Portland State Vanguard by Portland State Vanguard

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

STUDENTS ON SAFETY: NO ON GUNS p. 5 Opinion LAUNCH TRUMP INTO SPACE? p. 7 News

VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 21 | JANUARY 19, 2016

BIG WILD. YES, THE BIG WILD p. 10 International BELGIAN SECURITY: NOT SO SECURE. p. 14

Arts & Culture

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CONTENT NEWS OPINION COVER ARTS & CULTURE ETCETERA INTERNATIONAL

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ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Ellie Bradley

EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Colleen Leary

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MANAGING EDITOR MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Tim Sullivan

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NEWS EDITOR

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MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Turner Lobey

ADVERTISING MANAGER NEUB@PDX.EDU Stuart Neuberger

NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray

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ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

COPY CHIEF

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ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Aislinn Renninson

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OPINION EDITOR

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WRITERS The Vanguard is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members; additional copies or subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

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NEWS

PORTLAND STATE’S VIKINGS COMMUNITY MOURNS THE PASSING SECOND-HALF OF AJ SCHLATTER SURGE FALLS SHORT AGAINST IDAHO STATE ELLIE BRADLEY

MYLES BOYNS

The Portland State Vikings took on the Idaho State Bengals in another Big Sky conference match-up Saturday night. Both teams looked to end a two-game losing streak with a win at the PSU Stott Center. In the first half, the Bengals exploited the Vikings’ defense and scored on several fast breaks. The Vikings struggled to recover defensive rebounds, opening up second-chance scoring opportunities for the Bengals. At the end of the first half, Idaho State led 41-31. The Bengals pressed their lead into the second half,

extending the margin by 14 points with just over nine minutes of game time. The Vikings refused to give up, making a run for a comeback as the clock wound down. In the game’s final minutes, PSU forward Cameron Forte sank a layup and a free throw, bringing the Vikings within three points of the Bengals. The Vikings made a stop on defense to regain possession, but Idaho State guard Geno Luzcando stole the ball and drew a foul, extending the Bengals lead to five with 13 seconds left to play. Armani Collins scored a layup in the final seconds,

nudging PSU closer to Idaho State. But time was not on the Vikings’ side and the Bengals clenched a 73-70 victory. Bengals guard Ethan Telfair led all scorers with 25 points (8-18 FG, 8-9 FT), 11 assists and six rebounds. PSU forward Isaiah Pineiro led the way for the Vikings with 15 points (5-11 FG), 9 rebounds and three assists. The Vikings face Sacramento State on Jan. 23 in Sacramento. Video and audio broadcasting will be available online at www. eversport.tv/ big-sky. AJ SCHLATTER BLOCKS a University of Montana player in a 2015 game.

According to a press release issued Monday by GoViks.com: Portland State linebacker AJ Schlatter passed away at home on Sunday evening due to a complication following minor throat surgery. Schlatter was 20 years old. A native of Canby, OR, Schlatter came to PSU as a walk-on. Known for being an outstanding student and committed athlete, he earned a full scholarship with the football program through his hard work and dedication. “My heart is with the Schlatter family. They are our focus right now,” said Viking Head Coach Bruce Barnum in Monday’s press TERRA DEHART /PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

Photo by Troy Wayrynen Courtesy of GoViks.com

release. “We lost a diamond that will never be replaced. He was the definition of what we are about at PSU.” Schlatter started 10 games for the Vikings in 2015, receiving Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors following the Vikings’ win over Eastern Washington on Nov. 21. Schlatter grew up in a family with strong ties to the Viking athletic tradition. His mother, Terri Jo, is a member of the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame and his father, Jim, spent time as an assistant football coach for the Vikings during the 1980s. Schlatter’s sister Garyn recently graduated from PSU and was a standout volleyball player for the Vikings; his sister Kasey played volleyball at Montana

State, a fellow member in the Big Sky program. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Schlatter family with all the compassion and sympathy we can bring to bear during this difficult time,” said Director of Athletics Mark Rountree in the statement released Monday. “Things like this, aren’t supposed to happen,” Rountree said in the statement. “We cherish every student’s well-being, and the loss of AJ will be tough on our family. He represented his family and [PSU] with passion, courage, and humility that made us all proud. He will be missed.”. Further details and memorial arrangements are yet to come.

NEWS

ASPSU SAFETY FORUM FOCUSES ON ARMED POLICE

JEOFFRY RAY AND ELLENA ROSENTHAL

A recent student-hosted campus safety forum trenched into continued debate about last year’s move to introduce a sworn, armed police force to PSU. The forum’s featured panelists from throughout the PSU community, including faculty, administrators and a student (see side panel for complete list). Hunte moderated the roundtable discussion, giving each panelist two minutes to respond to various prompts. The panelists explored questions about their perceptions of safety, both on campus and more broadly, as well as ideas about how to keep PSU safe. Pace, who has previously participated in interruptions of campus events in protest of the decision to arm CPSO officers, argued that dissenting voices were ignored throughout the arming process. “That is not a safe campus, when those being kept safe aren’t included in those decisions,” she said. The process that led to arming CPSO officers began with a 2008 report by the office of the Vice President

for Finance and Administration, which offered several solutions to improve campus safety, including establishing a regular police force. Administrators argue that efforts have been made to include student voices throughout the process. A 2013 final report from the Presidential Task Force on Campus Safety noted that interviews were conducted with an array of departments and student communities, such as athletics, Student Activities and Leadership Programs and the Women’s Resource Center. University-led forums invited student and community input ahead of the final Board of Trustees vote in December 2014. Student attendees disputed administrator arguments during a subsequent Q&A period, with several arguing that administrator efforts at student outreach were limited. ASPSU President Dana Ghazi also contested that current students were not in attendance at PSU during previous efforts and thus unable to be involved throughout the process.

“Honestly, we are talking about a conversation that has started in 2008,” she said during the forum’s closing statement. “Students graduate every four years; the same students are not involved in this conversation. I don’t know how we hold our students accountable for the conversation that was started in 2008.” The Q&A period consisted entirely of opponents to the arming of campus police, with all comments directed against the university decision or Zerzan himself. Postbaccalaureate biology student Akash Singh, who has followed the issue since starting classes last January, argued that the justice system has proven to take great lengths to protect police officers involved in shooting incidents. He also said that student awareness of these incidents has created an inability to trust armed officers. “If ever you feel there is a systemic problem in the way you feel safe on campus, then you should be going to individuals who are tasked with your safety,” Singh said. “But when

ROUNDTABLE JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

the students themselves can- value of hearing perspectives not trust those very individuals, on the discussion across departit creates an incredible imbal- ments. ance and I’m not sure where “I feel it was one of the most students are supposed to go at illuminating conversations that juncture.” that I’ve had regarding this PSUSU member William topic, especially when it comes Peterson noted that the con- to students interacting with inversation seemed like more of dividuals who are part of differthe same, particularly from ad- ent departments and who have ministration representatives, different roles at this school,” whom he accused of towing Singh said. an administrative line. But he But he also pointed to the relalso appreciated the panelists’ atively small size of the forum open engagement with topics audience as a greater issue faced such as toxic masculinity and by the community. the response to arming CPSO. “It certainly needs to be “It’s very refreshing not to on a much more frequent just hear that from the stu- level and it needs to be much dents,” he said. “It was very re- larger than this,” he said. freshing to hear that from staff “This is a school of several members.” thousand students. If we are After the forum, Singh called able to have this incredibly the conversation helpful. De- informed conversation and it spite frustrations with the ad- happens in a room of this size, ministration holding firm on then it’s a systemic problem its stance, he acknowledged the we need to address.”

Roberta Hunte: Assistant Professor, PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies Dr. Tom Hastings: Assistant Professor, Conflict Resolution Department Adrienne Graf: Interpersonal Violence Advocate, Women’s Resource Center Olivia Pace: Political science major, PSUSU/#DisarmPSU member Dr. Carmen Suarez: Vice President for Global Diversity and Inclusion Phil Zerzan: Chief, PSU Campus Public Safety Office

“We’d rather err on the side of caution;” timely warning raises questions about campus safety protocol The Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) released a campus-wide timely warning on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The issued statement warned of a security threat regarding Asish Nand Sharma, a suspect in a domestic dispute. “Mr. SHARMA currently has a warrant for his arrest and faces additional charges related to an assault occurring on campus,” said the warning released Wednesday. “It has also been reported that he was made [sic] threats to shoot the assault victim and law enforcement.” “That came out of a domestic dispute,” said Scott Ghallager, Director of Communications for PSU. “That

victim is a student and currently lives on campus. So in an over-abundance of caution… we sent a timely warning.” According to Ghallagher, the warning was issued in favor of a PSU Alert because alerts are distributed in the event of an immediate emergency. A 2013 task force designated by President Wiewel has acknowledged that PSU can improve transparency and consistency in emergency preparation and knowledge. “A campus-wide ‘emergency-notification’ will be issued if a situation is an

immediate threat to the community,” states a final report from the Presidential Task Force on Campus Safety. “These notifications are issued through a variety of communication methods including text messages, email and local media outlets. A ‘timely warning’ alert is issued when a situation represents a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.” The report also states that the current alert system can, “make people more concerned when there is no follow up [sic].” The requirement for issued security threats comes from

the Clery Act, a consumer protection law passed in 1990. The legislation requires all colleges and universities receiving federal funding to share information about crime on campus; this also includes timely dissemination of warnings and emergency notifications as outlined by university policies. (Source: Clery Center for Security on Campus) Any student information included in security notices is protected by privacy laws detailed in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The mandated notices are sent to all PDX email accounts; additional accounts and phones must be opted-in

through students’ Banweb accounts. Wednesday’s emailed warning also included a photo of Sharma and a description. “Police had a warrant out for his arrest,” said Chris Broderick, Associate Vice President for Communications at PSU. “That’s why we sent out the picture, too, to try to aid in arresting him.” “Safety is our priority at the university,” Ghallager said. “We’d rather err on the side of caution than not.” At the time of print, Sharma was still at large. “If he’s arrested, there will be a follow-up on [the warning],” Broderick said.

ELLIE BRADLEY

If you have any significant concerns about your immediate personal safety, please notify law enforcement officials by calling 911. If you have any nonemergency questions regarding the timely notice, please contact PSU’s Campus Public Safety at 503.725.4407.

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

OPINION

THE DOLLAR AWAKENS

THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN NERD CULTURE AND CONSUMERISM

Page by Page by Brie Barbee “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will go down in history as one of the biggest movies of all time, having grossed over $1.7 billion since its release last month. As it currently stands, the seventh installment of the “Star Wars” franchise is the third-biggest global movie of all time, coming in just behind “Titanic” and “Avatar”. The popularity of “Star Wars” is apparent anywhere you go, from “Star Wars”-themed toys, action figures, video games, board games and costumes, to a “Star Wars”-branded make-up line from Covergirl. I was even given a cat-sized BB8 headband from the cashier at Petco. “Star Wars” fever is taking over. It’s never been so cool to be a nerd and businesses are taking advantage of that. It also puts us in an interesting position, because we are starting to see an overlap between consumer culture and nerd culture. Before the release of Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, before “Harry Potter”, before “Game of Thrones” and before console gaming became a multi-million dollar industry, being a nerd wasn’t cool. Some people didn’t even like Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” when it was released. It received mixed reviews, and Tolkien has been regularly condemned by the academic community. But now, it seems like all of a sudden, fantasy and science fiction are super popular. Graduate students are writing about “Harry Potter” for their theses, and showing up to the midnight releases of movies like “Star Wars” is no longer reserved for the most hardcore fans. That being said, people who have identified as nerds before this boom in commercial nerd culture are skeptical of its current popularity. When I was in middle and high school, reading manga and playing video games, especially as a girl, was generally met with skepticism and even criticism. Those same people who made fun of me for playing my Gameboy at lunch or trading Pokémon with my friends at the park, are now the same people who are loudly declaring on Facebook that they will un-friend me and anyone else if we spoil the new “Star Wars” film for them. There now seems to be a division in the nerd community: long-term nerds vs. the newbies, those who never previously identified as nerds, but are now lining up to see every new superhero movie and are spending their Friday nights playing Dungeons & Dragons with their friends. Should the nerd community accept these people who haven’t been with the cause as long as they have? Now that it’s “cool” to be nerdy, are these new nerds as deserving as others of being a part of the community?

It can be hard for long-time nerds when the people who may have bullied us or criticized our passions for everything nerdy are now taking-over our culture. Many of us have considered ourselves nerds for many years, way before it was a cool thing to do. Science fiction and make-up would have never been together in the same ad just a few years ago. But now they are, and there are more official and unofficial coloring books, cookbooks, stuffed animals, figurines, clothing and electronics dedicated to our favorite TV shows, movies, video games and books. Being a nerd today is much different than it was when we were all in high school. But just because the nerd community is gaining momentum and more and more people are identifying as nerds, doesn’t mean we should isolate those people who are now willing to call themselves nerds. We should embrace our fellow geeks, old or new, dedicated or only vaguely interested, because who are we to say that someone shouldn’t or can’t like the same things as us? Consumerism as made being a nerd cool, and I can’t complain, especially when I’m covered head to foot in nerd paraphernalia.

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

ELISE FURLAN/PSU VANGUARD

BY KAYLA TOWNSLEY

OPINION

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH TRUMP? MUSINGS FROM THE SUB-BASEMENT

SHANNON KIDD

by Kevin Hadsell

By now you, Dear Reader, have probably formed an opinion of some type on Donald Trump. Indeed, the Republican front-runner has sparked strong opinions on either side of the political spectrum. Recently, I came across a story in my News Feed that piqued my interest: Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, generously offering to launch Donald Trump into space with the help of a Blue Origin rocket. It might be worth noting that Blue Origin is also owned by Bezos. It may sound excessive to deport a person from the entire planet, especially someone who has already given the world so, so much. He has, for instance, single-handedly proven to the world what many of us had long suspected: that anyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, or actual qualifications for political leadership, can one day grow up to be President of the United States as long as they have several billion dollars worth of assets. He is the living embodiment of the American dream; an inspiration to starry-eyed American youth everywhere. All you need to do is inherit a real-estate empire, have a bazillion dollars to pretty much just do whatever with, and use said bazillion dollars to get elected. This is democracy, folks. Or at least democracy as we have conceived of it in the good ol’ US of A. Furthermore, and this point is crucial, Donald Trump is the closest thing that America has to a reallife Scrooge McDuck, making him something of a national treasure. What other public figure do we have that embodies, to an almost total degree, an iconic cartoon character beloved by millions? And what is Trump Tower, after all, but a real-life version of Scrooge’s towering money vault? The only thing missing from Trump Tower is the enormous dollar-sign insignia emblazoned across the front of the building. And I am willing to bet that somewhere in the dark recesses of Trump Tower is an Olympic-sized swimming pool filled with gold coins and a diving board perched high above it. So would it not be ungracious, perhaps even obscene, to expel such a figure from the entirety of planet Earth? But I would like to take a moment to consider–seriously consider–this course of action. Donald Trump currently ranks among the richest people in America (#121, according to Forbes). He is, for all practical purposes,

America’s “fattened calf.” There is a long tradition, both in the Old Testament and in numerous religions throughout history and the world, of sacrificing one’s worldly goods (farm animals and crops, in particular) to ensure a productive harvest, a good year and continuing good fortunes. Donald Trump would make for an excellent and worthy sacrifice to Jehovah, Yahweh, the Elder Gods or whomever it is that one prays to. Imagine the good fortune this would bestow upon the nation! We may be looking at another American Century if all goes according to plan. Trump’s hair alone would be a unique, one-of-a-kind offering. America has never produced anything like it before; we may never see another in our lifetime. Also noteworthy is the fact that Jeff Bezos has generously offered to use his company to put up the funds for the project. In an era of government austerity and cuts to public funding, it would not cost the public a dime. In the end, however, it may be the less tangible benefits that will mean the most. Imagine, if you will, the fateful day we launch Donald Trump into space for the good of the nation. People, everywhere, would gather together to watch the countdown broadcasted live on television, just like the moon landing. The President himself, acting as the master of ceremonies, would step up to a podium overlooking Cape Canaveral and intone over the crowd, “O infinite void of space, timeless and eternal, we ask that you accept our offering of Donald Trump into your infinite abyss, that we may be blessed and purified by our collective sacrifice. May his exit from our small blue planet be pleasing to thee.” And then we would fire up the rocket engines. The countdown would begin, and the rocket would lift off from the launch pad for its final ascent. And we—all of us—would gather round and watch as the figure of Donald Trump gets smaller and smaller until he finally disappears into the infinitude of the Cosmos, and we will say, “well, that’s that” and go back inside, feeling somewhat more aware of our place in the Cosmos and the relative smallness of our individual human lives. Because we will have just seen Donald Trump vanish into an invisible speck in the night sky, forever; and how much smaller, then, are we, not having billions of dollars or real estate empires of our own? We may, for a brief, fleeting moment, rethink our entire place in the Universe as a species. And that, I think, may be a plan worth pursuing.

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

COVER

TURNER LOBEY Portland State’s leftleaning alternative newspaper The Rearguard has printed for the last time. So has The Portland Spectrum—formerly The Portland Spectator—the university’s in-depth investigative magazine. A recent student-led merger united the two publications into a new monthly magazine, The Pacific Sentinel. The new publication hit stands across the PSU campus for the first time on Friday. Print Editor-in-Chief Alex Skousen said that both the format and the style take inspiration from the in-depth investigations of The New Yorker and The Atlantic. The Pacific Sentinel aims to combine the two mission statements of the previous publications into one cohesive entity. The “sentinel”

aspect of the name comes from the imagery of a watchtower or a lookout, aligning with The Rearguard’s previous dedication to social justice and advocating for the marginalized. The “pacific” is the opposing coast to The Atlantic’s. “It’s really just a combination of the ideals of The Spectrum and The Rearguard, because we have the balanced, in-depth, investigative journalism The Spectrum offered as well as social justice issues that The Rearguard brought in,” Skousen said. The Sentinel will feature a section dedicated to social justice, as well as news, arts and culture, technology and academics. In addition to printing physical editions, the publication plans to regularly release online content on social media and

a website, to be developed in the near future. Having merged organizations, The Sentinel enters winter term with two Editor-in-Chief positions; one managing print, the other online. All editor positions are tentative and must be approved by the Educational Leadership Service Awards Committee. The ELSA Committee is a board that oversees procedures related to a particular type of student funding. Students within Student Media, as well as other organizations like the Associated Students of PSU, are not technically university employees, receiving compensation similar to scholarship awards rather than wages. The history of a potential merger for the publications goes back several years. In May 2014, Student Media

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

held a two-day forum to discuss the possibility of a merger, but public feedback and organizational support wasn’t strong enough to call for a definitive merger. The conversations continued in January 2015 with another forum, following a year of continued struggle for the organizations. Results again were inconclusive. Skousen said the recent idea to merge the two organizations came from The Rearguard’s former Editorin-Chief Astrid Woolridge, who graduated after the groups united. Skousen also cited diminished staff size in the publications’ previous print struggles. He said that one person leaving could throw off the whole publication cycle. Student Media Coordinator Reaz Mahmood pointed to a number of factors that

might have impacted the groups’ ability to publish, including increasing tuition costs and the rising rental rates in Portland—all of which could deter students from participating in extracurricular activities in the efforts of making ends meet. Annual budgets have also factored into the publications’ struggles. The Rearguard’s budget fell from $42,298 in the 2009–2010 fiscal year to $26,099 in the 2015–2016 fiscal year. In that same time period, The Spectrum/Spectator budget fell from $41,917 to $23,236. At the time Skousen was approached about the possibility of merging publications, he was coming out of a summer term without funding for The Spectrum. The ASPSU Student Fee Committee did not approve appeals for funding for all four academic terms, despite the

Student Media Board initially approving the publication to operate year-round. Without funding, Skousen said he was forced to delay hiring and training a staff, planning with the paper’s printer and setting a publication cycle. As well as entering fall without funding, Skousen said he was a new Editor-in-Chief without substantial training for the position. Because of this, The Spectrum didn’t print during fall term. “Astrid and I both found that unacceptable,” Skousen said. “We have this forum for students, by the students,” Skousen said. “It’s a very powerful forum to get ideas out there, to have it just not print for an entire quarter because of bureaucratic discrepancies and problems and not understanding what our organizations do.”

COVER

PAPER BUDGET CUTS since 2009

PRINT EDITION-IN-CHIEF ALEX SKOUSEN IS ONE of the chief architects of a recent Rearguard Specturm Merger. SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

Rachael Goldstein/PSU Vanguard

“As much as those people in those organizations try really hard to be understanding and open minded to it, it’s still a bureaucratic system that’s complicated and difficult to get through,” he continued. Skousen said a merger was the most sustainable decision for the publication. “I really liked The Spectrum,” Skousen said. “I just feel like this is better, ultimately, for the organization.” He added that the merger focuses on both short- and long-term goals for the publication. “We just feel like there’s more power together if we work together as a team,” he continued. Skousen and Woolridge drafted a charter for a new publication and pitched it to the Student Media Board for approval. The Media Board officially approved the merger and The Sentinel on Nov. 13, 2015. Mahmood, who is also a non-voting member of the board, hopes the merger will lead to consistent publication and staffing. “Hopefully it will stabilize and hopefully we can

provide enough support institutionally where it will really flourish,” Mahmood said. “But it’s one of the things where the challenges have been so real, but you really don’t know what ultimately is going to happen until you get maybe one or two solid years, and you can gain confidence in its overall trajectory.” Ultimately, it will be up to the students to guarantee the publication’s future success. “One of the things I try to do is as much as it’s a challenge is help the students function as much as it’s appropriate for us to do so,” Mahmood said. “We can provide institutional support and after a certain point it’s the students themselves who have to carry the load and do what’s necessary to sustain an operation.” The new publication still has a long and seemingly uncertain path before things stabilize. Representatives must meet with the SFC to inform it about the merger and determine what steps must be taken

to operate within the committee’s guidelines. At the time of this printing Skousen has met with the SFC’s liaison to the Student Media, Patricia Perez-Cruz, and has submitted an agenda request with the SFC to discuss these topics. “This is going to save student money, because you spend less money on personnel just sitting for a quarter and you spend more money on a product that consistently comes out,” Skousen said. The editors hope that The Sentinel will be allowed to use the two separate budgets for the common goal. After meeting with the SFC, the magazine must also meet with the ELSA Committee to keep them in the loop and adjust for any potential editorial staffing regulations. Skousen will also begin hiring for open staffing positions, as regulations clarify. With Woolridge’s recent departure, Skousen must hire an Online Editor-inChief. The Sentinel is also seeking a Production Man-

ager to lead the magazine’s design team, as well as a News Editor. Despite the challenges, Mahmood was upbeat about the merger. He pointed to a history of conflicting personal views and passions as roadblocks staggering previous publication staffs’ efforts. He noted Woolridge’s and Skousen’s efforts as an indicator of progress toward a mutual vision. “What we have is students themselves in the operations,” he said. “They’ve come to a common purpose and they’ve taken into consideration many of the outside perspectives but they’ve made a decision and we’ll see what happens.” Skousen hopes the new magazine has a positive impact on Student Media, in part by collaborating with other media organizations like Pathos, PSU-TV and KPSU. “We really want to be a unifying force,” he said. Note: Turner Lobey is also the Marketing and Distribution Manager for Student Media.

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

ARTS & CULTURE

A few words with...

BIG WILD A.K.A. JACKSON AISLINN RENNISON I had the honor of conducting an interview with DJ and artist, Big Wild, after I saw him perform at the Roseland Theater. He has gained enough excitement from his EDM originals and remixes to go on tour this year with ODESZA and GRiZ. You might recognize him from his hit “Aftergold” from ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective imprint. You might also recognize his GRiZ remix “For the Love”. His success has grown two-fold over the last year and it only continues to flourish. If you don’t know him yet, trust me, Big Wild will be in your playlist by summer. AISLINN RENNISON: How did you like playing in Portland?

BIG WILD: A lot. Every time I’ve been there it’s been really cool. It’s a cool city too, to go and visit. Last time [I visited] we had a couple days off so we got to go explore. They weren’t lying about the rain and the cloudiness; it was raining literally the whole time. But super lush, I like it a lot. AR: So how was touring with ODESZA and how did you get the opportunity to go with them?—which is awesome by the way!

BW: I first toured with them in Feb. or March [of last year] as an opener as well and I’ve done a couple other things with them, like the “Say My Name” remix and the Foreign Family Collective release. They have been very supportive of my music. We have similar music style with some of our songs so it is kind of a good pairing. So when they asked me to come on this tour, I was more than happy to do that. It’s been really helpful to be on tour with them and they are really great guys. We will show each other what we are working on, our work-in-progress and what we are into at the time; it’s really cool to have someone to share that musical interest with. AR: So is your process of making music similar?

BW: It is a little different because there are two of them and one of me and we come from different backgrounds in terms of music. But after being with them, I did get an understanding of where they come from, and likewise from me. We definitely learned from each other. AR: That’s great, so what do you think was the most valuable thing you learned from them?

BW: Definitely learned a good amount about arrangement and song structure and what goes into making a song. And learning what you need and don’t need in the song, cutting out unnecessary parts. AR: So as I was watching you perform, you reminded me a lot of Lido by the way you have your instruments all around you and you turn in circles to play. It looks like you have a lot of fun with it. Did you get inspiration from him or him from you to perform that way?

BW: You know, I’ve been doing that pretty much since I started but I wouldn’t say I’ve had a long career, I would say I started at the beginning of this year. That being said though, I did see his show and it was really awesome—I was inspired, but at the same time I could see what he was doing with it with his performance and set-up. Then I was really into Slow Magic’s show and just the sheer energy. I think raw energy is something I try to have in my own show, too. That is one of the reasons we all go to see music,

because you want to get energized and inspired. So, those are two really big performers for me. I’ve also seen a fair amount of shows outside of electronic music—people who I could tell were really into the music on stage—that is how I want to be presenting myself on stage: as someone who is really into the music, but who really wants to engage the crowd too.

“That is how I want to present myself on stage: as someone who is really into the music, but who really wants to engage the crowd too.”

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

AR: That’s awesome—the way you describe that raw energy is for sure what I felt when I saw you perform. What are your favorite instruments and [electronic] sounds to mess around with?

BW: That’s a good question... My favorite one to play is the drums, it is more physical than the other instruments and it comes natural to me. That being said, as far as a particular sound, it’s hard to say. I’m always looking for new sounds; I can get bored with sounds really easily so I will always try to find something new. But I do gravitate toward the piano a lot. That is always a classical, good sounding instrument. That is often times where I come up with the melodies and harmonies for my songs. I will take the piano and maybe put it into a synthesizer or something. The piano for me, is where a lot of my ideas start. AR: That’s what I was about to ask next: How do you start? How do you come up with that first initial sound—is there ever a story behind it or any type of emotion? Or is it most of the time just messing around to find something and then going from there?

BW: A lot of the time I have made a sound that for whatever reason at that point in time I just really vibe with. Then I can start to get this feeling of inspiration and vision as to where I could take it. Then I just roll with it; all these ideas start pouring out. Those kinds of songs usually end up being my best ones. But that doesn’t always happen all the time; I don’t always create that way. Sometimes I have to force it because of a deadline; I’m just in a different state of mind, but those can be cool too. My favorite is when I start out and I have an emotion, those are the ones I really enjoy rolling with and making. AR: Do you find that to be different or the same with your originals vs your remixes?

BW: I’ve gotten that feeling with both. Remixes do give you a starting point and set limitations with what you can do. For me, limitations are good, they kind of give you direction sometimes and force you to be creative with what you have. But with an original, literally nothing is on the table, you could do anything you want, which sometimes makes it more difficult because you have to pick a path where you are going. So remixes are easier to start but originals, when I do find something I like, originals are more satisfying for me when I finish them. AR: Totally understandable. So I saw that Dancing Astronaut put you in the top 25 artists to listen for in 2016—which is an honor and I completely agree you should be on that list—but how do you think things have changed for you, or will change for you, as you become more and more recognizable and successful?

BW: Yeah, that [Dancing Astronaut article] was awesome! But it’s really cool, it gives me more confidence with what I am doing. When I perform live and people know me and my music and

ARTS & CULTURE I’m not just some dude on stage–that makes me feel more confident that what I am doing is actually resonating with people. That is the biggest and most positive thing I have experienced so far and that is what I am really looking forward to in this headline tour that is coming up in April and May. I can’t wait to actually see all the people who are into my music, I am really excited about that. AR: What future plans do you have besides those tours?

BW: I do have a couple big projects in the works, just working on a lot of new music, and that headline tour I mentioned but also performing at some festivals this summer. Then I am hoping to have some upcoming show or some kind of tour for the fall. But right now I am working on all new music and vocalists—making something special for my fans. AR: Awesome, I am excited to hear your new stuff!

BW: Thanks, I am excited too, it has been a little while. I almost forgot what it feels like to release music. AR: I saw your photos on Instagram and Facebook and if that is you taking those pictures then you have another talent...in photography.

BW: I just started having my girlfriend help me out with those pictures, so I have to give her some of the credit for the most recent ones. But also all the touring I’ve done this past year has given me the opportunity for great photos from people on the road or people who are taking photos at the shows. Hats off to the lighting guys too, because they make me look a lot better on stage. AR: Besides photography, what other side passions do you value in your life?

BW: Ah man, I gotta say music, pretty much, is it all the time. But probably my second biggest passion is food. I always try to make sure to eat well. And, I am kind-of learning how to surf because I need another hobby to get me out of the studio. AR: I read that you taught third graders how to make music on the computer. Could you tell me about that experience?— It sounds pretty cool.

BW: So that was my sister-in-law, a third grade teacher, and she thought it would be cool if I went into the class and showed them how to make a few things on the computer. So I basically set up my little drum pad and little keyboard and I was showing making music on the computer to be cool and leave some type of an impression. Maybe a kid goes home and downloads some software from a computer and you never know—it could start a new hobby. To be able to show it to kids who are so impressionable is really cool. I think they would probably get a lot more into that than starting to learn an instrument. Maybe the idea of making music on the computer is a little more appealing to them, so I thought it was a cool thing to do for sure.

I kinda learned that one by myself. I did have a good friend from high school—we produced together and shared ideas which is something you need starting out. But yeah, I originally was a trumpet player.

“...it represented what I wanted my music to do, which is something adventerous and unique.”

AR: Do you still play the trumpet?

BW: Honestly not in a while but I brought it out with me from me Massachusetts to L.A. and I am going to practice everyday and maybe use it for my live shows. But we will see about that, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. AR: You are with Red Light Management; what was the process of getting signed on with them?

BW: They originally [sought] me out because ODESZA also has the same management and I already knew Adam at Red Light. And I was at a point in my career where I was looking for management that was more experienced and also had more resources in terms of who they knew and how to manage a career. It has been great so far, working with them. AR: Is there anything else you would like your fans to know?

BW: I just want them to know that I am hard at work with new music and 2016 is going to have a lot of new releases coming out. But I am going to keep my mouth shut, I don’t want to give everything away. AR: For sure. One last simple question for you...How did you chose your name: Big Wild?

BW: It came about from my first trip to California and I was amazed by the landscape. It was something I had never seen before and it represented what I wanted my music to do which is something adventurous and unique. Those two words, Big Wild, kind of came naturally. I can’t say that there was a Eureka moment where I was like, “Alright, Big Wild!” but there was a moment when it just seemed right and I have stuck with it ever since.

AR: When you were growing up did you have someone like that, who introduced you to music and helped pave the path in that way?

BW: When I was young I learned to play piano and trumpet. My brother was a trumpet player and that’s what got me into trumpet. I started getting into hip-hop when I downloaded it on my computer and started learning.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTSEY OF EMILY BUCKINGHAM/PITCH PERFECT PR

AR: Thank you so much for the interview, it was an honor to meet you. I am glad I got to see you perform and I’m for sure excited for your 2016 releases. COURTSEY OF FOREGIN FAMILY COLLECTICE/2015

BW: Great, thanks dude, I appreciate it!

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

ETC EVENT LISTINGS FOR JAN. 20TH – 24TH WEDNESDAY JAN. 20 “THE BOOK OF MORMON” TIMES VARY, SEE ONLINE FOR FULL SCHEDULE KELLER AUDITORIUM FEE: $40

Whether you go to the matinee or nightly show, “The Book of Mormon” is guaranteed to leave you tapping your toes while finding it ironic when actual Mormon missionaries, who don’t get the irony, show up outside the theater at the end of the show.

“RUNNING YOUR FIRST ULTRA” 7:30 P.M. POWELL’S ON BURNSIDE

Krissy Moehl hangs out and reads from her book on long distance running. Ultra is a term for Ultra Marathon, which generally has a smaller field of applicants and has more of a nature trail vibe than a rock n’ roll vibe since it’s much longer than a normal marathon.

JOHN PINNEY JOHN PINNEY

Aries (March 21–April 19)

Next time you go to the store, don’t get distracted and buy a lot of extras. You have a list, stick to it. Nobody needs 14 packages of Peppermint Oreos.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Every day is a battle to get out of bed and to live your routine. Why not own it? Even if they only suggest solutions, just keep doing you.

FRIDAY JAN. 22

THURSDAY JAN. 21 VENGEANCE IN EARLY MODERN JAPAN 5:30 P.M. NASCC

If you’re interested in the kabuki theater show coming up this term or in that Keanu Reeves movie that was a very loose interpretation of the 47 Loyal Retainers, this lecture will be your guide into the true history of the world of sacrifice and loyalty.

NW MUSIC VIDEOS 7 P.M. SKYPE LIVE STUDIO FREE

As part of the local work of the NW Film Center, this music centric video presentation is all about local works and artists merging the sound and the visual. Since submissions are open to all, some of this event will be a complete surprise and delight. All of the event will be homegrown.

OREGON TRUFFLE FESTIVAL FEE AND LOCATION VARIES, CHECK ONLINE

If you didn’t get enough of the rich stuff at the Chocolate Fest, let this weekend open the doors of indulgence for you. If you’re new to Eugene, Newberg or Yamhill, check out the competitions, educational opportunities and the truffles in both chocolate and mushroom form. All info can be found at oregontrufflefestival.com.

GROOVIN’ GREENHOUSE 7:30 P.M. POLARIS DANCE THEATRE FEE: $18 TO $22

This six-year-old dance-centric center of the Fertile Ground art festival universe tradition tends to sell out quickly for most of its eight performances. Join local dance companies at this celebration of agility and spirit.

SATURDAY JAN. 23 NW COFFEE BEER INVITATIONAL 12 P.M. TO 7 P.M. THE GOOSE HOLLOW INN 21+ FEE: $15

This celebration of flavor promises the refined tastes of 16 talented local artisans. The chocolate is rich and the beer is seven ABV or less, so let yourself go a little wild while the food works its magic.

“THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE” 7:30 P.M. WINNINGSTAD THEATRE FEE: $10 TO $12

Though not as well known as some of its Broadway cousins, this 1922 romp in New York’s jazz and flapper days takes an innocent young girl and puts her through the New York ringer and brings her out shining like the diamond engagement ring she desperately desires.

JOHN PINNEY

SUNDAY JAN. 24 CRYSTAL BALLROOM BIRTHDAY BASH 2 P.M. FREE ALL AGES

After 102 years, the folks at McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom aren’t slowing down; they will be throwing their birthday party this week which will cover two city blocks. Music, comedy, kids areas, food, drinks and special adult birthday beverages will be offered.

DIDO AND AENEAS 4 P.M. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH FEE: $25

One of the great tragic operas, and one of the first in English, will be performed in a concert setting with seven singers and a variety of string instruments.

FEATURED EVENT CHOCOLATE FEST!

OREGON CONVENTION CENTER HALL A FEE: $15 (FOR ADVANCED, AT THE DOOR AND VIP TICKETS TBD) ALL WEEKEND LONG 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Since Fridays are definitely more for the 21+ set that likes to ruin their chocolate experience with samples of wine, I will just talk about the rest of the scrumptious weekend. It’s true that there are people who will go and expect to fill up on samples (you can’t). And it’s true that someone in your friend circle doesn’t like chocolate (love them anyways). Neither of those things means you can’t enjoy frolicking through locally made scrumptious goodies on your own or with a partner in crime. I’d bring about 40 bucks of spending money because you’ll want to come away with some cupcakes, fudge and cookies. My personal favorite is a local chocolatier who makes her own molds and has whiskey buttercream you have to try to believe.

Horoscopes for the Week of 01/17

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

You’re not living up to your potential. You’ve spent a long time giving about a quarter of what you’re able to and that’s not fair to those who believe in you.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

The line you drew in the sand not long ago is starting to fade and a few toes have crossed. Always remember where that line is and redraw when necessary.

Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

Every special event is the start of another chapter in life’s journey. We mark our lives with ceremonies, so embrace the ceremony as something special and not to be spurned.

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Before you know it, the warm rays of spring will cut through the harshness of winter. If you just have patience, you’ll see the sun again before too long.

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

Libra (Sept. 23– Oct. 22)

Though you stuck your neck out for someone else, the results were not what you intended. Though you did a good deed and something negative happened, don’t stop doing good in the world.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22– Dec. 21)

Share your meal with others. Not because you have an abundance, but because the world is a global community and giving is important.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

One of your favorite ways Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) of discussion is debate. You Everyone has something love to spend hours preabout themselves they paring and refining your don’t like. But in that haze argument. Why not just let of uncertainty, you have the yourself go with passion unique opportunity to mo- just this one time? tivate or shape that dislike into something positive.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

This is your week. You have the stage and the microphone. Own your message. Those who empathize will come and follow alongside. Don’t be afraid.

Pisces (Feb. 20–March 19)

Someone you love is having a birthday this week. Treat them to a time away and give them something unexpected. They’ll love you so much for it.

ETC

TERRA DEHART

CROSSWORD

COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM

ACROSS 1 Ariadne ran off with adjutant (4) 3,14,24,19,1d,11,25,10 22’s view of us: Hah! Listening meekly to broadcast 24 he tucked into sandwich? 1d sweetheart, he’s not one to be stirred by leader of ensemble’s silly mistake 3,7,3,3,4, 5,3,4,10,4,3,5,2,5) 9 Mist over river cleared from water running northward (5,2) 11 See 3 12 Indian tribesmen lark around, carrying wood (7)

13 Fight is fixed before start of third round (3-2) 15 The Northern alternative to American doughnut? (5) 16 Rendition of score – Schubert’s third – reflected skill of one under 22? (9) 18 To ply one with booze could be a bit cruel (9) 21 Keep talking with African country (5) 23 Jolly group getting a bit of heat? (5) 25 See 3 27 A discussion on French art with intimate friend (7)

28 These dancers are big in Russia (7) 29 Crafty lech harassed Phoebe perhaps (10) 30 Captain’s deputy gets a duck (4) DOWN 1 Cleverly stores dissolved substance by itself (10) 2 Lady’s maid is part of the furniture (7) 4 Extremely posh boy struggles with half of learning curve (9) 5 The ultimate female swinger (5) 6 Dance is presented with too much in the middle (7) 7 Delaware’s taken off from where Motown started to produce anthem (7) 8 Hypocritical clerk makes a pile according to rumour (4) 10 See 3 14 See 3 17 Can be influenced by soap to be biased in broadcasting medium? (9) 19 See 3 20 One train heading for Euston’s annoyingly showing lack of movement (7) 21 Following good recipe, I will cook (5) 22 Wood, Henry, nowhere near amateur conductor (7) 24 A trio perhaps, one entertaining us after encounter with the farmer’s wife? (5) 26 North American fellows can be socially crass (4)

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Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

INTERNATIONAL

BORDER CONTROL OR LACK THEREOF?

BELGIUM’S SECURITY LOOSENS SINCE LOCKDOWN. U.S.’ REACTION IS NOT SO CHILL

ADRIANA STEIN

Five days after the Paris lockdown in which schools attacks, Brussels went into a and businesses were not alcitywide lockdown due to fear lowed to open, and citizens that one of the terrorist orga- were asked to remain inside nizers was hiding within the their houses, the city of Bruscity on Nov. 21. sels was now free to roam as According to a Novem- usual. ber Reuters report written a Compared to U.S. border week after the attacks, “The security after the 9/11 atEuropean Union will step up tacks, and the new requirechecks on its citizens travel- ments in accordance with ing abroad, tighten gun con- the U.S.A. Patriot Act, Beltrol and collect more data on gium’s decisions for border airline passengers, ministers security could be considered agreed on Friday in response extremely lax. Following 9/11 to the Paris attacks.” the U.S.’ goal was to “Balance The city’s threat level re- counterterrorism efforts and mained at level 4—the highest civil liberties,” according to a possible level—for five days. New York Times article. While the city was in lockThanks to the 26-nation down, Belgian police and anti- open-borders Schengen zone, terrorism forces interviewed before the Paris attacks EU dozens of people, conducted citizens were only subject to raids, and arrested nine peo- a visual check of their docuple thought to be in cahoots ments according to Reuters. with Salah Abdeslam, an or- This works similarly for U.S. ganizer of the Paris attacks. citizens who only need a On Nov. 26 the threat level state-issued ID when travelwas mysteriously lowered to ing within the nation, rather a level 3. than a passport. “The authorities did not Since the attacks and the immediately explain what high influx of refugees comprompted the change,” ac- ing into EU nations, the cording to the New York Schengen zone regulations Times. The Prime Minister are being revised. New York of Belgium, Charles Michel, Times quoted Letta Tayler, a offered no further informa- Human Rights Watch tertion as to exactly why or how rorism researcher, stating, this decision was made. After “Whenever a country is atbeing in a state of complete tacked or threatened, there

is a danger that governments will overreact in an effort to make people secure.” But Belgium has seemed to take the opposite approach. So, is America overreacting? According to CNN, a father was outraged after watching his daughter get “groped” by TSA agents because she was holding a Capri Sun juice box. The juice box exceeded the three ounce limit for liquids allowed in carry-on luggage. Whether we can chalk this up to fear from the Paris attacks or good ol’ American secu-

rity practices, it’s hard to tell. As for Belgium, they want the Paris attacks to remain an isolated incident. To hear from a Belgian citizen on the matter, I spoke to Francois Wery, a native of Brussels. “I’m more scared to take the car or the motorbike than walk around,” Wery said. Wery commented on how much military there has been around the city since the lockdown. He feels this form of security is a better option than the closed-circuit television

cameras that are scattered throughout the city of London. When asked about American security Wery thought it was immoderate. “[I’m] impressed by all the controls at the American border,” he said. “I was checked five times from Brussels to Seattle, but when I came back I had only one check.” Though the Paris attacks hadn’t yet occurred, to many Europeans, American security seems excessive compared to their lax border controls, like in Belgium.

Things have been calm in Belgium, until the end of December when Belgian authorities arrested two people on terrorism charges. Their plans were focused on civilian sites, specifically the central square, where a huge Christmas market was located–no weapons or explosives were found. It seems as though Belgium has decided not to let the terrorists win by allowing normal life in Brussels to continue.

January 27 – February 1, 2016

Six concerts showcasing arrangements of classic chamber works, including two concerts on Portland State’s campus!

Youth tickets only $10 for ages 7-25! For full concert listings and tickets:

www.CMNW.org | 503-294-6400 MAP OF BELGIUM

Vanguard | JANUARY 19, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

COURTESY OF USER OCHA THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

INTERNATIONAL

EMILY: THE HELPFUL DRONE

GREECE ENLISTS DRONE DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE AT SEA SARAH MUSTAFA

COURTESY OF USER GGIA THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

As Syrian refugees leave their country in hopes of finding a fresh start, many have taken to the Mediterranean Sea. The trouble is they don’t have the proper equipment to do so. Their boats aren’t stable– the motors barely function as they reach the coast—and most of them don’t have life jackets. Over 4,000 refugees have lost their lives at sea at the hands of insufficient gear. According to Digital Trends, refugees cross the borders of Syria almost daily into neighboring nations such as Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. Many are fleeing into Europe—more than one million—to escape the conflict, while 2,000 arrive in Greece by boat everyday. So far, 18,000 refugees have arrived in Lesbos, Greece since the beginning of the new year. The continent does not see an end to the overflooding of intake as the war continues to be incredibly dangerous. “Already, it’s a record year,” said Boris Cheshirkov, spokesman on Lesbos for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “We don’t have a crystal ball, but the war in Syria is not going to end tomorrow. If anything, it’s becoming more deadly.” Due to the high influx of refugees on the coast of Greece and water temperatures dropping to frigid degrees, the local Coast Guard has enlisted the help of a robot named EMILY: the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, with the

hope of protecting the thousands of refugees that arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos every day. Tram Nguyen, a senior at Portland State said, “I think it’s a great idea...It’s definitely better than actual lifeguards there because in the long run EMILY can be out there in the cold, heat or whatever temperature it is and save lives, without injuring and risking the lives of human lifeguards.” Nguyen pointed out that Greece has found a way to help Syrian refugees without putting their own citizen’s lives at risk. The robot EMILY was originally created to help stray swimmers in the United States. The buoy is four feet long and controlled by a human operator. With the help of EMILY, the Coast Guard and lifeguards can prioritize

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unconscious victims that would otherwise not be able to grab onto the buoy. “I think EMILY is a good technolog[ical] tool,” Nguyen said. “I don’t see why everyone else isn’t expanding on this more because there’s a lot of people who can’t swim and are drowning.” With so many Syrian’s trying to escape the violent struggles they face at home, many have died in an attempt to flee their country without necessary supplies. With this rapid technology cruising through rip-currents at a quick speed of up to 22 mph, saving distressed swimmers has never been so efficient. With Greece making a move to use drones and robotic lifeguards to rescue ship wrecked Syrian refugees, it could potentially elicit help from other countries.

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N OW H I RI N G

Writers for all sections A P P LY AT P S U VA N G UA RD . CO M / J O B S