PSU Vanguard

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

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VOLUME 70 • ISSUE 38 • MAY 31, 2016

GRADUATION GUIDE 2016 NIMI E INSTE IN

C H E LSE A LO B E Y

DA NIE L FINNE G A N

B RIE B A RB E E

S H E R I PI T CH E R

SHANNON KIDD

ANN ROMAN

R EAZ M AHM OOD

CODY LAYTON

CO L L E E N L E A RY

STUART NEU BER G ER

P ETER LE

PSU-AAUP congratulates you, the graduating class of 2016!

Portland State University American Association of University Professors Promoting Quality Higher EducationAn Investment in Oregon’s Future

We wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors.

Thank you for your commitment to social justice and solidarity!

Portland State University

American Association of University Professors

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NEWS

TRUSTEES HEAR FROM STUDENTS AT SPECIAL SESSION EMILY BARNES

The Portland State Board of Trustees held a special two-hour meeting on Wednesday, May 25, as a space for students and board members to discuss issues such as mandatory health insurance, armed security officers and tuition.

A series of student panels discussed these issues as well as student experience, diversity, governance and decision-making.

Though raising campus workers’ wages was not on the agenda, students wearing red T-shirts that read “raise the minimum wage” stood along the back wall during the meeting. Higher-wage activists also carried a banner reading, “Welcome to Poverty State University.”

The student panel on health insurance provided different perspectives on [PSU’s] mandatory insurance.

“My concern is that I’m mandated to have [PSU] insurance because mine doesn’t meet the requirements,” said Nikki Dennis, a liberal studies major and single mother.

Dennis could not opt out of PSU’s insurance because her private health insurance deductibles were too low. Current policy forces her to pay $776 per term for the university’s Pacific Source insurance that she neither wants nor uses.

Student Dechen Dolkar said that the university’s insurance offers accessibility that is important to academic success.

“Having a student health insurance that [PSU] endorses and having [the Center for Student Health and Counseling] right on campus provides ease of access to health care that many students might see as a barrier,” Dolkar said.

Student Erica Lee Barrios agreed with the accessibility PSU’s insurance offers, saying that it helps undocumented students.

“They don’t qualify for the Affordable Care Act exchange subsidies and they don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan either when they otherwise would,” Barrios said.

Arming campus officers was discussed in the panel on campus safety and was revisited in the student experience and diversity panel, as well as the governance and decision-making panel. Every student who talked on this point represented the opinion that PSU should disarm its officers based on racial prejudices, students with PTSD, and the level of training required.

A show of hands revealed that a cluster of students at the meeting were for arming campus security but they did not speak at this time.

“The amount of time and training that you’d need to put into this won’t be enough—I don’t think the university has the budget for that,” said Matt Guickenheimer, a student who served in the U.S. military.

Vice Chair of Trustees Thomas Imeson agreed that training should be thorough, but did not outline specifics.

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STUDENTS ADDRESS THE BOARD ABOUT THE LACK OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR ETHNIC STUDENT GROUPS. ANDY NGO/PSU VANGUARD Students questioned why armed campus officers should be a part of their college experience unless absolutely necessary.

“I do not feel safe around public safety,” said student Desiree’ DuBoise. “Being a brown woman, if I see a campus safety officer, I turn and walk the other way. I’m here to learn. I’m urging more empathy. I’m urging some concrete action.”

Olivia Pace, student and PSU Student Union member, also advocated for action in regard to the university’s tuition and finances.

She expressed concern that the administration cannot empathize with the workingclass student when they make decisions about tuition costs, and questioned where her tuition money goes.

“It’s being spent in a lot of places, [like] on new logos for the Vikings,” Pace said. “The inequity of where money is being spent is really atrocious to look at.”

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

Trustee Maude Hines also questioned the money that went into a new logo, but responded to Pace’s suggestion that administrators cut their salaries to lower tuition costs. She explained that people take salary cuts just to be here, because “people want to be here and teach in an institution like this.”

“Everyone at PSU is [already] paid under market rate,” Hines said.

DuBoise disagreed with the discussion’s gravitation toward yes-or-no solutions. “[We are saying that] we either raise tuition or cut people’s salaries, but there are other options,” she said.

Students on the student experience and diversity panel advocated for more cultural representation in PSU’s curriculum, specifically for the Pacific Islander community and for Chicano/Latino students.

Social studies major Julian Bugari proposed that PSU offer a major in Chicano/Latino studies. He said that this is a growing minority group in Oregon and across the U.S. but “their experiences aren’t being reflected in their education.” “[When] one student [is] heard, and heard and heard again, that is when people of power will take action,” said student Patrick Gillian.

“So we will be loud [and] we will be here until we are listened to.”

Because of time, the governance and decision-making panel was cut short and two panels were rescheduled for a second meeting to continue the dialogue.

Hines noted that the profit model of the university came up a lot.

“I would like to see numbers,” she said.

“I think that would help all of our conversations and I hope that today is just the beginning of the conversation.”

NEWS

RESEARCHERS ASSESS OREGON WILDFIRE VULNERABILITY MACKENZIE MYERS

Anyone in the Portland area late last August can probably recall the blankets of smoke that covered the city. Silhouettes of office buildings and green treelines blended into the sky, blocked out by a yellowish, brownish haze emanating from the Cascade Range.

The smoke likely blew in from a fire in southern Washington but its origin is unclear—Oregon alone saw nearly four dozen wildfires last summer and Washington experienced many more, according to fire data application GeoMac. Judging by wildfire conditions in recent years, the Pacific Northwest blazes seem to be creeping closer to the city. Last summer, the Canyon Creek Complex fire in eastern Oregon burned over 110,000 acres and lasted nearly three months, according to data from the National Wildfire Coordination Group.

In 2014, another fire raged near the town of Estacada. While the likelihood of a fire hitting Portland itself is slim, some researchers at Portland State are examining the region’s fire vulnerability through lenses both scientific and sociological.

“One of the confusing things about fire in the U.S. is it’s pretty diverse and hard to figure out,” said Cody Evers, systems science Ph.D. student. “It can be caused by different things in different places. In particular, the big issue is what limits it.”

According to PSU geography professor Andrés Holz, these limits—or drivers of fire, as he called them—are the fuels present and how dry those fuels are.

“That can be a thing as thin as a pencil, grass, or a small tree or a huge tree the size of this office,” Holz said. “That’s going to give you the amount of energy you need in order to burn.”

These different fuels are part of what make fires in Oregon complex. Since the state as a whole has a diverse geography, ranging from rain forests in the west to dry grasslands in the east with high-elevation mountain forests in between, its fire situation is equally complicated.

Holz explained that the two drivers, fuel and dryness, are on an axis that determines how an area will burn. Typically, a grassland will burn often since it is dry, but less severely since its fuels—grasses and shrubs— are small. The rain forest, opposite in fuel size and dryness, rarely burns but when it does, it is disastrous.

Climate plays a large role in how fire will affect various geographical areas. High temperatures and dry conditions over the past two years further complicated the issue.

Geography, while complicated when trying to predict a general outlook of an entire state, at least remains static. Climate, on the other hand, can impact an area differently from year to year, depending on the smaller weather patterns it displays.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the region has

been in an El Niño phase since March 2015. El Niño typically brings warmer weather to the Pacific Northwest, but may not always change precipitation levels. Fortunately, Oregon received ample precipitation over the winter, calming concerns that last year’s drought would worsen into the 2016 season.

“I think that’s kind of taken the edge off the problem,” Evers said.

However, Holz warned that anything can happen between now and the end of June, when fires typically start burning in Oregon.

BENEFITS OF THE BLAZES As we head into the 2016 fire season, Evers stresses that this phenomenon is not inherently negative. Though the smoke of last summer looked alarming and even presented respiratory concerns in some residents, fire plays a vital role in the surrounding natural environment.

Wildfires clean out overgrown, disease-ridden ecosystems and maintain fuel loads, actually preventing catastrophic blazes in the long run. The scale of a wildfire’s impact also draws out a collective support from larger communities, according to Evers.

“There’s an acknowledgment that the solution to this is going to be collaborative,” Evers said. “It’s not one person’s problem. It’s not the Forest Service’s problem. It’s not [the Bureau of Land Management’s] problem. It’s not the community’s problem. It’s everybody’s problem.”

Evers’ research project, conducted with the help of Holz, Dr. Max Nielsen-Pincus and other PSU scientists, involves surveying fire preparedness of around 7,000 communities in the western United States. One positive aspect of wildfire that Evers sees through his research is the way a common issue unites communities—especially groups that tend to avoid each other, like ranchers and the Forest Service, for instance. He emphasized the idea that fire is something that is transmitted across humanformed boundaries.

“In the past, you’d see that the west has all these different fragmented parts,” Evers said. “Forest Service land, [Bureau of Land Management] land, private lands, communities. Well, when you start to look at it this way, you see how those parts are connected together, particularly through fire.”

Finding ways to remain resilient through fire, he said, is a way to build relationships between groups that normally do not talk. The project’s surveys indicate levels of things like trust and leadership in these communities. In the future, Evers hopes to expand his project into surveying communities across the entire United States and is even looking into a partnership with FEMA. “FEMA is interested in this idea of community resilience,” Evers said. “It’s likely that a community that’s prepared for wildfire is also prepared for other things, because it’s a capacity issue.”

COURTESY OF USER CAMERON STRANDBERG THROUGH WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/PSU VANGUARD RESISTANCE VS. ADAPTATION Evers said it is important to remember that while resisting fire is one way to deal with impending risk, it is not always productive.

Instead, he suggested that resilience and adaptation should play a stronger role in how humans relate to fire. Holz echoed this idea, comparing it to the way humans prepare for other natural phenomena.

“We treat fires as if we could do something,” Holz said. “We adapt to flooding, we adapt to earthquakes. There’s something in humans [where] we think we cannot deal with these natural disturbances, but we can with fire.

That has huge implications.”

Holz explained that before white settlers arrived in the Willamette Valley area, indigenous populations burned the land periodically to keep the area open for hunting and agriculture. Fire then was not a threat, but a means for survival.

“It was the most powerful tool we had for millennia,” Holz said. “So we became experts at it. I think that somewhere in our collective memory as a species, we have that instinct.”

In the 20th century, the United States shifted into a trend of suppressing fires, even in wildlands. But now, according to Evers, those views are changing.

“On a national level, there’s this kind of consensus that fires are natural, are normal and they can be good,” Evers said.

“We are no longer managing ecosystems for the sake of being able to cut down trees or use water, but to maintain the inherent value of an ecosystem,” Evers said. Fire is one of those forces that keeps ecosystems within balance. Sometimes, we just have to let it burn.

2016 WILDFIRE OUTLOOK As far as what the 2016 season will look like, Evers predicts a normal year—with a caveat.

“It’s kind of easy to assume that ‘normal’ means no fires,” Evers said. “‘Normal’ means there are fires—they’re just not extreme.”

He predicted that rather than having several fires burning at once, like Oregon saw last year, there will be one or two attentiongrabbing blazes that can likely be handled by adequate resources.

“More than likely, we’re not going to have this out-of-control fire like Canyon Creek,” Evers said.

Holz predicted that, as a result of Oregon’s winter precipitation causing more grasses to grow in the state’s eastern half, those areas will see more fire this summer since they have higher fuel loads. However, since the fuels are smaller, the fires won’t be as dangerous.

“My hunch is that we’re going to be fine in this upper section [of Oregon] which is, for the most part, wet forest,” Holz said.

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

JAPAN NIGHT: BRINGING TOGETHER TRADITIONAL AND MODERN CULTURE YUNI CHOI

The Japanese Student Society presented the annual Japan Night in Portland State’s Smith Memorial Student Union on May 27.

Japan Night celebrated and promoted traditional and modern Japanese culture on the PSU campus.

The event consisted of Japanese foods, music, dance, art, comic acts and booths, as well as a special performance and lecture by a guest artist from Japan.

Nearly 360 tickets were sold for the event, and many people in attendance were students from PSU. Michiko Yoshinaga, a junior studying Japanese linguistics and president of JSS, expressed that the event welcomed both domestic and international students to enjoy Japanese culture. Yoshinaga has served as the president of JSS for the past two years and has utilized her multinational background to contribute to an understanding between Japanese and American communities.

“This is a good chance for both American and Japanese people to make friends,” Yoshinaga said. “Students will enjoy themselves while being able to learn new aspects of the Japanese culture.”

After enjoying traditional lunch boxes, attendees could explore the culture booths set up at the back of the ballroom before the main performances started.

“I am here to see the show and experience the Japanese culture,” commented Kiley Enger, a junior studying community health.

“I’m looking forward to the fashion show.”

Japan Night not only promotes Japanese culture, but helps to transcend stereotypical views of the culture and its people. Attendees are exposed to multifaceted aspects of the country through various activities at the event.

“You won’t be able to learn about the culture by being in regular society,” said Dennis Caceres, a senior studying sociology. “This is an opportunity to learn and experience another culture in a setting that is outside of the classrooms.”

Korinne Giacoman, volunteer and sophomore studying Japanese, ran a station for a wish tree at the event. There, attendees could write a wish on a paper charm specific to areas of family, aspirations, relationships, education and prosperity. These charms were then hung on the special tree designed

by JSS. Wishes in different languages, including French and Arabic, were seen on the tree.

6

“It is important for PSU students to attend events like these because it brings down ignorance by experiencing and understanding other cultures,” Giacoman said. “If you refuse to come out, you will be stuck in your own little world.”

Other booths provided information about international studies, calligraphy and traditional Japanese flower arranging called Ikebana, as well as performers’ merchandise, origami, photos and a shrine.

The main show of the night opened with a taiko (a traditional Japanese drum) performance. The rest of the night included various programs that crossed traditional and modern Japanese culture, such as J-pop dance performance and a fashion show for designer Ayaka’s kimono dresses. There were also bands and solo performers to entertain the night.

Furthermore, there was a Japanese calligraphy performance by a special guest from Japan: Nachu. Nachu is an entertainer and a master of Japanese calligraphy who made her very first visit to the United States for Japan Night. She received the highest title as master instructor, Shihan, in 2014 and is active in performance calligraphy and an experimental genre of body calligraphy.

With a brush half her size, Nachu painted a message on a large paper laid across the stage floor. She dedicated her performance at Japan Night to the victims of the recent earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan. There was also a special calligraphy workshop and a lecture by Nachu before the show started.

Finally, Jaime Bucthei, a sophomore studying Japanese, performed three songs at the closing of the show.

“It can be difficult to jump into a culture that you know nothing about,” said Bucthei. “But anyone can listen to a song and want to know more about these people and culture behind it.

Arts are a strong gateway into another culture.”

JSS is a 150-member organization with 13 officers. Members of JSS represent not only Japanese students, but also American students and Japanese-American students. All three groups come together to overcome cultural and communication barriers present on the PSU campus.

JSS also helps to establish a solid network for international Japanese students through language support and individual consultations.

Through events like Japan Night, JSS works to reduce stereotypes and discrimination against Japanese students. The organization

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

THE PSU TAIKO ENSEMBLE PERFORMING AT JAPAN NIGHT 2016. JAMON SIN/PSU VANGUARD

seeks to do so by educating others about the country and helping Japanese students gain confidence by becoming independent members of the PSU community at large.

“Bridging cultures is important to our society,” said Bucthei. “Taking in different ideas can help you figure out something about yourself and help you respect other people.”

“Personally, I find that modern Japanese culture is very stereotyped,” said Sonny Tang, a senior studying marketing. “There is a lot of history that most people are not able to see.”

Tang is an active member of JSS and performed a traditional comic act at the event.

“It’s better to ask it than continue to believe something that is wrong,” said Yoshinaga. “It’s very easy to make connections with me, and opportunities to become friendly with other cultures…will help open up the Japanese people as well.”

JSS invites anyone to stop by their daily office hours to actively interact with and learn about Japan. Their office is located at room M107G in SMSU.

INTERNATIONAL

FRENCH CLUB GIVES STUDENTS SPACE TO PRACTICE

LINDA CHAN FRENCH CLUB MEETING ATTENDEE

GRAZIELLA ALLEN

The Portland State French Club met last Friday at Chit Chat Cafe for its weekly 10–11 a.m. meeting. Club leaders and attendees discussed the student group’s activities and goals with the Vanguard. Group members described the club’s main function as an opportunity to practice speaking French and help interested students explore France’s culture and history in a relaxed, non-classroom environment.

NIRVANA FAIRBANKS PSU FRENCH CLUB CO-CHAIR “This is a chance to practice French at different levels, [to meet] some students that are in other levels of French, other than my own, and to maybe help students if they need it or to learn new things about French.”

“I‘d like to see it continue and attend events and help if I can. To be able to gather more people together because with that a lot of things can happen,” Fairbanks said.

MAY 24–31

AMANDEEP SOHI PSU FRENCH CLUB CO-CHAIR “[The club’s mission is] to increase the presence of French on campus and to provide a place for students who want to better their French skills or to find French community— whatever that might mean.”

“I’d like to have more events, like a movie night but acquiring rights to films is difficult and expensive.”

“I heard about the event when I attended [PSU’s] International Night. I want to practice speaking and listening to French. I can read it decently but speaking it is much harder for me.”

“I have traveled to France and French speaking countries and hope to visit in the future. I want to be part of it, come on a regular basis. I want to be a member of the club.”

KATIE ANGELOT FRENCH CLUB MEMBER “It [would] be great if more people got involved and we had more time for conversation in groups. [I] think the French Club can outreach to other language-based groups on campus that might be interested. I think it provides [a place] to have discussion about what we learn in class and also to create a network of French-major students and Frenchinterested students.”

MAY 25

A section of embankment of Florence’s River Arno collapses, destructing the road and sending at least 20 cars into the newly formed ditch.

MAY 26

South Africa’s parliament approves measure allowing the government to mandate land purchase “to place more in black ownership,” according to BBC.

MAY 27

The International Olympic Committee announces almost two dozen athletes who competed in the 2012 London Olympics have tested positive for banned substances after retested.

MAY 27

Recent attacks against Asian banks are tied to North Korea, according to cybersecurity researchers. In 2014, the FBI linked attacks to Sony from North Korea, which security experts say are related to the recent strike.

MAY 28

Three journalists are released by Columbian rebels after being kidnapped six days ago. One journalist was covering a story on coca farmers who grew for cocaine production, and a reporter and cameraman were covering the story of the first journalist’s disappearance from the remote area of Catatumbo.

MAY 29

At least 700 migrants may have died at sea while crossing from Libya to Italy, according to Medecins San Fronteires and a UN refugee agency. Around 14,000 refugees were rescued and three boats were confirmed sunk.

Serina Hersey

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

KAIBIGAN HOLDS ELECTIONS FOR NEXT EXECUTIVE BOARD SEQUOIA WOODS Filipino American Student Association Kaibigan held a discussion in the Smith Memorial Student Union on May 26 to elect next year’s executive board for the organization.

During the meeting, the nominees answered questions regarding why they are running as well as what they hope to bring to the organization if elected.

Patrick Guile, the current president of Kaibigan, lead the discussion.

“I have been a student leader with this club for three years now, and I think it is safe to assume that I have had my fair share of ups and downs, but I had a really good time,” Guillen said. “I found a second home with these folks.

I’ve built up great relationships and great friendships.”

Guillen also shared why he believes student organizations such as Kaibigan are so important.

“I just want the greater PSU community to know how influential and how important the student organizations are,” Guillen said. “I think student organizations like this should be better represented within PSU, because if you think about it these are students that give up their time, their sweat, their tears [and] their hard work to put up events for their fellow students. It’s an honor to be a student leader because we get to help out those who are not represented. We get to be the voices for those who may not have a voice.”

Izabella Sy, who is running for co-cultural chair with John David Duran, is an international student from the Philippines. She spoke about why she is a member of Kaibigan.

“To me it’s very comforting being around people that share the same culture as I do, especially because I am far away from home,” she said.

Her partner in the elections explained what they hope to achieve if elected.

“I really want the organization to grow,” Duran said. “I remember a few years ago Kaibigan was the student organization of the year for PSU, and I would really like to bring that back. There is always room for improvement, and that’s my goal for Kaibigan.”

Cherille Marie Roboca, a vice presidential candidate, also stressed the importance of Kaibigan in the greater community.

“Growing up within this community has really empowered me as a Filipino American; I am able to talk to my parents and share culture with them. I am learning about the situations that they faced, and what the people of the Philippines still face today,” Roboca said.

The last speaker was Jhustin Custodio who is running for president of Kaibigan. He expressed his personal experiences and the importance of knowing where he’s from.

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“Aspects of Filipino culture weren’t really emphasized in my family, it was a difficult topic, and so being involved with Kaibigan has really helped to connect me with my roots,” Custodio said. “I feel like I am a representative of someone that has really felt that unification and empowerment as a Filipino American. And I want to make the biggest impact I can as president, to make sure that Filipino American students on campus can also feel that unification and empowerment that I felt.”

The results of the election will be made public on June 9.

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

FILIPINO AMERICAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION KAIBIGAN HELD A DISCUSSION IN THE SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION ON MAY 26 TO ELECT NEXT YEAR’S EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE ORGANIZATION. JAMON SIN/PSU VANGUARD

ARTS & CULTURE

ALUM JOSH GROSS CONFRONTS ESTRANGED FATHER IN ‘THE FUNERAL PAPERS’ CATHERINE JOHNSON

Josh Gross, a Portland State alumnus from 2008, is a journalist, playwright and now published author of four books.

His most recent, a memoir called The Funeral Papers, is the story of Gross and his estranged father who died two years ago. When Gross attended the funeral and was given a packet of his father’s writing, work he previously didn’t believe existed, he was inspired to use it as a means of exploring and perhaps reconciling what had been a difficult relationship.

“We didn’t talk for a long time and there was this huge gulf between us,” Gross said.

“So can this be the thing that solves that? And at the same time is it a way to potentially find him some recognition that he didn’t get when he was alive?”

The idea for the book came to Gross on the train ride home from his father’s funeral.

“I knew the moment I opened that envelope it was just going to be this Pandora’s Box,” Gross said. “I was trying to process how strange the funeral had been and I started writing it out like a journal entry.”

This journal entry turned into a story and then he realized it would be interesting to juxtapose it with his father’s work. He finished the project within a year, but even though the writing process went quickly it posed many challenges for Gross, especially facing old wounds and memories he’d tried to put out of his mind.

“It’s an intense book. There’s a lot in there,” Gross said.

“Some of it is just balls out rage because there’s a lot of issues, and some of it is having that feeling completely reversed because I found something that I didn’t even know.”

He struggled with trying to understand his father, a per-

son he couldn’t seem to connect to in life, and be fair to the material. This was especially hard because in the middle of writing the book he moved back to his hometown of Ashland, Oregon, where he was subject to criticism from his father’s friends.

Gross refers to the book as a co-memoir. Much of it consists of his father’s writing and accounts of his father’s life, which Gross acknowledged is fascinating in itself.

“He was a cool dude, but not a very good parent, which is part of where our struggles were,” Gross said. “But he lived through some really strange parts of American history.”

For example, according to those who knew Gross’ father, he was stationed on the same Army base as Elvis Presley. He was also part of the beat poets in New York and California, and was among the bohemians

who lived in the Sausalito houseboats.

“That was his life. He went through all of that,” Gross said.

“There’s a lot of really interesting pieces of very real life.”

As a writer, Gross said he has been influenced by Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams, but that this book was primarily influenced by music, especially punk rock.

A major tension throughout the story is the cultural gap between Gross’ father, who was a flower child and lived in a hippie commune, and himself.

“I was a black pants–wearing, middle finger–waving, screaming-my-balls-off little shithead,” Gross said. “We saw the world through entirely different lenses.”

This rift is illustrated in a scene that takes place in Portland (which Gross described as its own character in the book), as the various generations reacted to the

impending Iraq War in 2003.

Gross recalled that as the baby boomers staged a peaceful sit-in on the Burnside Bridge, he and his cohorts responded differently.

“We all took off and stomped through the city and we shut down the 405 and blocked traffic,” Gross said. “I remember that being this moment of ‘that’s your generation and this is my generation.’ And this is the moment where I’m breaking off fully and saying, ‘We’re our own thing. We’re doing something different.’”

While few have read the book so far, those who have read it responded well. “The reaction has been really, really positive. There seems to be interest in the concepts and topic,” Gross said.

“I’ve never read a memoir quite like it before,” said Tori ElBalazo, Gross’ publisher. “Because the book skips from Josh’s writ-

ing to Arnie’s and back, it is both a conversation with a dead person and a journey through the type of pain that can only be caused by a family member.

I was moved and intrigued by both the humorous writing style and Josh’s ability to temper his hatred for his dad after having spent time diving into his father’s writing.”

When the book is released to the public this summer, Gross hopes that readers will not only enjoy it, but that they’ll find a deeper understanding of the ways we do and don’t get along with the people in our lives and why.

“A lot of the problems we have are manufactured,” Gross said. “They don’t need to be there. A lot of it is meaningless and stupid and totally unnecessary. When you see it laid out you look at yourself and go, ‘Why do we do this to ourselves?’”

“I WAS A BLACK PANTS-WEARING, MIDDLE FINGER-WAVING, SCREAMING-MY-BALLS-OFF LITTLE SHITHEAD. WE SAW THE WORLD THROUGH ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LENSES.” – JOSH GROSS

JOSH GROSS, A PSU ALUMNI AND AUTHOR OF “FUNERAL PAPERS.” COURTESY OF JOSH GROSS

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ARTS & CULTURE

STORIES FROM THE BUDDHA: PROFESSOR JUNGHEE LEE EXPLAINS ANCIENT CAVE ART THOMAS SPOELHOF

The way of nirvana is simple: Achieve selflessness through the purge of all worldly desires. So say the picture stories etched into 1,600-year-old Buddhist ceiling and wall paintings found in a massive network of caves along the ancient Silk Road in southern China.

Junghee Lee, Portland State professor of Asian art history and faculty member of international studies, presented the findings of her 2015 journey to the caves with “Stories of the Buddha from Kizil Caves and Khotan in the Taklamakan Desert.”

Professor Lee spoke to students and visitors May 20 in Smith Memorial Student Union and shared the beauty of her experience through the images that tell the stories.

Professor Lee told how her adventure brought her to Xinjiang Province, China, travelling by plane, bus and camel to cross the Taklamakan Desert and view

these fascinating and colorful depictions in person.

“I will tell you of all the trouble I got into in Xinjiang Province,” Lee said with a laugh.

Lee travelled in a desert caravan and described the beauty of the textured, multicolored mountains, valleys and gorges leading to the network of over 200 cave temples spread out over a mile along the cliffs there.

“Most memorable is the spectacular scenery and the beauty of Kizil Cave temple site,” Lee said. “It was so impressive to see the brilliant colors of simple native paintings on rocks preserved in original condition, and experiencing them in the intimate small structures.

Another was crossing the Taklamakan desert on a bus and seeing the ruin of the Great Stupa at Rawak buried in the sand of the desert. The desert lures visitors back and I want to go back.”

Professor Lee has trav-

elled extensively in her research and has found many rich works of Buddhist art in historic sites in China, India, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries.

Lee’s presentation included projected images of the cave paintings themselves while she told the stories that accompany each one.

“My favorite is the ‘Mahasattva Jataka’ which is also called the ‘Hungry Tigress Jataka’ painted in small vertical diamond composition framed by lotus flower leaves,” Lee said.

“Prince Mahasattva went hunting and saw a tigress and six cubs were dying of starvation. He threw his body from a cliff and died so that the tigress and tiger cubs could eat him easily.”

A similar theme of magnanimity among ascetics runs throughout the Kizil Cave stories, as illustrated in the tale of “Chaddanta Jataka” from Kizil Cave 206.

A six-tusked elephant, an incarnation of the future Buddha, gives a gift to one of two friends. The other friend is hurt and incarnates herself as a human queen. Still jealous, the queen hires a huntsman to kill the rare elephant and bring her the tusks.

When he does, the queen dies from her own broken heart. This same story appears in ancient cave paintings in India.

Dr. Mingqiang Gao, codirector of the Confucius Institute at PSU and codirector from Soochow University in China, spoke of Professor Lee’s extensive knowledge of the interplay of art, culture and ideas throughout history.

“She is an expert in history and the cultural relics of China,” Gao said. Buddhism was introduced to China via the cultural influence on each other and cultural merging in different areas of the world. We see this along the Silk Road, which was ac-

tually the promotion of commerce around the world.”

Qingqing Gong, Chinese instructor with the Confucius Institute at PSU, commented on the colorful presentation and her connection with Professor Lee’s story weaving.

“She talked about many pictures which appealed to me a lot. I’ve been to Tibet and I am interested in Buddhist culture. This lecture was interesting in that she told the stories with the pictures. I love those stories,” Gong said.

Professor Lee spoke for about an hour, describing the tales the Kizil Caves present and answering questions from the audience afterward.

She also described the perils one can encounter while travelling to Khotan.

“The cave temple authorities guard the temple strictly for preservation and against theft, so they take away travellers’ possessions right away while viewing the

caves,” Lee said. “On the way to Kizil Caves there are many checkpoints of police and army, and the road to Kizil is in a restricted path.”

Lee explained the Khotan (Hetian) area features a vibrant traditional culture of Uighur living in the traditional style, but that tensions between Chinese armed forces and Uighur are high.

“There still is a possibility one’s airplane seat can be cancelled without explanation and one is asked to purchase another ticket, but the security for the traveller is fine,” Lee said.

The Confucius Institute at PSU, an integral component of the Office of International Affairs, regularly supports programs and presentations promoting deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture in the greater Portland area. Interested participants can stay abreast of future CIPSU events via their page on the PSU website: Confucius Institute.

JUNGHEE LEE, PORTLAND STATE PROFESSOR OF ASIAN ART HISTORY SPEAKS HER JOURNEY TO THE CAVES WITH “STORIES OF THE BUDDHA FROM KIZIL CAVES AND KHOTAN IN THE TAKLAMAKAN DESERT.” COURTESY OF PROFESSOR QINGQING GONG./PSU VANGUARD

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ARTS & CULTURE

ARCHAEOLOGY ROADSHOW INVITES PUBLIC TO DIG INTO THE PAST GRAY BOUCHAT

ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE FURLAN

The archaeology department organized this dwellings-themed event for all Portland State students and the public.

The fifth-annual event includes interactive displays and demonstrations to teach about archaeology and help raise awareness about its importance. This free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 4 in Portland State’s Hoffman Hall.

Project and volunteer coordinator Jonathan Duelks is passionate about the upcoming roadshow. He worked closely with project coordinator Lyssia Merrifield on the project. The roadshows have

been developed through the Public Archaeology class.

“The Public Archaeology class and this event came out of the need for archaeologists to make archaeology relevant to the public because most of it is federally funded in some way,” Duelks said. “If a road is going in or if there are buildings being put in or if there is park land being disturbed… archeology has to be done to make sure that archaeologic sights aren’t disturbed.”

Duelks has been coordinating with several expeditors such as universities, tribes, cultural resource management firms and students.

These are only some of the expeditors who will put together exhibits to be shown at the event.

“A lot of it [archaeology] doesn’t get out to the public, so we want to connect people to archaeology, specifically we focus on local and broader northwest archaeology,” Duelks said.

Merrifield and Duelks are excited for the attractions that are going to be presented at the show. “There are so many exciting exhibits and we don’t want anyone to feel left out here,” Merrifield said.

The boxcavation attraction is particularly fun for children,

giving them the opportunity to take part in an actual excavation. “Boxcavation is a favorite for me. Mike Etnier, a PSU professor, buried a seal about a year ago in a specially made box, and by the day of the roadshow it will be skeletonized and folks will be able to aid in excavating it,” Merrifield said.

There will also be a brew crew from the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives who will be brewing an 1872 beer recipe. This specific recipe was meant to be brewed at home, and will add an even more historic component to the roadshow. Samples of the beer will be provided at the roadshow.

For the first time, there will be a third grade class from Southwest Charter School presenting their own surprise exhibit. “[The show] has always been family friendly even though it is geared toward all ages,” Duelks said. “We end up with a lot of hands-on activities and exhibits.” He thinks it is important for children to know and learn about archaeology through active experiences at the roadshow. “It’ll be great for other kids to see these kids being part of an event like this. I’m excited for that connection.”

A panel of experts will be available to review artifacts

from the public, whether that be an old stone, a necklace left by a grandparent or something found on a hike. Attendees are encouraged to bring and show these items to the expert panel.

The experts will give their opinion of what the artifact is, whether or not it is indeed an artifact, how old it is or where it came from. Through this activity, they hope the public will see why archaeology is important and why the context of artifacts is important.

This event is made to help people learn more about archaeology through displays and interactive activities.

The free event is located in Hoffman Hall.

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COLLEGE ENDS, LIFE BEGINS The room is dark, subdued, the weak lighting comes only from partially obscured wall sconces. La Wally performed by Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez is playing softly from a stereo system tucked in the corner of the room. Slowly, sense is being made of that which lacks form and so often description. Yet its function remains unquestionable, its benefit never in doubt.

As the last of the day’s sun fades over the horizon and the mauve and green sky fades to black, my companion and I find examples in La Wally to try to explain the massive paradigm shift that we will be experiencing as school wraps up for the year.

Sitting in the corner next to the stereo, swirling the faint amber liquid in my glass, I muse that I’m in the third act, which finds Wally driven by passion to scale down the treacherous cliffs of a snowy ravine to retrieve that which she loves so dearly.

As my final year as an undergrad comes to a close, I talk about the future, a future of facing new challenges and forcing myself even deeper into the depths of chaos for that which means so much to us: In my case, finishing my time at PSU and pursuing a graduate degree.

My companion compares herself to the fourth act, where the fearless Wally has abandoned her home for the distant and dangerous mountains. Following in Wally’s footsteps is her friend, begging her to return to what she knows and what she loves. Faintly, across the freezing expanses of snow, another voice calls to Wally, beckoning her forward, to love and a life of happiness.

She wonders if that will be the life of a postgraduation former college student: leaving behind the familiar, exploring the vast unknown, faithful in the belief that somewhere out there lies something that will make the journey worthwhile.

The liquid consumed, I ask if indeed our journey is merely a means to an end. Do we subject ourselves to late and often sleepless nights, hours upon hours of studying for each class, each term, simply to get that degree we covet so deeply and jump into the real world while leaving all the experiences of our time at university behind us? Are we so preoccupied with the vastness of the forest we fail to recognize the beauty of the trees? She smiles, but has no answer.

After finishing our drinks and receiving many quizzical glances from the other patrons, we take our leave. Slowly walking back toward campus in the freshly minted evening, I declare that Bruce Springsteen would have been a better choice for the pub to play from its small corner stereo. My companion ponders my comment for a bit and responds

The Campus Oracle Nathan Anderson

ILLUSTRATION BY TERRA DEHART that ol’ Bruce would have been fine if we had been a couple of shift workers relaxing after a day pulling green chain, living uncomplicated lives of routine.

Instead we are presented with an obscure Italian love opera, an unforeseen blessing that we dissected and used as a metaphor for

our lives in college and the future challenges that await. Bruce wouldn’t have risen to such a challenge.

Thus is school. Like the story told in La Wally, it is an adventure. We cannot plan for every occurrence—good or bad. We cannot plan for every bump and setback. Like Wally,

we may get angry and do something we regret, but hopefully we’ll have the foresight and wherewithal to see that amends are made and we continue with our education. Across the distant and hazy unknown we proceed on, passion pulling us forward to life of, we hope, happiness and fulfillment.

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OPINION

LAWN MAINTENANCE: AN AMERICAN PASTIME Musings from the Sub-basement Kevin Hadsell

While going about my business this past weekend, sitting on the porch drinking coffee and admiring the Serengeti that is my front yard, I heard a sound rising over the houses and trees, a gentle whirring that seemed to rise up from the earth itself.

I looked up and squinted into the sunlight.

The rain had stopped. Birds were singing. I knew the sound well: a lawn mower, the ultimate symbol of victory in the eternal war between humans and the natural environment.

As a former Midwesterner, I understand what is at stake. There, tending grass takes on the role of an almost sacred duty, in a decidedly “stewards of the earth” fashion. It asserts humanity’s continued dominion over nature.

Through this ritual culling of grass, the vast unruly prairies are brought to order. It accounts, too, for the visceral horror instilled in the neighbors when a lawn is unkempt, for it gestures toward the dissolution of the entire social order.

Which is to say: There is a reason a wellmaintained lawn resembles a 1950s-era military haircut. It is how we maintain discipline over the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, lawn care is a different story. In the land of constant rain and mild winters, lawn mowing takes on a decidedly less vindictive character. We appear less eager than our Midwestern counterparts to take revenge on Mother Nature for forcing us to scrape ice off the windshields of our cars for five months of the year.

And yet I believe the dulcet tones of the mowers in springtime serve as a reminder to all of us that, regardless of your shortcomings or failures in life, whatever you have done or have failed to do, you are still a member of a species that uses heavy machinery and petroleum-based fuel to tend the vegetation in your front yard.

Is this overkill? Perhaps. But it is the way of our people.

And so I did what any good American would: I pulled my lawnmower out of hibernation and set about my duty to tame Mother Nature, that heinous wench, with rotating blades and a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.

The sound of sticks, twigs and pine cones cracking and exploding out of the blades told me that Mother Nature doesn’t stand a chance. Not to mention, the mower is literally powered by liquefied dinosaurs.

In the end, I like to think that Mother Nature learned a valuable lesson in all of this.

I prefer to think of mowing the lawn not as an act of routine maintenance of one’s grass, but rather a punishment for growing too tall for its own good.

The ultimate goal of any lawn care professional should be instilling fear into the lawn to such a degree that it would rather keep itself short than deal with the wrath of the lawnmower. That should be our ultimate goal as wardens of the earth—it should fear us and keep itself in line. Only then will you be the master of your domain.

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON KIDD

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OPINION

GET INVOLVED AND BIKE TO PSU! Guest column Gerald Fittipaldi

PSU was recently named a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. Only four other universities in the U.S. have this distinction.

As students hop off their bikes as they arrive on campus, they are met with an abundance of outdoor bike parking, secure indoor bike parking with lockers, a campus bike shop including repair stands and tools for student use, the VikeBike rental program and showers for bicycle commuters.

Ian Stude and the entire group at Transportation & Parking Services, PSU’s Bicycle Program Coordinator Clint Culpepper, and the Bike Hub all deserve a round of applause. All of these facilities are welcomed and are the reason why many students, faculty and staff are commuting to campus by bicycle.

Portland is also fortunate to have a dedicated bicycle coordinator, Roger Geller, as well as neighborhood greenway guru, Greg Raisman. They are two of Portland’s many experts who have dedicated countless hours toward planning and designing bicycle facilities.

That’s the good news. There’s just one problem: Biking on the streets leading to and from campus can be terrifying.

Seasoned bicycle commuters and those who happen to feel comfortable biking with heavy car traffic may not mind biking on downtown streets, but for the rest of the PSU community, a lingering fear of getting hit by a car is enough to make the idea of biking to campus a nonstarter.

Part of the reason for this fear is that downtown Portland has very few bike lanes, and many of the ones that do exist are very narrow and located next to parked cars. Broadway is a good example of this. The scarcity of bike lanes near PSU is so bad that there isn’t a single northbound bike lane anywhere connecting to campus. Fourth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, the Park Blocks and 10th Avenue all lack any sort of bicycle facilities.

Even for the fearless, moving through traffic on a bicycle during evening rush hour either means squeezing between cars stuck in gridlock traffic or waiting patiently behind an exhaust pipe only to crawl forward at about the pace of a person on foot.

Don’t get me wrong: Much of Portland is great for biking. The neighborhood greenway systems in Southeast and Northeast Portland, as well as bicycle-friendly bridges such as the Hawthorne Bridge and the Steel Bridge are superb. I have traveled throughout the U.S., and these neighborhood facilities are better than any others I have biked on in America.

Once entering downtown, however, the scene

is quite different.

Even Mayor Charlie Hales, while on a bike ride with city staffers and advocates, felt compelled to dismount his bike and walk on the sidewalk as soon as he pedaled into downtown. Portland has been moving at a glacial pace in this regard for the past several years.

Three years ago, the city was awarded a $6.6 million grant for a downtown multi-modal safety project that was to be largely focused on building separated bike facilities in the downtown area.

According to a May 6 article on the Bike Portland blog, the public outreach process for this project “has yet to even start.” Roger Geller is now saying that it will probably be another two years before anything gets built.

This slow implementation lies in stark contrast to what is happening in many other cities across the country. Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. are among places that are steamrolling forward in removing parking and travel lanes to install separated bike lanes through the hearts of their respective downtown areas.

Just as it is necessary to have complete networks for automobiles and transit systems, it is crucial that bicycle networks be connected and safe. Portland’s politicians and decision makers need to know just how much a connected network of separated bike lanes through downtown would benefit PSU. We currently have over 28,000 students, most of whom are commuters. A comfortable bike network would be the tipping point to entice many students to bike rather than drive to campus, contributing to a more livable downtown.

There are many ways that the public can make a difference. In the early 1970s, bicycle advocates at PSU played a large role in helping pass the historic Bicycle Bill, which to this day requires that 1 percent of funding be directed to the inclusion of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists wherever a road, street or highway is being constructed in Oregon. This bill passed by only one vote after many students and faculty at PSU became engaged.

Last year, my classmates and I came together to form Bike PSU, a student advocacy group. Since forming we have testified at City Hall and attended multiple Downtown Neighborhood Association meetings to voice our support for improved biking conditions.

To help Bike PSU continue its momentum we need more students to get involved.

Gerald is a graduate civil engineering student and the president of Bike PSU. He can be reached at bikepsu@pdx.edu or through the organization’s Facebook group.

BIKING. COURTESY OF GERALD FITTIPALDI/PSU VANGUARD

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S t a r CongOF 2016 CL AS

S

Y

ou are entering the next phase of your life with a tremendous advantage–an education that has prepared you to take on whatever challenges and opportunities that come your way. For that, you should be proud. And you should take a moment to thank your parents, your families, your friends, your professors and all who helped you along the way.

We are awarding nearly 5,800 degrees from Portland State University this year. The Class of ’16 hails from across the nation and around the world, ranging from 19 to 80 years old. You balanced the demands of work, debt, family and other obligations with your courses.

You persevered. And now we are counting on you to build a better, more sustainable and equitable future for all.

You join a powerful network of more than 160,000 PSU alumni and are automatically enrolled in the PSU Alumni Association, giving you new opportunities to stay connected with your fellow Vikings.

I wish you luck, and I look forward to celebrating your achievement at our spring commencement ceremonies June 12 at the Moda Center.

Wim Wiewel President, Portland State University

GRADUATION GUIDE

WELCOME TO THE GRADUATION GUIDE 2016 It’s hard to believe spring term is almost over. For many of Portland State’s students, this is the end of the road. After years of late nights into early mornings cramming for exams, last minute dashes to final deadlines, approximately 400 cup-o’-noodles and 600 pizza boxes, graduation is finally here.

Finishing college can be a scary time. The following pages will help you navigate the transition and give you some tips on how to fill your time now that you’re not drowning in homework.

GRADUATION GUIDE

I READS WITH YOU

COLLEEN LEARY

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUMS TO ADD BACKGROUND TO YOUR FINALS CRAMMING

Studying for finals is stressful and time consuming. Why not make it more enjoyable with this crop of instrumental albums? They’ll keep you from getting too bogged down with statistics and flashcards, and most of these will help you keep your focus or may even improve your fact-retention. Win!

1) Bonobo, Black Sands 2) Pearl Django, Under Paris Skies 3) Unwed Sailor, The Marionette & The Music Box 4) Talkdemonic, Eyes at Half Mast 5) The Octopus Project, The Falls 6) Miles Davis, Kind of Blue 7) Mogwai, Happy Songs for Happy People 8) Do Make Say Think, You, You’re a History in Rust

ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE FURLAN

MORE READING?!

FIVE INSPIRATIONAL POST-GRAD BOOKS WORTH THE EFFORT EXPERT GUIDANCE FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE CATHERINE JOHNSON Congratulations! You’re done! You’ve accomplished something. Now comes the daunting task of figuring out what comes next.

Maybe you already have your dream job lined up; maybe you’re going to take a break from adulting for some travel and adventure; maybe you have no idea what you’re doing.

It’s all fine! Regardless of where your life plans stand, enjoy the celebration and bask in the glory of completing a degree. Here are some books to get you inspired for the next chapter, and keep you inspired when the commencement party is over.

Tiny Beautiful Things Cheryl Strayed

Portland literary superstar Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things is a “best of” treasure trove of wisdom and spot-on advice from her Dear Sugar column. From love and rela-

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MORE READING?! FIVE INSPIRATIONAL POST-GRAD BOOKS WORTH THE EFFORT. AUDREY BOND/PSU VANGUARD

Modern Romance Aziz Ansari

tionships to career questions and personal School can obviously be a great place to trauma, Strayed has an aphorism or nugget make friends. Every new class, or club activity, of hope for all of her “sweet peas” in any sit- or sunny day doing homework out on the Park uation. You can buy the cute little book for Blocks is an opportunity to mingle and meet your bedside table, or read her responses in new people, including that special person. But full for free at The Rumpus online. Strayed’s as many post-school singles can tell you, dating insights are sure to keep you doing life “like a in the “real world” can be hard. So let comedian motherf*cker” long after you’ve tossed your Aziz Ansari give you a few pointers, and a few graduation cap. laughs. Modern Romance draws on legitimate social science to help us navigate technology Bad Feminist and relationships in the twenty-first century.

Roxane Gay

When you want to be entertained without sacrificing the intelligence and critical thinking skills you’ve spent your college years building, then pick up Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist. These essays are funny, stupid smart, and will keep challenging you to think about the world and your place in it, in new and meaningful way

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

You Are A Badass Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass is a self-help book for people who detest self-help books. Jen Sincero turns every corny cliché on its head and reminds us that loving and believing in ourselves is really just common sense. Through hilarious storytelling and language that beams with

authenticity and not a drop of condescension, Sincero provides practical and profound advice about how to kick ass at life.

This Is Water David Foster Wallace

“This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life” is an essay by literary giant David Foster Wallace based on the commencement speech he delivered at Kenyon College in 2005. In it, Wallace breathes fresh meaning into the typical “banal platitudes” we’ve come to expect from the commencement speech genre. He posits that a good education doesn’t just teach us how to think, but how to choose what to think about. That may seem obvious, but he contends that it is often the obvious, the thing right in front of you, that’s most important. Written with his typical humor and wit in searing prose, this is a great book to come back to again and again.

GRADUATION GUIDE

THE GRAD’S GUIDE TO STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT THOMAS SPOELHOF

You’re graduating! Congratulations.

Well done. Bravo. Good on ya.

If you borrowed money for college through a federal student loan, you are required to begin repayment of the loan 90 days after graduation.

Welcome to the world. A rude welcome, indeed, but rest assured that you are not alone in this predicament and that tools are available to help make the burden manageable.

The good news: It’s likely there is great flexibility in your loan repayment plan options.

The bad news: There is no escape from student loan repayment. It’s crucial to make a plan for paying back the loan; sooner or later, the loan catches up with you and it’s better to examine your options ahead of time.

Here are the nuts and bolts of what to expect regarding your federal student loan: 1) There’s a grace period after graduation before you start paying on the loan.

If you have a federal subsidized or unsubsidized loan, your repayment begins six months after you have graduated, left school, or dropped below half-time in credits, according to studentloans.gov. Perkins loan repayments begin nine months after separating from college. If you have a PLUS loan, repayment begins after final disbursement of funds, although extensions are not uncommon.

Other deferments or extensions can be afforded due to circumstances such as unemployment or a return to college coursework.

If any of these options is ever utilized, be sure to find out how interest is handled throughout your deferment period. Interest accumulating during in-school payment deferments adds up quickly.

2) Your loan servicer is an important contact.

As your grace period nears closing, you’ll be contacted by your loan servicer. The loan servicer is an organization that manages loan accounts and collects your payments on behalf of whichever company loaned you the money.

You will most definitely want to save the loan servicer in your contacts.

Keep their phone, email and any personal contact info if possible. Whatever questions come up regarding your loan in the future will be brought to the loan servicer, and it will save you big hassles to have their information at hand when you need it.

3) You have options regarding your loan repayment plan.

The loan servicer can work with you to iron out the best plan of repayment: a fixed monthly payment that pays off in 10 years (120 payments), a graduated payment that starts

ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE FURLAN low and increases every two years, length of terms to manage the weight of the payment and several other variables.

Many moveable pieces allow flexibility in your repayment planning. Payments can be adjusted based on income, and some borrowers might find themselves eligible for an extended payment plan for a longer period to pay off the loan. This is when it’s important to have retained your loan servicer’s contact info for ease of loan information access. There is no escape from student loan repayment.

4) Consolidating loans is a good idea. federalstudentaid.gov recommends consolidating any individual student loans for two reasons: You’ll only have to make one payment each month as opposed to two or three

with separate due dates, and you’ll also likely have a lower monthly payment than if the loans are individual. The website also recommends choosing the terms with the fastest payoff you can afford each month. A faster payoff generally means a lower expense to you in the long run.

5) Some professions offer loan forgiveness/assistance.

Professions do exist that allow student loan forgiveness. Conditions always apply and most commit the participating borrower to strict, legally binding contracts. Borrowers working in professions in public service— federal government and certain not-forprofit organizations—may be eligible for loan forgiveness, according to studentaid.ed.gov.

Special loan forgiveness incentives are provided for doctors, lawyers, nurses and some teachers. For a completed term of service, some volunteer organizations offer loan forgiveness, such as AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and Volunteers in Service to America.

6) Get informed. Plan ahead.

Studentaid.gov is a solid resource for estimating future student loan payments and answering other questions you might have specific to your situation. Another great resource is Heather Mattioli at the Portland State Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

There may be no escape, but with a little effort you can make things easier on yourself.

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GRADUATION GUIDE

REFLECTIONS FROM A GRADUATE ANONYMOUS There is a very brief amount of time—differing from one person to another—before a remembrance of the past becomes a commentary on the present. My memory of my time at Portland State invariably comes with a price tag. The most fantastic act of repression could not make me see it otherwise.

I imagine most college graduates across the United States are experiencing a similar dissonance. On the one hand, the last three to ten years (seven for me!) have been meaningful, impactful, complex, happy, sad and everything in between. On the other hand the tangible thing we are taking away from this experience, unless you were fortunate enough to land a decent paying job, is a degree—a degree worth, on average (!!), $30,000.

Fred Moten and Stefano Harney have this to say about the university: “It cannot be denied that the university is a place of refuge, and it cannot be accepted that the university is a place of enlightenment.” And in the face of such conditions, they recommend we steal— steal the knowledge the university offers to spite its mission statement.

Because to be enlightened means to be done.

And in the world of the university, with its ever growing corporatization, to be enlightened only means to be professionalized. “Let Knowledge Serve the City.” Well, we know too much about what “knowledge” means and we know too much about what “the city” is to passively accept such a statement. For what is knowledge but the ability to work? And what is a city but a place where work happens?

The question of what labor is best to perform, or what labor beneath our labor must occur for our professional knowledge to be accumulated, does not even enter the picture.

But, as Moten and Harney know, there is knowledge that escapes, and there are citizens of the city—a high proportion of them students—who loiter, who remain uncorrected, nonprofessional.

Indeed, perhaps where I learned the most was not in the classroom, but at those places I went with the tidbits I had learned in the classroom. Bars—why not? There, not only could I speak of the classes I was taking, but I could speak of them angrily, violently, I could say outlandish things, we could tell jokes, we could do all the things that professionals cannot.

In the words of Moten and Harney, it was in those spaces where I stole from the university, where I disseminated without citation, badly paraphrased, and where, I have no doubt, it had the most impact.

The goal of this generation of students ought to be to put an end to the university. Look at how fantastically it has failed us! Perhaps it was our fault for buying what it was selling, but there is no going back, and quite literally there is no declaring bankruptcy. So in lieu of other options for redressing my financial grievances, I will steal the means I have acquired and put them to ends the university could not have foreseen—the end of the university itself, whatever that may look like.

CHELSEA LOBEY At the end of August I will be graduating with a master’s degree in book publishing.

I came to Portland State with an associate’s degree and way too many credits that didn’t transfer over, and I really had not a clue what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be.

I stumbled upon the Vanguard soon after starting classes, allowing me to work with words and get paid a little bit for it. The paper’s office is two floors below ground in Smith Memorial Student Union. It has no windows, dirty white walls, and just a little bit of asbestos in the carpet (It probably won’t kill me, right?

Right?). Yet somehow, this asbestos dungeon has become like a second home to me, the people who work down here like family.

After I got my bachelor’s degree in English, I applied for and was accepted into the master’s in book publishing program. By far the best part of my time at PSU has been in this program, where I took classes on topics that range from book editing and book design to marketing and copyright law and the business of publishing.

Aside from that, the program houses an entirely student-run publishing house, Ooligan Press. Students get put immediately into project teams—you’re really just thrown into it with the expectation that you’ll figure it out eventually. In those project teams, we acquire, edit, design, market and sell books—books by real, legit authors.

I knew I was in the right program immediately. The very first day of classes, the entire press all met to vote on a title for a book we were publishing. There was an argument over whether the title should use “gray,” the American version, or “grey,” the British version. As we are an American publishing house, I guess it makes sense that we would use “gray.” But don’t you think “grey” seems more elegant somehow? I could tell right away these were my people.

PSU is not perfect—not by a long shot. And I don’t even want to begin to think about the debt I’ve accumulated in the pursuit of a very necessary degree (What can you even do without a college degree anymore?). But PSU has also given me a chance to meet and work with extremely talented, passionate people who love books as much as I do. I’ve found my people, and we’re going to kick ass together, just you wait.

Am I getting too cheesy? Screw academia, the one most valuable thing I’ve learned at PSU is how to effectively dodge those people in the Park Blocks who want you to sign their clipboard petitions. I can now #fearlessly go anywhere without the worry of having to mumble “no, thanks” when asked if I care at all about dying polar bears and starving children.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHANNON KIDD

20

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

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GRADUATION GUIDE

THE PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015–2016 ANOTHER ROUND OF PORTL AND STATE students are about to ascend into the scary

and unknown abyss some call the “real world”—but not before many of them walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive their hard-earned diplomas.

This year’s commencement ceremony is June 12 at the Moda Center. The ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences starts at 10 a.m. and the Professional Schools & Colleges ceremony starts at 3:30 p.m.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.pdx.edu/commencement

4,150 BACHELOR’S DEGREES 18% School of Business Admin.

50% College of Liberal A s & Sciences

14% College of Urban and Public Affairs

College of the A s

AGE

TOP 4 MAJORS

28

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Psychology Graduates

80

Health Studies Graduates

Oldest

208 166

Social Science Graduates

19

Criminology & Social Justice

of Class

From

School of Social Work

TOP 4 COUNTRIES

5% of Class

Saudi Arabia Vietnam South Korea

Youngest

DIVERSITY

OUT OF STATE STUDENTS

10%

Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science

China

Average Age

290 290

3%

7%

8%

36

1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 6% Multiple

States

11% Hispanic/Latino

TOP 3 STATES

3% Black or African American

CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON

HAWAII

7% Asian 1% American Indian/Alaska Native 4% Declined to Answer 66% White

PREPARED BY: DAVID BURGRESS, ASSOC. DIR., OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING

INFOGRAPHIC BY RACHEL GOLDSTEIN

22

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

HOW TO WORK FOR VICE

GRADUATION GUIDE

SERINA HERSEY

Scrolling through the VICE homepage, viewers will see a sundry of articles on topics ranging from opinions on Justin Bieber’s dreadlocks and breaking news in the Middle East, to acid tripping at the Westminster Dog Show.

VICE was first launched by founders Suroosh Avi and Shane Smith in 1994 as a punk magazine. Since then, VICE has spread out their 36 offices in 26 different countries, with headquarters in the US located in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

According to their website, VICE is a “global youth media company” and “industry leader in producing and distributing the best online video content in the world.”

“We’re the largest new media company,” said Shane Smith in a recent interview with Digiday. “And we’re going to become the fourth largest or fifth largest, or maybe the third largest [mainstream media company].”

Unlike other publications, editors and reporters at VICE have more freedom when it comes to content.

“If I worked at The Guardian I’d be doing a very specific thing, like culture or news,” said River Donaghey, associate editor and contributor for VICE. “Here, there’s just so much room for doing different stuff. We have an HBO show, a full-time cable network, and I have a bunch of friends working on a series for a cable channel. There’s so much fun shit to play with. That’s why I like VICE.” Besides their Emmy-nominated HBO series, other digital channels include Munchies for food; VICE News dedicated to global broadcast; Noisey, covering up-to-date music features; The Creators Project for arts and creativity; Broadly, “representing the multiplicity of women’s experiences”; Motherboard, documenting the present technological culture; Fightland, a channel highlighting the culture of MMA; and Viceland, a television series that launched earlier this year.

“I think it is a very unique media company,” said Jonathan Smith, executive editor of VICE. “As I’ve gotten older and matured a bit, the tone and the company has matured in the same way.

I work with people who I respect and have similar mentalities. We all get along.”

STAFF EXPERIENCES

Jonathan Smith continued: “There’s a tremendous amount of editorial freedom here, which I think is very valuable when you’re looking for a media company you want to work at or any type of publication you want to write for. This has always felt like a home to me.”

Editor in Chief Ellis Jones joined the publication in 2008 as an intern and works mostly in print to manage the publication as a whole.

Working with a small team, she works with her editors to produce the final work. Jones described the typical production: “Essentially one of the editors will give me a story that one of their writers either wants to go do or has already written, and we’ll discuss it, sign it and make sure there’s a photographer who can get pictures to go with it. Then the writer will submit their first draft and the editors go back and forth with them to make

sure the story gets where it needs to be. Then it goes through a fact-checking process, and the final text will go to me and I’ll read it. Next it will go to copyeditor, then to magazine designer who then lays it out with the photos that come in,” Jones said.

Jonathan Smith, part of the VICE team for seven years, oversees the day-to-day operations of the website, working closely with the senior editors and managing editor to “make sure that we are putting up the best articles possible, and that we are reaching out to new writers who we’d like to work with.” Jonathan Smith also does top edits, as well as assigns features and short stories to writers.

Donaghey has been part of the staff for two and a half years. He works with a team of writers and assigns them breaking stories. His involvement at VICE also reflects this editorial freedom.

Some of Donaghey’s work includes going to California to visit prison inmates who fight wildfires. He also created a documentary and a feature online for a Mayan festival celebrating the Day of the Dead in Guatemala.

Jonathan Smith described VICE’s content as doing “smart stuff in a stupid way and stupid stuff in a very smart way.”

Jonathan Smith also stated a recent example of this would be their feature about Donaghey living in a “Donald Trump Universe.”

“I have a lot of adventures here,” Donaghey said. “I went and spent a week living only on Trump products, reading all of his books and sleeping in the Trump hotel, eating Trump brand food and talking to supporters. I wore Trump clothes and people really hated me. I have so many crazy opportunities that I wouldn’t have anywhere else.”

Additionally, Jonathan Smith commented, “It was a really dumb idea, but there was also a lot of important insights as far as the [presidential] race and the election, where Donald Trump is as a candidate and as a person, and what it says about our nation.”

Both Jonathan Smith and Donaghey have not worked at any other publication besides VICE. They also began as interns in college and moved their way up to editorial positions.

“I get to have fun and get paid for it and write stories about it so it’s pretty ideal,” Donaghey said.

Now, the thing is, it’s a market. Life is a market. New York is a market. If we’re below market, no one’s going to work for us.

Vice produces over 7,000 pieces of content per day across their many channels.

“There’s a lot of stuff that gets published out there that I don’t like or agree with necessarily because a 23 year old will write it, but that’s the brand,” Shane Smith expressed.

“The brand isn’t me anymore. The brand is a sum total of many voices and I think the greatest success of VICE is that we revamped the brand, giving it over to the interns and said, ‘Have at it.’ Sometimes that’s unpleasant or not pretty.”

ADVICE FOR ASPIRANTS

With so much traffic and so many contributors, it may be overwhelming for some prospective writers and editors who want to work for VICE. Luckily, the staff members at VICE have advice for those who want to become part of the team.

Donaghey said that the number one thing VICE looks for in editors is their knowledge on where the good stories are and how they are working with writers.

Furthermore, Donaghey emphasizes the importance of picking a passion, especially as an editor. Specifically, the culture editor would be “more tuned into what’s going on in the world” according to Donaghey, because of their literary background and connections with publishers and filmmakers.

Another example would be the crime editor, which Donaghey described as having “built up a nice stockpile of writers.” Their writers even include actual prisoners writing “from the inside.” Donaghey also created a special section called The VICE Guide to Right Now, a new breaking news section, where he has a team of writers and assigns them breaking news stories happening all day. Reporters write about 300 to 400 news blasts and Donaghey edits them to put on the website.

“They’re tapped into the culture scene in New York, America and the world,” Donaghey continued. “Just really being in the scene and having a passion for the section you’re editing and knowing people in the world is really good. You’re paying attention to what’s happening in the media scene and not just stuck in this bubble of VICE.” Another tip for aspiring employers of VICE would be to start as an intern. Both Jonathan Smith and Donaghey began as interns during college and made their way up to an editorial position.

“Starting as an intern was really helpful for me because I learned how the company works from the bottom up,” Donaghey stated. “An intern would do a lot of ground work—figuring out the website functions, invoicing works,

VICE does “smart stuff in a stupid way and stupid stuff in a very smart way.”

CHANGING CLIMATE

The climate at VICE, however, is changing. As it is rapidly growing into a main media outlet around the world, like Time Warner and Fox. Shane Smith told Digiday that the there could be a “media bloodbath” within the next year.

“If you’re coming out of college and wanted to be a photo editor, there’s 8 million people coming out of college that want to be photo editors— there’s a glut,” Shane Smith stated. “There was a time when we were a trustafarian commune.

talking to freelancers—that aren’t the flashy stuff of being a journalist and reporting. But I was learning how all the pieces of VICE cooperate. That understanding really helped me come up on my career.”

He continued, “I think a lot of the most valuable hires we made were interns. Those people really know VICE from the ground up.”

Those who have already graduated and have missed the opportunity to intern, freelancing is another option.

“Being a freelancer and building a repertoire with an editor from here is a good way to get your foot in the door,” Donaghey said. “A senior editor knows your byline and knows who you are professionally and knows how you write. It’s not a very big leap to then have you be the person to fill a spot in the editorial department.”

Donaghey also expressed that “sending pitches to VICE editors and building relationships that way is easy and doable, and it’s a great way to get your name out there.”

When pitching an article, VICE looks for originality in the story.

“The story needs to have an angle and it needs to be timely,” Jones advised. “It needs to tie in with something that’s happening now, not a few months ago.”

Jones further recommended writers be as succinct as possible.

“If someone says they want to go to Africa and talk to some group about such-and-such and they don’t even have the access, it’s pointless because we cannot really help them with the access,” Jones said. “Knowing ahead of time that they have the access they need and that they have the characters for the story is important. Also, we’d want to get a really quick, short explanation of what the story is, rather than pages of emails. That should be enough for us to know if it’s interesting enough.”

Jonathan Smith also advises how to pitch for VICE. “Don’t try to be too VICE-y,” Jonathan Smith advised. “That’s a mistake that I think a lot of people make. They think that anything that has to do with drugs, or anything else experiential, we’re automatically going to want it and that we haven’t been pitched that a million times before. Overall, don’t try too hard, don’t overthink it. But at the same time, pitch interesting, fun, stupid articles in a smart way that have a broader point that connects to something larger than just a stupid stunt.”

Another tip is to be knowledgeable of other media outlets.

“If someone quits their job at New York Magazine or Gawker we can go back to them.

We can get them to freelance or work for us.

Being aware of that media landscape in a larger sense is good,” Donaghey said.

VICE is a rapidly growing publication that produces over 7,000 pieces of content per day.

This publication brings to the surface voices and issues of what most people normally would not see in other media outlets. On top of their content, writers and editors for VICE have fun with their job and work with people with similar interests. For any aspiring editors and writers who want to get into the vast field of journalism, this may be the publication for them.

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

23

GRADUATION GUIDE

THE YE AR IN RE VIE W C O L L E E N L E A R Y A N D J E O F F R Y R AY

Another academic year is coming to a close. Maybe you’ve been too wrapped up with your nose in your textbooks to pay attention to what’s been happening around campus. Don’t worry, we gotchu!

Maybe now that finals are over, you’ll have time to catch up on what you missed. Here’s a look at some of the major events from the 2015–16 school year at Portland State.

M A Y 6 Portland Business Tax campaign suspended after Portland Business Alliance agrees to seek $25 million in funding: Months of debate and negotiation resulted in the formation of a College Affordability and Success Coalition, in lieu of a tax measure to fund PSU-specific scholarships.

A P R I L 2 6 Associated Students of PSU elections results: Another year of low student voter turnout. Leila Forbes and Kaitlyn Verret of the Unite PSU slate win presidency and vice presidency by a four-vote margin.

A P R I L 2 6 Vikings celebrate pavilion groundbreaking ahead of spring game: The long-awaited Viking Pavilion achieved funding for renovations with the help of the Oregon Health and Science University.

A P R I L 1 4 Vikings offensive lineman Kyle Smith dies suddenly: The second Viking death in a year, Smith passed away in his apartment. His death was under investigation as a possible drug overdose.

A P R I L 4 The quiet takedown of Physical Education: PSU cut and moved PE-designated classes starting fall 2016, resulting in multiple instructor layoffs. The administration cited declining enrollment as a central factor.

A P R I L 4 Despite protest and interruption, Board of Trustees approves tuition and fee increase: The PSU Student Union disrupts the spring board meeting to combat tuition increases and protest the arming of campus security.

F E B R U A R Y 2 9 Graduate Employees Union hopes unionization will help wounds scab over: Graduate employees form a union in an effort to address hours and pay.

24

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

F E B R U A R Y 2 3 Environmental science alum takes on PSU drinking water policy to reduce heavy metals beneath EPA standards: A PSU graduate proposes to deploy student fees after discovering lead in several water sources in Cramer Hall.

F E B R U A R Y 4 Student government tensions exposed amid OSA scrap: The ASPSU senate clashed after the Student Fee Committee recommended defunding the Oregon Student Association, at a $147,000 price tag for PSU students.

J A N U A R Y 1 9 Vikings community mourns the passing of AJ Schlatter: Vikings linebacker AJ Schlatter passed away of complications in tonsil surgery.

J A N U A R Y 1 2 Communities respond to anti-Muslim attitudes: The Portland City Club hosted a panel to discuss the uptick in instances of Islamophobia, both in Portland and throughout the nation.

J A N U A R Y 5 Hell Niño? Against predictions, PDX braves a cold, wet winter: A look back at the flooding and other effects of El Niño.

D E C E M B E R 1 ASPSU president’s email calls for mass student movement: ASPSU President Dana Ghazi utilized the PSU email list to issue a blanket call for a mass student movement on social justice issues.

N O V E M B E R 1 7 New spirit of athletics: Head Coach Bruce Barnum leads a turnaround of the Vikings football team, taking PSU to the FCS championships.

O C T O B E R 2 7 Disarm PSU rallies in Park Blocks: PSUSU and other organizations led an assembly of roughly 50 students to interrupt President Wim Wiewel as he met with students on various issues.

O C T O B E R 1 3 New School of Business celebrates groundbreaking: The process of renovating the SBA building on Broadway began, closing off much of the building for the coming years.

O C T O B E R 6 Officers among us: A look at both sides of the ongoing debate concerning armed campus police, in the wake of the recent addition of four sworn officers.

LET KNOWLEDGE SERVE ... OUR FUTURE Congratulations graduates!

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CROSSWORD A number of answers will require modification before entry into the grid. The clues for these contain a definition of the original answer and wordplay for the part of the answer which is unchanged upon entry. Two of the original answers consist of two words and one of three words.

ACROSS 1 Heartless fascism spreads in mountainous region (6) 5 Make threats and club will screen fight live (8) 9 Note, after endless revenue old man keeps nothing – the fool! (10) 10 One in the gods for The Ring? No, a different part of the threatre (4) 11 First off, identified daughter missing at sea for certain (8) 12 Cunning, unlimited cunning (6) 13 Concealed in toilet (4)

26

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15 Completely overcome by current in Forth when swimming (8)

3 Church officer upset as believer abandons faith finally, yours truly too (9)

18 Unworried but depressed (8)

4 Iron Maiden single appropriate to women (6)

20 Some grass followed by a drink (4)

5 Somehow I botch harnessing energy using living organisms industrially (7)

22 Greeting with good humoured slap, primarily?

More than one (6)

7 Political party backed British statesman (5)

26 Quiet rebuke up North (4)

8 Holding grudge, give grade that’s poor (9)

28 In Italian city I see speedwell (8) 29 Store ordered “Introduction to Rock and Roll� (6) DOWN 2 A knight must stand up at end of rite, on hearing this?

(5)

25 The very best characters’ greatness? (5)

6 Work back to back on building area? The contrary (8)

24 Period in central Thessaly for Solon, Thales et al (8)

27 Copper’s keeping back trouble east of harbour gate (10)

23 Thick-skinned sort has some leadership potential (5)

14 Native inhabitant gives birth in Lincoln (9) 16 After objection by son, heartlessly deals with impediments (9) 17 Underworld queen has drunken spree in pub (8) 19 In Tennessee state, Alaskan’s opening restaurant (7) 21 Car thief is a sport? Not so (6)

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

rd�.

THE VANGUARD IS HIRING AN ONLINE EDITOR FOR SUMMER 2016!

Qualified applicants must be current students enrolled in 6 or more fall credits and should possess the following skills: • Familiarity with Wordpress • Web content management • Coding • Social media content production • Journalism and graphic design skills highly preferred

Come Explore With Us! The Portland Metro Episcopal Campus Ministries invites you to explore questions of faith from the Anglican perspective in a safe place here on the PSU campus!

•

Be a part of a welcoming, progressive Christian community.

•

Take stock of the world and your place in it, and explore what it means to live with integrity and joy in a broken world.

•

Learn to incorporate your beliefs into your life and studies.

We are forming a PSU student group and we need your help!

Contact Chaplain Marlene for information about our campus ministry at mmutchler@pdxchaplain.org, or visit our website: pdxchaplain.org episcopalchurch.org

The position officially begins June 24, pays $1,600 per term and requires a time commitment of 15–20 hours/week.

To apply for Online Editor, complete an application at psuvanguard.com/jobs and submit a cover letter to Vanguard Editor-in-Chief Colleen Leary at editor@psuvanguard.com.

APPLICATION CLOSES THURSDAY, JUNE 9 AT 5 P.M. ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE FURLAN

PSU Vanguard • MAY 31, 2016 • psuvanguard.com

27

SUMMER B

CALENDAR FOR

Whether you’re still in town or just town adjacent, here are some Portland events to keep your spirits up! Keep your summer cool with some of the following.

PORTLAND LESBIAN CHOIR Saturday, June 4 Revolution Hall 5 p.m.

Fee: $15 (advance), $18 (at door) This year is PLC’s 30th anniversary and they’re celebrating at the place where it all began. This retrospective is called “As the Miles Fly By” and is a celebration and recollection of the wonderful and sweet times the PLC has had over the years. Songs can be enjoyed by all generations and two open bars will be available for the over 21+ crowd.

ROSE FESTIVAL DRAGON BOAT RACES Saturday, June 11 Waterfront Park 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free!

My favorite tradition of the Rose Festival weekend is easily the athletic, communitybased and multicultural celebration of the sport known as the dragon boat races.

Teams in different boats paddle past each other while onlookers enjoy the company of the sun and other dragon boat enthusiasts.

Check and see if one of your favorite groups is hosting a boat this year!

DELTA PARK POWWOW Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19 East Delta Park Free!

Part encampment, part festival, all Native American, the Bow and Arrow Culture Club hosts this yearly gathering of local tribes, families, traditions, dance competitions, ven-

HOROSCOPES FOR

Aries March 21–April 19

Spend your summer trying to better yourself. Be constructive and pick a new skill to learn instead of letting yourself get sedentary. This doesn’t mean you can’t let your hair down, but does mean you should challenge yourself.

Taurus April 20–May 20

Freedom might look wonderful or it might look a little scary. But you are in control of your destiny. Not only did you study hard, but you prepared for what life after school would look like. Take on the world with a take-no-prisoners attitude and everyone else will fall in line.

Gemini May 21–June 21

Your goals for the summer are to de-stress. If you have to, volunteer, or you’ll find yourself going stir crazy just sitting by the pool. Don’t take on so many new tasks or gigs that you feel like you’re in school all over again. You have an opportunity to rest—use it.

dors and delicious food offerings. You don’t have to stay all weekend, but it’s definitely not something to miss.

PIG OUT BBQ Saturday, June 18 Polaris Dance Theatre 12–3 p.m.

Fee: $15–20 Happening after the morning dance classes, Polaris is hosting this community awareness event that doesn’t just highlight their dance program, but highlights all the fun possibilities through Polaris. Catering will be provided by the People’s Pig. Come for the food, stay for the live music and raffle.

BLACKLIGHT SLIDE Saturday, June 18 Portland International Raceway 7 p.m.

Fee: $60 This very bizarre, very large traveling adult slide prides itself on an unforgettable night of fun. You’ll certainly be leaving glowing reviews afterward. The after party might be 21+, that’s not clear at the time of printing, but the slide itself at 7 p.m. welcomes all the family to its nocturnal fun.

PORTLAND GAY MEN’S CHORUS Saturday, June 18 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 7 p.m.

Fee: $16–48 The 140 voices of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus comes together during Pride weekend to

RE SUMMER B

People weren’t sure you were going to make it to this summer. They were sure you were gonna flunk or cry or fall on your face. But you proved to the haters that you are worth your accolades and esteem. Spend this summer refining what you’ve learned and get ready for a new year.

Leo July 23–Aug 22

Your journey has just started, Leo. There’s no way of knowing where you’re going and you are a little unsure.

This summer, seek out some mentors in your field or in something you’re interested in learning about. There’s no shame in asking for help, only in the silence.

Virgo Aug 23–Sep 22

offer up this year’s summer selection called The Divas and focusing on the women who have given great anthems, stories and beauty to the gay community. The male voices will be joined by some female voices from the past and promises to be a not-to-miss Saturday night when the world is full of Pride.

FLICKS ON THE BRICKS July and August Friday Nights Pioneer Square Sundown Free!

Brought to you by Ikea and Smart Park, this summer night Friday family tradition comes with live local bands to open the event and mystery movies! This year, they’re opening the movies to voting and entries in the past have included ET, 9 to 5, and a Grease singa-long. We won’t know what’s showing until we’re there, but we know it will be quality.

Bring your lawn chair or your favorite blanket, a pack of cards and a few friends. Begins on July 22 and ends on August 19.

WEST SIDE STORY Thursday, June 30 to Sunday, July 24 Deb Fennell Auditorium (Tigard) 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $20–50 Groundbreaking, heart wrenching and provocative, West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet the way it was always meant to be seen. Songs like “America” and “Something’s Coming” have become bigger than the musical itself, but the timeless and doomed love story never fails to captivate its audience.

Watch the young kids of the Jets and the Sharks rail against their surroundings, only to find themselves trapped like rats in a maze.

The long summer is maybe something you’ve spent a few months gearing up for. Remember to stay in the present and don’t get bogged down in the past or future. Surprises come your way when you pay attention, even if it’s just to the rhythm of your own heart.

THE BRIDGE Sunday, July 10 to Sunday, August 21 Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Free!

A total of 47 artists of different faiths from 15 countries featuring different religious traditions create interfaith mixed media pieces to promote dialogue and cultural exchange. The theme of bridges and common humanity will be found throughout the pieces.

AMERICA’S LARGEST COLLECTIBLES SHOW Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Portland Expo Center Fee: $7 What are you looking for to complete your collection? Some special piece of jewelry or memorabilia? Do you keep great time thanks to your thousands of alarm clocks? Are you looking for unique Star Wars memorabilia or California Raisins figurines to send your little brother for his birthday? This is a great place and weekend to find all those things and more!

THE LION KING Thursday, August 11 to Sunday, September 4 Keller Auditorium 1 p.m. matinee Fee: $26+ Experience the magic and puppetry of the iconic Disney film The Lion King as presented by Broadway. Featuring classic film songs with a couple of original hits made for this musical presentation, the whole family will come together and leave with a whole new Hakuna Matata attitude.

JOHN PINNEY

AK

Cancer June 22–July 22

JOHN PINNEY

REAK

Libra Sep 23–Oct 23

Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 19

Scorpio Oct 24–Nov 21

Aquarius Jan 20–Feb 18

Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21

Pisces Feb 19–March 20

It’s a funny thing called life. It goes so fast, doesn’t it?

You’ve been waiting for a summer like this for a long time and you have visions of romance or hard work or even just a good Harry Potter re-read. But stay flexible, you never know when a new challenge might come your way and lead you to somewhere completely new.

Lose yourself in a good book this summer, Scorpio. Yes, you are incredibly capable and driven, but unless you have to make money for rent or food, this is the ideal summer to spend some time doing some meditation or traveling a little. Time to broaden your horizons.

I know just how long you’ve waited to graduate and that you’ve spent even longer envisioning how you’ll conquer the world. But the world doesn’t easily bend to your will. Be prepared to face an obstacle or two with a bit of grace and a grain of salt. Let your better angel win the day.

You have so much to catch up with on the DVR and normally I’d be all for that but this is a great summer to build up your resume. Work hard, diligently and smartly.

There are more jobs out there than the one at Dutch Bros you’ve been eyeing because you think it’s easy. Nothing in this life is as easy as we think it is.

Spend this summer dating yourself or your favorite ice cream cake. Indulge, enjoy and give yourself a chance to unbend that spring tightening in your spine a little.

Explore how your body responds to both relaxation and stress, and learn how to tell the difference.

Do you know why the chicken crossed the road? To try the blacklight slide, of course! Get out this summer and meet some people. Your sheltered little world could use a few more inhabitants and there’s plenty of events that would hold your interest.