Daily Vanguard June 2, 2010

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 118

Event of the day Come hear five in-depth Senior Capstone proposals about what PSU campus can do to reduce its carbon emissions while saving money

When: 10:15 a.m.

Where: Ondine Hall, room 201

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INSIDE OPINION Don’t be color blind Racial disparities should be common sense PAGE 2

Tuition increases to take effect next year Resident undergrads will face a 6 percent increase in 2010–11 Courtney Graham Vanguard staff

The low-tech market Cell phones for the elderly PAGE 3

NEWS NASCC graduation ceremony Native American Student and Community Center to host special grad ceremony PAGE 4

ARTS

Musical bar fighting Portland comedians adapt cult classic Road House to the stage PAGE 6 Hittin’ the old dusty trail Red Dead Redemption delivers a nearflawless Western experience PAGE 8

SPORTS

In a recent message to the university community, Portland State President Wim Wiewel indicated that it will be necessary to operate with a reduced budget in the next fiscal year, due to statewide revenue shortfalls. In order to compensate for lost state revenue, the university has chosen to raise tuition for all students during the 2010–11 academic year.

Next year, in-state undergraduate students will face a 6 percent tuition increase, whereas non-residents will only face a 2 percent tuition increase. All graduate students will experience a 1 percent increase.

After the tuition increases take effect, a single 4-credit course will cost roughly $501.40 for a resident undergraduate student, as opposed to the $473 fee in 2009–10. In other words, a resident student taking 20 credit hours per term will face a $142 tuition increase, from $2,846 to $2,988, including fees.

Non-resident undergraduates will pay $1,791 for a 4-credit course, and their tuition for 20 credit hours will rise by $185. A resident graduate student taking a 4-credit course will pay roughly $1,260.50 in 2010–11, up from $1,248 in 2009–10.

At PSU, this reality will add to the 18,700 students who already accept a form of financial aid from the university, according to Dee Wendler, Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller.

“For PSU undergrads, the average [financial aid] award is $11,390,” she said. “Taken as an average overall [for] undergrads, this represents 64 percent loans, 30 percent grants and scholarships, 5 percent fee remissions and 1 percent work-study.”

According to Wendler, the average award for PSU graduate students is $18,900.

“Taken as an average overall [ for] grad students, this represents 80.1 percent loans, 3.4 percent grants and scholarships, 16.3 percent fee remissions and 0.2 percent workstudy,” she said.

These particular tuition increase rates were chosen as a reflection of an anticipated 3 percent growth in enrollment for the 2010–11

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Tuition: Rising tuition will increase the number of financial aid applicants.

school year. In addition, they were also made under the assumption that there will be no further state funding cuts beyond the 9 percent already requested by Governor Ted Kulongoski.

The 9 percent reduction in every Oregon state agency’s budget stems from a forecast

PSU think tank on research Group to reflect on its research and community impact Vinh Tran

Vanguard Staff

When PSU chemistry professor Tami Lasseter Clare was tasked with uncovering the secrets behind a 2000-year-old Chinese sculpture, she did so from a chemist’s perspective: mineral, carbon and corrosion are part of her vocabulary. However, understanding the significance behind what she uncovered required collaboration with an art historian from the city’s museum.

Similarly, when sociologist Margaret Everett and her partner, Meg Merrick, wanted to evaluate the eating habits of Latino children in Portland, it was the parents of those schoolchildren who helped them collect the data.

Although they are from two different disciplines, their projects are similar in that they demonstrate a trend in scientific research that engages community members and entities into the work. It used to be the case that when it came to scientific research, there was little, if any room for the community to play a part in the project. From developing a hypothesis, collecting information and creating solutions,

Viks compete ate NCAA track regionals All four Vikings impress, but do not advance to quarterfinals PAGE 9 Eastern beasts vs. best of the west Celtics and Lakers meet for record 12th time in NBA finals PAGE 10 Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Center for Academic Excellence: Research bridges gap between community and PSU.

highly educated researchers often carried out the work.

In recent years, however, researchers have realized the importance that community members can play in research.

Instead of just observing an environment and those in it from a distance, researchers are now bringing the community into the process to help them collect information, develop meaningful questions and come up with solutions that would benefit both of them.

In an effort to better understand the impact of engaging the community into scientific research, Portland State’s Center for Academic Excellence has gathered a group of faculty from diverse disciplines to develop case studies about their community-engaged research projects. In other words, it’s research about communityengaged research.

Katie Shaw, graduate assistant at the CAE, said the project is a recognition of the fact that the university is not a separate entity but part of the real world. As a result, it has the power to solve real world problems.

“The purpose of this initiative is for PSU researchers, who do community-engaged research, to stop doing the work that they normally do and reflect on why is it important and what some of the key issues are that come up when they engage the community,” said Kevin Kecskes, who heads the CAE.

that drops the 2009–11 revenue by $560 million. According to Kulongoski, reductions will be accounted for by June 30, 2011.

This means a $5 million loss for PSU, Wiewel said in the e-mail that was sent out last week.

TUITION continued on page four

Kecskes said the group is made up of diverse faculty from different disciplines, ranging from computer science to sociology, psychology, biology and chemistry. Their similarity lies in their individual work that incorporates the community in several ways.

For example, one of the researchers is computer science professor Warren Harrison, who works with the Clackamas County Sheriff ’s office to develop better computer systems to aid law enforcement officers on duty.

In another project, psychology professor Kerth O’Brien, who talked to 142 community members from African and Latino communities, examined the experiences with doctors of patients from different cultural backgrounds.

Some researchers engage communities from other countries into their research as well. Biology professor Lisa Weasel studied food security issues in India and studied the different local food distribution systems in the country. Her findings were published in her 2009 book Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food.

Shaw said such communityengaged research conducted in the partnership between community and the university bridges the two.

“It opens up an understanding that the academic profession comes from a position of privileges,” Shaw said. “All the more reason to partner with community and identify the need to communally develop.”

“It allows researchers to see that they belong to their community,” she said.

RESEARCH continued on page five

Vanguard 2 | Opinion June 2, 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 Lizarraga 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, 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 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

OPINION Don’t be color blind Racial disparities should be common sense Will Blackford Vanguard staff

A recent study shows Portland minorities are at a disadvantage.

In a city that boasts a progressive outlook, it seems we may be all talk.

Last week the Vanguard reported on a new study [“Portland minorities at a disadvantage,” May 25] showing certain inequalities for minorities in Multnomah County, evidenced by education and poverty rates. While these things are important to know, it also important to mention that this article would have been better published in the “Duh!” section.

The report in question, titled “Communities of Color in

Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile,” aims to outline the disparity in income, opportunity and other social dynamics between whites and minorities in Multnomah County.

This is indeed a worthy cause. What worries me, however, is that there are people out there who don’t already know this.

Before diving into facts and numbers, let’s use a little common sense and everyday experience, shall we? Minorities do not exactly abound in downtown Portland.

Granted, many groups are well represented on the Portland State campus, but the west side of the river is overwhelmingly white. Take a walk around fancy-schmancy Northwest Portland and keep an eye out for what kind of people you see living and walking around there.

This is even more noticeable when compared to the east side of the river.

For those who don’t know, this is called gentrification, and it is loosely defined as reforming areas to suit the tastes of the middle class, thereby pushing out other classes.

Gentrification has long been standard practice in the Portland area. You know that area of Northwest Portland lovingly referred to as the Pearl? Well, that used to be a largely industrial area. After it was remodeled with trendy clubs, bars and restaurants, housing prices nearby were driven up and some renters—mostly minorities—were pushed out.

The report also outlines other trends like disparities in education, occupation and housing, the gist being that minorities largely live in lower-income areas and do not have access to education on par with that of many white communities. I could go on, or you could go and read the report yourself.

The point, however, is that you really shouldn’t have to. These are things that anyone with two eyes and brain can see and know.

The low-tech market Cell phones for the elderly Meaghan Daniels Vanguard staff

The cell phone business is full of the latest technology with Blackberries, iPhones and the Droid.

People commonly race out to get the newest, flashiest models of cell phones and spend hours toying with the gadgets. But a new cell phone store has tapped into a market with no interest for these glamorized phones, and it’s based in right here in Oregon.

Consumer Cellular is a company based in Tigard, Ore., which specializes in basic cell phones for senior citizens. Last year, the company crossed the $100 million threshold for the first time.

While the company specializes in basic cell phones for senior citizens, it separates itself from other cellular companies through straightforward plans.

Monthly plans through Consumer Cellular begin at $20 per month, which is about half the cost of a standard contract with the major cell phone companies. And get this—basic cell phones are free with the plan.

While this untapped market for senior citizens is a wonderful idea in theory, it does experience some problems. With a market focused on senior citizens, its target customers are currently getting older and older.

And younger generations tend to be more technology savvy.

Also, people could just buy basic cell phones on the major networks and call it good, right? Wrong.

The basic cell phones Consumer Cellular offer include big buttons that are easier to see and push. The cell phones are also hearing aid compatible. And the plan is much cheaper than those of the major networks.

Sure, the younger generations tend to be more technology savvy, which could mean trouble for a company that specializes in cell phones for senior citizens. However, what the company can count on is that there are people besides just senior citizens who are not so technologically knowledgeable.

We all have those relatives who ask for your help with their cell phones every time they see you, and for most people it is usually their grandparents. But there are those relatives who belong to a younger generation who have no idea how to work their cell phones.

The problem is they may be too proud to go with a cell phone company that targets senior citizens when they are far from elderly. One way this could be fixed is to possibly gear advertising strategies to focus on advertising for easy-to-use cell phones rather than just cell phones for senior citizens.

Consumer Cellular has been thus far successful due to its ability to tap into the untapped market of cell phones for senior citizens. The company may have found the one untouched market in the cell phone industry. Perhaps it is time for it to expand its scope of targeted customers.

The scariness of technology is something to be accounted for as well—by saying that the cell phones are easier to use, both senior citizens and people who do not understand technology are more inclined to buy from the company because the intimidation factor is gone.

Many senior citizens find technology to be a threat when they endured some of the most intense and scary things in history and

The media is particularly good at pointing out how racist this country still is, by emphasizing the subject at all. The fact that we make such a huge deal about the race of our president goes a long way towards illustrating my point.

I do appreciate the Coalition of Communities of Color and Portland State for organizing all the information about racial inequality, truly I do. Education on this topic certainly is important. It is even more important, however, to educate yourself.

Open your eyes and take a look around. Look at where minorities live and what resources are open to them as opposed to “nicer” areas like Tigard and Hillsboro. Talk to people about their history and experiences and, most of all, just use common sense and pay attention to things like the news, films and other media.

If you think we live in a city, progressive as it is, that is beyond racism, you may need to have your head examined. Or at least your eyesight. were in charge of some of the most magnificent things ever built.

Consumer Cellular is expanding its business by testing out kiosks for the cell phones in Sears stores. The company is also looking into getting more than just basic cell phones, although it is far from getting any smart phones or the iPhone. It is also connected with AARP and AT&T and is reaching customers that way.

All in all, Consumer Cellular has done a good job creating straightforward monthly plans and basic cell phones. With a few tweaks the company could become a major contender in the cell phone market.

You get what you pay for Economic troubles for the state impact everyone Robin Tinker Vanguard staff

Oregon is facing a huge budget crisis. The state is $577 million short and Governor Kulongoski has announced that cuts will be made to all state-funded agencies. All these cuts come in light of many Oregonians failing to pay their fair share of taxes. Oregon may soon face the realization that you get what you pay for.

The impact on Portland State will be $5 million in cuts, according to University President Wim Wiewel, who sent out an e-mail relaying Governor Kulongoski’s message asking for pay freezes.

Presumably, there will be more furlough days, such as the ones PSU experienced in December.

Tuition seems to be on a continuous climb towards being completely unaffordable, so a raise in costs would be irritating but not unexpected. Overall, low pay at PSU leads to lower quality instruction and bigger classes.

these tax evaders give as to why they don’t need to pay up. But a successful society is not about individual preferences, it is about community.

The state and federal governments offer services that we all use and would dearly miss if no one paid taxes. Education, law enforcement, roads, bridges, emergency services and defense, among many other offerings, are not basic American rights that cost nothing. They are expensive and necessary in order for quality of life. It is extremely doubtful that Oregonian tax evaders don’t use any of these services, though I suspect they might try to tell you otherwise. If everyone paid their fair share, it follows that the amounts we all pay would be lower.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Oregon’s budget problem will affect everyone. We need to stand together to help our lovely state move up and out of the recession. Education needs to be a priority and everyone needs to pay their fair share.

Illustration by Kira Meyrick/Portland State Vanguard

Keep calm and carry on Portland’s disappearing middle class Patrick Guild Vanguard staff

Illustration by Kira Meyrick/Portland State Vanguard

K–12 education is going to be impacted as well. Schools will see a $232 million cut from their budgets.

David Williams, government relations director for Portland Public Schools, told The Oregonian that these cuts could mean less school days and bigger class sizes.

This recession is taking a big toll on Oregon’s struggling economy, but cutting education funding is like shooting yourself in the foot, or maybe even the leg. Sure, in the short term it helps to balance the budget, but in the long term cuts in education negatively impact the future workforce and therefore the success of Oregon’s future.

Future generations that are poorly or undereducated will not bring jobs and companies to Oregon and bring the economy up. The Oregonian recently reported that one-third of Oregon high school students don’t graduate on time. This sadly shows that Oregon desperately cannot afford to cut education funding and in fact increases seem to be in order. An educated workforce is the only force that has the power to permanently end recessions.

The folks in Salem could hold a special budget session in an attempt

to shuffle the money around, and perhaps increase taxes, but no such session is on the books yet. By law, the governor must distribute cuts across the board. Some legislators might be hoping for a chunk of federal money allocated for troubled states like Oregon, but as of now this is all speculation.

Amidst the giant financial headache, The Oregonian uncovered that Oregon is owed around $2 billion in unpaid taxes by its citizens. The state has had trouble finding and collecting the money in the past.

It is a complicated bureaucratic process that costs the state money and these people who owe the government money obviously don’t want to be found.

Paying taxes isn’t anyone’s idea of a great time. We don’t look at our pay stubs and say, “Oh, good. I gave away some hardearned money.” But for people to just not pay their taxes is selfish, irresponsible and short sighted. Being in disagreement with certain decisions made by lawmakers is usually an excuse

As graduation nears and rumors of an economic recovery swirl, perhaps some of you may view your college experience as time on an ark.

While the rest of the world drowned in the torrential rains of recession, you could find confidence in your forethought. Someday, you thought, I will emerge from this ship with all the tools I need to build a new world. Well, the olive branch was a fake and you and I are disembarking into the worst class war in half a century. I hope you packed your swim trunks.

The old cliché, “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” is alive and well in Oregon. The disparity between upper class and lower class is becoming more evident as wages for the middle and lower classes are remaining stagnant. According to the Oregon Employment Department, inflation-adjusted annual wages for Oregon’s top 2 percent of earners was $153,480 in 2008, a 29.5 percent increase from 1990.

Workers in the supposed “middle class,” or 50th percentile, earned $32,659 in 2008, an increase of just 2.9 percent since 1990.

It gets worse. According to the Oregon Center for Public Policy, the United States ranks 41st among 102 nations in 2009 for income inequality, placing us among the ranks of most third world countries.

Oregon ranked right in the middle among the nation for income inequality in 2004–06.

There has been an explosion at the top, where the top 1 percent of earners have increased income from $138,594 in 1980 to $1.2 million in 2007.

The middle and lower classes have remained generally the same for almost a decade.

But what exactly is the middle class? The passage of Measure 66 raised personal income tax rates on taxable income above $250,000 for households and $125,000 for individual filers. If we can assume that $125,000 is the top of the uppermiddle, then the range could be anywhere from $25,000–$125,000.

As the income gap grows, fewer and fewer of us are actually middle class, but are convinced we are. A poll by the tax foundation found that

four out of five Americans consider themselves middle class.

The U.S. Department of Commerce defines the middle class as a group “defined by their aspirations more than their income.” Middle class families believe in home ownership, a car, college education for their children, health and retirement security and occasional family vacations. If that’s true, I’m surprised only 80 percent of

highest in the nation—according to the Washington, D.C.,-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

29 of 42 states with income taxes do not tax the poor. Joy Margheim of the Oregon Center for Public Policy states that Oregon not only sets the level for having to start paying income taxes much lower than other states, but it also imposes one of the heftier income tax bills on low-income families once they rise above that income level. Other states

“The U.S. Department of Commerce defines the middle class as a group “defined by their aspirations more than their income.”

Americans consider themselves middle class. The government seems to have outlined the American dream.

That dream is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as the prices for key goods rise while wages remain the same. Health care, college tuition and housing prices have risen faster than income.

Only one percent of Americans acknowledge that they’re dirt poor.

The rest choose to believe they’re working class or lower middle.

In Oregon, 13.5 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, a fraction higher than the rest of the country.

I filled out the Facebook income bar. I know I’m $2 shy of homeless.

I also know that as a resident of Oregon below the poverty line, I pay for my status. Oregon is one of the few remaining states that taxes the poor, and its tax is among the

either levy no income tax on working families or give them a negative income tax where families get more money back than they put in.

If you’re graduating in the coming weeks, don’t be afraid.

There’s always a silver lining. Yes, you’re heavily in debt and poor.

The average person carries about $44,000 in debt and people are cutting their debt at the fastest rate in six decades according to the Federal Reserve. We’re also building up personal savings to 4.2 percent of disposable income.

The Obama Administration recently signed the Income Based Repayment program into effect for federal student loans. Monthly payments will be capped at 10 percent of income after covering basic needs.

Your interest will dramatically increase in a few years, but your college degree will be paying for itself by then. Right?

Vanguard Opinion | 3 June 2, 2010

Rant Rage The

and

By Dick Richards

Dick Richards responds The Rant and Rage has been hitting the pages of various publications for a year now and has garnered responses of laughter, admiration and a lot of anger. Do I, Dick Richards, care?

Not really.

As summer vacation looms on the horizon, I figured I‘d take this chance to respond to the past year‘s articles, comments and readers.

Perhaps one of the more popular articles was “Believe it or not, this pisses me off,” highlighting the hypocrisy of organized atheism. Quite a few responses assumed I was some sort of evangelical writer on a mission against non-believers. They obviously didn‘t read the article too closely. Look, I don‘t care what group it is, when you throw a bunch of people together the potential for mass stupidity is endless. In the case of organized atheism, is the potential for all the same downfalls as organized religion there? Certainly, as shown in all the responses I got. I could interchange the online comments from arrogant atheist with arrogant believers, and they would look the same.

I usually get e-mails or online comments from readers, but the first physical fan letter/marriage proposal was received last week in response to the article “‘Ugg‘ is slang for ugly—stop wearing them!” Sorry ladies, Mr. Richards is in a committed relationship with a happily bitter woman.

“The kids aren‘t all right” produced a bit of irate comments. The spanking aspect of the article threw folks into a hissy. Whatever you think about spanking, it doesn‘t stop your brat from being a societal plague when parents tolerate and allow them to misbehave in public.

Sure, a little acting out here and there is to be expected, but it is still not OK to allow it to continue and fester.

Pay attention to your kids, people!

Thanks for reading over the past year. As you head off to your vacations and summer fun, be assured that I‘m out there, and I‘m pissed off.

—Dick Richards

Vanguard 4 | News June 2, 2010

News Editor: Virginia Vickery 503-725-5690 news@dailyvanguard.com

Portland State welcomes Françoise Aylmer Portland State recently announced that Françoise Aylmer has been appointed as the new vice president for University Relations.

She will start on Sept. 1, 2010.

According to a press release, Aylmer is the current vice president for University Advancement at California State University in San Bernardino where she oversees development, alumni affairs and legislative relations.

During her time at CSU, Aylmer raised more than $76 million, despite budget cuts.

At PSU, she will oversee all fundraising, donor relations, alumni relations and campus stewardships. She will also work in collaboration with the PSU Foundation.

“I have met incredibly dedicated donors, volunteers and staff during my visits to Portland State and the level of excellence of PSU’s leadership is outstanding,” Aylmer said in the press release. “It is a privilege to be part of such a vibrant, progressive campus, and I am excited to lead a team which will sustain PSU’s efforts through increased funding from non-state sources.”

Previously, Aylmer has been the director of development for the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, according to the press release. She is a native of France, and has also served as the president of an international business development firm.

—pdx.edu/news

ARTS & CULTURE News TUITION |

RESEARCH |

Community research also poses challenges

from page one

Tuition increases may offset budget reductions “I am as distressed as I know all of you are by this unfortunate news,” he said in the e-mail. “The last two years have been very challenging and it is clear that we are not yet out of the woods.”

However, Wiewel also indicated that some of the revenue generated by tuition increases might be able to offset potentially damaging budget reductions in both teaching and non-teaching university units.

In addition, a budget presentation given by the state budget agency in March revealed

that over half of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds allocated to Oregon have yet to be spent. There are some hopes that these funds will be disbursed to the Oregon University System to help cushion state revenue losses.

However, regardless of potential short-term fixes, these cuts come at a time when the OUS is already underfunded. According to its budget summary, the OUS is operating at a 13 percent shortfall from the $925.3 million essential budget level determined by the

Department of Administrative Services, putting it at $807.5 million.

Regardless, PSU will continue to operate and support students to the best of its abilities during the economic recession, Wendler said.

The university plans to move forward in the budgeting process, according to a memorandum released by the University Budget Team on May 4, keeping PSU’s institutional priorities in mind.

These priorities include continuing support for enrollment growth, enhancing infrastructure and increasing externally funded research.

The UBT’s total budget recommendation, as of May 4, was for $16.76 million. An estimated $1.5 million would be allocated to expand tuition

remission in order to help students with growing financial needs.

However, the memorandum was drafted before Kulongoski released information showing that there were more budget shortfalls than expected.

On Friday, June 4, the State Board of Higher Education will meet with Senate President Peter Courtney to discuss higher education budget issues and a budget reduction plan. In addition, the board will review tuition increase proposals from OUS campuses, including the UBT’s recommendation.

The meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Urban Plaza, suite 515. Docket materials are available at www.ous.edu/state_board/ meeting/index.php.

NASCC graduation ceremony Native American Student and Community Center to host special grad ceremony Amy Staples Vanguard staff

On Friday a special graduation ceremony will be held in honor of Portland State’s Native American and Alaskan Native graduates.

Ten students will graduate at the 2010 Honor Day Graduation Ceremony and 200 people are expected to attend. According to Dean Azule, coordinator of the Native American Student and Community Center, this has been a tradition since 1994.

The ceremony will begin with a meal at 5:30 p.m. and will include honor drums and songs. Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, president of Antioch University in Seattle, will deliver the keynote speech.

Robert Tom, an elder of the Grand Ronde tribe, will also be present, and Kona Calama, the uncle of a graduate, will give a flute performance in honor of and the graduates’ accomplishments.

Many Native American tribes and communities have contributed to the event, Azule said. Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, Siletz, Klamath, Coos and other tribes have provided donations or sponsored the Pendleton Indian blankets that will be presented to each graduating student at the ceremony. “[The presentation of a blanket]

is a high status achievement,” Azule said. “It demonstrates the community rallying to support the recognition and support of Native American youth and Alaskan Native youth.”

The ceremony was created to honor the accomplishments of Native American youth. According to Azule, the current high school graduation rate among Native American students is only at 50 percent.

“The numbers are increasing,” he said. “But for a while…we weren’t getting a lot of enrollment in higher education.”

Lack of financial and family support can lead to fewer Native youths going to college, Azule said.

“Some of it too is an apprehension that Indian kids have in leaving home,” he said.

“And if you’re coming to a place like Portland State you’re coming into a big city. So it’s a whole relocation, readjustment process.”

Participation in this year’s ceremony is down compared to last year, when roughly 15 students went through the ceremony.

“Part of the problem this year is that we’re holding it a week before PSU’s commencement,” Azule said.

However, the university has seen an overall increase in applications for graduation among Native students.

“We have seen an increase in the last 10 years of people graduating and finishing masters [degrees],” Azule said.

Native American Student and Community Center

Vanguard Arts &|Culture News 5 |5 April 2, June 21,2010 2010

from page one

Kecskes said the chances of the study having a real impact greatly increase when scientists receive more input.

“The faculty in general really appreciates the community,” Kecskes said. “They understand that they are extremely smart but still only one person, so if they work with other people, they will have better research questions and better disseminations of information.“ Clare said working with the Portland Art Museum helps her disseminate the results to a wider audience through the museum’s exhibition, compared to the limited audience of science journals. She hopes this will help encourage more students to take up science as their study.

O’Brien said researchers sometimes can learn from community members in working with them.

“I start out with a good sense of what I bring as a scholar,” O’Brien said. “On the flip side, I also need to be ready to learn from community member collaborators—essentially to be trained by them.”

Community-engaged research also comes with its own unique sets of challenges.

Public administration professor Masami Nishishiba said that for her research, which evaluated the effectiveness of the four-day workweek in Clackamas County, she has to put time into building relationships in addition to doing the actual research.

“The government sometimes thinks of me as a contractor and tells me what to do, how I should run my research,” Nishishiba said.

Because it involves many community entities, time is a concern for many faculty members.

“To include community members fully requires [that] we need to be open to changes along the way,” O’Brien said. “That openness means a project almost always takes longer than planned.”

Part of the difficulty lies in knowing how to properly coordinate between the various community members and organizations involved in the project. Everett said researchers have to respect the community process and the time frame of each entity and understand that the researchers are not leading the project or doing it on their own.

“There are some problems in regards to who should I contact with results, whether it’s the collection’s care manager or the museum’s conservator,” Clare said of her work with the Portland Art Museum.

According to Kecskes, the CAE projects have several objectives. One is to help more students and faculty at PSU to recognize the number of world-class research projects being conducted everyday at the university. The second is to let the world communities know of PSU as a research university that has the capability of developing this kind of research.

2010 SALPies This evening, the 2010 SALPies awards ceremony will recognize student leaders and student organizations and services recognized by Student Activities and Leadership Programs.

It will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom.

After the SALPies ceremony, students are encouraged to take a break from studying to attend tonight’s Midnight Breakfast.

The breakfast, which is hosted by Portland State’s Programming Board, takes place from 9 p.m. to midnight.

There will be prizes and giveaways, casino entertainment and free food and beverages.

Michael Pascual/Portland State Vanguard

Research: Scientists receive input from community.

It also keeps in touch with PSU’s motto and the university’s position as an urban campus.

Kecskes also said that he hopes that the project’s findings will help serve as a model for other researchers who are interested in doing community-based research.

For more information, visit www.salp.pdx.edu.

The overall project is led

by Kecskes and Amy Driscoll, a senior scholar at the CAE and a consulting scholar at the Carnegie Foundation. The group’s finding will be synthesized into an upcoming book, to be edited by Kecskes and Driscoll.

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All images courtesy of Free Life Center

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2010 Honor Day: Special ceremony recognizes Native American graduates.

Despite the increase in graduation rates, Native students sometimes do not want to participate in the ceremony because no one from their tribe or family can make the journey, according to Azule.

“As long as there are Indian people around, you always have family,” he said. “And it’s in our tradition that, no matter what you do, the family needs to step forth and honor you and recognize you for the accomplishments you’ve made.”

He stresses the importance of Native American students participating in the ceremony, which provides an opportunity for students to see the support from

their tribal communities.

“This is just one tool placed in your hand, and you can be one step better than the generation before you,” Azule said. “Whether you coach, mentor, teach or take someone under your wing, let this continue so that we may one day eradicate the statistic of a 50 percent high school graduation rate,” Azule said.

The Honor Day Celebration will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Native American Student and Community Center. A summer ceremony will be held as well.

For more information on this and other events call NASCC at 503-725-5348.

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DOWNTOWN: 1036 W. Burnside (at 11th) 222-3418

HAWTHORNE DISTRICT: 1420 SE 37th Ave. (off Hawthorne) 234-1302

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OPINION ARTS & CULTURE Musical bar fighting

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

Portland comedians adapt cult classic Road House to the stage

Coming soon: New music to sink your teeth into

Andrea Vedder Vanguard staff

June 7 Roky Erickson With Okkervil River: True Love Cast Out All Evil (Chemikal Underground) (U.K. release) Various Artists: The Psychedelic Sounds of the Sonic Cathedral (Sonic Cathedral) (Roky Erickson tribute) June 8 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Before Today (4AD) Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void (Sub Pop) Casiokids: Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar (Polyvinyl) The Chemical Brothers: Further (Freestyle Dust/ Astralwerks) (U.S. release) Deer Tick: The Black Dirt Sessions (Partisan) Delorean: Subiza (True Panther) Here We Go Magic: Pigeons (Secretly Canadian) Konono N°1: Assume Crash Position (Crammed Discs) Light Pollution: Apparitions (Carpark)

All photos courtesy of Bad Reputation Productions

Sassy disaster: The pathetically bad movie Road House comes to the stage with more kitsch and music than ever.

Nada Surf: If I Had a Hi-Fi (Mardev) Regina: Puutarhatrilogia (Friendly Fire) Rooney: Eureka (California Dreaming/ILG) The Roots: How I Got Over (Def Jam) Sia: We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Jive) Suckers: Wild Smile (Frenchkiss) Teenage —pitchfork.com

Robert Moss brings some far-out insights on dreaming and our Universe Wendy Shortman Vanguard staff

Robert Moss’ new book Dreamgates opens readers up to a new world where dreams enter into our waking life, and parallel worlds are open for discovering.

After moving away from life as a successful novelist, Moss moved away to a peaceful farm and found himself experiencing a new sense of himself through his dreams. The author believes he came in contact with a spiritual healer that put him in touch with an alternative life.

Moss administers workshops and training to guide individuals into a life of active dreaming. Dreamgates

is one of many books and projects the author has made available for people to achieve these altered states of reality.

In Dreamgates, Moss addresses some of the things he believes connect our reality with an alternative reality that we can— through training—come into contact and learn to understand.

Moss explains how we have spiritual families and biological families in our world. He believes that there are other people or souls that exist in other times or alternative realities which are reflections of ourselves.

The author also discusses the notion of coincidence, and the role that it plays in our lives, seeing it as a way that the alternative universe is coming into contact with us.

Moss looks to indigenous shamans and ancient traditions and stories to explain how alternative realities work. Bringing in research he has done of teachings from all over the world, he explains a mystic concept of “dreamtime” that comes for the Australian aboriginal people.

Within this idea, “dreamtime” refers to the time that the ancestors came to earth, as well as a realm that is accessible now.

Important facts about Patrick Swayze: His professional debut was as a Disney parade dancer, he was named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine almost 20 years ago and in 1989 he starred in the hilariously awful movie Road House wherein he “lives like a loner, fights like a professional and loves like there’s no tomorrow.” Does it get much better than that?

Road House is, for obvious reasons, something of a cult classic.

It features boobs, tai chi, blind blues musicians and Swayze ripping a man’s throat out with one hand, not to mention a slew of priceless oneliners. It plays often on late-night and mid-afternoon cable television.

And as of January 2010, it inspired Portland comedians to stage an incredibly popular satirical plays in its honor.

After watching Road House for the nth time, local comedian and founding member of the improv group The Liberators (several of whose members are performers in this show), Shelley McLendon, decided to adapt her favorite bad movie to the stage. She found the original film script (sans stage directions) online and teamed up with Courtenay Hameister, the host and head writer of Live Wire!, to write stage directions and fight sequences, adapting it to the stage.

Where better to see a play about a piss-hole dive bar and the feisty bouncer (though he prefers to think of himself as a “cooler”) who cleans it up than an Old Town bar? Perhaps an amalgamation of Pop-A-Top Pub and the Sandy Hut would be a more appropriate setting for Road House: The Play!, but the Someday Lounge and its performers make an effort to represent the movie’s infamous bar, the Double Deuce, in all its dirty glory.

The main objective of Moss’ book is to allow the reader to learn to become an active participant in their dreams, as well as the world they know. He provides step-by-step tutorials on how to achieve these things—for example, being able to step into a picture and travel within it. Moss believes this is possible individually, or sometimes as a group.

It’s clear from reading the book that these dream travel practices require a standard of creativity and imagination for them to work. The individual must make sure they are in a “safe space” physically, mentally and emotionally.

From reading the book, it seems that these practices can really be possible, but not achievable right away, even if the individual is in a safe place. Much meditation and practice might be necessary to get the results the author so fondly speaks of.

So, you might not be able to sit down with the book, follow the directions, and casually enter a photograph. You probably won’t be able to easily experience your second self—seeing yourself lying down while you walk around the room, but maybe it’s worth a try when you’re tripping on acid at Burning Man this year.

While the audience takes their seats, cast members brawl, catcall and harass each other—all in good fun, but convincingly enough to make some audience members nervous. This is only stage one of the hilariousness.

The play opens with live music

by Jonathan Newsome (as Cody, our blind blues musician) and Scott Weddle, with narration

by Courtenay Hameister. The enthusiastic and well-done performances by these three cast members are what stand out as Road House: The Play!’s greatest assets. Hameister is deadpan throughout, until her awesome scene with Wade Garrett (played

by Michael Fetters), an office-chairturned-motorcycle prop and a hand fan. Her googly eyes are one of the funniest bits in the play.

Fetters is also an enthusiastic cast member who clearly loves to be hamming it up on stage. Nicholas Kessler (playing three parts: Emmett the farmer, auto parts store owner Red Webster and a big-haired, unnamed bouncer), Ted Douglass (as millionaire town-terrorizer Brad Wesley) and creator McLendon (as Dalton’s love interest, Dr. Elizabeth Clay) also deserve nods for their energy and barely-repressed grins.

Somehow, even though most of the cast is excellent, the chemistry between the actors seems strained.

Characters also need something to do while Newsome sings about them. The addition of original songs is a great idea, but it often leaves actors with a dead stage presence.

Road House: The Play! sells out, so buy your tickets online and show up early to get a decent seat. This is fairly painless protocol, as you are in a bar and may order as many drinks and fried appetizers as you please.

Definitely be sure to rent the movie before you go. There’s no better way to remember the late, great Patrick Swayze, or to procrastinate the weekend before finals.

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Vanguard 6 | Arts & Culture June 2, 2010

Road House: The Play!

The Someday Lounge 125 NW Fifth Avenue Fri-Sat, 7:30 p.m.

Runs through June 5

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Reading with Robert Moss Powell’s on Hawthorne 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.

Free

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Vanguard 8 | Arts & Culture June 2, 2010

Red Dead Redemption delivers a near-flawless Western experience Steve Haske

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

Weekend box office: Top 10 highestgrossing films for the weekend of May 28–31 1. Shrek Forever After Weekend Gross: $57, 060,434 Gross to Date: $146,810,785 2. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Weekend Gross: $37,813,075 Gross to Date: $37,813,075 3. Sex and the City 2 Weekend Gross: $36,835,353, Gross to Date: $51,043450 4. Iron Man 2 Weekend Gross: $21,076,239 Gross to Date: $279,653,149 5. Robin Hood Weekend Gross: $13,424,540 Gross to Date: $86,144,405

Vanguard staff

There’s something to be said for viewing a game’s setting as a character. Few games are able to pull this off well, arguably because, much like game design itself, time and place are so often overused.

Westerns, being an already underrepresented genre, don’t really have this problem, since the rugged spirit of the Old West makes for great, unique aesthetics as well as an interesting backdrop for archetypal stories of the era.

That being said, Red Dead Redemption is far and away the most impressive videogame Western yet created. Not only is the game flat out, jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but its grit, blood and authenticity practically bleed from out of its dusty arid landscapes. Take a ride on your horse for even a few minutes and you’ll really feel like you’re alone in a rugged, unforgiving land.

Interestingly, a tagline Rockstar has chosen for the game is “The West is Dying”—apropos considering that the game takes place in the early 20th century, when indeed the United States was undergoing sweeping, rapid technological and societal changes in the wake of the industrial revolution.

The well-written narrative, involving an outlaw-turned-farmer who is forced by the government to hunt down and bring to justice members of his former gang,

provides plenty of opportunities for just about every Western archetype out there—yet the shift to a burgeoning era where cowboys and outlaws are faced with their obsolescence goes a long way toward making Redemption far more than a string of clichés.

It’s also probably Rockstar’s most intellectually mature game yet. The company’s patented blend of satire and social commentary certainly isn’t absent here, but the thematic presentation of its cultural criticism is a far cry from some of its early titles.

Needless to say, these are all some compelling (if perhaps less publicized) reasons to check out Redemption. The good news is, Rockstar’s pedigree for delivering highly polished games is well intact here. To put it another way, Redemption is a hell of a lot of fun.

As is the case with open-world design, the game is just bursting with things to do. There’s the cowboy prerequisites, like dueling, drinking and playing cards, rustling cattle and fighting bandits, but such activities barely scratch the surface.

There’s plenty of wildlife to observe, hunt or target practice on, treasure to search for and shady characters to interact with, too.

Of course you can run on either side of the law, bringing in wanted men (or just dragging them from your horse) or conversely robbing banks, hijacking stagecoaches and leaving tied-up women on railroad tracks. The sky is more or less the limit here (unless you want to see if you can die of thirst by running across the desert).

What may be the most impressive thing about Redemption, however, is just how much of a living, breathing

Hittin’ the old dusty trail

Photo courtesy of Rockstar Games

Red Dead Sunset: RDR’s hero surveys the landscape of Rockstar’s immense Western world.

world it is. Everywhere you look there’s random events happening in the world, whether it’s some poor settler being robbed, prostitutes suffering abuse or a stranger rifling through the pockets of some unfortunate corpse. Whatever the case, you can choose to interact with a scenario or simply go on your way.

Redemption’s open-world design is very similar to Grand Theft Auto IV, which may be a disappointment for gamers tired of fetch quests. But overall, the engrossing narrative is tight and well scripted to the point that when you inevitably become sidetracked with Redemption ’s

myriad optional distractions the main story doesn’t get too watered down.

This one shouldn’t be missed for the sheer scope alone, but for anyone that’s ever dreamed of being a gunslinger, Redemption’s quality speaks for itself.

Red Dead Redemption Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 $59.99

8. Date Night Weekend Gross: $2,307,657 Gross to Date: $94,005,365 9. Macgruber Weekend Gross: $2,024,110 Gross to Date: $7,674,445 10. How to Train Your Dragon Weekend Gross: $1,513,677 Gross to Date: $213,117,896

All photos courtesy of PSU Athletics

VIKS COMPETE AT NCAA Track Regionals All four Vikings impress, but do not advance to quarterfinals Nilesh Tendolkar Vanguard staff

Portland State track and field athletes Nick Trubachik, Tony Crisofulli, Karene King and Joenisha Vinson competed at the NCAA West Regional competition held in Austin, Texas May 27–28, but all four narrowly fell short of qualifying for the quarterfinals.

On day one, sophomore Tony Crisofulli finished 38th overall in the

6. Letters to Juliet Weekend Gross: $7,492,524 Gross to Date: $38,195,942 7. Just Wright Weekend Gross: $2,835,702 Gross to Date: $18833,220

SPORTS

Photo courtesy of Oregon Brewers Festival

No problem here with daytime beer A multitude of beer festivals to look forward to this summer Bianca Blankenship Vanguard staff

—boxofficemojo.com

It’s almost summertime, which means warm weather, longer days and beer festivals—lots of them.

Here is a rundown of beer fests in Portland that will be serving up cold mugs over the approaching hot days.

North American Organic Brewers Festival, June 25–27 There’s no limit to what styles of beer brewers can whip up for NAOBF, but there is one catch: It has to be organic.

With a lineup of over 50 organic beers from all over the country, the festival seeks to set a standard when it comes to environmentalism and sustainability.

NAOBF’s founder, Craig Nicholls of Roots Organic Brewing Co., sees to that.

Electricity for the event is produced using biodiesel and solar power, and the festival’s cornstarch cups might melt in the sun, but are completely compostable.

Disc golf pros compete locally at Beaver State Fling Tanya Shiffer Vanguard staff

Photo courtesy of Brewpublic

Beer parade: Thirsty revelers line up to sample beers offered at one of Portland’s many beer festivals.

Oregon Brewers Festival, July 22–25

International Beer Fest, July 16–18

OBF is the longest running of Portland’s beer fests, now in its 23rd year. With a focus on craft beers from all corners of the nation, OBF will serve over 80 different beers. The festival is also the largest of its kind in the city and expects to draw at least 70,000 patrons and employ 2,000 volunteers. Aside from beer, it also hosts live music, food and crafts vendors. Minors are allowed at this event, as well, and can hang out with designated drivers as they sip on the handcrafted root beer at the soda garden.

IBF is the only summer beer fest where a variety of imported beers are available.

The beer is great, but the tiny event space makes it a less enjoyable festival. Last year the festival crammed people into a small city block and the lines for the kegs, which were running out quickly, were long and slow. IBF might be a good festival to check out earlier in the day. Afterwards, patrons can always swagger downtown in search of a less crowded space.

Microhopic, June 19

Puckerfest, July 9–15

This is not only the festival that you didn’t know about, but it also serves the local beers that you’ve never heard of. Located at bottle-happy Saraveza, Microhopic will feature four of Portland’s nanobreweries: Rivergate Brewing, Mt. Tabor Brewing, Big Horse Brewing and Ambacht Brewing. The crowd will likely be small, giving attendees a chance to buddy up to the brewers, who will also be attending.

Belmont Station’s celebration of sour beers would be better classified as a week of events than a festival, but it’s delicious nonetheless. Featuring different breweries for six days, the station will provide sour beer tastings from Portland breweries and beyond.

On a semi-cloudy weekend, some of the country’s best disc golfers took over Milo McIver State Park in Estacada for the Beaver State Fling.

A national tour event of the Professional Disc Golf Association, this marks the fifth stop on the ninecity tour to the championship. Four divisions of men, women, masters (age 40 and up), and grand masters (age 50 and up) competed in this three-day event on May 28–30.

Montana native Christian Dietrich edged out Nikko Locastro from Missouri by one point to finish in first place out of 134 players in the men’s division, finishing 26 throws under par with 214 strokes. Nathan Doss of California came in third with 217 throws.

Locastro was the 2009 Player of the Year and Doss is a two-time PDGA World Champion, and both were on Dietrich’s heels coming

800-meter with a time of 1 minute, 50.36 seconds—just 1.1 seconds behind his personal best. Earlier this season, Crisofulli recorded a time of 1:49.76 at the Oregon Relays on May 1.

“I feel that my performance placed me above my entered seed of the meet, but I do feel that I had the ability to make the next round,” Crisofulli said. “I’m just glad that I was able to qualify for the NCAA West Regional meet, and I now know what the race is like and know what I need to do to make the NCAA Nationals.”

For senior Nick Trubachik, this was his second consecutive regional appearance. In 2009, he finished 22nd in the javelin; however, on Thursday he had to be content with 41st place after throwing a distance of 168-feet, 10-inches.

Earlier in the season Trubachik already qualified for the decathlon event at the NCAA National Championships in Eugene on June 10–11. Trubachik will be the 18th seed among the 22 qualifiers at the event.

into the finals. With Dietrich and Locastro exchanging top spots all around, the 13th hole saw them tied with only five holes left.

Locastro’s initial drive on the 15th was off the mark and cleared the way for Dietrich, who gained the lead and never lost it again.

According to a statement released by the league, Dietrich said it was an unexpected win, since his recent completion of law school restricted his play.

This is Dietrich’s third win out of the five events he’s played this season. Jerry Sowers from Arizona, who followed the entire weekend’s events, said this was one of the more exciting events he’s seen in a while, “They were so close there at the end, you were holding your breath after every hole,” Sowers said.

Liz Carr of Michigan was the winner in the women’s division with

“I feel that my performance at Austin was a great warm-up for the National meet in Eugene,” Trubachik said. “I needed to work out some bugs and that is what I felt I was able to accomplish while I was over at this regional meet.”

Last month, Trubachik was named the Field Athlete of the Meet at the Big Sky Track and Field Championships held at Ogden, Utah. He finished with 7,390 points in the decathlon—542 points more than his nearest rival.

“It feels great to know that all the hard work and time my coach and I put in paid off,” Trubachik said. “Winning the Big Sky title was a great achievement, and with that achievement it was also a stepping stone to a greater plateau of competition—the National meet in Eugene.”

Trubachik said he is focused on preparing for the meet in Eugene, for which he has high hopes.

“I’m shooting for top-eight at the National meet so I can become an All-American,” he said.

On Friday, junior Viking Karene King finished 28th overall in the 200m with a time of 24.27 seconds.

She just missed qualifying for the quarterfinals, as the top-24 athletes advanced to that next round. She also just missed her personal best, clocking in only 0.05 seconds more than her fastest finish.

“This is my first year at PSU and I think I did really well,” King said.

“There is nothing much more I can ask for from this season. I just have to continue to work hard and get better.”

Fellow Vikings, sophomore Joenisha Vinson clocked in at 14.12 seconds in the 100m hurdles to finish 38th overall in the event.

Her best performance this year came at the Mondo Invitational in April, where she posted a time of 13.84 in the same event.

“All four of us did an exceptional job, and with this experience under their belt I can see that we will be able to accomplish greater heights in the next season,” Trubachik said.

Vanguard Vanguard Sports |9 Arts & Culture |9 June 2,Day, 20102009 Month

Sports Editor: Robert Britt 503-725-4538 sports@dailyvanguard.com

Blackhawks beat Flyers 2-1, take 2-0 lead CHICAGO (AP) – Antti Niemi was unflappable as the Stanley Cup finals turned defensive in Game 2. Different style of game from the opener, yet another victory for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Niemi made 14 of his 32 saves in the final period and Chicago beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to take a 2-0 series lead on Monday night.

“It’s unbelievable feeling how the people react,” Niemi said as the crowd cheered him and chanted his name after the game.

“Defense was the key.”

After a 6-5 Chicago victory in the opener when the teams traded goals, both clubs tightened up their defense. The tone was more physical and chippy from the outset.

The Blackhawks, who for the second straight game got no points from their two young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, broke through against Michael Leighton when Marian Hossa and Ben Eager scored 28 seconds apart late in the second period.

Tony Crisofulli: The sophomore distance runner finished 1.1 seconds shy of his personal best at the Regional.

255 throws, finishing 15 over par.

Page Pierce from Texas finished one throw behind Carr, and Des Reading finished third with 258 tosses.

In the masters division, Patrick Brown of California took first out of 47 players with 223, finishing 17 throws under par. In the Grand Masters event, Jeff Fielder finished first out of 17 players with an evenpar score of 240. Doug Werner finished five over par with 245 and Rob Wilson finished with 246.

PSU graduate student Steve “Pop” Tufty finished 12th in the grand masters division with 268 throws. PSU junior Sarah Tolle, who attended the event for the first time, found the sport fascinating.

“Watching them make these incredible shots with the flick of their wrist is crazy,” Tolle said. “It’s so much more interesting than golf, you can’t help but watch.”

For the first time this year, the amateurs get their own weekend to play. Last year, the one-weekend event filled up within four hours, and this year it only took 28 minutes. Drastic measures had to be taken to ensure everyone got a chance to play, so a split for the players was formed. 158 amateurs will compete from June 4–6 in the wake of their professional idols.

Senior Tony Skrivanek and fellow student Aaron Ray will be competing during the event, and Skrivanek said he is excited to compete this weekend. Many of the spectators from this weekend will be returning for the amateurs.

California native Linn Lowry says watching the pros is amazing, but watching the amateurs is inspiring.

“I’ve always wanted to compete,” she said. “And every time I watch them, it gets me closer to that goal.”

Disc golf pros: The professionals came to town for the Beaver State Fling disc golf tournament at McIver State Park.

Tanya Shiffer/Portland State Vanguard

And after the Flyers got a power-play goal from Simon Gagne early in the third, Niemi withstood a late flurry from the Flyers to preserve Chicago’s seventh straight win.

“I thought their goaltender played extremely well in the third period. We had more than enough looks to tie up that game,” Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette said.

Games 3 and 4 will be played in Philadelphia on Wednesday and Friday.

etc.

Vanguard 10 | Sports June 2, 2010

CALENDAR

Upcoming NBA free agents This summer will mark one of the strongest classes of NBA free agents in recent memory. Several franchise players– including LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire–are rumored to be seeking new homes.

Agents and front-office reps have been mum, but here are some doomsday squads that are financially and aesthetically viable.

New York Knicks: Acquire James and Wade, trade draft picks and others for Stoudemire This lineup scares the crap out of me.

That’s a legacy in the making, and this would likely become a blueprint for a team that starts catching up with L.A. and Boston for most Finals appearances over the next six years. The Knicks are also the only ones with deep enough pockets to bring three of those legends to town.

Chicago Bulls: Acquire James, trade draft picks for Bosh This would put James, Bosh, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah on one team. Consider that James would be the only massive expenditure (since good front-office maneuvering would keep their purse strings loose), and this allows Chicago to restore the glory it hasn’t known since the days of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin and Dennis Rodman.

Vanguard Arts & Culture | 11 June 2, 2010

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Eastern beasts vs. best of the West Celtics and Lakers meet for record 12th time in NBA Finals Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff The last two Junes in Portland have been indicative of Rip City’s postseason history at large: Despite entering the playoffs with a city’s worth of optimism, there seem to be just a handful of franchises blessed with that spectacular, championship-team magic we’ve only known once in 40 years.

Sure enough, this year marks another during which the Trail Blazers couldn’t survive the first round, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics advanced to the finals yet again, with L.A. seeking its 16th title and Boston its 18th.

What that means is that these two teams alone have won more than half—half !—of the league’s championships.

Climbing Center Weekly Movie Screening/Game Night 4 p.m.

Student Rec Center Activities will include a movie projected onto the climbing wall, games, music and open ropes for climbers

All photos courtesy of Dick Raphael/NBAE

Meanwhile, seven active teams hold just a single championship, and four among them have relocated since winning some rings. There are also more than a dozen franchises with nary a championship banner hanging from the rafters…so many woeful, champ-lacking NBA cities, and yet again it’s the usual suspects left standing in the end.

Thus far, Kobe Bryant has played up to his legendary profile with consistent scoring and playmaking as the Lakers’ frontcourt of Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol kept their interior play tight against Western Conference foes.

However, Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins are big men who can match the size advantage L.A. has enjoyed thus far.

Add to this that Rajon Rondo has been playing some of the best basketball of this postseason and has Ray Allen to work with as well, and suddenly the Bryant-Derek Fisher duo looks manageable. The X-factors will decide this series, though it’s got to be tense for Celts fans to know that means Tony “I’m Not Particularly Consistent” Allen, Paul “I’m Nearing Retirement” Pierce and Rasheed “I Love Bricking Big Shots” Wallace. Meanwhile, one must consider that the X-factor Lakers are Ron Artest with his defensive prowess (and, it seems, ability to make huge, game-winning

shots in the clutch) next to the speedy, penetrative pace set by Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown.

Because I’m not paid to predict NBA games, I don’t like to—if I’m right, there’s not much reward in the handful of people who will read and then actually praise me for making sound guesses. However, the crowd of readers willing to call me out for being wrong, I’ve found, is considerably larger.

Regardless, and with full awareness that I’ll catch plenty of flak from those who actually like the Lakers if I’m wrong, I’m going to say Boston wins this series in six games. They’ve had a great playoff road record in years past, and the cohesion they’ve demonstrated on the court this postseason is phenomenal.

The true X-factors for any series are player health (in other words, one major injury to either squad will severely damage their chances) and player chemistry—and the current starting Celtics have won seven playoff series together without losing one.

Either way, here’s for hoping that next year, a new squad or two are able to make it to the Finals.

For now, enjoy what’s left of this postseason before the NBA Draft on June 24 and before the summer becomes a whirlwind of power shifts once free agency opens up July 1.

NBA Finals Game 1: Boston at L.A.,

Thu, June 3

CrankMyChain “Dinosaurs Bite, People Ride” 11:45 a.m.

PSU Millar Library Raise awareness and have your say by joining a live broadcast and demonstration ride on the only TV show that is broadcast by bicycle.

Hosted by Students for Leadership in Ecology Culture and Learning

Game 2: Boston at L.A.,

Sun, June 6 Game 3: L.A. at Boston,

Tue, June 8 Game 4: L.A. at Boston,

Thu, June 10 Game 5: L.A. at Boston,

Sun, June 13*

Thursday First Thursday Guest Lecture Series 4 p.m.

Smith Memorial Student Union, room 294 Michele Punke will give a lecture on the subject of archeological deposits discovered at three sites near Vancouver, Wash., which challenge the accepted view of the history of the Portland Basin

Game 6: Boston at L.A.,

Tue, June 15* Game 7: Boston at L.A.,

Thu, June 17* * If necessary

To place an event:

Vanguard

—Robert Seitzinger

Photo courtesy of blogbroadway.org

Hunter S. Thompson’s often neglected work Allison Whited Vanguard staff

Hunter S. Thompson’s work means a lot of things to a lot of different people. It can make us feel a little less lonely when we despise everyone else in the world. It can make us feel like we have someone to commiserate with when greed and political corruption make us feel like the world is ending.

And when we have an urge to shuck the world and escape into a cacophony of drugs and alcohol, we have a friend to do it with.

For me, Thompson’s sports writing, not exactly what he is known for, has been the thing I

connected to most. I’m an organized and on-top-of-things kind of gal.

As a graduate student, there isn’t always another option.

As such, while I enjoy the tales like “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” I connect with them in a different way. I’ve never had a bender quite like the ones Thompson describes, but I can see the portrait he is trying to paint of the human spirit, or lack thereof.

His sports writing, on the other hand, is entirely accessible. He manages to provoke an emotional response in what tends to be a subject that is largely written about in a way that purposefully tries to avoid such things.

Anyone who has read Thompson knows about his beef with former president Richard Nixon. He despised everything about the man and even dedicated his book The Great Shark Hunt to him with the tongue-in-cheek dedication “…To Richard Milhous Nixon, who never let me down.”

Thompson met Nixon once. One

would think that with all of the vitriol and energy Thompson put into pulling Nixon apart, he would have a mouthful to say. However, when they met, the conversation took an entirely different turn—they talked about college football.

In this way, Thompson almost seems to recognize that sports are the great equalizer. In bringing sports into a political dialogue, Thompson throws the reader for a loop and makes him emotional whether he is a sports fan or not.

It is subtlety done in the most grandiose way possible. I think the same could be said about a vast body of his work.

Thompson even talks about the darker side of sports in an engaging way. I don’t have a clue about sports betting (other than knowing that it seems fishy and involves disreputable people) but when I read the following line in “Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl,” I instantly understand the emotional impact of it: “There is no room for mercy or the milk of human

Today

kindness in football betting—at least not when you’re prepared to get up on the edge with every dollar you own.”

In a piece he wrote on JeanClaude Killy, a three-time Olympic medal skier, Thompson simultaneously destroys the image of the athlete as an idol and enhances Killy’s image as the driving athlete. “[Killy] likes the carefree, hell-forleather image that he earned as the world’s best ski racer, but nostalgia is not his bag, and his real interest now is his new commercial scene, the high-rolling world of the Money Game, where nothing is free and the amateurs are called Losers.”

Only a skilled sports writer, which Thompson most certainly was, would be able to do this with such ease and make the reader both repulsed by and in awe of Killy.

Thompson’s sports writing may not be as popular as his gonzo-style writing, but the same basic tenets are there. There is always a picture within a picture.

Contact vgcalendar@ gmail.com or pick up a calendar request form at the Vanguard advertising office, SMSU, room 115.

SPORTS EXTRA

Photo courtesy of Robert Britt/Portland State Vanguard

Brandi Scoggins: The senior catcher looks for a chance to advance from second during a mid-season game against Idaho State. Scoggins finished her career at Portland State as the PCSC Mountian Division Player of the Year after breaking the school’s career doubles record with 44 two-baggers.

Two trips to the PCSC Championship mark the careers of four seniors James MacKenzie

Vanguard staff With last month’s loss to St. Mary’s in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship Series, four of Portland State’s seniors waved goodbye to the softball program that has been a part of their lives for at least the past two years.

The Vikings will lose Brandi Scoggins and De’Chauna Skinner, both four-year members of the team, while also losing transfers Becca Diede and Tori Rogers, both of whom had an indelible impact on the success of both this year’s and last year’s squads.

With the loss of those four seniors, the Vikings lose three of their four

Becca Diede

most productive hitters and a pitcher that threw a no-hitter in her Portland State debut. Gone will be two members of the 2010 All-PCSC Mountain Division First Team, along with a member of the Second Team.

Scoggins, who led the Vikings in nearly every offensive category in 2010, leaves Portland State holding the school’s career doubles record at 44. Scoggins served as the team’s primary catcher, along with occasional designated player duties, and was the 2010 PCSC Mountain Division Player of the Year winner after leading the Vikings with a .367 batting average.

For Scoggins, the individual accolades were just a side dish for what would end up being the second consecutive year that the Vikings would battle for the PCSC crown.

“Honestly it’s an honor, but at the same time I really don’t look at all that stuff. All I care about is doing well for my team and giving all I have

Photo courtesy of Robert Britt/Portland State Vanguard

Tori Rogers

for them,” she said. “If I get awarded for that, then so be it. But it’s just icing on the cake of playing with these girls and growing as a team.”

Growing as a team would be one of the hallmarks of the 2010 club, as the Vikings started the season 1021, a far cry from the eventual 3027 record they would later achieve.

Going 18-2 in conference helped, but no member of the team would signify the boom and bust of the 2010 club more than senior first baseman Skinner.

Entering conference with a batting average below .200 and no home runs to her name, Skinner went on to bat .380 in conference and club five home runs in only fifty at-bats. Due largely to Skinner, the Vikings overcame the slow start of the season and dominated PCSC play.

With nothing left to lose and a college softball career quickly coming to an end, Skinner found confidence that molded her into one

Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Melgarejo/Portland State Vanguard

of Portland State’s best hitters down the stretch.

“I found confidence that wasn’t based on performance, it was based on knowing that, up to this point in my career, I’ve done everything I can possibly do to prepare and be successful,” Skinner said. “I went into the batter’s box telling myself that no pitcher was better than me and they were not going to beat me.”

Though the team struggled out of the gate, it was largely due to the seniors that the Vikings were able to propel themselves to the PCSC Championship. While the team knew—from the coaching staff to the players— that it had talent, it took some time for the team to find its tempo.

“It was hard in the beginning, because it took us a while to get to know each other and mesh well on the field,” Skinner said. “Once we found the right combination though, the results were obvious with our conference record.”

Diede, a second baseman that transferred to Portland State after two seasons at Otero Junior College hit only .197 in her first year at Portland State, but quickly turned her PSU career on its head by becoming arguably the Vikings’ most consistent hitter in 2010. Diede batted .294 and paced the team in RBIs, while providing the clutch hits when they were needed.

Rogers transferred to PSU from New Mexico, and is the sole senior to be leaving the PSU pitching staff this year. Rogers, who loudly announced her arrival with a fiveinning no-hitter over McNeese State, was an integral part of last season’s championship squad and a leader in this year’s pitching staff.

After playing an abbreviated season last year due to injury, Rogers knew the importance of this season.

“Last year made me really appreciate every opportunity I am given to play, and I tried to capitalize on every opportunity to the best of my ability,” Rogers said.

With the seniors moving on, it will now be up to the younger members of the team to return to the promised land of the PCSC, a challenge the departing seniors believe the team is up to.

“I expect them to continue to push themselves every day, and constantly work to make a name for PSU softball,” Skinner said. “I learned from the upper classmen when I was a freshman, so hopefully they learned a thing or two from us.”

Scoggins agreed, adding that next year, it will be new seniors that set the tone for the Vikings.

“The younger girls are filled with potential, and as long as everyone keeps their emotions in check and sees the big picture, they will succeed in more ways than just winning,” she said. “It’s going to take everyone as a team and the leadership from B-Camp [Brandi Campos] and Lacey [Holm], and they’ll go far.”

De’Chauna Skinner

Photo courtesy of Robert Britt/Portland State Vanguard

Vanguard Sports | 12 June 2, 2010

Halladay throws MLB’s 20th perfect game MIAMI–Phillies righthander Roy Halladay retired all 27 batters he faced to pitch the 20th perfect game in Major League history on Saturday night at Sun Life Stadium.

Halladay is coming off a rough outing against the Red Sox, when he gave up seven runs (six earned) in 5 2/3 innings. But the Marlins were unable to figure out his mix of cutters, fastballs, changeups and curveballs while striking out 11 times.

The 33-year-old came into the game 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA. The last Phillies pitcher to hurl a no-hitter was Kevin Millwood on April 27, 2003 against the Giants. The only Phillies pitcher to throw a perfect game is Jim Bunning in 1964.

The Phillies held a 1-0 lead through five after Chase Utley’s line drive bounced off the glove of Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin in the third inning, allowing Wilson Valdez to score from first base.

—mlb.com