The Beacon THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND SINCE 1935 September 10, 2015 • Volume 118 • Issue 2 • upbeacon.com
The new one-stop shop:
Changes to the Shepard Freshmen Resource Center make guidance available to all
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
By Alana Laanui THE BEACON Am I in the right major? How can I get involved on campus? Where can I get help with my homework? Do I even belong at this university? These questions often plague freshmen during their first few months on campus. The reality, though, is that these questions often reappear and can be amplified the closer students get to graduation. In the past, the Shepard Freshmen Resource Center answered these questions for new UP students. The Resource Center has expanded its role beyond helping freshmen and
is now a one-stop shop for students of all grade levels as the newly christened Shepard Academic Resource Center. The SARC now houses academic support services for all undergraduate students. These include the Learning Commons, Accessible Education Services, Learning Assistance Counseling and services that were previously available from the SFRC. These services are now centrally located in Buckley Center 101. Director of the SARC, Brenda Greiner, and Assistant Director Kelly Carder are leading this transition to ensure that the needs of all students are met.
SARC Drop-in Hours: Monday - Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., or by appointment.
Learning Commons Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., or by appointment
“The first year in college isn’t the only year there are questions,” Carder said. Carder is now in charge of helping freshmen through orientation and workshop classes, in addition to meeting with students one-on-one. Sophomore Jared Tom recalled meeting with Carder as a freshman. “When first coming to UP, it was intimidating since I was coming from Hawaii,” Tom said. “But the people in the resource center would be very helpful and even though they were busy I never felt like a bother.” The SARC is not only a place for counseling and questions.
Greiner also oversees other resources for students such as the Learning Commons, a place where students who have a strong grasp on a subject can tutor students who are struggling. Many upperclassmen can attest to the support that these tutors provide (especially during finals week). “They helped me when I had writer’s block as well as helped me edit my papers,” sophomore biology major Avaya Bhattarai said. “Instead of just taking my paper and writing edits, they guided me through the process.” The Learning Commons continues to offer accessible
Contact: SARC Main Office: 503-943-7895, sarc@up.edu Learning Commons: 503-943-8002 Accessible Education Services: 503-943-8985 Learning Assistance Counseling: 503-943-8716
peer-to-peer tutoring to students. They now offer biology assistance and have special rooms for various subjects. These services strive to help students succeed; the SARC is available to help all students no matter the question. “The goal is making sure that all students are aware of who we are, and that they can come to us,” Greiner said. Though students can feel like they are struggling in isolation, Greiner said, “People might be feeling alone, like they’re the only ones going through it, but they’re not.” Contact Staff Writer Alana Laanui at laanui18@up.edu.
Tips for Academic Success
1. Get organized for each class. 2. Set long-term goals for what you want out of class. 3. Set short-term goals to accomplish long-term goals. 4. Plan the major events that are coming in the semester. 5. Be realistic in planning how long it will take to read each chapter. 6. Plan your major tasks for your most productive time and your most productive environment. 7. Notice what kinds of things distract you. 8. Set deadlines for things you need to have done. 9. Mix the subjects you study in any one study period. 10. Look for “hidden” study time. 11. Schedule time for yourself. Learn more at: http://www.up.edu/sfrc
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Artist Profile // Living
“NOAH Ark” Video // Sports
Full story on Robert Butler // News
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NEWS
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Growing pains for a school on the rise: Students adjust to extended living situations By Ryan Myers THE BEACON
The University of Portland is a school on the rise, with plans for expansion being made a reality around campus. As the school draws students from around the country, and the world, the demand for on-campus housing has increased. Couple that with rising rent in the surrounding neighborhoods, as well an effort to retain upperclassmen in on-campus housing, and you have a recipe for overcrowding. In the dorms, this has pushed hundreds of students into “extended living” situations, colloquially referred to as forced triples. Some converted study rooms house as many as five students. Many in the community, especially those who came expecting the “small college feel,” are left wondering what the school will do about the issue. The answers fall into two categories: the short term and the long term. The shortterm solution is the increase in extended living situations, and the long-term involves the construction of a new dorm adjacent to Haggerty and Tyson halls. The dorm is scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2016-17 school year. Chris Haug, Director of Residence Life at UP, said that the situation is not new, and that it has caused the leadership to expand their efforts to welcome and accommodate these students in the past few years, as well as now. Haug notes the extended doubles have been working well as a short-term fix. “They are a necessary shortterm solution, which we have had incredible success with,” Haug said.
Extended doubles were at their highest rate of use last year. As of June 16, 305 students were signed up for extended doubles for this school year, although official final numbers have yet to be determined. Last school year, 91 percent of on-campus students reported being either somewhat or very satisfied with their housing, as determined by Residence Life surveys, compared to 90 percent for the 2013-14 school year. Haug said that these satisfaction rates are higher than in years past which had fewer extended doubles. Haug said the new dorm hall isn’t the perfect fix, pointing out that if the retention rate remains high for on-campus living along with steady or increased enrollment, extended living situations will still be utilized. Hall directors know first hand the effects of adding a new residence hall. “This new hall will be representing this new generation of the University, and will have its own identity and will complement the existing residence halls,” Sr. Susan Bruno, Fields Hall Director, said. Bruno stressed the importance of hall staff communication in making sure that the extended living situations run smoothly. A key part of the short term plan is to build community within the dorm and to make sure that students use effective communication with one another. This is intended to decrease issues that might arise because of limited space. While students wait for the new dorm, resident assistants are prepared to mediate situations that might arise because of crowded rooms.
Senior Steph Hampel, RA for the second floor of Fields Hall, is one such mediator. She pointed out that beyond the move-in day skepticism of students and parents, the residents do not seem to have a problem with the amount of space they have. “People are pretty adaptable when it comes to their space and their living environment,” Hampel said. While adaptability is key when entering any new environment, the students currently living in these extended doubles do face issues on a daily basis. “The space really gets us… If you are trying to hurry it’s really hard,” Freshman nursing major Kaitlyn Ringus said. Several other Fields students shared the sentiment and talked about issues arising from sharing space among three people, and from sharing already limited common spaces with both Fields and Schoenfeldt residents. Ringus said that the first impression of her room was certainly a let down, and she feels her experiences are common among Fields residents, although she is focusing on the positives. “I love everyone here… It’s a space issue, that’s what it is,” Ringus said. The students currently living in these rooms are waiting to see how the year will play out, despite room conditions falling short of their expectations. Many Fields Hall residents cited passing up other schools for the University of Portland and are hopeful that their living situation this year, while unconventional, will be an inconvenience in an otherwise positive college experience. Contact Staff Writer Ryan Myers at myers17@up.edu.
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
Students squeeze into “extended doubles.” As of June 2015, 305 students were signed up for extended living situations.
‘Coach Bob’ Butler accepts 2015 Neil Miner Award By Jacob Fuhrer THE BEACON When it comes to understanding earth sciences, the academic community agrees: Robert Butler is your guy. The professor of Geophysics, better known as Coach Bob, has been helping students at UP understand complex natural processes since 2004, when he joined UP after 27 years at the University of Arizona. This year, Butler received the Neil Miner Award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) after a nomination by his colleagues.
According to the NAGT, the award recognizes an “individual for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth sciences.” Roger Groom, a teacher at Mt. Tabor Middle School in Portland, said he was excited to hear Butler received the award. “He is so deserving of it,” Groom said. “He transformed my entire teaching career in one two-week teaching stint.” Groom met Butler in 2005 on an excursion for professional development where Butler was one of the leaders. It was partly Butler’s personality and energy that
led Groom and others to write letters to the NAGT nominating Butler for the Miner Award. Butler says part of the key to teaching is getting people excited about science. “I get a lot of energy from teaching. I get excited about it. And I think people can get energized by that energy,” Butler said. “And I don’t mind doing goofy kinds of things if that’s a way to help somebody learn something.”
Contact Staff Writer Jacob Fuhrer at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @jacobfuhrer
Students learn from Coach Bob’s expertise. Robert Butler was recognized for his contributions to the geoscience community.
See full story on upbeacon.com
THE FORECAST:
CORRECTIONS In the Sept. 3 issue ‘Memorial Scheduled for Ian Andres,’ incorrectly stated that Andres lived in Christie Hall. Andres was a resident of Schoenfeldt Hall.
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
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NEWS
New coffee brings local, environmental change
Photo cour tesy of Nossa Familia
Coffee beans dry on Carniero’s family farm in Brazil. This year, the Franz coffee shop has switched from serving Starhucks to serving Nossa Familia coffee.
Congolese refugee ‘inspiration to us all’ By Alina Rosenkranz THE BEACON
Living on 24 cents per day, Jean Paul Mugisha focused on his education, in the hopes that it would give him the chance to leave the refugee camp in Rwanda that he’d lived in for 17 years. Mugisha’s family lived in the refugee camp after leaving their home in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to war. The camp has no electricity and people there live on one meal per day. “We lived in just a small house made of mud and it’s covered by plastic sheetings. So there is no running water, there is no electricity and it’s really hard there,” Mugisha
said. “People are not allowed to work, so they are just there waiting for the 24 cents per day.” Mugisha is beginning his sophomore year on The Bluff as an electrical engineering major after transferring from Portland Community College. Despite limited learning conditions in the refugee camp, with school education ending after ninth grade, Mugisha continued to expand his knowledge in math, physics and chemistry with the help of a friend. Mugisha scored 100 percent on the Rwandan final high school exam, but because he is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he didn’t qualify for a scholarship to go to university in Rwanda.
The nonprofit organization These Numbers Have Faces (TNHF) from Portland helped Mugisha when they heard about his story. The UN chose his family for a resettlement and they moved to Portland about a year ago. “My goal is to help my community. I’m here in the U.S. and my community is still in the refugee camp where they are suffering,” Mugisha said. “So my first goal is to help them by advocating for them or by doing anything that can help them to get out of the poverty.” Transitioning to a life in the United States wasn’t easy for Mugisha. He had to take care of his parents and seven siblings because his English was the strongest.
By Molly Vincent THE BEACON While students still look forward to the early morning smell of slightly burnt bagels coming from the Franz Hall basement, they can now anticipate a local coffee brand to accompany it. This school year, the coffee has changed from Starbucks to a local brand, Nossa Familia, whose motto is “Good People, Great History, Amazing Coffee.” UP alumnus Augusto Carneiro is the founder and CEO of Nossa Familia, which has a roastery and espresso bar in the Pearl District. The switch came after Carneiro approached Bon Appetit supervisor Kirk Mustain. Mustain, also an alumnus, makes an effort to support UP alumni who are cultivating entrepreneurial business and agreed to the proposal for the Franz basement coffee shop change. Nossa Familia coffee had been used campus-wide from 20062010 but the company was too small to sustain service for the entire campus. According to Mustain, Nossa Familia has grown substantially since then. “Augusto has done really well with it,” Mustain said. Mustain realized that not all students and faculty want to drink Starbucks’ stronger, more acidic coffee, and Nossa Familia creates some variety in the UP coffee scene. He thought Franz would be the perfect start for Nossa Familia, while keeping Starbucks in The Commons. In addition to being served in Franz, Nossa Familia is also being served in The Anchor this year. “Nossa Familia is a more traditional roast,” Mustain said. “It’s less acidic.” UP will offer three different coffee brands this year: Starbucks in The Commons, Nossa Familia in Franz and The Anchor and Stumptown in the Pilot House. Carneiro and Nossa Familia value quality, social responsibility and relationships over everything—values that align with those of the
3 UP community. They also feel a need to conserve the environment while using an environmentally friendly coffee roaster that reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It also captures roast data and profiles. Knowing UP’s focus on high quality, sustainable food, Carneiro felt Nossa Familia would be a good match. “We know Bon Appetit stands for good products,” Carneiro said. “Independent of Bon Appetit, UP is my alma matter. Financially it’s a winwin.” Carneiro originally came to UP in 1996 from Brazil to play tennis and entered the Shiley School of Engineering. Following graduation in 2001, he was not enthralled by his engineering job and wanted to make a change. He got the idea to start a coffee business in Portland. He had spent his youth in Brazil on his family’s coffee farm, which the family had been working since his greatgrandfather planted a coffee crop in 1890. The farm, which is located in “Sul de Minas” in the Brazilian highlands, provided the resources that would be the base of his new company. Carneiro is now focused on training employees to make better coffee, and he plans to install better machines in the future. He hopes to cater more to students by holding coffee tastings at UP at the end of the month. Nossa Familia has received positive feedback from students. Junior Alejandra Galindo, a self-proclaimed coffee addict, likes the change. “It has a pretty good taste for coffee on campus: not too bitter,” Galindo said. Galindo also thinks Nossa Familia will appeal to people who do not drink coffee because it is not as strong as other brands. Contact Staff Writer Molly Vincent at vincentm17@up.edu. Twitter: @mollyvincent19
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
Jean Paul Mugisha looks forward to his UP career. Mugisha moved to Portland about a year ago with his parents and seven siblings. “We had many people that helped us,” Mugisha said. “Like Ryan Hoppes (CEO of Allison USA Engineering Services, where Mugisha had an internship) and his family. And the nonprofit
organization. So it was really hard, but people were there to help.” Mugisha met UP President Fr. Mark Poorman through Hoppes at a party that
See INSPIRATION page 4
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NEWS
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Campus email to Inspiration: New Pilot looks to serve community from The Bluff switch from Gmail to Office 365 Continued from page 3
By Cheyenne Schoen THE BEACON When students return to campus after Christmas break, they will notice a change in their UP email system. Beginning spring semester, all UP students, faculty and staff will switch from Gmail to the Microsoft Office 365 Suite as part of an ongoing effort to enhance communication between all members of the campus community. Director of Academic Technology Services Samuel Williams and Director of Technical Services Michelle Sunderland are spearheading the project. “Technology should create efficiencies,” Williams said. “If we have to use multiple products to accomplish a simple goal, such as to write a paper—to me that seems a little counter intuitive.” Office 365 utilizes cloud email and file sharing, meaning the process of creating and submitting homework assignments will get a whole lot easier. Instead of typing a document into Microsoft Word and uploading it to Moodle, for example, students’ documents created in OneDrive can be directly submitted to Moodle in a single click. So…Why the Switch? Aside from the many features Office 365 offers to enhance communication between students and faculty, Williams pointed out that student preparedness for the workforce is a major reason for the switch. “When looking at the landscape of our students leaving campus, the likelihood of them to be using Office and Microsoft in the work environment is higher than with Google products,” Williams said. Chief Information Officer Curt Pederson has also worked on the project, adding that he has seen Microsoft’s capabilities challenge Google’s
in the past two years. He admits that he came into the project having a bias toward Google, but was pleasantly surprised with Microsoft’s product. Pederson said that the switch was inspired in part by what has worked for other schools. Gonzaga recently made a successful switch from Google to Office and has served as a model for UP’s implementation program. What Does This Mean for Students? Senior business major Anna Teadtke recognizes the benefits of the new system. “While it’s annoying to have to learn 365, it is what’s being used in larger companies, and I think it’ll be beneficial for us to know,” Teadtke said. “Future employers want to see that we can use it.” She added that the inability to share Google Docs has been a hassle in the past and hopes that 365 will change that. While students may worry that they will lose valuable emails and Google docs saved on their UP accounts, those behind the project look forward to a seamless transition. Sunderland is working on migrating students’ emails and drive documents to the new system. “Starting spring semester, the students will log in and notice that all their emails and docs have been brought over,” Sunderland said. Students are encouraged to pay close attention to all announcements regarding how to use the new portal. The project website, sites.up.edu/ office365, provides information on Office 365, including Lynda.com video tutorials and a FAQ page. Additionally, students may have access to group training sessions in conjunction with the Clark Library, depending on demand. Contact Staff Writer Cheyenne Schoen at schoen17@up.edu.
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND Political Science
Logo cour tesy of Microsof t
Poorman hosted. Poorman aided him in getting a full scholarship to attend UP and was excited to welcome him. “Jean Paul’s life story of having lived in Congo and Rwanda during a time of great upheaval and suffering, as well as having recently immigrated to the United States with his family, is an inspiration to us all,” Poorman said. “He will teach us many things about the lessons that come from the experience of suffering, the power of hope and the human spirit of resilience. We’re fortunate to have a young man of such intelligence, creativity and faith among us.” One thing that surprised
Mugisha when he came to the US is how friendly people here are. “This is my first time living on campus,” Mugisha said. “And it’s a different culture from mine. But I think people here are really nice and I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to how things will go. It’s a really nice place.” Last year, Mugisha was set up with an internship at Allion USA Engineering Services in Beaverton, who partners with TNHF, and became close with Hoppes. Their families even spent Halloween together. “Knowing what he was presented with...a lot of credit goes to Jean Paul as kind of the anchor of that family,” Hoppes said. “It’s just crazy
Presented by Jeffrey Meiser, Ph.D. September 17, 2015 4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Buckley Center Auditorium Dr. Jeffrey Meiser is an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Portland. He was previously an Associate Professor at the College of International Security Affairs in the Regional and Analytical Studies Department and Director of the South and Central Asia Program. Dr. Meiser also taught at the University of California at Santa Barbara, The Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Mannheim. His book Power and Restraint: The Rise of the United States, 1898-1941 was published this year by Georgetown University Press. Dr. Meiser returned to the Pacific Northwest last year after nine years of exile in Washington, DC. The United States is the most powerful country in modern history, but the least imperialistic great power in modern history. Why? A core reason is the restraining power of the U.S. Constitution. While American political institutions have changed considerably since 1787, the main constant has been the decentralized and fragmented nature of the central government. These characteristics prevented the centralization of power necessary for grand strategies of world domination or even widespread imperialism. This strategic restraint has been good for both the United States and the world. The question remains, will these trends continue? Will the U.S. continue to exercise restraint? Is restraint really what we need right now? How will current and future threats shape our understanding of the U.S. Constitution and American foreign policy? Constitution Day, September 17, 2015, commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and celebrates what that means today. For ADA accommodations or event information: Contact Gary Malecha, Ph.D. Department of Political Science malecha@up.edu
ON CAMPUS CPB Presents Jurassic World
Officers made contact with two suspicious individuals on campus near Portsmouth and Willamette. The individuals were trying to take scrap from the contruction site. The individuals were asked to leave campus and were compliant. Sept. 4, 7:14 p.m. Officers responded to a report of underage drinking in Corrado Hall. The Hall Staff was notified, and the alcohol was disposed of.
FOR THE FULL REPORT upbeacon.com > News > UP Crime & Fire Log
Contact Staff Writer Alina Rosenkranz at rosenkra17@up.edu. Twitter: @RosenkranzAlina
Constitutional Foundation Of American Foreign Policy
CRIME LOG Sept. 5, 2:18 p.m.
impressive.” When he’s not doing schoolwork, Mugisha, who lives in Villa Maria Hall, has a passion for soccer and likes to watch the Pilots play. In fact, soccer played a role in his decision to attend UP. “I heard about UP - that it was a great school,” Mugisha said. “And then Ryan Hoppes told me to come here, I think it was last year, for a soccer game. When I got here I really loved the school and Ryan was like, ‘I will help you to get there.’ But I came here for a soccer game, and I loved it.”
Friday, Sept. 11 at 9:00 p.m. on The Bluff. Join the Campus Program Board for a movie with a dinosaur bouncy house. There will be free popcorn with soda and candy available for purchase.
Casino Night Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 9:00 p.m. in Bauccio Commons. Come to The Commons for a fun night of casino games and the chance to win many, many prizes.
Womens Soccer Game Friday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m. Watch the women’s soccer team take on UC Irvine on Merlo Field.
Zahm Lecture Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:15 p.m. in Buckley Center Auditorium. Best-selling author Timothy Egan will deliver the Zahm leecture, titled “Francis and Francis: How a Pope and Saint Changed the World, One Heart at a Time.”
Living
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Karen Garcia Living Editor garciaka17@up.edu
Fresh beats on campus
By Nataša Kvesic THE BEACON At one point or another, many of us have dreamed of releasing a mixtape. We don’t think of the work that goes into it, though. It’s easy to look at Drake and how far he has come since he released his first mixtape and think, “Hey, if Drizzy made it from “The 6,” then I can make it Straight Outta Villa.” In reality, there are a lot of things that go into making a mixtape: you need some kind of a creative flow, a decent producer, some good beats and a mission. One student on campus has actually taken all of these elements and made his dream a reality. Freshman business student Brian Yuss, known by his moniker “Prince Yuss,” decided to make his first mixtape this past summer. Yuss gained his inspiration right here on campus when he visited in the spring for Weekend on The Bluff. “Honestly, when I started writing music was after I visited this school in April. I guess my creative side came out,” Yuss said. “I remember
the first night I ever wrote [a song], I saw this sign in Portland, it said: ‘Happiness is contagious.’” A California native, Yuss grew up surrounded by hiphop from a wide range of artists. From the smooth sounds of Bay Area rapper G-Eazy to the emotional raps of Drake, Yuss finds his inspiration and drive to make music. “I want to be like them but in my own way,” Yuss said. “You know, my own words and my own story.” Yuss’ favorite rappers are known for giving shoutouts to their hometowns in their songs, or even dedicating an entire song to a city. Yuss decided to follow suit in a track titled “805,” which is the area code of his hometown, Ventura, California. “805,” like most of his songs, was produced by his friend Will Cowgill, who goes by the rapper name “Geezel.” Cowgill has a studio at his home in California, which Yuss uses to record his music. “I was glad to help him on his album. He is a very hardworking and determined person,” Cowgill said.
Now about that unique rapper name. Yuss knew he wanted to include his last name, but wanted to sound a bit cooler than just “Yuss.” “I know Drake calls himself the ‘6 God’ but he actually earned that position,” Yuss said. “Calling yourself a king is too cocky so I figured to go down a notch.” And thus, Prince Yuss was born. Now in the process of writing his third mixtape, Yuss has a total of 37 songs under his belt. He has been writing as often as he can, started taking voice lessons and is looking for a place where he can record his music. Yuss said that this entire process has come from his creative side, and that he takes inspiration from how people in his life treat him. “There was this girl I met on campus and I talked to her for about an hour and a half, and I was pretty sure she like, rejected me, so I was like ‘Okay, I have to write a song about this,’” Yuss said. “A lot of things inspire my music. There are so many elements.” Contact Staff Writer Nataša Kvesic at kvesic19@up.edu.
You can listen to Prince Yuss’ mixtape on Soundcloud.
Cheyenne Schoen • THE BEACON
Melissa Aguilar • THE BEACON
Calling it:
Kyle Sovada | Senior
netflix review Melissa Aguilar • THE BEACON Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON Photo courtesy of Netflix
“Don’t call me a bad guy just yet,” Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Steve Murphy, says in a voice over as he showers a nightclub with bullets, taking innocent lives in addition to those involved in the drug trade. Throughout the first episode of Netflix’s new original series, “Narcos,” characters play with the idea of moral gray areas. The show follows the rise of Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, in the late 1970s as told by DEA officer, Murphy. Murphy’s narration provides the history of the cartels with a dry sense of humor and an insight into how the cocaine business affected this side of the border. He also helps keep track of who’s-who in the operation. Escobar had been smuggling contraband such as television sets and cigarettes until a Chilean smuggler, “La Cucaracha,” introduces him to cocaine and offers to go into business with him selling around Latin American. Escobar, however, has his sight set on a much bigger market—the United States, where he begins to rake in obscene amounts of money. “And with the money, came the violence,” Murphy says. One smuggler, responsible for
6. Gametime 7. Royalty 8. Seasons (feat. Geezel) 9. Northside (feat. Geezel) 10. Goodbye 11. Twilight
Who goes to the Beau?
television review
‘Narcos’
Track list
1. Rich Realism 2. King Flow 3. World Is Empty 4. Liquid Gold 5. Vision of a Throne (feat. Geezel)
taking over 3,000 lives, easily posts bail and escapes from the U.S. back to his home country. We also see the deaths of many lower ranking people from the operation such as a pregnant drug mule and a 15 year-old boy. While watching, it can be easy to get swept away in the lavishness of the business, but moments like these help remind us of how cartels devastate innocent lives. And while it may seem humorous at first that a cartel member’s mom sews him a jacket that can hide five kilos of cocaine, it was, and still is, the reality of many people who have no other choice to survive. “Plata o plomo,” Escobar says to police at a checkpoint. “Silver or lead.” In other words: take the bribe, or pay the consequences. Dialogue between Latin American characters is in Spanish, which might seem like a hindrance at first, but it’s definitely worth it. Plus, you can always double your time spent watching as “practice” for Spanish class. The show is easily worthy of another Netflix binge. Although the show has been available for streaming for less than two weeks, Netflix has already renewed it for a second season.
Saben and Birchfield work
Connor Saben & Bryce Birchfield | Juniors up a sweat in the Rec Center
six times a week, alternating cardio and weightlifting by day. Unlike Howard Hall, Saben said the space doesn’t feel congested and radiates a more positive energy. “I feel like I’m a member of a gym, not a basement,” Saben said. One thing he wants to see? “It’s too quiet. I wish there was more music being played, especially on the courts.”
Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON
Sarah Conway & Jordan Tovey | Juniors
In 140 characters or less:
Need another Netflix binge? Follow the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, in “Narcos.”
Four-year climbing veteran Sovada uses the Rec Center’s new rock wall to get his workout in during packed days. He said that although the climbing space is limited compared to other gyms, it’s still worth the visit. “I climbed for 30 minutes between commitments and was still able to be pumped out,” he said. “You can do laps to really work out those muscles.”
Cheyenne Schoen • THE BEACON
Conway and Tovey usually spend their time on the cardio machines upstairs. “You’re able to make an account [on the machines], and it gives you little rewards as you’re going,” Conway said. “One day it told me I’d climbed the Eiffel Tower 40 times!” The Rec Center’s new hours are more flexible than Howard Hall’s were, which Tovey and Conway said is more convenient for them since they work out at night.
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LIVING
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Home and awa
By Luke Loranger THE BEACON We’ve all been there. Everyone has those days where they don’t want to get out of bed to go to theology, they miss their dog, or they just want a hug from their mom. We’ve all been homesick. According to research from the University of Warwick, up to 70 percent of students will experience some degree of homesickness when they first arrive at college. Brother Tom Giumenta, who works as pastoral resident in Shipstad Hall and helps students adjust to college, says that homesickness happens all the time. “Homesickness is a very real and normal feeling,” Giumenta said. “It is a kind of anxiety that can happen to anyone. It’s a universal human experience.” Eliana Cossa, a junior environmental ethics and policy major originally from Mozambique, first experienced homesickness after her move to Portland, and continued grapping with after freshman year. After living at home for most of her life, Cossa has not seen her parents for the past year. “The first few months were fine, but now that it has been six or seven months it’s hard. My first semester at UP was [also] hard,” Cossa said. “Although my parents were still living in [the United States], I was constantly depressed and homesick.
Having friends and socializing helped a lot, and [helped me] to eventually get through it.” Students are especially vulnerable to homesickness during holidays or breaks if they cannot go home to visit family. Junior nursing major Leonard Firme, president of the UP Hawaii Club, said that he felt particularly homesick during Thanksgiving break. “I couldn’t go back home because it was too expensive,” Firme said. “Hanging out with my friends and getting to know people in Shipstad made another home for me and helped me combat homesickness.” Corrado Hall Director Michael Wode said that students unable to go home during breaks should tag along with friends when they go home to resist feelings of loneliness. “Usually someone’s parents are more than willing and happy to host someone from out of town, and will even treat them like their own kids,” Wode said. William Meek, Assistant Director of counseling and training at the University Health Center, said that often, people’s identities are defined by the connections they have to their family members, friends, communities and location. He said that when they enter a new environment, what they experience is equivalent to culture shock because they’re left without their sense of security, safety and support.
This lack of predictability leads to feelings of panic, which can manifest in keeping in near-constant contact with friends and family back home. In the most serious of cases, students can develop depression and isolate themselves. A new group has been launched on campus this year called UPstart, which is aimed at helping new freshmen adjust to life on The Bluff and find their place in the UP community. “We are creating a space where [students] can help each other,” said Meek. “We want to hear the unique reasons why people are having a hard time getting started and come together with ways to help them.” The best way to fight homesickness is to get involved. From wing dinners to activities with hall mates, community events allow students to get their mind off of people back home, and meet new friends. “Make a commitment to finding people with common interests. Make sure you go to the activities fair, or soccer games. That’s where you will find people that will potentially be a good friend,” Wode said. “It’s hard because you are starting over, but it can really pay off.”
Contact Staff Writer Luke Loranger at loranger18@up.edu. Twitter: @Loranger18
Your
playlist
Escape from your everyday stresses and get your fix of new shows with our suggestions
“LOST”
Free your mind from thoughts of school and delve into the mystery of Oceanic Flight 815, stranded on a mysterious island. Watch out for polar bears!
“Wet Hot American Summer”
Similar to “Undeclared,” this movie (and prequel miniseries) features the likes of Bradley Cooper and Amy Poehler as summer camp counselors.
“Parks and Rec”
Treat yo self to this hilarious “Office”-like comedy that follows the perils of working in public office with the most dysfunctional office staff ever assembled. There’s no shortage of side-splitting laughs and heart-warming moments over the six seasons. Be careful though, it’s easy to tear through this show in a matter of weeks (ok, days).
“Gossip Girl”
In case you weren’t obsessed enough in middle school, all six seasons are online. There’s no better escape from reality than virtually moving to the Upper East Side. Plus, it could take a few months to get through the 45-minute episodes. XOXO
“Archer”
James Bond meets “Arested Development.” Enjoy thickheaded, adult humor and beautiful animation in 25-minute bursts. Each episode is packed full of brilliant one liners and delightfully bad characters.
“Undeclared”
Created a year after the cult hit “Freaks and Geeks,” this show follows the experience of a newly moved-in group of freshmen. Basically everyone in this show went on to be a comedic Hollywood star.
LIVING
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ay
Homesickness affects around 70 percent of college students.
10 [small] ways to feel a little happier 1. Get to know Portland. Although it may not feel like it at times, the world is a lot bigger than campus. 2. Watch something funny on YouTube. 3. Plan a fun weekend at your best friend’s college. 4. Eat something delicious that you enjoy and savor every bite. 5. Walk to Cathedral Coffee and get a hot chocolate. 6. Listen to a relaxing playlist. 7. Return to your inner child. Watch cartoons, color with crayons or make paper airplanes. 8. Indulge yourself in retail therapy. 9. Exercise — get some endorphins. 10. Play a board game with your hall mates.
Resources
Whether you’re a freshman adjusting to life on The Bluff, a transfer student or an upperclassman missing home, you don’t have to shoulder your burdens alone.
The Shepard Academic Resource Center The office provides guidance to students by helping them navigate college and discover their place in the community. Location: BC 101 Contact: sarc@up.edu, or 503-943-7895 for more information.
The University Health Center On top of assisting students with their physical health, the Health Center has a staff of mental health counselors available at no extra cost. Location: Orrico Hall, upper level Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday Scheduling: Call 503-943-7134, or in person Walk-in hours: 10:00-11:00 a.m., and 2:00-4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday Emergencies: Call the Country Crisis Line at 503-488-9888 (24/7)
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LIVING
faith & fellowship On Connecting
On Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, hundreds of freshmen gathered together: they talked, they Tina Bachmeier listened, Jumior, psychology major they laughed, they sang, they played, they ate, they prayed and they connected. They also filled my heart with joy and reminded me of the beauty that emerges from sticking strangers in the same room for an afternoon. Being a freshman is frightening. Terrifying. It’s the worst horror movie that completely pierces reality. Everything is new: food, friends, classes. Even taking showers is different. Having transferred and been through that “new kid on the block” thing a few too many times, I understand how difficult it is to find your place, your people,
your niche. Now being a super senior (the polite way of saying fifth year senior), I have two pieces of advice: 1. Embrace the awkward; don’t let it bring you down. 2. Go on the Connect Retreat. Campus Ministry acknowledges the struggle of nestling into campus and wants to help, by putting on a retreat focused completely on finding, making and prospering connections. One of the most unique things about UP is its ability to gather a group of people in a place of faith. Which, in other words, is a place of understanding, acceptance and love. This place doesn’t require a certain understanding or belief, but welcomes you, no matter where you are in your life. Come enjoy fellowship, food and faith at Campus Ministry’s Connect Retreat: Sunday, Sept. 13, from 12:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
8
DOWNLOAD THE NEW
UP MOBILE APP!
Access university information and services anytime, anywhere with UP Mobile. Featuring course information, news, calendars, sports, and maps, as well as local bus schedules, campus dining menus, and important University of Portland services. It’s available at the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android.
Contact Tina Bachmeier at bachmeic16@up.edu
STUDENT RUSH TICKETS AT PORTLAND CENTER STAGE Sign up for the new Drama Deals membership program, and gain access to all the top-notch professional theatrical productions at Portland Center Stage for the incredibly low price of $15 per ticket. Membership is completely free and currently only available to University of Portland students! Questions? Contact dramadeals@pcs.org or 503-445-3794. Photo: Mary Patton in Dreamgirls. Photo by Patrick Weishampel/blankeye.tv.
Who is Portland Center Stage? Portland Center Stage is the largest theater company in Portland and is one of the largest professional theater companies in the United States. PCS produces a variety of plays and musicals in two theaters located inside the Gerding Theater at the Armory: the 590-seat U.S. Bank Main Stage and the 190-seat Ellyn Bye Studio. PCS is located in the Pearl District downtown Portland — one block from Powell’s Books.
To sign up, visit www.pcs.org/dramadeals
Opinion
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9
Lydia Laythe Opinion Editor layth16@up.edu
I miss Ian
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
We’re meant to ask for help
Y
ou’ve survived the first week of classes. You’ve settled into your new room or house. Your posters are hung, your picture frames and your clothes are put away. You found your classrooms without getting too lost. You got your books, or at least ordered them on Amazon. You found a group of friends to eat dinner with. And you found the perfect study spot in the library. You’re ready for the semester… Or maybe you’re not. Maybe your clothes are still in the suitcase, your books are still unordered, you missed one of your classes and you’ve eaten most of your meals alone. Maybe you’re stressed about that upper-division Spanish class you decided to take. Maybe you’re worried about getting along with your new roommate. Maybe you’re a little homesick. Maybe you feel totally unprepared for the semester Or maybe you’re some combination of both: prepared and not, a little stressed and worried and homesick but also a little excited. That’s normal. We’ve all been there. Sometimes you’re prepared for class, readings done, homework turned in on time and excited about the topic for lecture. And sometimes not. Sometimes you’re late to class, you didn’t shower and you forgot to read. Sometimes you’ll have eight friends from your dorm to eat dinner with, and you’ll all walk to the Commons together and sit at one of the Jesus tables. And sometimes not. Sometimes you’ll walk to the Commons alone, grab your food to go and eat dinner in your room. That’s OK. That’s normal. Whether it’s homesickness, or the stress of your first exam, or dealing with new roommate tension—you don’t have to try and deal with it on your own. Our University is a pretty supportive environment. There are so many resources we
Nathan DeVaughn • THE BEACON
have at our disposal. We have academic resources: our system of academic advisers, the Shepard Academic Resource Center, the Office of Students with Disabilities, the Career Center, the Writing Center and Learning Assistance Counseling. We have physical, mental, emotional and psychological health resources: the Counseling and Health Center, Campus Ministry, Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, other faculty and staff. We have social support from our friends and peers, like members of programs like Green Dot or Active Minds who are actively trying to change the culture of our campus to be more supportive and inclusive. We have all these opportunities to ask for help— but that doesn’t make it any easier. Asking for help is hard.
There are so many internal and external barriers to asking for help. With a full course load, an internship and a job, sometimes even finding the time to call the Health Center to schedule an appointment can be a chore in and of itself. Not to mention the internal debate that ensues before you decide to call—Is this really a problem? Will people think something’s wrong with me because I can’t handle this on my own? Even going through more informal channels can be a challenge. Sometimes friends don’t know what to say, or they might say the wrong thing. Sometimes we worry about burdening our friends with all our troubles. Sometimes we hide our true feelings from them, because we think it’ll be easier than actually talking about our problems. Asking for help isn’t easy.
But it’s worth it. Meeting with your academic adviser can help relieve some of the stress of graduation. Telling your friend about your anxiety can make it a little more manageable. Talking to a counselor about your feelings of homesickness can help you find ways to cope. Whatever the problem is that is weighing on you in this moment, sharing your load with someone else won’t break their back—but it will make your heart a little lighter. You don’t have to carry your burdens on your own—no one’s meant to live their life alone—we’re meant to live together. We’re meant to share our loads. We’re meant to help each other. We’re meant to ask for help.
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.
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.
See IAN page 10
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
Advertising in The Beacon For advertising information, contact Allison Zimmerman, business and advertising manager, at beaconads@up.edu.
The day after I heard, I compulsively Googled symptoms of depression. There had to be something Luke Loranger I missed, Sophomore some key sign that would explain the tragic event. The reality, however, was that Ian Andres never showed the majority of these symptoms. One of the hardest parts of Ian’s passing is the realization that I cannot attribute his death to a specific reason or mental illness. There will never be an answer to the question “why.” Ian was truly a remarkable person. Easily my fondest memory of Ian occurred on a normal Tuesday night in the beginning of July. Ian lived two doors from me, so like most nights, I was at his house. On this particular night we watched three quarters of a movie before Ian realized it was past 11 and he needed to get up for work at six the next day. I told him it was no problem if he went to bed, and he grabbed his laptop and started quietly walking down the stairs. Twenty minutes later, however, I heard Ian rushing up the stairs, laptop in hand. He boldly proclaimed to me, “We are finishing this movie!” Ian was easily one of the most driven people I have ever met. If Ian set his mind to something it would be done. Nobody had a cleaner room than Ian. Nobody had a better shoe collection than Ian. Ian noticed the details of life. He would ask me about work, about specific details others would gloss over. He was a great listener, someone who would hear your story until the end, often in silent approval. It comes in waves. I find myself sitting on the porch of his house late at night, talking and laughing. Suddenly it’s late
Photo Editor David DiLoreto upbeacon.com • upbeacon@gmail.com • 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Portland OR
Jacob Fuhrer, Alina Rosenkranz, Molly Vincent, Luke Loranger, Jimmy Sheldrup, Cheyenne Schoen, Natasa Kvesic, Ryan Myers, Alana Laanui, Ben Arthur, Olga Gomez
Photographers Hannah Baade, Kristen Garcia, Parker Shoaff, Thomas Dempsey
Student Staff Members
Business & Ad Manager Web Content Manager Social Media Manager Cartoonist Circulation Director
Allison Zimmerman Christian Rodriguez Malika Andrews Nathan DeVaughn Matt Rodriguez
UP Staff Members
Adviser Nancy Copic
Publisher Fr. Mark Poorman
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OPINION
10
Let’s Talk: Revisiting the invisible
Mariah Wildgen Senior
Last semester I submitted an op-ed, not much different from this very one, coming clean about my struggle with self-
harm. I had written it a few months before submitting it, but couldn’t get myself to submit it. I was scared. What if people thought I was crazy, unstable or suicidal? What if people started treating me differently? Treating me like I was fragile? The intent of writing about my story wasn’t about reserving special treatment for myself. It was about critiquing the treatment of mental health and invisible suffering by our society. Knowing this, however, did little to calm my nerves. The week my submission was coming out, I knew that before I broadcasted my past with self-harm, I needed to talk to some of my closest friends— my roommates. Who else could I trust more with something so personal than the people with whom I live? I sat down with my roommates in our living room, with the pretext of a “family meeting.” I was so nervous; I remember having trouble making eye contact. However, in that vulnerable moment of telling all of them my personal story, I felt completely loved and supported. Later that very night we embarked on a Salt & Straw run and watched “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,”
and everything was normal. Nobody was walking on eggshells or treating me differently because of what I had said. That’s exactly what I wanted. That’s what everyone struggling with mental health issues wants—to be accepted. By the day the article came out, I didn’t feel nervous anymore. I remember walking to campus feeling relieved, like an enormous weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. For years I had been carrying around what I felt like was a shameful secret, something that was not to be shared. At times it overwhelmed me. I would stare at the scars on my wrist wondering if anyone noticed, and if they did what they thought of me. I didn’t want people to ever know that I burned myself to feel better. My thoughts turned dark. I would rub my wrist in hopes of erasing the burn marks. With the article out, it was out of my hands. My worries about what people would think were now irrelevant. I knew that my family and friends loved and supported me still, and I knew that I could finally say I loved myself. The day my op-ed was published and the days following, I found the same kind of acceptance from other friends, relatives, acquaintances and strangers. I received texts, Facebook messages and emails from people saying that they or people that they knew had gone through similar experiences. They appreciated reading about my story and my thoughts. They trusted me with their own personal stories and I was grateful for their confidence in me. Yes, there were likely
people who called me crazy as I had originally feared, but their voices were dwarfed in comparison to the amount of support I received. Now, I couldn’t care less if people think I’m damaged or unstable, because I know that’s false. I found strength in a story that once made me feel powerless. I found acceptance when I feared rejection. And I found that others also believed that struggling with mental health issues doesn’t define a person. We all struggle. Let’s struggle together.
July and Ian is standing in front of me as the sun beats down on his tanktop. I wish Ian knew it was OK to talk about what he was going through. I wish he would have opened up to me or someone else, instead of keeping his emotions bottled up.I don’t know what drove Ian to commit suicide. However, I do know there are outlets for support at UP. Telling someone, be it a
UP Health and Counseling Center: 503-943-7134 Multnomah Mental Health Crisis Line: 503-988-4888 Active Minds: activemindsup@gmail.com or facebook.com/activemindsatup
Mariah Wilgden is a senior political science major. She can be reached at wildgen16@ up.edu.
Author of The Defining Decade, Dr. Meg Jay, will be speaking in the Chiles Center at the University of Portland on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are free and can be picked up in advance of
Ian: Remembering a friend Continued from page 9
Mental health resources:
Dr. Jay’s talk at the Athletics Ticketing window in the Chiles Center during normal business hours. For more information: up.edu/DBI
counselor or friend is the first crucial step towards seeking help. I miss Ian. I miss the person who was always willing to go on a midnight slushie run. I miss my friend.
Sponsored by:
5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Portland, OR 97203-5798
Luke Loranger is a reporter for The Beacon. He can be reached at loranger18@up.edu or @loranger18.
FACES ON THE BLUFF What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Logan Grienswic Junior biology major
Anna Teadtke Senior entrepreneurship major
Jessica Huerta Sophomore biology major
Zach Villarmia Junior mechanical engineering major
Amanda Wagner Sophomore business major
“The new Rec Center is pretty dope”
“My club meetings. It’s not a specific place, but in Anime club everyone comes together and watches anime and we have talks.”
“Love the Rec Center. And the Mehling basement”
“I like the library. It’s not as quiet as libraries are normally”
“The basement of Mehling. It’s so exciting to be able to cook”
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SPORTS
11
Volleyball: Pilots riding five-game win streak Continued from page 12
Senior Emily Liger (left) and Junior Brittney Markwith (right) prepare for Portland to serve. The Pilots are 5-1 on the season, their best NCAA start in the program’s history.
Kristen Garcia • THE BEACON
Monica Gajda averages 4.71 digs per set. Djurdjina Milovic, Portland’s setter, has been performing exceptionally well. Appearing in every set thus far, Milovic averages 11.5 assists per set and has recorded between 36 and 48 assists per match. Brittney Markwith has been an unstoppable force in the middle recording 1.24 blocks per set which puts her at No. 83 in the NCAA. The best blocker in the NCAA today records an average 2.5 blocks per set. Sophomore Hannah Troutman is the only new face in the starting lineup. If you haven’t heard it yet, hear me now when I say: she can hit the ball. Troutman is one of those players that when she begins her attack, you can expect a smackdown. Her average 4 kills per set has earned her No. 63 in the NCAA in kills per set. Still, hitting is something Troutman will have to readjust to after playing back row for Oregon State last year. And while she did play front row in high school, playing in the NCAA is a whole different animal. Once Troutman learns to control her swing a bit more and not let her own frustrations get in the way, she will be unstoppable. It’s not that Portland is hitting that much harder than their opponents. But they are hitting smart. Instead of slamming down cannons on every attack, they strategically place their shots, realizing there is a time and a place to swing hard. Liger epitomizes Crouch’s philosophy of hitting smart.
In the preseason WCC pole, the Pilots were ranked No. 10. Don’t get me wrong, I cannot foresee the Pilots beating BYU this year, whose preseason schedule included wins over nationally ranked teams, but I do think Portland will be making a climb in the poll. Last season, Santa Clara held the No. 9 seed in the coach’s poll. This year, they hold the second spot. Portland’s biggest hurdle in this climb will be injury. There is finally some wind in the Pilots’ sails. Fans may have noticed Makayla Lindburg has been sidelined for every match but one this season. Students may have noticed Katie Sullivan, who has been vital to the Pilots at the net this season, now sports a knee walker and a boot on her right leg. This is a year of rebuild and transition. I do not mean transition the way that coaches and players sometimes use it as a synonym for “we are performing poorly.” I mean that this year is a year for solidifying the basics before something spectacular can happen. Troutman will calm her nerves. Lindburg will get healthy. Sullivan will ditch the boot. Crouch has ingrained the message “repeated good contacts leads to good outcomes” into the team’s brain. This year is the year of repeated good contact. Next year is the year of repeated good outcome.
Contact Sports Editor Malika Andrews at andrewsm17@up.edu. Twitter: @malika_andrews
Ivory Coast: soccer passion leads to Merlo Continued from page 12 At 5’8” and 150 pounds, Jellah isn’t the most physically intimidating player on the field. But whatever the freshman lacks in size, he more than makes up for with his skill. This made him a not-to-miss recruit for UP Soccer. “Jackson is blessed with incredible speed,” head coach Bill Irwin said. “We’re looking at him to be an offensive threat and get us goals.” Jellah hasn’t scored a goal yet. His only goal attempt was during the Michigan State game. Still, Demos believes that given time, Jellah’s versatility and speed will make him a valuable player for the Pilots. “[Jellah] can be the type of dynamic player that Portland has missed the past few years,” Demos said. “I can see him scoring 10 or more goals a year come his junior season.”
Even more than his speed, Jellah’s personality sets him apart. Always happy and always smiling, students and staff around the UP campus see him as an outgoing and friendly person, someone that is easy to approach. “I like to put other people in good moods,” Jellah said. “I don’t like it when people are sad or depressed around me.”
“
He is one of those guys that you can rely on to bring the energy and drive that pushes those around him to be the best they can be. Besides being a good friend, he is a great teammate and knows how to keep a postive attitude that we can feed off of as a team.
Hugo Rhoads Senior
Demos agrees, saying that he is a chameleon, comfortable
on and off the field. Jellah’s charm, Demos says, makes him down-to-earth. Jellah’s demeanor on the field is in sharp contrast to who he is off the field. He’s feisty and aggressive when attacking the ball. His speed and leaping ability make him a threat to opposing defenders. His creativity combined with his technique and pace makes him unique. Jellah’s leadership qualities stand out to Irwin. As one of the youngest players on the team, Jellah has a mature mindset that makes him less concerned with his individual performance, and more concerned with the team’s overall results. “My personal goal is to help the team in any shape or form,” Jellah said. “To bust my butt off. To be coachable.” Senior defender Hugo Rhoads says that Jellah does
just that. welcomed him with open arms. “He is one of those guys that An ocean away from soccer you can rely on to bring the nation, Jellah is constantly energy and drive that pushes being reminded of his humble those around him to be the beginnings on the Ivory Coast. best they can be,” Rhoads said. It wasn’t uncommon to see “Besides him being a good people kicking a ball around friend, he is a great teammate in the street, day or night. and knows how to keep a Everyone was unified through positive attitude that we can their passion for soccer. When feed off of as a team.” the Villa Drum Squad leads Irwin sees Jellah as a crucial the students out onto the piece of the equation. He bleachers, that familiar unity is expects his role on the team to there for Jellah. The universal continue to grow. love for the game is there. And “Jackson can be a leader,” that love, for Jellah, comes Irwin said. “Not only with his from West Africa. technical ability as a soccer “I wouldn’t be where I player, but also his demeanor am today without the [Ivory and how he gets along with Coast’s] influence on my life,” people off the field. I think he Jellah said. is a tremendous asset, not only for the soccer team, but also for the school.” Phoenix has become Jackson Jellah’s second home. The Contact Sports Writer Ben Arthur at Demos family has become his arthur17@up.edu. adopted family. Now UP has
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Women’s soccer
Friday night at 7:00 p.m., the Pilots will return to Merlo Field for the first time since Aug. 21.
Men’s Soccer The Pilots play in the SMU tournament this weekend, starting today at 5:00 p.m.
Volleyball
The Pilots look to build on their five game winning streak as they face St. Francis at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, Idaho at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Cal Poly at 7:00 p.m on Saturday.
SCOREBOARD Volleyball
The Pilots swept the Portland Classic last weekend. Portland is 5-1 on the season.
Men’s Soccer
The Pilots came back from being down 2-0 at the half to beat Vermont 3-2. This win breaks Portlands 3-game losing sreak.
Sports
S E P T. 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 • U P B E A C O N . C O M Malika Andrews Sports Editor andrewsm17@up.edu
12 Coach Reveno explains newest basketball technology in Rec Center check out upbeacon.com
Long road to Merlo
From
The Sports
DESK
I wouldn’t classify myself as an optimist. I would say I am a skeptical realist. Until the Golden State Warriors went from winning 51 games to going 67-15 in the regular season and claiming the NBA title last season, I wasn’t sold on Cinderella stories. It’s too early to call head coach Brent Crouch the Steve Kerr of NCAA Volleyball, but he is calling upon the same principles. It is no secret that on the University of Portland campus, the volleyball team isn’t known for their wins. In the 2013 season, the Pilots walked away without a single win and a reputation for losing.
“
It’s too early to call Brent Crouch the Steve Kerr of NCAA volleyball, but he is calling upon the same principles.
Malika Andrews Sports Editor
Freshman Jackson Jellah fights Vermont player for the ball. Jellah came to UP from the Ivory Coast. Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
By Ben Arthur THE BEACON On Africa’s Ivory Coast, soccer is a way of life. The West African nation has been a consistent powerhouse not only within its continental boundaries, but on the world stage as well. Even as a young child, University of Portland freshman Jackson Jellah could not deny the soccer-crazed culture in his homeland. Not one of his four siblings or five stepsiblings plays competitively, but it’s not surprising that Jellah’s passion for the game comes naturally. French is the official language in the Ivory Coast, but soccer is a close second. “It’s a language that everyone speaks [over there],” Jellah said. “It’s a sport that everyone loves.” Unlike French, soccer transcends cultural boundaries. The sport helped to bring Jellah from his native Ivory Coast, through a refugee program in Liberia, to Arizona and finally to UP’s Merlo Field. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Jellah was immediately thrust into a busy city
atmosphere. Because he was so young, Jellah doesn’t recall much about growing up there, but does remember the hustle and bustle of West Africa’s cultural hub. After spending most of his childhood in Abidjan, Jellah moved west to Liberia where he lived in a refugee program before transitioning to the U.S. Jellah relocated to America with his mother in 2003. The duo lived in a small apartment in Phoenix, Arizona. Jellah began living and breathing soccer, the sport became his lifeline. By 2010, Jellah was an upand-coming player in the U.S. Harry Demos, Jellah’s head coach at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, remembers seeing him for the first time that year. It was at a local tournament that three things stood out: speed, pace and creativity. He had it all. Jellah put together a
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Ivory Coast
Liberia Abidjan
winning pedigree in high school and won a couple Arizona state championships at the club level with the CCV Stars ‘97 Black team. While Jellah had it all on the field, his home life was unraveling. When his mother’s living situation became less stable, Demos and his family offered to take him in. “Jackson’s mom was moving
around a little bit,” Demos said. “We wanted to provide him with a steady home environment.” Already having a strong relationship with Demos, Jellah felt that having the opportunity to move into a better neighborhood and earn a better education made the decision a no-brainer. Jellah’s biological father had stayed behind in Liberia. Demos filled the father figure role. With Demos as a mentor, Jellah worked towards his goal of becoming a Division I soccer player.
See IVORY COAST page 11
After sweeping UC Riverside in the Portland Classic last weekend, the Pilots stand at 5-1 on the season. This is the best start they have had since 1984. At the time, Portland was a part of the NAIA. The victory over UCR, which completed a sweep of the tournament, was the Pilot’s third sweep of the season and extended Portland’s winning streak to five. The last time UP won five matches consecutively was in 2004 when they beat Portland State, Cal Poly, UC Davis, Utah Valley State and Washington State. The 2013 season set change into motion. Crouch replaced Joe Houck after his five-year tenure on The Bluff. Last year, the Pilots got a taste of winning. This year, they play with confidence. While a few supporting roles have been switched around, this change isn’t all that miraculous. Six players from the 2013 squad are on the roster today. Most of the same key players are making an impact on the court, the difference is where that impact manifests. The hitters are passing, and well. The 5’8” setter is blocking. Where in the past serve receive was a dreaded weak spot, this season it is a strength. The Pilots return senior outside hitter Emily Liger, who led the team with 394 kills and 452 points last year. This year, Liger averages 4.07 points on 2.48 kills per set, but this is expected. What is unexpected is Liger’s presence on defense. She has averaged 3.05 digs per set this season. To put this into perspective, Portland libero,
See VOLLEYBALL page 11