WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 90
Event Eventofofthe thenight day KPSU is hosting new DJ orientations for anyone interested in becoming a DJ and having their own show—no experience required!
When: 2 p.m. Where: KPSU studio, SMSU sub-basement
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INSIDE NEWS Cancelled course sparks anger Class cancellations ignore student interest PAGE 2
ARTS
Documenting our world
Kickstarting a yearlong unveiling of classic work at the Ampersand Gallery PAGE 4 weekly musical repose Thursday performances give students opportunity to learn PAGE 4
Firehouse chicken cacciatore Who says firefighters only save lives? PAGE 5
African culture celebrated AAS to host 30th annual African Culture Night Sara M. Kemple Vanguard staff
The Association of African Students will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its African Culture Night this year, an event that is dedicated to raising awareness of Africa’s history and heritage. Once a year, the AAS hosts an evening in which the public can discover the ancient traditions and history of Africa. This year’s event will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom. According to Princesse Likayi, who is in charge of public relations for the AAS, this year’s theme is titled “In the Beginning,” and will exhibit the roots of Africa’s history, as well as the continent’s cultural vastness. The event is held in hopes of bringing people together through authentic cuisine, dancing and drumming. Since its formation in 1975, the AAS has worked to unite Africans living throughout the African diaspora with the larger Portland community. According to Likayi, African Culture Night’s 30th
AAS: The AAS promotes their event this week.
anniversary represents thirty years of success for the AAS. “This event motivates the people of Portland to understand the real history from the students’ perspectives in the eyes of Africans,” Likayi said. Likayi has been working with the association for nearly a year, and hopes to make the public more aware of the roots of African culture. For this year’s event, the AAS will turn the entire second floor of the SMSU Ballroom into a museum
Guest opinion Video games keep “nerd rage” at bay PAGE 6
exhibit, showcasing art and providing information about the ancient peoples of Africa. In addition, the AAS will provide displays about ancient kings, queens and philosophers. There will also be artwork and stories that show the various African kingdoms and ancient warriors. “There are so many myths that can be redefined, and we want people to see the evolution that Africa went through,” Likayi said. Aside from the food and dance, the AAS will host a fashion show to
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy examined
OPINION
Stop aerial wolf hunting We’ve made the mistake of hunting wolves before PAGE 6
Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard
display the various garments and dress that date back to ancient times. In addition, Gloria Ngezaho, a student at PSU, was chosen to recite some words by a previous AAS member at the event. “This event represents the entire viewpoint of our community,” said Useni Makano, the AAS president. “The food and performing artists are chosen by the theme that AAS decides—we try to find performers that reflect that,” Likayi said. “The flyer chosen by AAS was designed to represent royalty,” she said. “It was chosen in colors of purple and gold and can be seen in the glass case next to the student store and Starbucks in Smith.” The AAS also hosts other events that are well-attended by the Portland community, such as World Aids Day, AriCafe, Red Spot Series and special historical events. The AAS has always sought to be active in Africa, and is working on that goal for the upcoming years. “We have sent out flyers to all of the Portland Community College campuses, David Douglas High School, and everywhere that we can to spread the word [about] these communities,” Likayi said. “We want people from various backgrounds to know how it feels to be part of this.” Tickets can be purchased at the PSU Ticketmaster, near the entrance of SMSU, or online at PSU’s Web site. The AAS recommends that tickets be bought in advance to support the African community in a night of culture, food and entertainment.
Don’t ask, don’t tell: QRC & SVA participate in public forum.
Student representatives discuss the controversial policy Amy Staples Vanguard staff
Representatives from the Queer Resource Center and the Student Veteran Association shared their experiences and views in a moderated forum last Wednesday. The forum was held in response to President Obama’s call to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass” policy that was enacted in 1993 under the Clinton administration. Originally called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the policy was amended to include the longer stipulations in response to harassment and persecution of service persons.
Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard
The Safe Spaces policy was in place for the public meeting, and 26 audience members were present. The panelists were identified only by their first names in order to protect their privacy. Glenn and Tabatha represented the QRC, while Jason and Kevin represented the SVA. Student Aaron Powell, the forum’s moderator, is a member of Portland State’s debate team and was once a member of the Navy. Several questions were asked by Powell, including what the policy is, how it affects unit cohesion and what consequences would arise if the policy were repealed. Members of the audience also asked questions and gave input as the forum progressed. Jason is an officer of the armed forces who has spent a decade in the military. Jason said that if the policy were to be repealed,
the military would implement it and punish people for harassing homosexual soldiers. As for whether the policy is a good one, Jason said, “Opinion is a luxury. Military service is a tool of social change, not a place where social change happens readily.” Kevin Hershey, SVA’s president and a five-year veteran of the Navy, said, “It’s a bad thing. People shouldn’t have to lie about who they are.” Glenn said that being a closeted homosexual caused him anxiety and created other challenges as a result of self-doubt. Tabatha said that she supports the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy because soldiers would be judged by their performance, rather than by what they do in their free time. However, Tabatha said she also supports removing the part of the law that considers homosexual acts criminal. Glenn also said that it is bothersome that the policy defines homosexual activities as a criminal offense. He pointed out that there is a harassment policy that covers everything except sexual orientation. Commenting on whether Congress needs to act on the promise to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Hershey said, “It’s open to interpretation [if Congress does not act]. Bad idea.” As for unit cohesion, Glenn cited several studies which show that unit cohesion was improved when other armed forces removed discrimination against sexual minorities. Jason pointed out that the military has a network of support for people to address harassment.
If the policy is repealed then service members experiencing harassment will have recourse. Another audience member asked how the policy change would impact recruitment. Jason responded that the economy has helped enlistment and that at this time the military is not having a difficult time recruiting soldiers.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” reports The Government Accountability Office released a report in February 2005 that read, “322 (3 percent) of separated service members had some skills in an important foreign language such as Arabic, Farsi, or Korean.” The study period was from 1994 to 2003. The number of discharges in the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy increased every year leading up to 2001. However, the numbers dropped off in 2002 and the following years after the 9/11 attack and the subsequent invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The GAO also determined that the Department of Defense spent an estimated $95 million to replace the 9,500 service members that were separated from 1994 to 2003. The GAO found that the “financial costs and loss of critical skills due to the DOD’s homosexual conduct policy cannot be completely estimated” because the DOD “does not collect relevant cost data.”
Vanguard 2 | News April 14, 2010
Sarah J. Christensen Editor-in-Chief Virginia Vickery News Editor Theodora Karatzas Arts & Culture Editor Richard D. Oxley Opinion Editor Robert Britt Sports Editor Bryan Morgan Production Manager Marni Cohen Photo Editor Zach Chastaine Online Editor Kristin Pugmire Copy Chief Kristin Pugmire Calendar Editor Jae Specht Advertising Manager William Prior Marketing Manager Judson Randall Adviser Ann Roman Advertising Adviser Illustrator Kira Meyrick Associate News Editor Corie Charnley Production Assistants Stephanie Case, Justin Flood, Shannon Vincent Post-production Assistant Adiana Lazarraga Contributors Stacy Austin, Will Blackford, Bianca Blankenship, Leah Bodenhamer, Meaghan Daniels, Sarah Engels, Sarah Esterman, Amy Fylan, Courtney Graham, Natalia Grozina, Patrick Guild, Joe Hannan, Rosemary Hanson, Steve Haske, Nadya Ighani, Carrie Johnston, Sara M. Kemple, Tamara K. Kennedy, Ebonee Lee, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Natalie McClintock, Daniel Ostlund, Sharon Rhodes, Robert Seitzinger, Tanya Shiffer, Wendy Shortman, Catrice Stanley, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Andrea Vedder, Katherine Vetrano, Allison Whited, Roger Wightman
NEWS Cancelled course sparks anger Class cancellations ignore student interest Courtney Graham Vanguard staff
It is not a new phenomenon for Portland State students to face problems when registering for classes at the beginning of each term. According to Cynthia H. Baccar, the director of Registration and Records at PSU, there is no “hard, fast rule” for the cancellation of courses during registration each term. Baccar also made it clear that, in the end, the generation of course schedules and changes are not made by Registration and Records, but at the discretion of the departments under which they fall. “Departments edit the schedule based on last year’s, and they control the restrictions on the course, [such as] size, pre-requisites and who it’s open to,” she said. According to Baccar, while most cancellations occur within the first week of classes each term, most departments and professors try to keep them open as long as possible. Oftentimes, for courses that are required for specific majors, low turnout does not lead to its cancellation. “We try our best to find resources to offer additional sections [and] expand capacity,” Baccar said. Robert Mercer, the assistant dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said that the university has always struggled with how to address classes with low enrollment, especially since PSU offers numerous small-size courses.
Unfortunately, these efforts are not always successful, and conflicts or lack of interest are often beyond the control of the university or its departments. However, there are times when it would seem that certain groups of students are left at a disadvantage, as a result of what would appear to be an avoidable situation. For example, Writing 428, titled “Advanced News Writing,” which is taught by Julie Sullivan of The Oregonian, was cancelled during the first week of the spring term, allegedly because there was insufficient interest. In an e-mail to Mercer, ASPSU President Jonathan Sanford explained that there were at least 12 students who were interested in taking the course, but were not able to register as a result of the error that led to WR 428’s cancellation. The course can be a requirement for certain undergraduates pursuing a nonfiction creative writing minor. “I do appreciate the quick responses from multiple staff after our inquiries about [WR 428’s] cancellation,” said Natalie Caceres, a student at PSU. “But it really didn’t give us a chance to at least keep the class open for the first day, much less the first week, which we were hoping would have captured the attention of other English/Writing majors that could have been interested.” According to Caceres, she and other students had hoped they would be given more of a grace period to try to garner more interest in WR 428 through the English department by contacting listservs and professors so that the course would be offered.
“In defense of those who replied to me, I will say that I did not e-mail the professor prior to the first day of class to let her know of my interest,” Caceres wrote. “But there was no direct e-mail to the professor on BanWeb, and the majority of us [students] are accustomed to the protocol of showing up to the first day regardless [of having] a Special Registration Form in hand.” Similar situations may be more common than necessary, partially as a result of a mentality on the part of certain students who choose to forgo online pre-registration, and instead expect to register for courses on the first day of class with add/drop late registration forms. This sometimes prompts the department to notify Registration and Records that the course does not have enough students to make it worth the professor’s time or department’s resources. The course is then removed from the catalog, and those who legitimately registered are left without options. This policy is the result of a recent report released by the Office of Academic Affairs regarding PSU’s minimum enrollment policy, which outlines basic guidelines for course offerings and the response to courses with low enrollment. A bulletin released on March 31 makes it clear that PSU’s minimum enrollment policy is designed to “ensure ongoing curricular effectiveness and the efficient use of resources through program planning.” The document also reads that there are “pedagogical and practical reasons why certain classes should be exempt from this policy,” citing experimental courses, those that are enriched by a smaller class size and
courses whose cancellation would be of a greater cost to the university. However, the bulletin does not mention what the university’s specific policy is with regards to the best time for course cancellation. Mercer said that while there is not an exact science to course cancellation, it has been determined that the deadline for most courses fall on the Wednesday before the first week of the term, in order to avoid leaving students in the lurch when a course is cancelled after a week, as well as to free up resources for other potential course offerings. In addition, Mercer said that the problem with such a policy is not that the university is too harsh, but that students do not take full advantage of their ability to register early, especially in the summer months. Although students often wait until the week before classes to register, leading to course cancellation, this was not the case for WR 428. Despite student interest, the course still did not meet the requirement of 15 registered students for combined 400/500-level classes. According to university policy, during the winter term the Office of Institutional Research and Planning provides each department’s dean’s office with data on course enrollments for the previous three years. After review, if the average enrollment of any given course, not including the exceptions, has been less than the minimum required enrollment over the most recent three years, the dean will discuss the situation with the chair of the particular department in which the course falls to determine “the appropriate course of action, including cancellation.”
FIRE ALARM
Photographers Drew Martig, Michael Pascual, Liana Shewey, Adam Wickham Copy Editors Noah Emmet, Amanda Gordon Advertising Sales Sam Gressett, Iris Meyers, Ana SanRoman, Wesley Van Der Veen Advertising Designer Beth Hansen Distributor Cody Bakken Marni Cohen/Portland State Vanguard The Vanguard is chartered to publish four days a week as an independent student newspaper by the PSU Publications Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers, and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members, additional copies or subcription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Copyright © 2010 Portland State University Vanguard 1825 SW Broadway, Smith Memorial Student Union, Rm. S-26, Portland, Ore., 97201
On Monday evening, the fire alarm in Smith Memorial Student Union went off as a result of basic maintenance that had been going on in Subway. According to Amy Altman, Subway’s manager, an employee had accidently clipped a sprinkler with a broom while cleaning. The sprinkler system was set off, flooding Subway and the surrounding area near the information desk. In addition, the water leaked through the ceiling, causing damage to Food for Thought Café, which is situated directly underneath Subway in the basement of SMSU.
Virginia Rumfelt, an employee for Food for Thought Café, said that there was “definitely some roof damage, but the damage was mostly in the hallway behind [the café’s] kitchen. “[There was] a pretty good stream going for a couple of hours,” she said. In addition, Rumfelt said that the situation was “ironic,” as the university had just finished installing a new drop ceiling in the café.
ON STANDS FRIDAY
VANGUARD’S GREEN GUIDE
Vanguard 4 | Arts & Culture April 14, 2010
ARTS & CULTURE
Arts Editor: Theodora Karatzas 503-725-5694 arts@dailyvanguard.com
Out now: All of these albums came out yesterday Tony Allen: Secret Agent (World Circuit/Nonesuch) Arctic Monkeys: My Propeller 10” (Domino) The Bitters: East General (Mexican Summer) Harlan T. Bobo: Sucker (Goner) Child Abuse: Cut and Run (Lovepump United) Chin Chin: Sound of the Westway (Slumberland/ Mississippi) Disappears: Lux (Kranky) Dosh: Tommy (anticon) Earl Greyhound: Suspicious Package (Hawk Race) Freelance Whales: Weathervanes (Frenchkiss/ Mom + Pop) Golden Triangle/ The Fresh & Onlys: Split 7” (Hardly Art) Holy Hail: The Dying (After) Party (PseudoScience) JBM: Not Even in July (Partisan) Jóhann Jóhannsson: And in the Endless Pause (Type) Kaki King: Junior (Rounder) Lair of the Minotaur: Evil Power (Southern Lord) Mantler: Monody (Tomlab) MGMT: Congratulations (Columbia) Mimicking Birds: Mimicking Birds (Glacial Pace) Murs & 9th Wonder: ForNever (SMC) The Nels Cline Singers: Initiate (Cryptogramophone) Zeena Parkins: Between the Whiles (Table of the Elements) Rafter: Animal Feelings (Asthmatic Kitty) Sightings: City of Straw (Brah/Jagjaguwar) (U.S. release) The Tallest Man on Earth: The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans) John Wiese: Circle Snare (PPM)
—pitchfork.com
Kickstarting a yearlong unveiling of classic work at the Ampersand Gallery Roger Wightman Vanguard staff
Everyone knows that journalists have it hard these days. With less people willing to pay for news, the alternative sources have slowly taken over the industry. These modern methods of transmitting information to the masses have affected not just the written word, but also the images that invoke the urgency and significance behind a story. Many of the images flashed across an online news site come from the average citizen who was in the right place at the right time and eager to participate in the storytelling. This shift away from professionalism has consequences for the information that is and will continue to be disseminated from nooks around the globe. Veteran photojournalist Ken Hawkins is determined to keep his profession relevant. A recent Portland transplant, Hawkins started his crusade to save photojournalism in Atlanta by opening a gallery devoted solely to the exhibition of photojournalism and documentary photography. This was the genesis of 52 Selects, an ongoing show both online and on exhibit that will slowly unveil 52 important professional contributions to the world of photojournalism.
Thursday performances give students opportunities to learn Scott Ostlund Vanguard staff
As the remodeling of Lincoln Hall comes to a conclusion and campus ensembles start their spring performances, the Portland State music department has many traditions that are looking forward to the changes and improvements
Photos courtesy of Ampersand Vintage
Twenty of these handpicked classics are gracing the walls of Ampersand Vintage Gallery this month. Gallery owner Myles Haselhorst became interested in housing the Hawkins exhibit after realizing the increasingly relevant role that photojournalism is playing in galleries across the country. “Professional photojournalism is becoming less relevant everyday,” Haselhorst said. “As a gallery owner, I sift through boxes of photos everyday and am essentially editing the content that I make available in my store. This is the process that professionals go through in selecting work to be displayed, and there is value in that.” Haselhorst’s argument is for the trained eye versus the untrained, the intrinsic value of molding a story and crafting an image. The photos are not restricted to images of despair or catastrophe. They cover the gamut of human emotion, cultural diversity and lifestyle. From historical images to the more recent, sports figures to lonesome cowboys, landscapes to dreamscapes and everything in between. A few of the photojournalists represented include David LaBelle,
Scott Strazzante and Marta Ramoneda. LaBelle is a true veteran of the field with over 40 years as a professional photojournalist. His subjects are diverse but the themes are similarly thought provoking and often ironic. One of the displayed photos captures a truly memorable showdown between a hunter and his prey. The side-by-side imagery of Strazzante’s work is used to both compare and contrast the differences between rural and suburban landscapes and people. In a series titled “Common Ground,” we see landscapes change from agricultural fields to housing tract, from the different uses for a bucket and a hose to the change in comfort creatures from a real kitty to a pink teddy bear. A native of Spain, Ramoneda took her camera and career to Pakistan to document the culture and lifestyle of a place far removed from the western realm. In a way that is both distressing and beautiful, Ramoneda’s images provide a voice for the impoverished and starving through photos of
calloused hands reaching for a piece of bread, to a tiny woman balancing the weight of four large bricks on the top of her burka-covered head. As the media of the 21st century begins to change, the potential for professional photojournalism to exist in its historical form remains uncertain. The contribution of professionals in the field, however, will continue to be ingrained in the fabric of society. This modern approach may instead use the power of the gallery wall to interweave itself rather than be hidden beneath the fold of day-old news.
the music department will see over the next year. One regular performance opportunity on campus is the Thursday noontime concerts, currently taking place at the Old Church. They feature students and faculty as well as community members and professionals with a connection to Portland State. These performances, which span over a wide variety of instruments and genres, have been a longstanding tradition on campus, with over two decades of performances accredited to the weekly recitals. With the focus of giving music students a chance to observe performances and learn, these weekly concerts have become a well-attended and important staple of the Portland State music community. “The Thursday ones are actually related to a class called MUS 188,” said assistant department chair Joel Bluestone. “We feel it is in [the student’s] best interest to see concerts, so we make them go to like eight out of ten every quarter.”
The performances are set up with fall and winter terms featuring the faculty-focused performances, and spring term including mostly student ensembles. Within that arrangement, faculty connections with professional musicians as well as community performers have been the key to many guest performances throughout the year. Bluestone, who is the administrator of the Thursday concerts, says that these performance opportunities have been available as long as he has been teaching at Portland State. “I’ve been here 21 years and it’s been going all 21 years…It is part of our curriculum,” Bluestone said. The combination of integrating the music program with the performances and making sure the music community is aware each week has made the weekly concerts a well-attended event with a diverse audience. “For one thing, it’s a class with all the music majors so there’s always 200 people there…Plus, the community comes,” Bluestone said.
This week, woodwind coordinator and music history instructor Barbara Heilmair will take to the stage at the Old Church. Heilmair, who is also known for touring with the Oregon Ballet Theater and the Oregon Symphony, has taught previously at University of California Los Angeles and California State University in Long Beach. Similar to many of the performances that Bluestone and the Portland State School of Music have brought to perform, Heilmair will bring big stage talent to a small venue. These performances are open campus-wide and have made the PSU School of Music a growing and unique environment for learning.
52 Selects Ampersand Vintage Gallery 2916 NE Alberta St. Tue–Sat. Noon–6 p.m. Sun, Noon–5 p.m. Runs through April 25 www.52selects.com
Barbara Heilmair The Old Church 1422 SW 11th Ave Thu, noon Free All ages
FIREHOUSE
Chicken cacciatore Who says firefighters only save lives? Katherine Vetrano Vanguard staff
Photo courtesy of Kaytethinks/Flickr
Sometimes the best dishes come from the most unexpected places. When most people think of a firehouse, they think of tough men and women ready to put out fires, be the first to rush to a car wreck or the old stereotype of coaxing a cat out of a tree. One thing most don’t know is that food is a huge part of firefighter culture. Often on shifts where firefighters sleep at the firehouse for two nights in a row, they follow their daily training with a morning trip to the grocery store to stock up on meals they can enjoy between calls. A retired California firefighter recalled one specific meal in his many years in the service: “Chicken cacciatore is an old firehouse favorite. It was great because it would cook all day while you were running calls.” You don’t have to be someone who saves lives to enjoy this recipe. It also fits the fast-paced lives of students with its frugality and excellent leftover potential. The recipe is extremely versatile— feel free to add olives, capers or whatever your pantry has to contribute. The beauty of cacciatore is that it is easy to make your own.
Vanguard Arts & Culture | 5 April 14, 2010
Firehouse chicken cacciatore Ingredients 2 lbs chicken thighs 1/4 cup of olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 bell pepper, sliced 16 ounce jar of tomato sauce (Classico is excellent) 1 can of tomato paste 1 1/4 tablespoon of dried thyme 1 small can of sliced olives 1 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 3 to 6 cloves of garlic, crushed and diced 2 ounces of medium-bodied red wine (cabernet or merlot) 1/2 lb of button mushrooms, sliced Method Brown chicken in olive oil for a few minutes on each side until just barely cooked on the outside. Combine chicken, olives, onion, tomato sauce, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper, brown sugar and wine in a large slow cooker. Bring mixture to high and let come to a boil, covered. Stir mixture with large wooden spoon. Cover mixture and cook on low for four to six hours. Put sliced mushrooms and bell peppers in during last hour. Serve over cooked pasta, and top with finely grated Parmesan cheese.
Tomatoey dreams: Tangy and versatile, chicken cacciatore is sure to be a crowd favorite.
Red Cabbage Salad A fresh, crispy salad is the perfect companion to this dish, preferably to eat after the pasta to leave you feeling less stuffed. Ingredients Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil juice from one Meyer lemon 4 tablespoons of sherry vinegar 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1 teaspoon sea salt Salad: 1 small head of red cabbage 4 tablespoons of flat leaf parsley 1 red bell pepper Method Combine sherry vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and salt in a small bowl. Whisk with fork. Chop the cabbage. Slice bell peppers, removing white pithy parts and seeds. Finely chop parsley. Mix cabbage, bell peppers, dressing and parsley in a large bowl. Serves four to five people.
Photo courtesy of Pictoscribe/Flickr
Big, fat list of shows: Wednesday’s live music lineup Gonzoe, The Have-Nots, Macadoshis, Conflict, Da Gutta Boyz. Unsuspected, Kon Da Kuddy, Boogie England Ash St. Saloon, 9:30 p.m., $5, 21+ Sustentacula, Brainstorm, Sherpa, Brown, DJ P Unity Backspace, 8 p.m., $3, all ages Wishyunu, Toyboat Toyboat Toyboat Berbati’s Restaurant, 9 p.m., free, 21+ The Soft Pack, Male Bonding Doug Fir, 9 p.m., $10 advance, $12 door, 21+ Sexywaterspiders, The Singing Knives, Brownish Black Ella St. Social Club, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Miike Snow, Silversafe, Jon Davidson Hawthorne Theater, 9 p.m., $16, all ages Gulls, Head Shop Boys (Fifth Annual Minigolf Art Invitational) Holocene, 5 p.m., $8, 21+
Vanguard 6 | Opinion April 14, 2010
Opinion Editor: Richard D. Oxley 503-725-5692 opinion@dailyvanguard.com
All about wolves It is estimated that the wolf population in the Rocky Mountain area (parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming) is around 1,706, consisting of 242 packs and 115 breeding pairs. In Wyoming, wolf attacks on sheep have increased in recent years. In 2009, 195 sheep were killed, compared to 26 sheep in 2008. Last year, for the first time, breeding pairs of wolves were reported and confirmed in eastern Washington and Oregon. In 2009, federal agencies spent $3,763,000 on wolf management, while private and state agencies paid out $457,785 in compensation for wolf-related damage to livestock. 2009 saw the smallest growth rate for wolves since 1995 at less than 4 percent. On May 4, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains, except in Wyoming, from the endangered species list. This decision is currently being challenged in Federal District Courts in both Wyoming and Montana.
OPINION
Stop AERIAL WOLF HUNTING We’ve made the mistake of hunting wolves before Meaghan Daniels Vanguard staff
Sarah Palin is a well-known politician, former governor of Alaska, 2008 vice presidential candidate and a murderer of wolves. In the brief two and a half years of her time as governor, Palin promoted an aerial wolf slaughter campaign that still continues to this day. She
“But it’s so much better to be worried about how to deal with wolves than to regret letting them become extinct.” planned to offer a $150 bounty for the severed forelimb of each murdered wolf. Nearly 700 wolves have been killed due to these aerial attacks. Palin also implemented the practice of gassing wolf pups while they were in their dens. A government financial incentive for the killing of wolves, or any animal for that matter, should not be legal, especially in Alaska, a state that is known for its majestic wildlife. Wyoming and Idaho are considering the use of the aerial hunting of wolves by federal and state agencies. This past hunting season in Idaho, 188 wolves were killed—just 32 short of the quota of 220 which was set before the hunting season began.
Due to hunting, 5 percent of wolves in Montana and 12 percent in Idaho were removed from the total wolf population. —U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
the hunting needs to continue. Is this the inevitable cycle for wolves—from becoming so close to being extinct to becoming overpopulated and being hunted down all over again? Wolves are starting to return to Oregon as well, which is a wonderful development. John Rueter, professor of Environmental Science and Management at Portland State University, said, “It is an exciting prospect for Oregon to have wolves and moose return to our state.” Although wolves and moose may not always get along, it is definitely better to have them around than not to have the wolves around at all. “Those animals will cause some friction and we will have to deal with that problem.” Rueter
Guest Opinion
Montana’s maximum wolf-hunting quota was 75 last year, while Idaho’s was set at 220. $749,196 in tags was purchased by hunters in 2009 for the prospect of hunting a single wolf.
Idaho state officials have actually been praising the hunt for helping to stabilize the wolf population. At the end of 2009, there were an estimated 800 wolves in 94 packs in Idaho. Idaho is a good-sized state, and 800 wolves does not seem like a lot. Wolves were previously endangered due to hunters, and were reintroduced into Idaho and Yellowstone National Park to try to keep the population alive. Now officials are saying there is an overpopulation of wolves, so
Video games keep “nerd rage” at bay Greg Dewar
Daily Emerald staff
We nerds are one of the most aggressive species on the planet. Just ask us whether or not Han shot first. Touch someone’s D20 without permission. Point out that Daikatana isn’t the single greatest video game of all time, and then pour some more salt in the wound by asking us when Duke Nukem Forever is coming out. The answer to the last question is never, and the end result would be some Dr. Moreau-style ball of rage: part calculator and part Wolverine. Allow me to clarify, the X-Men character. It makes sense then that we challenge ourselves to constant contests of domination and sign up for every competition we can find, as long as it can be performed indoors, far, far from the evil of the sun (it’s trying to kill us all, you know). It’s not always a tournament for the top spot—sometimes we cooperate—though someone almost always ends up as “Alpha Geek” calling the shots and, while
generally being ignored by the other players, is still listening to his or her commands. It’s a strange beast. So, we have a lot of pent-up “nerd rage,” if you will, and we like to unleash it upon one another safely. But are there some health benefits to this? Well, no, studies are generally inconclusive, and though I would absolutely adore telling you that video games never cause any problems with empirical evidence, alas, researchers are too busy attempting to paint video games in a negative light to actually study their effects on people. Well, most of them. In 2005, the University of Illinois-Urbana, found there was no link between violent video games and aggression whatsoever in a test involving a 75-person group of gamers and a 138-person nongaming control group with ages in both groups ranging from 14 to 68. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the BBC and CNN have published articles linking video games to violence. A quick Google search brings up so many waffling arguments with “experts” on both sides weighing in (read: hemming and hawing with no real clue) and arguing amongst
Illustration by Kira Meyrick/Portland State Vanguard
said. “But it’s so much better to be worried about how to deal with wolves than to regret letting them become extinct.” One thing is certain: The use of aerial hunting has got to stop. Hunting is considered a “sport.” Putting aside the fact that it is not a sport in the first place, what is considered even remotely “sport-like” about using planes and helicopters to viciously kill animals? How is that fair? Idaho’s wolf issue goes beyond hunting or not hunting—it has become a government debate and an issue between state and federal government. The federal
government wants to protect the wolves, and the state government wants to be able to have the power to regulate the wolf population in their state, whatever that may entail. The first step to progress was Sarah Palin resigning. Now we need to get rid of aerial hunting: It is an unfair, unsportsmanlike way to kill wolves. Alaska needs to stop the hostile brutality. Wyoming and Idaho need to refuse to follow Alaska’s horrible example. Let the wolves live—it is better to have them, and have to deal with them, than to not have them at all.
each other. I think that should be an indicator right there. Let’s drop the “video games plus kid equals psychopath-in-training” failblog equation and look at things realistically. I challenge you to think of all the people you know who play video games on a regular basis—they don’t have to have a closet full of Starfleet uniforms like me. Are they crazy? Or do they seem calm and content after playing? This leaves it up to the individual. Competitive gaming can be an outlet for aggression, just like tackle football (only without the criminal behavior some members of the University’s football team exhibit) or a night of self-flagellating exercise at the gym. When some people are pissed off, they sweat it out; others kill zombie Nazis. And honestly, if you’re going to go around pretending to kill something, it might as well be zombie Nazis, right? My generation’s grandfathers went to Europe with the express intent to kill Nazis, and as a nation, the U.S. cheered them on and blew them kisses. Now turn them into the undead, and well, there are absolutely no redeeming qualities. Speaking from personal experience, video games keep me sane. When I get busy with some combination of work and school and don’t play them for a couple of weeks, I notice that I get a slight edge to my personality: I’m much less interested in everything in general; I get a little depressed; and I smoke probably double the cigarettes I would if I were on video games—my anti-drug. The challenge against other players provides an outlet for aggression; there’s a sense of achievement from in-game accomplishments that boosts my
self-esteem a little, and the story and artwork capture my imagination. There are the social aspects to the games, as well. I have made countless friends on countless battlefields across the Internet, and technically, some of those friendships have endured across three decades. How many real-life friends can you say that about? The draw for cooperation is very strong, if Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games like World of Warcraft are any measure. Working in unison with 25 other players to accomplish something can be just as much fun as a tournament for the top spot. It doesn’t have to be all violent, either—Tetris is one of the most popular games of all time; it exercises the mind as an outlet. As a species, we humans have cultivated violence as a form of entertainment for ages. We’ve come a long way from Roman gladiators fighting to the death for entertainment. Violent themes permeate our culture through theater, literature, music, graphic novels, art, and of course, movies. We find it exciting in modern culture, just as long as it’s not real. Video games are just another safe and healthy outlet, albeit interactive, for our primal instincts leftover from the hunter-gatherer days. In short, life becomes better as long as I’m hooked up to my VGIV (Video Game Intravenous), and gamers are some of the most wellrounded people I can think of. They work all their aggression out on a daily basis. *This article was originally published in the Daily Emerald. It is reprinted here in its original form.
etc.
Vanguard Etc. | 7 April 14, 2010
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Vanguard 8 | Arts & Culture April 14, 2010
ART WEDNESDAY
Arts Editor: Theodora Karatzas 503-725-5694 arts@dailyvanguard.com
Tonight at the NW Film Center Alaskan Tales Various directors “Juneau, the small and isolated capital of Alaska, boasts whales, glaciers, great beer, and a surprisingly active filmmaking scene. In a community where you have to learn to entertain yourself, the JUMP (Juneau Underground Motion Picture) Festival provides a flickering coming together to make the long winters and gray summers more endurable and warm. Since its inception eight years ago, the JUMP Society has screened over 350 short films, and this traveling collection features some of the curator’s favorites. The program includes work from Lou Logan, Aaron Suring, Paul Disdier, Greg Chaney, Brice Habeger, Mukhya and Hari Dev Khalsa, Clint Farr, Arlo Midgett, and others.”
7 p.m. All screenings are in Whitsell Auditorium, 1218 SW Park Ave. Free with PSU student ID. —nwfilm.org
Sam Cutler talks about life with the biggest rock stars of the ’70s Wendy Shortman Vanguard staff
You Can’t Always Get What You Want is a quintessential addition to any die-hard rock and roll fan’s bookcase. In this revealing and fascinating memoir, Sam Cutler, former tour manager of The Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead, provides his personal account of life among iconic figures of the music industry in the ’60s and ’70s. Beginning with his somewhat humble origins in England, Cutler talks about his rather unique childhood experiences with his adoptive parents. His mother Dora, a revolutionary of sorts, raised him within the teachings of a “socialist Sunday school” that encouraged values of love, peace and motives to fight oppression. Some time after Cutler’s adoptive father passes away, his mother marries his stepfather, Mel. And so persists Cutler’s account of regular teenage angst. He yearns to get away from life in England to discover this great place he keeps hearing about—America and its new musical frontier.
by Ebonee Lee
Even from a young age, Cutler aligns himself with local musicians, and in the book he reminisces on his first encounter with marijuana. A little while later he gets handed a piece of literature that changes his life—Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Cutler describes his first acid trip, which opens up a new wave of self-awareness and thoughtfulness that he describes as a common theme at the time. The experience causes him to leave his profession as a teacher and pursue a new lifestyle that every kid in their 20s would dream of—a life full of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Cutler goes on to describe his life in London and the amazing shifts going on in the musical industry. He talks of his friendship with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and his interactions with Syd Barrett. As a protégé to Alexis Korner, a well-known blues musician in London, Cutler finds himself on his first tour, experiencing the life of a tour manager. From then on Cutler knows that’s where he belongs. After putting on a successful free concert in England, big names like The Rolling Stones came to Blackhill, the company Cutler worked for, saying they wanted to put on a free show. Shortly after giving Mick Jagger one of the “best days of his life” and paying his dues,
Sam Cutler
Cutler was offered a job as the tour manager of the Rolling Stones. Cutler describes The Rolling Stones’ American tour, including the low and high points. With vivid imagery, he recounts his interactions with the band, specific shows, and all the crazed groupies along the way. Cutler also talks openly about taking a job as the Grateful Dead’s tour manager, and the new adventures that followed. He expresses his sentiment to a particular member of the Dead’s crew, “The Bear.” The Bear became Cutler’s psychedelic shaman, supplying him and others with legendary acid that inspired some major musical works, including Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix. A highlight of Cutler’s experiences with the Dead is when
Photo courtesy of Random House
he recalls going to the airport, and demanding—much like a babysitter would—that the band members try to act normal. It’s no doubt that Sam Cutler has lived the life that many could only dream of. From chatting with Jimi Hendrix to visiting a pool in Winnipeg with hungover musicians including Janis Joplin, Cutler has partied and babysat some of the world’s largest rock legends.
Reading with Sam Cutler Powell’s Books on Hawthorne 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Tonight, 7:30 p.m. Free
