Event of the day
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 80
The Portland State Women’s Chorus and Madrigal Ensemble perform tonight at the Old Church for a suggested $10 donation. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: 1422 SW 11th Ave.
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INSIDE OPINION
Capital projects: an overview ASRC, Lincoln Hall and future improvements Courtney Graham
Frappuccinos and firearms Businesses should ban openly carried guns PAGE 3
Vanguard staff
Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard
Intro to Asian American Studies Chiron Studies will offer a new class in spring term PAGE 4
Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard
Urban dwelling: Not all parties have moved into the ASRC or Urban Plaza.
ARTS
The dreaded dead Capcom fleshes out Resident Evil 5 with Lost in Nightmares PAGE 6
ASRC continued on page five
More students eligible for tax credit Corie Charnley
SPORTS
Quarterfinal win advances Vikings No. 6 Portland State upsets No. 3 Montana State in first round of Big Sky tourney PAGE 9
The Academic and Student Recreation Center is still awaiting the conclusion of some legal proceedings that would make it fully operational as an academic, recreational and commercial space. Not all partners—most noticeably, the City of Portland Archives—have fully moved in, so the formation of a building association that would govern the use of the common space in the ASRC cannot occur, said Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration Mark Gregory in an e-mail. A building association would be a standard part of the condominium agreement the ASRC is contracted under which enabled it to create a public-private partnership. “The ASRC building is a partnership with the City of Portland, the Chancellor’s office, PSU academic space, and the rec center—with some retail tenants thrown in,” Gregory said. Portland State has attempted to conserve as much space as possible throughout the construction
Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard
The IRS has temporarily introduced the American Opportunity Credit A hipster’s guide to burritos The tastiest, though fairly Americanized, Mexican restaurants PAGE 7
J-Board reviews student Senate impeachment process of SFC member Corie Charnley Vanguard staff
NEWS
Exec staff shuffle ASPSU still filling empty positions, encouraging others to get invloved now PAGE 5
Illegitimate impeachment
Vanguard staff
For the 2009 and 2010 tax years, a broader range of students will qualify for tax credits to help offset the cost of higher education. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the existing Hope Credit has been replaced by the American Opportunity Credit. The AOC has been expanded to incorporate students or parents with higher income levels and to those who owe no tax. In addition, students or parents can claim the new tax credit for the first four years of postsecondary tuition, rather than just the first two, as defined by the Hope Credit. Also, qualifying expenses covered by the credit have been
expanded to include required course materials. “[The AOC] is a tax incentive for students or parents who are claiming dependents to receive additional tax credits,” said David Kahl, Creating Assets, Savings and Hope Oregon volunteer. Under the AOC, the maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. Students or parents with an annual income of less than $80,000, or less than $160,000 for married couples, are eligible for the tax credit, according to the Internal Revenue Service Web site. According to Kahl, the tax credit is calculated dollar for dollar for up to $2,000 of the cost of tuition and qualifying expenses paid during the 2009–10 school year. For an additional $2,000 worth of expenses, taxpayers will receive a credit of 25 percent. This is a $700 increase from the Hope Credit, according to the IRS Web site. The AOC has expanded the qualifying expenses to include any cost that is required for additional
enrollment, such as lab fees or books, Kahl said. According to Kahl, taxpayers who choose to claim the tuition and fees tax deduction on their returns may not claim the AOC. Taxpayers enrolled in graduate school are not eligible for the AOC, however, there are several additional credit opportunities, including the Lifetime Learning Credit, Kahl said. CASH Oregon provides free tax preparation for students, as well as for low-income families and individuals. For PSU students seeking tax services, CASH Oregon’s office is located in room 360 of the School of Business Administration. They will offer free services for PSU students until April 11, and are open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Their office will be closed on March 20–21 and March 27–28. For more questions regarding CASH Oregon, call Student Legal and Mediation Services at 503-725-4556.
Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard
Tax time: The American Opportunity Credit may give students thousands back on their tax returns.
After the Student Senate spent two meetings on the impeachment proceedings of a Student Fee Committee member, the ASPSU Judicial Board decided the final decision to impeach was not legitimate. On Thursday, March 4, the J-Board began a review of the ASPSU Senate’s decision to impeach SFC Member Ron Lee. According to Brad Vehafric, chair of the J-Board, it was ruled that the Student Senate must provide Lee an opportunity to offer rebuttal at its meeting tonight. The ASPSU Constitution requires that the J-Board review all impeachments that result in the removal of an ASPSU officer, Vehafric said. Lee faces impeachment charges after he accused the Pre-Law Society’s President Ashley McClain of financial mismanagement. On Feb. 23, the Student Senate passed a motion to postpone the impeachment hearing until the following meeting, which took place on March 2, because McClain was not in attendance at the meeting. The Student Senate also agreed to send McClain and Lee a letter or e-mail requesting their presence or a written affidavit at the next meeting. According to Vehafric, a letter or e-mail was never sent. At the March 2 meeting, the Student Senate voted to impeach Lee, though he was not present and no affidavit was given. Lee will be given an opportunity to provide testimony at tonight’s meeting, though the submitted evidence and testimonies already given are still valid, Vehafric said. Since the impeachment hearing, Lee provided new evidence revealing other instances of PLS membership dues having not been deposited. Lee filed the complaint of financial mismanagement against McClain after he failed to receive $5 in change from his payment of dues. In an e-mail to the Student Senate, Christian Aniciete, former communications director for ASPSU and current co-chair of the Programming Board, wrote that during the time he “spent in ASPSU as [an] elected senator and communications director over the course of five years, I have spent countless time and energy as many of you have, helping build ASPSU as an organization that truly matters and actually impacts every student at Portland State…with three months remaining this year, how do you want your ASPSU administration to be remembered?” According to Vehafric, until the impeachment process concludes, Lee is still an active member of the SFC. The next Student Senate meeting will take place tonight in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 296, at 5 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.