The Beacon THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND SINCE 1935 February 18, 2016 • Volume 118 • Issue 17 • upbeacon.com
ASUP SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS IN RUN-OFF
? Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
THE RACE CONTINUES... The ASUP Special Election ended Wednesday night in a run-off between Anthony Ng and Bryan Chipman. Voting for the run-off will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. and continue until Friday at 4 p.m. Ng and Chipman received 22.6 percent and 22.18 percent of votes, respectively. Of 3,544 undergraduate students, 947 students participated in the special election: 26.72 percent participation. The special election was called after former ASUP president Khalid Osman resigned at the beginning of the semester. Whomever is elected in this election will serve as temporary ASUP president until the end of the year, at which point next year’s ASUP president will take office. -Clare Duffy • THE BEACON
See ASUP page 3
THE VOTE IS IN: ASUP CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE
Changes to the ASUP constitution were approved with 76.45 percent of total votes. The following changes will take effect: • Creation of “speaker of the Senate” position, an ex-officio member of the Executive Board that serves as a liaison between the Senate and the Executive Board. • Vice president takes over management of ASUP services as well as being election committee chair. • Treasurer becomes finance director and is allowed to appoint a controller if necessary. • Secretary becomes the communication director and has an increased responsibility in communicating with the student body. • Restructuring of senate size: 17 senate positions.
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
Nonprofit lobbies for student support of new tax measure
Make the most of Junior Parents Weekend By Cheyenne Schoen THE BEACON Friends and family of juniors will gather on The Bluff this weekend for three days packed with everything from lunch with the president to exploring Portland. Students and their visitors may purchase tickets until Feb. 19, which will buy them admission to the opening
By Jacob Fuhrer THE BEACON A representative from Our Oregon was on campus Tuesday to garner support for a legislative measure that would give more money to Oregon healthcare and local schools by raising taxes on large corporations. Our Oregon, a nonprofit part of Oregon’s public employees unions, estimates the increased taxes could bring in $2.5 billion each year to Oregon’s budget and would only affect businesses that have sales over $25 million in the state. That’s good news for larger international companies like Nike and Intel who work in Oregon but do much of their business sales outside the state. Instead, Tom Bluth ‘14, a volunteer with Our Oregon, says the measure would largely affect companies like Bank of America, McDonald’s and Comcast. Bluth said the money would help schools in Oregon, which rank 46th in the nation for providing adequate education to students. “Oregon schools do lots and lots of things well … but in other ways Oregon schools are struggling,” said Richard Christen, professor of education. Christen said Oregon has relatively low teacher salaries, underfunded preschool education and some of the largest class sizes in the country. “A measure like this is absolutely essential for education,” Christen said. The measure would also allocate more funds to Oregon healthcare, though Bluth did
2
social, president’s luncheon, Sunday brunch and men’s basketball game. Tickets cost about $27 for students, $38 for visitors and $17 for those 10 and under. Check out the schedule of events and some tips for how to impress your visitors with the best that Portland has to offer. Contact Staff Writer Cheyenne Schoen at schoen17@up.edu.
FRIDAY FEB. 19: Opening Reception: 7:30 - 10 p.m. Light music and entertainment by students will be provided in the Pilot House for an opportunity to meet fellow juniors and their families. Bon Appétit will provide a variety of food and drink. The event will close with a performance by local vintage jazz and swing band, Stumptown Swing! Pre-reserved tickets for the men’s basketball game will be available.
Pilots After Dark Team Trivia Night: 10 - 11:30 p.m. Come prove once and for all, who is smarter? Juniors or their Parents?
SATURDAY FEB. 20: Alumni Stories and Advice: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Hear from alumni who pursued paths in full-time employment, post-graduate service, competitive fellowships and scholarships, and graduate/professional school. Staff from the Career Center, the Moreau Center, and the Office of Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement will share tips for creating a plan that includes practical steps to take between now and graduation.
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Richard Christen spoke Tuesday night in support of a legislative measure that would give more funds to Oregon healthcare and local schools. not have the breakdown on how the $2.5 billion would be split between healthcare and education. Despite the possible benefits, opponents on the Oregonian editorial board say the tax unfairly targets corporations and could force companies to pass the tax increases onto consumers in the form of higher prices. Indeed, Bluth acknowledged the possibility of a price increase, but says that’s a matter for the free market to decide. William Schlichter, a senior nursing major, says Our
Academic Showcase: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Oregon earned his signature on the petition. “It was very insightful,” Schlichter said. “They were able to ... let me know a lot more about how Oregon’s tax system is run.” The measure needs 88,000 signatures by May to make it onto Oregon’s ballot in November.
Learn more about the academic accomplishments of the junior year. Different sessions will be available by academic disciplines.
President’s Luncheon: 12:30 - 2 p.m. President Mark Poorman, will be the featured speaker at this traditional event. The doors to the event will open at 11:45 a.m. Vegetarian options will be available. Reservations are required by Friday, Feb. 5.
Wind Symphony and Chapel Choir Performance: 3 - 4:30 p.m. Faculty and Portland Opera mezzo-soprano is featured in Luigi Zaninelli’s compelling “Five American Gospel Songs” and the Wind Symphony and Chapel Choir combine forces for David Maslanka’s epic “Liberation.” Senior Conducting Associates Tara Egan, David Wanner and Samantha Wright will also conduct the ensembles.
Contact Staff Writer Jacob Fuhrer at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @jacobfuhrer
Brewfest: 5:30 - 7 p.m. At the Chiles Center before the men’s basketball game to enjoy a variety of microbrews. Bring your Pilot pride for our fun photo booth. There will be prizes for the most spirited families!
Men’s Basketball vs. Pacific Boxers: 7 - 9:30 p.m. The Office of Student Activities is providing complimentary tickets to all pre-registered parents and family members. These tickets will be included in your registration packet that you will receive when you arrive. All seats are general admission. Students will not need an additional ticket, because they will gain entrance with their valid student ID card.
Pilots After Dark Open Mic: 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Students perform original songs and covers, spoken word poetry and other forms of live entertainment.
SUNDAY FEB. 21: Sunday Brunch: 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. Take this last opportunity to interact with fellow juniors and their families by enjoying a traditional brunch in The Commons. Cheyenne Schoen • THE BEACON
THE FORECAST:
CORRECTIONS
THE TIP LINE
There are no corrections this week. Today
59º
Weather cour tesy of weather.com
53º
56º
50º
Monday
Sunday
Saturday
Friday
50º
Tuesday
59º
Wednesday
60º
The Beacon wants story ideas from its readers. If you see something that should be covered, email News Editor Clare Duffy at upbeacon@gmail.com
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
3
Campus-wide collaboration to bring feminine hygiene drive to The Bluff By Alana Laanui THE BEACON Many groups on campus are teaming up to run a collection drive to help women in need on Feb. 22-26. Feminine hygiene products (pads and tampons), underwear and monetary contributions will be collected at The Commons, in residence halls and at the Chiles Center. Donations will go to Camions for Care, a local non-profit that will distribute the items. Thirty-one percent of the homeless population is women, according to the 2015 pointin-time survey of homelessness in Portland and surrounding counties. This number has been on the rise in recent years and these women face monthly obstacles that homeless men don’t have to worry about. The conversation of feminine hygiene is often bypassed as a “dirty” topic, but for many homeless individuals in our community, it is a problem that cannot be avoided. Another major goal of the drive is to inform students about this topic and lift the stigma associated with periods so as to better help the homeless population. This educational component
will include information and displays about periods and homeless women. “Just bringing up the issue in classes and sparking conversation will help spread the information about the drive,” Parkes Kendrick said, who is heading up the drive. Kendrick, a junior on the women’s track team, was inspired to organize this effort after volunteering with local shelters and hearing women talk about the difficulties of dealing with their period when they can’t afford the proper hygiene products. “There were always so many people who would come in and ask for (feminine hygiene products) and we didn’t have anything,” Kendrick said. Menstruation and the need for feminine hygiene products are often left out of the conversation when addressing issues of homelessness. Kendrick has noticed the social stigma toward periods when she brings up the topic outside of her team. “When you go out there and say the word ‘period’ people kind of cringe,” Kendrick said. Kendrick is working with junior volleyball player Makayla Lindburg. They hope
ASUP: Special Election run-off starts today Continued from page 1
Anthony Ng
Junior Environmental Science Major
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Bryan Chipman Senior Accounting Major
“I think I should be elected because I’m the most qualified for the position. I’ve been a senator since my freshman year, and I’ve learned how the ASUP dynamic works. And I think that even being a senator when the current executive board were senators themselves, I know how to work with them and relate to them, and I think that’s what they need right now: Someone that’s able to work with them and understand where they’re coming from ... ASUP needs to restablish their reputation and their role as a voice for the students.” -Anthony Ng “Well, first I want to say I’m really grateful to all the students for showing their support of me thus far, it means a lot to me that I got in the run-off ... I want to make sure that ASUP is growing and is going to become relevant to the student body, and so if that’s something that students want, I think they should vote for me because that’s really critical to my campaign. I’ve been involved with ASUP for a really long time and it’s really dear to my heart, so I want to make sure it’s the best possible organization to leave for the next executive board.” -Bryan Chipman Clare Duffy • THE BEACON
Photo cour tesy of Twitter
The recent #TheHomelessPeriod trend is bringing awareness to the challenges of homeless women and helping connect these women to resources and support. UP will host its own Feminine Hygiene Drive on Feb. 22-26. to involve athletics with the feminine hygiene drive and other collection drives in the future. “If we could figure out how to utilize athletics in the drive it would be really great” Lindburg said. The drive will also be utilizing the resources of ASUP, who will be monitoring the drive on Feb. 22, UP’s annual Molly Hightower Day of
Service. Grace Holmes, vice president of ASUP, has been working to involve ASUP in the effort to collect feminine hygiene products. She noted that the collective aspect of the project makes this drive so unique. Holmes also has a personal connection to the drive. Her experience of being homeless for a year gave her first-hand experience of the
difficulties many women on the streets deal with. “I was homeless for a year in high school, so some of the things that were missing from the kits that I was given were feminine hygiene products,” Holmes said. “I don’t think the whole campus knows how difficult it is, especially men.” Contact Staff Writer Alana Laanui at laanui18@up.edu.
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
4
UP named ‘highest median salary after graduation’ By Luke Loranger THE BEACON
debt at colleges that do not have high median salaries after graduation. University of Portland is ranked 194th in the nation for expected median salary after graduation. However, once this number is adjusted for composition of majors, UP’s rank falls to 406, suggesting that the median salaries are skewed by traditionally higher paying jobs, such as mechanical or civil engineering. Adjusted to for the composition of majors at UP, the total median salary falls $3,100. Still, the average median salary is significantly larger than the average cost of attending UP, which is estimated to be $29,052 after scholarships according to the College Scorecard.
It appears students have made a good investment in attending UP, according to a recent survey by Georgetown University. The study measured the median salary of college graduates 10 years after graduation. According to the Georgetown research, University of Portland has the highest median salary for students after graduation in Oregon, beating out schools such as Lewis and Clark and University of Oregon with a median salary of $51,700. The data comes from College Scorecard, which was created the Department of Education late last year and includes information about the price of colleges and graduation rates. The Georgetown study was conducted to help students decide where to attend college, Contact Staff Writer Luke Loranger at loranger18@up.edu. with an emphasis placed on Twitter: @Loranger18 helping students avoid heavy
CRIME LOG Feb. 13, 12:34 a.m. Officers responded to a report of a student attempting to force entry into a dorm room. Officers apprehended the suspect and the student was referred to the Student Conduct Board.
David
Lecture with
Brooks
Feb. 13, 12:06 a.m. Officers responded to a noise complaint in the area of Portsmouth Park. Officers patrolled the area but could not find any disturbances. No other complaints were received.
FOR THE FULL REPORT upbeacon.com > News > UP Crime & Fire Log
March 16, 2016 | 7:00 p.m.
ON CAMPUS
U N IVERSITY OF PORTL AN D CH I LES CENTER
The Bluffoons Monday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Mago Hunt. Bring your parents and friends and see the Junior Bluffoons put on a hilarious improv show. $2 per person and $3 per pair. Get your free punchcard at the door! Doors open at 7:20.
Parents Weekend Concert Free Tickets for UP Students 650 free tickets now available for students. One ticket per person. Additional tickets are $10 each. Pick-up from Chiles Center Box Office with student i.d.
Faculty and Staff Tickets $10 Two tickets available per person from the Chiles Center Box Office. Full price tickets can also be ordered through Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Cost is $20 or $25. Service fees apply.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
15-23452 David Brooks - BEACON.indd 1
Author of The Road to Character ◆ New York Times Columnist ◆ TV Commentator ◆
For questions or ADA accommodations, please contact David Taylor, taylord@up.edu, 503.943.8619.
NOSSA FAMILIA COFFEE
2/1/16 3:52 PM
Sunday Feb. 21 at 3 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The University Singers will take the audience on a nostalgia trip with historic fight songs and alma maters from UP and Columbia Prep.
Men’s Basketball Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Chiles Center. The men’s basketball team plays Pacific University in a WCC rival match.
Womens Rowing Saturday, Feb. 20, at Vancouver Lake. Come support Pilots Rowing as they take on WCC rivals the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a scrimmage.
Living HOODIES FOR THE HOOD FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
5
Karen Garcia Living Editor garciaka17@up.edu
By Luke Loranger THE BEACON
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
Sophomore Michael Williamson, the face behind the newly developed Sentri Hoodie, which is designed to be compact and efficient for snowboarding and everyday use.
When Michael Williamson first posted the kickstarter for his Sentri Hoodie on Feb. 1, he hoped the campaign would raise $40,000-60,000. His campaign made the rounds on Facebook and Krowdfund, and with over 20 days still remaining until the end of the campaign, the Sentri Hoodie kickstarter has more than tripled the original $10,000 needed to reach its goal. Williamson drew inspiration from the hoodie from his experiences as a snowboarder in the Pacific Northwest. “(I grew) up in Tacoma and moved to Portland, two of the rainiest cities in the country,” Williamson said. “I noticed that people would still be wearing cotton hoodies, even though it was raining.” Williamson envisioned a more streamlined jacket that was not big and bulky, efficient for snowboarding in the winter and spring. He spent all of last spring and summer working alongside pattern makers, starting off with the basic model of a Hanes sweatshirt before adding pockets, a cinch and other features. In total, he went through five samples before he settled on the perfect
STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR FINDS SUCCESS IN HOODIE KICKSTARTER
design. Many of the small features seen in the final product, like the thumb holes, were included to make the hoodie work well for snowboarding. The Sentri is made from dyntex fabric, a polyurethane membrane that blocks out wind and water but does not make the jacket as voluminous as other techwear. The hoodie is part of a bigger push by Sentri Performance clothing to bring weather protection to functionable everyday clothing. Now that the kickstarter goal has more than tripled, Williamson is looking to use the additional funds for product development. Williamson says he owes the success of his product to his work with the Entrepreneurial Scholars Program last year. “Before I entered E-Scholars, I still had the same (clothing) concept, but in terms of execution I have been learning as I (go),” Williamson said. “E-Scholars taught me how to turn this idea I was working on into an actual business.” This is a familiar story for seniors Nick Ost and Paul Dilley, the team behind Townie Shades, the sunglass brand. The team was a part of E-Scholars during their junior year,
though they launched their brand before at the end of their sophomore year, and their company was the first to come directly from the E-Scholars program. Ost and Dilley met Williamson during his freshman year, and have kept in touch with those in E-Scholars this year trying to launch products. “I think because we started our business the end of sophomore year we had more time than kids going into E-Scholars right now,” Ost said. “Most of our conversations (are) us telling him things to avoid, so he doesn’t have to make (the same) mistakes we did.” Ost and Dilley are also excited about what the future holds for small businesses in the UP community. “In the E-Scholars classes before us, there wasn’t really much of a focus (on starting real companies),” Ost said. “There is no reason UP shouldn’t become a hub for entrepreneurship.”
Contact Staff Writer Luke Loranger at loranger18@up.edu. Twitter: @Loranger18
Calling it: Photo courtesy of Kenny Sun. All rights reserved.
A couple of days ago, I started writing a thoroughly positive and insightful reaction to Kanye West’s premiere of his latest collaboration with Adidas (Yeezy Season 3) and his seventh studio album: “The Life of Pablo.” But, since Kanye is Kanye (and he can’t shut his mouth for literally one second), I am here to share my anger-fueled views on his recent behavior, but also the history he has made in the past week. Last Thursday, Kanye sold out Madison Square Garden to showcase his new fashion collection and to play TLOP for the first time. Let’s start by setting the scene. I was sitting in the library on Feb. 11, just working on my finite math homework, anticipating the premiere of Yeezy Season 3. For me, doing homework an hour before history was to be made was simply excruciating. I began to make holes in my paper out of pure anger as I calculated linear regression after linear regression. Impatient and fed up with everything in the world (because the world was obviously against me) I whipped my computer open and got on Pitchfork to see if the show was magically going to start because I was completely tuned in. Ten minutes into my
whining, the show began. The Kardashians walked in first and the crowd went into a frenzy. Then the main man of the night walked in, completely casual, backed by some of the GOOD Music crew: Pusha T, Travi$ Scott and 2 Chainz. Just like a DJ at a club, Kanye got up to his Mac and started playing what would be known as the first song of “The Life of Pablo,” a gospel infused trip to heaven called “Ultralight Beam.” I swear watching it was an out-of-body experience. I felt like I was being lifted somewhere else. Kanye had said that this album was going to be a gospel album: He was right. The first song was packed with a gospel choir, a sample of a four-year-old child reciting a prayer, features from Chance the Rapper, The Dream, Kelly Price and acclaimed gospel artist Kirk Franklin, ending the song with a prayer. I had no expectations for the show, I had no clue what the new Yeezy Season was going to look like and sure as hell wasn’t expecting that great of an opener. I proceeded to break down in tears. The entire show was pure art, my friends. If you did not watch this live stream then I am so sorry. Kanye is a master of his craft, and his craft has been growing — no — spreading into multiple areas.
He is fulfilling his dreams. Yeezy Season 3 wasn’t its usual monotone, yawnworthy colors. It was bright, in your face and loud. Just like his new album. The models were casually standing on this enormous stage, with Kanye’s new music just blaring over the speakers, creating an experience that can only be described as magical. Even though the show was breathtaking, there were some questionable moments. I mean, what is a Yeezy show without some kind of controversy? First, Kanye led the whole crowd into a “f**k Nike” chant. Nice one! Second, that one lyric about Taylor Swift? And later lying about having her permission to say that? Oh yeah, oops. Third, the lyric about Kim and Ray J in “Famous?” Dude, come on. Fourth, Frank Ocean is alive! (This wasn’t bad or anything like that, but I mean he hasn’t released an album yet, but he decides to hop on Ye’s record and show up to the premiere. Why you got to play us like that, Frank?) Now, I’m going to fast forward a little bit. Kanye was set to perform on Saturday Night Live. Even though he did premiere his new album that Thursday, he announced Saturday morning through Twitter that it wasn’t ready to be released yet
‘Kanye, Kontinued’
because fellow Chicago artist, Chance the Rapper, held him in the studio Friday night to finish recording a song called “Waves.” That same night, when the song was officially done, Chance posted a photo of the final tracklist for the album. What followed was mass hysteria. We NEEDED to hear “The Life of Pablo” in its entirety before Kanye did any kind of live performance. This was crazy. He decided to change the order of the songs, he added “No More Parties In L.A.” and then his Twitter was an absolute hell hole. Soon the album cover artwork was changed from saying “The Life Of Pablo” to “Blame Chance,” until that night, when Kanye performed at SNL. Joined by Young Thug, A$AP Bari, The-Dream and R&B singers El DeBarge and Kelly Price for the first song he performed: “Highlights,” all the fans who were complaining about not having the album yet were silenced by the gospel powered song. But the real showstopper of the night was the second song that Kanye performed, his collaboration with Chance the Rapper: “Ultralight Beam.” From being backed by a gospel choir, leaving the front of the stage open to showcase the amazing vocals of The-Dream and Chance, and ending with a
yeezy reflection
Natasa Kvesic • THE BEACON
sermon from gospel musician Kirk Franklin … it was beyond any of my imaginations. Then it got better. Fueled up by his performances of the night — where he was smiling and dancing like a wild man — Kanye quickly screamed that the album was officially available to stream on Tidal. Since this was on East Coast time, I had no clue that the album had come out, until multiple friends and the holy grail of music news, Pitchfork, informed me. I will not disclose what happened after that. Let’s just say there was a lot of crying, uncontrollable laughing and sitting on my bed staring at the wall because I wasn’t sure if I was ready for “The Life Of Pablo.” Now I won’t go into an album review, that can be saved for later and will most likely be on my secret Kanye blog (oops, not secret anymore), but I will say that despite Kanye’s scumbag behavior lately, I have massive respect for him as an artist and a game-changing creator. So, as an ode to a song from his masterpiece “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” I say we raise a glass to the scumbags and recognize them for their absolute brilliance.
LIVING
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
Life after the English major A Q&A WITH FORMER ENGLISH MAJORS AND UP ALUMS ABOUT THEIR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Emily Barrett Class of ‘10
Barrett didn’t know exactly what to pursue when she first graduated, but her friend’s mother was the one who encouraged her to look at different opportunities, which is how she sparked an interest in psychology. She later decided to get her master’s in psychology at the University of Oregon and now works for three schools in the Clackamas School District as a school psychologist.
Andrea Wujek Beck Class of ‘09
Wujek Beck played basketball during her time at UP and decided to follow her passion for the sport, ultimately landing a job in Nike. She is currently the design studio manager for global brand basketball marketing at Nike and finds that her English major has helped her articulate her ideas and communicate with her team better.
Andy Matarrese Class of ’10
Matarrese served as The Beacon’s editor-in-chief as an undergraduate, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he realized he was interested in journalism as a career. Once he graduated, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Central Oregon and later went on to graduate school. He now works for the The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver and reports on public safety and breaking news. His advice for future journalists out there is, “write short sentences.”
Zoe Zuschlag class of ‘08
Zuschlag graduated during the recession, but was able to land an internship and later a full-time job at Farm Sanctuary in New York. She found the nonprofit position very demanding and after a few years decided to go back to the West Coast to work in the service industry. She is now the major and special gifts coordinator at Mercy Corps in Portland. She finds that being confident and realizing your strengths is an important aspect when looking for a job.
6
Dance of Decades
Kristen Garcia • THE BEACON
From left: Andy Mararrese, Emily Barrett, Andrea Wujek Beck and Zoe Zuschlag. A lot of you have held multiple positions since you graduated, and none of you except Andrea are working for the same company that you did when you first graduated. Did you ever worry that you would be stuck?
Zoe: I have worked in the
service industry since I was 15, and after working at the nonprofit, working in restaurants seemed like a vacation. There were moments where I worried that if I kept doing this I would be doing it forever, but I always knew that I had other options. If you don’t (have) experience in the service industry I recommend it. Andrea: It is easy to feel stuck ... it’s hard to explain. You can feel stuck, but there are a million things you can do with an English major. Experiences can launch you anywhere. I suggest putting yourself out there in a way that is service oriented and always be willing to help. There are so many people you are going to meet and things that you will do. Emily: I was all over the place when I graduated: I started off working at a Western camp. I needed Starbucks to settle me down. I felt super anxious about what to do, it was (as) if I had to find my passion at that moment. Give yourself some time after you graduate. When I was in college it felt like it would take forever to find something I am interested in. Andy: There are jobs out there you can’t even imagine. Talk to people and be willing to try stuff.
The income from a steady job is one reward, but where do you find happiness?
Andrea: I enjoy the people I
work with. I find happiness in people. Finding the people I want to work with, with the same beliefs as me helps. I also just love living in Portland. I would suggest going away, but then coming back. There is always a balance. Emily: I love working with
kids. I laugh so much everyday; I definitely feel fulfilled. I have been able to strike a good balance between my career and personal life. Andy: I love my job. There may not be security and (I have) low pay, but I do well enough for me and I really love my job. Zoe: I don’t find happiness at work. When I was at Farm Sanctuary it took over my whole life. Working for Mercy Corps has been great; I value the work they do and it is well — structured in a way I can put in my 40 hours and then be a person and have a life. I can find joy in all the ways I find joy. I haven’t given up on the idea of finding joy in my work but I prefer not to make work my whole life.
Do you feel that going to grad school really helped you with your career as a journalist?
Andy: I might have been
prepared but it still looked good on my resume. But then again I guess you will have to check back with me in a few years to see if it really helped. I would not subscribe for journalism a set path. There are many ways to become a journalist.
What do you think are the pros and cons of taking a break after graduation?
By M T
The reve went throu to the U.S. mostly invo through an churro shot Spain. So w Spanish chu in Portland answer to m The chur xurros, are at the new r Northeast P What’s u xurros? The
Zoe: I am pro on that
definitely. I was planning on going straight into graduate school and submitted applications but ended up not going. I felt like it was easier to just go to school, but I decided to take time to breath. My opinion is that you have time. The idea that you will have a career the day after graduation is impossible. Emily: When I graduated I had all of these ideas of what I wanted to do. Having a year was helpful for me to be confident in going to graduate school. I don’t think anyone would judge your resume for having a gap in order for you to judge your life. I am pro as well.
Photo courtesy of
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
LIVING
7
the
On Feb. 13, students dressed up in their best of decades’ past for the annual Dance of the Decades, hosted in the Crystal Ballroom. Check out a complete collection of pictures on The Beacon’s Facebook page and tag your friends! Photos by Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON
180: Portland’s xurreria
Melissa Aguilar THE BEACON
erse culture shock I ugh upon my return this past summer olved me scrolling n endless reel of ts I had taken in when I found out a urreria was opening d, it felt like an my prayers. rros, or should I say fried fresh daily restaurant, 180, in Portland. up with the x in e xurros at 180 are
from a particular region in Spain called Catalonia, where, in addition to Spanish, they speak Catalan, a language that really likes x’s. The restaurant is named 180 for the temperature — Celsius — at which the little dough twirls are fried to perfection. Whereas the Mexican version of churros tends to be a little heavier and maybe makes you regret ordering them later, the Spanish variety are lighter and taste like deep-fried deliciousness. Mexican churros usually stand alone, whether they’re
filled with crème or jelly. Spanish xurros, on the other hand are oftentimes plain. 180’s are lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar, but are best enjoyed with a dipping sauce: Marshmallow swirl, caramel and roasted peanuts and lemon curd are offered at $2 a sauce. You could also go the more traditional route and order a house xocolata, which unlike American hot cocoa, is basically melted down chocolate with milk. The chocolate is a little on the expensive side, however, at $4
for a tiny cup. The xurros at 180 come in orders of 3, 6, or 12, and are smaller than standard Americanized churros and the Spanish churros I’ve had. You can also get xurros bañados, which are crunchy chocolate-covered xurros. Xuixos, a more donut-like pastry filled with crema catalana, are another option, but are only offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. On the downside, the place is tiny. The main area only offers seating for 12 but has an adjacent room that looks like
it’s being remodeled as it has more seating but no tables. To fully enjoy the xurro-dunking experience without fear of spilling molten chocolate down your pants, I’d say tables are necessary. If seating does prove to be a problem, you can get the xurros to go. Despite its minor flaws, 180 will fill the churro void in my heart — at least until I can get back to Spain.
Contact Copy Editor Melissa Aguilar at aguilarm16@up.edu.
NE Hancock St
NE Schuyler St NE 24th Ave
NE 22nd Ave NE Broadway St
NE Weidler St Allison Zimmerman
Design by Rebekah Markillie • THE BEACON
Melissa Aguilar • THE BEACON
LIVING
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
8
faith &
fellowship Discovering the meaning of mercy For some, mercy is a term that simply means forgiveness. Allison Hogan Others may Senior think of the phrase Allison Hogan “merciful Senior God.” What many seem to forget is that the road to mercy isn’t always as easy as providing the definition. Growing up with four parents was not exactly ideal for me; as I travelled back and forth I felt as though I was living two separate lives. At the age of six, I was under the impression that my best and easiest response to this change in my life was to manipulate or change myself to fit the ideal vision of a child that each parent was looking for. Have you ever just wanted to make everyone happy and overlook your own happiness? Unfortunately, I learned through many trials and tribulations that this outcome is all too impossible to achieve. As I have grown older, I have had the most amazing opportunity to understand what mercy means to me as a young adult. As I held in a lot of anger throughout my life due to the divorce, I realized I was never living my life to the fullest potential. My grandpa encouraged me to find my truest self and I am so grateful for his love and guidance. I have since learned that I need to be me in all of my relationships. I must put energy into authentic and
healthy relationships, and that no one person can provide a space to be truly me except for God. Nobody will ever know exactly what I am thinking, feeling or experiencing except for God. Our time in college is a difficult but necessary time in our lives where we are in the process of discovering our own needs, wants, gifts, uncertainties, questions and deepest values. This journey is not easy and fear is usually the greatest obstacle. Learning that life is messy is one of the hardest realizations that I have come to in my life. We must learn to risk vulnerability to receive and contribute mercy to those around us. The greatest lesson I have come to learn recently is that God loves us in all of our struggles and imperfections. In “The Notebook,” Noah asks Allie, “Would you stop thinking about what everyone wants? Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do you want? What do you want?” Allie responds, “It’s just not that simple!” Well, I am still on this journey of learning what mercy means for me and sometimes it can be extremely difficult, but once we look inward and identify what is holding us back, that’s when we can find our true self and experience God’s mercy. Allison Hogan is a senior education major and an RA in Shipstad Hall. She can be reached at hogan16@up.edu.
Opinion
FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
9
Lydia Laythe Opinion Editor laythe16@up.edu
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
This month matters to everyone
During Black History month we remember inspiring leaders like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, Huey Newton and Martin Luther King Jr. We read about protests, marches and sit-ins. We look at old photographs, watch documentaries and listen to speeches. During his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. said that he hoped that his children would one day be judged, “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” And while very few people would argue with this sentiment, over time this message has become distorted. Not judging someone based on their race or ethnicity became equated to ignoring their racial or ethnic identity all together. This is called “colorblindness,” which, while usually well-intended, actually belittles and devalues the identities and experiences of people of color. So while Black History month and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech may have been directed toward the specific experiences of black Americans, this resulting colorblindness and other modern forms of racism affect all people of color — whether they’re African-American, Chicano, Filipino-American, Lakota, Caribbean, Saudi, Latina or any other race or ethnicity. We do not live in a postracial society. Yes, people of color have made major strides toward political, economic and social equality. And this month in particular we celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. But sometimes when people talk about race and racism — within the context of black History Month — they talk about it as if it only existed within a historical context, as if DuBois or King “cured” the United States of its racism. Depicting racism as a problem of the past is both narrowminded and short-sighted. While it’d be really nice to
say the U.S. has been “cured” of its racism: It hasn’t, and it can’t be. And here’s why: The United States’ independence and success as a nation was built on racism. While it’s an uncomfortable truth, the United States is structurally and systemically racist. Slavery, an inherently racist institution in this country, allowed white settlers in America to accumulate wealth, which eventually was used to fund the American Revolution. Literally, the United States as a nation could not exist without the racial oppression and exploitation of African slaves. But more than that, this racist ideology was then written into rules and codes that created the roots of our economic, political and social realities. True, overt forms of racism have greatly diminished over time, and individual forms of racism have become less and less socially acceptable. But, like a complex bacteria adapting to its environment, racism has evolved. Racism today, in most cases, is much more subtle, more covert — and that makes it even more insidious. For example, “legacy admissions” into college privileges students whose parents or grandparents attended the same institution. On face value, this doesn’t seem inherently racist, but consider this: Many colleges were, at some point, segregated, and for many decades black Americans weren’t allowed to attend college or couldn’t afford it. That means more white alumni have the opportunity to take advantage of legacy admission than alumni of color. Critiquing legacy admissions might upset some members of the UP community. Doubtless, there are legacy admissions attending school here right now. The point of this critique is not to point fingers at individuals. Sometimes individuals perpetuate racist ideologies, but more often, structures perpetuate racist ideologies and individuals just
operate within these structures. We need to change the structures we operate within. But structural change is difficult. It requires a lot of time and energy, and there’s always some backlash. People that benefit from unjust systems rarely want to change them, whether they realize the systems are unjust or not. And like the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If someone doesn’t recognize that a system is “broke,” they’ll have no justification or motivation to fix it. And that’s where we can begin: Learning about the system and being willing to see where the system is broken. Bringing more diversity to our campus, through more intentional hiring and admissions practices, is an admirable goal to have. But even more importantly: We need to appreciate the diversity we already have on our campus. In order to protect and appreciate the varying racial and ethnic experiences of our diverse student body, we need to be more educated and more aware. Because ultimately, education and awareness are the first steps toward structural change. On our campus that means more programming around the effects race and ethnicity have on our community. It means more cultural events, lectures on race issues and campuswide discussions on the way “isms” affect our community. In our dorms that means holding discussions about the impact race has in every wing, and holding residents to a standard of respect and acceptance of diversity. In our classrooms that means more diverse readings and topics discussed in EVERY class – and requiring every student to take a cultural competence class. Social work, sociology, English and history should not be the only places we discuss diversity and cultural understanding. We challenge every professor to critically assess the messages they’re intentionally or unintentionally sending to their students through the readings,
Nathan DeVaughn• THE BEACON
lectures, assignments and activities they plan. We, as a community, should always strive to combat the systemic and structural forms of racism we encounter every day. But some of us may not have the power to affect structural change, so all we can do is start the conversation. Because, if we’ve learned anything from recent history it is: Not talking about race doesn’t make inequality disappear. Sometimes it even makes it worse. Talking about race doesn’t mean knowing every politically correct term. It doesn’t mean knowing every current event or statistic. And it doesn’t mean knowing every historical event or famous figure. If we’re genuine and open to honest communication, we can have meaningful discussions
SUBMISSION POLICY Letters and commentaries from readers are encouraged. All contributions must include the writer’s address and phone number for verification purposes. The Beacon does not accept submissions written by a group, although pieces written by an individual on behalf of a group are acceptable. Letters to the editor must not exceed 250 words. Those with longer opinions are encouraged to submit guest columns. The Beacon reserves the right to edit any contributions for length and style, and/or reject them without notification. University students must include their major and year in school. Non-students must include their affiliation to the University of Portland, if any. Please send submission to beacon@up.edu.
Advertising in The Beacon
For advertising information, contact Katie Dunn, business and advertising manager, at beaconads@up.edu.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are available at $30 for the year, covering 24 issues. Checks should be made payable to The University of Portland: The Beacon. For more information about subscriptions or billing questions, contact Circulation Director Manager Matt Rodriguez at beaconads@up.edu.
and learn something about ourselves or the people around us. This month, while dedicated to the black Americans that fought against slavery, lynching, segregation and discrimination, is also an opportunity for everyone to discuss issues around any race or ethnicity. You could discuss issues around race in a classroom discussion, talk to your professor about a lack of diversity in their required reading, confront someone when they say a microaggression, or critically assess your own unconscious biases. We all have a role to play in making our community more inclusive for anyone. Changing our community won’t be easy, but we have an obligation to try. Having a conversation is a good start.
THE BEACON Editorial Board
Staff Writers
Editor-in-Chief Katie Dunn
Design Editor Rebekah Markillie
News Editor Clare Duffy
Living Editor Karen Garcia
Opinion Editor Lydia Laythe
Asst. Design Editor Hannah Baade
Sports Editor Malika Andrews
Copy Editor Melissa Aguilar Photo Editor David DiLoreto
upbeacon.com • upbeacon@gmail.com • 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Portland OR
Jacob Fuhrer, Molly Vincent, Luke Loranger, Cheyenne Schoen, Natasa Kvesic, Alana Laanui, Ben Arthur, Sal Avera, Hannah Sievert
Photographers Hannah Baade, Kristen Garcia, Parker Shoaff, Thomas Dempsey
Student Staff Members
Business & Ad Manager Web Content Manager Social Media Manager Cartoonist Circulation Director
Katie Dunn Christian Rodriguez Malika Andrews Nathan DeVaughn Matt Rodriguez
UP Staff Members
Adviser Nancy Copic
Publisher Fr. Mark Poorman
OPINION Many people who are chronically ill may think about ending their own life. People don’t really talk about Amelia Hillier Senior it though: How do you tell your friends that sometimes you just don’t know how you are going to keep on fighting? Society has taught us that statements like that get weird looks and awkward silences. My struggle with mental illness started with my physical illness. My sophomore year at UP, I woke up one day with pain on my right side. It got steadily worse during the day, and a visit to the Health Center and a few diagnostic tests found nothing wrong.
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
Let’s Talk: Some hurts never heal
Eventually, after many doctor visits and a lot of tears, I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. Those later cleared up, but the pain was still there. I was put on medication and sent to a specialist. It’s been almost two years, and I still have no confirmed diagnosis. My doctors all have their suspicions, but the only way to confirm them is to have surgery. My condition isn’t bad enough yet, however, my doctors and I have agreed that we don’t want to cut me open until it is. But even if they do operate, what if they still don’t have an answer? Right now I manage OK with medication and physical therapy. Doctors have looked me in the eyes and said they cannot fix me; they just hope to make it better. I live life hoping that it will get better, but I also worry it will get worse. That’s where a lot
of the depression and anxiety comes in. I am not actively suicidal. Right now, I’m doing OK. I think it’s worth pointing out, however, that there is a huge psychological aspect to being constantly sick and people don’t talk about it enough. It is actually really hard to talk to my regular doctors about these mental symptoms. It’s also really hard to talk to my mental health therapist about my physical health problems. It feels like my own body is betraying me, and that’s so hard to wrap my head around. My mental and physical health are so closely connected and they fuel one another, but it’s hard to properly explain my diagnosis to either clinician so I can get that conversation going. But really, after all this, all I get in my chart is a lousy note that says “active abdominal pain.”
Are you not entertained?
By Ashley Mikulyuk SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR
Beyoncé’s performance during the Super Bowl inspired a broad spectrum of reactions. Some were mired in anger and resentment, calling her performance “racist” and offensive. Former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, described it as “outrageous” that she would “use it as a platform to attack police officers.” He also said that sporting events like the Super Bowl “call for decent, wholesome entertainment.” Those who reacted positively to her performance praised her message of empowerment to black women and a demonstration in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, speaking out against police brutality and systematic social, economic and political marginalization of communities of color. It was viewed as an homage to the Black Panther women, and as a smart and effective use of her celebrity to access to one the most widely broadcast TV events of the year. Some even say that she gave the mainstream American public what it needs: a wakeup call. Whites who describe Beyoncé’s performance as “racist” are tragically in error and alludes to familiar claims that whites make about “reverse racism.” “Reverse racism” is a myth, nothing more than a rhetorical strategy that whites use to mitigate or deny the existence of racism and everyday racial discrimination against people of color. In response, we need to explain that racism is a historical construct born out of the systematic subjugation of black Africans and AfricanAmericans on U.S. soil since the 1600s. Over time, the exploitation of African slaves evolved concurrently with the belief in racial inferiority of African-Americans, which whites then used to justify continued exploitation and oppression of blacks: from the era of slavery through Jim Crow, and through persistent racial discrimination that
manifests today in the criminal justice system, labor market, education and housing. It is impossible for whites to experience “reverse racism.” To Giuliani’s comment that the Super Bowl requires “decent, wholesome entertainment”: while sport in general often is a catalyst for social connection, on no other stage than in professional sport — tackle football especially — do we see a stronger or more aggressive display of hegemonic masculinity, overt sexism and racism. Some commentators have likened the public display of violence and aggression characteristic of tackle football to gladiators in the coliseum in ancient Rome. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that Beyoncé — or any artist, for that matter — would use this platform to express an equally strong and aggressive political statement as well? Let’s think about why Beyoncé chose to send this message. Perhaps it was to give a voice to the oppressed. To honor those human rights
activists, such as the men and women of the Black Panther party, to whom she paid tribute, who fought the same fight for racial justice decades ago that continues being fought today. Perhaps it was to call attention to the fact that 40 percent of the U.S. prison population is black, yet blacks represent approximately 13 percent of the general U.S.
That note means nothing. I’ll always have to sit down with everyone to explain what that note really means. It means there are nights I cannot sleep because I am in so much pain. Sometimes I can’t even do something simple like go to the bathroom or get off the couch without crying. There are days when I think there’s no way I can live another 60 years if I am carrying this burden. I have sat in my car at a rest stop and, yes, thought about suicide because at the time I had lost almost all my social support due to my physical and mental unavailability. There I was at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, alone and in so so much pain. It also, unfortunately, means that any mental stressor that comes along in life is that much harder for me because I already have all of this going on underneath everything else.
10 Any chronic pain or chronic illness is scary. Oftentimes, no one can see it and some people don’t believe that you are really struggling. It’s hard to reach out to people because telling everyone you’re depressed, anxious, sick and in pain all the time stops sounding real and just starts sounding like excuses or complaining. It’s isolating. You lose people in your support group. Your life gets thrown completely out of whack. All you want is for it to stop so you can go back to normal. But it won’t and you can’t. You have to find a new normal. And that’s hard. That’s really, really hard. I know we all struggle, so let’s struggle together. Amelia Hillier is a senior nursing major and can be reached at hillier16@up.edu.
Thoughts on media reactions to Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Performance population. She also made us think about the lives of young men and women of color who were lost at the hands of the criminal justice system; we can choose to interpret her performance as not anti-police, but anti-pointless violence. As a sociologist of race and racism, and a white ally in the Black Lives Matter movement, I thought Beyoncé’s performance was nothing short
of courageous and spectacular. The message I received from her performance is this: It is long past the time that we all stand up and recognize our shared history and common interest in a society free of racial oppression. Ashley Mikulyuk is a sociology professor and can be reached at mikulyuk@up.edu.
Albina Community Bank Celebrating 20 Years of Community Banking! Offering Pilot Checking..... a custom package of products and services just for UP students, faculty and alumni! www.albinabank.com • St Johns Office 8040 N Lombard • 503-285-9966
Go ! Pilots
Member FDIC Equal Opportunity Lender Equal Housing Lender
THE BEACON • FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
SPORTS
11
Coach Jackson: Tough love approach pushes players to excel Continued from page 12
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Assistant coach Eric Jackson has been at UP for nine seasons. In that time, his players have gone from just players to his family.
Jackson ran at Green Bay. Jackson hesitantly agreed to come by practice that day. He came back the next day. Then a third time the day after that. Jackson became a full-time assistant coach and soon after, began making recruiting calls. Slowly but surely, he came to realize coaching was his calling. “I feel like if those coaches didn’t know what they knew, I don’t know if I would be coaching (today). I wasn’t looking to go down that route,” Jackson said. After four seasons at St. Norbert, he went on to coach at the University of Utah, Indiana and Wyoming before coming to The Bluff in 2006. Jackson’s high energy level has not wavered since joining Portland’s coaching staff. Whether the Pilots are in the thick of a close game or at the back-end of a long practice, he’s fired up — in the best of ways. His passion is apparent to players and coaches while he leads drills and draws up defensive schemes during game timeouts. Jackson says he is careful not to coddle players. Jackson’s father, his coach in high school, showed him that sugar coating weaknesses does not help players improve. “It’s not personal,” Jackson said. “The effort or the results we’re getting are not satisfactory. To be able to
have that conversation (with players) is a huge part of being a coach.” Wintering is no exception to Jackson’s “tough love” approach even as a leader on the team. “He says what needs to be said, not what we want to hear,” Wintering said. “It’s just being comfortable with each other and understanding that he wants what is best for us.”
“
They’re not just my players. I talk about them as being players, but they’ve become like my kids. I care about what’s going on in their lives.
Eric Jackson Assistant Coach
He’ll let players know when they make a bad play. But his relationships with players are give and take. Jackson said that he pushes players to reach their maximum capabilities on the court, but it comes from a place of love. Jackson’s relatives live over 2,000 miles away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To fill the hole that has left, Jackson has adopted UP players and fellow coaches as his extended family. The relationships go beyond the basketball court. When Jackson is not bingewatching adventure movies in the offseason, he’ll go bowling or argue sports.
His skills interacting off the court has helped UP basketball attract talent on the hardwood, and he is already securing recruits in the high school junior class. “He can talk hoops, but he’s not limited,” Reveno said. “ He has a really good breadth so when you put him in recruiting situations, he presents well.” But back on the court, the faces on the Pilots grow anxious. Gonzaga has started to find a grove midway through the first half. Portland’s starters check back in. Freshman guard Jazz Johnson subs out. Jackson stops Johnson on his way down the bench, beckoning for him to take a seat next to him. There is no yelling, although he is capable. There is no screaming, although he had been earlier. Despite being down by 20 points, Jackson cracks a half smile and points to his clipboard. Jackson doesn’t give Johnson an earful of what he did wrong. He breaks down what he could have done better. “They’re not just my players,” Jackson said. “I talk about them as being players, but they’ve become like my kids. I care about what’s going on in their lives.” Contact Sports Writer Ben Arthur at arthur17@up.edu.
QA Geoff Loomis & Baseball head coach Interview by: Sal Aversa
What are you most excited about this upcoming season and this team? I’m really excited to see what our competition looks like and see where we’re at. We’ve had a lot of great practices and the guys have been really focused this year. We have a lot to be proud of in our preseason training. But now when the season starts, you kind of wonder what your team is like. We’ll find out in a week how we stack up against these other teams.
You received 13 points in the 2016 preseason Coaches poll. What does that poll mean to you and the team? The poll had us ranked last in the West Coast Conference with 13 points. The poll is just a preseason poll, so the poll itself wasn’t that surprising. However, it’s great motivation for our guys to try and prove people wrong, especially when you put in this much time and effort. They want to see some success and I’m hoping that they get to experience that success, especially the 12 seniors on the team.
This is your first season at UP. What do you bring to this team? We (as a coaching staff) want to bring consistent hard work. We want our players to be consistent and hard working. The strength of our coaching staff is that we know it takes a lot of time and energy to get this program pointed in the right direction, and we want our players to do the same thing. We need to be good examples of that.
Question: Is there anything else you want readers to know? For the students, we’re going to be playing games at 6 o’clock on Friday nights, so it will no longer be where students get out of class and we’re already in the 5th inning. We’re excited for the studentfan experience. We’re playing Friday and Saturday nights, so it would be better for the students to come out and enjoy our games.
Photo cour tesy of UP Athletics
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Women’s Basketball
The Pilots head out on the road to take on Pacific at 7 p.m. today and Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
The Pilots take a trip up I-5 to play Fresno State in Seattle at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Men’s Basketball
The team plays in their last home games of the season. First, the Pilots face Saint Mary’s at 7 p.m. tonight. Next, Portland will host Pacific at 7 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Night.
Rowing
The Pilots have a scrimmage against Gonzaga at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday in Vancouver, Washington.
SCOREBOARD Women’s Basketball
The Pilots fell to Gonzaga 86-51 in Spokane on Saturday. With the loss, the Pilots fall to 1-13 in conference.
Men’s Basketball
The Pilots fell to Gonzaga 92-66 on Thursday and drop to 11-16 overall this season.
Women’s Tennis
This Pilots split their matches last week recording a 4-3 win over No. 73 Harvard but fell to No. 61 Brown University and No. 49 Boston College 5-2.
Sports
FEB. 18, 2016 • UPBEACON.COM
12
Malika Andrews Sports Editor andrewsm17@up.edu
More than just a coach
Men’s basketball coach Eric Jackson treats players as family By Ben Arthur THE BEACON Eric Jackson sports a black suit and periwinkle tie at every home game. He always sits in the same spot near the top of the Pilots bench. The game against Gonzaga was no different. He sat, eyes darting back and forth following the action of the game. When the Bulldogs gain possession, Jackson erupts into life. “Let’s get a three banger!” he barks. Pilot bigs and guards lock in on defense. Jackson notices a Gonzaga player is left open at the top of the key and he stands abruptly. He motions furiously for someone to check the shooter as the ball swings over. Frustration is visible on his face when the shot goes in. The Pilot defenders were too late to block the shot. Jackson, the assistant head coach of the men’s basketball team, preaches defense on the court, but he does not only coach his players in basketball skills. He also guides players off the court. He’ll shoot players a text after practice to check in if they seemed distracted. Jackson will grab dinner with them to discuss personal issues. He was there for junior guard Alec Wintering when his mother went through breast cancer. “He’ll hit me up and be like, ‘Yo, you need something?’” Wintering said. “He knows me well enough to understand if I’m going through something.” He sees his role as being a lot greater than that of a basketball coach. He watches the development of players
through college, a pivotal transition in their journey. He takes a father-figure role on The Bluff. “I consider all my basketball teammates and kids that I’ve coached like family,” Jackson said. Jackson is in his ninth season coaching his “kids” on the Pilots’ sideline. He has played a crucial role in basketball players’ development since stepping foot on UP’s campus. Head coach Eric Reveno said Jackson’s ability to connect with other coaches, parents and players makes him invaluable in recruiting.
“
He is one of the most passionate teachers I’ve ever worked with. He is a personable recruiter and an extraordinary mentor for our guys.
Eric Reveno Men’s basketball head coach
“He is one of the most passionate teachers I’ve ever worked with,” Reveno said. “He is a personable recruiter and an extraordinary mentor for our guys.” He may be that way now, but Jackson hasn’t always pictured himself coaching. After a four-year playing career at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, he took a job making commercials for a cable advertising company. One day, he got a call from head coach Paul DeNoble at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. DeNoble wanted to implement some of the defensive techniques that
See COACH JACKSON page 11
Coach Eric Jackson draws up a play in the Pilots’ home game against Gonzaga.
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
ARE YOU A WRITER WHO LOVES SPORTS? The Beacon sports team is hiring a reporter DOWNTOWN
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO APPLY