Portland State Vanguard, Vol. 73, Issue 14

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

VOLUME 73 • ISSUE 14 • JANUARY 29, 2019

ARTS & CULTURE YOU NEED 1800S GOSSIP GIRL IN YOUR LIFE• INTERNATIONAL U.S. BACKS VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER• COVER CAMPUS CATERING SERVICE RAISES PRICES

CRIME BLOTTER

JAN. 23–27

CHRIS MAY AND ANAMIKA VAUGHAN JAN. 23 Theft

Property Damage

Fraud

JAN. 26 Drug Violation Referral

A non-student at University Pointe apartments was arrested after the individual had stolen an employee’s lunch and refused to leave the building.

CPSO responded to concerns of fraudulent charges being made for a hotel room at University Place Hotel. However, officers could not determine that any crime had taken place.

Medical Assist

CPSO assisted a non-student who had crashed their vehicle into two unoccupied vehicles at the intersection of SW Mill and SW 6th St. The responding officer assisted the person with leaving their information on the two damaged vehicles.

Residence staff reported and referred four underage students who were in possession of marijuana in the Broadway Residence Hall the day prior.

A non-student was found sleeping in Parking Structure 1 by CPSO and determined to be experiencing a medical issue.

The individual was taken away to the hospital by medical services.

Fire

JAN. 25 Fraud

JAN. 27 Found Property

CPSO responded to University Place Hotel after reports of suspicious room activity. Hotel staff asked the occupants to leave and they were issued an exclusion from the property after it was determined they may have been involved in fraudulent activity.

CPSO responded to a dumpster fire behind the Parkway Residence Hall on Jan. 26. Portland Fire Bureau extinguished the fire.

A Dewalt reciprocating saw was found at the top of the south stairwell in the University Center Building. Two non-students had previously been found in the area and advised to leave. The saw was seized and placed in the property room for safekeeping.

CONTENTS COVER BY ROBBY DAY NEWS RECENT REPORT REVEALS STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY P. 3

RAISING UP CHILDREN P. 4 BOT DISCUSSES BUDGET, CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY

P. 5

INTERNATIONAL THIS WEEK AROUND THE WORLD

P. 6

POLISH MAYOR’S DEATH SHOCKS POLAND

P. 7

AMERICAN IRANIAN TV JOURNALIST HELD IN U.S.

P. 7

COVER CHARTWELLS HITS STUDENTS WITH UNANNOUNCED, THREEFOLD CATERING PRICE INCREASE P. 8–9

STAFF EDIT ORI A L EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nada Sewidan

ONLINE EDITOR Sangi Lama COPY CHIEF Hannah Welbourn

MANAGING EDITOR Marta Yousif

COPY EDITORS A.M. LaVey

NEWS EDITORS Chris May Anamika Vaughan

Contributors Sabrina Achar-Winkels Madison Cecil Sophie Concannon Charles Crowley Chloe Dysart Maggie Lombard Emily Price Julianna Robidoux Moxxy Rogers Mckinzie Smith

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Lukas Amsden ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cervanté Pope OPINION EDITOR Taylar Rivers

PHO T O & MULTIMEDI A PHOTO EDITOR Bo Koering MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Emma Josephson PRODUC TION & DE SIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Savannah Quarum LEAD DESIGNER Robby Day DESIGNERS Lisa Dorn Danielle Emeka

INTERNATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS ROCK SOUTH KOREAN SKATING WORLD

P. 10

VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDÓ SWORN IN WITHOUT ELECTION

P. 10

ARTS & CULTURE ‘SPEECHLESS’ AT THE SIREN THEATER

P. 11

JANE AUSTEN, THE GOSSIP GIRL OF THE 1800S

P. 12

OPINION WOMEN ARE NOT DAYCARES

P. 13

HALVE YOUR BILLIONS

P. 14

EVENTS CALENDAR

P. 15

DIS T RIBU TION & M A R K E TING DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING MANAGER Chris May T ECHNOL OGY & W EB SIT E STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR Corrine Nightingale TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS Damaris Dusciuc Long V. Nguyen Annie Ton A DV ISING & ACCOUN TING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Reaz Mahmood STUDENT MEDIA ACCOUNTANT Sheri Pitcher

To contact Portland State Vanguard, email info @psuvanguard.com MIS SION S TAT EMEN T Vanguard’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-on journalism education and a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market.

A BOU T Vanguard, established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student

Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us in print every Tuesday and online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @psuvanguard for multimedia content and breaking news.

NEWS

JAN. 22–25 SOPHIE CONCANNON

JAN. 22: U.S. SUPREME COURT APPROVES TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN

RECENT REPORT REVEALS STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY

The United States Supreme Court approved President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military in a 5-4 decision. The policy was released in 2018 by Trump’s former secretary of defense, but a federal court ruling prevented the ban. Trump defended the policy by saying it costs too much money to provide services for transgender people serving in the military. For roughly 7,000 active-duty transgender individuals in the military, the costs of medical care is five times lower than the cost the military pays for Viagra, according to The Washington Post.

JAN. 22: L.A. TEACHERS’ STRIKE ENDS AFTER MASSIVE NEGOTIATING SESSION Los Angeles teachers won significant benefits after a six-day strike involving over 30,000 teachers and supporters beginning on Jan. 14. After a 21-hour negotiating session, the cost of the strike—$125 million—accelerated its process. Teachers in the L.A. school district won a 6 percent raise, a gradual decrease in class sizes and an increase in counselors, librarians and nurses across the district. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and members of the teacher’s union presented the contract after the session, announcing teachers will return to work on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

JAN. 25: GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ENDS AFTER 35 DAYS President Trump agreed to end the government shutdown after plans for a border wall were shut down by House Democrats. The Senate signed the pre-approved House bill to end the longest shutdown in American history without the approval of $5 billion for a southern border wall. Over 800,000 workers went unpaid during the government shutdown, with over 10,000 of those federal workers employed in Oregon.

Trump has since threatened a second government shutdown or a state of emergency if he does not receive border funding

by Feb. 15.

JAN. 25: FORMER TRUMP ADVISOR ROGER STONE INDICTED BY MUELLER President Trump’s longtime associate Roger Stone was indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller after being accused by a federal grand jury of lying to congress about the Democratic Party emails stolen by Russian hackers during the 2016 presidential election, according to the Wall Street Journal. Stone was charged with seven counts including obstructing a congressional inquiry and persuading a witness to lie. Stone is the sixth official associated with Trump to be charged in Mueller’s investigation. According to The Hill, Stone said he will plead not guilty to all charges.

THE PSU FOOD PANTRY IS OPEN MONDAY, TUESDAY, FRIDAY 12:30–2:30 P.M. AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY 2–4 P.M. COURTESY OF PSU FOOD PANTRY

CHLOE DYSART In December 2018, the Government Accountability Office released a report about food insecurity on university campuses revealing almost two million eligible students were not accessing potential food assistance benefits, such as the Food Nutrition Service’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The GAO report stated that “at nine of the 14 colleges contacted, some college officials and students said they were unfamiliar with or did not fully understand SNAP’s student eligibility rules.”

According to the Association of American Colleges & Universities food insecurity can negatively impacts students’ abilities to academically perform. AACU also stated “that changing demographics, including increases in nontraditional and lower-income students, may contribute to high food and housing insecurity.”

The CISFS helps students apply for SNAP as well as host Harvest Share, a free food market on the second Monday of every month in the Park Blocks for both students and the surrounding community.

Vice Chair of the committee Lori Coulter said the survey reveals students are making sacrifices in their education to afford food such as not buying required textbooks and not participating in extracurriculars. The survey also showed

as many as 8 percent of food insecure students considered dropping out of PSU. “[Students are] not getting the most out of what PSU has to offer because of this [food insecurity] barrier,” Coulter said.

CISFS said they have limited funding and the committee has no full-time staff.

“Our budget is the approximate cost of less than six months of free food market, so we can’t even cover our expenses of free food market, let alone any other expenses,” said CISFS Faculty Representative Julie Boyles.

Boyles also said one of the biggest barriers preventing students from being eligible for SNAP is a requirement for a 20 hour work week.

“If you want students to be in school and you offer them some opportunities and the expectation to go to college, if they’re food insecure and really struggling, why can’t classes count as work?” Boyles said.

Students who are ineligible for SNAP can find other resources on campus to aid food insecurity.

One of these is the PSU food pantry, located in the basement of Smith Memorial Student Union, which is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 12:30–2:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Thursday 2–4 p.m.

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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NEWS

RAISING UP CHILDREN

PROTESTERS GATHER IN DOWNTOWN FOR MLK

CHARLES CROWLEY

CHARLES CROWLEY Hundreds of protesters gathered on Jan. 20 at Peninsula Park in North Portland for the “Reclaim MLK Annual March for Human Rights and Dignity,” organized by Don’t Shoot PDX. The protest focused on the voices of children and many protesters carried signs and marched.

The event’s guidelines and accessibility pledge stated: “Our children deserve to be centered and celebrated by our diverse community because when we center the voices of our most marginalized, then we are truly doing the work of change agents.”

The Bus Project, the Democratic Socialists of America, the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and Unpresidented Brass Band were all present at the march. An anti-Trump protest also reorganized to march with the MLK protest.

“If we can do anything with this annual event, let’s stop and save one African-American person of color in our community,” said T. Oliver, co-chair of the Pacific Green Party of Oregon.

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“I’m amazed the streets are not on fire yet after three years of Trump being elected to the government and doing what he’s doing every day,” protester Francisco Jerez said. “I think people are not using the leverage they have on the government, but the government is using all of their means to oppress the shit out of everyone. It’s astonishing.”

Asked if the protest was likely to change anything, Jerez said, “No, other than showing to ourselves how many we are, and that we are not alone. But I’m not actually sure it’s going to address the root of the problem. It’s a tiny step toward that. It needs to be hundreds of times this scale for it to really change anything.” “[The protests are] all little drops in a great big bucket,” protester Deborah Einbender said. “I love the theme this year: raising up children. The leaders in the world are showing a really terrible example to the youth of greed and fear, and we’re on a self-destructive path. We could all focus on the children and the future and making sure there’s a world here for them, a world that is fair and equitable for all. Without

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

that, it really doesn’t matter.”

Although protesters blocked all lanes of traffic on the protest route, the event was mostly without incident. However, one incident did occur when a man attempted to drive through the crowd and argued with the protesters blocking the road. One protester reached into the car and a short fight ensued. No one was injured and no arrests were made. The protester who attacked the driver was immediately forced out of the march.

The march ended near a mural depicting figures in civil rights history. The artist, Isaka Shamsud-Din, gave a speech about the importance of reparations and offered advice to young artists. “[One of my main objectives is] to inspire anyone and everyone who looks at this mural or thinks about our history to start digging on your own,” Shamsud-Din said.

The march disbanded after short speeches from those leading the protest.

Seanna Hart, a speaker for the group, said it had been successful, and she hoped people would remember that “we’re keeping his dream alive and still fighting for our rights.”

EMMA JOSEPHSON/PSU VANGUARD

NEWS

BOT DISCUSSES BUDGET, CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY

ASPSU PRESIDENT LUIS BALDERAS-VILLAGRANA (CENTER, RIGHT) RAISES STUDENT CONCERNS BEFORE PSU'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES DURING THEIR JAN. 27 MEETING. CHRIS MAY/PSU VANGUARD CHRIS MAY Portland State’s Board of Trustees gathered on Jan. 24 in the fifth-floor conference room at the Academic and Student Recreation center to address imminent budget battles, barriers to student success and upcoming reports on a comprehensive review of campus public safety policy.

BUDGET OUTLOOK REMAINS BLEAK In her report to the Board of Trustees, Chair Gale Castillo said she was “quite disappointed” with a recent meeting with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, university presidents from across the state and other board chairs to discuss the lack of increased higher education funding.

“It was a very shocking, very upsetting meeting and it just underscores the comments that were made earlier about how we all need to work together,” Castillo said.

The governor’s proposed budget included no changes in funding levels for higher education across the state, which translates to a cut of approximately $20 million statewide due to the increased costs in maintaining current service levels.

Castillo and several other Board members made comments stressing the need to work together in lobbying the state for additional funds. This came as a direct response to PSU student government’s refusal to lobby until the administration commits to no tuition increases and a transition toward a tuition-free funding model.

Associated Students of Portland State President Luis Balderas-Villagrana addressed the Board on behalf of student government explaining their refusal to lobby state legislators and outlining additional concerns over equity, affordability and transparency.

CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY REVIEW Margolis Healy, an external consulting firm undertaking a comprehensive review of campus public safety policy, notified the Board that its final report will be complete in time for a special Board meeting on Feb. 5.

PSU President Rahmat Shoureshi said the administration has yet to receive the final report, and that it will be posted publicly online and shared with the Board simultaneously.

“There will be no advance reading of [the report] ahead of the community and the public,” he said.

Pressure on the Board to address concerns over campus policing policies reached a head last fall when a 10-day student occupation of the Campus Public Safety Office culminated in a Board meeting where a majority of student, faculty and community members called on the Board to disarm campus police officers.

During a listening forum on campus, Steven Healy, CEO of Margolis Healy, said his firm had not previously addressed questions of disarmament on campus, but they would include a consideration in the potential proposals for the university following their review.

STUDENT SUCCESS Shoureshi emphasized a commitment to students during his report to the Board.

“We are all here because of students,” Shoureshi said. “As I have said before, my number one priority is student success.”

Student success is currently defined by the administration as increased retention and graduation rates.

The university is seeking an additional $60 million from the state on top of the $120 million required to maintain current service levels and keep tuition hikes below 5 percent.

The additional $60 million would be required to go toward programs for improving student success and reducing debt.

The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission recently established criteria for approving any tuition increases over 5 percent. One of the three criteria include “safeguarding access and support for degree completion by historically underrepresented students.”

Margaret Kirkpatrick, chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, highlighted two areas where resource gaps are creating barriers to success for underrepresented students.

“The number of disabled students in the PSU student population has been increasing for the last few years, and the resources we have to dedicate to those students haven’t been keeping up with demand,” Kirkpatrick explained.

The other primary gap existed in the need for emergency funds, which are used to assist students who experience short term financial challenges.

Sukhwant Jhaj, vice provost for academic innovation and student success at PSU and the person most responsible for spearheading efforts to improve student success, has announced a planned departure at the end of the year.

The Board also announced several vacancies starting after June 30 of this year, and are currently identifying and contacting potential candidates to replace the outgoing Board members.

“We only submit our suggestions to the governor’s office,” Castillo said. “They’re the governor’s appointments.”

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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INTERNATIONAL

THIS WEEK

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around the

WORLD Jan. 20–27

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Jan. 20–21

SYRIA; ISRAEL

Conflict between Iran and Israel intensified after strikes were exchanged between the two forces. Haaretz reported an attack on an airport near Damascus—which killed four and was believed to be the work of Israel— prompted a missile attack from within Syria, which was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome and identified as Iranian-made. Brigadier General Ronen Manelis, spokesman for the Israeli Defense Force, said via the Israeli news outlet the missile fired from Syria was intended for civilians in the occupied Golan Heights.

In response, Israel conducted overnight strikes against Iranian targets. As reported

by Al Jazeera, Syrian air defenses intercepted over 30 cruise missiles and guided bombs.

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Jan. 22

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Following her arrest on Jan. 17 after arriving in Moscow from Thailand, Belarusian model Anastasia Vashukevich, who claimed to have evidence of Trump-Russia collusion, was released from custody on Jan. 22. Deutsche Welle reports Vashukevich’s Instagram pro-

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file contained a video recording depicting Sergey Prichodko, a Kremlin official and aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing U.S.–Russia relations. Vashukevich was released from custody after promising not to release any further recordings, which allegedly contain conversations between Russian officials and Trump campaign members, as reported by The Independent.

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Jan. 23

QAMISHLI, SYRIA; LONDON, UK

After traveling over 6,000 miles, Felicia Perkins-Ferreira, a mother from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago, was reunited with her two sons, Ayyub and Mahmud, in the northern Syrian city of Qamishli after four years of separation. The children were taken by their father when he left to join the selfdeclared Islamic State of Syria and the Levant, which had reached its peak in territorial control spanning Iraq and Syria at the time. Al Jazeera reports the children went to Turkey with their stepmother after the father was believed to be dead. The stepmother then abandoned them and the children were taken in by the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces, after which they ended up in a camp under in-

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humane conditions. According to Haaretz, the family is now safe in London where the children will receive care and further assistance.

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Jan. 25–27

BRAZIL

Hundreds of people are missing and feared dead after a dam collapsed, releasing a flood of mud onto an iron ore mine in the Minas Gerais state of eastern Brazil on Jan. 25. According to Al Jazeera, only 46 people have been found alive, while The Guardian reports some 250 are still missing, most of whom are assumed to have perished. As of Jan. 27, 37 were confirmed dead by rescue workers. Amid fears of a second dam collapse, firefighters began with evacuation efforts of 24,000 residents that same day.

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Jan. 26

MEXICO

The death toll from an explosion in central Mexico on Jan. 18 continues to increase as those injured in the blast succumb to their injuries.

According to Canadian outlet Global News, 21 people were initially killed and 71 were injured from a gas explosion initiated after attempts to

illegally tap a pipeline. Hundreds were near the pipeline at the time of the explosion, and those closest to the blast were killed instantly. As of Jan. 26, the death toll had risen to 114 with an additional 33 still in the hospital. Mexican Health Minister Jorge Alcocer reported to Global News those who have not yet succumbed to their wounds run high risks of infection due to burning of the tracheas and bronchial tubes after inhalation of scalding air during the blast.

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Jan. 27

JOLO, PHILIPPINES

A Roman Catholic cathedral was the target of twin blasts which killed 20 people and injured 111, as reported by the Evening Standard and Al Jazeera. According to Philippine Star, the first bomb was detonated around 8:15 a.m. as people congregated in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, waiting for Sunday mass to begin. While it’s unclear whether the explosion took place inside or near the cathedral, the second blast occurred outside as security forces responded. Al Jazeera reported the explosions were caused by improvised explosive devices. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, though the province is home to the militant group Abu Sayyaf.

INTERNATIONAL

AMERICAN IRANIAN TV JOURNALIST HELD IN U.S.

POLISH MAYOR’S DEATH SHOCKS POLAND

JOURNALIST MARZIEH HASHEMI, 2015.

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS SABRINA ACHCAR-WINKELS A prominent American journalist for Iran’s state-television is being detained in the United States as a material witness, according to CNN. Marzieh Hashemi, who has worked for the network’s English-language service for 25 years, was arrested on Jan. 20 at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Hashemi was in the process of filming a Black Lives Matter documentary after visiting relatives in New Orleans when she was apprehended and taken to Washington, D.C. by authorities. According to The New York Times, she has been held for more than a week without charge in an unspecified criminal case where she appeared before a grand jury twice.

“We still have no idea what’s going on,” Hashemi’s eldest son, Hossein, told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Washington, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Hashemi lives in Tehran, returning to the U.S. about once a year to see her family and usually scheduling documentary work while in the states.

The case is a new irritant in the midst of already tense relations between the U.S. and Iran. Hashemi was taken into custody a week after Iran acknowledged the confinement of U.S. Navy veteran Michael R. White, who is also being held on unspecified charges.

Under U.S. law, witnesses can be arrested if the government can prove their testimony is “material to a criminal proceeding” along with the notion the witness may pose a flight risk.

The Swiss ambassador in Tehran has been called on to formally protest the arrest, demanding Hashemi’s release.

Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran have been represented by Switzerland since 1980.

Protests occurred a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif labeled the American authorities’ treatment of Hashemi as an act of racism.

“The U.S. government needs to explain how Marzieh Hashemi—a journalist and grandmother—is such a flight risk that she must be incarcerated until she finishes her testimony to a grand jury,” Zarif stated in a Twitter post. “50 years after [Martin Luther King’s] assassination, U.S. still violates the civil rights of black men and women.”

SABRINA ACHCAR-WINKELS

MARCH AGAINST VIOLENCE IN WARSAW, POLAND AFTER POLISH MAYOR PAWEL ADAMOWICZ WAS KILLED AT A CHARITY EVENT ON JAN. 14. COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Paweł Adamowicz, the 53-year-old mayor of Gdansk, known for being a leading liberal critic of the populist rightwing national government, was stabbed on Jan. 14 during a televised charity event.

Adamowicz has been the mayor of the northern port city since 1998, where he championed gay rights and campaigned for immigrant rights.

According to The New York Times, police officials arrested the assailant—who has a history of violence and no clear political motive for the assassination—at the scene. The attack took place at Poland’s largest annual charity event organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Throughout the years, the organization has raised about $266 million to provide medical equipment for underfunded hospitals in Poland.

The event included a laser light show called “Light to the Sky,” which began at the end of a countdown. As soon as the fireworks exploded, a young man ran onto the stage and stabbed Adamowicz multiple times. After the attack, the assailant circled the podium waving a knife in his hand, claiming he had been imprisoned under Civic Platform, the mayor’s political party.

“I was jailed but innocent...Civic Platform tortured me,” the 27-year-old assailant said, who addressed himself to the audience as Stefan. “That’s why Adamowicz just died.”

Stefan was released from prison a month prior to the incident having served a five-and-a-half year sentence for a bank robbery attempt. Police are investigating how he was able to obtain a media pass that allowed him access to the stage.

Deputy mayor of Gdansk Aleksandra Skorupka-Kaczmarck was amoung critics who argued the attack is the product of a so-called

climate of hate that dominates the political sphere of Poland, and both the Civic Platform and the ruling Law and Justice party are to blame. Adamowicz’s wife Magdalena blamed his death on Telewizja Polska, a government broadcasting corporation, for hate speech directed at her husband and for inciting violence.

“But I know [the attack was] the behavior of a man who was in prison and indoctrinated by regime television...that hate, this hatred, he was the fruit of this hatred,” Magdalena said in an interview with Polish web portal Onet.

“We usually disagree with Mr. Mayor Pawel Adamowicz when it comes to political views on how to lead Poland, but today we are with him and his loved ones unconditionally, as are—I hope—all of our compatriots,” Polish President Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter after the attack.

Tens of thousands of Poles rallied Monday evening with candles and banners to protest the political conflict in Poland, as well as the death of Adamowicz.

Adamowicz, survived by his wife and two daughters, devoted himself to teaching the value of tolerance, holding his city as a progressive model for integrating immigrants.

Adamowicz participated in Gay Pride events and stood with the Jewish community after vandals broke the windows of a local synagogue.

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, called Adamowicz “a true friend of the Jewish community,” in a statement of condolence. “Mayor Adamowicz was a leading voice of opposition against far-right extremism,” Lauder said. “This was an attack not just on the mayor, but on the very value of tolerance.”

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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COVER

FED UP

CHARTWELLS HITS STUDENTS WITH UNANNOUNCED, THREEFOLD CATERING PRICE INCREASE JULIANNA ROBIDOUX Student groups said they’re struggling to afford food for their events now that Chartwells Catering has bumped up prices on the student snack menu by 300 percent this term.

Chartwells, a division of Compass Group USA Inc. and branded on campus as PSU EATS, signed a 10-year contract with Portland State in 2017 for exclusive rights to provide meal plans and food service in Smith Memorial Student Union, the Viking Pavilion and PSU’s dining halls.

The contractual agreement between PSU and Chartwells requires student groups go through Chartwells for catering if they are holding an event in SMSU. A waiver process is required if catering needs are tied to a specific cultural calendar event and have food requirements Chartwells cannot meet.

Student organizations are required to plan their budgets out a year in advance and submit them to the Student Fee Committee.

Kyle Leslie-Christie, Associated Students of Portland State student life director said the unannounced increases will present significant challenges to student groups with limited budgets who were not anticipating the added costs.

It’s unclear whether Chartwells is required to provide notice to student organizations for price increases. According to the contract, PSU has the right to approve or reject requested price increases.

One student group, the Portland State Programming Board, said the price increases have made it difficult to provide food to everyone who attends their Midterm Stress Relief event, which takes place in SMSU each term.

According to PSPB Co-director Lindsey Pham, the food order they placed for this term’s Midterm Stress Relief event doubled from $2,000 fall term to $4,000 winter term.

Pham said the sudden price increase caused PSPB to raise concerns with the Organization Budget Council, a subcommittee of the SFC tasked with providing assistance to student organizations.

“When [Chartwells] increases the prices, they do not communicate with anyone—they just increase the price,” Pham said. “We thought it was a mistake because it was so much more expensive, but they said it’s not.”

A one-person serving of “Farm Fresh Crudite and Ranch” from Chartwells’ student snacks catering menu is $3.79.

That means a tray that serves 10 people is $37.90.

The same product and quantity was $8 during winter 2018–19.

According to the agreement between Chartwell’s and PSU, student catering services are supposed to include a student-specific menu “designed to meet their specific budgetary needs.”

“I’m not satisfied,” Leslie-Christie said. “[The price change] is unwarranted, especially after we already passed our budget proposals for next year.”

“Even if it isn’t [in] the contract to inform the students or student organizations, you should still morally be like,

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‘We’re increasing our prices by this much, and this is why,’” Leslie-Christie said.

“When [Chartwells] increases the prices, they do not communicate with anyone— they just increase the price. We thought it was a mistake because it was so much more expensive, but they said it’s not.”

–PSPB Co-Director Lindsey Pham Attila Szlovak, catering director at Chartwells, said he is responsible for the increase in the student snack menu prices.

“I came into PSU about six months ago,” Szlovak said.

“It took me a few months to notice, but we noticed that the prices were below our cost about two months ago and changed them last month.”

As pricing goes, Szlovak said there are three different catering menus: guest, faculty and staff and student. Szlovak stressed although he only increased prices on the student snack menu, the price increases were not intended to be malicious, and they are not planning on raising prices again before the next fiscal year begins.

“Student prices are still 25–30 percent lower than other menu prices,” Szlovak said. “We don’t make our money on the students. If we were only selling to students then we would lose money. But we need to make sure that the whole operation is healthy.”

“The snack menu is the one that students order from the most,” Pham said. “Chartwells says they’re selling it at a price that’s less expensive than what they bought it for. They were already more expensive than the food we could find off campus, and now they’re even more expensive.”

Pham said the price increases have forced them to scale back on their typically large food order.

“We don’t have enough food for everyone, so we’ve had to limit the food to one slice of pizza per person,” Pham said.

“We stopped ordering the veggie trays because they are five times more expensive now.”

“Our events are for the whole campus, so we know it can never be an option for us,” Pham said.

She added putting on a bigger event and providing a large amount of food is easier for a bigger student group such as PSPB. “We have a bigger budget than other groups, but for smaller groups—say they only have $3,000 per term—with the increase in prices they could only hold one event,” Pham said.

When asked whether the prices listed were competitive with different stores and universities nearby, as required per their contract with PSU, Szlovak claims that they did their research.

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

“We did studies at different stores and universities to compare prices,” Szlovak said. “A veggie tray at Safeway costs $19.99 and at New Seasons it’s $25.”

According to Safeway’s catering menu, a “Best of the Season” veggie tray that serves 6–8 is $19.99.

Pham pointed out that store prices are usually significantly lower than catering options.

“Chartwells charges $2.99 for a one-person serving of Chex Mix,” Pham said. “You can buy a whole bag of it at the store that would serve five people for only $2. Now Chex Mix for 100 people would be $300.”

A veggie tray from the vegetable aisle at Safeway sized similarly to Chartwells’ veggie tray costs $12.99 for a 46 ounce “Premium Vegetable Tray” that also includes ranch dressing, and $10.99 for a 36.5 ounce “Organic Vegetable Tray.”

On Portland Community College’s catering menu, a small “Veggie Platter with Ranch Dip” serving 5–10 is $15, a medium tray serving 11–15 is $30 and a large tray serving 15–20 is $45.

PCC’s catering menu’s “Additional Items” category includes linen and china service as an optional added cost.

Chartwells, however, does not have a similar “Additional Items” category, because according to Szlovak, it is tacked onto the food cost.

“The prices also reflect the cost of labor and transportation, as well as liability costs for Chartwells,” Szlovak said.

“We also provide things like linens and cups.”

When asked about how many food waivers exempting student groups from going through Chartwells for catering normally get approved, Szlovak said there are 40 preapproved food waivers built into the contract.

“We don’t have enough food for everyone, so we’ve had to limit the food.”

–PSPB Co-Director Lindsey Pham “We are happy to talk to student groups if they come to us about costs or special needs,” Szlovak said. “For example, if a student group has a preferred food or [food that is] part of their culture and they are strongly requesting it, we won’t stand in their way. We will be the first to say if we can’t do it.”

As stated in the contract Chartwells signed with PSU, if a student has an issue with any aspect of student catering, they can submit a written complaint that Chartwells must respond to and address. According to Szlovak, since the student snack menu price increase, there was at least one written complaint submitted by a student group.

“We sat down with the group so they could hold their event,” Szlovak said. “We adjusted and made a special menu for them. We can always sit down and adjust and tweak our menu.”

COVER This is a snapshot of how the price increases are going to change snack catering for student groups. A catering order large enough to serve 100 people (based on Chartwells’ serving sizes) would have cost a student group $154.20 last term. This term, this same order would now cost students $341.34. The price increase does not affect the “sweets” section of the student menu so the price of the cupcakes and cookie tray remain unchanged.

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INTERNATIONAL

SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS ROCK SOUTH KOREAN SKATING

VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN GUAIDÓ SWEARS HIMSELF IN

MADISON CECIL South Korea, “a world leader in speed skating” has recently faced sexual assault claims by female skaters against their male coaches.

“We consider the seriousness of violence, and sexual abuse in the sports field cannot be overlooked any longer,” said Choi Young-ae, chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea at a press conference as quoted from BBC. Earlier this month, gold medalist Shim Suk-hee—an Olympic short-track speed skater from South Korea— accused her former coach of raping her since she was 17 years old.

Coach Cho Jae-beom was found guilty of the rape of Suk-hee and three other skaters and is currently serving 10 months in prison. Cho was fired shortly before the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang due to allegations of physical abuse.

Solidarity for Young Skaters represents the skaters in the case against Jae-beom, and on Jan. 21, announced that five more skaters came forward with sexual assault claims against their coaches. The group cited privacy concerns and did not reveal any names.

An anonymous 18-year-old skater, referred to as A, told CNN the abuse extended past sexual. “I used to get called into the coach’s room, where she would hit me with a skate blade 10 to 20 times,” she said. “I suffered muscle rupture, severe bruises and split skin. My older brother was beaten with a golf club.”

A’s abuse started when she was 11 years old and turned into sexual harassment at the age of 15 when a new male

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coach came into her life. He allegedly kissed her cheek, hugged her repeatedly and professed his love for her through two years of texts.

“I felt it was dirty; I was young back then,” she said.

“Had I known how wrong and serious it was, I would have told my mom instead of keeping it to myself.”

Some victims who came forward have been afraid to take legal action. According to BBC, they fear the repercussions coming forward could have on their future in the speed skating community. Sohn Hye-won, a lawmaker in South Korea, called for an investigation into former national coach Jeon Myeong-gyu, who holds massive influence in the skating world. Hye-won believes the former coach may have helped cover up the sexual assaults by using his influence at the Korea National Sport University.

“There has been frequent sexual abuse in the skating scene, but the offenders in most cases did not receive punishment; that’s because the coaches were members of the KNSU circle led by professor Jeon Myeong-gyu,” Hye-won said in a news conference on Jan. 21.

The recent exposure of sexual assault stories has reached high-ranking political figures in South Korea, including President Moon Jae-in, who commented, “The recent series of testimonies about violence and sexual assault in the sports industry represents our shame hidden beneath the glorious appearance of Korea as a sports powerhouse.”

JUAN GUAIDÓ SWEARS HIMSELF IN AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA ON JAN. 24. COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS LUKAS AMSDEN AND EMILY PRICE Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó was sworn in as interim president following claims of a “fraudulent” election by Nicolás Maduro. Washington has called on the world to “pick a side” after backing Guaidó in hopes of a democratic Venezuela.

Democratic leaders from around the world denounced the results of the election with the United States calling it a sham.

Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera tweeted “[the vote] does not represent the free and sovereign will of the people.”

“Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you’re in league with Maduro and his mayhem,” declared U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a UN Security Council.

Maduro, heir to the late Hugo Chavez, proclaimed the election marked a “historic day, the day of a beautiful victory” and a win against U.S. imperialism. “Never before has a presidential candidate taken 68 percent of the popular vote,” he said outside of the presidential palace in Caracas. “We are the force of history turned into a permanent popular victory.”

Claudio Fermin, the campaign chief of Maduro’s main political rival Henri Falcon, documented over 900 cases of voting irregularities, and senior party members of the opposition were blocked from running.

While Guaidó has the support of pro-democracy countries and most of Latin America, Maduro’s regime continues to be backed by Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, Bolivia and Cuba. Turkey strongly condemned the U.S.’ role in the divi-

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

sion. Former senior diplomat Aydin Selcen said the people of Turkey believe the U.S. is behind a military invention much like Libya, Egypt and Iraq.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the opposition. “Now, there is a coup attempt in Venezuela, which we oppose once again,” Erdogan said. “No matter where it happens, we will never side with the coup-plotters. If we believe in and support democracy, then respecting ballot boxes is what we need.”

Max Klaver, a senior analyst at Foreign Brief—a geopolitical risk analysis website—told Al Jazeera he believes there is little the international community can do for Venezuela without hurting the public.

Peter Dobson, a Venezuelan political analyst, told Al Jazeera the reason for U.S.’ interests in Venezuela could be summed up in one word: oil. He added, “The control of the oil resources in Venezuela, as well as the diamonds, the gold, the water, the gas and a whole range of natural resources, is massively important for the U.S. and [their] geostrategic interests across the world.”

The election results spurred the revolt of 27 National Guardsmen who took to the streets of Caracas to incite the residents to protest the regime after raiding a military command post. The rebellion was immediately quelled and the officers are being questioned. It is unclear if a firefight ensued or if the officers laid down their arms.

ARTS & CULTURE

‘SPEECHLESS’ AT THE SIREN POWERPOINT PRESENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUMOR VAN VANDERWALL The nationally syndicated comedy show “Speechless” puts a performer on stage to give an improvised presentation on a topic chosen by the audience, using a set of five Powerpoint slides that have yet to be seen.

“The presentations tonight will be more pointless than powerful,” host Erin Jean O’Regan said in her introduction for the Jan. 18 rendition of “Speechless.” She started the evening with some call-and-response prompts to acclimate the audience to shouting suggestions for the presentation themes.

“Name a part of the body.”

“Phallus,” one audience member said.

“Name your favorite part of the body.”

“Phallus,” he reiterates with neither more nor less enthusiasm than before.

“What’s the name of the street you grew up on?”

A cacophony of answers. Amidst the clamoring of voices, phallus man in row two said “Lobotomy Street.”

Another audience member toward the back of the room shouted “sandwich” to each warm-up question; his unwavering tenacity and steadiness of purpose never faltered throughout the night.

Courtenay Hameister, former Live Wire! host and selfdescribed “professional nervous person,” opened the evening with an improvised presentation from the perspective of a Corgi winning the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Jokes about Corgi legs and dog sex from a dog’s point of view went over well with the crowd. The judging panel awarded high marks to Hameister’s use of absurd slides before calling up the next contestant.

Comedy Sportz player Jamie Montgomery took the stage to present as a human resources director at SeaWorld. In assessing Montgomery’s performance, panel judge Andy Lindberg described it as “the SeaWorld equivalent of an AA meeting.”

A mustachioed man from the audience then introduced himself as Christopher and volunteered for the third spot of the night. His presentation from the perspective of a younger, bullied brother attempting to “definitively prove that Mom and Dad love [him] more,” elicited great laughter from the audience. When confronted with a seemingly irrelevant pie chart graph he quipped, “Your brain—it’s blue and it really bums us out.”

When O’Regan brought up Emily Hemson for the fourth

PERFORMERS IN ‘SPEECHLESS’ GIVE AN IMPROVISED PRESENTATION ON JAN. 18. VAN VANDERWALL/PSU VANGUARD

set of the night, a spin of the digital wheel yielded “product launch” as the presentation format. The request for audience suggestions played out the same familiar, yet funny exchange as before.

“Name a part of the body.”

“Phallus,” one audience member said.

“Name your favorite part of the body.”

“Phallus,” he reiterates with neither more nor less enthusiasm than before.

“What’s something in your garage?”

Indistinct yelling. Then, “sandwich.”

“What’s a product that doesn’t exist yet?”

One voice rises above the many to cry out words of wisdom: “sandwich.” Truly a man with very specific culinary and comedic tastes.

After the brief and final sandwich detour, Hemson began her extemporaneous presentation on the product launch of

Bluetooth toilet flushing. “Wouldn’t it be nice,” she asked rhetorically to open the act, “if you didn’t have to tell the people you care about that you were pooping?”

Adam Pasi, the fifth and final contestant, took the stage next. To questions about whether he had ever witnessed or given a Powerpoint presentation, Pasi responded in the negative. People believe all kinds of outlandish things, but an adult man who has never seen or used Microsoft Powerpoint? Inconceivable.

Pasi emerged the winner for his presentation of a formal toast on the occasion of an ex-girlfriend’s wedding.

Shelley McLendon, founder of The Siren Theater, created all the Powerpoint presentations for the evening. She opened the comedy venue in October 2015 after recognizing a need for affordable and comedic live theater.

“We try to keep shows cheap—$15 or less —so that it’s affordable for everyone,” McLendon said.

After years of working with other local theater groups, McLendon set her sights on opening her own space, Bad Reputation Productions. After seeing San Francisco productions of Speechless, McLendon obtained the rights to stage productions of the show in Portland, which she has been doing regularly for two years.

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

JANE AUSTEN, THE GOSSIP GIRL OF THE 1800S

‘SENSE AND SENSIBILITY’ FOR THE MILLENNIAL ROMANTIC

MEMBERS OF THE CAST OF BEDLAM’S ‘SENSE & SENSIBILITY’ AT THE ARMORY. COURTESY OF PORTLAND CENTER STAGE AT THE ARMORY MAGGIE LOMBARD Sense and Sensibility, adapted from Jane Austen’s novel by playwright Katie Hamill and directed and staged by Eric Tucker, comes to Portland Center Stage by way of Bedlam theater company in New York.

This show is produced as part of “What She Said,” where two-thirds of the shows this season are written by female playwrights. Sense and Sensibility tells the tale of the Dashwood sisters and their mother as they move from their lush estate to a small cottage after Mr. Dashwood passes away. The eldest sisters, Marianne and Elinor, played captivatingly by Quinlan Fitzgerald and Danea C. Osseni, must deal with the joys and pains of romance in the emotionally restrained world of rainy, Regency-era England.

Artistic Director Marissa Wolf boldly presents the show to be Sense and Sensibility like you’ve never seen it before” in her pre-show announcement. The “Austen-tacious” spectacle that unfolded over the next two-and-a-half hours went above and beyond in proving her right. No spoilers on any of the delightful contemporary twists, but from the first moment of action, you’re engripped in the world of Austen’s England and the Dashwood sisters’ quests for love amid the chatty gossips of the country.

The show literally never stops rolling along thanks to scenic designer John Mcdermott’s clever use of wheels attached to every piece of set. Chairs glide from across the stage and freestanding doors transform the stage countless times.

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With boundless energy, the ensemble keeps the show moving along with impeccable timing by forming captivating tableaus that highlight farcical moments such as transforming themselves into garden statues, a funeral home coffin or the separate beds of newlyweds.

The show swings between moments of painful love and ridiculous comedy. Actor Lauren Modica has the audience wrapped around her finger as the gossipy Mrs. Jennings, notably having to take some of the longest pauses in the show to accommodate the audience’s laughter. When the laughter fades and the show dips into its emotional moments, the mobile set lends itself well to the points of poignant yearning and desperation when actors find themselves being pushed away from each other, never quite able to connect in the way the characters long to.

In one particularly heartbreaking moment, actors Kelly Godell as the nasally Lucy Steele and Danea C. Osseni as the reserved Elinor spend what feels like an eternity facing each other in chairs, slowly being pushed by other actors in a circle, orbiting around the crushing news that Lucy is engaged to the man Elinor loves.

Some might question the value of presenting a classic text in such a contemporary way, but this show is a shining example of why fun, fast-paced adaptations work. It’s theater as it should be—accessible to a modern audience. Playwright Hamill’s adaptation preserves the flowery language while Bedlam’s staging and theatricality make it easy to understand and a pure

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

delight to watch. You never once lose track of who is who and what is what, even with actors frequently switching between voices and wigs to bring about 25 characters to life with only a cast of 10 actors.

It’s a grand tapestry, brilliantly woven together by Alison Heryer’s costume design, lighting done by Sarah Hughey and a powerhouse cast of actors. All in all, this production proves why Austen’s stories still resonate with us today—we still love rumors and watching others fall in love. We all make all the wrong choices and we still disappoint our parents when we reveal that we’ve been secretly engaged to a middle-class girl for the past four years. Maybe that last one is strictly Austen, but the point still holds true—we eat this drama up.

Student tickets start at $25. PCS is also a participating member of Arts for All, meaning Oregon Trail cardholders can get tickets for $5. If you’ve got the time and dedication, you could also find a well-to-do English bachelor with a suitable estate of land to take you as a date.

Sense and Sensibility runs Jan. 12–Feb. 10 on the U.S. Bank Main Stage at The Armory in downtown, conveniently located directly on the A Loop and NS Portland Streetcar line and a few blocks away from the all four MAX lines. More information can be found at pcs.org/sense.

OPINION

WOMEN ARE NOT DAYCARES FAMOUS COUPLES IN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE PLACED ON A PEDESTAL

DANIELLE EMEKA TAYLAR RIVERS AND MOXXY ROGERS Society glorifies celebrities in toxic relationships, especially the idea that women are responsible for the well-being of the men they date.

Women do not exist to be a source of endless emotional labor for men. Yet, the majority of our youth are worshipping celebrity relationships that emulate unhealthy habits, which perpetuate the coddling of men and the exceeding responsibilities assigned to women.

A high-profile example of the immense pressure women face in relationships is Ariana Grande’s public romance with Mac Miller. Grande found herself at the end of social media backlash for ending her two-year relationship with the late Miller.

At the time, the rapper was in the midst of his own addiction and many Miller fans blamed Grande for the rapper’s declining mental health.

On Twitter, Grande responded to the accusations and negative comments: “How absurd that you minimize female selfrespect and self-worth by saying someone should stay in a toxic relationship...I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be...shaming/blaming women for a man’s inability to keep his shit together is a major problem.

Let’s please stop doing that.”

Society pressures women into staying in toxic relationships for the sake of healing men at the expense of their own health.

A survey conducted by the National Resources Center on Domestic Violence stated nearly 60 percent of young women stay in abusive relationships. A woman who stays with her

man through his troubled years is romanticized—she is seen as loyal. This so-called loyalty seems to be expected of women— this idea that she proved her worth by not abandoning him while he was making something of himself.

The unequal expectations amongst the sexes is amplified by the media. As many things go, our view of society is skewed by what the media chooses to highlight and deem worthy of discussion. Celebrity couples have long been glorified and praised to be the desired relationship. Putting these couples on pedestals and idealizing them has created a sense of fantasy in real relationships, a dangerous concept that plays with the human psyche. This fascination and obsession with celebrity couples is not only dangerous, it also leads to the more pressing issue of normalizing unhealthy relationships.

Many women find themselves in relationships that place them in the role of a caretaker. Partners should not be held to the same standard as a nurturing mother would be to her child. Men must have accountability for their toxic behaviors and not rely on their partners to sacrifice her peace for his, and in turn, women should be allowed to walk away from toxic relationships without being met with animosity or physical harm.

In 2009, Rihanna and Chris Brown publicly split after it was revealed Brown had been abusive. A picture of Rihanna with bruises across her face was leaked by various media outlets.

This photo sparked the conversation of seemingly perfect relationships that turn out to be toxic and unhealthy. After the

scandal, Rihanna did an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC in which she explained the incident was more than a personal issue, but a warning sign that her relationship is broadcasted to the world and will affect the way young girls view relationships.

Rihanna said she decided not to stay with him. “When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result into some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part,” she said in the interview.

Many girls idolized her relationship with Brown and because of this, if she chose to stay with him, she would be sending a message that it is acceptable to stay in abusive relationships.

Adolescent girls are highly impressionable. According to psychologists at Knox College who conducted a study assessing 142 junior high school girls, younger girls often idolize male celebrities. Results of the study revealed that girls who strongly idolized a male celebrity had more experience dating, reported secure and preoccupied attachments to same-age boys and were rated higher in materialism. They tend to mimic the relationships and behaviors idolized.

Whether it’s by virtue of being a mother, aunt or grandmother, women are expected to do the emotional heavy lifting and help men be better. Women are expected to be fixers and keep it together even when they’re filling from an empty cup.

Women are not responsible for ensuring the men in their lives are happy at the sake of their own sanity—that in itself is the marker of a toxic relationship—and society’s obsession with celebrity relationships perpetuate that notion.

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

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OPINION

HALVE YOUR BILLIONS

THE BEZOS DIVORCE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE ABSURDITY OF THE BILLIONAIRE MCKINZIE SMITH The Bezos divorce is not just a headline for gossip tabloids. It is a symbol of the preposterous amount of wealth that exists in America.

Multi-billionaires are capable of great change when their resources are funneled toward positive causes, but sometimes that’s not the case.

These billions sit in the hands of the few while almost 80 percent of American workers live paycheck to paycheck, according to The Guardian.

There’s something to be said about levels of social responsibility when that amount of money could help balance the inequality in our society.

The writer and soon-to-be-ex-wife of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos could receive half of his fortune due to the absence of a prenuptial agreement. Washington’s community property laws designate marital property be split equally in cases of divorce. Reported by CNBC, that half adds up to somewhere around $66 billion of the total $134.9 billion net worth.

To put their shared fortune in perspective, a minuscule .5 percent of a $1 billion fortune is $5 million. The average American salary is roughly $35,000, according to the United States Census Bureau. Assuming one would work for 40 years and maintain the same salary, it would only amount to $1.4 million.

Billions aren’t made independently, yet the near-endless power of having billions comes down to individuals. Bezos will get a divorce that will divide more money than almost every other person in the U.S. will see in their lifetime, and it barely minimizes his assets.

Extremely wealthy individuals have the resources to change lives. Hoarding billions isn’t just negligent, it’s actively cruel. All over the world there is suffering based on wealth inequality. Hunger, houselessness, water crises, outbreaks—all problems that require wealth to fix. Money is power. Billionaires must realize they have a responsibility to humanity to share that power.

Some—such as Bill Gates, who has donated $35.8 billion to his own foundation for the reducement of poverty—understand this con-

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cept. Yet in a country with a widening income inequality issue, the existence of billionaires itself becomes a source of frustration. CNN reports the top 1 percent owns 38 percent of private wealth in the U.S.—more than enough disposable income to contribute to fixing issues of poverty and infrastructure.

Bezos has been a controversial figure over the past decade-plus. The billionaire hasn’t exactly made his living ethically, as the poor working conditions and general management of Amazon warehouses make apparent.

Newsweek reports stories of workers “urinating in bottles and trash cans around the warehouse” to avoid missing deadlines or shamed for an on-the-job injury. For every 11.5 seconds on the job Quartz estimates the CEO makes the entirety of his lowest-level workers yearly salary (about $30,000). Not to mention, Politifact has confirmed that Amazon didn’t pay federal income taxes last fiscal year.

Personal character aside, these facts reflect poorly on Bezos and his company.

A report published by Business Insider states Bezos hasn’t engaged in much philanthropy or financial donations relative to his wealth. For example, in September he announced a homeless family and education fund. “It will begin with a commitment of $2 billion and focus on two areas: funding existing non-profits that help homeless families, and creating a network of new, non-profit, tier-one preschools in low-income communities,” he wrote on Twitter.

According to CNBC, a $2 billion donation for Bezos would be equivalent to $1,187 with the median American household income (about $97,300), according to calculations done by CNBC. Moreover, it’s estimated that Bezos earns $275 million per day. The fund, therefore, only cost a week’s worth of wages.

There is a blatant discrepancy between the amount of money he has contributed to charitable causes. This starking contrast makes it apparent that his agenda is not to subdue the

PSU Vanguard • JANUARY 29, 2019 • psuvanguard.com

wider implications of his wealth.

A billion dollars is a near inconceivable amount of wealth. The combined Bezos fortune of $134.9 billion will continue to increase as time passes. Even a fraction of $66 billion could do so much for so many people. No individual has the use for this much money.

If more billionaires don’t distribute their wealth, it’s not just a moral loss: It’s an active choice to contribute to economic inequality.

LISA DORN

Cervanté Pope

JAN 29–FEB 4 ART TUES JAN 29

“THE HABITUAL AND THE NOVEL: MAGIC” FORD GALLERY 9 A.M.–6 P.M. THRU FEB 21 • FREE This dual exhibit features the theses of Lindsay Martin and Ellen Petruzzella while at the Oregon College of Art and Craft, using poetic memoir and imagery to stimulate the senses.

MUSIC YOUNG CULTURE, THE HAPPY ALRIGHT, NO PLUG POST 134 6:30–10 P.M. • $8–10 P.M. • 21+ Indulge in some pop-punky tunes at this all-ages show.

FILM & THEATRE PANDORA’S BOX ON 16MM CLINTON STREET THEATER 8 P.M. • $10 This melodramatic silent film about the archetypes of love, filth and humanity will be accompanied by desert-doom band Abronia playing the film score live.

COMMUNITY ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IS MEN’S WORK YWCA OF GREATER PORTLAND 6:30–9 P.M. • FREE Hosted by Seattle collective Women of Color Speak Out, this workshop will discuss the many ways men can put forth the effort in eliminating genderbased violence.

WED JAN 30 THU JAN 31 FRI FEB 1 SAT FEB 2 SUN FEB 3 MON FEB 4

“EGO PLACEBO” FULLER ROSEN GALLERY THU–SUN 10 A.M.–5 P.M. OR BY APPOINTMENT • FREE

PSYCHE LIFELINE, WAVE ACTION, MOON SHY HOLOCENE 8:30 P.M. • $8 • 21+

RERUN THEATER: BIONIC MAN VS. BIGFOOT HOLLYWOOD THEATRE 7:30 P.M. • $9 ($7 WITH STUDENT ID)

CHUCK PALAHNIUK FIGHT CLUB 3 SIGNING THINGS FROM ANOTHER WORLD NOON–8 P.M. • FREE

This new collection of work by Kayla Wiley explores her personal experience living within two different cultural identities.

Psyche Lifeline is the newest endeavor from Ghost Ease vocalist/guitarist Jem Marie, joined by the scuzzy dream rock of Wave Action and Moon Shy.

All you need to know about this: Lee Majors as Steve Austin in the Six Million Dollar Man and Andre the Giant as Bigfoot. Epic.

Pacific Northwest hero Chuck Palahniuk is making an appearance to promote and sign copies of the next installment of his Fight Club series.

“WHO ARE WE?” WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9 A.M.–4:30 P.M. • FREE

MØ–FOREVER NEVERLAND WORLD TOUR: CHAPTER 2 WITH MYKKI BLANCO HOLOCENE 8 P.M. • $25

“A DANGEROUS JOY” LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL 7:30 P.M. THROUGH FEB 2 • $15

SHANROCK’S TRIVIOLOGY EASTBURN 7 P.M. • FREE

MØ is definitely great and all, but Mykki Blanco, though.

Part of the Fertile Ground festival, this one-act play is a stage reading of the Terry Lomax play based on the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Trivia Jock ShanRock tries her hardest to stump you. If she loses, you win!

INTERPOL, SUNFLOWER BEAN KELLER AUDITORIUM 8 P.M. • $34.50–59.50

SET IT OFF WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER 4 P.M. • FREE

FLASHBACK FRIDAY SKATE OAKS AMUSEMENT PARK 7 P.M. • $8 ENTRY, $2–5 SKATE RENTAL

The fact that Interpol is still making music is so delightful. See them perform their newest album Marauder live.

In this much-needed February Film series, the Women’s Resource Center is aiming to show films that humanize Black people. First in the series is Set It Off.

Everyone loves some good flashback tunes and First Friday skating at Oaks Park is giving that to us until May.

“WITHDRAWN” ROLL UP FRI AND SAT: NOON–5 P.M. AND BY APPOINTMENT • FREE

CABIN FEVER: MIC CAPES, BOCHA, MAL LONDON, ZYAH BELLE THE FIXIN’ TO 9 P.M. • $10 • 21+

THE LINDWORM ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE 7:30 P.M. • $10 ($8 WITH STUDENT ID)

Jayna Conkey’s newest collection shows the transformation of old photos from library books through natural wear and her own artistic flair.

If you feel like you haven’t gotten out in awhile, check out this Cabin Fever showcase headlined by beloved St. Johns’ lyricist Mic Capes.

Long lost lovers, mythology, abuse and witches make the plot of this debut play by Madison Mondeaux. This staged reading is part of the Fertile Ground festival.

HIDDEN HISTORY OF ALBINA MEET AT LITTLE BIG BURGER (MISSISSIPPI) FEB 2, FEB 3, FEB 9, FEB 16, FEB 17, FEB 23, FEB 24: 11 A.M., 3 P.M. • $13–55

ABSTRACT SHOWCASE GALLERY 903 MON–SAT: 10 A.M.–5:30 P.M., SUN: NOON–5 P.M. • FREE

COOL AMERICAN, MO TROPER, BRETTE IRISH MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS 9 P.M. • $5 • 21+

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR BRUNISH THEATRE THU–SAT: 7:30 P.M., SUN: 2 P.M. UNTIL MARCH 3 • $45 ($26 WITH STUDENT ID)

For the whole month, the gallery will be celebrating the creative freedom of abstract art with a collective exhibition of various artists.

Enjoy a night of melancholic art punk and power pop from these three local favorites at a low price.

Jesus’ tale set up as a rock opera. No wonder it’s been around for 40 years.

“RHYTHM AND REST” MULTNOMAH ARTS CENTER GALLERY MON–FRI: 9 A.M.–9:30 P.M., SAT–SUN: 9 A.M.–5 P.M. • FREE

METAL MONDAY STAR BAR 10 P.M. • FREE

TOSH BERMAN, KEVIN SAMPSELL POWELL’S BOOKS ON HAWTHORNE 7:30 P.M. • FREE

MONDAY: THE GATHERING TONIC LOUNGE 7 P.M. • FREE

Cure the Monday blues with a little headbanging.

Kevin Sampsell will have an open and intriguing conversation with Tosh Berman on his book Tosh and his life living with the experimental filmmaker Wallace Berman.

If you’re a Magic: The Gathering master, join in on this communal play night. This week it’s at Tonic Lounge.

Prepare to be moved by this emotional collection of photographs shot from the point of view of Portland’s houseless community, captured by Mark Danley.

“TOGETHER BROTHERS” OPENING RECEPTION STEPHANIE CHEFAS PROJECTS 7–10 P.M. • FREE It’s the first day of Black History Month, and this personal and reflective collection of works from Jeremy Okai Davis is one way to show honor and respect to Black culture.

This duo exhibition of monotypes and ceramics by Ahuva Zaslavsky and Elisabeth Walden is on display until Feb. 26.

Hosted by Know Your City, this Black-led walking tour teaches participants about all of the Black history held within the Boise neighborhood.

SALVAGE SUNDAY COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER NOON–2 P.M. • FREE Every Sunday, the Community Cycling Center allows community members to rummage through their recycling cage and salvage parts for only 50 cents a pound!

Viking Voices is an open platform, rolling submission op-ed column open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni of Portland State.

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