The Beacon - Jan 23 - Issue 13 by The Beacon

Vol. 115, Issue 13 January 23, 2014

The BEacon

Every Thursday

The Student Voice of the University of Portland Since 1935

STUDENT MEDIA JOBS GUIDE PG. 7-10

UP PREPARES FOR NEW PRESIDENT Philip Ellefson Opinions Editor ellefson15@up.edu

With President Fr. Bill Beauchamp’s resignation this spring and the RISE Campaign nearly over, the University of Portland is poised to enter a new era. This Saturday, the Board of Regents will usher it in by electing either Fr. Jim Lies or Fr. Mark Poorman as the next president of the University. Each candidate brings something different to the table. Poorman, who has been executive vice president of UP since last year, has plenty of administrative experience under his belt, having served as a vice president at Notre Dame for 11 years. Lies, on the other had, has devoted much of his career to studying and teaching psychology, including six years as an associate professor at UP. According to John Soisson, who knows both candidates personally and served as an assistant to UP’s last three presidents, no matter which candidate is elected the University community can expect a shift in focus from expansion of facilities and services to academics. “I think there’s kind of a pendulum that goes back and forth, and I think the pendulum is starting to swing back toward academics,” Soisson said. “I think whoever’s going to be the next president is probably going to put the University’s focus on the academic side of the house.” The process of selecting the new president is being overseen by the Presidential Search Committee, a group of 14 regents, administrators, priests, faculty and staff. On Jan. 14 and 15, Poorman and Lies met with Holy Cross priests and administrators, as well as holding forums open to all faculty and staff. The administration also selected six students who met with the candidates for lunch. Attendees of all meetings filled out evaluation sheets for each candidate regarding their strengths and weaknesses. These evaluation sheets, along with anonymous advisory votes from the Presidential Search Committee, will be presented to the 50 members of the Board of Regents, who

Parker Shoaff | THE BEACON

On Saturday, UP’s Board of Regents will elect the newest president to serve the University community from Waldschmidt Hall.

Meet the candidates Fr. Mark Poorman has served as executive vice president at UP since 2011. He is also a theology professor and the pastoral resident in Schoenfeldt Hall. Before coming to UP, Poorman worked for 11 years as the vice president for Student Affairs at Notre Dame. Poorman graduated from the University of Illinois, received a master’s degree from Notre Dame, and earned a Ph.D. in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. Photo Courtesy of UP Marketing

Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON

will hold an anonymous vote to determine the next president. The Board of Regents will announce their decision as soon as both candidates have been informed of the outcome. STUDENT MEETINGS Although all faculty and staff were invited to open forums with Lies and Poorman, only a small group of students was invited to privately meet with each candidate and ask questions regarding student interests. Six students attended these meetings.

“In previous years, candidates would do an open forum (for students), like a fireside chat, but not very many students attended,” junior ASUP Vice President Elvia Gaona said. Both Gaona and senior Peter Chamberlain, another student representative, agreed that student input should be crucial to the presidential decision. “It’s probably the most important point of view because the University is about students first and foremost,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain thought the six students involved in the meeting represented the student body fairly. “It ended up being a good mix of people because there was an RA, we had two in student government, there was a student athlete,” he said. “We had a junior, senior and fifth-year senior, so it was good.” Prior to the meetings, the student representatives met with Provost Tom Greene and Danielle Hermanny, executive assistant to the president, to formulate

Fr. Jim Lies is the vice president for Mission at Stonehill College, a Holy Cross institution in Easton, Mass. From 2006 to 2012, Lies served at UP as a psychology professor and the executive director of the Garaventa Center. During his time at UP, Lies also lived in Shipstad Hall as the pastoral resident. Lies spent his undergrad years at the University of Saint Thomas, received master’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame and the Jesuit School of Theology, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. questions to ask the candidates. The group decided on a set of questions to ask each candidate. “The student reps were really interested in the increasing cost of tuition, the image of the University among the community, the degree of involvement and engagement that the future president would have with the students,” Gaona said. Gaona and Chamberlain agreed that student engagement See ELECTION, page 2

NEWS

January 23, 2014

On On Campus Campus

CPB PRESENTS “RUSH” Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. in Buckley Center Auditorium. CPB films will now be shown at 9 p.m. PILOTS AFTER DARK Friday, Jan. 24, 10-11:30 p.m. Karaoke, Lip Sync, and Photo Booth. 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Tie-Dye t-shirt making, shirts and supplies provided. Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. KDUP DJ DANCE OF THE DECADES Buy tickets for $10 through Friday at the Student Activities office in St. Mary’s during business hours, or Bauccio Commons during meal times. Tickets will also be available for $15 from the Pilot House Saturday evening. Buses start to leave outside of Buckley Center on Saturday at 9 p.m. No large purses or bags allowed. HOW TO WORK AN INTERNSHIP FAIR WORKSHOPS On Monday, Jan. 27 and Tuesday, Jan 28. Career Services will be hosting workshops from 1:30-2 p.m. and 4-4:30 p.m both dates. MEChA PRESENTS LOCAL COLOR Monday, Jan. 27, M.E.Ch.A. will be showing the documentary “Local Color” at 7 p.m. in Shiley 319. This one-hour film chronicles the history of racism in Oregon and the movement for civil rights. CAREERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA Hear from UP alumni what it’s like to work in the social media industry on Monday, Jan. 27 from 7:30-9 p.m. in BC 163. SPRING INTERNSHIP FORUM Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 1-4 p.m. in the Franz Hall lobby. MEChA PRESENTS FILM WALKING EL CAMINO Wednesday, Jan. 29, M.E.Ch.A. will be showing “Walking el Camino: Six Ways to Santiago” at 7 p.m. in Bauccio Commons.

Accuracy in The Beacon

The Beacon strives to be fair and accurate. The newspaper corrects any significant errors of fact brought to the attention of the editors. If you think an error has been made, contact us at beacon@up.edu. Corrections will be printed above.

Pilot accountants win big in D.C.

Olivia Alsept-Ellis Staff Writer alseptel14@up.edu

During the first days of winter break, most students don’t expect to be balancing a budget or researching patent laws. But for four UP students, although finals had come and gone, the real work had just begun. The four senior accounting majors – team captain Martin McMahon, Tyler Desmarais, Ingrid Nelson and Michelle Siegal – chose to spend their break studying and preparing for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) annual competition. Their work paid off: Out of 145 other teams from across the nation that entered the competition, they placed in the top three, were flown to Washington, D.C., and took home the $10,000 prize. “We’re competitive as a group,” Desmarais said. “We wanted to succeed since day one. But it kept progressively becoming more and more work. By the third phase, we realized that we needed to be putting in 14 hour days.” The team said after finals they would regularly stay up into the early hours of the morning to finish the task before them. This dedication lasted for over a week,

Photo Courtesy of AICPA

(from left) Seniors Tyler Desmarais, Ingrid Nelson, Michelle Siegal and Martin McMahon show off their $10,000 prize from winning the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) annual competition. The UP team beat 145 other teams competing in the Washington D.C. competition. up until they flew to Washington, D.C. “We would hole up in Michelle (Siegal)’s house and just cry,” Desmarais, laughing. “I’m pretty sure that I shed a tear,” Siegal said of the long hours spent crunching numbers. The team had to manage a

ELECTION: UP gives input Continued from page 1 ought to be the top priority for the next president. “The number one priority should be the students. Students should be able to know who their president is. They should be able to recognize that individual walking around campus,” Gaona said. “I know they have to maintain a public image and it’s fundraising, but when you’re on campus, it has to be about the students.” COMMUNITY INPUT In addition to meeting with student representatives and holding open forums for all staff and faculty, the candidates also met privately with various groups on campus, including the administration, the Presidential Search Committee and Holy Cross priests. Lars Larson, an English professor and member of the Presidential Search Committee, said it is important to have many different groups of people involved in the process because of the importance of the University president. “It’s surely the hardest job on campus, so they have to be dynamic at a great many things, from making wise decisions to communicating well to having a strong sense of where we come from as a university and having a strong vision of where we’re going,” Larson said. “And I don’t know how one person could possibly do that.” Larson said the combination

of private meetings and open forums provided a thorough examination of each candidate. “So many of these things can be quick, executive decisions, but I was surprised at how broadscaled this process was, how collaborative it was,” Larson said. According to Larson, the forums were well-attended and he said that he’s confident the Board of Regents will take faculty, staff and student input into account. “Each of those forums carries weight in the same way the 14-person advisory board’s votes carry weight,” Larson said. “Nothing is the deciding factor, but it brings as much data to the table as possible.” Soisson, who served as a member of the Presidential Search Committee when Beauchamp was elected, said changing presidents is always hard. “Any change is unsettling,” Soisson said. “People wonder, ‘How’s this going to affect my job, am I going to have a job?’ Any change is always unsettling.” But several students and faculty involved in the process are optimistic about the future of the University, no matter which candidate is chosen. “You have an incredibly tough but easy decision to make,” Chamberlain said. “Both are amazing men. It’s probably going to be a tough decision because they’re both qualified.”

fictional, multi-million dollar portfolio and present their financial planning suggestions to a panel of judges. “We had to mesh everything we’ve learned in at once and apply it,” McMahon said. “Instead of just doing taxes, we had to do a little bit of everything and so we

could see how these ideas were married to each other.” The team spent hours researching and teaching themselves the skills they needed – many of which had not been See ACCOUNTING TEAM, page 4

Access denied ASUP president vetoes resolution giving offcampus students access to residence halls.

W.C. Lawson Staff Writer lawson14@up.edu Last semester ASUP President Quin Chadwick vetoed Resolution 13-12, which would have given off-campus students swipe access with their ID cards to all residence halls during intervisitation hours. “With the current on-campus residence policy, the University is building community only within their dorms,” said ASUP OffCampus Senator and author of the resolution Samantha van den Berg. “We wanted to bring back a more communal feel on campus, but given the current residence policy, the resolution wouldn’t work.” The sponsors of the resolution constructed a survey in order to gather data from off-campus students to gain support for the resolution. According to Chadwick, however, the results were invalid due to a low number of respondents and the

Kristen Garcia | THE BEACON

construction of the survey. He believes giving all off-campus students this access to the residence halls would create many safety concerns on campus. “The biggest thing here is security,” Chadwick said. “Residence halls are homes for on-campus students, and doubling the amount of access to them is not a risk I am willing to take.”’ The Senate did not challenge the veto. “The reasons for the veto were justified,” van den Berg said. “We don’t want to put the students in a worse situation.” Gerald Gregg, director of Public Safety, favored Chadwick’s decision to veto the resolution. “We want people to feel safe and secure in their residence halls,” Gregg said. “Reality is, without a hall receptionist, opening access to all students at the University opens an opportunity for risk.”

NEWS

The Beacon — www.upbeacon.com  3

NEWS

January 23, 2014

New smoking areas designated Rebekah Markillie Staff Writer markilli17@up.edu The University of Portland has created six designated smoking areas on campus after ASUP’s Resolution 13-09 last year, which recommended limiting the areas, and requests from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health and Safety (PACHS). According to Environmental Safety Officer Jeff Rook, UP chose locations that would be accessible to residence halls and wouldn’t impede main walkways. The previous smoking policy restricted smoking within 50 feet of main entrances to buildings and facilities and 20 feet from windows or openings to buildings. However, violations were high, so the PACHS decided to craft a new policy that would be easier to enforce. “We want community reinforcement (for the smoking areas),” Rook said. “We’re asking everyone to help.” Design by Rebekah Markillie

‘Grimm’ sets up shop at Romanaggi Hall

ACCOUNTING TEAM: gets help from UP community Continued from page 2 taught in class – to prepare for the 10-minute presentation and create the 15-page document and film they needed for the competition. “We had to know economics and investments and law,” Nelson said. “The type of stuff we have exposure to, but…” “But we weren’t experts in it,” Desmarais finished. The team wasn’t alone, however. Their faculty advisor, accounting professor Ellen Lippman, assisted them in preparing to impress the judges. “Dr. Lippman would stay up late too. Once, I emailed her at 4 a.m. and she was emailing me back,” Siegal said. “I think it helped that she was just as committed as we are.” Desmarais nodded in agreement, adding, “Yeah, I don’t think that she sleeps.” The Pamplin School of Business Administration’s professors and alumni also

supported the team by donating their time and energy, even coming in on Sundays when necessary. “Having access to faculty and their eagerness to help was an excitement,” Nelson said. “I think it was really beneficial to us. We had pretty much any resource available to us that we could want.” Ultimately, they said the force that kept the team in motion wasn’t the money or their personal prestige. They said they felt inspired to give back to the same community that was so willing to rally around them. “Three of us had already accepted full time jobs and (Desmarais) was in the process. He’s accepted one now. But at the time, none of us were thinking about how this would look on our resumes,” McMahon said. “It seemed like, for us, we wanted to get the school’s name out there. We wanted to show that we have a great accounting program here.”

Kelsey Thomas Editor in Chief thomask15@up.edu

Kelsey Thomas | THE BEACON

The UP Public Safety Report

On Jan. 6 - 10 the popular Portland-based TV show “Grimm” filmed inside and outside of Romanaggi Hall. Marketing Associate Mary Beebe said “Grimm” first approached UP on Dec. 11 about filming on campus and after negotiations about payment and other details, UP agreed. “They've been great to work with,” Beebe said. Junior organizational communication and acting major Emily Biggs was an extra in the episode. While unable to reveal details about the episode, she said it was fun to be on set and see Russell Hornsby, who plays Hank Griffin, and other stars of the show. “It was mostly a lot of standing and waiting, but it was definitely worth it,” she said. The episode will air on March 14.

1. Jan. 17, 10:40 p.m. - Officers responded to a party complaint on the 4500 block of N Amherst. Portland Police helped clear the party and the renters were referred to the student conduct process for noise violations.

1 3

2. Jan. 18, 12:15 a.m. - Officers responded to a report of possible alcohol poisoning of an underage student in Shipstad. The student was transported to the hospital and referred to the student conduct process. 3. Jan 21, 10:12 p.m. - Officers investigated a report of the smell of marijuana in Mehling. A student’s room was searched. Marijuana and paraphernalia was confiscated and the student was referred to the student conduct process.

*For the complete Public Safety report, visit upbeacon.com/publicsafety

LIVING

The Beacon — www.upbeacon.com

Culture shock: students return from rewarding semester in Ghana

Four students spent last semester serving in orphanages and hospitals in Ghana, the first social work majors to do so

Center photo courtesy of Lindsey Morris, left and right photos courtesy of Sara Tellez

(Center) Seniors Lindsey Morris (left), Corey Hubbard (right), and a local (center) from Kumasi submerge a one-person canoe after fishing on Lake Bosumtwi. Morris and Hubbard paddled in God Tree canoes made of halved tree trunks and fished by hand using thin wire. (Left) The Save Them Young orphanage where some of the students served. (Right) Senior Sara Tellez with Joshua at the orphanage where she worked, Save Them Young. Joshua was one of 72 children Sara helped teach, mentor and play with last semester.

Nastacia Voisin Staff Writer voisin15@up.edu Almost 7,500 miles away, in a city filled with color and noise, where they were greeted “Obroni! Obroni!” while traveling streets exploding with people, four University of Portland social work students served at challenging and inspiring practicum placements. Last semester, seniors Sara Tellez, Nicole Navlet, Lindsey Morris and Corey Hubbard volunteered at two orphanages and a hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Their placements were made possible after a year of coordination with Beth Okantey, a certified social worker living in Ghana. As the first UP students to have placements in Ghana, Tellez, Navlet, Morris and Hubbard worked to apply social work skills in a country that defied their expectations.

“In Ghana I felt so connected. I felt loved there. Almost every single person I met there inspired me in some way.” Lindsey Morris senior “It wasn’t what we were expecting, but it turned out to be something amazing,” Tellez said, who volunteered four days a week with Hubbard at the Save Them Young orphanage.

Teacher, mentor, playmate Run

Ghanaians,

Save

Them Young orphanage survives on donations, taking in orphans, runaways and abandoned or lost children. Tellez and Hubbard helped five housemothers manage 72 children by working as teachers, mentors and playmates to children anywhere from 7 months to 17 years old. “Basically, it was slightly controlled chaos because the housemothers were so busy doing the washing and cooking and cleaning they didn’t have time to watch the kids,” Hubbard said . Tellez and Hubbard expected to work primarily as teachers and counselors, but soon realized simply interacting with the children was as valuable. “It doesn’t matter who you were or what you looked like – they would run towards you and want to play,” Tellez said . Tellez and Hubbard applied their social work skills by holding informal counseling conversations about the children’s future plans and current worries. They were unable to access the orphanage’s under-construction schoolhouse, but they worked with children on language development while swapping games and songs. “Every day I would be exhausted and dirty,” Hubbard said. “It was just wonderful.”

Breaking comfort zones

Volunteering in a country where social work is still developing presented challenges. Morris, who worked at the Tema General Hospital, said the demands of creating a support group for HIV-positive youth, making house calls and working

in an inpatient ward were rigorous. “90 percent of the time I was in Ghana I was out of my comfortable zone,” Morris said. “In a good way.”

“If you walk down the street and don’t say hello to people, you’re being rude. I loved saying ‘hi’ to every single person. It was basically like being wrapped up in this giant familial hug.” Corey Hubbard senior In Ghana it is not unusual to correct children’s behavior with corporal punishment; a practice Tellez and Hubbard found difficult to witness. Professor Kevin Jones, who is the director of social work practicum placements, said those cross-cultural challenges were expected. “There’s not a well-established program of social work in Ghana,” Jones said. “When our students are going over and bring social work values and ethics from an American perspective to a different culture, that presents a lot of challenges.” Tellez, Navlet, Morris and Hubbard met regularly with their field instructor, Beth Okantey, to discuss their placements and struggles. Additionally, the students took an online social work theory and methods course taught by UP professor Anissa Rogers which helped them make sense of their situations.

A country of community

Amid their ethical dilemmas and personal struggles, Tellez, Navlet, Morris and Hubbard learned from the Ghanaian rhythm of life. The four students stayed at homestays, learned to ride tro tros (minibus taxis) and picked up a scattering of Twi, the principal native language. Eventually, the cheerful mayhem of Accra shifted from a sensory overload to a new normal. At first the four wondered if the calls of “obroni!” (White people/foreigners) were to identify them as privileged westerners, but they came to realize it was a cry of welcome, not of anger. “If you walk down the street and don’t say hello to people, you’re being rude. I loved saying ‘hi’ to every single person,” Hubbard said. “It was basically like being wrapped up in this giant, familial hug,” Although the Ghana practicum program will be offered to social work seniors next year,

one of the challenges with international social work is creating sustainable services. Jones emphasized that “We never – here or abroad – want to create a situation where our students are getting more than they’re giving.” Now that the placement challenges can be better anticipated, Jones hopes that next year’s Ghana cohort will start to develop renewable programs that can be continued after students leave. Tellez found leaving a place she felt so needed painful. With so many temporary volunteers, and so little attention, the children at Save Them Young seemed heartbroken each day when she and Hubbard left. “They would cry – cry like there’s no tomorrow,” Tellez said. “You’d think the worst was happening. Every day they would walk with us, and I’d see their little faces popping out through the gate. They’d call, ‘Sara, Sara!’ See GHANA, page 11

Photo courtesy of Sara Tellez

Social work seniors Sara Tellez, Nicole Navlet, Lindsey Morris and Corey Hubbard served in orphanages and hospitals in Ghana last semester.

January 23, 2014

Contra dancing calls The Portland contra dancing scene entices professors and students for its unique energy and accepting family

Photo courtesy of Carol Ormand (left) amd Jeff Kerssen-Griep (right)

(Left) Professor Jeff Kerssen-Griep plays bass in two different contra dance bands. Contra dancing (right), a form of folk dancing, provides a new spin on old steps.

Maggie Smet Staff Writer smet14@up.edu For many students, the upcoming Dance of the Decades is a chance to show off their moves. But for others in the UP community, a different type of dance, with live music, called steps and smiling faces of all ages, is a weekly habit. Contra dancing is a form of folk dance similar to square dancing. A dance caller will shout out steps that the dancers follow, all to live music. It is an energetic, walking-based dance that involves dancing with partners and nearby neighbors. Students and faculty members enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the Portland contra dance scene, one of the most active and vibrant in the country.

Communication studies professor Jeff Kerssen-Griep plays bass in two contra dancing bands, Joyride and Wild Hair. Kerssen-Griep enjoys the creative outlet music plays in his life, as well as the connections contra dancing establishes between those involved.

“My friend told me, ‘Susie, this is where the real people are. These are not the beautiful people, these are the real people.’”

Susie Stragnell nursing professor

“When you’re playing for contra dancing, you’ve got a band, dancers and dance callers who is teaching the dancing,” Kerrsen-Griep said. “It really depends on all three of those

What is contra dancing? Contra dancing is a type of folk dancing similar to square or line dancing. Steps are called while live music plays and dancers dance with a partner and their neighbors.

things circuiting up together and making more than the sum of its parts.” Junior Anna Bubnova and nursing professor Susie Stragnell are also regular contra dancers, often attending the same events Kerrsen-Griep plays at. Stragnell was initially invited to a contra dance by her friend, and was enticed by the promise of an interesting, different crowd of people. “My friend told me, ‘Susie, this is where the real people are. These are not the beautiful people, these are the real people,’” Stragnell said. Bubnova first heard of contra dancing as a freshman in Kerssen-Griep’s class, but waited until that spring to try it out. Though nervous, she was surprised by how much she enjoyed it. She went every Saturday that summer and hasn’t

stopped. She describes contra dancing “like the dancing in ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ but country,” with lots of spinning and eye contact with a partner.

“The dancers don’t have preconceptions about people. You can be whoever you want to be and they’re just going to accept you. That’s kind of what family does, isn’t it?” Anna Bubnova junior Kerssen-Griep notes that this eye contact and physical connection between partners is an important part of contra dancing. “People spend a lot of time looking at each other and holding each other and it doesn’t mean anything except ‘Here we are,’ which is so refresh-

Places to go contra dancing

Saturdays at the Fulton Community Center, beginners lesson starts at 7:30 p.m., dance from 8-11 p.m., 68 SW Miles Street, Portland, Ore. 97219 Price: $6 for students

First Wednesday of every month at the Polish Hall, 7:30-10 p.m., 3916 N Interstate Ave, Portland, Ore. 97227 Price: $6 for students

ing.” Kerssen-Griep said. “It’s just a reminder that we are humans connected to other humans.” Bubnova has found the contra dancing community to be diverse, ready to accept all sorts of people and quick to laugh off mistakes. Many contra dances have lessons for beginners, and Bubnova rhapsodized how willing more experienced dancers are in directing newcomers in the right direction, sometimes with a friendly push. Stragnell recommends newcomers wear comfortable shoes and lightweight clothes, as the dancing is very active. “The dancers don’t have preconceptions about people,” Bubnova said. “You can be whoever you want to be and they’re just going to accept you. That’s kind of what family does, isn’t it?”

See contra dancing in action

Visit upbeacon.com to see videos of contra dancing and Kerssen-Griep’s bands Joyride and Wild Hair.

Student Media Jobs Guide Thought about being a part of student media? Applications for the 2014/15 school year are open now.

KDUP: Radio Is not Dead Your college radio station KDUP has a question for you. Do you love playing and talking about music? Do you love exposing your friends to great local bands and throwing concerts? You love telling the news from a different perspective? Basically, do you like to have fun!? If the answer is YES to all of the above, KDUP wants you! Get your application now at our website http:// kdup.up.edu or at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/kdup.collegeradio. All completed applications must be turned into KDUP Adviser Brian Blair at blair@up.edu by 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2014.

Parker Shoaff | THE BEACON

KDUP General Manager Katie Husk and KDUP Event Coordinator George Brockett take part in the photobooth at the November event “Supergalatic Evening.” Students who went were encouraged to take a photo in the photobooth and tag themselves on Facebook.

KDUP Positions General Manager $4,000 Program Director $2,600 Music Director $2,500 Promotions Director $2,500 News Director $2,400 Event Coordinator $1,500 Web Producer/Technician $1,275 Assistant Music Director $1,275 News Reporter $1,275 Music Archive Manager $1,275

Staff Photo | THE BEACON

KDUP is housed behind St. Mary’s. They stream shows daily through their website kdup.up.edu.

Photographer’s Name | THE BEACON

Above, The Randy Jacksons performing at “Supergalactic Evening” held in November with lead singer Brendan Rice (below).

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

KDUP plays music at many events on campus including some Pilots After Dark events and the Activities Fair seen above.

SPECIAL

January 23, 2014

Wanted: Champions

(A Ed at Jo fin ni

Staff Photo | THE BEACON

Reporter Nastacia Voisin, alums Laura Frazier and Elizabeth Tertadian and Editor in Chief Kelsey Thomas hold up the many awards The Beacon won from the Oregon Newspaper Publishing Association.

The Beacon is Hiring

The Beacon is looking for champions. People who not only get stuff done but do it with passion and excellence. Smart, principled people who give it their best every day. Curious types who like meeting new people. Who understand the power of stories, pictures and asking

the right questions. Did we mention fun? You see, at The Beacon, we don’t think hard work and fun are mutually exclusive. We want people who get that. Since 1936, The Beacon has been the student voice at The University of Portland. The newspaper you see every Thursday is part of a

great award-winning campus tradition. Now, in the digital age, The Beacon reaches readers around the world 24/7 through its website UPBeacon.com. We look forward to diving deeper into digital next year. These are exciting times for UP students who want to be an important part of

the campus conversation. Not to mention the benefit of adding cool stuff to your resume and the fun of working on a team. If you want a piece of the action in 2014-15 and have what it takes, now is the time to apply.

how to apply Read full job descriptions and requirements by clicking on the “Beacon Jobs” tab at www.upbeacon.com. Fill out and submit online application with requested work samples, if applicable. Those interested in applying for Editor-in-Chief should contact Beacon adviser Nancy Copic at copic@up.edu.

application deadline Feb. 6 - Editor-in-Chief Feb 13 - all other positions

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

At the Activities Fair held last fall, Reporter W.C. Lawson, Sports Editor Katie Dunn, Copy Editor Kathryn Walters and Living Editor Kate Stringer pass out copies of The Beacon and encourage students to write guest commentaries.

For more information and to see a list of successful people who worked at their college paper, visit upbeacon.com/faq and upbeacon.com/inspiration.

E O N Li S O D A C W R S P P S C B C

SECTION

www.upbeacon.com

Staff Photo | THE BEACON

(Above) Alumna Jackie Jeffers captures the energy of the Redefine Purple Pride Movement last February. (Below left) Sports Editor Katie Dunn, Design Editor Shellie Adams, Living Editor Kate Stringer, Copy Editor Kathryn Walters, former photographer Joey Solano and News Editor Sarah Hansell met Mark Luckie, the News and Journalism Manager at Twitter, at a journalism conference in New York City. (Below right) Circulation Director Shelby Steinauer takes The Beacon to stands around campus every Thursday morning. Staff Photos | THE BEACON

Above) News Editor Sarah Hansell, Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Thomas, Design ditor Shellie Adams and Living Editor Kate Stringer show off The Beacon t the Wall Street bull in New York City. (Below) Web Content Manager ohn Liedtke, Living Editor Kate Stringer and Design Editor Shellie Adams nish the print paper and upload articles to the website on production ight.

Staff Photo | THE BEACON

The Beacon Positions

Editor-in-Chief: $5,150 Online Editor/Reporter: $1,600 News Editor: $3,000 iving/Faith and Fellowship Editor: $2,700 Sports Editor: $2,500 Opinions Editor: $2,000 Design Editor: $2,250 Asst. Design Editor: $1,500 Copy Editor/Reporter: $1,600 Web Content Manager: $2,000 Reporter (9): $1,000 Sports Reporter (3): $1,000 Photographer (3): $1,000 Photographer/Videographer: $1,000 Social Media Manager: $300 Cartoonist: $300 Business & Advertising Manager: $2,450 Circulation Director: $1,200

All stipends are approximate

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

From The beacon to the washington post “I’m not sure if it was slicing up long reams of typeset copy with an exacto knife and laying out pages of The Beacon late at night - keeping an eye out for the other slap-happy staffers with a penchant for lighting fire crackers - or all the black and white photo developing chemical fumes I inhaled during the countless absorbing and happy hours I spent in the darkroom in the basement of Christie, but my years at the University of Portland set me out on a journey to tell true stories about the way we live that has taken me from New York to Wyoming and South Carolina, Photo courtesy of Peter Heinberg from the White House and halls of Congress, to homeless shelters, fields of rare orchids, bat caves and Haitian coups. Margaret Mead used to say that she was wise enough to never grow up, I imagine because she found such joy and meaning in her work. I feel the same. The Beacon helped light the way.” Brigid Schulte UP/Beacon alumna, Washington Post staff writer, Pulitzer prize winner, author of “Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play when No One Has the Time,” to be published in March 2014 by Sarah Crichton Books/ Farrar Straus & Giroux

SPECIAL SECTION

www.upbeacon.com

The log: making memories

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

(Above) Editor in Chief Brooke Williams, Copy Editor Tori Dunlap , Designer Francisco Calderon, photographer Sean Eckhardt, photographer Timothy Kang, Staff Writer Christine Menges, Designer Alison Kratochvil , Designer Summer Staley, Photo Editor Leah Walters and Staff Writer Emily Fitzgerald hash out their latest assignments at a staff meeting. (Below) Staff Writer Christine Menges, photographer Timothy Kang, photographer Sean Eckhardt and Staff Writer Cerice Keller discuss assignments at a staff meeting.

Experiences on The Log

the log Positions Editor-in-Chief: $4,100 Copy Editor: $1,750 Photo Editor: $1,750 Design Editor: $1,750 Staff Writer (3): $1,400 Staff Photographer (3): $1,400 Staff Designer (3): $1,400 *All stipends are approximate

how to apply Staff positions, along with job descriptions and application instructions are posted to the UP student job board at UP.edu. Please read the job descriptions thoroughly before applying. Follow the instructions as detailed in the job posting to complete your online application.

application deadline Applications for the Editor-in-Chief position are due Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. Applications for all other staff positions are due Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.

“The Log has become quite an influential aspect to me. Starting out as a photographer freshman year I had no idea I would get this far in three years. I applied for the yearbook because it was something I did in high school and thought it would be a great opportunity to continue photographing and learning about UP and meeting new people. Now that I am the editorin-chief I am not only able to learn but also help guide the incoming staff members to the creative dreams and practical realities of producing a yearbook. As a program, The Log has and continues to provide me with opportunities to improve my photography, writing, designing and managing skills. It is one of few things that you can do on a college campus where you can say your work has been published and have the chance to be recognized for awards based upon that work, while competing against hundreds of other US colleges and universities.” –Brooke Williams, ’15, 2013-14 Editor-in-Chief, 2012-13 Photo Editor, 2011-12 Staff Photographer

“The Log was one of my first families on the UP campus and I feel completely comfortable in that room with the staff, even new staff members because I hope they value the group as well. I made lasting friends and everyone on staff pushed me at one point or another to make my photography better, but also pushed me to reach out into the UP community and take the photos of my classmates. The Log makes me feel more connected to my school and I love my job.” –Leah Walters, ’16, 2013-14 Photo Editor, 2012-13 Staff Photographer

“I enjoy yearbooking. Although school is my first priority, being on staff has allowed me to make connections with new people every time I worked on a new spread. I enjoy hearing their stories and a yearbook is the perfect place to record these memories that have made UP such a lively campus.” –Isabelle Nguyen, ’16, 2013-14 Design Editor, 2012-13 Editor in Chief & Staff Designer

The Beacon — www.upbeacon.com

GHANA: Return to U.S. felt ‘cold’ Continued from page 5 That last time was the hardest.”

Returning home: ‘It was cold’

The ache of leaving Ghana was heightened by the cultureshock they endured when they

Top and bottom photos courtesy of Lindsey Morris. Center photo courtesy of Sara Tellez

(Top) Senior Lindsey Morris with her friends Amma (left) and Afua (right), mother and daughter plaintain sellers, in the town Ashaiman. Lindsey bought roasted plaintains and chatted with them nearly every morning on her way to work and passed by in the evenings to wish them goodnight. (Middle) Senior Sara Tellez with Solomon, the youngest child at Save Them Young orphanage. Tellez spent time with him developing his motor skills. (Bottom) Morris and senior Nicole Navlet.

returned to the U.S. “In Ghana, I felt so connected,” Morris said. “I felt loved there. Almost every single person I met there inspired me in some way.” Arriving around Christmas time, Morris said she was taken aback by the materialism of the season, and how isolated she felt

by it. The first morning of Hubbard’s homecoming she took the bus to downtown Seattle. “My first impression was that it was cold,” Hubbard said. “The people were colder. No one said hello. No one made eye contact on the bus. It was all concrete and glass and brick. It was just a

shock.” Struggling with similar feelings, Morris and Tellez have drawn strength from the Ghanaian saying, “Wayson-gobe,” which means, “Who knows tomorrow?” It’s an expression that asks people to celebrate in the moment, love what they have and live without regret.

“I’m still struggling to figure out how I got to this point in my life” Tellez said. “I remember being in Ghana thinking: how did I get here? How did I get to be amid these beautiful children of God? I still don’t know.”

ON CAMPUS FOR UP STUDENTS

ANNOUNCING

FREE OPENSTACK TRAINING CLASS PROVIDED BY RACKSPACE

Rackspace, a leading provider of open cloud services, surprised the computer industry when they released OpenStack®, their cloud code to the world as free and open. Since then OpenStack has become one of the fastest growing global cloud platforms with over 12,000 contributors in 130 countries.

Cost: FREE! Who: Students interested in learning OpenStack Coding When: Monday – Thursday, February 24–27, 6–9 p.m. Where: University of Portland Clark Library Classroom What is OpenStack? Learn more at http://www.openstack.org/ Recommended Pre-requisites: Basic Linux Command Line Knowledge Basic Linux Networking Knowledge Review Lecture Ahead of Training This classroom is equipped with laptops for each attendee Register TODAY at http://goo.gl/HouVEO

What does it mean to be the ultimate neighborhood grocery store? To us, it means supporting family farms—and in turn, the regional economy. It means giving back to our community, and creating a progressive workplace where employees can thrive. That’s why we’re a Certified B Corporation. We’re in it for good. Join New Seasons Market and become part of the B the Change Team: People using business as a force for good.

OPINIONS EDITORIAL On Saturday, UP students will find out whether Fr. Mark Poorman or Fr. Jim Lies will take over the University presidency this spring. But the students hardly know either candidate. The process of choosing the next president has been largely collaborative. The Presidential Search Committee is made up of 14 people representing key groups on campus, including faculty, staff, administrators, Holy Cross priests and regents. And even though only this small group had extensive meetings with Poorman and Lies, all members of these groups on campus were invited to open forums to freely ask questions to the candidates. All faculty and staff members were given the opportunity to fill out evaluation sheets regarding the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. But how many students were involved in the presidential search process? Six. The administration invited select student leaders to meet with Poorman and Lies last

The Beacon — www.upbeacon.com

Students missing from presidential search process

week, but aside from those invited, students were barred from the process and had no opportunity to give input. The Beacon asked permission to attend these meetings but was denied. The Presidential Search Committee did try to recruit students from several different communities on campus. There were RAs, student athletes and members of student government. But there is no way to represent all UP students’ concerns in six people. According to ASUP Vice President Elvia Gaona, one of the student representatives who met with the presidential candidates, past presidential searches have been open to student input. “In previous years, candidates would do an open forum (for students), like a fireside chat, but not very many students attended,” Gaona said. But the fact that most students in the past did not attend forums for presidential candidates does not justify closing the process off to students who do care about giving their input in the process.

After all, UP exists for and is largely funded by its students. It is a mistake to let everyone except the majority of students give their input to the Board of Regents before they make their decision on who our next president is. Because students have been largely ignored in the presidential search process, The Beacon hopes to present to the Board of Regents another student perspective to take into account before they decide who our next president will be: First, our next president should be someone who is committed (not only in word, but also in action) to a policy of inclusion. Over the past year, UP has seen a more inclusive Nondiscrimination Policy approved, we’ve seen an increasing number of women in the upper echelon of the University’s staff and administration, and we’ve welcomed the most diverse class in the history of the University. Our next president should be committed to continuing this pattern of inclusivity.

Photos courtesy of UP Marketing

Fr. Mark Poorman, left, and Fr. Jim Lies, are both candidates for UP’s next president. Students have had little say in the selection process. Second, whoever the Board of Regents elects to the presidency should show a passion for UP. He should be someone who loves the city of Portland and the surrounding area, someone who has a deep understanding not only of the Holy Cross commitment to an excellent education, but also of the specific circumstances at the University of Portland. Lastly, our next president must be someone who cares what

students have to say. He must recognize that as important as it is to maintain a positive image for the University, and as much as UP must have good relationships with its donors, students ought to come first. Even if students have little to no say in who our next president is, the president ought to be engaged with us once he takes office.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The editorial reflects the majority view of The Beacon Editorial Board. The editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the collective staff or the Administration of the University of Portland. Other submissions in this section are signed commentaries that reflect the opinion of the individual writer. The Student Media Committee, providing recommendation to the publisher, oversees the general operation of the newspaper. Policy set by the committee and publisher dictates that the responsibility for the newspaper’s editorial and advertising content lies solely in the hands of its student employees.

Student media: difficult but worth it Kelsey Thomas Editor in Chief

When I applied to work for The Beacon, I imagined myself in an office on the top floor of Waldschmidt, notebook balanced on my pantsuit-clad legs and pen poised to transcribe an earthshattering quote. Instead, during my first week on the job I was wandering around the Commons attempting to find freshmen willing to talk to a crazy girl carrying a notebook

and pen. When I did interview an important official a few weeks later – Portland Mayor Charlie Hales – I was not exactly calm and collected (think heavy-breathing and unexplained-sweating). On the bright side, I also hadn’t morphed into the type of person who wears pantsuits. So I get it: Working for student media can be intimidating. Most people in college are so used to texting that calling for takeout can be nerve-wracking, not to mention cold-calling professors, administrators and other students asking for interviews. And having your name attached to a story or photo on a paper read by thousands is far more daunting than

having your name attached to a tweet read by your 147 Twitter followers, one of which is a cat. And yes, student media jobs take up a decent amount of time.

“Late nights and sweat stains aside, working for The Beacon has been by far the most rewarding aspect of my college experience.” Kelsey Thomas senior

But late nights and sweat stains aside, working for The

Beacon has been by far the most rewarding aspect of my college experience. I spend every week working with some of the most clever and creative students at UP who have also become some of my closest friends. I have listened to the stories of renowned authors, innovative student engineers, Public Safety officers, P-Plant workers and professors I would never have crossed paths with otherwise. I’ve traveled to New York City and New Orleans for student media conferences. Once I was even offered muffins by an aging man with five cats when I knocked on his door to ask about student parties. What it boils down to is this: Do you want your time at UP to

be brimming with energy, deadline panic, creativity, big ideas, the opportunity to make a difference and a few too many late night puns? Then check out the hefty Student Media Guide in the center of this paper. And that call with the mayor? It turned out totally fine. At least, if he noticed my particularly labored breathing he was polite enough not to mention it. Kelsey Thomas is a senior English major. She can be reached at thomask15@up.edu.

THE BEACON 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. Nonstudents must include their affiliation to the University, if any.

Advertising in The Beacon

For advertising information, contact Anne Uruu, 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 Business and Advertising Manager Anne Uruu at beaconads@up.edu.

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief.. . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Thomas News Editor. . . . . . . . . . . �� Sarah Hansell Living Editor �� Kate Stringer Opinions Editor. . . . . . . ��Philip Ellefson Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . ��Katie Dunn Design Editor . . . . . . . . . �� Shellie Adams Asst. Design Editor. . . . . �� Emily Strocher Copy Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Walters

Contacting The Beacon

E-mail: beacon@up.edu Website: www.upbeacon.com Address: 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. ● Portland, OR 97203-5798

Staff Writers

Clare Duffy, Olivia Alsept-Ellis, Mitchell Gilbert, Maggie Hannon, W.C. Lawson, Lydia Laythe, Rebekah Markillie, McKena Miyashiro, Emily Neelon, Cassie Sheridan, Maggie Smet, Taylor Tobin, Nastacia Voisin, Kathryn Walters.

Photographers

David DiLoreto, Kristen Garcia, Parker Shoaff

Staff Members

Business & Ad Manager. . . . . . Anne Uruu Artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Truong Web Content manager . . . . .John Liedtke Circulation Manager . . Shelby Steinauer Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Copic Publisher. . . Fr. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C.

OPINIONS

January 23, 2014

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made Joe Freeman Guest Commentary When I stepped foot on The Bluff for the first time as a wideeyed freshman in 1995, one of the first things I did was waltz over to The Beacon offices. I was 18. I was excited about college and living on my own for the first time. But even more, I was excited about finding my footing and figuring out what I wanted to do “when I grew up.” I was pretty sure I wanted to be a journalist— I had my sights set on being a newspaper reporter — and I figured the best way to make that happen was to join the newspaper staff and start writing. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Nineteen years later, here I am, covering the Portland Trail Blazers for The Oregonian — Portland’s daily newspaper. I’m doing exactly what I set out to do. And it all started with that walk to The Beacon offices. I was challenged academically at the University of Portland through a rigorous, diverse and fun course load. But for journalists — for writers — the best way to hone your craft and find your voice is to practice. And practice means writing. It means reporting. It means learning how to build relationships with people and figuring out how to get them to open up and tell you their stories, so you can write those stories. Oh, sure, I took plenty of writing classes with gifted professors. But it was the countless hours I spent reporting for The Beacon, the long days I devoted to writing stories that would appear every Thursday in its pages, that helped me the most. There was no greater thrill than waking up Thursday morning and seeing my name on the front page of the paper. My friends, my peers, even total strangers were reading my work. I had to be good. I had to feel proud about what I wrote. But working for The Beacon did more than empower me. It did more than prepare me. It set up my future. When newspapers and magazines and blogs and public relation firms look to hire writers — even for internships — they want to see proof that the person they are hiring is competent, capable and talented. And they don’t solely judge that based on a college degree or a GPA. They want to see writing samples. When I applied for summer internships while I was at UP, I didn’t just submit a resume and a cover letter and a few references, I also submitted 10 “clips” — stories I had written at The Beacon. Those clips helped me land my first internship. And then, when I was a senior at UP, the

combined clips from that internship and The Beacon helped me land an internship at The Oregonian. It was a snowball effect. My work at The Beacon led to one internship, which led to another, which led to the job I have today. I was a good student. I studied, went to class, did my work. But not one recruiter or editor asked me about my college classes or my GPA when I was applying for internships or jobs. They wanted to see my writing samples. It was the work I put in during my time at The Beacon that led me to my future career as a journalist. What if it hadn’t worked out? What if I hated working at The Beacon? What if the long hours at St. Mary’s proved to be too much? Well, I would have moved on to something else, found another field that interested me, and forged ahead toward a different path in life. But it would have been beneficial either way. And even still, 19 years later, I would look back on that walk to The Beacon and think: It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Joe Freeman is a UP alum and covers the Portland Trail Blazers for The Oregonian. He can be reached at jfreeman@oregonian.com.

Well, why not try student media? Brian Doyle Guest Commentary Here comes February lurching into view like a heron on steroids, which means that Applications Will Soon Be Due for Student Media Positions, and the cold hard fact between us here like a toad pie is that you have not even considered trying for a job at the funky radio station, the lovely yearbook, or the admirable student newspaper, have you? No, I didn’t think so. But you should. Yes – you. But my social life… Ah, come on, your social life could actually use some jazzing, and you know it. Why not shoot for a gig at the radio station? Last I looked there were untold numbers of students happily working there, students who dug music and laughter and dancing and swapping stories. Are they not your people, those students? Wouldn’t it be a kick to be in a shaggy tribe that has its own house on campus, how rare is that phrase? Man, my academic load… Ah, come on, you know and I know that you are doing pretty

well here, better than you secretly expected, and now you are moving into your major courses, which you’ll like even better than the core, and you’ll be more engaged and excited by those classes, and the work will fly by, and you’ll be doing exactly what with those extra couple of hours a day? Wouldn’t it be a kick to camp out in St. Mary’s, chaffing your fellow Beacon staffers, arguing about what stories are the best, imaging new angles, talking to the many dozens of brilliant souls who staff this place, winning state awards, happily typing glorious inky and photographic and design accomplishments on your resume?

“You collect stories. You share stories. You trade stories. You are stories. Your family, friends, pursuits, adventures, ambitions, dreams – all stories.”

Brian Doyle editor, Portland Magazine

I don’t need the money…. Yes, you do. Ask your dad. I don’t have the time… Yes, you do. Look at yourself right now, in those ratty pajamas, watching that “Burn Notice” episode for the ninth time. Good

Lord, man, get out of your room. And pick that towel off the floor before you go. I have no experience… Yes, you do. You collect stories. You share stories. You trade stories. You remember stories. You are stories. Your family, friends, pursuits, thrills, adventures, ambitions, dreams – all stories. Why not put that curiosity and hunger for stories to work, on, say, the yearbook staff? Wouldn’t it be cool to try to catch the joys and shivers of a year on The Bluff in stories and photographs and paintings for the Log? And get paid for it? Wouldn’t it be a kick to call home and say dad, guess what, I cut some cash off the tuition bill by being a storycatcher! Wouldn’t that make the old man moan happily into his mustache? And speaking as an old man with a mustache, isn’t getting a call like that from the child you love more than anything kind of the point? So – find the job supplement in this issue. Pick a job. Apply for it. Get it. Call your dad. And pick up that towel. Brian Doyle is the editor of Portland Magazine. He can be reached at bdoyle@up.edu.

SPORTS

Pilot in the Spotlight

You had a great game against Gonzaga. What were your emotions following that win? It was just, crazy. I was so happy, especially knowing that the program hadn’t won that game in so long. It was kind of a monkey off our back, knowing that we could play with anybody and win. Do you have a pre game routine? I usually just listen to music and get into my zone. I’ll talk to the guys and get team centered but for me individually, I just keep it chill and listen to my music. Do you have a first memory of playing basketball? You know those little Tykes hoops? We used to set ours up in our kitchen. My older brother and I used to shoot around and goof off.

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

Alec Wintering Guard Freshman Concord, N.C.

How has your transition to the Northwest been? It’s been mostly good, I had to get used to the rain and the grey skies all the time. Once I got used to that, the weather doesn’t really bother me anymore. I really like Portland and the city is a fun place to be. How do you think being a shorter player in a game

The Beacon — www.upbeacon.com

known for height has altered your game and how you go up against players that may be an entire foot taller than you? It’s what’s normal for me, I mean, I’ve been short my whole life. I’m used to playing against taller people and my coaches in high school really helped me get used to that. Muggsy Bogues and his performances in the NBA, learning how to play with tactical angles to get shots up, those are all things that have had an impact on my game. What do you think is truly special about playing basketball, as opposed to other sports? I think being so close to the fans on the court is a big difference; you can feel their energy and feed off it. It’s more of a feeling, kind of unexplainable. Speaking of feeding off fan energy, can you describe the moment students rushed the court after the win against Gonzaga? I’ll remember that for the rest of my life. It was absolutely crazy. I was right in the center of the court, my friend Kahlil grabbed me and just high fives and yelling. It was absolutely nuts. -Cassie Sheridan

WCC heats up for women’s basketball Mitchell Gilbert Staff Writer gilbert16@up.edu With a current record of 10-8 and a conference record of 3-4, the coaches and players on the women’s basketball team have a lot of good things going for them going into the second half of the season. After a big win over 24thranked University of San Diego, a top spot in the WCC is in view but the team must first overcome some rough road blocks. “We have really grown from where we were at the beginning of the season,” junior Kari Luttinen said. “We have learned how to play together, and we have matured together as a team. Our conference is very competitive and we have fared well so far.” In the tough conference matchups the team has played so far, they have shown their significant growth since last year, particularly with scoring. “All of us are scoring threats. Every single player knows how to score,” junior guard Jasmine Wooton said. “I think along with our great leadership that makes us a very hard team to defend.” Luttinen leads the team averaging 12.5 points per game. The Pilots’ offensive efficiency and selfless play has been a key feature of the team this year. The Pilots are kicking off a challenging stretch of four road games against the University

of San Francisco, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, and Pepperdine. After their latest win, 82-72 over San Francisco, where Luttinen scored 23 points, the Pilots focus on preparing for their upcoming road games next week. Upcoming home games against BYU, Gonzaga, and San Diego will be crucial if the Pilots are to stay in the running for the WCC championship. The Pilots have a sense of what is needed to beat the WCC leaders, having already played the top five teams in the conference. Their goal of

winning the conference will be a difficult task with six teams ranked in the top 100 in the country and No. 25 Gonzaga staying in the WCC’s top spot. This is also the final season for the women’s basketball team head coach Jim Sollars, who hopes for a strong finish to his time as coach. “Winning the season is always our number one goal. If we can play to our potential we can compete for the championship,” Sollars said. “We need to continue to make progress throughout

the rest of the season, but none of our goals are outside of our reach.” The Pilots are currently only three games out of first place and ranked sixth in the conference. “We have a lot of fight, and we don’t fold when faced with pressure,” Wooten said. “We are kind of an underdog in the conference and that helps us a lot.” Their next home game is Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Chiles Center against San Francisco.

David DiLoreto | THE BEACON

Sophomore guard Jazmyn Johnson dribbles around teammate freshman guard Hannah Mattson.

This week in sports Men’s Basketball In the swing of WCC play the Pilots toppled rival Gonzaga for the first time in 11 years. They play BYU tonight at 7 p.m. and San Diego Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Chiles Center.

Women’s Basketball The Pilots are in the middle of a road game series and have split the two game already played, a loss to Santa Clara and win against San Francisco. They take on Pepperdine tonight in Malibu.

Track & Field The Pilots started their indoor season at the UW Preview and will be back in two weeks for the UW Invitational. (courtesy portlandpilots.com, WCCsports.com)

16 January 23, 2014

SPORTS THE BEACON

www.upbeacon.com

Men’s basketball tops Gonzaga, has more to prove Cassie Sheridan Staff Writer sheridan15@up.edu

Two weeks ago, the men’s basketball team (11-8) had a huge win over WCC rival Gonzaga. This win ended a 20-game losing streak against the Bulldogs and happened in front of nearly 5,000 fans, making the Pilots a central conversation within the sports world and on social media. Despite the once in 11 years win, the season is far from over. Last weekend on the road, the Pilots split games earning a win against Loyola Marymount and a loss to Pepperdine. In the WCC,

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

Junior guard Kevin Bailey takes a shot against UC Davis. Bailey leads the team in points per game with 17.2.

the Pilots’ record is 3-4 with 11 more games to play. “We are right in the mix,” junior center Riley Barker said. “We still have a lot of essential WCC games to play and win, if we want to command the conference. It’s still a little early to tell where we land.” The Pilots’ schedule over the next month involves many hours on planes and away from home court advantage as they only have four home games left in the Chiles Center. Playing on the road demands an increased focus and energy, especially when going up against important WCC

opponents. “It’s hard to keep energy up on the road,” senior guard Korey Thieleke said. “We all are focused on keeping that energy high when away and not letting ourselves get down. It’s really nice to be at home and have our fans give us an energy boost but great teams play great anywhere.” Tonight the Pilots go up against WCC rival BYU at 7 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Then on Saturday they will play San Diego at 7 p.m. before spending the following three games on the road.

Becca Tabor | THE BEACON

Freshman guard Alec Wintering who leads the team in assists and steals has started every game in his rookie season.