Daily Vanguard May 27, 2010 by Portland State Vanguard

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 116

Event of the day A free showing of the documentary Citizen Tanouye will be shown as part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. The documentary tells the story of Ted Tanouye, a Japanese-American who fought and died in WWII even as his family was forcefully relocated to an internment camp.

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INSIDE Arts Debunking the "CSI effect" Rod Englert talks about solving crime in the real world PAGE 4

PSU’s first chief diversity officer Interviews for the new position are underway this month Carrie Johnston and Stacy Austin Vanguard staff

Beers to make your mouth pucker Rock Bottom leads the pack this season with sour beers PAGE 4

From farm hand to festival band Alpaca! brings out the animal in all of us PAGE 5

Sports

Filling the position of chief diversity officer at Portland State has been an ongoing process, but the university is hoping to do so by the end of this school year. PSU General Counsel Chip Lazenby is currently chairing the search committee for the CDO, a new position that will be filled by the end of June. Serving as general counsel, Lazenby reports directly to President Wiewel, advising on administrative and employment matters. “This is a brand new position,” Lazenby said, referring to finding a chief diversity officer, who will also report directly to President Wiewel. According to Lazenby, the university needs someone “who can help retain people of color,” and who will be responsible for areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, university employment activism and community outreach. “We want diversity to get bumped up a bit in our DNA,”

he said. “If you have a diverse faculty and staff, then students feel more secure on campus.” The primary functions of a CDO are to guide the diversity agenda of an institution and to ensure that minority faculty and staff are represented. CDOs are also responsible for guiding efforts to conceptualize, define, assess, nurture and cultivate diversity as an institutional and education resource, according to the Inside Higher Ed website. Their duties include affirmative action and meeting constituent needs of minorities and women. CDOs define their mission as providing and coordinating leadership for diversity issues throughout the institution. Increasing the diversity of the PSU student body and workforce has been an ongoing priority for Martha Balshem, a sociology professor and the special assistant to the president for diversity. The ideal candidate is expected to have the authority to hold administrators and managers accountable for progress toward PSU’s diversity goals, according to Balshem. “All the candidates I’ve met so far are wonderful,” she said. The Commission on Campus Climate report of 1999—an investigation of ways to improve

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Martha Balshem: She has helped to fill the gap but is helping the process of hiring a CDO.

student-learning experiences— identified the specific goal to promote diversity throughout the institution. With the installment of a chief diversity officer position, the university is taking a major step toward that goal. Soon after Wiewel was hired in November 2008, he wrote to the Diversity Action Counsel and asked them to prepare a description of what a chief diversity officer role would look like. During that time, student leaders made their voices heard by formally requesting this position to be created. “This made a big impression on Wim,” Balshem said. The position is another step towards PSU’s commitment to diversity, as it means more funding for scholarships and students from non-dominant groups feeling comfortable on campus.

“I think that, in representing diversity issues, the [CDO] is standing in for the core mission of the university,” Balshem said. “PSU’s mission has always been about access to higher education, and access means more than just opening the door to students; it means welcoming them once they get here.” Balshem has been advocating for a CDO at PSU since 1999, reaching back to the report, which included an investigation into how diversity enriches education. According to the report, campus climate is the cumulative effect of all interactions that a person experiences related to PSU. The commission recommended that increased awareness be facilitated through

CDO continued on page two

The John Hall investigation; four months later and no info

In good rhythm PSU dance group to hold showcase Saturday PAGE 6

Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard Archives

John Hall

Women's golf season in review A look back at a record-breaking year PAGE 6

When: 7 p.m. Where: Cramer Hall, room 494

Professor still banned from teaching after accusing student of spying Corie Charnley Vanguard staff

It has been over four months since Professor John Hall publicly accused a student of being an FBI informant during an economics lecture. Since then, Hall was placed on administrative paid and an investigation was launched—which continues with no end in sight. According to the Portland State website, Hall is currently scheduled to teach two economics courses next fall: EC 201 and EC 446/546. However, if Hall is terminated, the classes will not be cancelled.

Instead, another instructor will replace him, said PSU Director of Communications Scott Gallagher. “Students will not be affected in any way,” he said. During his suspension, Hall has been paid his regular salary, Gallagher said. According to public records, Hall’s regular monthly salary was $10,192.69, as of Nov. 1, 2009. However, this does not account for the faculty salary restorations that were implemented on April 1, 2010. The investigation, which is being carried out by the Office of Academic Affairs, is following the process defined by Article 27, Section 3 of PSU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, Gallagher said. When asked why the investigation is still ongoing— after four months—he said that it is because it is following the CBA process. According to the CBA, faculty members are suspended during the investigation “only if immediate harm to the member or others is threatened by the member’s continuance” at PSU.

Despite the Vanguard’s attempts to contact those allegedly involved with the investigation process—including Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Planning Carol Mack and Economics Department Chair Randy Bluffstone—it has received no response. Currently, the Office of the General Counsel will not release the Campus Public Safety Office reports, citing Oregon Revised Statute 192.501(12). In a letter to the Vanguard, the Office of the General Counsel wrote, “[The statute] exempts from disclosure documents regarding ‘[a] personnel discipline action, or materials or documents supporting that action.’” Hall, who has taught at PSU for 24 years, could face losing his tenure, though the administration has not arrived at a resolution and no sanction has been imposed. “We’re still working through the process with the union,” Gallagher said. “We’re not sure how long it will take.” When asked if Hall would provide a public statement regarding his investigation, Phil

Lesch, executive director of PSU’s AAUP chapter, said that no further statements would be made. “The process is and will remain confidential,” Lesch said. “The investigation and resolution will be treated with the confidentiality and respect required of all human resource matters.” The incident for which Hall is being investigated occurred on Jan. 14, 2010. According to an article published by the Vanguard on Feb. 4, Hall accused student Zachary “Zaki” Bucharest of being an FBI agent during his “EC 445/545: Comparative Economic Systems” class. In addition, Hall said that Bucharest served as a sniper in the Israeli army, and made claims that Bucharest was a threat to the student body. Aside from the claims about his military background, Bucharest denied most of the accusations and has since been supported by several student leaders within ASPSU, for which Bucharest served as chief-of-staff. Since the incident, Bucharest was cleared of all charges during a student code of conduct hearing.

Vanguard 2 | News May 27, 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, Carrie Johnston, Tamara K. Kennedy, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Natalie McClintock, Daniel Ostlund, Tanya Shiffer, Wendy Shortman, Robert Seitzinger, Catrice Stanley, Amy Staples, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Andrea Vedder, Katherine Vetrano, Allison Whited, Roger Wightman

NEWS Summer construction projects Lincoln Hall and Campus Wide Loop projects to continue during summer Catrice Stanley Vanguard staff

While the majority of Portland State students will enjoy the sunshine and abandon their textbooks this summer, construction on campus will stay in session. Two main projects will continue over the summer months, according to Robyn Pierce, director of the Facilities and Planning department. Lincoln Hall Lincoln Hall, which has been under construction for the better part of a year, will finally reopen its doors to students during the summer. Some classrooms in the building will be open by August, Pierce said. “[The] most exciting event over summer vacation will be relocating fine and performing arts, theater and music programs back into the refurbished and improved Lincoln Hall,” he said. “[We expect this] move should happen during the month of August.” Francis McBride, the supervising architect for Facilities and Planning, was the project manager for the replacement of Lincoln Hall’s windows. Although he is not in charge of the entire project, he did say that Lincoln Hall is expected to be back in full use by fall of this year. According to McBride, the Lincoln Hall project went as planned. The summer construction is the final “catch-up work.”

“There are always tiny [problems] with construction, but there was nothing big [during the renovation of Lincoln Hall],” McBride said. The heating, cooling, window replacements and electric systems have already been updated, in addition to seismic retrofitting, to bring the building up to date. This summer, the main goal will be to “move people back in,” according to McBride. “There [will also be] a general sprucing up of the building,” he said. Campus Wide Loop project The Campus Wide Loop project will also continue through the summer, though its projected completion date is not until February 2011. The project is designed to save energy by updating the old PSU heating and cooling systems throughout campus. It can be seen most prevalently in the South Park Blocks, reaching from Shattuck Hall to Millar Library. Phase 1 of the project—which began in February 2008—has already been completed. In an article published on April 8, Mark Fujii, the project manager and a mechanical engineer for Facilities and Planning, told the Vanguard that this stage involved the installation of a new 750-ton chiller in the East Heating Plant, located in the Cramer Hall sub basement. Phase 1 also included upgrades to the steam and chilled water piping from Cramer Hall, through Smith Memorial Student Union and Neuberger Hall, to Shattuck Hall and across Broadway to the Education and School of Business building, as well as to the University Services Building.

A little less talk, and a lot more listening

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 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

Adam Wickham//Portland State Vanguard

Speaking up: James Bacon, 27, writes a question to Christians yesterday.

The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship hosted a two-day event, beginning yesterday on the South Park Blocks, that begs the question on its promotional material, “If Christians would listen, what would you say?” The student group, which consists of about 25 to 30 students, began planning the event about a month ago in response to the many vocal and forceful street preachers who often speak on the Park Blocks.

“We’re doing this to provide an alternative and a place for students to talk,” said group member Rebecca Wall, a junior studying linguistics. The group put up a tent in which students can sit and talk. It also set up a cardboard tablet on which students can write questions or statements. “We just want to listen— instead of talk—to students on a neutral ground,” she said. The event continues today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the park by Lincoln Hall.

A tunnel, also part of Phase 1, was constructed across Sixth Avenue to the new Academic and Student Recreation Center. The project’s current stage— Phase 2—includes construction of the “South” and “West” tunnels, which are evident by the blocked off areas in the South Park Blocks and those surrounding Science Building 2. The “South” tunnel will connect Shattuck Hall to the south end of Millar Library through the Park Blocks. The “West Tunnel” will connect the west side of Millar Library to SB2. The addition of the South and West tunnels, as well as the new piping added to the North tunnel, will allow more energy efficient equipment to share heat and cooling

with greater portions of campus, Mark Fujii told the Vanguard. Phase 2 of construction also includes the installation of a new 1,000-ton chiller and geothermal wells in, and around, SB2. Other projects In addition to the two larger projects, Pierce said that it is likely that there will be a couple of small classroom upgrades over the summer. “We hope to complete a few classroom upgrades while there are less students on campus,” she said. “Projects [of this sort] generally include energy efficient lighting, fresh paint, flooring and new tables and chairs and technology upgrades.”

Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard

Lincoln Hall: Begins the process of reopening over the summer.

CDO |

from page one

A decade-old report prompted CDO hire diversity training for administrators, faculty and staff. The fallout from this report lead to the decision to employ a CDO, who will be sitting on the president’s cabinet full-time, Balshem said. Lazenby said he would like to see the future CDO “build stronger ties” between PSU and the local diverse community, while the president would like the CDO to instigate a new campus climate study. “I’ve been doing the work of a CDO half-time, but it’s really a different person that the university needs to do this— someone who has more time and experience, who has a national presence in this work,” Balshem said. The possible candidates are from all over the nation and are currently working various positions, Lazenby said. Commenting on the ideal applicant for the position, he said, “What we’re looking for

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Balshem: Diversity is a priority of hers.

is a person who has made diversity their passion…and definitely someone who has worked in academics.” Wiewel will have final say on who is hired for the position.

The Daily Cut

Vanguard News | 3 May 27, 2010

Your world in brief

World: Elton John performance in Morocco raises outcry RABAT, Morocco [AP]—A concert by Elton John is testing the limits of Morocco’s drive for modernity, probing this Muslim nation’s complex and ambiguous attitudes toward homosexuality like rarely before. Islamists in the North African kingdom are outraged by the gay pop star’s visit, while the royal palace, government and his many fans back his appearance Wednesday night. It’s part of a tussle between conservatives and modernizers in a nation that criminalizes homosexuality but has long been famous for a swinging party scene. Morocco has attracted gay celebrities such as designer Yves Saint Laurent and writer Paul Bowles, and recently saw the launch of its first gay magazine. Across the Islamic world, strictly hidden but sometimes tacitly tolerated traditions of homosexuality are surfacing fitfully—and John’s concert is the latest litmus test. The public dispute between organizers for the Mawazine Festival that invited John and the Justice and Development Party, or PJD, Morocco’s largest authorized Islamist group, illustrates the

Hair salons help Gulf spill growing rift between Westernleaning Moroccan authorities and the more conservative Muslim movements that are on the rise in the kingdom. “This singer is famous for his homosexual behavior and for advocating it,” said Mustapha Ramid, a leader and spokesman for the PJD, the biggest opposition party with 40 lawmakers in parliament. “We’re a rather open party, but promoting homosexuality is completely unacceptable,” Ramid told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Ramid said homosexuality is against Muslim values, and he feared the British singer would “encourage the phenomenon” and be a bad influence for Moroccan youth. Like nearly all Arab and Muslim countries, Morocco is officially hostile to homosexuality. Homosexual practices are a crime punishable by fines and prison sentences of six months to three years. In practice, however, such penalties are almost never applied, and Morocco has a long history of leniency toward homosexuality or other practices forbidden by Islam, like drinking alcohol. Though most observers consider homosexuality common in the Arab world, most Arab countries frequently crack down on gays. Simply mentioning the

topic is often taboo, and Morocco is viewed as an exception simply by allowing the public debate. Moroccan officials dismissed the calls to ban John from performing. “We deal with artists and intellectuals for what they do, without taking into account their private life,” said El Hassan Neffali, an organizer of the Mawazine Festival. “Somebody’s private life is one thing, and their art or creative activities are another.” The festival is under the patronage of King Mohammed VI—a powerful gesture in a country that remains an absolute monarchy and where the king, a descendant of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, is also “Amir al-Mumineen,” or commander of the believers. Moroccan officials acknowledge that they back the festival, along with dozens of others through the spring and summer, as a means to promote cultural diversity and openness in society. The cultural drive, along with new schools, housing projects and a vast program to reform the official teaching of Islam, is viewed as part of the king’s broader plan to modernize society while offering an alternative to the Islamist groups that have become the country’s biggest political force. Abdellah Taia, a Moroccan writer and its most prominent gay advocate, said that while Moroccan

gays continue to suffer from abuse, the country is evolving faster than any other in the Arab world. He noted that even the official Le Matin newspaper, considered the mouthpiece for the royal palace, came out strongly in support of John’s visit. “Have we (Moroccans) become so intolerant that we refuse and fight differences, which are to humanity what seasons are to life?” Le Matin said in backing the concert. Taia — who lives in France — said, however, “I just wish they’d extend the support they give Elton John to ordinary Moroccan gays.” A sign of Morocco’s evolution, Taia said, is the creation of a new local word to describe homosexuality in Arabic: “Mithly,” replacing the pejorative usual phrase of “an act against nature.” The first gay magazine in the Arab world, called Mithly, appeared last month in Morocco, although it is sold under the counter because it didn’t get a distribution license. The gay rights group that publishes it — one of the first in any Arab country — is based in Spain. Its first edition announced John’s Moroccan concert as a major symbol.

—Alfred de Montesquiou and Hassan Alaoui, Associated Press

Portland hair salons are doing their part to help clean up the Gulf Coast oil spill that occurred in April, according to an article published by The Oregonian on May 23. Several hair salons in the area are donating hair clippings as part of a national campaign designed to soak up the oil from the spill. However, despite their efforts, scientists are skeptical as to whether the hair will help curb the slick that is currently washing up on Louisiana’s shores, according to the article. The Portland salons joining the campaign include Tribe Hair Studio and Salon Shibumi. According to the article, the salons are working in collaboration with Matter of Trust, a San Francisco nonprofit. Currently, its warehouses are full. “We’ve been collecting it now for a couple of weeks,’” Patti Henry, owner of Salon Shibumi, told The Oregonian. “We have the vet across the street; his groomer is bringing over hair as well.’” For more information about how to donate to Matter of Trust, visit www.matteroftrust.org.

—oregonlive.com

Vanguard 4 | Arts & Culture May 27, 2010

Arts Editor: Theodora Karatzas 503-725-5694 arts@dailyvanguard.com

Thursday night is all right for fighting (or music) Wampire, Jeffrey Jerusalem, Guidance Counselor, May Ling, Breakfast Mountain, Atole It's about to go down at Holocene tonight. Fresh off its 'badical' record release show with Fake Drugs, Guidance Counselor has really broadened its scope since the band's infant days as Ian Anderson's Dan Deacon-lite solo effort. Watching the band play now is kind of like seeing your child off to his or her first day of school—not that I'd know anything about that. Holocene really knows how to give you the most for your proverbial buck, all these bands will set you back a paltry $5—that's less than a dollar a band! WHOA. Holocene, 8 p.m., $5, 21+ Cat Fancy, La Corde, Magic Johnson, Orca Team Never will I understand the hipster pride point of playing instruments that aren't theirs. Cat Fancy literally bills itself as, among other things, a band that uses a "borrowed keyboard." After a closer look, the band is right to denounce ownership of the Alesis Micron used in 90 percent of their promo photos. Really though, Cat Fancy is pretty good if you like music that sounds like it was recorded in a huge coffee can. Also, Magic Johnson is the second best band named after a retired basketball player.

ARTS & CULTURE

Debunking the

Rod Englert talks about solving crime in the real world Wendy Shortman Vanguard staff

“On television, it’s the lab person running around doing it all, and that’s just not the way it is,” Rod Englert said. “That’s not the real world.” Englert is a 43-year veteran of law enforcement, whose new book Blood Secrets reveals the process of solving homicide cases through forensics. And we’re not talking about what you see on CSI. “I often testify to jurors and tell them that it’s not like what they portray on television,” Englert said. “DNA isn’t the catch-all to everything, either.” This idea that real life crime solving is just like what we see on crime shows can lead to unrealistic expectations about what’s supposed to happen in a trial. “One thing that’s even more disturbing is when young people see that stuff and walk away with the expectation that they can do testing and interview people and work in the lab, and that is far from the truth,” Englert said. Englert debunks these myths in his book, explaining that the people in the lab only work in the lab. They don’t carry guns or interview people.

“CSI effect” It’s the detectives, like Englert, that go out and solve the crime. The expert says he became interested in crime scene reconstruction and blood spatter analysis after determining a murder weapon as an ax—before forensic evidence showed otherwise. “They teased me, and so I decided to learn everything I could about blood spatter,” Englert said. “I started going to murder scenes— I just didn’t understand it.” Englert recreates scenes and analyzes blood spatter to decipher what really happened at a crime scene. In the book, he shares stories of some high profile cases and how blood splatter and other forensic components played a key role in finding justice. “Forensics are very important— the science of the problem that needs to be solved,” Englert said. “Blood spatter is just one little aspect of what I do. I find the pieces to the puzzle, so we can say ‘there’s one link,’ so I go and talk to that person.” Englert’s examples come from real life cases that he has worked on. For instance, a dispute between a man and his girlfriend, where the man claims he was standing 40 feet away.

“He has tiny little specks on him, which is consistent with a gun spatter,” Englert said. “That tells me he’s lying because he had to be within three feet of her. The tinier the specks, the less distance it traveled.” Or a person arrested with his partner for beating up a taxi driver in New York City. They beat him with a stick, and one man blames the other. “From the clothes of both of them, one had a different kind of projected stain on his pants,” Englert said. “He says he was just standing by—well, it doesn’t happen that way.” Initially, Englert thought his book would be boring. But now, Englert says he hasn’t had one critical comment about the writing of his book, and gives his credit to Kathy Passero who helped him bring his story to life. “When she wrote the proposal my heart started beating,” Englert said. “It’s the way she wrote it that made it exciting. It’s a page turner, because you want to find out what’s going to happen.” Englert hopes that readers will understand that solving real crime isn’t anything like what you see on television or in the movies. He wants readers to not think about

Photo courtesy of Thomas Dunne Books

these stories for shock value, and to know that there are a lot of good people in the world—in fact, a majority. He dedicates the book to the ones searching for justice. “The book is for people to realize the plight of the victims, and how hard we work in law enforcement to find justice,” Englert said. “We work just as hard for those that are falsely accused that are innocent, because they become the victim, too.”

Reading with Rod Englert Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3425 Southwest Cedar Hills Blvd. Tonight, 7 p.m. Free

Beers to make your mouth pucker Rock Bottom leads the pack this season with sour beers

Plan B, 9 p.m., $5, 21+

Bianca Blankenship Vanguard staff

Fads come and go in the craft beer community—from IPAs contending for the most bitterness to hops being used at their freshest—and a current trend seems to be catching on slowly but surely in Portland and beyond. The popular culprit? Sour beers. Rock Bottom Brewery recently released its Sour Patch Pale Ale for American Craft Beer Week. The brewery forecasts many more sour beers in its future and the trend is likely to continue. Many people give a small grimace at the idea of a sour beer, but that response is changing. “You tell them it’s sour and it’s surprising actually how many people will drink the beer,” said Rock Bottom brewer Van Havig. “Sour beer is a spectrum of the beer flavor wheel that the public is getting used to.” Rock Bottom has undoubtedly been spinning that wheel into the

public’s awareness since it started brewing sour beers three years ago. In 2009 the brewery came out with a new blend called Maude Flanders, which according to Havig was “brutally sour.” They expected it to last an entire year, but the kegs were guzzled up in less than five months. Sour Patch, a year-old blend of sour beer and IPA released last week, disappeared even faster. The trend is extending to beer festivals as well. This summer, Belmont Station will hold the fourth annual Puckerfest, a weeklong miniature beer festival dedicated to sour beers. Rock Bottom currently has nearly 30 kegs of sour beers in the basement waiting to be tapped next summer. Some will be released at the brewery and others at local beer festivals. “We have an enormous amount of sour beer in the basement,” Havig said. “A frightening amount.” Frightening as it is, Rock Bottom is waiting for the beers to peak. There aren’t likely to be many sour beers in its near future, but next year will bring plenty of pucker. There’s good reason, though, that other breweries aren’t jumping on the idea of sour beers so eagerly. Rock Bottom is lucky enough to

Photo courtesy of Perfesser/Flickr

Sour patch kids: Hop down to Rock Bottom soon for some of its special sour beers.

have a basement to separate the sour from all its other beers. The two should never be mixed. That’s because the particular yeast strains needed to give a beer its sourness are especially troublesome. They are almost guaranteed to make their way into anything that’s brewing nearby and turn it sour. That might sound fine to those who enjoy sour beers, but it’s bad news for a brewery that brews a variety of beer styles. This keeps craft brewers with smaller brewing spaces away from the trend. Rock Bottom has an

entirely different building level to keep its other beers safe. Some other breweries are not so lucky. Along with Sour Patch, Rock Bottom recently released Floreal IV and Syttende Maibock. Though these are not sour beers, the two take interesting twists on old styles by using different yeast strains. Floreal was the brewery’s entry in Portland’s Cheers for Belgian Beers and the Maibock is the only truly strong lager that the brewery makes all year. They’re far from sour, but they’re a tasty alternative.

From farm hand to festival band Alpaca! brings out the animal in all of us Leah Bodenhamer Vanguard staff

The scene is serene, a bit mystical, lightly coated in a misty haze from the dreamy morning rain. Where art is growth and growth is art, the farm is sprinkled with the softness and intimacy of communal reciprocity. Following the sloppy footsteps down a dangerously muddy slope and into the house, one hears a faint fiddling and rumble of some electronic abstraction. Suddenly, a spacey keyboard breaks into the funkiest riff Tryon Life Community Farm has ever witnessed, sending flocks of birds flying off into the sky, and—like a virus—the groove possesses the entire quartet giving birth to one of Portland’s best jamtronica groups: Alpaca!.

All photos courtesy of Alapaca!

Alpaca!: Electronic dance music meets folk with this unique four-legged band.

Consisting of Matt Murphy on guitar, Ian O’Brien on drums, Greg Pelander on keys and Rowan Cobb on bass, the group was manifested during O’Brien’s days of “earth activism” three years ago. Cobb, who met Murphy in Eugene, “knew this

guy who lives out on a farm.” That guy turned out to be the drummer Pelander and Murphy were looking for. The first few rehearsals took place at the Tryon Life Community Farm, located on Boones Ferry Road. “Up there you feel really secluded,” O’Brien said. “You can’t see any roads, power lines, cars...It was a really creative atmosphere to have our first rehearsal.” “Not really conducive to electronic music [though],” Pelander said. “Yeah we were jamming, making tons of ruckus and noise, trying to play dance music and funk,” O’Brien said. “It was kind of cool to, you know, be playing music and then we’d take a break and hear the chickens clucking and the goats baaing in the distance and see the little kids who lived on the farm running around picking flowers and berries. It was really positive.” What makes Alpaca! so unique, aside from the name and origin, is the group’s ability to make your average four-piece instrumental band sound like electronic dance music. At the first listen, it wouldn’t be unusual for one to imagine a couple electronic artists on stage behind blue screened laptops, bobbing their heads up and down to looped samples of jazz and funk. All four members, for the most part, share the same vision. “I think of [our music] in terms of disco,” Murphy said, “which I think gives off a bad impression, but I think that’s one thing we sell at— not like classic old disco, but a kind of new disco, like dance. It’s funky.” “Don’t put new disco!” interrupted Pelander. “It’s more like funk electronic groove.” “We’re trying to stay in touch with funk and soul roots and we still are heavily influenced by electronic music ranging from down tempo to drum and bass and trance, ” O’Brien said. Despite the genre dispute, one common and powerful influence amongst all four members of Alpaca! is the Boulder, Colo. funktronica group, The Motet. Members

of The Motet have jammed with Alpaca! in the past and they look forward to uniting again. Shortly after the farm rehearsals, O’Brien left for Brazil to study Brazilian percussion for three months. In the meantime, the remaining members began brainstorming a plausible direction for the band and focusing on ways to infect their audience with the notorious dance bug. “I just want to make people dance,” Pelander said, a sentiment shared by the whole group. “I’m not happy until I see people out there, getting down.” “To me it’s the highest form of compliment from an audience member,” Murphy said. “I’d much rather have a few people dancing than a whole crowd of people just sitting there. If I see people physically get into it, I’m like, ‘Wow, what I’m doing is really having an effect on these people.’” “Style of music aside,” said O’Brien, “there’s a core to a groove, no matter whether what you’re playing is complicated or not—there’s a deeper core to the music which is the groove. It’s a pocket where all the musicians are really connected, truly connected. It’s those moments we all try to find together. I think that’s why we like the freedom of improvising so much because it gives the space to fall into the grooves.” It’s almost like this powerful groove the band so fondly speaks of is a mystical spirit, something to worship, something to spend time thinking about and working towards—the ultimate musical achievement. Maybe it has something to do with their spiritual mascot—Alice the alpaca. The band’s future goals include working on a live album and playing some festivals over the summer. They will be hosting the late night set at the Mountain Stomp Festival, a three-day festival in the Siuslaw National Forest as well as the Remember Jerry Festival near Spokane, Wash. With a growing community of followers, we can only expect the best of Alpaca!. Tonight Alpaca! will be featuring saxophonist Reid Nueman of Zero Effect. The band will also be giving away 43 limited edition “not-just-stickers” stickers to the first 43 attendees, so get there early.

Alpaca! The Goodfoot 2845 SE Stark Tonight, 8 p.m. 21+ $6

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 5 May 27, 2010

Tomorrow at the NW Film Center Woman on the Beach Hong Sang-Soo, South Korea 2006 “As in his latest Like You Know It All, which screened in this year’s Portland International Film Festival, Hong Sang-soo’s earlier film explores, in the words of Village Voice film critic J. Hoberman, his preoccupations with ‘karmic irony, self-deceived desire, squandered second chances, and unforeseen abandonment.’ A filmmaker struggling with a new screenplay sets off on a wintry retreat to a desolate seaside town in search of inspiration… or perhaps just to procrastinate. Either way, he winds up wooing his production designer’s girlfriend and even a local girl who looks just like her.” —Richard Brody, The New Yorker Friday, 7 p.m. All screenings are in Whitsell Auditorium, 1218 SW Park Ave. Free with PSU student ID. —nwfilm.org

Vanguard 6 | Sports May May27, 6, 2010

SPORTS

Sports Editor:

In good rhythm

Robert Britt 503-725-4538 sports@dailyvanguard.com

Sports moments that have earned nicknames Merkle's Boner Sept. 23, 1908 New York Giants rookie Fred Merkle singles in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on first, two outs and the score tied. The next batter hits a single, and as Merkle sees the runner ahead of him score, he heads to the Giants' dugout, assuming the game is over. Chicago Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers notices Merkle never touched second base, so he appeals to the umpire, who rules the play a force out, the final out, and the game a tie. The Cubs and Giants finish the season tied in the standings and play a one-game playoff to see who will advance to the World Series. The Cubs win. The Long Count Sept. 22, 1927 Fifty seconds into the seventh round, Jack Dempsey knocks down heavyweight champ Gene Tunney. The referee not only tells Dempsey to go to his corner, but follows him there. When the ref returns to count out Tunney, he ignores the timekeeper's count of five and starts at one. At nine, Tunney gets up. He later resumes control of the fight and wins by decision.

All photos by Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard

Steps of Rhythm: The competetive dance group performs at the Stott Saturday.

PSU dance group to hold showcase Saturday Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

Three nights a week, about a dozen dancers gather for the Steps of Rhythm dance group’s practice and run through various songs and dance routines to make sure they’re prepared for an upcoming showcase. Unlike competitive dance groups, however, no one at the Monday practice seems tense or anxious a week before they go live. In fact, each member asked about why they’re involved had one word to say in common: relaxed. “I love being a part of this group, coming together and having a good time,” said Kayla Schlecht, Steps of Rhythm co-coordinator. “It’s a great way to dance and to relax, to have fun with people who just enjoy dancing. We’re different from a lot of dance groups since we aren’t

competitive, and meetings are usually very enjoyable.” Steps of Rhythm began in 2004, according to co-coordinator Jasmine Batiste, who has been involved since 2006. She agreed that the group is less of a competitive dance team and more of a group of friends who share a love of dance. “We’re not about being uptight or intense when we get together, and I feel relaxed after practice, feel like we’re a good group of people having a great time,” Batiste said. “But we do practice a lot and I think we’re choreographed really well… I’m excited and feeling ready for our next showcase.” That showcase, called “Adrenaline,” is scheduled for Saturday in the Stott Center Gym and admission is $5. It’s a benefit show for George Middle School and will feature music by DJ Wicked and DJ Wels. “I really like the energy of this group, especially since no matter how we get during practice, if we fight or anything, we go out after a practice

to relax and talk about how we did and that always makes us closer as a group of people and dancers,” said Armond Frasier, choreographer. “I’m pumped for this weekend, for sure.” Ty McKnight, choreographer, said he’s been involved with the group since January and that he feels the group is a good way to go about relaxing after long days of class and work, but also that the group puts in a lot of effort for their showcases. “Everyone that comes to our meetings knows we’re having a good time, and they can see that right away,” McKnight said. “But there’s a lot of good effort put into the group too, and Kayla and Jasmine do a good job. I think, above all, I’d call it a funloving group.” Previous coordinator Annie Kris echoed the sentiment of relaxation that members heading into Saturday’s event talked about. “They’re a very diverse group this year,” Kris said, adding that she plans to attend Saturday’s showcase. “I always enjoyed going to meetings and feeling class or work or

whatever go to the back of my mind as I just danced, relaxed and had a good time.” When asked about the upcoming showcase, Batiste said she feels ready and that the group has put a lot of effort into their routines. A dozen dancers will perform 14 dances in total during the showcase, and Batiste said she’s looking forward to the showcase and that audiences often have as much fun as the dancers. “I’m definitely excited about it, and it’s always fun to perform for people that enjoy dance just like we do,” Batiste said. “It’s going to be a great weekend.”

Happening this weekend Steps of Rhythm: Adrenaline   May 29, 7 p.m.   Stott Center Gym $5

Women’s golf season in review A look back at a recordbreaking year Tanya Shiffer

The Shot Heard 'Round the World Oct. 3, 1951 In the ninth inning of the final game of a three-game playoff between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers, Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hits a three-run home run that gives his team a come-from-behind 5-4 win against their archrivals, and the pennant. —ESPN.com

Vanguard staff

Portland State women’s golf season resembled that of the Portland Trail Blazers. Injuries shortened the roster, benched players stepped up to perform exactly when needed and the team finished the season better than was predicted—but didn’t make it to the finals. Even without the accolades of winning it all, the Vikings had a record-breaking year. A back injury early in the season took senior Stephanie Johns out of five tournaments, leaving her frustrated and unable to compete. “It wasn’t like a broken arm where you put it in a cast and it will be fine in a month,” she said. “It was ongoing and eventually healed enough for me to play, but still bothered me after rounds.” The injury didn’t prevent her from scoring her best rounds of the season, though. Her lowest tally of 73 strokes came in the second round of the Big Sky Conference Championship. She also now holds the lowest career scoring average of 77.25 strokes, and is third in season scoring average in school history. As the season shifted from fall to spring and the conference championship came within reach, the Vikings stepped up their game. Freshman Britney Yada scored the season’s lowest score of 69 at the UNLV Spring Invitational and lowered her average score to 76.37—

Conference champs: Despite a rough start to the season, the women's golf team won the championship tournament.

the lowest season scoring average and yearly scoring average in school history. Sophomore Tiffany Schoning tied the 10th best in single-season scoring average with 77.75 and set a personal record of 226 at the Big Sky Championships. The final feather in the cap for the team was winning the Big Sky Conference Championship, which sent them to the NCAA regional finals in California. “It was just a great feeling,” Johns said “All our hard work and troubles

throughout the season had paid off in the long run.” Head coach Kathleen Takaishi didn’t leave the season un-adorned. She was awarded the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, an award that is especially important since the other coaches in the conference vote on the winner. “Being voted in by your peers is a great honor,” Takaishi said. This is the first time she has been given this award. Her predecessor, Felicia Johnson, won it three times from 2003–05.

Photo courtesy of PSU Athletics

All in all, the season ended very well for the Big Sky Conference champions. They are currently holding the yearly team score record with 310.1. With a healthy team for next year and new players coming on board, the team has strong possibilities for a great future. As Johns says goodbye to PSU and her college career in women’s golf, she reflects back on her time. “It’s weird to think I won’t ever play in a college tournament again, but it came to a close in a great way,” she said. “No regrets.”

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Today Education and LGBT Students 1 p.m. Smith Memorial Student Union, room 258 A presentation by Stephanie McBride as part of PSU Pride Week Workshop: Advanced Bike Repairs (Bearings) 5 p.m. PSU Bike Hub Bike Hub workshops are open to members as well as those interested in becoming members

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Vanguard Etc. | 7 May 27, 2010

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Friday Sexual Assault Education Theater Performances 11 a.m. SMSU, room 238 Interactive performances will address issues of consent, alcohol and sexual assault on campus, followed by opportunities to practice ways to intervene in uncomfortable situations. E-mail jamo@pdx.edu to reserve a spot Introduction to Interviewing 2 p.m. PSU Career Center Learn the basics of interviewing and learn to develop your interviewing skills in this free workshop

Crimes of the Heart 7:30 p.m. PCPA Winningstad Theater This play, written by Beth Henley and originally performed on Broadway, examines the story of three Mississippi sisters betrayed by their passions. Free for PSU students

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POP CULTURE ARTS & CULTURE

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 8 May 27, 2010

What’s up with…bees? Honey was called the nectar of the gods. Honey is produced by bees and comes from plant nectar. Photo courtesy of Waynes Chicago Red Hots

Photo courtesy of inajeep/Flickr

Photo courtesy of Kenny & Zukes

Way beyond the ballpark Three of the best hotdogs in tofu town Katherine Vetrano Vanguard staff

Hot dogs, although delicious, are one mysterious meal. Often when they’re being pushed around a grill or sizzling in a skillet, conversations can arise of where the name “hot dog” came from, or what’s in it. The website www.hot-dog.org claims that the name has three rumored histories. One history says the name was derived from a cartoonist in the nineteenth century who made a picture of what a vendor called “dachshund dogs.” He sketched one of the actual animals in a bun and wrote underneath “hot dog.” Another rumor says it was the Germans who brought over sausages and called them hot dogs, named after their skinny puppies. Lastly, it is said that the college newspapers at Yale in the late 19th century nicknamed a sausage cart a “dog mobile” and the name just stuck. Whatever its history, the hot dog, usually consisting of a combination of pork, beef and spices is a filling, economical meal that can be found created differently (and deliciously) at many locations around Portland. Here are some of the best.

Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots

Otto’s Sausage Kitchen

Kenny & Zuke’s

The Dog

Although they offer several options, the best way to go at Wayne’s is to get the classic Chicago Red Hot. Like a true Chicago hot dog should be, it is made only with Vienna beef dogs and comes “dragged through the garden.” Yellow mustard, onions, spicy neon green relish, tomato wedges, sport peppers, crunchy dill pickle and celery salt are all stuffed inside a steamed poppy seed bun for a real Chicago experience. If you’ve never tried a Chicago-style hot dog, or even just a dog without ketchup, this may be a life-changing moment for you.

Otto’s offers a hot dog that makes you forget you drove all the way out to Woodstock for a hot dog. Or, if Woodstock is your hood, it makes you forget that you walked down the block in the rain for a damn hot dog. That’s because Otto’s offers old-fashioned wieners and pork sausages hot off the grill with stadium-style pumps of Coney Island mustard, ketchup, homemade sauerkraut and sweet relish so you can style your dog to your tastes. The consistency of the dog offers a kind of tasty snap that can likely be attributed to the fact that they are homemade, and that they are lovingly grilled directly in front of you. Not bad for under $5.

Choosing between Kenny & Zuke’s Sabrett dog and the Reuben dog is like deciding between apples and oranges—meaty, satisfying apples and oranges that is. Both are served up with your choice of tangy homemade sauerkraut, relish, onions, or all of the above. The mustard, which can usually be found on the tables, is a light Dijon that should not be ignored—in fact it should be slathered on the accompanied fries in addition to your grilled hot dog for maximum enjoyment.

The Doghouse Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots may seem kitschy at first with its abundance of Chicago memorabilia tacked on the walls, but once you sit down it’s evident that this is the real deal. It’s hard to go there and not see an actual Chicago native inhaling one of the 16 different kinds of hot dogs during your visit, which is always a good sign. Other good signs are the sweet soul and Motown music pouring out of the overhead speakers, as well as a T-shirt on the wall with John McCain’s face that says “no country for old men.”

3901 NE Martin Luther king Blvd Monday-Saturday 11a.m.–7p.m. Sunday 12–7 p.m.

The Doghouse Otto’s Sausage Kitchen itself has all kinds of meat cuts, a deli counter, candy and wine, but the home of this dog can be found outside. It’s not unusual to see one of the young guys who work at Otto’s standing in the rain, grilling away with loyalty. No matter what the weather, the smell of the grill and the quality of this dog make your visit a positive one. Just don’t forget to bring cash only.

The Doghouse Kenny & Zuke’s is a delicatessen with style and most importantly, substance. There are few things on the menu that are diet-friendly, but that’s okay. Because at Kenny & Zuke’s, you know every slice of pastrami, every Reuben and of course every hot dog is made with love. It just happens to be love that makes you feel like taking a nap afterwards.

1038 SW Stark St. Sun-Thu, 7 a.m.–8 p.m Fri and Sat, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

4138 SE Woodstock Blvd Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.–6p.m.

Blitzen Trapper’s new album doesn’t live up to high expectations Andrea Vedder Vanguard staff

Everyone wants to embrace their hometown bands, and in Portland we have a few to laud. Sometimes, though, our want for hometown pride may be stronger than the bands in which we place our hopes. Two years ago, Portland sextet Blitzen Trapper released its fourth album (and first major label recording) with Sub Pop Records. The polished, pop-folk ‘70s throwbacks on Furr commanded attention from major critics and garnered the band an international audience. In the wake of the band’s success, the June 8 release of Blitzen Trapper’s fifth album (and second Sub Pop recording), Destroyer of the Void, is highly anticipated.

original or special about it. The chord progressions and melodies on the disc are the same ones we’ve been hearing for decades, and the garage-rock spunk Blitzen Trapper managed in its debut and sophomore albums is long gone. If you enjoyed the smoother tracks on Furr (“Not Your Lover,” “Stolen Shoes & a Rifle,” and arguably “Lady on the Water”) you might very well enjoy the light, fluid tracklist of Destroyer of the Void. The piano-heavy “Heaven and Earth” is available for free download on Blitzen Trapper’s website, and it’s a good sample of Destroyer’s overall sound: heavy, dreamy (and some might say sappy) lyrics over a slow and unbroken instrumental. Definitely not music to move to. Exceptions to this generalization are “Love and Hate,” which gets a little louder and little rougher than the rest of the album, and “Evening Star,” in which front man Eric Earley channels Tom Petty circa The Last DJ. A genuinely enjoyable track is “The Tailor,” notable for its earnestness—

The bee’s digestive fluids contain enzymes that transform the nectar into honey. A honeybee can only sting once and then dies, because the stinger is ripped out during the stinging process. To produce one pound of honey requires around 25,000 trips between the hive and the flowers. A pound of honey contains the essence of about two million flowers. The color and flavor of the honey are determined by the flowers from which the nectar is taken. Honey is most often served in its natural state, like jam or jelly. Without the pollination services provided by honeybees, many of our typical foods such as apples, cucumbers and watermelons would not be available. Honey is also widely used in baked goods. Honey is generally marketed in one of three forms: comb honey, chunk honey and extracted honey. There are more than 20,000 species of bees, and they are found all over the world except in Antarctica. Bees are flying insects, and like all insects they have six legs and three body parts: the head, thorax and the abdomen. Bees see all the colors humans do except red, and they can also see ultraviolet.

Destroyer of the Void isn’t destroying much of anything. Destroyer was recorded during two breaks in the band’s hectic touring schedule for Furr, first in January 2009 and then in January 2010. The band’s recording studio was none other than the infamous attic studio of Portland musician and studio engineer Mike Coykendall. Prior to these recording sessions, Coykendall produced two of the most popular tracks on Furr (“Lady on the Water” and “Black River Killer”) and also recorded tracks for Bright Eyes, She & Him and M. Ward. Unfortunately for everyone involved, this album sounds like what it is: An uninspired second round, recorded by an exhausted band in an attic ( following one of Portland’s most intense winter storms ever) and produced by a man closely associated with Zooey Deschanel. Why this weepy album is slated for a summer release, only Sub Pop execs know for certain. To be fair, Destroyer is not an awful record—it’s just a record, like any other of the thousands of records released each year—there is nothing particularly exciting,

Honey bees’ wings beat 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.

Bees have biting jaws called mandibles and a mouth-tongue proboscis, which they use for sucking and lapping. Bees can distinguish very slight differences in sweet and bitter tastes, and they can also identify sour and salty tastes. Photo courtesy of Subpop Records

Blitzen Crapper: On their latest full-length, the band fails to deliver on their previous success.

the precise quality missing from most of this record. The tone and delivery of this song’s lyrics are what makes it, but the instrumental breaks are forced and sound too much like a space carousel to be taken seriously. Hopefully, Blitzen Trapper will take a few years off and record its sixth album when its members are genuinely ready to deliver something new. The band is promising, but Destroyer of the Void is not.

Blitzen Trapper

Destroyer of the Void Sub Pop Records Out June 8, 2010

Bees have no ears, but they can sense the vibrations of the surfaces upon which they alight. Honeybees range from about a half-inch to one inch long, depending upon the species. Bees living in manmade hives behave the same way as bees that live in the wild. —honeybeekeeping.com

Daily Vanguard May 27, 2010

Published on May 26, 2010

Daily Vanguard May 27, 2010

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