WOMEN TAKE ON LUMBERJACKS
IT's RAINING GOLDEN MEN
Women's basketball hosts 'Pink Zone' day
Who do you think will win on the 27th?
SPORTS: PAGE 12
OPINION: PAGE 10
INDEX NEWS OPINION ARTS SPORTS
2 4 8 12
FREE The Vanguard is published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
ESTABLISHED 1946
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2011
VOL. 65 NO. 39
PSUVANGUARD.COM
Geology Department chair honored for research Andrew Fountain becomes fellow of prestigious organization Miranda Schmidt Vanguard staff
P
rofessor Andrew Fountain, chair of Portland State’s Geology Department, will be appointed a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) tomorrow at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The AAAS is a prestigious organization dedicated to the advancement of science around the world. It publishes the journal “Science,” which, according to Fountain, is one of the most difficult journals for scientists to have work accepted into because the paper must be noteworthy across all scientific disciplines. “To be a fellow of that society is kind of a treat,” Fountain said. The AAAS accepts fellowship applications once every year. According to the AAAS website, fellows are recognized for their efforts to “advance science or its applications.” A fellow must be nominated by current AAAS members and must be a member of the AAAS at the time of nomination. After a fellow is nominated, the organization collects letters of support from the nominee’s colleagues. According to Fountain, he was nominated by Barry Lyons, a professor of geological science
and the director of the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University. Fountain has been a member of the AAAS since 2001. He said he is also believed to be the first professor from PSU to become a fellow of the AAAS. Fountain has been teaching at PSU for about 16 years. His current research is centered around the Dry Valleys in Antarctica and the western U.S. glacial response to global warming. The Dry Valleys are a polar desert ecosystem SARIA DY/VANGUARD STAFF and are important to Nationally recognized: Professor Andrew Fountain will be study because they are recognized for his research tomorrow in Washington D.C. the last ecosystem before everything becomes frozen over, according glaciers it can melt into them, forming a small to Fountain. During the summer, the tempera- pool of water, which is then frozen over. This ture in the Dry Valleys can get up to zero degrees creates a pocket of water beneath several inches Celsius, allowing some water to begin to flow. of ice. Algae grow in the sediment at the bottom One of the most interesting scientific discov- of the pool, according to Fountain. eries in the Dry Valleys is that there is life inside the glaciers. When dust blows onto the ice of the FOUNTAIN ON PAGE 3
Local seed bank moves to campus Berry Botanic Garden’s Plant Conservation Program to be relocated to PSU campus
“40-40-20” bill seeks to radically boost Oregon’s education levels by 2025 Erick Bengel Vanguard staff
The Oregon Senate passed the “40-40-20” bill (Senate Bill 253) on Feb. 10 by a vote of 28-2, thereby enshrining in state law an ambitious education goal for 2025, one that has been part of Oregon’s policy talk for several years. The goal of SB253 is that by 2025, 40 percent of Oregonians will be earning a four-year degree or higher, 40 percent will be earning an associate’s degree or a gainful post-high school certificate, and 20 percent will be earning a high school diploma. SB253 ON PAGE 7
George Takei headlines campus civil rights event “Star Trek” star to share his story of lifelong prosperity in spite of discrimination Joshua Hunt Vanguard staff
George Takei, best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu on television’s “Star Trek,” will be at Portland State this Sunday to speak about civil rights and his own experiences of facing discrimination. The event, called “Fighting for Civil Rights: The Japanese-American and LGBT experience,” is organized by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) as part of the day of remembrance tradition honoring those affected by Executive Order 9066, which forced the removal TAKEI ON PAGE 7
Erin McIntyre Vanguard staff
After more than 30 years, the Berry Botanic Garden will be moving to Portland State’s campus this year. To help with the transition costs, the garden’s board chair presented the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a check for $325,000. According to Conservation Director Ed Guerrant, the garden has been experiencing financial issues in the past few years and struggled to find funding after the economic recession in 2008. The garden’s board believed that the seed bank was critically important to the long-term survival of threatened and endangered plant species in the Pacific Northwest, and therefore sought out entities that could take on the garden’s functions in the future. After interviewing several educational institutions, the board elected to work with PSU. Guerrant will oversee the transfer of the Conservation Program and the seed bank to PSU, and will continue as conservation director after the move. The seed bank will be part
Oregon Senate upgrades educational objectives
Professor addresses water shortage in South Korea Heejun Chang says growing population and agriculture have created a demand for water Brenda Yahm Vanguard staff
said that the move provides a platform for student programs, including the opportunity for graduate and undergraduate projects and student internships.
Portland State geography Professor Heejun Chang and a visiting scholar Il-won Jung gave a lecture Wednesday night to raise awareness about South Korea’s water shortage. According to Jung, South Korea has a very strong and prosperous economy, which is rapidly growing.
SEED BANK ON PAGE 3
SOUTH KOREA ON PAGE 7
KARL KUCHS/VANGUARD STAFF
Seed security: Seeds such as the Mirabilis Macfarlanei (otherwise known as "MacFarlane's four-o'clock") are among the over 300 species preserved in the seed bank.
of PSU’s Environmental Sciences and Management Department. According to Board Member Jim Sjulin, the department appears to be a very good fit due to its applied science approach to natural resource protection and management. She also
NEWS ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 3
2 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ NEWS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEWS
EDITOR: CORIE CHARNLEY NEWS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5690
EDITOR@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Virginia Vickery
PSU hosts 21st annual NW Leadership Conference
NEWS EDITOR NEWS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Corie Charnley
OPINION EDITOR OPINION@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Richard D. Oxley
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ARTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Nicholas Kula
SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM
Robert Britt
COPY CHIEF Kristin Pugmire
PRODUCTION MANAGER Bryan Morgan
PHOTO EDITOR Adam Wickham
ONLINE EDITOR Adiana Lizarraga
CALENDAR EDITOR Kristin Pugmire
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR VGNEWS.ASSOC@GMAIL.COM
Alison Barnwell
ADVERTISING MANAGER Iris Meyers
ADVISER Judson Randall
ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman
ILLUSTRATORS Susannah Beckett, Heather Mcintyre
DESIGNERS Colby Brooks, Stephanie Lucky, Ben Patterson
WRITERS Kat Audick, Ian Bellamy, Erick Bengel, Peter Browning, Tori Christensen, Meaghan Daniels, Ryan Deming, Sarah Engels, Jesse Hansen, Rian Evans, Kevin Fong, Jesse Hansen, Rosemary Hanson, Solomon Hanson, Joshua Hunt, Ines Kuna, Alexis Jewel, Ebonee Lee, Stephen Lisle, Christina Maggio, Joe Mantecon, Natalie Mcclintock, Erin McIntyre, Daniel Ostlund, Katrina Petrovich, Sierra Pannabecker, Gretchen Sandau, Miranda Schmidt, Jenieve Schnabel, Wendy Shortman, Kali Simmons, Catrice Stanley, Jake Stevens, Nilesh Tendolkar, Vinh Tran, Kat Vetrano, Allison Whited, Elisabeth Wilson, Roger Wightman, Brenda Yahm
PHOTOGRAPHERS Saria Dy, Drew Martig
COPY EDITORS Noah Emmet, Sasha Fahrenkopf
ADVERTISING SALES Dominique Abrams, Sam Gressett, Rayna Martinez, Jae Specht
ADVERTISING DESIGNER Beth Hansen
DISTRIBUTORS Brittany Castillo, Brandy Castillo
Over 500 students from across the U.S. expected to attend Christina J. Maggio Vanguard staff
T
his weekend, Portland State will host the largest student-led conference in the region: the NW Student Leadership Conference (NWSLC). The conference aims to promote leadership, learning and legislative advocacy skills. The NWSLC is expected to bring over 500 students from different college campuses across the nation and Canada to PSU for the “Mission: I’m Possible” themed conference. The “mission” is to help students address global and environmental issues, such as animal rights, gay/lesbian issues and healthcare in their communities, according to Events and Development Director Susan Mund.
“This conference has been going on for 21 years in the Northwest region, and is really going to take off this year with a focus on the community and the issues surrounding it.” SUSAN MUND
“Students attending this event will learn leadership and advocacy skills,” Mund said. “This conference has been going on for 21 years in the Northwest
THE DAILY CUT A DIGEST OF CURRENT EVENTS
Ore. exports surge after recession, led by China PORTLAND—Oregon exports increased last year, led by high-tech sales and record shipments to China. The Oregonian reports that exports showed a strong recovery from the recession in 2010, jumping 19 percent as Oregon companies rang up nearly $17.7 billion in foreign sales. Exports to China, the state’s biggest foreign customer, surged past $4 billion last year after growing even during the recession. Developing countries are eclipsing wealthy economies as Oregon’s biggest foreign customers. China and Malaysia now lead the pack, displacing Canada and Japan, while European rankings have fallen for Oregon exports. Associated Press
Oregon lawmakers question need for mental hospital
The Vanguard is published two days a week as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Publications 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.
SALEM, Ore.—Some Oregon lawmakers continue to question the need for a second state mental hospital at Junction City. At a Joint Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday, Sen. Alan Bates of Ashland urged mental health officials to rethink the project and consider renting beds in the Portland area instead. The Oregonian reports opponents say the state already spends too much at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem and the cost of another hospital will take money better spent on community services. Supporters say Oregon needs the Junction City hospital to meet the needs of people with acute mental illness.
The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Associated Press
©2011 Portland State University Vanguard 1825 SW Broadway Smith Memorial Student Union, Rm. S-26 Portland OR, 97201
region, and is really going to take off this year with a focus on the community and the issues surrounding it.” Several credible guest speakers will take the stage on Friday and Saturday. For instance, Director of the LGBT Alliance Lisa Finkelstein will speak Friday night about the LGBT community. Former Representative and Senator Avel Louise Gordly will speak on Saturday afternoon on her service in the Oregon House, civil engagement and her recently published memoir, “Remembering The Power Of Words,” which was just released by the Oregon State University Press. Representatives from dozens of organizations throughout the northwest will provide insight through workshops and information booths. In addition, the Northwest Vegetarian Society will have a booth with a guest speaker giving a lecture on animal rights, as well as the positive effects of vegetarian dieting. Renters Rights is another organization that will be providing students with information regarding Oregon landlord laws and their rights as tenants. Basic Rights Oregon is giving a presentation on advocacy in the lesbian and gay community, as well as offering numerous workshops on this topic. “The wealth of groups coming together is huge,” Mund said. “We have over 15 different organizations and corporate sponsors assisting with this event.” This evening at 8 p.m., there will also be a free viewing of the documentary film “Papers: A Documentary of Undocumented Youth in America.” There will be a burlesque and Drag Queen show tomorrow night, put on by Portland’s own Drag Mansion. The show will feature former PSU student Brad Vehafric as the DJ.
Palin rejects gun laws changes, stays vague on ‘12 WOODBURY, N.Y.—Sarah Palin is still thinking about running for president in 2012. She said there
should be no new gun control measures enacted because of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ shooting. She stood firm in her claim that President Barack Obama’s health care reform effort could lead to “death panels.” And she poked at first lady Michelle Obama for urging new mothers to breast feed. The former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska’s ex-governor sat for a wide ranging interview Thursday at the annual meeting of the Long Island Association, a business group outside New York. Beth Fouhy and Frank Eltman, Associated Press
Security remains shaky in Egypt after revolt CAIRO—Families in quiet Cairo suburbs are investing heavily in locks and steel doors. Fake checkpoints set up by hardened criminals who escaped prisons terrorize travelers on highways. Thousands of looted firearms have flooded the black market. Egypt’s political upheaval has been followed by an unprecedented breakdown of security, with few police on the streets and the army unable to fill the vacuum. Some Egyptians who have just seen their longtime authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak overthrown by a popular uprising are already nostalgic for his police state. Egypt’s security forces, including police, number at least 500,000, slightly more than the armed forces. Though hated by Egyptians for their heavy handedness and rampant corruption, they had kept the country relatively safe. That was the case before they mysteriously disappeared from the streets Jan. 28 following deadly clashes with protesters whose massive anti-government demonstrations forced Mubarak to step down. Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
karl kuchs/VANGUARD STAFF
Role model: Former Representative Avel Louise Gordly will speak at the event about her leadership experiences.
Students currently attending this event have already pre-registered, but Mund encourages anyone interested in the conference to visit www.orstudents.org for future conference opportunities. The conference will begin today at 4:30 p.m. in Smith Memorial Student Union. ■
CRIME BLOTTER The Campus Public Safety Office is required by law to maintain a public crime log, which it publishes on Mondays and Fridays. These are some excerpts. ■■ Feb. 6, 12:53 a.m.: Person arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. ■■ Feb. 6, 12:53 a.m.: Person arrested for four counts of criminal mischief I, two counts of criminal mischief II and one count of criminal mischief III. ■■ Feb. 6, 12:53 a.m.: Person arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon in a building. ■■ Feb. 7, 8:23 a.m.: Person pried open a locked office door and cabinet in Neuberger Hall and took victim’s laptop. ■■ Feb. 8, 3:32 p.m.: Suspect stole victim’s credit card and driver’s license in Ondine Residence Hall. ■■ Feb. 8, 3:32 p.m.: Suspect made unauthorized transactions on victim’s debit card. ■■ Feb. 8, 3:40 p.m.: Suspect siphoned fuel from victim’s vehicle, which was parked in Parking Structure 1. ■■ Feb. 9, 5:56 p.m.: Two suspects were in possession of heroin in the Distance Learning Center. ■■ Feb. 9, 5:56 p.m.: Suspects were trespassing in the DLC. ■■ Feb. 9, 9:02 p.m.: A bike was stolen on Shattuck Hall grounds. ■■ Feb. 10, 2:44 a.m.: Suspect cited for criminal mischief II in Stephen E. Epler Hall. ■■ Feb. 10, 2:44 a.m.: Suspect was cited for harassment in Stephen E. Epler Hall. ■■ Feb. 11, 1:28 p.m.: Suspect scratched a glass pane with graffiti in the Academic and Student Recreation Center.
PSU students have worked at the garden as interns, volunteers and temporary staff and PSU graduate students have worked at the Conservation Program for the past two years. Guerrant said that the move will be an opportunity for more student involvement in the seed bank and is looking forward to the collaboration with PSU. According to the Berry Botanic Garden’s website, the bank currently has over 300 preserved seeds that act as an insurance policy for native endangered species. Species such as the Malheur wire lettuce went extinct in the wild, but thanks the seed bank,
the species has been preserved, Guerrant said. “I struggled with the concept of taking plants out of nature in order to preserve them for many years; it seemed counter-intuitive, but through my time at the bank I’ve seen that it’s imperative,” he said. The program will be housed in Science Building 2, and the seed vault will be in a secure room in the now seismically safe lower level of the building. Seeds will be transferred to the seed vault when work in the area has been completed, at which point Guerrant will move from the garden location to PSU. ■
FOUNTAIN FROM PAGE 1
SEED BANK FROM PAGE 1
Fountain's research centers around glacial response to climate change
Officials hope that integration into PSU's curriculum will create internship opportunities
“It’s maintained because the sunlight comes through the ice,” he said. “There’s a greenhouse effect where it keeps the sediment warm enough because the heat can’t conduct through the ice fast enough against the cold surface.” When walking on the glacier, Fountain is able to spot these pools by the dark areas they cause on the ice surface. He is then able to drill through the ice to the water. Fountain published the first comprehensive paper on snow fall in the Dry Valleys last May in the “International Journal of Climatology,” for which he spent five years collecting data. He also has a forthcoming paper examining glacial change in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. According to Fountain, glaciers in Antarctica are at equilibrium, and are not advancing or retreating. As a result, they form glacial walls that can reach up to 50 or 60 feet. In the western U.S., however, glacial walls have melted to become more of a ramp. “It’s these guys that are contributing lots to global sea level rise,” Fountain said. “So the glaciers on Mt. Hood might be a cute story, but if you add all those up like those on Mt. Hood, they’re significantly contributing to sea level change and that’s definitely going to continue through the rest of the century.” In addition to the warming of water temperatures and the expansion of oceans, global sea level is expected to rise three feet over the course of the century. “If you live in the Everglades or if you live on the East Coast, three feet is a lot,” Fountain said. “People kind of don’t realize that, that all these little dinky pieces of ice themselves are insignificant, but together around the earth they’re pretty important.” ■
“It is our hope that the Conservation Program and the Seed Bank will be fully integrated into PSU and that PSU students will embrace the obvious educational and applied science opportunities that these programs bring,” Sjulin said. “I can envision that seed banking as a plant conservation strategy will find its way into the [environmental sciences and management] curriculum.” PSU has been involved with Berry Botanic Garden since its inception in 1978, prior to the development of the garden’s Conservation Program and seed bank. Former PSU professor Dr. Clyde Calvin also served as executive director of the garden for a time. According to former board member Andrea Raven, in addition to the scientific study and preservation efforts, the garden has provided internships and summer field studies programs in the past. “[The programs] have provided unique professional training in the field of conservation science to more than 200 college and high school students,” Raven said. “In addition, we’ve developed a thriving group of citizen advocates for native plants through the hundreds of volunteers who’ve worked in the Conservation Program.” Plant conservation: The seed bank currently houses over 300 species of rare or endangered native seeds.
KARL KUCHS/VANGUARD STAFF
4 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ OPINION
OPINION
OPINION ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 5
EDITOR: RICHARD D. OXLEY OPINION@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5692
Why is the sky blue? H
ILLUSTRATION BY COLBY BROOKS/VANGUARD STAFF
The World Economic Forum ranked the United States 48th in mathematics and science education, wedged just slightly behind Greece.
just slightly behind Greece (yes, the same Greece whose economy tanked in 2010 from a basic failure to understand economics) and a smidge in front of Senegal. Other countries that beat out the U.S. in math and science education
include Qatar, Tunisia and Brunei Darussalam. Topping the list was Singapore. Where does this decline in science and mathematics education come from? Experts are divided on this. Some researchers cite the dearth of instructors trained in these disciplines, and they have data to support it. More than 60 percent of students between the fifth and eighth grades are taught by instructors with minimal education in the sciences, and high schools are not much better. Others cite budget cutbacks that have eliminated science-based enrichment programs or laboratory classes. The most likely culprit, however, seems to be the fear of offending sensibilities. It sounds ridiculous, certainly, but the entire situation has already become absurd. Many instructors balk at teaching evolution in the classroom
Where to draw the line Shame in advertising Kali Simmons Vanguard staff
Groupon, a social networking “deal a day” group, has created waves with its heavily criticized Super Bowl advertisement. The commercial starts out with actor Timothy Hutton explaining the plight of the culture of Tibet, a country whose people have been subject to torture and oppression by the Chinese government. The commercial takes an incredibly tasteless turn (no pun intended) with Hutton stating, “But they still whip up an amazing fish curry.” While the attempt at dry humor is admirable in a society where slapstick rules, the reaction of the masses was anything but laughter. The Internet was immediately flooded with reactions to the ad, with disgruntled Tweeters and Facebookers shocked at the attempted satire. Groupon is a company that releases coupons for a specific business or service in major cities for a reduced price. An example would be selling a restaurant gift card, worth $50, for $20. The way they maintain this is through “group buying,” where a specific amount of people must sign up for the deal in order for it to be applicable. The idea has spread like wildfire, presumably because people like cheap things.
Legislator pushes suspicious cell phone labeling bill Elizabeth Bommarito Vanguard staff
American math and science education sinks to new lows ow do magnets work? What causes gravity? Why does gasoline ignite? Where did life on this planet come from? How does one calculate a standard deviation in a survey? Most Americans would be considered very knowledgeable if they knew the answer to even one of these questions. Perhaps a better question is: How did the United States drop to 48th place in K–12 math and science education? janieve A study by schnabel the National Ac a d e m i e s of Science released in September of 2010 considered the U.S. in various measures of competitiveness on a global scale. One such measure of competitiveness was K–12 and college education. The National Academies followed up on research from 2005 regarding education in the U.S. and found that, despite slight improvements in some areas, the country had shown little to no improvement in math and science education in particular. Among the results of the research were some startling finds. From the ACT College Readiness Report came the first shock. Approximately 78 percent of high school graduates were found not to have met the readiness benchmarks for “one or more entry-level college classes in mathematics, science, reading and English.” In other words, about eight in 10 high school graduates were not sufficiently prepared for entry-level college classes in disciplines nearly all colleges require. The blows kept coming. The World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. 48th in mathematics and science education, wedged
Cancer-causing radiation: conspiracy or fact?
The issue that has been brought up is whether or not Groupon should be held accountable for their advertising, as well as what kind of limits we hold on comedy. Although they brought attention to important issues, such as the conflict in Tibet, their attempt at “deadpan” humor seems simultaneously irresponsible and exploitative. This effect is worsened when you discover that Groupon is actually promoting charities like “Save the Money.” This tidbit of information, were it included in the ad, could have possibly prevented such backlash.
Photo courtesy of groupon.com
Super Bowl advertisements have a reputation for causing controversy, as do many ideas that try to step “outside the box.” Another Super Bowl ad for HomeAway, a hotel rental company, was persecuted for depicting the smashing of a plastic “test baby” against a window. The company took an apologetic route and Chief Executive Brian Sharples, in an online apology, called the ad “a mistake in judgment.” Dockers has also recently been a subject of media attention, as its recent publishing of a “Man-Ifesto” on its website proclaimed the heavily sexist message of “it’s time for men to wear the pants.” The ad points out that we have slipped into an era where men are no longer manly, but instead androgynous saladeaters. They continue by saying we need to go back to “the days when men were men.” They fail to also point out that when “men were men,” women couldn’t vote, African-Americans counted as three-fourths of a person and “real” men definitely did not wear khakis. Groupon Chief Executive Andrew Mason defended the commercials on their company blog by stating, “no one walks away from our commercials taking the causes we highlighted less seriously.” He continues his explanation with: “Our ads highlight the often trivial nature of stuff on Groupon when juxtaposed
(despite the fact that, besides the central dogma of “DNA-RNA-Protein,” evolution is the foundation of biology itself ) out of concern that they or the school will be the target of retribution from religious parents. Chemistry and physics instructors face an ever-shortening list of demonstrations and experiments permitted in the classroom. Mathematics and science teachers are told to artificially inflate grades or to dumb down material so as not to harm students’ self esteem. Clearly, something needs to be done about this. Although funding for science and math programs has been increased over the past few years, the problem remains that restrictions on the instructors make it nearly impossible for them to teach appropriately. Teachers are given too much to cover with too little time to go in-depth. They have to adhere to rigid guidelines: when to teach what, what to focus on specifically and what cannot be discussed or taught as fact. Instructors need to be given some measure of free reign again. They need to be allowed to teach critical thinking and the scientific method, things that a majority of high school students graduate with a sub-par knowledge of, at best. Schools should allow demonstrations in the classroom and hands-on experience through experimentation, self-guided research and a focus on knowledge. As is the case with so many facets of American education, teachers need to stop teaching for standardized tests and start teaching for knowledge. It will not be easy for America to salvage its educational system, but it is possible. With work and a few changes to the system, the next generation of American students ought to be able to compete with the world again—and a higher standard of excellence than those of today. ■
against bigger world issues, making fun of Groupon.” But in the end, I can’t imagine many Tibetans find comparing the rape of their culture to online discounts something to chuckle about. Although its attempt at humor and originality are admirable, Groupon has definitely taken the offensiveness to an extreme, which many aren’t comfortable with, especially those educated in the serious situations from which they attempted to spawn humor. “Many ethical philosophers say ‘don’t use other people for your own goals,’” said David Kennamer, professor of media ethics at Portland State. “Especially when they don’t know about it.” It appears that Groupon has broken these moral codes and done exactly that. Kennamer noted the ad “trivialized and exploited” the misfortune of the Tibetan people. While many advertisers try to push the limit on their advertising, it still feels like some things should remain sacred. Professor Kennamer points out that those kind of ethical standards are “hard to find in our culture, generally.” By creating an advertisement that began on a positive note, only to turn into something frivolous not only tricks the viewers into watching, but it robs the ad of any integrity. As of Friday, Feb. 11, Groupon has announced that they will be pulling their controversial ads from the air. It seems that the negative backlash has finally taken a toll on the company. Groupon’s failed advertisement may finally be the exception to the phrase, “there’s no such thing as bad PR.” ■
O
regon Senator Chip Shields presented a bill on Feb. 7 calling for labeling cell phones with a warning about a possible correlation between radiation and cancer. Citing a lack of government oversight and implications in scientific peer reviewed studies as the reason for the bill, the controversy has voters, the scientific community and cell phone companies in quite a tizzy over who has it right. The overwhelming majority of the available evidence indicates that there is no correlation between the non-ionizing radiation emitted from cell phones and the alteration of cells can create cancer. Unlike the ionizing radiation from devices such as X-rays, which can cause cancer, studies have been inconclusive as to what the long-term effects of cell phone use may be. The website for The National Institute of Cancer has an exhaustive FAQ, instilling faith that no, as far as we know, cell phones don’t cause cancer. Considering that this is the first time in history that there are 285 million cell phone subscribers, adequate information as to the cancercausing ability of these gadgets once we have them pressed to our ears for 15, 20 or 100 years can’t even be demonstrated. What does this mean for lay people who, first of all, are not going to read all the scientific journals and secondly, have to trust that our government and the scientists that work for consumer health are telling the truth? Proponents of the bill say that a conflict of interest exists in the largest peer review study done on the health impacts of cell phones, conducted by Interphone. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, not only is
the Interphone study bias because a majority of the funding came from the cell phone industry, but problems also exist in the science itself. However, when it came time to site which study does indicate a positive correlation/ causation between cell phones and cancer, the Interphone study was the one cited in a statement released by Shields as well as an article in The Washington Post. Now, I am generally a “don’t trust The Man” kinda gal, but the heap of intellectual dishonesty mounding around this circus is enough to have even me siding with the corporate ringmasters at Apple, AT&T and Verizon. There simply isn’t enough evidence to warrant labeling cell phones. Frankly, they are both “The Man.” I trust neither of them to be especially concerned with my health. Especially not when the issue has become so convoluted and the media has clung to the firestorm, giving validity to both sides’ agendas.
make you think twice about how often you expose This lack of trust in science is partially caused yourself to radiation, while the other wants to by biased funding in scientific studies. It seems push a political envelope for his party. the only way to keep it honest is, instead of Shields has even gone so far as to declare that he wasting money labeling cell phones, spend it on feels neither way about whether or not cell phones an impartial study on cell phones. Let’s also keep actually cause cancer, but that he is merely “acting the study going for many decades to come. as a referee.” Only when the public can believe the While each party plays this high-stakes game, information they are being bombarded with can we you can be sure that both sides have waged a bet see if an idea such as warning labels on cell phones that consumers will believe whoever wins. It’s a even makes sense. Otherwise we are pushing the lose-lose situation for the scientific method, as both cancer panic button without warrant. ■ the cell phone companies and the government are relying on the lack of knowledge and trust in the The overwhelming majority of the available scientific community that the evidence indicates that there is no correlation American public has—a fact that has been demonstrated between the non-ionizing radiation emitted from similar cell phone label from cell phones and the alteration of cells bills are already in place in San Francisco and Maine. that can create cancer.
Don’t let them fool you with their web of paranoia and conspiracy. Both sides of this debate do have an agenda. One side wants you to keep buying cell phones, and wants them label-free, as to not
adam wickham/VANGUARD STAFF
GUEST OPINION
Monogamy is not a natural trait JoAnna Wendel Daily Emerald staff
Are humans monogamous? This is the question that haunts those happy couples when big days such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day loom over the horizon. I’m just going to hit you with the bad news up front, because I believe you can take it — biologically, no. Humans are not genetically predetermined to be monogamous. When you strip away culture, religion, tradition and societal rules, and leave humans naked and shivering under the microscope, they are not monogamous. Sorry if that ruins your glittery Valentine’s Day bubble of love. But after all, humans are still primates. There are only a few species of primates that show any kind of monogamy, such as gibbons. But even gibbon couples stray. There are several biological cues leading anthropologists like University professor Frances White, of ANTH 173 Evolution of Human Sexuality fame, to believe that humans are not meant to be monogamous. One clue suggesting humans are not monogamous is the lack of sexual dimorphism, or the fact that human females and human males are different sizes. Men are, in general, larger
than women, implying a male competitiveness for females. The biggest male wins. In turn, his genes are the ones that win. Another biological cue is teste size (yes, I said teste). Human males have relatively large testes, which indicates high competitiveness between males for females and less-than-monogamous behavior. And yet, there are also several biological cues that could suggest monogamy. As opposed to non-human primates, human males have no idea when human females are at their most fertile. Therefore, it’s in the male’s best interest to stick around to make sure only his sperm gets to that little egg. Furthermore, the human infant is one of the most helpless in the animal kingdom, so it’s in the female’s best interest to keep a dude around to help take care of the kid. Unfortunately, considering the human gifts of self-awareness and free will, it’s hard to say whether humans are biologically anything when it comes down to behavior. Our societies tell us to mate with one and only one person forever. Religion wails about the sanctity of marriage. Romantics swoon over their “one true love.” And sleeping around (whether you’re in an exclusive relationship or
not) is frankly looked down upon in today’s society. But there is a difference between what our society tells us to do and what is actually done. What is actually done is this: Humans are not monogamous in the truest sense of the word. We do sleep around. We do have multiple sexual partners (sometimes at the same time), and there is a significant rate of adultery. Just watch the news; all your favorite celebrities and politicians are doing it. When someone is not looking for a soul mate, White said this is called “gene shopping.” In human culture, the most common form of monogamy is serial monogamy. You’ve got one main squeeze, one at a time. Eventually you may get the urge (or your biological alarm clock starts ringing) for an offspring, so the search turns to finding that “special someone.” Or, in biological terms, the search for the best genes to combine with yours for the best possible results. To make society happy, most of the time this search ends with marriage. Unfortunately, a lot of the time happy marriages also end in divorce. How does homosexuality relate to this? Homosexuality has baffled evolution for years — no one knows how or why it evolved.
And yet, homosexuality is not just a unique human trait — it’s seen in dolphins, bonobos (a close, more lovable relative of the chimpanzee) and penguins. Behaviorally, there is a considerable advantage to male pair bonds (hunting together, defense, etc.) in animals. Evolutionarily, however, scientists have no clue why it evolved. Interestingly enough, monogamy has nothing to do with sexuality — homosexuals are just as likely to not be monogamous as heterosexuals. When it comes down to it, it’s called free will. Humans may not have evolved to require one partner and one partner only, but we also evolved with that little voice in our head and a thing called self-awareness. You can choose to be monogamous, or you can choose not to be. That means none of this, “Sorry babe, it’s in my genes to sleep with other people,” and expecting your significant other to be OK with it. Whether you choose to be monogamous or not, make sure your Valentine at least knows which one it is. ■
*This article was originally published in the Daily Emerald. It is printed here in its original form.
NEWS ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 7
6 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ OPINION VANGUARD EDITORIAL
ONLINE COMMENTS SB253 FROM PAGE 1
Care like an Egyptian Over the past few weeks, the people of Egypt have exercised their collective voice and brought about great change in their country. And with every step they took toward political change in their lives, people around the world expressed support. But here on the Portland State campus, one wouldn’t know it. Hosni Mubarak, the now-former president of Egypt, held power for over 30 years. During his regime, the country suffered startling unemployment rates, a high cost of living and a list of abuses ranging from police brutality to government corruption. For years, dissent and opposition had been brewing among the Egyptian people. Things took a turn for the worse as stricter curfews were instituted and Internet service was denied to the Egyptian people. Prior to this, social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook were also blocked. But the people didn’t need social networking to make their voices heard—soon protesters filled the streets of Cairo, setting in motion the events that ultimately led to Mubarak stepping down on Feb. 11 and handing over control of the country to the military. While the people of Egypt took to the streets, protesting and actively challenging the power structure of their own country, support for their cause was seen around the globe. On various college campuses throughout the United States, rallies and demonstrations conveyed a variety of views and opinions and raised awareness in the communities surrounding our nation’s universities. One week before Mubarak stepped down as president of Egypt, students from San Diego’s City College surrounded the Federal Build-
ing to show their support for the people of Egypt. Last week, in Durango, Colo., students and faculty from Fort Lewis College held a rally in support of the ongoing changes in Egypt, even after Mubarak resigned. However, no activity regarding the events in Egypt seems to have occurred at PSU—a campus where students have been easily mobilized to rally against topics ranging from the mere proposal of university restructuring to the forced use of the HigherOne Card. PSU also boasts a history of high-profile anti-war and civil rights protests in the ’60s and ’70s. More recently, small red and white flags covered the South Park Blocks in 2008 to represent the American soldiers and civilians that had lost their lives in Iraq since the the beginning of the war. It was a statement that encouraged passersby to contemplate the reality of the war. PSU hasn’t been short on commentary upon current events in the past. It is unsettling to find silence regarding such major events as those taking place in Egypt. Little regarding the current state of affairs in Egypt has been expressed on campus. The South Park Blocks have seen no rallies or demonstrations either for or against giving support. Aside from a last-minute panel discussion on the day of Mubarak’s resignation, little has been done to bring awareness of the issue to the PSU community. The Vanguard would like to voice its support to the people of Egypt as they go through these difficult, exciting and changing times. We hope that such developments will result in a positive future for Egypt. ■
The story doesn’t stop when the print hits the page. Don’t like something you read in the Vanguard? Want us to cover a story? Do you feel there is more to be said? You have the opportunity to praise us or rip us apart here at the Vanguard. Post a comment online or write us a letter. Tell us what you think. Here are some online highlights from www.psuvanguard.com.
Dick Richards ruins Valentines Day Thanks to reading this, my girlfriend looks at my dick like that scene from Clockwork Orange when the dude has his eyes pried open, only she can close her eyes [“Rant and Rage: Love is a special kind of stupid,” Feb. 11]. Anonymous
People die because they do “Since 2004, over 60 deaths of immigrants in custody of ICE have been documented. Many more have likely occurred that have not been documented, as record-keeping is notoriously bad at these institutions.” Wonder how many people died in our population during the same period just because people die [“Pandering to bigotry,” Feb. 15]? The Washington Post looked at these figures and only about eight (less than one a year) deaths were possibly due to poor care. Wish we could say the same about the care we get in our hospitals. As for not detaining illegal aliens and legal ones in deportation proceedings, pull the other one. We have more than 600,000 such fugitives that ICE is currently seeking. Immigrants cannot be trusted to show up for hearings or to honor the decisions of such hearings when the decision is deportation. You should also note that LEGAL immigrants may also be deported and when they are, it’s often going to be for a violent crime or selling drugs.
Leave Van Damme alone! Enough with the Van Damme bashing, It’s getting old [“Notes from the underground,’ Feb. 4]. The guy hasn’t been around and now that he’s making a comeback, the stupid journalist/ reporters are back with their stupid insulting articles. Europeans do not have the same tipping percentages. At least he left a tip. I read in another article that there was a gratuity charge already on the bill the forty that was left was extra. Why don’t you tell the public that part?? Anonymous
There was only one tiny line about healthcare in the entire article The government does drag its feet about healthcare [“Notes from the underground,’ Feb. 4]. I was wondering if this correspondence could speak more on healthcare and what need to be done for people to get health care when they have no insurance. ladygrandam7
Anonymous
ASPSU lacks moral courage The Vanguard sucks
By Matt Gorby’s logic, ASPSU should be relegated to the sub-basement and student media should have the run of the SMSU mezzanine [“Editorial: We can’t breathe down here,” Feb. 11]. Just sayin’.
While I applaud Senator Ulbright’s openess, I question why she and other senators have not voiced their concern at Senate Meetings [“Letter to the editor: Letter from ASPSU Senator Karen Ulbright,” Feb. 15]. There were plenty of opportunities to address these issues. Yet, consistently, every time, senators are unwilling to bring the moral courage to address it. ASPSU is lacking ethics and leadership. But is also lacking the courage of character that keeps all governments in check.
Anonymous
Makoto Matt Blasa
Do a better job, get a better office [“Editorial: We can’t breathe down here,” Feb. 11]. Matt Gorby
Responding to Gorby’s logic
EDITORIAL BOARD Virginia Vickery Editor-in-Chief Corie Charnley News Editor Nicholas Kula Arts & Culture Editor Richard Oxley Opinion Editor Robert Britt Sports Editor Kristin Pugmire Copy Chief
Board member says bill originated in Oregon's business community To realize this goal, Oregon’s universities, community colleges and K–12 schools must work together as a well-orchestrated continuum in the production of educational degrees. “What is good about the 4040-20 bill is that it makes it clear the state is ambitious about educating its citizens,” Portland State President Wim Wiewel said. “But we’re now falling short of all three of those numbers.” The current figures in Oregon are much less outstanding: 29.2 percent, 26.9 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively. “The bill codifies the statewide goal for educational attainment and serves as the foundation for what reforms are necessary to meet these goals,” Laura Patton, PSU government relations associate, said. “The Oregon University System is currently on track to meet these goals by 2025, but without reform we may lose our momentum.” According to Hannah Fischer, a student member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, the idea for the 40-40-20 bill originated in Oregon’s business community, which believed that the state was not churning out enough college graduates to ensure the kind of highly educated workforce that could retain its own industries and jobs, let alone attract them from elsewhere. Governor Ted Kulongoski, the board and other interested parties then decided that the next logical step was to set a statewide goal that would enable Oregon to prepare for the 21st century economy. “Without a goal to reach for, it’s hard to get to the target needed to succeed,” Fischer said. Diane Saunders, director of communications for the OUS, said that major companies like
Intel, while traveling from state to state in search of promising sites and professional talent, focus on such demographic details as the number of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and Ph.D.s per adult. Because it is more expensive to import talent from abroad, these companies simply won’t set up shop in Oregon unless it has the talent they demand. The 40-40-20 bill, which the Oregon House will vote on in the coming weeks, is one of five education-related bills to be considered by the state legislature in the coming months. Two of these bills—one in the Senate and a virtually identical one in the House—concern the proposed restructuring of the OUS. Another bill, submitted by the University of Oregon, concerns the creation of its own institutional governing board. U of O has also drafted a seperate resolution that would grant the university over $800 million in bonding authority so that it could opt out of the state appropriations process. A final bill—which hails from the same legislative higher education work group that crafted 40-40-20—seeks to establish a Higher Education Coordinating Commission. According to Wiewel, the seven institutions that comprise the OUS, currently a state agency, have been making incremental progress toward becoming a public university system since the mid-90s. Over several legislative sessions, a number of the strict rules governing the OUS have been steadily loosened. But the quantum leap forward in restructuring has occurred because the state is in such dire financial straits.
SOUTH KOREA FROM PAGE 1
Chang says best solution for South Korea's water crisis is to build more dams
NOW HIRING DESIGNER
The Vanguard, Portland State’s school newspaper is hiring a design assistant. Design assistants get paid to produce newspaper layouts, information graphics, illustrations and other design elements to accompany stories. Ideal applicants will possess strong page layout skills and be capable of working quickly and independently in a fast paced newsroom environment. Applicants must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours at PSU and be available to work Monday evenings. SEND APPLICATIONS & SAMPLES OF WORK TO VANGUARDPRODUCTIONPDX@GMAIL.COM
“The Korean economy grew tremendously in 2009,” Jung said at the lecture. South Korea’s automotive, information technology and shipbuilding industries are among its strongest, he said. Though South Korea has a strong economy, it still needs to improve its water resource system, according to Jung. “Korea gets a lot of precipitation in a short period of time,” he said, adding that most of its rainfall occurs in the summer. There are frequent floods during the summer months, whereas in the spring months there tends to be more droughts, Jung said. South Korea also experiences extended floods from June through September. This means there is more flood damage in the areas that receive the most and longest flooding. South Korea is currently trying to find solutions to the shortage of water resources. Chang
said that the nation is importing water from other places and is constructing numerous water reservoirs. Chang and Jung said that they have many ideas to increase South Korea’s water supply, but that in order to fully understand the problem, one needs to look for its cause. According to Chang, the growth in population has led to a water demand. In addition, the amount of water the nation gets depends on the weather it experiences each season. Rural conditions also increase the demand for water, as 63 percent of the nation’s water resources go toward agriculture. While there are some ideas and projects implemented in South Korea already, Chang and Jung are testing another model: the hydro-economic model set up in the Han River. The results from this test are expected this month, and both
Kulongoski appointed a “reset” cabinet charged with reinventing the way the state government operates, particularly in the areas of higher education, health care and criminal justice—three of Oregon’s biggest “money pits.” Both the 40-40-20 goal and the restructuring plan emerged from this cabinet, according to Wiewel. Although the 40-40-20 bill is an historic first step in raising Oregon’s education levels, it will make little practical difference for students in their day-to-day academic experience, according to Wiewel. The bill certainly won’t affect classroom activities or tuition levels in the short run. In the long run, however, the bill is likely to become a touchstone that the OUS can use to argue for increased state funding. It will serve to strengthen the hand of students, universities and others who argue that the Legislature should either fund the OUS more robustly or find new revenue streams for it. And eventually, this new set of funding priorities could very well produce changes in students’ tuition, according to Wiewel. “The reason why tuition has been going up so much is that the state has consistently cut back its funding for higher education,” he said. How will the OUS know it is fulfilling the 40-40-20 goal? According to Wiewel, the most simple and straightforward way is to track the number of students enrolled in OUS institutions, compare it to the number of degrees the system awards every year, and then calculate these figures against the size of Oregon’s population. “The fact that we have been increasing our enrollment faster than population growth shows that we are educating more and more of the population and that we are making progress on it,” Wiewel said. ■ experts believe that it will help determine what is the best course of action for South Korea. Chang also noted that South Koreans are against the construction of dams. “People don’t want [the government] to construct dams because it destroys the environment,” Chang said. However, Chang said that dams are the best option. Other solutions Chang recommends include expanding and diversifying the nation’s water supplies, developing alternate water supplies, reducing the demand of water, implementing operational changes and increasing drought preparedness. At the lecture, community member Bob Stevens said that he thinks the best way to reduce the demand for water is to switch from rice to another crop. “Wheat takes less water than other crops,” he said. However, Chang and Jung feel that wheat is not as costeffective, as it would have to be imported. “It is time to prepare for our future,” Jung said. ■
Day of remembrance: Takei will speak at PSU on Sunday for the Japanese-American Citizens League Day on Remembrance. TAKEI FROM PAGE 1
Takei was a prisoner in an American concentration camp during WWII and internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. JACL co-President Jeff Selby said that Takei fits perfectly with the mission of the organization, which in the past has partnered with ArabMuslim and Latino groups. This year, however, it is partnering with Portland’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “His unique perspective is perfect for this event, as he was a child prisoner in an American concentration camp during World War II and is now a gay rights advocate,” Selby said. “I believe that for Portland JACL to remain relevant, we must continue to build coalitions with other communities to grow our collective voice about the precarious nature of American civil rights.” Takei recently took his experience as a childhood prisoner of American concentration camps to the stage in the off-Broadway musical “Allegiance.” Takei stars opposite Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga in a story that is set against the backdrop of the so-called “internment” camps of World War II.
“Mid-February has always been a sad time for our community, and each year there are fewer and fewer of us survivors around to tell firsthand what happened,” Takei recently told Broadway World Weekly. “We want our story to be remembered.” Kristen Kohashi, secretary of the Japanese Student Society at PSU, is a fourth generation Japanese-American whose family lives in Hawaii, where they experienced a different side of the tragedy. “In Hawaii, a majority of the Japanese-American population were lucky enough not to be taken to internment camps because of the significant dent it would make in Hawaii’s population,” Kohashi said. “My grandparents were two of these Japanese-Americans.” Though his family escaped the imprisonment endured by many Japanese-Americans, Kohashi’s grandfather joined the United States Artmy. Wataru Kohashi fought in the 100th Batallion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit composed entirely of Nisei, or secondgeneration Japanese-Americans born to native Japanese.
PHOTO COURTESY DAVIDFILLINGHAM.COM
“Even though many of them had families in internment camps, they chose to fight for America to prove their pride, innocence and worth as loyal Americans,” Kohashi said. “The 100th/442nd suffered some of the most casualties in the war, and to this day remains the most highly decorated unit in United States military history.” Wataru’s story is just one of the multitudes that characterize the grit and courage with which Japanese-Americans endured a terrible injustice, according to Kohashi. The injustice continues to this day in the official history, which refers to JapaneseAmerican “internment,” a term that the JACL no longer recognizes in reference to the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II, according to Takei. This whitewashing is something that both Selby and Takei feel needs to stop if U.S. citizens are ever to move on from the injustice. The real lessons of such injustice can only be gained from the real history, Takei told Broadway World Weekly. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20 in Hoffman Hall. Takei could not be reached for comment. ■
ARTS & CULTURE ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 9
8 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ ARTS & CULTURE
A&C
EDITOR: NICHOLAS KULA ARTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5694
YOUR WEEKEND IS DONE, MAN. Friday, Feb. 18
Reinventing the art of recycling SCRAP’s Re:Boutique is opening grandly Candace Opper Vanguard staff
Adam wickham/vanguard staff
Lateral liquid: The most underappreciated item in history gains new life at SCRAP. All bets are off.
Local nonprofit SCRAP (School and Community Reuse Action Project) loves to use the “re-” prefix, and they’ve earned it. The organization focuses on inspiring creative reuse of materials otherwise destined for the landfill. Their newest venture, the Re:Boutique, is just another great example of their efforts to re-think the destiny of our trash. SCRAP was founded in 1998 by a group of teachers who wanted to make creative use of leftover school art supplies. A year later, the endeavor blossomed into an official non-profit with the help of a generous grant from the Department of Environmental Quality. Eleven years after its development, SCRAP has grown into a community staple. Last year, the almost entirely volunteer-run operation collected 94 tons of donated reusable material. You’ll find these bits and pieces meticulously organized in SCRAP’s retail shop, where they resell the donations at absurdly reasonable rates. The center also offers a workshop space and hosts birthday parties, field trips, tours, and a sustainability camp for kids over the summer. In January of 2009, SCRAP moved into a new and larger space on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in northeast Portland, offering the organization an opportunity to expand some new projects. After winding through some of SCRAP’s bins of bottle caps and crates filled with fragments of linoleum tile, you’ll find yourself at the threshold of the Re:Vision Gallery, a space dedicated to art made with recycled material—at least 75 percent reused material, to be exact. According to center manager Alyssa Kail, this percentage tops the recycled art industry standard, which is currently 50 percent. The gallery hosts bi-monthly shows featuring solo artists or group exhibits. The space currently features work by Portland-based artist Joe Ryckebosch, who reinvents found images by layering brightly colored patterns of vintage design tape over their dull and neglected surfaces. Most of the original images resemble the
Down and out in Carpathian hills “Katalin Varga” comes to town Ines Kuna Vanguard staff
The Northwest Film center is now showing yet another fantastic film thanks to the 34th Portland International Film Festival. Director and writer Peter Strickland offers audiences a whole lot to chew on with his crime drama “Katalin Varga” (2009). A compelling plotline intertwines with convincing characters and breathtaking scenes to create this truly one of a kind film that will leave viewers stunned. After Katalin Varga’s (Hilda Peter) rape is revealed to her husband Zsigmond, she is ostracized from her town. With nowhere to go in particular, Katalin and her young son Orban (Norbert Tanko) embark on an expedition that will lead them to the heart of morality. The two travel the Carpathian Mountains
with no money, relying on the courtesy of strangers. Yet the nomadic lifestyle does not bother Katalin, as she has made it her mission to revisit those of her past with bloody plans. Before she knows it, her arrangements turn a sharp corner that no one expects and the concept of vengeance blurs. Before the audience can make a decision themselves, Katalin’s lies and sins catch up to her. The plot is unsurpassed. The complexity does not triumph over the film’s believability. Peter’s amazing performance brings the audience into the life of a brave, confused woman who discovers a morality too complex for rules. This notion juxtaposes Katalin’s constant prayers to a God concerned with clear-cut commandments, asking viewers to reconsider the common notion of good and evil. Perhaps the most interesting technique the film takes advantage of is antagonist shift-
ing. From beginning to the end, the antagonist continues to change. The unconventional use of character archetypes reiterates the film’s message on ethics. Admittedly, this is not a film for all occasions, and definitely not for all ages. The overall somber mood is unmatched by any film I have ever seen before. Although it is not a tearjerker, “Katalin Varga” leaves behind a heavily dreary perspective of the world in which justice doesn’t exist. The cinematography helps to establish the film’s mood of loneliness. The beautiful mountain scenery also sends chilling vibrations of solitude. This is a particularly useful technique for establishing mood in theatres. Although slow, the film is full of surprises and packed with subtle but powerful emotion. Its reverse time editing foreshadows events in a clever and slightly misleading manner.
abandoned selection of wall art one might find at the Goodwill, and that’s likely where some of them were discovered. Ryckebosch’s work reminds us of the many ways we can artistically reframe what we might otherwise consider void of aesthetic satisfaction. Tucked away into a small room off the gallery is the Re:Boutique, a consignment shop for local artists who work with recycled materials. The boutique officially opened last November and has slowly been filling up with art and craft objects—from simple pleasures like bottle cap magnets to complicated wall clocks constructed from a mosaic of corrugated cardboard. Like the gallery, the Re:Boutique requires a 75 percent minimum of recycled material in each product. This standard really reinforces the emphasis on creatively making the most of our rubbish. When seeking out vendors, SCRAP focuses on not only material, but also the proficiency of the craft. “We are looking for objects that show a certain amount of skill is involved,” Kail says. “We don’t want people picking stuff up and saying, ‘Oh, I could do that.’” While the craftsmanship is impressive, it’s also meant to inspire. This is especially easy at SCRAP, where you’re surrounded by tons of potential art projects. In order to celebrate the new boutique and to foster some creativity, Re:Boutique is holding a grand opening and sale on Sunday, Feb. 27. SCRAP expects you’ll be inspired by all the artwork, so with every boutique purchase they will knock 25 percent off of the total of your reuse center purchase. The festivities will also include a free craft corner, an Epic Tower Building, a turntable art station, pennant flag making and a special appearance by the Thai Mama Eggrolls food cart—likely the only component of this gathering that doesn’t utilize recycled material. ■
SCRAP Re:Boutique grand opening Feb. 27 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 2915 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Free For more info: http://scrapaction.org/
The editing is well done, all transitions are smooth and all scenes are significant. Somehow, this film manages to accomplish several ultimate goals of different kinds of cinema all in one. First off, it is entertaining to say the least. Hollywood couldn’t ask for a better drama plot. Secondly, it is a work of art with its complex use of editing, scene manipulation and costume and set design. However, and most importantly, “Katalin Varga” successfully embeds the audience into the determined, disturbing mood of a life controlled by haunted memories. Managing to fulfill all three goals, “Katalin Varga” defines the perfect film. Like a good novel, it fills the mind with the story and all of its emotions unconditionally. For this reason, it is a marvel both for viewers and beginning directors alike. ■
Katalin Varga Shows on Feb. 20 and 22 nwfilm.org Free for students
Photo courtesy of onethirtybem.com
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Photo courtesy of incase/flickr.com
Besties: Wild New Yorkers couldn't keep me away.
Bad on purpose Best Coast, Wavves and No Joy at the Hawthorne Theater Jake Stevens Vanguard staff
Tomorrow night at the Hawthorne Theater is a collection of some serious shoegaze rock that should attract all kinds of indie enthusiasts. Known for quickly rising in popularity, this mix of so-cal/Canadian rock groups are sure to be putting on quite a spectacle. The bands playing are the ever-so-hip Best Coast, noise pop’s darling Wavves, and the two lovely ladies that make up No Joy—all conveniently arriving here this weekend on their tour through North America. If you have yet to hear of Best Coast, then you must be terribly out of the cosmic musical loop. The group originated in Los Angeles in 2009. Sparking from desires to be back home on the Photo courtesy of nojoyflickr.com west coast, the group’s No Joy founder and vocalist/ guitarist Bethany Cosentino couldn’t deny the incredible attributes that the West had to offer while attending Eugene Lang College in New York City. The group also consists of bassist/drummer Bob Bruno and summer 2010’s addition Ali Koehler, formerly of Vivian Girls, who joined as a drummer. Their debut album “Crazy for You,” which was released on Mexican Summer Records, received an incredible response and reached No. 37 on Billboard’s Top 100. Best Coast’s singer/songwriter Cosentino’s surf-pop music has obviously catapulted them into quick recognition, providing their listeners with familiar tastes of Beach Boys bass lines and lyrics that embody stereotypical California giddiness. Not following any specific order, the next band to discuss is No Joy. They’re said to have been “brought into the world” by Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino by mentioning on her Twitter page that they are “the best band ever.” Following her Twitter remark, No Joy was signed to Best Coast’s label in 2009 after getting tons of attention through the Internet. Besides carrying an immense buzz on the web, the group had started by pulling a Postal Service move and collaborating back and forth from Los Angeles to Montreal where the two band members were located at the time. The two ladies that make up this guitar and vocal duo are Jasmine White-Glutz in Los Angeles and guitarist and vocalist Laura Lloyd, who lives in Montreal. After White-Glutz moved to Montreal, the group started playing shows and building prestige, especially after their influential first show where the group met Best Coast.
Now, let’s talk Wavves. This actually isn’t so much of a group as it is a one-man show. Nathan Williams hails from San Diego and is another one of those musicians that has gained fame through the ever-present power of the Internet. He released his self-titled LP in 2008 and has since been gaining popularity through media outlets such as Pitchfork Media and, surprisingly, ABC News. After signing with Fat Possum Records in 2009, Wavves has released an album each year, the eponymous “Wavvves” in 2009 and “The Beach King” in 2010. On his most recent LP he collaborated with Stephen Pope and Billy Hayes, the drummer and bassist of the late Jay Reatard’s touring band. While talking to Pitchfork about his most recent album, he mentioned that he has decided to take a newer approach to his music: “The last thing I wanted to do was record the same record again. A lot of bands kind of get comfortable with something like that; once they know they’ve got something that some people like, they’ll just go and try and recreate that. I just feel like that would’ve been so fucking boring to do. I wanted to just do something completely different. That was the beginning of the whole thing. But once I got into it, it wasn’t even about recording a different record, necessarily. I was just trying to make the best record that I could, and I think that’s what we did.” That is surely what he did. By recreating his work and using less of his lo-fi punk shenanigans, he has accomplished what few musicians dare to attempt. ■
Best Coast, Wavves, No Joy Saturday, Feb. 19 Hawthorne Theater 7 p.m. $17 advance, $20 at door All ages
This is one that truly astounds me. Back in 2004, when post-rock was the new thing that everyone clung to, you were a fan of either Godspeed You Black Emperor! (the exclamation was at the end then) or Explosions in the Sky. Sometimes the fans crossed over, but more often than not, they remained faithful. Then, on one fateful day, GYBE! broke up. Fast forward to 2011, and GY!BE has reunited, and are selling out huge venues all across the country, minutes after going on sale. Is it too early for the post-rock revival? Why do so many people care about GY!BE much more now? Who is going to pay $50 for a ticket on Craigslist? The answers are all uncertain—except one. Maybe you will be the one to pay this much to see GY!BE. They supposedly put on one of the best shows around, so if that’s your thing, this will be one to tell the kids about. Crystal Ballroom, 8 p.m., whatever you’re willing to pay, all ages
Saturday, Feb. 19 YOB, Rabbits, Norska YOB, aka “one of Portland’s best metal bands,” are finally playing again, and lo and behold, they picked Rabbits’ CD release show to do it. Rabbits are another one of Portland’s best metal bands, a very select group of musicians, including the aforementioned YOB, Agalloch, Danava and Red Fang. Rabbits are a pretty unique band in this regard—they play very percussion-led metal, reminding one of Karp of the particularly stony parts of High on Fire. YOB almost needs no introduction, as everyone in town hears them when they play anywhere. They are one of the loudest bands you’ll ever see. On an anecdotal level, I saw YOB play five years ago, and they brought their own auxiliary PA! Please note that this show is 21 and over, despite taking place at Branx. Branx, 10 p.m., $10–13, 21+
Photo courtesy of discoworkout.com
Arohan
Arohan, Pinata, DJ BJ, DJ E*Rock, DJ Copy Tonight, Rotture brings us the latest installment in their Supernature series, this one containing Arohan, who is easily one of Portland’s best up-and-coming electronic acts. They play with Sex Life and Soft Metals all the time, or did at one point, and their music really reflects their partnership. Expect slow, minimal danceable jams— kind of like if Portishead’s Beth Gibbons got a wild hair and decided to make a solid electro track. DJs BJ, E*Rock and Copy round out the evening, the latter being one of Portland’s electronic elite when he drops the DJ prefix and plays original tracks. What’s more, five acts who could easily headline shows elsewhere are yours tonight for a measly dollar each. If you don’t feel like putting up with the metal going on just a short distance away, perhaps you could stumble down to Rotture and get your dance on. Rotture, 9 p.m., $5, 21+
Sunday, Feb. 20 Justin Townes Earle, Dawn Landes
Photo courtesy of forcefieldpr.com
Wavves
If you’ve had it with bands who just slop all their parts together, then come on down to Mississippi Studios tonight for a good downto-earth country show. Yes, that’s right, a country show. Justin Townes Earle, whose father is Steve Earle and is named after Townes Van Zandt, plays some brutally honest country that you are sure to enjoy. None of that hokey “cry in your beer” country or songs about football and tractors here; JTE has been making enough solid albums to put together a shot comprised solely of should-be hits. 2009 saw the release of JTE’s “Midnight at the Movies,” which was quite an achievement in itself, but 2010 saw his album “Harlem River Blues,” which kind of blew the lid off. Now he’s everywhere. Catch him tonight before he blows up major. Which he will. Mississippi Studios, 9 p.m., $15–17, 21+
ARTS & CULTURE ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 11
10 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ ARTS & CULTURE
It’s Raining Golden Men
What about horror movies? Here's who would have won the last three years if the Academy would sack up and offer the category
Who do you think will win on the 27th? Kynna Groff Vanguard staff
Pop the popcorn and dim the lights, because the
2010: “Hatchet 2”
Oscars will be arriving in living rooms across the U.S.
In the first installment of the “Hatchet” series, a group of tourists is duped into taking a tour through a swamp, where a deformed, superstrong crazy man lives and kills people for the hell of it. He’s played by Kane Hodder—the go-to guy for super-strong deformed crazy men. The end of the movie leaves itself wide open for a sequel, and four years later, one finally came. In the sequel, the main female lead assembles a crew to go back and finish off Kane Hodder. Let’s get this straight: “Hatchet 2” is not supposed to be a good movie. It’s supposed to be an out-and-out bloodbath where everyone is killed and chopped up. Sometimes, Hollywood just needs it.
in just over a week. This means it’s time to place your bets on which actors and movies are going to go home with little gold men in their arms. Best Picture There are many fine nominees in this category, including the haunting “Black Swan,” the heartfelt “The Kids are All Right,” and the harrowing “127 Hours.” Now, “The Social Network” has been getting a lot of buzz and awards already this year, but a close contender is “The King’s Speech.” Who will win? Most likely, “The King’s Speech” will. It’s a well-acted film about the man who suddenly found himself king of England, conquered his speech impediment, and went on to lead his country into World War II. It’s got Best Picture written all over it.
Best Director The Coen Brothers have The King’s Speech won in this category before and are nominated again this year for “True Grit.” However, the real competition for the statue is (as it is so often this year) between David Fincher for “The Social Network” and Tom Hooper for “The King’s Speech.” This award could truly go either way, but chances are David Fincher will take home the Oscar. It won’t be undeserved, given that he has such films as “Fight Club” and the muchanticipated “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” to his name, and was nominated for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” last year.
Black Swan
photo courtesY of FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
photo courtesY of SEE SAW FILMS
ing performance as Teardrop in “Winter’s Bone,” but it is Christian Bale’s turn as Dickie Eklund, the crack-addicted, down-andout brother and trainer to Mark Wahlberg’s Micky Ward in “The Fighter” that will probably snag the statue.
Best Supporting Actress
Best Actress
Best Animated Feature
There are many great performances in this category, including Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole,” Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone,” and four-time Oscar-nominee Annette Bening for her performance in “The Kids Are All Right.” But after all the attention and awards showered on Natalie Portman for her performance as a perfection-obsessed dancer in “Black Swan,” there’s little chance of the Oscar going to anyone else.
Does it really need to be said? Ok, fine: “Toy Story 3.” Pixar has won the Oscar five times in the past seven years, and aren’t likely to lose this year either.
Geoffrey Rush is nominated for his role in “The King’s Speech,” but this is one of the categories where I don’t see the momentum of that film carrying it very far. John Hawkes gives a chill-
Kat Vetrano Vanguard staff
When thinking of shredded vegetables, the dish that may instantly come to mind is coleslaw. Sitting on a picnic table in the sun at someone’s birthday party, the mayonnaise-laden mountain of once-crunchy vegetables isn’t always the most appetizing salad choice. The following recipe is quite the opposite of the old BBQ staple—for starters, this salad kicks out mayonnaise altogether. The dish, which makes the perfect healthy lunch or dinner appetizer, combines briny black olives and sweet carrots, drizzled with a spicy Harissa dressing. The salad comes together quickly and easily— the time it takes you to make the dressing will be the only labor standing between you and your lunch. Harissa, a North African spice paste, adds a unique tomato and coriander flavor without overpowering the vegetables. All that remains similar to our disappointing picnic friend is the shredding of the carrots. The vibrant orange of this salad might bring you
back to the summer mindset, and perhaps you’ll bring it to your next indoor picnic until the sun starts to shine and you can enjoy it outside.
Anti-Coleslaw Salad Ingredients: 2 teaspoons of Harissa paste (can be found at Pastaworks and other specialty food stores) 2 teaspoons of garlic powder 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil 2 large carrots 1/2 cup of black olives, any variety Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Method: For the dressing, whisk the Harissa paste, garlic powder and olive oil in a small bowl vigorously for 30 seconds or until the Harissa is blended fully into the dressing. Next, peel and shred the carrots. Place them in a small bowl with the olives and mix them so the olives are evenly distributed. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad, and toss with some salad tongs or your fingers to ensure even distribution. Season with salt and pepper, and serve. Serves one to two people. ■
If the Academy also had a category for “grossest film,” this would probably take that award home as well. “Martyrs” follows two women, one of whom escaped from a torturing facility when she was very young, and is now haunted by a mysterious creature wherever she goes. She believes she has to kill the people responsible before the hallucination can go away. Her vengeful search for her captors leads her to an innocent-looking family’s house, where she kills them all. After still being haunted by the creature, however, it is clear that the evil responsible lurks elsewhere. This movie will make you shudder. There’s no way to sugarcoat that. There’s a scene where someone is skinned alive. Watch at your own risk.
Best Documentary Feature Documentaries are often the most difficult to predict for Oscar season. The current forerunner is “Restrepo,” a film that depicts soldiers stationed in the middle of the Afghan War. However, “Exit through the Gift Shop,” which features the attempts of two men to track down and form a friendship with the elusive graffiti artist Banksy, may end up with the Oscar. ■
photo courtesY of COLUMBIA PICTURES
drew martig/vanguard staff
Bros before toes: Or that was kind of a stretch.
Stretching myths: busted Going after the cornerstone of many peoples’ workouts Rian Evans Vanguard staff
Sweden gives us meatballs, cheap furniture, black metal and blonde women. In 2008, they gave us “Let the Right One In,” one of the slickest vampire movies since…ever. The movie follows two childhood friends, one of which is a vampire. The story woven by this movie is one of intense friendship, with blood all over the place. Some people are bitten, become vampires and burst into flames; others are dismembered in a swimming pool. While these are very powerful plot devices, they are used to convey very real human emotions of love and friendship, which will leave you internally conflicted like no other horror movie of 2008. ■
Myth: It is important to stretch prior to exercising
Harissa: About as weird as condiments get.
photo courtest of thisdamecooks.blogspot.com
NOW HIRING SPORTS EDITOR a pp ly o n li n e at w w w. P S U VAN G UA R D.com
in a less effective training session. If flexibility is your goal, save the heavy duty stretching for after the workout.
Myth: Weight training reduces flexibility
Exercise has always been plagued by myths, and there is no reason to believe that someday we’ll be free of them. These myths are quite easily perpetuated through repetition, anecdotes and pseudoscience-laden verbal virtuosity from Internet forum fitness gurus, but once established they are nearly impossible to erase. Our best hope to free the general public from these incorrect beliefs is to employ the very same methods of repetition, which is why I now find myself once again writing another article about exercise myths. Am I banging my head against a brick wall? Maybe, but perhaps I can tip the scales back in favor of reality instead of mythology. Let’s take a look at three common myths.
2008: “Let the Right One In”
This too winds up as a showdown between Jesse Eisenberg for “The Social Network” and Colin Firth for “The King’s Speech.” James Franco makes a decent show in “127 hours” for his turn as Aron Ralstron, the hiker who was forced to cut off his own arm to survive. However, in the end, the Oscar will probably go to Firth, and it’s well deserved, considering his masterful performance as King George VI.
Best Supporting Actor
Coleslaw’s spicier, more interesting cousin
2009: “Martyrs”
Of all the categories listed here, The Social Network this award is the one with the most potential for competition. “The Fighter” garnered two nominations—one for Amy Adams and one for Melissa Leo. Helena Bonham Carter is nominated for her role in “The King’s Speech,” and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is up for her performance in “True Grit.” That said, who will win? It’s a difficult choice. Leo has been set up as the most likely, but many critics assert that Steinfeld could easily come from the background and grab the Oscar.
Best Actor
Hold the mayo
We’ve all heard this since our very first PE class. We’ve long been led to believe, by coaches and trainers, that thoroughly stretching before physical activity is an absolute necessity. To not do so would be to invite serious injury upon oneself. The only problem is, it isn’t true! In the past decade or so, a rather formidable body of research has shown that the typical static stretching many engage in prior to exercise does not reduce the risk of injury during physical activity. In fact, some research even suggests that excessive stretching may actually temporarily weaken the muscle groups that are stretched. So, how should one apply this information? For starters, don’t waste too much time stretching before workouts. Instead, focus on warm-up sets, mobility and building up to working intensity. A bit of light stretching is fine; it may even have some psychological benefits if it is already a habit (i.e. stretching can be a mental trigger that enhances focus for some trainees), but don’t overdo it. Excessive stretching may weaken the muscles and result
This could be seen as a partial myth. It is certainly true that if one gets muscular enough they are going to be limited by their own size. However, this has more to do with large amounts of muscle getting in the way of movements, rather than an actual decrease in muscle flexibility. Most drug-free trainees will never grow muscular enough to warrant worrying about this. The truth is that weight training performed by utilizing a full range-ofmotion will not reduce general flexibility. In fact, some research suggests that it may even slightly improve flexibility. There we go—one more excuse for avoiding weight training goes right down the drain.
Myth: Using high repetitions will “tone” muscles When it comes to weight training, one is either building size or strength or they aren’t. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using higher repetitions (generally considered to be 12 reps or more), there also isn’t anything magical about it. The appearance of “muscle tone” is brought about through the combination of muscular development and low amounts of body fat. (The less body fat one has, the more pronounced the appearance of the muscles). Therefore, trainees should seek to combine resistance training that maximizes their muscular development while also utilizing dietary strategies that reduce body fat. In the interest of full disclosure and fairness, there is a good deal of debate surrounding strategies for enhancing muscular “tone.” However, nearly all training professionals have abandoned the idea that use of high repetitions will make a specific muscle group appear more defined. Most of the debate nowadays relates to nutritional strategies and cardiovascular exercise, or at least from the reading I’ve done. ■
OFWGKTA? Have you seen this jumble around? Are you having trouble asking people about it? Do you care? Do you like hiphop? If the answer to any of these is “yes,” head on over to www.psuvanguard.com to check out an online exclusive about what it is and what it means.
12 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ SPORTS
SPORTS
SPORTS ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 13
EDITOR: ROBERT BRITT SPORTS@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-4538
Women to take on Lumberjacks Women’s basketball hosts ‘Pink Zone’ day
Senior starters take a look at how far they’ve come Rosemary Hanson Vanguard staff
Rosemary Hanson Vanguard staff
Senior starting teammates Kelli Valentine and Lexi Bishop have come a long way since they stepped on the court four years ago. With less than half a season to go, the senior duo is ready to finish out with a bang. Forward Valentine and guard Bishop have very different leadership styles, but both have led the team to recent victories with their career highs in points and rebounds.
P
ortland State women’s basketball tips off a Stott Center doubleheader tomorrow, as the women host Northern Arizona just hours before the men host non-conference opponent Loyola Marymount as part of ESPN’s BracketBuster week. The women open the home-venue excitement with the annual ‘Pink Zone’ game, held in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association breast cancer awareness campaign. In addition to spurring discussion and awareness, donations at the game will be given to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Vikings (13-10, 6-4 Big Sky) look to improve from their current tie with Idaho State for fourth place in the Big Sky Conference standings when they host seventhplace Northern Arizona (9-15, 4-7 Big Sky). Portland State dropped from third place after a loss to Idaho State last Saturday. PSU hosted Weber State on Thursday; however, the results were not available as of press time. The Viks are battling with Idaho State, third-ranked Montana, second-ranked Northern Colorado and first-placed Montana State for the coveted top two slots in the standings. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams automatically advance into the semifinals of six-team Big Sky Tournament, which means that they do not have to play in the opening quarterfinal round. On Saturday, the Viks take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, who are making a comeback in conference play. The Lumberjacks are coming off two home wins and hosted Eastern Washington on Thursday, but the results of that game were also not available as of press time. It was a duo of sophomores that led the ‘Jacks to their second consecutive win last Saturday against Idaho State. Sophomore guard Amy Patton led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore guard Tyler Stephen-Jenkins dominated in the last minutes of the game. The ‘Jacks came back from a 10-point
A look at Kelli Valentine and Lexi Bishop
all photos by drew martig/VANGUARD STAFF
Rallying the troops: Head coach Sherri Murrell fires up the women's basketball team during a break in play at the Stott Center on Feb. 3.
“We only have three weeks left, and every game counts. Everything we’ve worked for all year comes down to these games, so we need to remember to go out and play with no regrets.” LEXI BISHOP
deficit in the second half to tie the game at 49-all with five minutes left in the game.
Stephens-Jenkins went on to score the next eight of NAU’s 10 points, to give the home team a win of 59-55. The last time the Lumberjacks and the Viks faced off earlier in the season, it was the Vikings who came through with the 56-48 win. Junior guard Eryn Jones led all players with 17 points and Patton, NAU’s high-scorer last week, pitched in 14 points. Senior guard Lexi Bishop said that beating NAU on its home court should have a positive effect on this weekend’s game. “Beating them at their place gives us hope and confidence, especially now that we will be on our court,” Bishop said. Both teams know the importance of winning the rest of their games, and Bishop said that these final weeks are crucial. “We only have three weeks left, and every game counts,” Bishop said. “Everything we’ve worked for all year comes down to these games, so we need to remember to go out and play with no regrets.” PSU hopes to get back on its feet tomorrow after suffering a loss last Saturday in the back-andforth game to the ISU Bengals. But as Bishop and fellow senior teammate Kelli Valentine both said, being at home is a huge performance booster for the Viks, and they hope they can use the confidence they hold at home to excel in the remaining weeks to come. As PSU works towards regaining its competitive position in Big Sky play, the Lumberjacks work to hold on to their recent winning streak. The two teams tip off at 1 p.m. at the Stott Center. ■
all photos by drew martig/VANGUARD STAFF
The jumper for two: Senior forward Kelli Valentine hits a jump shot for two of her 13 points in the win over Sacramento State. Valentine also nabbed 14 rebounds.
Kelli Valentine Forward Major: Health studies Career plans: Oncology nurse 113 rebounds (second on team) 44 assists (second on team)
Bounce pass: Sophomore Courtney VanBrocklin dishes the ball to a teammate during PSU's 92-74 win over Sac State.
History of the Viks and ‘Jacks ■ The Vikings lead the series 6-1 under current head coach Sherri Murrell, five of which were double-digit wins. ■ PSU has won the last two meetings with NAU and seven of the last eight. ■ The Vikings have won the last three meetings in the Stott Center.
Big Sky women’s basketball standings School Montana State * Northern Colorado Montana Idaho State Portland State Eastern Washington Northern Arizona Weber State Sacramento State * Clinched postseason berth
In bounds: Junior Eryn Jones puts the ball in play in the Feb. 3 game against Sacremento State.
Big Sky 9-2 9-3 8-3 6-4 6-4 5-5 4-7 1-9 0-11
Overall 15-10 14-11 13-11 15-8 13-10 9-14 9-15 5-17 3-21
Home 7-3 11-2 8-5 9-0 9-1 6-4 8-6 3-9 2-9
Away 7-5 3-7 5-4 5-8 3-9 3-8 1-9 1-7 1-10
Streak W1 L1 W5 L1 L1 W1 W2 L6 L15
Valentine recorded consecutive double-doubles in points and rebounds against Sac State on Jan. 29 and again the following week. On Feb. 3, the forward grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds against Sacramento State. Valentine said that rebounds were a key aspect of the game that she was focusing on improving. She led the team in rebounds for three consecutive games—Eastern Washington followed by the pair of Sac State games. Bishop said she considers herself to be predominantly a defense player, but her performance in the second Sac State game proves the guard can play offense as well. Bishop landed a career-high 18 points, including a pair of treys against the Hornets. As for her defense, Bishop said that she is focusing on getting quick stops. “I’m improving my role this year defensively,” Bishop said. “[I’m] stopping the players I’m guarding.” The two friends and teammates might have some similarities in their ability to shoot well and defend tightly, but the seniors’ leadership styles are anything but similar. “I am definitely a vocal leader,” Valentine said, “I bring energy to the court and boost the energy and I guess loudness in general getting everyone going.” Bishop, on the other hand, said she is working on the vocal side of leadership, but coined her style as anything but. “I’d say definitely I’m more of a leader by example,” Bishop said. “I’m not the type to yell at people and I’m not really vocal. I try and do the right things and do the little things and have people follow that and see that the little things count.”
The teammates have started in nearly all the games this season; Bishop has started all 23 games and Valentine sat out just one. The seniors said that this year, being their last at PSU, has been a big motivator. Following the win against Sacremento State earlier in the month, head coach Sherri Murrell said that Valentine was truly playing “like it was her last season.” Valentine added that when she started as a freshman four years ago she played hard because she didn’t know how to play any other way, but now she says she feels she truly understands the importance of playing hard. A role model of hers that played for the Montana Lady Griz told her to remember that these years of playing basketball are some of the best in her life. About her mentor’s words, the senior said, “I hadn’t realized that [statement] in its full potential, and once I realized that, I realized there won’t be another time in my life to be around these type of people and play this type of basketball, and I just want to do anything I can to get a win.” Bishop similarly said that she understands that this is the final season. She said that it honestly was “weird” to think about only having a few months left of basketball. She added that watching her older brother play college basketball reminds her to work harder than ever and that it will pay off. Bishop said that this being the last cycle of playing these opposing teams is a great motivator. “It brings a sense of urgency,” Bishop said prior to last week’s matchup with the Bengals. “This is the last time I’ll play Idaho State. That reality pushes you to bring everything you can to every game.” The two players have goals of again making it to the “Big Dance” in the spring, but until then they both agree the team needs to focus on playing their game for the remainder of the season. Both players agreed that bringing energy to the To the lane: Senior guard Lexi Bishop takes it to the paint in the Feb. 3 game against court, and most notably opening the game with en- Sacramento State at the Stott Center. Bishop scored 18 points in the Vikings' 92-74 win. ergy, is the key to their success. “I think the biggest part is just to try and play like we’re at home, not let their fans and their atmosphere get in our heads,” said Bishop of playing away games.
“The whole feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself is huge…When you love your teammates as much as we do, you just can’t compare that to anything—it’s amazing.” KELLI VALENTINE
While the two seniors are anxious to have time for visiting old friends, spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors, it is a bittersweet reality to count down the weeks of something they enjoy so much. Valentine said that it was the competitive side of the game that drew her to basketball, while Bishop enjoyed the fast-paced rhythm. Both players agreed they love and will miss the team aspect of the game of basketball. “The whole feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself is huge,” Valentine said. “When you love your teammates as much as we do, you just can’t compare that to anything—it’s amazing.” The pair of seniors hope to teach their younger teammates to always come out and play their hardest. Bishop said being respectful of coaches is huge to their success, and Valentine added that she hopes her teammates realize that “these are the best times of your life.” ■
SPORTS ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ VANGUARD 15
14 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ ETC.
ETC.
Timbers have successful week of exhibitions in Ventura
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: VIRGINIA VICKERY EDITOR@DAILYVANGUARD.COM 503-725-5691
CALENDAR Today
Portland earns draws with both Ventura County Fusion and LA Galaxy in preseason matches
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Social Sustainability Colloquium Series 1 p.m. Academic and Student Recreation Center, room 660
This week’s lecture is titled “Truth and Power: Why affiliation catalyzes awareness and action.” Presented by Hilary Bradbury, Ph.D., professor in the management division of Oregon Health and Science University. Multicultural Film Festival: “National Geographic: Inside Mecca” 2:30 p.m.
ARIELLE WISER Softball shortstop Arielle Wiser reminds all to have fun in their work
Multicultural Center
Presented in collaboration with the Saudi Student Club. Multicultural Film Festival: “Stand and Deliver” 5 p.m.
Rosemary Hanson Vanguard staff
Multicultural Center
Presented in collaboration with Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan. Ceremony and the Way of the Comanche Nation: An Evening With Professor Cornel Pewewardy 7 p.m. PSU Native American Student and Community Center
“Professor Cornel Pewewardy is a traditional Comanche-Kiowa elder and Director of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University. Growing up in Southwestern Oklahoma, as a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, he followed the collective talents of the artists and musicians in his extended family. From this exposure, Cornel learned of his cultural ancestry and rich tribal background at an early age. He will take us on a journey in the traditional ways of his people by way of music, storytelling and an authentic insight that is drawn from many years of his connection to his people, their way of being and his heart.”
Monday Black Women’s Film Festival: “Eves Bayou” 4:30 p.m. Women’s Resource Center lounge
“Louis Batiste is a popular physician in 1960s Louisiana who has a beautiful wife, a loving family and a weakness for women. While his wife ignores his infidelities, his youngest daughter is crushed when she catches dad in a compromising situation. Her subsequent revelations tear the family apart.” Documentary: “Hip Hop: Beyond the Beats and Rhymes” 5 p.m. Smith Memorial Student Union, room 229
Presented by the Alpha Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, as part of Alpha Week. The documentary discusses issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in contemporary hip-hop culture. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. Artist Lecture: Sara Reisman 7:30 p.m. Shattuck Hall Annex
“Sara Reisman is Director of Percent for Art at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs where she oversees the City of New York’s permanent public art commissioning program. As an independent curator, Reisman has curated exhibitions in New York City and elsewhere that have focused on public and social practice, site-specificity, and modes of cultural and political identification.”
robert britt/VANGUARD STAFF
S
enior shortstop Arielle Wiser hit her first home run of the season against Stanford during the opening weekend of the women’s softball season. Wiser said that the offense performance over the weekend is one of the best she has seen in her three past seasons with the Vikings. The Viks went 3-3 over the weekend, including a win over No. 16 Brigham Young University. The senior was recently accepted into the Graduate Education Program, with her future career being in physical education and high school coaching. Wiser, who prides herself on her strong work ethic but still hopes to never forget the fun that a good softball game brings, took some time this week to speak with us.
Vanguard: Why did you come to Portland State? Arielle Wiser: It was close to home, and I
knew I would get the playing time I wanted here and the scholarship I needed.
V: What has been your best moment on the field? AW: It was probably when we beat the
University of Washington my sophomore year. It was a huge win for us.
V: If you could change one of your sport’s rules, what would it be? AW: Making foul balls fair. I hit a lot of them! V: What is your greatest strength? AW: I’d say it’s my work ethic. I work really
hard to get the results that I want.
READ US
ONLINE PSUVANGUARD.COM
V: Which is your favorite place to eat around campus? AW: Locos Locos; I try not to eat there too
much, but my favorite thing there would be the breakfast burrito.
V: What is your favorite thing to do around Portland? AW: I like to run around the waterfront—not
V: What is the last thing you cooked? AW: Fish! I cook a lot, but I think my favorite
thing to make is omelets and that type of breakfast stuff.
V: If you could attend one concert or sporting event anywhere what would it be? AW: I think it would be cool to go to the
Super Bowl, but I don’t have a favorite team, so just to see anyone and to be there.
V: What has been your favorite class at Portland State? AW: I liked nutrition because I’m interested in
health and those kinds of science studies.
V: What’s on your iPod right now? AW: I have everything; I have the band Perry,
Tyrone Wells, Pink, old school N’Sync—but mainly I like country music.
V: If you could have dinner with three people from history—alive, dead or fictional—who would they be? AW: Beyonce, because I love her music;
Natasha Watley, the Olympic shortstop that has been a huge inspiration to me; and my grandpa that I never met.
V: What song would you sing karaoke? AW: Once I sang Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”
[laughing], it was not so good, to say the least.
V: What is the last thing you read? AW: I read quite a bit. I just read “Remember
Me” by Sophie Consuela. It was really good; it’s by the same author as “Confessions of a Shopaholic.”
V: What is your main focus on the softball field this season? AW: Having fun, and not sweating the little
things or even the errors; and always moving forward.
V: Do you have a favorite superhero? AW: He’s not really a superhero, but I like
on the rainy days like this, though. Maybe in the fall I’ll go again.
Mighty Mouse. I don't know if that counts, though.
V: What is the first item that you would buy if you won the lottery? AW: Probably a bunch of new clothes, maybe
—This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
from Forever 21. I’d still go for what’s cheap, that way I can get a whole new wardrobe.
which physically is nowhere as demanding as the pro game,” Spencer reminded. “But it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s a super-talent and he can go past people whenever he wants.” On Feb. 8, the Timbers earned a tough 1-1 draw against a talented LA Galaxy team that Kevin Fong won the 2010 Supporter’s Shield for finishing Vanguard staff with the best record during the regular season. The Entering into their third week of preseason Timbers used two different units for each half and training, the Portland Timbers are turning up were able to find the game’s equalizing goal in the the intensity as they continue to prepare for their 50th minute from forward Brian Umony, a trialist MLS regular-season debut on March 19. who made the trip with the team. “You’ve got to practice how you play, and we’re “We put a together a solid 45 minutes with one going to try and play a high-tempo game, pressure group in the first half, and we put on a very good teams all over the field and be aggressive,” head 45 minutes with another group,” Spencer said. coach John Spencer said. “You could see the guys growing a little bit of that “Fitness level-wise, we’re still miles off,” Spencer belief in themselves...it was good trip for us, well emphasized. “We still have [time] to get prepared, worthwhile.” but I keep telling these guys that to be successful Spencer has said the most important part in this league you have to be able to match teams of the preseason process is perhaps “building physically from box-to-box for 90 minutes.” camaraderie” and “forming partnerships” out Earlier in the month, the on the field, especially Timbers played their first with a roster full of new two exhibition matches teammates. down in Ventura as the team “I could see the guys spent one week training getting tired out there as in California. Despite not the game went on, but having their full roster with instead of trying to just them, the Timbers played run hard as an individual, the Ventura County Fusion they were working hard of the Fourth-division PDL collectively as a group,” to a 1-1 draw on Feb. 4— Spencer noted. the first opportunity for the The Timbers returned new players on the roster to home to Portland for participate in a competitive training this week, but the 11-on-11 match together. big news was the arrival of “It’s about fitness, but free-agent forward Kenny results matter because if Midfielder Freddie Braun Cooper. The front office you start trying to win games early in the season it hopes the 26-year-old Cooper can bring the breeds a good habit,” Spencer said. “Winning is a kind of relentless offensive pressure to Portland habit, losing is a habit, and when you’re winning it that once allowed him to score 40 goals in 90 builds confidence throughout the group.” games for FC Dallas. Rookie midfielder and first-round draft pick, “We expect him to come out and be a leader Darlington Nagbe, scored the Timbers’ only goal and score a lot of goals for us,” Timbers owner off a header inside the box assisted by forward Merritt Paulson said. “The guy knows how to Doug DeMartin in the 46th minute. Although put the ball in the back of the net and we think only an informal training match, the game he has his best years in front of him.” provided a glimpse at the scoring and attacking This week, Cooper will travel with the rest qualities that Nagbe, the No. 2 overall selection in of the Timbers to Casa Grande, Ariz., where the 2011 SuperDraft, is expected to bring to the the team will continue its preseason camp field for the Timbers this season. and prepare for its next exhibition match on “[Nagbe’s] coming from the college game, Saturday against the Houston Dynamo. ■
V: What is your most embarrassing moment on the field? AW: When I’m trying to field a ball and I
collide with people like runners on the base paths.
V: Do you have any nicknames? Why? AW: I have a lot; ‘Relle is what my teammates
call me and that started it all. But now they’ve been calling me all kinds of names: Rellese, Missy Relliote, Releezy, like Lil’Wayne. I don’t know why, but I always get a bunch of nicknames.
ARIELLE WISER Senior, shortstop Home runs: 1 (tied for team lead) Batting average: .300 Runs batted in (RBIs): 3
all photos courtesy of portlandtimbers.com
Keeping the keeper: The Timbers recently signed goalkeeper Jake Gleeson from the team's development team.
16 VANGUARD ■ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ■ SPORTS
Vikings have a lot to prove as season starts to wind down Men’s basketball hosts Loyola Marymount in ESPN BracketBuster game on Saturday
Kevin Fong Vanguard staff
M
en’s basketball head coach Tyler Geving was pretty upset by his team’s loss at home to Idaho State last week, questioning his players’ effort and motivation after the game. “He told us we had to play harder. Everybody got a good tongue-lashing. Basically, he called everyone out,” said junior Charles Odum,
the team’s leading scorer. “He demanded that every single person play harder.” Determined to find a way to turn around the season, Geving quickly got the Vikings back into the gym and said he “refused to quit on the team.” In practice this week, Geving had the players participate in drills where points were awarded to those who worked the hardest or performed the best. “Every drill was a competition,” Odum said.
all photos by karl kuchs/VANGUARD STAFF
Get to it: Portland State's Chris Harriel jockeys for position over a loose ball in the Vikings' 84-79 loss to Idaho State at the Stott Center on Feb. 10. Harriel leads the team with 34 steals.
“Everybody took the drills more seriously; everybody wanted to compete for the points.” The focus was on defense and rebounding, areas the Vikings have struggled with in recent weeks. In the last five games, the Vikings have been out-rebounded by their opponents by an average of 10.8 boards per game. Poor shooting and inconsistent offense have also haunted the team this season. In their last five losses, the team has shot a combined .359 from the field. “We worked on defense, defense, defense,” Odum said. “Everbody needs to talk more," he said. "We worked a lot on communicating, defensive rotations and team rebounding.” The Vikings are hoping the extra effort will pay off this weekend, as it did not appear to help much on Wednesday. Portland State lost to Weber State, 80-58, in Ogden, Utah on Wednesday, marking the Vikings’ fourth consecutive loss. Portland State sits at seventh place in the Big Sky standings with a record of 11-14 overall and 4-9 in conference. Although the Vikings have lost eight of their last 10 games, one positive is that the team will see the return of starting power-forward Chehales Tapscott this week. Tapscott, the team’s leading rebounder, has missed six games due to knee injury and the Vikings have gone 1-5 in games played without him. PSU has been plagued by injuries this season, with key players missing a total of 33 games due to health issues .
Your weekend in sports Friday Softball *
Portland State (3-3) vs. Cal State Northridge (3-2) Henderson, Nevada 11:15 a.m. Live audio/stats: GoViks.com Softball *
Portland State (3-3) vs. No. 18 Stanford (4-1) Henderson, Nevada 3:45 p.m. Live audio/stats: GoViks.com Women’s tennis
Portland State (2-5, 0-1 Big Sky) at Montana State-Billings (3-2, 0-0 Great Northwest) Billings, Mont. 4 p.m. Club hockey
Sophomore guard Chris Harriel
Portland State at Washington Seattle, Wash. 10 p.m.
Saturday “It’s great to be getting Chehales back,” Odum said. “Even if he’s not at 100 percent, he’s still productive.” PSU will host Loyola Marymount of the West Coast Conference tomorrow night at the Stott Center for ESPN’s
Odum said. “We just have a lot to prove to ourselves. We haven’t shown what we’re really capable of this season, so we need to prove to ourselves that we can play hard every possession of the game— that we can rebound and play defense.
“ We’re not worried about what other people think. We just have a lot to prove to ourselves. We haven’t shown what we’re really capable of this season, so we need to prove to ourselves that we can play hard…"
Softball *
Portland State (3-3) vs. Nevada (1-4) Henderson, Nevada 9 a.m. Live audio/stats: GoViks.com Women’s tennis
Portland State (2-5, 0-1 Big Sky) at Montana State (1-3, 0-0 Big Sky) Bozeman, Mont. 9 a.m. Men’s tennis
Portland State (3-4, 0-1 Big Sky) at Utah State (6-3, 1-0 Western Area) Logan, Utah 11 a.m. Women’s basketball
charles odum
BracketBuster week, although the game will not be televised. During BracketBuster week, teams from mid-major conferences get the opportunity to be matched up against non-conference opponents and potentially shake up the forthcoming NCAA Tournament field. The Vikings are 1-1 against WCC opponents this season, but don’t necessarily feel like they have anything to prove. “We’re not worried about what other people think,”
Not only so we can keep getting better for the rest of the games this season, but so we can also set a good tone for next year.” With only six games left in the season and the Vikings’ postseason hopes officially over, the team still looks to keep improving and refuses to accept a losing mentality. “We play to win. We don’t play just ‘because,’” Odum said. “If you go out there and put on a jersey, then you’re playing to win.” ■
Northern Arizona (9-15, 4-7 Big Sky) at Portland State (13-10, 6-4 Big Sky) Stott Center 1 p.m. Live video/stats: GoViks.com Softball *
Portland State (3-3) vs. No. 1 UCLA (5-0) Henderson, Nev. 3:45 p.m. Live audio/stats: GoViks.com Men’s basketball
Loyola Marymount (9-17, 1-10 West Coast at Portland State (11-13, 4-8 Big Sky) Stott Center 4:05 p.m. Radio: KXFD, AM-970 WHL hockey
FIVE QUICK POSITIVES FOR PSU
Chilliwack Bruins (24-27-2-2, 52 pts) at Portland Winterhawks (38-16-0-3, 79 pts) Memorial Coliseum 7 p.m. Club hockey
Portland State at Washington Seattle, Wash. 8 p.m.
Sunday Softball *
“Tree” keeps growing Senior forward Phillip “Tree” Thomas has stepped up big this season as the team has dealt with injuries. Thomas scored a careerhigh 29 points on Jan. 29 against Sacramento State and has scored 116 points in his last eight games. Thomas has raised his scoring average to 9.7 points per game for the season and is averaging 11.9 points per game in Big Sky games.
Phil is finding form Despite coming off an injury and being forced to play out of position, senior forward Phil Nelson has begun to perform well recently, and has recorded 34 points, 24 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots in his last four games. In 20 games last season, Nelson averaged 12.9 points and had 48 threepointers, but he’s only averaging 5.7 points so far this season. Nelson has averaged 3.9 rebounds and made 16 three-pointers in 10 games.
Dane is dishing Junior point guard Dane Johnson has seen increased action in recent weeks and has shown an ability to distribute the ball. Over the past five games, Johnson has averaged 19 minutes and dished out 18 assists in that time. Johnson leads the team with 68 total assists this season and is currently averaging 3.0 assists per game.
Never-jilted Jones Although senior guard Melvin Jones has not been able to put up the scoring numbers he wanted this season, Jones has shown he can adapt and still be a crucial part of the offense. Jones has moved from his more natural shooting-guard position to the point-guard, and has handled the change well. In his last 13 games, Jones has only turned the ball over 10 times and has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.4 in that span.
Better than last year The Vikings may be struggling over the past few weeks, but overall they’re still showing improvement from last season. After 24 games, Portland State was 10-14 in head coach Tyler Geving’s first year and finished with a record of 13-19 overall. So far this season with six games left to play, the Vikings are 11-13 overall with a record of 4-8 in conference.
Portland State (3-3) vs. Cal Poly (1-4) Henderson, Nev. 9 a.m. Live audio/stats: GoViks.com Women’s tennis
Portland State (2-5, 0-1 Big Sky) at Montana (2-5, 1-0 Big Sky) Missoula, Mont. 9 a.m. Men’s tennis
Portland State (3-4, 0-1 Big Sky) at Weber State (1-7, 0-1 Big Sky) Ogden, Utah 9 a.m.
* Louisville Slugger Desert Classic