Portland State Vanguard

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 23 | FEBRUARY 2, 2016

SAFE TO DRINK Despite Press Release Claim Of High Lead Levels, Cramer Drinking Water Is Safe

News Opinion

STUDENT GOVERNMENT DEBATES OSA p. 5 NESTLÉ’S TRYING TO DO WHAT? p. 7

WATCH AND HEAR: MUSIC AND FILM FESTIVAL. p. 11 International KABUKI, KOMINZ, PSU, OH MY! p. 14

Arts & Culture

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2/1/16 9:42 AM

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NEWS

PROPOSED PAYROLL TAX SEEKS TUITION RELIEF FOR PSU STUDENTS ELLIE BRADLEY

Wiewel stated that the proposed ballot measure has received support from community groups, but some hesitance from the business community.

“There are two reasons,” he said. “One is that some business people simply do not like the idea of more taxes; many others in the business community are supportive of taxes for, you know, the right things.”

In January, Wiewel met with the Portland Business Alliance regarding the upcom-

ing legislation. At the time of press, the PBA had not returned any calls for comment.

Another challenge facing the tax proposal is a competing ballot measure from the Better Oregon coalition. This ballot measure would amend the current Oregon sales tax legislation and require businesses with over $25 million in sales to pay a base tax rate of $30,001, plus 2.5 percent of all sales exceeding $25 million.

“Certainly for our purposes

it would be easier if the other proposal wasn’t on the ballot,” Wiewel said.

Wiewel said the choice to pursue a payroll tax for the 2016 ballot has a lot to do with presidential elections.

“That’s when you get the largest electorate of young people who are most likely to care about scholarships and tuition assistance,” he said.

The ballot measure will be formally named in February, after which a citizen’s committee will be responsible for collecting 38,000 valid signatures

TUITION

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25% UNIVERSITY OPERATION BUDGET SUPPLIED by the OREGON STATE LEGISLATURE

39 % Tuition Rate Increase

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PRESIDENT WIM WIEWEL AT JANUARY press conference discussing the proposed tuition tax. ANH DUC DO/PSU VANGUARD

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in order to file the ballot measure for voting in November.

Once the ballot measure has been formally named, Wiewel will no longer be permitted to advocate for its support. PSU faculty and staff may promote the proposed tax, but only during nonworking hours.

“This really is, I think, our most significant initiative for the coming year, and in many ways, one might say perhaps the most significant initiative of my presidency,” Wiewel said.

By the Numbers PSU’S 280,76 STUDENTS

“You can’t spend the same lower tuition and higher facdollar twice.” ulty salaries.

Portland State President The president also conWim Wiewel pondered this tested complaints that his conundrum while discuss- salary significantly impacts ing a proposed payroll tax he tuition costs. He pointed out hopes will reduce the cost that reducing his earnings of attendance for students would do little to affect the with financial need. Wiewel $180 million PSU currently outlined the upcoming leg- collects in tuition. islation during a January 15 “[Roughly] two-thirds of our press conference; the ballot revenue is tuition and twowill be formally named in thirds of our expenditures are early February. salaries,” Wiewel said.

The proposed payroll tax 70 percent of PSU stuwould affect businesses in dents received financial aid Washington, Multnomah for the 2014-15 academic and Clackamas counties. If year, mostly in the form approved, the ballot would of loans. Due to the low require businesses in the tri- funds available for institucounty area to pay one-tenth tional scholarships—about of a percent (0.001) of their $3 million—PSU students overall payroll expenditure. who qualified for financial For companies with multi- aid this year still had $151 billion dollar payroll expenses, million of unmet need. the tax would require multiWiewel estimates that the million dollar contributions payroll tax for tuition would annually. A company with an contribute $35 million for annual payroll expenditure of the PSU institutional funds. $500,000 would pay $500 un- Half of this money would be der the proposed legislation. used to award need-based On Dec. 10, the PSU Board scholarships and the other of Trustees approved a reso- half would be used to hire lution to move the ballot student support staff, such measure forward. In addition as advisers and financial aid to the tri-county tax measure, counselors. the university will continue The tax would not directly to seek state support from affect community colleges the Legislature. Other plans in the tri-county area. PSU for increased funding include Director of Communicatargeted recruitment of out- tions Scott Ghallager exof-state and international plained that institutions students, a philanthropy like Portland Community campaign organized by the College will still benefit from PSU Foundation and initia- the increased funds due to tives that would allow stu- the large number of commudents to earn their degrees nity college transfers into more efficiently.

PSU each year.

“We’re still going to have tu“As of fall term we have ition, we’re still going to have about 4,400 transfers from to raise tuition,” Wiewel said. PCC. So this money is helping “We’re gonna use this to give benefit us, but also benefitscholarships to reduce the ting them,” Gallagher said. burden of tuition, but I don’t When contacted, PCC [want] anybody to think that Media Relations Specialist somehow now we’re not go- James Hill stated that the ing to have to raise tuition.” college does not have a posiAccording to Wiewel, with- tion on the proposed payroll out increased funding from tax, due to the limited details the state it is impossible available this early in the to answer the demands for planning stages.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

1,539 number of

INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS paid in 2014-2015

Average Award

$2761.55

INFOGRAPHIC BY RACHEL GOLDSTEIN

$151 MILLION Total Unmet Need for PSU Undergraduates who qualify for Financial Aid this Year

NEWS

STUDENT GOVERNMENT TENSIONS EXPOSED AMID OSA SCRAP JEOFFRY RAY

OSA SUPPORTERS OBSERVE as the student senate votes on the organization’s fate. JEFFORY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

Tensions mounted at a recent meeting of the Associated Students of Portland State University Senate, as proponents and skeptics jostled over a recent recommendation to defund a statewide organizing group.

The group in question, the Oregon Student Association, currently receives student fee funds totalling $147,000, derived from ASPSU’s operational budget.

Last week’s senate meeting focused in part on a recommendation that ASPSU trim its own assets by defunding payments to the OSA, including membership dues and a paid campus organizer. The Student Fee Committee initially advised this cutback during fall.

The recommendation came to contention by several ASPSU senators, as well as

student activists largely identifying with the PSU Student Union. Students argued that defunding the OSA would cripple the organization.

PSUSU organizer Olivia Pace pushed for a new budget to continue support for OSA. She pointed to OSA’s support for marginalized communities, its support for non-violent activism and its work with the movement to disarm campus officers as examples of OSA’s value to students.

“The decision is not one that only affects PSU students,” Pace said. “PSU is the largest funder of the [OSA], and taking away our funding will effectively dismantle the organization as a whole, taking everything it offers from every single student in the state.”

Debate loomed around the question of OSA’s value to the student body, but it also fo-

cused on the process by which ASPSU deliberated their inclusion into the budget. SFC Vice Chair Anna Vetter criticized ASPSU during the senate meeting for using student government procedure to effectively make an additional appeal for their budget. Appeal debates for most fee-funded areas ended Dec. 7.

“I get that there’s a lot of passion around OSA, I’m not trying to minimize the work that they do,” Vetter said during the meeting. “But the fact is that I have to face every feefunded area that followed the process and explain to them why ASPSU thinks ASPSU should get an exception to this process. And I’m not comfortable with how I’m going to explain to them why the cultural centers getting more student hours ... denied takes a back seat to ASPSU saying ASPSU needs more money.”

Other senators cautioned against conflating the OSA situation with that of groups such as the cultural centers.

Senator Akash Singh argued that defunding OSA cuts service directly from students.

He also pointed out that ASPSU faced a greater budget

cut than any other group under the proposed budget.

“No other fee-funded group saw a cut of more than 100,000 dollars,” Singh said. “If that’s incorrect, I would like to see those numbers.”

The senate made motions considering multiple options, including continuing to fund OSA dues while eliminating a campus organizer. Senators ultimately voted to send the budget back to the SFC with a recommendation to find a way to fully refund OSA, considering all options including an additional $2-per-term increase to student incidental fees.

Senators debated throughout the course of the meeting, against the backdrop of about a dozen OSA supporters voicing support or dissent with senator opinions through snaps, shouts and at times laughs.

The contentious environment led one senator to express discomfort with the tone of the meeting, to the laughter of audience members, before Senate Chair Devon Bakstrom called the meeting to order.

Judicial Board Chief Justice Nathan Claus, a non-voting ASPSU member, at one point decried the tone surrounding

the ASPSU offices in general.

“I’ve been sitting in the office for the last month, and it’s toxic, it’s hateful,” he said during the senate meeting. “Honestly, I’ve written three letters of resignation in the last two weeks that I’ve had to stop myself from sending, because I’m sick and tired of this.”

The SFC resolved against revisiting the budgets of other PSU groups to fund OSA, during a subsequent Jan. 29 review. SFC members also discussed alternative options, as well as the nature of the senate request.

The SFC convened again yesterday to finalize a vote on the senate’s OSA recommendation. The committee ultimately denied a motion to raise the incidental fee to continue funding the OSA portion of the ASPSU budget.

Ahead of the final vote, SFC members debated the role of OSA for PSU students and ASPSU procedural issues, as well as the organization’s relative cost to students. SFC members continued to criticize ASPSU process, a factor that dogged efforts at reinstating OSA funding.

SFC member Patricia PerezCruz, who supported the

budget change, called it unfortunate that OSA’s funding was tied to ASPSU. SFC Chair Sulakha Hassan and member Wonde Nevens also criticized the senate on its approach to process.

“It feels like we followed a process of integrity, and ASPSU hasn’t,” Hassan said during the SFC meeting. “I think we would be making an exception [for ASPSU]. And I don’t think there should be an exception.”

Though the SFC denied the recommendation to re-fund OSA for the 2016-2017 academic year, the ASPSU senate can draft an alternative budget for the president by Feb. 15.

Supporters for OSA appeared throughout the process, including PSUSU organizers and OSA Executive Director, Mario Parker-Milligan.

Parker-Milligan expressed disappointment in the outcome, and said that he would attend subsequent senate meetings in hopes of drafting an alternative budget.

ASPSU’s budget process can continue in senate deliberation through Feb. 8. A finalized form of the budget is due to the university president by Feb. 15.

GRADUATE STUDENTS MARCH TOWARD UNION FORMATION ELLIE BRADLEY

Portland State graduate employees will no longer be sequestered by mountains of term papers or remote research laboratories: PSU graduate students are exercising their right to unionize.

A group of graduate students and supporters gathered at the PSU Urban Center at noon on Monday. Following a brief introduction and photo-op, the group silently marched to the office of PSU President Wim Wiewel, where they presented their intentions to unionize.

“We’re requesting that administrators remain neutral throughout the unionization process,” said Ted Cooper, a graduate research assistant in Computer Science.

Cooper acted as one of the media spokespeople at Monday’s event, along with Jane Carr, a graduate teaching assistant in the Hatfield School of Government.

“We’ve been organizing for years,” Carr said. “Building a network with representatives in nearly every department.”

The self-designated Graduate Employees Union hopes to secure better working conditions for graduate employees.

According to Cooper, priority items for the group include more affordable healthcare and higher wages. The group has collected hundreds of signed mission statements from students, but hopes to increase its reach with their public proclamation.

“That is definitely one of the

goals of today,” Cooper said. “Get- organize,” said the emailed ting to everyone has been hard.” statement from University According to a statement Communications. ”[The] unireleased by University Com- versity administration must munications, PSU has 807 remain neutral on this issue total graduate assistants: 479 under the law. As such, we are graduate teaching assistants, not in a position to address 272 graduate research assis- specific concerns about pay tants and 56 graduate admin- and benefits of graduate asistrative assistants. sistants at this time.”

These positions range from Monday’s march was just 0.15 full time equivalents to the beginning of the union0.49 FTE; all are eligible for ization process for GEU. Now tuition remission assistance. that they have announced PSU budgeted $8.4 million their intentions to adminisfor tuition remission for trators, the group hopes to graduate assistants in the grow their numbers and sup2016-17 fiscal year. In addi- port in order to accomplish tion, graduate assistants re- their goals. ceive hourly pay determined “Graduate employees are a by position, graduate status vital part of what makes the and hours worked. university run,” Cooper said.

“We recognize that [gradu- “We’re asking for the things ate students] have a right to we need to do our jobs well.”

Amy Coplen unites the GEU troops as they prepare to march to President Wiewel’s office.

ELLIE BRADLEY/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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OPINION

NESTLÉ’S PROPOSAL IN THE CASCADE LOCKS

CREATING JOBS NOW, DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT LATER Earthy Insights

by Adriana Stein

Since moving to Portland five years ago, I’ve spent every summer hiking beautiful mountains, playing in the mud and rain, and swimming in lakes and rivers. It’s my favorite part of the year, and I look forward to enjoying it again once the weather warms up.

However, this beautiful place we call home cannot continue to exist with our current human activity. I hate to imagine how the Columbia Gorge will look in 20 or 50 years if we don’t take action now by conserving water.

Beginning in 2008, Nestlé Waters North America, a section of the larger bottling company, Nestlé, proposed Cascade Locks as a potential home for a new bottling plant. This project would include a 250,000 square foot bottling facility costing around $50 million.

According to the Nestlé website, benefits of this project would include 50 new jobs and “more than $26 million in sales per year in direct, indirect and induced economic benefits, plus another $36 million in sales.” In an effort to stop the depletion of Oregon’s water supply, a gallon of groundwater will replace every gallon of spring water used for bottling.

First of all, water bottles are wasteful. According to The Water Project, a non-profit organization focused on clean water, U.S. landfills are overflowing with 2 million tons of discarded water bottles. Bottles used to package water take over 1,000 years to biodegrade.

Nestlé attempts to address this issue with their new bottle, which is “25 percent less plastic than the previous Eco-shape bottle, and 60 percent less than the original half liter PET bottle.” The new bottle is also entirely recyclable. However, this does not resolve the fact that all those bottles ending up in landfills were never recycled in the first place.

In addition to water bottle waste, Nestlé and its backers are disregarding the long-term effect this project could have on the environment. In an effort to dissuade naysayers worried about fishing rights, Nestlé funded a study in 2011 that confirmed that Oxbow Hatchery’s fish would live “in the groundwater equally as well as they do in the spring water from the Oxbow Springs.”

Further studies by Nestlé showed that the bottling facility would not take away from the city’s water requirements. Unfortunately, none of this study covers the impact a large-scale bottling facility would have on Oregon’s water supply in the future.

“A historically warm winter has Oregon facing its fourth straight year of drought, prompting worry that the extended warm spell fueling California’s statewide water crisis is about to hit Oregon,” states an article in The Oregonian. Oregon saw little rain over the summer, and the snowpack is lower than what’s needed to meet our current water requirements.

As a result, 13 counties became part of a $2 million federal loan project to stop financial hardship related to drought.

Many small businesses and farmers are dependent upon a consistent water supply, and Oregon is not currently meeting those standards.

These droughts also directly impacted the city of Portland.

“The Bull Run reservoir, which supplies Portland’s municipal water, is 3 billion gallons short of its average July supply,” reported The Oregonian. The entire Portland metro area needs to make cutbacks to survive the drought.

To make up the difference, the city began pumping groundwater from the Columbia Gorge, similar to where Nestlé will be replacing lost spring water. The article also compared Oregon’s drought situation to California in that, “Oregon is not there yet,” said Diana Enright of the Oregon Water Resources Department. “‘Whether the state ever gets to that point, I don’t think

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anyone knows at this time,’ she said, but crafting water-use plans that account for a drier future is a discussion we need to start having now.”

My question is, how does Nestlé’s plan account for a drier future when it’s adding to the depletion of groundwater that helped Portland survive the summer?

What’s worse, Oregon’s drought epidemic influenced a third consecutive difficult wildfire season this year. For 2015, over $211 million was spent by the U.S. Forest Service in stopping hundreds of thousands of acres of wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service is now spending more than half of its budget fighting wildfires.

To me, it seems to be a vicious cycle of water overuse and Nestlé’s project is just another step toward complete environmental destruction and endless drought. Projects need to be concerned with water conservation, not how to make money from bottling it.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON KIDD

Fortunately, there are people concerned about this controversial issue. Oregon Governor Kate Brown sent a letter to Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Melcher, asking him to withdraw the agency’s application for water trading rights between Oxbow Springs and Cascade Locks.

The Governor’s stance on the project increased public support for a ban on the proposal. The Local Water Alliance spearheaded this campaign by creating a measure that gained thousands of signatures. Many in opposition to Nestlé’s proposal also believe that selling water to Nestlé amounts to privatization of a public resource, and I would completely agree.

The Government of Hood River County accepted this initiative and now a ban on Nestlé’s proposal will appear on this year’s ballot. Though the fight for water conservation is far from over, a win on the ban of Nestlé’s proposal is one positive step forward in how to handle water conservation issues in the future.

OPINION

FLORIDA, THE DEATH PENALTY AND HUMAN DIGNITY Against the Current

by Sebastian Richardson As of Jan. 12, the United States Supreme Court declared Florida’s death penalty system to be unconstitutional. This ruling came during the trial of Timothy Hurst, who was convicted of murdering his co-worker in 1998.

Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Florida law allowed juries to recommend the death sentence in capital cases.

However, this recommendation was only used to advise the presiding judge who would ultimately make the final decision after reviewing the facts of the case. Judges were able to disregard a jury’s recommendation of a death sentence and have done so roughly 300 times since the law’s enactment in 1972.

In the case of Hurst, the jury voted in favor 7-5 to recommend the death penalty, without the finding of any solid facts that justified the sentence. This case overturned a previous ruling from 1980 in which the Supreme Court declared the law constitutional.

This ruling is comforting considering Florida’s history with the death penalty. Florida currently ranks second in the nation when it comes to death row inmates with 390 men and women currently awaiting execution.

Last year, the Supreme Court also issued a ruling declaring Florida’s strict criteria of using IQ tests to determine eligibility for the death penalty unconstitutional.

However, while these rulings will hopefully prevent arbitrary and uninformed use of the death penalty within the state of Florida, the United States as a whole ought to reexamine its use of that particular punishment. Currently, America is one of only 55 countries in the world that still uses the death penalty, which is determined by the states and individual governors.

There are 31 states in the union which retain the death penalty.

In contrast, all nations in Europe have completely abolished it, with only Belarus retaining it for use in war-time. Even Russia issued a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in 1999.

As far as the number of executions go, we rank the fifth highest in world, falling behind countries like China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. When our country is ranked alongside four countries that have consistently horrible track records in regards to human rights, there’s a problem.

To make matters even more concerning, a recent study estimates that 4 percent of people sentenced to death are wrongfully convicted. While this may seem like a negligible amount, any system which allows for the possible murder of innocent people is an immoral one, and one that is not in line with American values, especially when that system costs the tax payers significantly more.

While the Supreme Court often invokes the sanctity of human dignity and the eighth amendment in issues that concern the death penalty, they have never seemed to extend such dignity to people whose government plans on legally killing them.

That there have been roughly 1,300 exonerations since 1989 shows that this is not a reliable system.

Luckily, such sentiments are gaining popularity in the United States. Currently, 55 percent of adults in the U.S. support the death penalty in capital cases, the lowest support level since 1970. This decrease in support has been part of a trend that began in 1990, most likely due to a drop in crime rates, as well as attention to wrongful convictions.

With advancements in the field of human psychology and neuroscience, to think we would utilize such methods as means of punishment is somewhat barbaric and fails to respect the dignity of humans. This question of human dignity is all the more important considering the shortage of lethal injection drugs here in the United States.

In 2011, the European Union issued an embargo on exporting drugs that would be used for executions, which has paved the way for alternatives previously avoided as well as the use of experimental drugs.

Two years ago, a man was put to death in Ohio using an experimental drug that caused him to suffer for over 11 min-

utes. In Utah, the legislature passed a bill to allow execution by firing squad and in Tennessee they approved use of the electric chair.

While Supreme Court rulings like Hurst v. Florida seem to scratch the surface, they fail to address a much larger problem.

No one’s life should be left to the discretion of fallible human actors, especially within a system that should promote justice and equality. The fact that this is still a discussion in 2016 is ridiculous and shows America’s lack of appreciation for the dignity of human life in the face of some sort of righteous sense of justice and apparent convenience.

But then again, what else is new?

SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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COVER Despite Press Release Claim Of High Lead Levels, Cramer Drinking Water Is Safe TURNER LOBEY

A recent press release from the Associated Students of Portland State University indicated unsafe levels of lead in Cramer Hall drinking water. The university has confirmed that drinking water in the building is safe to consume, but ASPSU is pushing for further investigation.

The press release, titled “Unsafe Levels of Lead, Iron, and Manganese in Drinking Water at PSU Warrant Further Investigation,” was distributed to ASPSU’s 229 Twitter followers. It stated that PSU alum Emma Prichard and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety detected levels of lead as high as 96 parts per billion—6.4 times higher than the EPA’s standard of 15 ppb—in Cramer Hall. It also called for the university to come together to discuss plans for addressing water safety at a Senate meeting on Feb. 17.

Despite the language of the press release, both Prichard and EHS Director Heather Randol stated the water is currently safe to drink.

“The water is safe to drink throughout the building, except for a few isolated fixtures that have been posted with signs advising against drinking,” Randol said. “All drinking water fountains and hydration stations in the public corridors provide water that is safe to drink. Building occupants have been notified of the results of our sampling.”

Prichard has declined several opportunities from the Vanguard to speak on the contents of the press release, as well as its implications on water safety. Prichard did state in an email there is more to the story. She declined to elaborate on this statement, stating all information will be revealed at the ASPSU Senate meeting on Feb. 17. She invited the Vanguard to interview her after the meeting.

The Vanguard is uncertain what the elaborated story will be, but reminds readers that all parties have confirmed PSU’s drinking water is safe to consume.

The water’s safety was confirmed by Scott Gallagher, Director of Communications at PSU. “One of our students was testing water on campus as part of her thesis project and she had some concerns about water quality in Cramer Hall,” Gallagher said in an email. “We tested the water in the building and discovered elevated lead levels in five locations, one drinking fountain and four sinks, and in-

stalled filters or signage that the water was not potable. We believe this is limited to those few locations in Cramer Hall but we will continue to check the water quality in other buildings on campus in an abundance of caution.”

Randol said Prichard brought these concerns to the EHS in June of 2015. After sampling water throughout Cramer Hall between July and October, all but one fountain and hydration station in the building had results that were safely below the EPA standard of 15 ppb. The problematic spot, which tested slightly above 15 ppb, was temporarily closed. EHS worked with PSU’s Facilities and Property Management to address this issue by installing a lead filter. Randol said after the filter was installed, lead levels tested at 2 ppb and the station was reopened.

Several departmental sinks tested with lead levels over 15 ppb, but the EHS posted signs warning not to drink the water and is continuing to work with FPM to determine the source of lead.

“The isolated results above 15 ppb indicate that this is not an issue with building wide piping,” Randol said. “It is possible that certain reports that were conducted or fixtures that were installed since the building’s construction contained lead, which was allowed at that time. It is difficult to pinpoint these sources in a large and complex building such as Cramer Hall, and so a few sinks continue to be posted with signs advising against drinking where the lead sources could not be identified and repaired.”

The press release also said the university is in violation of The Safe Drinking Water Act and the Oregon Drinking Water Act. But Randol said these acts apply to municipal utilities such as the Portland Water Bureau, not the university.

“Customers served by these utilities, such as PSU and all of the businesses and residences in Portland, are not regulated by these Acts, and thus cannot be in violation of them,” Randol said. “Nonetheless, we have taken many steps to confirm that the drinking water in Cramer Hall is safe to drink.”

For further Vanguard coverage of water safety at PSU, visit psuvanguard.com.

The ASPSU Senate meeting including concerns about water quality will take place on Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union, room 296/8.

ROOSEVELT SOWKA/PSU VANGUARD

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Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

COVER

INFOGRAPHICS BY NIMI EINSTEIN

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

MUSIC AND FILM PROMOTE EACH OTHER IN THE ANNUAL REEL MUSIC FESTIVAL CATHERINE JOHNSON

On Saturday, Jan. 23 the and generally philosophizNorthwest Film Center ing about the meaning of art screened the documentary and creativity. He frequently “Seymour: An Introduction” draws comparisons between as only one part of their 33rd his relationship with music annual Reel Music Festi- and life. val, which showcases many “The struggle is what makes films about musicians, musi- the art form,” Bernstein said. cal movements and perfor- “That’s how life is.” mance-based documentaries.

His musings touch on a Directed by actor Ethan wide range of subjects: from Hawke, Seymour chroni- the craft and discipline of cles the career of Seymour being an artist—refuting the Bernstein, a successful New notion that one need only be York City pianist who aban- talented—to the importance doned concert performing to of nurturing a feminine senteach piano students. Hawke sibility and willingness to be frames the film as a quest vulnerable, to the eccentricity to answer a larger question: and neurosis that often acWhy make art? companies genius.

“What is it that I’m living He even touches on for?” Hawke asks. religion, spirituality and The film follows Bern- metaphysics. Bernstein destein, whom Hawke met at a scribes music as an aural mutual friend’s dinner party, manifestation of univerduring his one-on-one les- sal order and as a language sons, teaching a master class, through which we become talking with former students one with the stars.

When the lights came up in the theater, sniffles sounded around the room from viewers who were clearly touched by the piece.

One audience member, Nancy Brown, was especially moved; she has been a piano teacher for 40 years.

“The film was fantastic,” Brown said. “It was very moving. I missed it the first time it came around and I’m so glad I got to see it. I’m a piano teacher so it’s really special.”

This is just one of many films still yet to be screened during the on-going festival.

Nick Bruno is the publicity and promotions manager for the NW Film Center, and he’s excited about some new films that don’t neatly fit into the usual categories.

For example, “The Glamour & The Squalor” is about Seattle-based DJ Marco Collins who, as the lead pro-

grammer at Seattle’s radio station 107.7 “The End,” brought grunge and alternative music to the forefront of the musical discussion in the 1990s.

And as Portlanders settle in for a couple more months of winter with lack of access to the outdoors, the festival is a popular indoor activity; Bruno said they moved it to October a few years ago and noticed a dip in audience sizes.

“So far, the audience’s reaction has been really positive with a noticeable increase in attendance,” Bruno said.

The NW Film Center has an education-based mission, which includes filmmaking classes year-round, and extends to the exhibition program.

“All of the NW Film Center’s programs are curated with our mission in mind,” Bruno said, “We’re here to

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON KIDD

encourage visual literacy and Micah Vanderhoof, the theappreciation of the moving ater manager for the NW Film image arts.”

Center, has been pleased with Festival director Bill the festival’s success so far.

Foster spends all year culling “It’s going pretty great. through films for Reel Music.

We’ve got a whole bunch of “He keeps an eye out for stuff that’s still coming up,” works that avoid being just Vanderhoof said. surface level treatments for Vanderhoof predicted that the fans of a particular musi- “Everybody’s Cage,” about the cal artist,” Bruno said. “The 20th century avant-garde emphasis is always on how composer John Cage, and “Syl the music and the medium of Johnson: Any Way the Wind film elevate each other.”

Blows,” about the Different The biggest hit so far Strokes soul singer, will be eshas been “The Amazing Nina pecially popular.

Simone.” Bill Evans’, “Time The festival continues Remembered” and “Roxy: through Feb. 5. The full The Movie” drew full lineup can be found at crowds too. http://www.nwfilm.org.

PUTTING THE FUN IN POETRY TIN HOUSE WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE D.A. POWELL READS ORIGINAL POETRY CATHERINE JOHNSON

On Thursday Jan. 21, students and poetry-lovers packed into The Little Church in Northeast Portland to hear award-winning poet D.A. Powell read from his works.

Powell is the Tin House Writer-In-Residence at Portland State. This partnership between PSU and the local magazine brings two distinguished writers to Portland every year.

Masters of Fine Arts poet Erin Perry is a student in Powell’s workshop and introduced him with a thoughtful portrait of the writer, including his penchant for writing memorable quotations on the board, like Sappho’s “Someone, I tell you, will remember us, even in another time.”

Perry explained the sense of awe she initially had for

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such an accomplished poet like Powell, but implied that he was so personable, so real, that this awe was quickly dispelled. As Powell took the podium, Perry’s depiction of him was confirmed, as he spoke warmly to the audience, beckoned latecomers to come sit in the front row and created an intimate space with the audience.

Powell explained that the theme of his class is about letting go. He said often the idea of craft can overwhelm the initial, creative spirit and he wanted to free up his classroom from that kind of anxiety. As he prepared to read his work he joked that he doesn’t always agree with or identify with the things he writes.

“Writing is an opportunity to live in other consciousnesses,” Powell said.

With his white fisherman’s claimed, “Now I’m going to beard and a voice remi- read some dirty poems!” niscent of Jimmy Stewart, Rachel Powers is an MFA Powell read from his new student in John Beer’s pounpublished poems, remind- etry workshop for fiction and ing the audience that it’s im- nonfiction writers. Powers portant to goof off and have a said she liked that Powell regood time. minded the audience of the “He read works that hadn’t playful side of poetry. been published because he “The poems he read were full wanted to remind himself of word-play and eroticism, but not to take writing so seri- also reflections on the munously, that it was something dane and everyday aspects of he started because he enjoyed life,” Powers said. “I liked that it and some of his books had he reminded the audience that been perhaps overthought,” writing often stems from a said Patrick Brogan, an MFA youthful pleasure in wordplay student who was familiar and verbal exploration.” with his work. “That’s someBrogan was not only imthing I’ve been trying to do pressed with the poet, but exwith my writing lately, have cited about PSU’s connection fun and laugh a little, so that to Tin House, a prestigious litresonated with me.” erary magazine.

Powell, indeed, seemed to “Powell was so personable be having fun. As the content and friendly,” Brogan said. of his poems shifted he ex- “It’s very relieving to see that

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

famous authors are people too. Tin House’s partnership with PSU elevates both the quality of our education and Portland’s literary community.”

D.A. POWELL.

Next term, PSU’s partnership with Tin House will bring author Dave Eggers to town for a public reading and staged interview.

CATHERINE JOHNSON/PSU VANGUARD

ARTS & CULTURE

LET’ER EAT: COWBOY BEAN SOUP AISLINN RENNISON

Although this past week has been exceptionally warm for the end of January, the dark and rainy days will most certainly be back soon. It will inevitably be dreary outside, but this warm, hearty soup will come in handy. Not only is it super easy and cheap to make, it will feed you for a few days (or feed all of your roommates in a night). My mom made this soup at least every other week in the winter while I was growing up; I was never disappointed to come home to the smell of Cowboy Bean Soup.

INGREDIENTS:

• A chub (yes, that’s what it’s called) of Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage (it’s really not that spicy but you can also get the Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage).

• One can of red kidney beans • One can of great white northern beans • Two cans of black beans • One can of whole corn kernels • Salt and pepper • Johnny’s Seasoning Salt • Maple syrup • Brown sugar • Hot sauce of your choosing (I prefer Sriracha) • Optional: sour cream and/or Tillamook shredded sharp cheddar cheese • Crockpot (preferred but not required)

PENGUIN/2006

EDITOR PICK OF THE WEEK: ‘BROKEN’ Aislinn Rennison

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON KIDD

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make bite size pieces of Jimmy Dean sausage from the entire chub and place them in the bottom of the Crockpot. If you are making the soup in a pan, cook the pieces of sausage on medium heat with a little bit of olive oil until they are completely cooked/brown. Add in salt, Johnny’s Seasoning Salt and pepper to taste along the way.

2. Drain ¾ of the liquid from each can of beans and then pour each into the Crockpot or into a large pot.

3. Drain the can of corn completely and pour into the Crockpot or into a large pot with the beans, cooking on the stove on low to medium heat for about 15 minutes.

4. If making it in the Crockpot, add about one cup of water, more or less depending on how “soupy” you would like it to turn out. If making it in a pot, pour the sausage and all the liquid into the pot with the beans and corn, adding about the same amount of water.

5. Sprinkle salt, pepper, Johnny’s Seasoning Salt and hot sauce to taste.

COOL BEANS

6. Add in one tablespoon of maple syrup and one tablespoon of brown sugar.

7. Stir all the ingredients together.

8. If you are cooking the soup in a Crockpot, leave it on low for about seven hours or until the sausage is completely cooked. Or you can cook it on high for four to five hours. Stirring throughout cook time is not necessary. If you are cooking the soup in a pot on the stove, continue to cook the ingredients on low heat for another five to 10 minutes, stirring throughout.

9. Optional: Add a dollop of sour cream or some shredded Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese on top.

10. Enjoy!

You will be full after a bowl or two of this scrumptious soup. Plus one of the best things about making this soup in a Crockpot early in the morning is that after a long day, you come home to the smell of your delicious dinner, just waiting for you to devour.

This book was published in 2007, but I don’t believe that this real-life memoir was given the amount of attention that it deserved nine years ago. “Broken, My Story of Addiction and Redemption” by William Cope Moyers put “Million Little Pieces” to absolute shame. Not only is the nonfiction rehabilitation story actually non-fiction, it is beautifully written, captivating your interest with each turn of a page.

Moyers has it all: money, a supportive family, looks, smarts, you name it. So why would he be compelled to lie, cheat, throw away his life, stay in multiple rehabs and have several glimpses of death for his love affair with crack cocaine?

It took me a few short days to finish Moyers’

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memories, but I wish it would have taken me longer. Moyer has the ability to transform his writing into an enthralling world that you wish you were experiencing first hand, with him.

Throughout his entire story you are biting your nails, hoping he will make the right decision. Even when he does mess up (to put it lightly) you are rooting for him to get back on his feet. Moyers demonstrates the intense challenges of a drug addict in a transforming way.

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JAN.3-7 27 – 31– 24TH 20TH ETC EVENT LISTINGS FOR FEB WEDNESDAY FEB. 3 FORTY YEARS 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. PSU MILLAR LIBRARY ARCHIVES (FIRST FLOOR)

THURSDAY FEB. 4 NIGHT AT THE BLAZERS 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. REC SPORTS OFFICE FEE: $10

Come explore the exhibited collection examining the 40 year history of women, gender and sexuality studies at Portland State and see how feminism and queer theory have impacted the overall and specialized curriculum of our community.

Member Services only has a hundred, $10 tickets available for the game versus the Raptors. If basketball is your thing, you’re a Rec Center member (you are if you’re a full-time PSU student) and you can get to the Moda Center, be sure to snag a ticket.

SNAP SIGN-UPS 2:30 P.M. OUTSIDE TABLES OF SMSU

THE ARTIST IS PLEASANT RECEPTION 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. PACIFIC NORTHWEST COLLEGE OF ART, ROOM B10

Stop by to get information about what the SNAP program can do for you.

It’s more than just “food stamps.” Benefit rules for students have recently begun to change; learn about the new changes here. Information will also be available on Monday as well.

JOHN PINNEY

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Your mother won’t remind you, so I will say: take care of yourself. Don’t skip meals and wear your coat because it’s chilly outside.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Everyone’s brain works a little differently to interpret information, so when a miscommunication occurs, the blame should be laid at the feet of science and not yours.

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This is the second half exhibit of the “art exchange” between PNCA and PSU. This particular gallery is all about the power of humor.

It features work, skill and viewpoints of PSU peeps that are learning, working and/or have already graduated.

FRIDAY FEB. 5 FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4:30 P.M. TO 6:30 P.M. SMSU 238

Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Office of Graduate Studies and The Resource Center for Students with Children join forces to provide a night of games, prizes and dinners so that families can bond and maybe make some new friends in the process.

ELEVATING IMPACT SUMMIT 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. LINCOLN HALL THEATER FEE: $20 FOR STUDENTS

If you’re an environmental innovator looking for a way to learn what paths you can take in the corporate world, then come and talk about initiating change by being a “social entrepreneur.” Come discuss new approaches to old problems. (This is massively discounted for students).

SATURDAY FEB. 6 SADDLE MT. DAY HIKE OUTDOOR PROGRAM OFFICE FEE: $25 REC CENTER MEMBER, $50 NON-MEMBER

Saddle Mountain’s vantage extends from lush greenery to Douglas Firs and all the way to a steep summit that allows you to see both the ocean and Mt. Hood. Be prepared to walk five miles round-trip. The pre-trip meeting for this day hike is on Feb. 3.

FEBRUARY CLIMBING CHALLENGE REC CENTER ROCK WALL

This annual challenge event scores you based on your number of visits and number of climbs completed. Accrue points, win prizes for winning your division and get placed in a raffle. You have until Leap Day to conquer your summit.

JOHN PINNEY

SUNDAY FEB. 7 SUPER BOWL WATCH PARTY 3:30 P.M. REC CENTER TV LOUNGE FREE FOR REC CENTER MEMBERS

The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers have clinched their spots for Super Bowl 50! This event guarantees to be a good time even if your team is on the sideline. Snag some food and some camaraderie.

“HE GOT GAME” 3 P.M. 5TH AVE CINEMA FREE FOR STUDENTS

Spike Lee’s iconic directing style and stories personal to his viewpoint are on display in “He Got Game,” where basketball and the tension of a haunted past mix with beautiful and honest cinematography. Also see it on Friday or Saturday at 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.

FEATURED EVENT SCHOOL OF ART + DESIGN EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION ART BUILDING WEDNESDAY FEB. 3 5 P.M. TO 7 P.M. Named “Vital Signs,” this show is a mix of the best mediums brought to you by the freshmen of the Art and Design Foundations program.

After the opening reception, this show will be available for viewing until Feb. 26. If you’re curious about the program and the way it plays with art, dimension, material and scale, this is probably an event you’d want to check out.

All of the exhibits were hand selected by instructors.

Horoscopes for the Week of 1/31

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

That friend of yours who you find a little strange and preoccupied with plants is not having such a hot week. Pick them up a nice venus fly trap as a gift for their collection.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Life this week is sweet like a lollipop. You have your choice of colors and flavors and it seems like nothing will ever go wrong again. Savor this moment.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Some days you wish robots would be able to do all the menial jobs you hate. But those jobs that you hate give you a sense of work ethic that makes your resting hours all that more enjoyable.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You feel as though you’re drowning in useless facts and figures, but the reality is that these tidbits are useful as a whole and you just can’t see the whole tapestry save for little bits of a corner pattern.

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Libra (Sept. 23- Oct.22)

Did you know that dolphins can’t actually distinguish humans that well one from each other? What a delightful problem to have, seeing all humans in the same kind of squinty light.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov.21)

Though you didn’t have great role models growing up, you’ve found a few throughout the years. This week, reach out to an old role model and reconnect.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21)

Don’t spend all of your time this week with that new video game you bought. You’ll have plenty of time to do that after you are graduated and broke.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan.19)

Reach out this week and do something exciting and new.

Portland is full of unique opportunities and ways to experience the thrilling, the macabre and the quirky.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Though you’ve spent most of your life being a skeptic, this week has proven to you that somewhere, deep inside, you do have faith in something quite mystic. Even slightly embracing this faith will be good for your health.

Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20)

Proving yourself to others is not as important as proving yourself to you. Because nothing another can say bad about you is near enough as bad as your own internal dialogue.

ETC

ELISE FURLAN

CROSSWORD This puzzle is a tribute to 10 across. Leading definite articles have been ignored in answers relating to his works.

ACROSS 1 10a’s work could be first or last, but not first or last (9) 6 Social circle in poet’s cottage by lake (7) 10 He scored runs, going after a leg spinner? (5) 13 Dress required for school or university class (7) 14 A woman’s back in charge of high priest (7) 15 Film about Orlando’s love not half dull (7) 16 10a’s work released in compact disc per annum (4,3,12) 18,29d 10a’s graphic Water Music?

(3,8) 19 Address in Rome’s poor quarter (6)

COURTESY OF ALBERICHCROSSWORDS.COM 21 See 40a 23 Stage work mostly needs musical backing – that’s important (9) 25 See 31 28 Made too many copies with superimposed text? (11) 32 Catches infection finally and is ill (5) 33 Coppers ruined one trip to Luxembourg (8) 34 Sleeps soundly after last of mess companion’s strong booze (8) 37 One making jokes about name for criminal (8) 39 Young woman in Germany reaching peak (8) 40, 21 10a’s work for composers or players (5,6) 42 Concerning rules for solving problem or glitch, I am confused (11) 44 10a’s work dismissed in silence – I then reworked the introduction (2,3,5)

47 Gutless Dave’s ridiculous, deserving mockery (9) 49 Bull-roarer without round or diamond shapes (6) 52 Old vessel housed in nearly inactive port (6) 54 Cut short Christmas, going back a long time (3) 55 Romantic arias nameless German composed about Grand Duke getting wed to the parlourmaid, as an example of one of them? (10,9) 57 Readmit drunk? He may well not (6,1) 58 On fire, trapping unknown number, creating this? (7) 60 Area in tower given to a bush (7) 61 Refuses to eat polyunsaturates, for example, when keeping slim at first (5) 62 Muddle involving eastern home for prayer leader (7) 63 One for raising the standard in Arizona (9) DOWN 1 Unattractively dressed trout conceals bottom? (8) 2 Hatred preached initially from platform (5) 3 They have problems with selfdiscipline in store (11) 4 A drama unfolds in naval division (6) 5 Empress from Amritsar in Asia (7) 6 Officer has to dash across lake in boat (7) 7 Make leather brown (3) 8 Cuckoo or finch, the famous flyer

(10) 9 Delete joke after old flame, say, gets upset (7) 10 Extra single helping to achieve dismissal (11) 11 It’s needed for control of road rage? (4-5) 12 New miracle drug institute rejected creates publicity (7) 17 Most fail to catch farewell greeting from Greek town (11) 20 Most of back row chatted, so put into different group (7) 22 Sandwich’s location not quite in range of sight (3) 24 On mission to keep up spiteful gossip – it’s urgent (8) 26 One’s sworn at in Ohio (4) 27 10a’s work is almost certain to meet problem right in the final pasage (6,5) 29 See 18 30 Italian film-maker’s revolutionary ideas framing century (2,4) 31,25 I, Megan, gamine in game created by 10a (6,10) 35 Group tucked into vegetables and old bread in Madrid (7) 36 Formerly subject of Coronation Street (4) 38 Wrinkles giving indications where emphasis lies? (6,5) 40 Religious cult covers platform with flowers (4,7) 41 Mood is very important (10) 43 See 47 45 Steal tree for a game (3) 46 10a’s work in 63 not good with advanced Latin (8) 47,43 10a’s work of later years finally lost us, having formed a revolutionary precedent (5,2,9) 48 Ennui of socialist during period of economic success (7) 50 Letter from abroad is ridiculously moronic (7) 51 Vagrant’s initially put away for murder (4,3) 53 She gets this muddled without right answer (6) 56 Fruit from Antigua varied (5) 59 Freeze regularly in this headgear (3)

SUH’ DUDE? Follow us online at psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

KABUKI SLASHES ONTO PSU STAGE JAPANESE THEATER HITS THE PSU STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ENGLISH MOLLY OZIER

The Center for Japanese studies and The School of Theater & Film have kicked off the winter term with a gong. With three lectures—including a film—and eight live productions of the Kabuki play, “The Revenge of the 47 Loyal Samurai,” the rest of the term will be Japanpacked with events.

Portland State will be the first North American university to host “The Revenge of the 47 Loyal Samurai” in English.

The man behind the production is Japanese Studies professor, Laurence Kominz. With a distinct interest in Japanese theater, Kominz is able to take his knowledge of the art and apply to it to the attention to detail that is required within Kabuki.

To gain a better understanding of the significance of this event, the Vanguard sat down with Kominz to ask him a couple questions: mo: Can you define Kabuki for the readers? l k: Kabuki is a form of theater, which was born in Japan in the 1600s and developed there from that time until today. The word Kabuki means singing, dancing and acting. It is an acting-based art which portrays all sorts of characters and every sort of emotion from triumph to intense suffering in an aesthetically gorgeous way; full of action and intense emotion.

“...all sorts of characters and every sort of emotion from triumph to intense suffering in an aesthetically gorgeous way; full of action and intense emotion.” mo: What is the history behind Kabuki in the U.S.? l k: The University of Hawaii has more than 100 years of presenting Kabuki plays. The Japanese American’s had their own, very high level theater club…and they did Kabuki plays. Obviously, during WWII there were no Kabuki plays for about five years. From the early 60s on, [theater] became part of their curriculum. [The University of Hawaii] did many great Kabuki plays. o: What was your inspiration behind the want to direct m Kabuki plays? l k: There was a fabulous teacher and director of Kabuki plays named James Brandon. And he knew that of all the Kabuki plays that he would ever do, the most important would be “TRO47LS”…he got a huge grant to take that one production on tour around the United States in 1979. I was a graduate student in New York City at Columbia University…and they came to NYC and I saw it there. And I thought, “Wow! How can Americans do it that well?” And it gave me hope for my future that someday I would be able to teach and direct my students to do Kyogen. mo: What’s Kyogen?

PHOTO 1: CONFRONTATION SCENE IN THE REVENGE OF THE 47 LOYAL SAMURAI. COURTESY OF MINH NGO. PHOTO 2: UKIYO-E PRINT ILLUSTRATING KABUKI SAN-NIN KICHISA KURUWA NO HATSU-GAI BY TOYOKUNI III, 1860. COURTSEY OF USER TOYOKUNI UTAGAWA III THROUGH CREATIVE COMMONS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

l k: At that time I wasn’t doing Kabuki, I was doing this comedy called Kyogen, which is much simpler…And I thought, “Well, if [James Brandon’s company] can do this with Kabuki, I can really do some wonderful things with my students; teaching them and directing them to do Kyogen when I get my first job—wherever that may be. And wherever that might be turned into PSU.

INTERNATIONAL o: What initially got you interested in the Japanese m culture? l k: When I was 14, my family went to Japan and I went to an international school in Tokyo. And of everyone—two siblings and me—of the three of us, I was the one that really sort of fell in love with Japanese culture more than my siblings. o: What do you hope the students who are in the producm tion will get out of being in it? l k: I want the students who are in it to get two big things out of it. In the broad sense for absolutely everybody, a deeper appreciation for the subtleties of Japanese culture…Then the attention to detail; nothing is unimportant. And this detail is properties, costumes, choreography and movement, precision, discipline, attention to detail, respect for tradition—you can make this list of aspects of Japanese culture, that these students will learn.

Not because they’re lectured to about it, they will have to embody it. That is the best way to learn something…they are phenomenally imaginative students. m o: What do you hope the public will get out of the production? l k: First and foremost, what I want to show our public is that Kabuki is one of the finest performing theatrical genres in the world. That’s how seriously I feel about my primary field of research: “translation analysis outreach.” Kabuki is sort of at the core, it’s not all that I do, but it’s at the center of it…People think, “Weird Kominz, what is this Kabuki anyway?” I want to show them what this “Kabuki anyway” is and why I care. o: How do you feel each lecturer will contribute to m the production? l k: David’s [Atherton] lecture validates them. It validates the project. In other words, they’ve had Kominz telling them, now someone comes in from University of Colorado who says, “You guys are doing something really important!”

“I can really do some wonderful things with my students; teaching them and directing them to do Kyogen when I get my first job wherever that may be.”

…It’s like okay let’s work hard, we’re doing something important, I love that! Validation, inspiration, this is great for my cast to go to.

Maribeth [Graybill] will also validate it by…[the students will] see the characters they’re playing in dramatic poses and they can compare those with what they’re doing on stage. So, validation, connections, synergies, between the different media, theater, print art, paintings. he film will be similar…that’s the third lecture. Basically it’s T the nail in the coffin that the Japanese can’t get enough of it.

There’s approximately…one film a year, not to mention TV series, is made about some aspect of “TRO47LS.” o: Is there anyone you’d like to dedicate this producm tion to? l k: James Brandon was something of a mentor to me in my early days here at PSU…I have tremendous respect for him.

He provides 85 percent of the translation and a lot of my direction and inspiration. This has not been done since he did it in ‘79. I wanted to invite him as our guest of honor, and sort of have him pass me the baton in a public way… in October we learned he died after a terrible fight with cancer. He was in his late 80s…we’ll dedicate the play to his contribution and his memory. he other great elder statesmen, Donald Keene…he is comT ing. He’s my mentor and he’s the one who did the very first translation of this play—the puppet version which is the oldest version. o we’ll be able to honor one man alive and memorialize the S second. All of whom are associated with this play. So in a way, this an emotional reception of a performance and scholarly heritage from my teachers whom I deeply admire. he first of eight shows will begin Feb. 25 and continue until T March 5. More information can be found on the Center for Japanese Studies PDX page.

Vanguard | FEBRUARY 2, 2016 | psuvanguard.com

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