person may say one thing, and another person may say something totally different, but until you step into the classroom yourself and experience the class and professor for yourself, no rating given by other people will be 100 percent accurate.

Rate My Professors can be a great website and a helpful tool, but it should be used with caution.

OPINION

take a break

Unwind and enjoy everything Portland has to offer

5TH AVENUE CINEMA is one of several on-campus entertainment options available to the student in need of a break.

The Campus Oracle

by Nathan Anderson

Midterms done. Finals approaching. Stress levels increasing.

This is par for the course when it comes to college life. Just as students get used to some semblance of a routine, something comes along to cause even more stress and frustration: midterm tests, term papers, more tests, more papers. All of this crammed into 10 weeks. It’s enough to drive one nuts.

This past week I had the privilege of attending the Oregon Symphony’s production of Carmina Burana. There were big booms, loud music, loud singing and lots of phenomenal artistic talent filling the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. It was truly a rare treat. It was also much appreciated and much needed after spending three weeks or so studying for midterms, which for me this term were somewhat spread out.

I realized after returning home that night that I had desperately, more than I realized, needed that short break from the rigors of my academic life. I know Portland State hosts various functions—both around midterms and during dead week—that are designed to ease the stress of studying, but I’ve found these events to be less than calming. Filled with

SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

loud and energetic people, these events provide a place for extroverted students to go and get a fill-up of energy.

However, for us die-hard introverts, various public artistic performances seem to be the best choice. After doing some digging, I can heartily recommend a few choice venues.

As previously mentioned, the Oregon Symphony claims the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall ( just a few blocks north of campus on Southwest Broadway) as their home base. A converted 1920s-era movie theater, the concert hall is a perfect venue for the symphony. Contemporary performers such as Smokey Robinson and (later this spring) Storm Large often join the symphony, and when their season includes classics such as the aforementioned Carmina Burana, the Oregon Symphony provides a wonderful venue from which to take a break from studying.

PSU itself offers much in the way of public performances.

Plays, operas and concerts are a main staple of Lincoln Hall.

This month, the PSU School of Theater & Film is performing a rendition of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

There is also an upcoming English translation performance of Molière’s The Misanthrope. Of course, the spring opera production is not to be missed, with this year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in April sounding especially good.

Students are offered discounted rates for most Lincoln Hall performances.

For those with more contemporary tastes, 5th Avenue Cinema is a wonderful choice. This theater is run by students and features a wide range of significant movies—both recent and classic. Best of all, all movies are free (yes, free) for students, staff and faculty. Otherwise, admission is $4.

It’s no secret that spending time away from one’s daily routine every once in a while is good for us. College is a time when most people decide to spend free time partying and socializing with friends. This isn’t a bad thing, of course, but I would encourage my fellow students to make the best of the wonderful shows that are available right here in Portland. After weeks of intense studying, most of us need it.

in power while honest people are starved and disenfranchised, beaten and murdered daily. Genocide and war are commonplace and cliché states of affairs. Most marriages end in divorce and most couples break up. You are being underpaid and overworked. Your partner is cheating on you. Your food is poisoned.

Someday, much sooner than you think and almost certainly against your will, you will die. In short: You. Are. Fucked.

In the face of the world’s horrors, we seek answers—some sort of rationale as to why and how things went so terribly wrong. But when prayers go unanswered, when politicians go back on their promises, and when your therapist elopes with your partner and moves to Guatemala, where do you turn?

Right here.

In this column, I’ll answer your questions and dispense advice about life in all its unfair glory. Nothing is out of bounds—from politics to family arguments, from sex to manners, from vices to virtues, from relationships to religions—any burning question on your mind is fair game for Life’s Unfair Advice. Life doesn’t care about your problems, but I do. And I promise to be a little more constructive than my mom.

Email your questions to unfairadvice@gmail.com, text them to (408) 462-2746, tweet me @unfairadvice, or hit me at unfairadvice.tumblr.com.

life isn't fair–let me help Life's Unfair Advice

by Matthew J. Ocasio

My mom told me many times growing up, in response to my questions and complaints, that “nobody ever said life was gonna be fair.”

It was the soundest advice I’ve ever received. Life isn’t fair. At all.

The world is a brutal, unforgiving place, and from the moment you enter, the deck is stacked against you. If there is a god, it doesn’t give one god damn about meting out your fate. The Earth is being raped to death by inhuman, soulless corporations that enslave or eradicate entire populations so as to plunder and pollute the oceans, land and even the sky itself. Manmade mass extinctions continue to wipe out entire species of plants and animals, while ecosystems that have developed over millions of years are in ruins. Savage madmen, cheaters and liars prosper

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COVER

VIKING STICKER CAMPAIGN RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT INCLUSION EVan birKEland

the mirrored tile of the University Center Building’s northern elevator currently displays an unfamiliar face: an empty face, plus a blond beard and a gray helmet.

The Portland State Athletic Department recently launched a marketing campaign to promote its Winter and Spring programs, particularly the 2014–2015 men’s basketball season. Part of the campaign was designed

by PSU’s student-run advertising agency, FIR. A series of stickers depicting the Viking mascot without a face were placed on windows and reflective surfaces around campus. The stickers show a gray Viking helmet and a light blond beard outlining a blank space where the face of the mascot would normally go.

The idea, according to Anthony Vu, marketing director for the Athletic Department, was that students, seeing their faces outlined by the helmet and beard, would be reminded of their membership within PSU’s community and that hopefully this would foster school spirit and fill seats in upcoming athletics events.

The campaign has stirred up questions of cultural sensitivity, accessibility and inclusiveness of the PSU community as a whole.

The decals were okayed by several buildings on

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campus, but members of the Smith Memorial Student Union Advisory Board objected to the stickers. The board voted in a four-tofour split; a majority vote would’ve been needed to allow the stickers to be placed in the building.

Jonathen Gates, a student voting member of the SMSU board said he opposed the sticker campaign because it could alienate members of the PSU community.

“There was definitely some concern about cultural sensitivity,” Gates said. “Particularly considering that [SMSU] is supposed to be this place where every student should be welcome.”

Shay Davis, a student member of the SMSU Advisory Board, said he voted in favor of allowing the stickers in SMSU. “I saw a situation where I personally think our sports program and athletics in general is lacking and can use all the help it can get,” Davis said.

“I can see how people think it’s offensive,” he said.

Davis added that his intention is not to comment on the appropriateness of PSU’s mascot itself.

“I’m trying to separate the two things, because I wasn’t there trying to say whether our mascot is right or wrong,” Davis said.

Those who voted against the stickers in SMSU argued that the blond, bearded depiction of the school’s mascot raised questions of race and gender inclusion.

Gates also expressed concern that the board did not have enough time to make an informed decision on allowing the stickers to be placed in SMSU, citing FIR’s desire to place the stickers in SMSU two days after the boards deliberation.

“I kept complaining that it’s not enough time,” he said.

“I want at least two weeks to think about this. I think really the cultural appropriateness and the appropriateness for the union, the need to be a safe space was ultimately the driving force behind the decision there.”

Gates said he thought it would have been more appropriate to have more advanced notice.

“That was not a position of the rest of the board, but the major agreement point of most of the membership was…The members that voted it down were of the position that there were cultural sensitivity issues that we just couldn’t really house within [SMSU],” he said.

“The point is that there are still students for whom that display would be alienating,” Gates continued. “Students with disabilities, students with accessibiity difficulties.”

In the minutes recapping the Feb. 9 SMSU Advisory Board meeting where the decals were ultimately voted down, voting members discussed the potential drawbacks to the stickers.

Rayleen Mcmillan, a student voting member of the board,

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voted against the stickers.

According to the minutes, McMillan, who declined to comment for this story, said, “There are some serious cultural issues to be considered.”

Davis, according to the minutes, said that it was not up to the board to make moral decisions.

“It’s strange that we can’t use our mascot to promote athletics.”

Another voting member, Kristine Wise, echoed Davis’s concerns and said that the board might be overthinking the stickers, to which, according to the minutes, McMillan responded in the minutes, “It is part of our role to decide what is appropriate for this building.”

Brian Hustoles, one of the board’s advisors, said, “I thought the board had a robust discussion about it.”

Hustoles said the SMSU board was asked to make a decision because they have a unique managerial infrastructure. “[SMSU] actually has building management, so they wanted to give it to us before we went ahead and approved it,” Hustoles said.

“It’s my understanding that this particular item was an Art Review Commitee decision,” Hustoles said. “There’s an Art Review Commitee on campus that looks at new

art infastructures where [SMSU] was afforded the opportunity to discuss the matter.”

“I definitely think other buildings should have paid attention,” Gates said.

Unexpected response Neither FIR nor the Athletics program had anticipated the board’s decision, according to Doug Lowell, Professor of Advertising at PSU and director of FIR. Advisory boards from other buildings unanimously allowed the advertisements to be placed in their buildings, with the exception of the Millar Library, who did not allow the stickers but have not yet commented on their decision.

“The FIR agency was founded from a seed grant from Tim Boyle, from Columbia Sportswear, and part of our charter, one of the reasons he did this, is to provide support for Viking Athletics,” Lowell said. “We’ve never run into complaints like this before. It really caught us by surprise.”

He added that other PSU organizations have shown interest in the logo.

“Christine Campbell, from [The Office of ] Admissions, saw the logo,” Lowell said.

“She was trying to do the same thing, and she’s actually ordered 5,000 to 10,000 stickers to include in new student admissions packets.”

Vu expressed similar surprise at the board’s reaction.

“I certainly didn’t expect for anyone to raise concerns about the stickers,” Vu said.

“From within the athletics department, there was the expectation that, since the whole thing was about raising school spirit, people would be enthusiastic about the promotions.”

The complaints were particularly unexpected because the athletics department is frequently lauded as a means to achieve diversity oncampus. Vu said he had not heard of any complaints from within the department.

“We haven’t heard anything like that,” Vu said. “To my knowledge, this is the first time anyone’s had that reaction to our mascot in that way.”

“The point of the whole campaign has been to raise student interest in our athletics department,” said Ashley

COVER “There was definitely some concern about cultural sensitivity. Particularly considering that [SMSU] is supposed to be this place where every student should be welcome,” Gates said.

MILES SANGUINETTI/PSU VANGUARD

Bartels, FIR member and designer of the campaign.

Bartels added, “The stickers were to show that you’re a Viking no matter who you are.”

The complaints came as Bartels wraps up the advertising program for this year.

Next for FIR and the Athletic Department is promotion for the fall sports season, and with it will come a new marketing program. FIR and the athletics department plan to learn from the feedback they have received with this campaign and alter those in the future accordingly.

“You always want to take into account any kind of response,” Lowell said. “Even when you hear about a negative response from a very small minority, you still want to take that into account. But it’s my understanding that the majority of people at PSU don’t feel that way.”

On choosing mascots Vikings are often portrayed as violent colonists in pop culture, which has

ILLUSTRATIONS BY NIMI EINSTEIN/PSU VANGUARD

raised broader questions about whether or not the mascot should be representative of PSU. “I prefer mascots that don't use humans in any form,” Gates said. “I am as concerned about the Portland State Vikings mascot as I [would be] about the Washington Redskins.”

Davis said the board meeting was not the right context to address changing the mascot itself.

“When it comes to [changing] the mascot… I don’t know what the right course of action would be,” Davis said. He suggested getting involved with student government as a way to start a conversation about the mascot.

“The only way to actually get something efficiently done—especially something as broad as changing our mascot—is going to be an arduous process,” Davis said.

“It’s not going to be even something that solidarity could pull together in the sense that it can’t just be a protest thing,” he continued. “It has to ultimately be done institutionally, Even if

it starts as a protest movement, it still has to fall into that institutional framework to change it. I’m sure that wouldn’t be easy.”

Thomas Birnie, an adjunct assistant professor in PSU’s Scandinavian Studies department, said, “In spite of their reputation for pillage and plunder, they were also effective and highly organized administrators in the territories they colonized. They produced artists renowned in skills from woodworking to delicate gold filigree. Their mythology was as complex as those of the Greeks and Romans.”

Lowell commented on women’s role in Viking history.

“It turns out that women within Viking culture had more rights than many other communities of Western Europe at the time, including the right to divorce and the right to inheritance,” Lowell said. “If you actually look into it, it’s a very rich history.”

“I definitely understand where people are coming from when they say it’s of-

fensive in terms of what Vikings did as a people,” Davis said. “But I also understand that basically almost any organized group of human beings that you can research in the past 5,000 years, you can point to something that is extremely horrible in their intentions and the way they acted as a group.”

Gates, who also serves as ASPSU University Affairs di-

rector, said he is involved in conversations about inclusiveness and accessibility on a daily basis, which adds to his concern about the imagery of the stickers in question.

Gates said he would have been more comfortable with the campaign if the sticker had just been a helmet.

“ T h e blond hair and the beard added a lot of concern,” Gates said.

“There was also the sexual messaging, for instance, that apparently athletes all have beards, strong powerful Vikings all have blond beards. And there was cultural messaging, about the desire to have this image.”

“The point is it’s potentially alienating, but I have not heard a great outcry about it,” Gates said.

Additional reporting my Colleen Leary and Lisa Dunn.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

superhighway and Fringe Class to play Parkway north jordan rasmussEn

KPSU and Portland State Professional Sound will host Portland indie-pop group Superhighway and electro-dance band Fringe Class at Parkway North on Feb. 28.

The concert will be held on the first floor of the Smith Memorial Student Union, just around the corner from the food court.

It will be free and open to all ages.

Superhighway is a musical duo that makes sunny indie-pop. Eli Hirsch of Superhighway said their sound is a direct contrast to their beautiful but not-so-sunny hometown of Portland.

Hirsch said he is excited that a venue like Parkway North exists, as all-ages music venues in Portland are an unfortunate shell of what they once were.

“Which is inexcusable because there are just as many kids as there ever were who love and would massively benefit from a musical community,” Hirsch said. “So it's freaking awesome that kids have a place where they can go rock out, dance and socialize instead of sitting in a basement Snapchatting each other.”

It’s unclear, however, if this is permission to take Snapchats at the concert.

Four-piece Fringe Class is an electro-dance pop group. “[We try] to make really solid dance music using the format of a four-piece band with all live instrumentation,” wrote Patrick Berry and Sam Gerendasy of Fringe Class in a collaborative email. “Our biggest interest as a group has always been performance, and we bring a lot of energy to each show,” Fringe Class’s style

of cerebral dance-pop is fun, catchy and austerely beautiful at times.

“Parkway North and Superhighway have been on our bucket list for some time now, so this show is a doublewhammy for us,” Berry and Gerendasy said.

Fringe Class described their younger following as a reason for their excitement to play an all-ages show.

“The younger crowd definitely knows how to get down, which is always fun” Berry and Gerendasy said.

“They are lovers of cassette tapes, aspire to party and probably haven't heard of us.”

Blake Hickman, promotions director at KPSU, said both Superhighway and Fringe Class have plenty of experience playing all-ages shows, and this is one of the main reasons they were booked.

“It only makes sense to have a bill with two bands that really resonate with the under-21 crowd, particularly since the majority of students that live on campus are within that age group as well,” Hickman said.

Earlier shows at Parkway North ran into some obstacles, but Hickman said KPSU and PSPS have learned a lot about running an all-ages venue on campus in that time.

“Looking back on it, the learning curve was pretty steep. I'm grateful to those within the university, particularly Aimee Shattuck, who have helped us navigate what has been a difficult process,” Hickman said. “Ultimately, we’re looking to reach students with these shows, and I feel much more equipped to do that now than when we started.”

MEMBERS OF FRINGE CLASS perform in their Beaverton rehearsal space.

DEVIN COURTRIGHT/VANGUARD STAff

KPSU and PSPS present Superhighway and Fringe Class at Parkway North Parkway North, Smith Memorial Student Union Saturday, Feb 28, 7-9 p.m.

Admission free

GODhOOD anD pOWeR BallaDs 'THE WICKED + THE DIVINE' IS A DIVERSE AND DELICIOUSLY WEIRD MUST READ andy anady

Kieron Gillen, writer of the Iron Man series “Believe,” is even better when writing original fiction.

The Wicked + The Divine is our world, but one in which every 90 years, 12 gods are reincarnated in the bodies of kids for two years before dying. These gods come from all kinds of religions and faiths.

Upon reincarnation, a kind of protector of the gods comes to these kids and tells them that they’re gods, that they are the most important thing to humanity and that they have only two years left to live.

Most of them become pop stars, of course. Suddenly you’re special, powerful, a god and you’re about to die.

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So go on tour, stand on stage, look people in the eye until they all cry, orgasm and faint.

Though now that I say it out loud, that just sounds like pop star concerts as we know them today.

Everyone goes on a hedonistic rampage except the Morrigan, a Celtic mythological figure with three aspects and who reigns over battle, death and darkness.

She keeps her concerts in closed, underground train stations. She appears in a murder of crows flooding from the tunnel. She doesn’t have to explain herself because she’s a goddess and, more importantly, the Morrigan.

Even her fans are too frightened to say her name, any of her names. I’d want to show up to one of her gigs if there were fewer people burning to death.

Shinto, Egyptian, Roman, Nordic, Christian, Celtic, even Semitic Akkadian gods make appearances, and the diversity extends to the mortals in the story.

The protagonist, Laura, comes from a mixed-racial family. The skeptical reporter with a master’s in Comparative Mythology is an East-Asian transwoman who’s worried about a 17-year-old nonJapanese girl cosplaying a Shinto god.

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Even Lucifer, who’s a white ciswoman in this incarnation, makes a comment that can be interpreted as transphobic and apologizes later. She’d meant to humiliate Cassandra, but never for something like that. It bears repeating: Lucifer apologizes for saying something transphobic. Lucifer.

I’m not going to pretend like she isn’t one of my favorite characters, but to be honest, they’re all my favorite characters. Laura is a 17-year-old planning to fail her A-levels so she can better focus on attaining godhood, or something similar.

She’s not really sure. She just wants to be powerful.

But everyone wants to be special in The Wicked + The Divine, and Laura is very common for that. But that’s the central focus of the story: What does it mean to be special?

For the skeptics it means being flashy conmen, and for the believers it means just being as close to the gods as they can get. For the gods it doesn’t just mean having two years to live, it has more weight than even that. It means something for the entirety of humanity.

Gods don’t exist without us, and they know it. They are special and then die for us, for our inspiration, for our continuation and betterment.

Our inspiration turns these

kids into gods doomed to die, even Minerva in the body of a 13-year-old. Humanity’s being inspired turns these people from humans to ideas that are then consumed.

The Wicked + The Divine oscillates between the metaphorical and literal arguments, like how Baal Hadad, a young black man, is criticized for being immodest and violent in a way his fellows are not, which is perfectly complemented by Jamie McKelvie’s bright rainbow and solid shadows that define the whole book.

For a premise that sounded interesting but not necessarily deep, Gillen really proved me wrong.

ARTS & CULTURE

Examining images of disaster and war in anime Visiting professor discusses works of filmmaker Mitsuyo Seo jon raby

Dr. Hikari Hori, assistant professor of Japanese film and visual culture at Columbia University in New York, made the transcontinental journey to lecture at Portland State on Feb. 12 about Japanese animation—its evolution, influences and what makes it specifically Japanese.

Hori received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Gakushuin University in Tokyo in 2004 and moved to the United States to do research before beginning teaching.

Her research tackles women’s activism in modern Japan, representations of gender and sexuality in anime and manga, and the influence of images of war and disaster in the Japanese media through animation.

Manga is the name given to Japanese illustrated books and magazines, and anime refers to animated films and television shows. Both are forms of pop culture which Japan has exported worldwide.

Hori lectured on images of disaster in Japanese media from the mid-19th century to 1945, and specifically how wartime animation films from WWII have influenced current Japanese pop culture such as anime and manga.

“The animation industry was organized and shaped because of the state’s support during the war,” Hori said. “Because of the wartime state’s support, the animation filmmaking acquired a structured, large-scale production unit. This prepared the emergence of the postwar Japanese animation industry.”

She began by showing 19th century animations in the media, single-page newsprints and woodblock prints, and their use to convey messages.

Early depictions of disaster used realistic art as warnings, but also turned to almost comic animation with the introduction of political agendas.

Hori then moved to the 1900s and talked about ani-

mation competing with photography. She focused on images from the Sino-Japanese war and noted that, in some respects, early media animation was simpler than setting up cameras to capture a desired scene.

Filmmaker Mitsuyo Seo and the two animated films he made during WWII were the main focus of Hori’s lecture.

The two films, Momotaro’s Sea Eagle in 1943 and Momotaro, Divine Warriors of the Sea in 1945, show Japan's move into what remains of today’s modern Japanese anime.

Hori showed how American animation style dominated Japan’s animation in the 1930s. She showed clips of films including stop signs and Betty Boop faces mixed with Japanese culture, such as clothing and Kabuki instruments. She said Mickey Mouse was well-loved.

Seo’s Momotaro films were based on a Japanese folktale hero of the same name, which translates to Peach Boy. He recruits a dog, monkey and pheasant to fight off village ogres. In this way, both films used animals as crew in depicting Japan’s fight against Allied forces.

Hori said that though the first Momotaro release used an American style during this war time, it was a huge success.

Still, Seo sought to move away from this. Hori backed this belief with a critique Seo made of the first Asian feature-length movie, made in China in 1941. It was called Princess Iron Fan, and Seo noted American influences but also praised specificallyChinese styles of movement and art present in the film.

In 1945 Seo released Momotaro’s Divine Warriors of the Sea, the first featurelength animation movie in Japan. From it, Hori showed clips of the movie where elements specific to Japanese animation came into being,

aspects which were the origin and influence of modern Japanese animation.

Hori noted a strong focus on the Japanese language with close-ups of kanji characters in conjunction with song, but did concede similarities to Fantasia and Snow White.

She showed distinct facial features in the movie, close-up facial expressions

and psychological and emotional movements in character rational.

For instance, a character sees round puffs of dandelion seeds ascending and is provoked to become a paratrooper descending from the sky.

In a melding of imagery to action, the scenes fade into one another, and the emo-

tional drive to heroically fight in the war is explained without words. “[This is] related with the visual analyses of specific scenes. I am working on a book manuscript of Japanese wartime film culture in which I hope to cover this question in-depth,” Hori said.

She concluded that the movie, having been released

in 1945 as the war drew to an end, explored many styles of animation in an attempt to move away from American style to be representative of the Japanese identity.

Many of the elements explored in Momotaro’s Divine Warriors of the Sea have made their way into current Japanese animation which is seen worldwide.

Momotarō's 'Divine Warriors of the Sea'/1945

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

15

ARTS & CULTURE

hollywood theatre’s

THE HOLLYWOOD THEATRE will begin screening in 70 mm in March.

odyssey to 70mm at an end ruby KinG

The Hollywood Theatre will debut its 70mm projection capabilities with a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s infamous 2001: A Space Odyssey on March 2.

The 70 mm format reached its peak in the ’60s and ’70s with the distribution of big films like Lawrence of Arabia and 2001.

The difference between 70mm and the more traditional 35mm film can be boiled down to greater aspect ratio and higher resolution. Many film enthusiasts consider 70mm to be the best movie viewing experience available.

Unfortunately, due to the high costs of screening 70mm, its popularity fell on a decline.

Decades before, The Hollywood Theatre did screen 70mm film, but the projectors stopped working and certain parts of those projectors vanished. However, when current head programmer Dan Halsted arrived, he made it his mission to bring 70mm back to the Hollywood Theatre.

“70mm film is the best way to experience a movie,” Halsted said. “It has the highest resolution, it’s bright and has the highest aspect ratio.”

The experience is very important to Halsted.

“Film has an effect on people,” Halsted said. “Some don’t think it matters. Being someone who programs and watches movies, it engages the human mind in a different way than digital does.”

Over the past couple years, Halsted spent much of his time trying to find the correct parts. Some of them were found from film collectors, technicians in Portland and even on eBay. A fundraiser that Hollywood Theatre held last year allowed them to purchase all of the parts and even allowed for some extra purchases.

With this rerelease, Hollywood Theatre will be the only theater in Oregon to screen 70mm and one of the few theaters on the West Coast to do so, according to Halsted.

Kubrick’s 2001 was originally shot in 70mm.

“Of the few that were shot in it, it is probably the best movie,” Halsted said. “It is just such an experience in the theater.”

Portland residents are so excited for this moment in local history that all three show times sold out shortly after tickets became available.

COURTESY Of EPSOS .DE THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA fLICKR

RiDDles, tReats, cOlORfUl lanteRns RinG in chinese neW yeaR CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES CHINESE NEW YEAR ON CAMPUS 16

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

laurEn moorE

Portland State’s Confucius Institute will host a Chinese Lantern Festival on Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. The event is free to students and the public.

The Chinese Lantern Festival is a celebration of the last day of the lunar New Year on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

“For me, the significance of celebrating Chinese New Year is getting together with my family and friends,” said Katie Luc, a student at PSU.

CHRISTIAN PROfETA/PSU VANGUARD

Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor ones’ ancestors and deities.

“It was to celebrate for harvesting fruits and rice because there are times when harvesting is not that great,” Luc said. “So when it is a success, they like to celebrate it.”

The modern Chinese New Year is focused more on family and friends.

“My family celebrates it because it brings friends together,” Luc said. “We get to have fun with the children and give them little Lucky Money, which [is a] little red envelope that has money inside. But honestly, we do not celebrate it traditionally.”

The Confucius Institute will also be offering traditional lantern riddles which, historically, are solved by children going to temples at night.

“Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days, so the riddle is only used on the last day of the celebration,” Luc said.

Sweet treats will also be available in the form of jiaozi and tangyuan. Jiaozi is a Chinese dumpling made from a thin piece of dough and filled with ground meat or vegetables.

Historically, families would sit together and make jiaozi from scratch, kneading the dough, rolling and wrapping. The dumplings are not eaten until midnight, as the Chinese characters for jiaozi

refer to Chinese New Year happening at midnight.

It is believed that jiaozi brings fortune and good luck to those who eat it. During the festival, participants will be able to learn how to wrap their own jiaozi.

Tangyuan, or glutinous rice balls, will also be available for consumption.

“Tangyuan is eat[en] because it means ‘togetherness,’” Luc said. “Since it is made out of rice flour it tends to stick together, and they are served warm, so it is like bringing a family warmth.”

Fillings are always sweet and can include chocolate paste, a piece of sugarcane rock candy, fruit preserves or, more traditionally, sesame or red bean paste.

Participants in the event will be able to practice speaking Chinese with native Chinese speakers and will have a chance at an educational and tasty cross-cultural experience.

“I think I would like other PSU students to learn more how [Chinese New Year is] celebrated in China than here in the States, because, culturally, it’s really different,” Luc said.

The Confucius Institute will celebrate Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival at the PSU School of Business Building, room 490 and fourth floor lounge area at 631 SW Harrison St.

ARTS & CULTURE

Get yOURself right:

Hot tips to health up your sick self amy rush

The Center for Disease Control charts Oregon’s flu season as currently widespread.

This means the illness has spread throughout the region, not just small areas, and that it has spread often and quickly.

While they credit the disease as decreasing through-

out the United States over the last four weeks, it is still considered high risk, especially for those over 65 and young children. Within the Portland State community, it’s nearly a guarantee that you will hear someone sniffling or coughing in every class.

It’s all those floating germs, not limited to campus, that make preventive measures essential. What do you do when you feel that tickle starting in your nose or throat?

The world has advanced far beyond just washing your hands and drinking lots of

Christian profeta/PSU VANGUARD

fluids, though those are still important things to do. These methods vary from doctorrecommended to wives’ tales, but with the flu running so rampant this season, they’re worth a try.

Oddly enough, onions and garlic are known as an oldtime flu remedy. Just cut them up, grill them in a little olive oil and munch away.

Also, chewing on raw garlic (if you can stand it) a few times a day can prove helpful.

Garlic contains alliinase, which is an antimicrobial that can help fight bacteria and fungus. There are also studies that support the raw consumption of onions as a way to draw toxins out of the body.

Another interesting food remedy includes ginger, cinnamon and coriander.

In ancient Indian cultures,

these spices were used to break fevers, as they can induce sweating.

Drop a stick of cinnamon into any hot beverage and stir to infuse with the hot water.

Not only does it taste good, but it has some relief properties too.

Essential oils are also known to help with congestion and coughing. Recommended oils include peppermint, eucalyptus and frankincense. You can use an oil diffuser to permeate a room, or simply rub a few drops on your skin to instantly relieve congestion and sometimes ease coughing.

Not to sound like a parent, but another good, oldfashioned way to both avoid sickness and help move it along is plenty of rest.

Sometimes in the school,

work and family business that college students often find themselves in, it is easy to cut into sleep to make time for last-minute cramming or a social life.

But science backs that the average human needs six to eight hours to recuperate each night, and there is plenty of research to back that a well-rested body fights off a virus much better than an overrun, tired one.

So make sure to put your head to that pillow for a fair amount of hours, especially once you’re already feeling crummy.

When it comes to the flu season, it is nice to know that you have some options beyond the DayQuil and NyQuil regimen. Also, using natural remedies can lead to other health benefits beyond.

Crouching tiger, Never underestimate a hidden feminist woman with a sword Amanda Keener

The otherworldly Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is more than just an action movie that defies gravity. It is also a multilayered narrative that explores the conflicts between duty and desire, giving depth to the action and heart to its plot.

Directed by Ang Lee, of Sense and Sensibility and Brokeback Mountain fame, and released in 2000 by Sony Pictures, Crouching Tiger has made its mark on the film world as the highest grossing martial arts film ever, with a cool $200 million made worldwide.

The success isn’t surprising considering the all-star cast and crew that backed the film: Chow Yun-fat; Michelle Yeon; and two then-newcomers to the big screen, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen.

Famed stunt director Woo-Ping Yuen from The

Matrix and Kill Bill did the martial arts choreography.

To round out the list of talent is Yo-Yo Ma, who composed the cello solos that play throughout the film. Crouching Tiger won an Academy Award for best foreign language film in 2000.

Set in the Qing Dynasty during the 43rd year, Crouching Tiger is the story of two women who both desire freedom from the duty they are bound to.

Shu Lien (Yeon) is a female warrior bound by a promise made to her dead fiancé but in love with Li Mu Bia (Chow). Jen, the daughter of an aristocrat, is bound by an arranged marriage but longs for adventure and freewill.

The competing narratives are tied together by the desired possession of the Green

Destiny sword that belongs to Li Mu Bia, but is stolen by a masked Wudang warrior— Jen’s alter ego.

Shu Lien helps Li Mu Bia try to get the sword back, but what he truly desires is to train Jen as a disciple of Wudang Mountain.

The complexity of the storyline doesn’t end there.

There is also a revenge plot driven by the murder of Li Mu Bia’s master some years before

by Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-Pei), who also stole the secrets of the Wudang style of combat.

There is also an epic desert romance that takes place between Jen and a desert bandit named Lo (Chang Chen).

The desert scenes are filled with glorious images of China’s Gobi Desert, and also some standards of Hollywood romantic comedies, like seething, hatred-turned-steamy love.

All of these twists are matched only by the parallel action that takes place in the balletic martial arts sequences, where the characters not only have unmatched speed and composure but can also fly, a technique that is apparently prized by Wudang fighters.

The height of these fight scenes takes place in a bamboo grove between Li Mu Bia and Jen, a scene that is a clear homage to King Hu’s A Touch of Zen, a wuxia classic that is also showing at 5th Avenue Cinema this weekend, and a film that greatly influenced Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger.

It is a scene of minor action but of great beauty that reveals the importance of composure and humility in being an effective warrior.

The intricacy of the plot does not take away or confuse the overall narrative, but im-

Sony Pictures Classics/2000

5th Avenue Cinema Presents 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' with subtitles 510 SW Hall St. FRIDAY, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, March 1 at 3 p.m.

Free for students proves it. The complexity and the timeless issues that the narrative unveils bring the film closer to the true complexity of life, ushering a seemingly fantastic tale into the real world of honor, duty and love.

One half expects Jen to wake up in her aristocrat’s bed, realizing that it was all a dream.

Luckily, she never does.

With the beautiful Chinese scenery, overall grace of the cinematography and the intricate fight scenes, not to mention the Yo-Yo Ma cello solos, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is best seen and heard on the big screen, where the kicks will seem bigger and the flights higher.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

17

ETC

eVent calenDaR john PinnEy

Tues, Feb. 24

Wed, Feb. 25

Thurs, Feb. 26

Fri, Feb. 27

old, learn the new and find out all the information at theeconomicsofhappiness.org.

American Red Cross on Campus What Can I Do With This Degree? Clowning Around: Portland Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Where: USB 402 Where: SMSU 294 Rose Festival Foundation Convention Jiaozi and Tangyuan Party When: 2:30–3:30 p.m.

When: 4–7 p.m.

The American Red Cross is looking to fill several unpaid internships that last from four to six months. A wide range of intership options means there’s also a wide range of opportunities to bulk up your resume, be exposed to many non-profits all over the city, and to learn from some of the most benevolent folks you’ll ever meet.

FREE

Alton Brown at the Aladdin; Where: Aladdin Theater When: 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $35–110

That madcap master of culinary science from the Food Network (Good Eats, Cutthroat Kitchen, Iron Chef America) stops in Portland to share his blend of wit, science, food, fun and experimentation. A nerdy good time to be had by all, and a great way to make up for Valentine’s Day in case you missed it!

A degree in the social sciences can be fulfilling but leave you with a lot of questions as you close in on graduation.

If you’re wondering how to solve the mystery, the folks in the Advising and Career Services Center are happy to help guide you to your answer using the skills you learned in an interdisciplinary major.

FREE

Brewvana Mississippin’ Walking Tour–Last Call

Where: Mississippi/Williams Neighborhood When: 1 p.m.

Fee: $59 (for the over 21 set) A sumptious and indulgent tour of the breweries in the Mississippi/Williams neighborhood that includes beer, food, souvenir glass, pretzel necklace and sampling journal. This is the last day for this event! Call (503) 729-6804 for more info and reservations! Don’t miss out.

Where: Between SMSU and NH When: 11 a.m–2 p.m.

Have you always wanted to be a clown? I mean, in the full makeup and getup and all that jazz? Well, this is your opportunity! The Portland Rose Festival—you know, that big event in June here in Portland is looking for people to take the Clown Weekend Workshop in April to become candidates for the Clown Corps. If this sparks your oversized bow-tied interest, you won’t want to miss this one of a kind opportunity.

Where: School of Business, Room 490 and 4th Floor Lounge When: 6:30 p.m.

Do you like to contain your memories to scrapbooks?

Are you eager to visit a convention full of tips, tricks and techniques? Then this is the weekend for you! For registration, please email: events.info@creatingkeepsakes.com. General information about the event can be found at creatingkeepsakes.com and scrapandpapercorner.com.

Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Confucius Institute and learn how to make Chinese dumplings, rice balls and enjoy the fruits of your labor! Having it be free just makes it all the sweeter.

FREE

When: 4:30 p.m.

Fees: Visit theeconomicsofhappiness.org

On the last Thursday of the month, The ACS would love to talk with you and provide free coffee, tea and treats. This informal setting is a great way to not just get out of the cold but to get any questions that you have answered.

Spend the weekend learning about the economics of happiness and about how communities are learning alternatives to the way things currently are. This weekend is all about connecting dots, creating new systems, resilient and healthier communities, and building a global movement. Deconstruct the

For the over 21 set, this is a chance to taste a collection of sour and fruit-based local blends, both new and vintage. Names such as Black Cap Raspberry, Sour Fruit Leather, Lemon Drop and Pumpkin à la Mode appear as a highlight to the event!

Check the website for prices, times and more info!

21+

Romeo and Juliet

Sat, Feb. 28

Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Economics of Happiness Con- Crouching Where: 5th Avenue Cinema Three C’s: Coffee, Cookies, Con- ference When: 7 & 9:30 p.m. versation Where: The Eliot Center Directed by Ang Lee, CrouchWhere: USB 402 When: 3–4 p.m.

2015 Tart Fruit Fest

Where: Cascade Brewing Barrel House

FREE

FREE

featUReD eVent

Where: Oregon Convention Center When: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fees: See website

Sun, March 1

ing Tiger, Hidden Dragon was one of the first movies of the Asian cinema to break big here in America in the year 2000.

This sumptuous tale of love, loss and a bit of magic will take you back to that year and allow you to enjoy a visual spectacle just in time for the promised sequel. Come see it on Friday at 7 and 9:30, today, or Sunday at 3 p.m.

Where: Firehouse Theatre When: 2 p.m.

Fee: $5–25 The Portland Actors Conservatory gives this classic Shakespeare play a bit of an edge and allows you to enjoy what happens when two 14-year-olds from warring families fall in love. If you don’t attend, I might bite my thumb at you. Other available showings from Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

FREE

ACTOR ELENA AFANASIEV at a recent rehearsal of 'The Importance of Being Earnest.'

The Importance of Being Earnest

Where: Lincoln Performance Hall When: Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2 pm. Runs through Saturday March 7.

SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

Arguably Oscar Wilde’s most well-known work, The Importance of Being Earnest is being showcased by the Portland State University Theater Department. Not to guilt you or anything, but my class has been helping to build the sets and you should come and at least see what happens when people like me get to use table saws, screw guns, routers and things like that. It’s a pretty cool story, too. Lots of hilarity, interesting costumes, and even a low-cost preview on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.. It would be great to have people from PSU support the cultural and artistic works being produced. I do hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased through the PSU Box Office. Preview night is Thurs, Feb. 26 for $6.

Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 pm, Sunday performances at 2 pm. Runs until March 7.

"Please don't, wine. I know you're good for me, but I'm switching to white."

RICO MACIAS ZEPEDA AND MATTHEW J. OCASIO/PSU VANGUARD

18

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

ETC

hOROscOpes john PinnEy

Pisces Feb. 19–Mar. 20

Fortune is going to smile on you this week as the voice of reason among your friends.

Not only will they listen, but they’ll be better for it, too.

Aries Mar. 21–April 20

You might feel a little like Flounder this week, Aries. A bit out of place, a lot afraid of things that could devour you, but ultimately very brave for when your friends need you.

Taurus April 21–May 20

Remember Mushu? He had a lot of bravado on the surface but felt insecure and abandoned underneath it all.

Instead of burying yourself in your work, you should try and talk with someone about these feelings.

Gemini May 21–June 20

You’re of two minds this week, Gemini. You long for freedom and grubs, they both agree, but neither can agree on if you’re a brave enough warthog to go back to the Serengeti or if you’re a timid little meerkat.

Cancer June 21–July 22

This week, you have the body of a horse with the brain of a bird. You’re in the clouds quite literally, but no one can stop your playful and can-do attitude. The world looks bright from that high.

Leo July 23–Aug. 23

Your feminine instincts are in high gear this week, Leo. You can see all the scoundrels around you and you might be tempted to warn the ones you love to stay away, but they won’t listen. They love the tramps.

Virgo Aug. 24–Sept. 22

You often feel like something is right out of your reach, don’t you, Virgo? It’s just on the edge of your mind and you can’t seem to find it.

Channel your inner Patcha and get there anyway.

Libra Sept. 23–Oct. 23

Sagittarius Nov. 23–Dec. 21

You’re as smart as a whip, as stubborn as a bull, and as intelligent as all get-out. Only the best does it for you, and when you smell something stinky, you’re the first to point it out. Keep up the good work.

Capricorn Dec. 22–Jan. 19

You are a mighty sleeping beast, Libra. Your nickname might as well be Sargeant for how well you organize your friends into action, which makes you great at activism but also a little blind to social needs.

Ocassionally, you get a little nearsighted about things going on around you. Don’t let your guard down this week or you might be taken prisoner by forces beyond your control.

Scorpio Oct. 24–Nov.22

Aquarius Jan. 20–Feb. 18

The world is your oyster, Now, now. I bet that hat Scorpio!

Quite literally. does look tempting, doesn’t Whether you are the walrus it? The power of the cosmos or the other guy, you’ve cer- always does. But remember, tainly got your pick of temp- temptation comes with the tation to woo. But with great price of chaos and it might be power does come great re- too high for you to pay. sponsibility.

ELISE fURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

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aCross 1 Primarily, telephone is draining electrical current ... (4) 3 ... from source of electricity; you could get a personal line (5,5) 9 Writing about one society girl (4) 10 Booze is produced here – I, even so, take note to matintain sober exterior (10) 12 It could be seen in play on the Strand (5-4) 13 He abandoned Greek woman (5) 14 Explosive stuff obtained from bees – from which is extracted extremely oily soapy substance (7,5) 18 Bully requires them to be banged together (6,6) 21 Sort of plant, but not one found in scrub (5) 22 One retired in boarding house with some hesitation (9) 24 Parrot regularly gets mistreated: I report owner (10) 25 Woman beginning to display beard (4) 26 The first woman to be whipped? (5,5) 27 She likes men to surround her (4)

COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM

doWn 1 It goes bang on the hour (4,4) 2 Scornfully rejects man turning up on date provided by Capital Partners (8) 4 Franco-German agreement going by the board?

(5) 5 Vessel to carry sick servicemen (9) 6 Hail poetical forms from long ago (12) 7 It's unnecessary, sinking ship, and this will lead to enmity (6) 8 Letting out the clutch (6) 11 Cleaner fuel's raised amount of work done by factory finally, by a shade (8,4) 15 Blake, Wordsworth and Southey? Not the first (4,5) 16 Sun leader reported wicked luminaries' disgraceful actions (8) 17 Alienate sergeant in mess (8) 19 Turn out drunk shortly before the tavern closes (60) 20 Pub bore mostly butts in – it's in character (6) 23 Mad old monk was Zimbabwean politician (5)

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | psuvanguard.com

19

SPORTS

new women's basketball coach bound for Psu ASSISTANT COACH JENNIFER MOUNTAIN will replace Sherri Murrell as the women's basketball head coach.

COURTESY Of LARRY LAWSON/PSU ATHLETICS alEX moorE

Last week Portland State announced that Sherri Murrell had been fired as the head coach of women’s basketball.

With the 2014–15 season almost over, the women's team

had posted a 3–23 record overall, and a 1–14 record in the Big Sky conference, earning them last place.

“It had become clear to me that there was a discon-

nect between Coach Murrell and the team,” PSU Athletic Director Mark Rountree said. “That’s just a result of a couple of tough seasons. The change was needed to give the girls on the team a little hope for the remainder of this season, and it gives me an opportunity to go ahead and bring in a new coach to build a better future for the basketball program.”

The Vikings had lost nine straight games leading up to Murrell’s firing.

“We just weren’t able to put together wins,” Rountree said. “It was surprising to me that we were struggling this much, and that was one of the reasons I made the change.”

Taking over for Murrell will be assistant coach Jennifer

Mountain. She will serve as an interim coach for the last five games of the season. This is Mountain’s first year as a part of the PSU staff. She has previous experience as a head coach at Santa Clara, where she finished with a 56–127 record in six seasons.

Murrell, who coached at PSU for the last eight seasons, finished with a record of 121–119. Her career at PSU included a Big Sky coach of the year award and a berth to the NCAA tournament.

But some of the biggest news about Murrell was that she was the only openly gay coach in Division I women’s basketball.

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Coach Murrell,” Rountree said.

“She is a person of integrity and has a lot of passion for [PSU].”

The success that Murrell saw earlier in her stint at PSU was not repeated. Over the last few years, PSU women’s basketball has fallen out of contention in the Big Sky. In the last three seasons, the women have won a combined 13 conference games. In the 2010-11 season, Murrell and her squad won 12 games in conference.

Rountree, who just started as the Vikings athletic director last month, made this his first big coaching decision in his career at PSU. “It was a tough decision,” Rountree said. “Nobody gets in this business to make coaching changes, especially

with some games left in the season. It was a difficult decision, but I felt it was one that needed to be made so we could move forward.”

Murrell joins quite a long list of coaches and other members of the PSU athletic department that have been let go during the 2014–15 season. Unlike former head football coach Nigel Burton, Murrell was on the last year of her contract. The Vikings will continue to pay her for this season, but will not owe her after that, which will allow Rountree to conduct a search for a new head coach.

Under an interim coach, the Vikings next game is Feb. 28 against Sacramento State in Sacramento, California.

WOmen’s Ultimate fRisBee PhuoC FranCis nGuyEn

In 1968, Joel Silver introduced the idea of Ultimate Frisbee to the student council of Columbia High School of Maplewood, New Jersey.

The first games were played in a parking lot with no lines, and end zones were marked only by telephone poles or piles of the players’ coats. The first sets of rules were written two years later in 1970, with Rutgers and Princeton playing the first collegiate game on November 6, 1972.

The team Frisbee game has concepts and rules adapted from football, basketball and soccer. This sport has come a long way since its inception, including being a part of the World Games and being recognized by the International Olympic Committee with hopes of it being an event in the future.

The Portland State Ultimate Frisbee Club has

20

also come a long way. Backhand, forehand and hammer throws are some of the types of Frisbee-slinging the PSU Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club does in their practices, tournaments and scrimmages with relative ease.

Under the guidance of Club President Becky Hamilton, they have continued to grow steadily each year.

“We have almost doubled membership from last year to this year,” Hamilton said.

“We have done a lot better at tournaments. Our club has only been around for three years.”

She now has 20 members who practice, travel, and play with the team. When she arrived at PSU her freshman year, they started with a co-ed team, which is not how a lot of colleges and universities form their teams.

The second year, they had

men’s and women’s practices and competed in tournaments, including sectionals, which could lead to regionals and potentially nationals down the road. At the end of her sophomore to the beginning of her junior year, Ultimate Frisbee officially split into two different clubs.

In Ultimate Frisbee there are typically two positions: handler, who possesses the hammer, backhand and forehand throws that are necessary to find open teammates; and cutters, who try to get open for passes. Hamilton is a handler, cutter and the President of the Women’s Ultimate Club. Her start in Ultimate Frisbee started in high school as a sophomore, when a recently-formed team at the school gave her an opportunity. As a track and cross country athlete, she thought her skills would translate

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well. As a senior, she received a Most Valuable Player award in Ultimate.

“It takes so much athleticism, skill and discipline,” Hamilton said. “Like other sports, it takes a lot of strength and agility to play it.”

With a flip of the disc, the two teams are able to pick a side of the field and choose who has possession. Ultimate Frisbee is seven versus seven, which requires scoring points into the opposing end zone with passes and only movement of their nonpivot foot—meaning no running with the disc in hand at any time.

In the fall term they had two tournaments in Corvallis and Eugene. In the second week back to school, the Corvallis tournament saw them return four of their players from last year with a lot of new faces.

Hamilton views it as a good learning experience in order to build camaraderie among the club. At the Oregon Fall Ultimate Disc Games in Eugene, they broke seed. They came into the pool as the fourth seed and came out as the third seed by beating Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran.

To keep match preparedness, they played scrimmages against local Portland schools such as University of Portland and Lewis and Clark College. This term they started off at a tournament in Corvallis where they went 4–2 with victories over University of Portland twice, Lewis and Clark and Pacific Lutheran. The record gave them fifth place in the tournament, narrowly missing out on third. The women’s ultimate club has one remaining tournament this term on March 14–15 in Ta-

coma. Spring term they are looking forward to playing in sectionals.

Hamilton has made the club a close-knit group.

“We hang out outside of ultimate a lot,” Hamilton said.

“It is like a family.”

The best part of being President “is that it is a great group of girls. It is awesome watching these girls grow from the beginning of the year to improve so much throughout the year. To fulfill their potential is the best part of it.”

New members are welcome to join. They have two coaches who have competed in college and club nationals.

The knowledge of the game they possess translates well into teaching new members.

To join Hamilton and the PSU Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club, come to practices on Mondays and Fridays from 5-6:30PM.

SPORTS

fiRst annUal spORts & fitness Week CommEntary by laurEn sChlanGEn

Remember that first week before classes when everyone moved in and met their roommates and their neighbors down the hall, and the school put on events during what they called Viking Week? And remember how you wish you would have gone to a lot more events than you did? Well, here’s your chance to make up for those Viking Days you missed and a chance to get active and get involved.

Introducing: Sports & Fitness Week. This will be the first annual Sports & Fitness Week here at Portland State, with events going on this week through the end of the month. Campus Recreation Center is putting on a different event each day, so there’s sure to be something that sparks your interest.

Tuesday, 2/24: Dive-In Movie From 5:30–7:30 p.m. head down to the Campus Rec swimming pool for a showing of Big Hero 6 and the perk that seems to get PSU students to do just about anything: free food. Grab your favorite swim trunks, your yellow polka dot bikini and your friends for an evening free of charge, free of worries and full of entertainment. And inner tubes. Lots of inner tubes.

Wednesday, 2/25: Your Day Off Campus Rec does not actually have an event planned on this day for Sports & Fitness Week, but there is still plenty to do at the Rec. For example, Group X Fitness Classes.

And just a reminder: All classes are free to PSU students!

If you are an early riser like myself, you may want to check out one of the two mind/body courses. From 7:30–8:30 a.m. there is Hatha Yoga, and then from 8–8:45 a.m. there is a Breathing and Meditation course. There are courses going on all day, including Sneakercamp, Insanity, Bootcamp, Step & Sculpt, Hip Hop Vinyasa Yoga and Zumba.

Check out the Campus Rec website for full descriptions and schedules of courses.

A SCENE FROM 'BIG HERO 6,' which will be played at the Campus Campus Rec swimming pool on Tues., February 24 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Thursday, 2/26: Bubble Soccer If you’re willing to try something new and exciting, you want to try bubble soccer.

A funky twist on the world’s most popular sport, bubble soccer has players suit up with more than shin guards and cleats. In addition to their normal protective gear, players also suit up into a plastic orb from the waist up. So, you’re basically inside of a giant inflatable bubble and asked to play soccer. Sounds pretty awesome, right? This will be going on from 12–2 p.m. on Thursday at the Campus Rec courts.

This is another free event, so you have no reason not to be there.

Friday, 2/27: Waterfront Esplanade Loop Urban Hike If you’re looking for ways to experience the great outdoors in the city, you should already be looking into the Outdoor Program. There is a lot that you can experience right here in the city without being surrounded by evergreens or moss-covered trails.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campus Rec is taking you on the three-mile Waterfront Esplanade Loop. On this loop you will navigate the Steel Bridge as well as the Hawthorne Bridge, exploring Portland in a new light. There is no registration or fee associated with this event, just meet at the Outdoor Program (corner of SW 5th and Harrison) at 11 a.m. and you will soon be on your way exploring the City of Roses.

Friday, 2/27: Inclusive Rec’s Fresh Friday If you aren’t already familiar with Inclusive Rec, this Friday is a great opportunity to get informed and have some fun getting involved. Inclusive Rec is all about everyone and anyone being able to partici-

BIG HERO 6/2014

pate in activities despite disabilities or mobility barriers.

You may have participated in, or at least heard of, the 3v3 wheelchair basketball tournament put on in January. This was an Inclusive Rec event.

And on this TGIF, Inclusive Rec will be bringing some new sports and activities to the table. So come on down from 5–7 p.m. to court three.

Accommodations can be made for anyone.

that are family friendly here in the city. Campus Rec has got you covered.

From 5:30– 7:30 p.m. (a bit earlier than the Dive-In on Tuesday to accommodate those early bedtimes), there will be another showing of Big Hero 6 specifi-

cally for the little guys.

Again, there will be free food, and, in addition, there will also be some fun games to entertain the kids. Campus Rec generously provides inner tubes, but feel free to bring your own pool toys and floaties.

You won’t have another chance like this until next year, so I encourage you all to take advantage of these fun and (mostly) free opportunities.

Welcome to Sports & Fitness Week, Vikings—don’t miss the boat!

Live without regrets, Learn without borders.

Saturday, 2/28: Floor Hockey Tournament I remember playing floor hockey in elementary school gym class and being absolutely horrible, but a lot has changed since those early days.

If you, too, are looking for redemption from your uncoordinated innocence, sign up for the floor hockey tournament this Saturday. You have until this Friday at 5 p.m. to register as a free agent ($5) or as a team ($15). All equipment will be provided; you need only bring yourself and your eagerness to win and have a good time.

Your Second Saturday Event 2/28: Youth Dive-In Movie For those of you with little ones of your own, it may be challenging to find events

Discover where you’ll study abroad at usac.unr.edu

USAC VWXG\DEURDGXVDF#

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SPORTS

yoga's roots

A HISTORY THAT STRETCHES FAR BACK Commentary by Jacqueline C. Bryan

While some believe that yoga could have originated as early as 10,000 years ago, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when since there is no documented evidence.

The earliest documentation of the practice was found during excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization of the Bronze Age (3300–1300 B.C.), or rather, the modern day areas of Pakistan and India. What archeologists found were seals depicting a figure seated in a traditional yoga pose of sukhasana. This tells us that, at the very least, humans were delving into the art of meditation and relaxation through simple yoga postures.

There is no one definition of what yoga is since it has evolved into so many different things over the centuries. Many people believe that yoga is simply a series of poses, twists and turns that strengthen and stretch the body, but there is much more to it than that.

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, which translates roughly into yoking, or a team of oxen.

It is said that the basis of yoga is to acquire a union between body, mind and spirit.

This union can be achieved through meditation as well as physical movement of the body through stretching and poses. The Yoga Sutras, one of the oldest texts regarding yoga, gives us insight into the philosophy behind the practice by introducing us to the eight limbs of yoga. Each limb relates to an aspect of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life, and each builds upon the one before it. Together, they bring a wholeness and richness to life that many aspire to.

The eight limbs of yoga The first limb is called yama, and this deals with how we should relate to other people in our dayto-day lives. The yamas are

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moral directives intended to guide the individual’s behavior toward others in a positive direction. Ahimsa is the first branch of the yamas, and it urges the practice of nonviolence. Satya represents truthfulness, asteva discourages stealing, aparigraha tells us not to covet, and lastly there is brahmacharya, which encourages chastity (whether it be through celibacy or through the control of one’s sexual impulses).

Since these are ancient traditions, modern day yogis may feel that some of these are outdated. However, there is a truth to them that I feel is timeless, especially when it comes to how we treat others around us.

While the yamas direct one’s behavior toward others, the niyamas, or the second limb of yoga, describe how to act ethically toward oneself.

Together, these two sets of rules are meant to guide one to a moral lifestyle. Much like the yamas, the niyamas have five branches within the practice. Saucha encourages cleanliness—taking care of oneself physically. Santosa is contentment with oneself as well as showing yourself love.

Tapas is sustained practice, which encourages discipline and loyalty to not only your yoga practice, but to all other positive practices within your life. Svadhyaya is self study, self reflection and the ability to analyze and understand oneself. And finally, isvara pranidhana is the surrender to a higher power, whether it be God, the universe or otherwise. While some believe that surrendering to a higher power means relinquishing control of one’s life, in yoga it simply means that you are able to rely on something outside of yourself for guidance, strength and encouragement.

The third limb of yoga is the asana, and it centers on the physical practice of yoga, mainly the poses and stretches.

While the original definition of

asana in the Yoga Sutras was “seat,” the physical manifestations that have evolved over the centuries have brought it to what it is today.

No practice is complete without the incorporation of breath work, or pranayama, the fourth limb of yoga. Depending on what you are trying to achieve, there are many different breaths you may use to get to that state. It is strongly believed that the breath can alter our moods greatly, strengthen and center us.

Pratyahara, the fifth limb, is the practice of withdrawal of the senses, where you are able to shut out the exterior world and simply concentrate on what is happening within yourself. Dharana, the sixth limb, is about concentration—being able to focus on one thing without being distracted by external or internal influences. It is the idea of giving one’s attention to one thing and one thing alone. Dhyana, the seventh limb, builds upon dharana since it has to do with meditation and the act of focusing on a single thing for a long period of time without becoming distracted by thoughts, feelings or the outside world. Finally, samadhi is the eighth and final limb of yoga, and it translates into enlightenment. This is where you are able to merge yourself with the universe through deep meditation and transcend into another sphere of being.

All these limbs require a great deal of practice and dedication, but the results found in the discipline required to get there are highly rewarding. The idea behind yoga is to find a more fulfilling, healthy, grounded and meaningful way of living.

Every aspect of the practice is meant to address your life in different ways and drive you in the direction of finding contentment within yourself and the environment around you. Namaste!

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Courtesy of Joel Nilsson through Creative Commons

SPORTS Write for Sports!

UPCOMING

We're looking for investigative reporting and in-depth analysis.

We're looking for journalists, not just reporters.

We need writers dedicated to alternative sports, health and fitness.

We need writers who will cover our 30+ competitive recreational sports teams, such as breakdance, dragon boating, ultimate frisbee and tango.

We need writers who can cover the burgeoning field of Esports.

We need writers who will cover the academic competitions such as debate, math and chess.

We need writers who can report on the state of personal wellness.

PSU Men's Basketball

Men's Tennis

PSU vs. SACRAMENTO STATE

PSU @ North Dakota

Sat. Feb. 28, 7:05 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 28, 1 p.m.

PSU Women's Basketball

Women's Tennis

PSU @ Sacramento State

PSU @ Idaho State

Sat. Feb. 28, 12 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 28, 9 a.m.

Men's/Women's Track and Field

Softball

BIG SKY INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP Long Beach – Louisville Slugger J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, Invitational Flagstaff, AZ Thurs., Fri., Sat., Feb. 26–28, All Day

We want to let our readers know how to stay healthy with proper nutrition, exercise, yoga, meditation and other aspects of personal physical and mental health.

49er Softball Complex, Long Beach, CA Fri., Sat., Feb. 27–28, All Day; Sun., Mar. 1, All Day

Apply @ psuvanguard.com

"I’m 'Bout that [Sports] Action, Boss" commentary by Matt Rauch

Growing up an Oregonian and a huge NFL fan has been an amazing experience.

Though Oregon does not have its own team, there are still 32 others from around the country to choose from.

Personally, I have been a Seahawks fan my whole life, and most of those years—not including 2004 and the past three—have been quite disheartening. I grew up with a team that lost much more than it won. However, no matter how bad the season was, no matter how much crushing disappointment, there was always one thing to look forward to: Sports Action.

Sports Action was a form of betting through the Oregon Lottery that started in 1989, allowing everyday folks the opportunity to bet on NFL games without having to be in Las Vegas.

The Oregon Lottery web-

site states that, “[Sports Action] was the first successful sports wagering game offered by any United States lottery. Players wagered on the quarter and final game scores, as well as special events such as fumbles recovered, etc. The Sports Action was offered during pre-season, regular season, and the play-offs, including the championship game.”

I remember waking up early on Sunday mornings with my dad so we could go over our daily picks, going back and forth on who we chose and why. We never wagered more than $5 total, because it wasn’t about the money for us. Rather, it was about having something to cheer for after the Seahawks’ usual loss.

That all changed in 2005 when, according to the Oregon Lottery website, “a bill was introduced to amend

Oregon Revised Statutes to remove the legislative direction to the Lottery to operate games based on the results of sporting events.”

The site goes on to say that, “the Oregon Lottery stopped offering Sports Action...in January 2007.”

The biggest reason behind this legislative action was so that Oregon could host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments. Another reason was that Oregon has wanted a Major League Baseball team but still has not been granted one, and it doesn’t look like one is coming anytime soon. As for the NCAA tournament, Oregon was granted the opportunity to host parts of the tournament here.

I remember when they made the announcement to discontinue Sports Action.

At first, I was angry. But when I learned that we were

going to get the NCAA Tournament, I began envisioning epic Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final 4 showdowns. As a result of these illusions, the loss of Sports Action stung a little bit less.

However, I quickly realized that my illusions were actually delusions. This is because Oregon is yet to host anything other than the first weekend and is not slated to do so anytime in the future. Minus the rare upset or exciting game, the first weekend is usually chock-full of blowout wins.

This is not what I envisioned when I was forced to give up my Sports Action.

Now, I know some may think it’s better to have something here rather than nothing at all—to that, I can only partially agree. The part of me that loves March Madness is glad to have something to do come tourney

Oregon Lottery logo

time, but the part that loves Sunday football (most of me) wishes we could get Sports Action back, or at the very least get some of the later rounds of the tournament.

After all, no team can stay on top forever. Eventually, I'll need something to look forward to in the face of another crushing year of Seahawks disappointment.

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