Portland State Vanguard Volume 76 Issue 43

VOLUME 76 • ISSUE 43 • APRIL 13, 2022

TULIPS BLOOM AND SIGNAL SPRING IN SALEM

NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

OPINION

Celebrating the life of Amara Marluke P. 3

Gas prices ignite conflict and chaos in Peru P. 4

The housing market is a modern-day dystopia P. 10

WE’RE HIRING Copy Editors & News Editor EMAIL RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM

CONTENTS

COVER PHOTO BY CAMDEN BENESH COVER DESIGN BY SHANNON STEED

NEWS HONORING THE LIFE OF AMARA MARLUKE

P. 3

INTERNATIONAL FUEL, FERTILIZER AND CURFEWS

P. 4

THIS WEEK AROUND THE WORLD

P. 5

SPORTS REMEMBERING THE WNBA’S PORTLAND FIRE

P. 6

ARTS & CULTURE PSU’S FARMERS MARKET SPRINGS INTO A POST-MASK SEASON

P. 7

OREGON’S WOODEN SHOE TULIP FESTIVAL KICKS OFF SPRING

P. 8-9

OPINION THE GRIM OUTLOOK OF OWNING AND RENTING

P. 10

THE CULT OF CELEBRITY MUST DIE

P. 11

SCIENCE & TECH APPLE’S NEW SUBSCRIPTION MODEL

P. 12

STAFF EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Béla Kurzenhauser

OPINION EDITOR Justin Cory

MANAGING EDITOR Karisa Yuasa

ONLINE EDITOR Christopher Ward

PHOTO EDITOR Sofie Brandt

COPY CHIEF Mackenzie Streissguth

SPORTS EDITOR Eric Shelby

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tanner Todd

NEWS EDITOR Zoe Edelman

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Olivia Lee

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Ryan McConnell

CONTRIBUTORS Alex Aldridge Camden Benesh Whitney Griffith Jeremiah Hayden Nova Johnson Foster Kupbens Milo Loza Jesse Ropers

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Tanner Todd INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Alberto Alonso Pujazon Bogani

PRODUCTION & DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Shannon Steed

ADVISING & ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Reaz Mahmood

DESIGNERS Leo Clark Whitney Griffith Fiona Hays Mia Levy A Pargett

STUDENT MEDIA ACCOUNTANT Maria Dominguez

TECHNOLOGY & WEBSITE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS Kahela Fickle George Olson Kwanmanus Thardomrong

To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@psuvanguard.com

STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR Vacant

MISSION STATEMENT Vanguard ’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-on journalism education and a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market.

ABOUT Vanguard, established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us in print Wednesdays and online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @psuvanguard for multimedia content and breaking news.

HONORING THE LIFE OF AMARA MARLUKE PSU COMMUNITY GATHERS IN SMITH FOR MARLUKE’S CELEBRATION OF LIFE ATTENDEES OF THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE GATHERED IN THE SMSU BALLROOM. PATRIC SIMON/PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY ZOE EDELMAN The Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom saw over 300 students, faculty, family and community members come together to celebrate the life of Amara Marluke, on Saturday, April 9. Marluke was a freshman at PSU who was shot and killed on Monday, April 4 at age 19. The celebration of life event was organized in her memory.

Amara Marluke’s perseverance through an incredibly turbulent and neglectful childhood propelled her to become an advocate against injustice as well as an ally for others.

“She was relentless and graduated [high school] with honors at 18, despite being two years behind

when we adopted her,” explained her mother, Amy Marluke.

Her accomplishments throughout her young life are inspiring to both those who knew her and those learning about her. The program included the playing of one of her songs called “Love is Blind,” which lyrically details the intricacies of relationships.

“Amara made me stronger, [she] made me braver,” Amy Marluke said.

Friends and family gave unwavering testimonials to Amara Marluke’s exceptional character, adding to the stark tragedy of this loss. Clear admiration set the tone for the event,

and some of her past speeches were also played.

“I have a dream, I have a plan and I have hope,” said Amara Marluke during one of her recorded speeches.

“I refuse to believe anyone’s path is predestined.”

“I was in awe of Amara’s ability to unite,” said Richard Arnold, a faculty member of Sunset High School where Marluke attended.

Amara Marluke’s family, Richard Arnold and PSU President Stephen Percy all alluded to upcoming scholarships created in Marluke’s name. Her legacy will be carried on through scholarships aiming to

MEMBERS OF THE PSU COMMUNITY EMBRACE IN MOURNING. PATRIC SIMON/PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

provide more opportunities to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and disadvantaged youth, specifically those who have been in foster care.

“It was just a privilege to experience her positivity,” said friend Chloe Bernard.

Percy called for a moment of silence to recognize the loss of Amara Marluke at the beginning of the ceremony, and after learning about her bright, loud, audacious personality, that silence proved significant.

Amara Marluke’s story remains half-written—a song unfinished. Her

memory will be carried among the PSU community and within her work with the Black Student Union and various social justice projects.

In the words of Amy Marluke, “she lived to fight the world.”

And the world will keep fighting for her.

A GoFundMe has been started on behalf of the Marluke family for those interested in donating. If you or someone you know may be a victim of domestic violence, visit resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline or SHAC (Student Health and Counseling) for

immediate assistance.

AMY AND BRADLEY MARLUKE, AMARA'S PARENTS, AT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE. PATRIC SIMON/PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

NEWS

3

FUEL, FERTILIZER AND CURFEWS

PERUVIAN PRESIDENT PEDRO CASTILLO. BRAIAN REYNA/ANDINA

FIVE DEAD IN CLASHES BETWEEN PERUVIAN CITIZENS AND POLICE ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI Though not directly involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Peru is not immune to being affected by the ramifications of global conflict. Peru has faced rising fuel and fertilizer prices, so much so that March 2022 marked Peru’s highest inflation rate in over two decades. Prices rose 1.48% throughout March—the highest seen since a 1.53% increase recorded in February 1996, according to data provided by the Peruvian central bank. Fuel prices have also inflated in the United States since the conflict broke out, with Oregon’s average gas price peaking at nearly $4.74 on March 11, breaking the previous record for highest gas price average set in 2008.

In an attempt to combat the rising inflation rates and outrageous fuel prices, the Peruvian Ministry of Economy and Finance announced a decision on Sunday, April 3 to suspend taxes on the country’s most consumed fuels.

Gas taxes were suspended on 84 and 90 octane gasoline— called gasohol—as well as certain types of diesel. The tax will be suspended until June 30 with a possible extension to December. The government claimed subsidies would prevent a rise of S/.3 (3 soles, or 81 cents USD) per gallon for diesel and S/.5 (5 soles, or $1.35 USD) for the price of 10-kilogram gas cylinders.

The Peruvian economy minister told Reuters that conflict in Ukraine was one of the biggest threats to the Peruvian economy.

Peruvian truckers and farmers have been protesting the gas prices, and have been worried about another spike.

In an attempt to curb the ongoing protests, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo enacted a curfew lasting from 2 a.m. Monday,

4

INTERNATIONAL

April 4, until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 5 in Lima, Peru’s capital.

“The cabinet has agreed to declare a ban on the mobility of citizens from 2 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. of Tuesday, April 5 to protect the fundamental rights of all people,” said Castillo, in a nationwide address broadcast just before midnight.

Castillo survived two impeachment attempts in his first eight months in office, and has seen his nationwide support dwindle to 25%, despite his overwhelming support from rural farmers at the time of his election.

Monday saw increasingly violent protests with police clashes and toll booths burnt down in the southern city of Ica, with four reported deaths.

“This strike isn’t happening just here, it’s all over Peru,” said one protestor in Ica who wished to remain anonymous.

Food has also seen rapid inflation as a byproduct of the protests, with several truckers blocking main highways to Lima throughout the past week.

Castillo’s curfew did not last until its set termination of 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. Castillo’s attempt to curb civil unrest was met with new protests on Tuesday, in defiance of the curfew.

“I must announce that from this moment on we are going to cancel the curfew order,” Castillo said in a meeting with Congress. “We now call on the Peruvian people to keep calm.”

The people of Lima took to the streets to oppose what they called a violation of their civil liberties—and what the government called a necessary action to prevent lootings. Several government buildings reported looting overnight as people began to defy the curfew into the morning of Tuesday.

On Wednesday, April 6, Peruvian authorities announced that a fifth person had died during the protests. According to a union representing agricultural workers in Ica, the man died during clashes with the police force. As authorities continue to struggle with clearing the highways to Lima—essential for food transport—Castillo fended off calls for resignation from his opposition and local news.

Marcelo Gonzales, an activist living in the desert coastal village of Villacuri, spoke with Reuters about the ongoing crisis.

“The cost of a family’s basic daily needs has brutally gone up,” Gonzales said.

Being from a village that employs many Peruvians in large fruit plantations, Gonzales led protestors 150 miles north to participate in blocking the nation’s most important highways, demanding lower prices in vegetable oil, chicken, rice and cooking gas.

“We are not against the President,” said Gonzales. “We are against Congress, which is very concerned about impeachments but never works for the people.”

Gonzales’ words stem from a common impeachment trend in Peru, which has claimed five presidents since 2016.

The Pan-American Highway is now open, following a 48-hour truce which was slated to end on Saturday, April 9. Gonzales plans to continue the blockade after the truce unless the government commits to lowering prices.

“We want to change the Constitution, specifically to change the part that says the government cannot control the prices set by private companies,” Gonzales said.

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

THIS WEEK

around the

WORLD

April 4-10

3

1 2

1 April 6

TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report of ethnic cleansing carried out by Ethiopian armed forces from the Amhara region against ethnic Tigrayans, amidst a war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced countless more. The report featured a collection of 427 accounts taken from survivors of violence, witnesses and family members of those killed. Reuters called the account the “most comprehensive assessment to date of abuses during the war in western Tigray.” In its contents, there are stories of horrific cases of threats, killings and sexual violence carried out by Amharan officials and military members. Specific tactics used include forces putting up signs demanding that Tigrayans leave, mass shellings of civilian sectors and random executions. One woman raped by Amharan soldiers told The Guardian that her assailants said that they were trying to wipe out Tigrayans and were “purifying [her] blood.” Director of the HRW, Kenneth Roth, stated that, since Nov. 2020, “Amhara officials and security forces have engaged in a relentless cam-

paign of ethnic cleansing to force Tigrayans in western Tigray from their homes.” Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, made her own statement on the matter. “The response of Ethiopia’s international and regional partners has failed to reflect the gravity of the crimes that continue to unfold in western Tigray,” Callamard said. “Concerned governments must help bring an end to the ethnic-cleansing campaign, ensure the Tigrayans are able to safely and voluntarily return home, and make a concerted effort to obtain justice for these heinous crimes.”

2

April 3

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA

Costa Rica held its national election last week, resulting in the election of former finance minister Rodrigo Chaves as the next President, as reported by The Guardian. Chaves’ victory comes in the midst of many sexual harassment allegations levied at him by his former coworkers at the World Bank. “Costa Rica, the best is to come,” Chaves said to a crowd of supporters. His campaign was characterized by a platform of anti-establishment sentiment, despite his ties with previous administrations and position at the World

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

Bank. A tribunal investigating Chaves’ behavior found many complaints of varied sexual nature filed from 2008–2013, which eventually resulted in his resignation from the World Bank. “The facts of the present case indicate that [Chaves’] conduct was sexual in nature and that he knew or should have known that his conduct was unwelcome,” the tribunal wrote. Another factor in Chaves’ win was that the nation’s elections had uncharacteristically low turnouts, with more than 42% of eligible voters not participating. Costa Rican political analyst Francisco Barahon attributed the lack of enthusiasm to a long campaign full of personal attacks. “For a lot of people it’s embarrassing to say they voted for one or the other, and prefer to say they won’t vote for either of the candidates or simply won’t go to vote,” Barahona said.

3

April 3

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s Supreme Court blocked Prime Minister Imran Khan’s attempt to dissolve the parliament and hold fresh elections, according to Reuters. In March, the Pakistani parliament held a vote of no confidence in Khan’s leadership. The vote was projected

to pass and oust Khan from power, but before it could finish, Khan had Parliamentary President Arif Alvi dissolve the National Assembly. Opposition leaders were outraged at the move, calling it a “civilian coup.” From the beginning of the no-confidence hearings Khan had denounced the national assembly, claiming that the opposition was, in reality, a foreign plot funded by the United States.

Both the opposition coalition and the U.S. denied such allegations. The opposition said that its dissatisfaction with Khan’s leadership was fueled by economic concerns, specifically the low value of the rupee and high costs of food and fuel. On Thursday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial made a statement on the court’s ruling against Khan. “The Advice tendered by the Prime Minister on or about March 4, 2022 to the President to Dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no legal effect,” Bandial said. He continued through a thirteen-point list of various ways Khan’s attempt to block the no-confidence vote was unconstitutional. Leader of the opposition, Shahbaz Sharif, said that the move by Khan was a “black day for Pakistan as Khan has abrogated the constitution of Pakistan.”

INTERNATIONAL

5

REMEMBERING THE WNBA’S PORTLAND FIRE

ERIC SHELBY The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was a new women’s basketball league that began in 1997, starting with eight teams. Like all new leagues starting out, the WNBA had an expansion phase, promoting their brand and creating new teams to compete for a national championship. Among those teams was the short-lived Portland Fire.

The Portland Fire existed for only three years, in the 2000–2002 seasons competing in the Western Conference. The Fire played at the Rose Garden, now known as the Moda Center.

The Portland Fire are one of two WNBA teams to never make the playoffs, next to the defunct Miami Sol. In their inaugural season, the Fire finished seventh in the West with a 10-22 record and .313 winning percentage. They went 11-21 with a .344 winning percentage in 2001, and went 16-16 in their final season—coming in at fifth place in the West. Their record was 3759 overall, with zero playoff appearances and zero championships. The Fire averaged only 8,000 fans per game which was small for the league at the time.

Jackie Stiles was selected fourth overall in the 2001 WNBA draft. She averaged 14.9 points per game and was awarded Rookie of the Year. Injuries complicated her career— and she never played again in the league, though she did later play for the Lubbock Hawks of the National Women’s Basketball League and the Canberra Capitals of the

6

SPORTS

Women’s National Basketball League in Australia.

Due to the WNBA turning only five in 2002 when the Fire folded, the league sold ownership of their franchises to the owners of their counterpart NBA teams. Paul Allen opted not to buy the team because the Portland Trail Blazers were struggling—and the WNBA was suffering financial problems league-wide.

Trail Blazers legend Clyde Drexler and Clackamas businessman Terry Emment attempted to buy the franchise, but the deal was never made. Portland has been without a professional women’s basketball team since 2002.

Women’s basketball in the City of Roses started off with the Portland Power, one of the nine founding franchises coming out the the American Basketball League (ABL), which attempted to rival the WNBA at the time.

After the 1996 Olympics were hosted in Atlanta, the ABL was able to recruit multiple gold medalists like Portland native Katy Steding.

They won a division title in their 1997-98 season, going 27-17—and winning the West.

The ABL seemed to be doing better than the WNBA. The Power were 9-4 —first in their conference before financial issues within the league ruined their chances of winning their first title.

Natalie Williams, the daughter of former NBA star Nate Williams, was the Power’s star player, and was awarded first-team ABL two years in a row in the 1996–97 and the 1997–98 season. Leading the league in scoring and rebounds, the team folded along with

the rest of the league in 1998, starting with eight teams and ending with nine.

There have been talks about bringing the Fire back to the Moda Center, but no progress has been made. In December, Trailblazers star Jusuf Nurkic shared his support for a team returning to Portland on Twitter.

Kirk Brown, co-founder of DiscoverOrg (now ZoomInfo), also expressed interest in bringing a team back to the WNBA. There is no doubt that the Portland Fire wouldn’t thrive today without Portland having a large women’s sports fan base, supporting teams like the Portland Thorns who led the National Women’s Soccer League in attendance last year. The Thorns average 14,391 fans a game, more than the next most popular team, the Racing Louisville FC that averages 6,610 per game. Before the pandemic in 2019, the Thorns averaged 20,098 fans per game.

If a WNBA team does come back to Portland, they would need a venue. They could play at the Moda Center, like their NBA counterparts, but there will be potential scheduling conflicts. A good location may be the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where the Portland Winterhawks Hockey team hosts their games. The Coliseum has a capacity of 10,934.

Not only would Portland provide a solid WNBA fanbase, they would also already have a rivalry with the team up north—fourtime WNBA champions, the Seattle Storm— just like the Portland Timbers have a rivalry with the Seattle Sounders, or Thorns has with OL Reign.

A HISTORY OF THE LESSER KNOWN BASKETBALL TEAM IN PORTLAND A RIP CITY MURAL ON A SHIPPING CONTAINER OUTSIDE OF THE MODA CENTER. ERIC SHELBY/PSU VANGUARD

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

PSU’s Farmers Market springs into a post-mask season MILO LOZA Located in the park blocks on campus at Portland State University, the Portland State Farmers Market is a Saturday tradition that attracts the students, as well as nearby families and residents—rain or shine. But how has the recent ending of the statewide mask mandate affected the market?

“I think it’s brought more people back to the market—particularly the hot food vendors,” said Tracy, a local farmer who sells meat at the market. He said hot food vendors have remained at the market through the mask mandate, but it seemed that people were more willing to eat at the market since restrictions were lifted.

Tracy also said that more vendors and customers have come back as certain products have become available once again, and he enjoys seeing people’s smiles return. While the vendor believed that the mask mandate being lifted was a factor in people’s willingness to come to the market, he cited the sunnier spring weather as well.

“Part of it is because of the mask mandate,” he said. “More of it is a product of seasonality.”

A spice vendor nearby agreed that the spring weather has played a role in attracting

more people to the market. Ali, a long-time saffron seller at the market, said he was returning to the event after taking a few months off due to the cold. He said he didn’t think that masks were a large factor in people’s return to the farmers market.

For some participants, the recently lifted mask mandate is still a cause for concern.

In another corner of the market, a couple of bakery employees shared their trepidation about the mask mandate.

“I think it’s too soon,” one of them said. “I’m comfortable as long as I, myself, am wearing a mask, but I think it’s a little early for the indoor mask mandate to lift.”

Ryan, a PSU student who has worked with an apple vendor for the past year at the market, shared the same opinion.

“I don’t think the mask mandate should be lifted,” he said. “But I don’t feel quite as bad because we’re outside.”

Wearing a mask while working at the market, Ryan cited a sense of social responsibility in his choice to continue wearing one at work.

“Until COVID gets less serious and there’s less compromised people at risk, I don’t want to be part of the problem,” he said. “So I’m going to keep wearing my mask as long as I need to.”

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: SPICE DISPLAYS AT CYRUS SAFRON, A MARKET VENDOR. JASON AND BETH JOHNSON, OWNERS OF DOUBLE CIRCLE SPIRITS. A LOCAL FARMER AND RANCHER SELLING FRESH MEAT. FRESH-BAKED COOKIES AT MIO'S DELECTABLES. TANNER TODD/PSU VANGUARD

ARTS & CULTURE

7

OREGON’S WOODEN SHOE TULIP FESTIVAL KICKS OFF SPRING The story behind the family farm that created an Oregon tradition TANNER TODD For the past 38 years, a family-owned farm in Southern Oregon has been hosting one of the region’s most colorful springtime events—the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.

As the weather warms and buds turn to blossoms, the fields around Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm turn from earthy greens and browns to bright reds, pinks, purples and yellows as the tulips burst with color. The event brings in visitors from across the country—and even across the world.

Despite its current status as a sightseeing event, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival started small. The Iverson family, which owns and runs the farm, first opened the blooming fields in 1985 at the suggestion of their next-door neighbors. At the time, they didn’t see the appeal of touring a tulip farm—from their perspective, the fields of flowers were simply an agricultural operation.

“We had some neighbors who said ‘you know, you need to open the fields and and invite people out,’” said Barbara Iverson, one of the family members who owns the farm. “We were just farmers, we just looked at it as another crop.”

Nevertheless, the Iversons heeded their neighbor’s advice and organized an event aimed at home gardeners and flowergrowing enthusiasts. To the Iversons’ delight, the showing was

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ARTS & CULTURE

enough of a success to warrant another run the following year.

For the Iversons, letting customers visit the fields in bloom actually helped them appreciate the beauty in their own backyard.

“We just took it for granted that people would actually want to come and see what we do,” Iverson said. “You feel really blessed, because there’s just so much beauty on the farm that we used to take for granted, but for a lot of people, they don’t get to see that every day.”

As time passed, people began to catch on, and the crowd of annual visitors expanded beyond the original customer base, who were mostly home farmers. The new visitors were photographers, tourists and sightseers, none of whom were interested in buying bulbs or cut flowers so much as seeing the live tulips in the field.

“People would come, and take pictures, and then they’d leave,” Iverson said. “And they wouldn’t buy cut flowers, they wouldn’t buy bulbs.”

For the Iversons, this created a problem: most of their visitors came in order to see live tulips, but in order to keep the fields running, they had to harvest flowers for resale in other locations across the state.

“There was this demand back and forth between ‘I need

colors for the people to see, but I need to cut because that’s how we sustain the farms.’”

To solve the problem, the Iversons turned the Festival into what it is today. They charge a gate fee to cover the cost of not cutting certain fields, then they use the proceeds to leave the flowers unharvested. This allows the fields to be filled with tulips throughout the entire season, instead of simply cutting them once they reach peak bloom.

Since that shift toward being a viewing event rather than a sales-based one, the festival has grown. Today, the event brings in people from across the state—and the world.

“We have a United States map and world map out [for people to mark their locations],” Iverson said. “It takes us about a week to get all 50 states…and then, on the world map, we have about 140 countries.”

For the Iversons, the chance to talk to different people from all over the world is part of what makes the work meaningful.

“I enjoy that because I get to meet people,” Iverson said. “I get to talk to people…I really enjoy that, because you can touch so many people…Our goal with this whole thing is to try to make people’s days a little bit easier, a little bit nicer.”

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

OPPOSITE: YELLOW TULIP VARIETIES BLOOMING AT WOODEN SHOE TULIP FARM. CAMDEN BENESH/PSU VANGUARD

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A VIEW OF THE FIELDS AT WOODEN SHOE TULIP FARM. PINK TULIPS IN BLOOM FOR SPRING. ROWS OF TULIPS AT THE WOODEN SHOW TULIP FESTIVAL. CAMDEN BENESH/PSU VANGUARD

ARTS & CULTURE

9

THE GRIM OUTLOOK OF OWNING AND RENTING AN UNSUSTAINABLE PRESENT AND FRIGHTENING FUTURE

WHITNEY GRIFFITH

ALEX ALDRIDGE With the cost of living increases, insufficient wages, wealth inequality growth and continued gentrification of Portland and other urban areas, trying to keep a roof over one’s head is a struggle for the lower class of the U.S. If you dream of owning a home one day, disappointment may be in your future. If a place of your own wasn’t in your plans to begin with, then rent will also continue to suck you dry while you are forced to work three jobs to afford a studio that costs more than a mortgage.

Older generations love to slam millennials and Gen Z for being entitled and spoiled, while themselves being ignorant of the fact that they benefited greatly compared to younger generations when looking at the data on cost of living and inflation over the years—especially when it comes to housing.

Taelor Candiloro of Anytime Estimate—a real estate number calculator and data collecting site—compares inflation to median housing costs in the U.S. According to Candiloro’s research, housing prices have outpaced inflation by 150% over the last 50 years. If inflation and home prices increased at the same rate, Candiloro argues the median home cost today would be $177,788—instead of the $408,100 that it currently is.

To make matters worse, the current median home cost in Portland is $547,041, much higher than the national average.

The statistics on Portland continue to be a lot more grim, as it is one of 13 cities in the country where the median cost of housing increased more than 200% since the year 2000—increasing from about $179,000 to the depressingly high $547,000.

Additionally, the current median household income of $67,521 would need to be $125,260 to afford a home valued at $325,677.

Millennials in 2019 were faced with a 31% higher home-priceto-income ratio relative to what the baby boomers were facing in their thirties in 1985. No amount of boot-strap pulling is going to overcome such obvious hurdles.

Last month on an episode of 60 Minutes, investment company CEO Gary Berman claimed that millennials have no desire to own

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OPINION

a home because they grew up in the sharing economy. Not only is this claim out of touch, but coming from the CEO of a company that owns over 30,000 rental properties in the U.S. rented to primarily millennials, it’s infuriating.

Perhaps more people would be able to afford a house if it weren’t for the perception that housing is a possible investment opportunity. Many investors now treat housing as a commodity.

Maybe it is a radical thought, but no individual or company should be able to have investment properties that are used to exploit people who want a shelter of their own.

While my sympathies for larger real estate investors are nonexistent, I am also not losing sleep over smaller landlords— owners of one to four properties—who lost money due to the pandemic. Especially when housing as an investment is considered inherently risky.

These landlords have unfortunately had to offload one or more of their properties to even larger property investors during the course of the pandemic—thus causing even higher rent prices for tenants.

Michelle Conlin of Reuters wrote about childhood friends who owned 96 units in Rochester, NY, almost offloading all of their units to out-of-state investors while claiming to be heartbroken having to do so. Sympathy is hard to find for people and companies that are inherently parasitic.

With the rapidly increasing rental prices combined with property investors both big and small treating housing as a commodity, it is no wonder that Portland was named the fourth-fastest gentrifying city in the U.S. in 2017.

If the dream of owning a house is out of reach, maybe the rental cap we have here in Oregon will help you to continue renting. In Feb. 2019, Oregon Senate Bill 608 passed, placing a cap on rent that equals 7% plus the annual consumer price index from the previous year, as well as a couple other protections for renters. Buildings that are less than 15 years old are exempt from that cap, unfortunately.

For 2022, the maximum amount that a landlord or property manager can raise your rent is by 9.9%. Yet the potential for your

rent to go up more than $100 per month while still falling under the cap, makes it difficult to consider this a victory.

How many of the working class in Oregon received a raise recently that even matched the U.S. inflation rate of the last 12 months? Last November, Minneapolis and St. Paul voters passed an incredible rent control ordinance that was capped at 3%, though a Republican-controlled Senate committee is advancing legislation in an attempt to overturn the rent control measures that voters approved. Shame.

Looking elsewhere in the U.S., it’s even worse. The apartment unit I was living in less than two years ago in Tucson, AZ, had rent go up by more than $300—a price increase that no tenant should have to endure just to keep a roof over their heads.

The fact that rental increases in other places are far worse than here shouldn’t mean that we should allow this to keep happening to us, as it is going to continue to get worse for those who are already struggling.

People who think that they are smarter than me will say that the reason for all of these increases is increased demand and limited supply, as well as that pesky inflation that seems to make everything else raise in cost—except, of course, for our wages.

We all see the apartment complexes being built everywhere. We are being told that they will help alleviate the rent prices, ignoring the fact that these newer, cheaply built apartments charge rent that is higher than anything else in the area—incentivising other properties in the area to raise their rents to the cap, or even higher for any building that was built less than 15 years ago. They already add on monthly fees for all sorts of silly things anyways. Why do we need to pay pet rent on top of a pet deposit?

Along with numerous issues that younger generations continue to face, when do we say enough is enough? With no sense of irony, we are already being told by older generations that we are entitled and spoiled.

I say that they are actually in debt to us—and eventually it will be our responsibility to collect.

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

THE CULT OF CELEBRITY MUST DIE CAN WE RECLAIM OUR LIVES AT THE SCALE OF THE HUMAN COMMUNITY?

A PARGETT

JUSTIN CORY There have been countless think pieces and news broadcasts on local and cable stations about the impacts of social media, the 24-hour news cycle and our collective obsession with those who wield celebrity. The 2022 award show season, with all of its attendant hoopla and red carpet speculation, was a prime example of this phenomenon.

Enough ink has been spilled in the exhausting media frenzy that encircled the slap-heard-around-the-world at the Oscars.

Before that, the internet and media outlets alike were set ablaze by an entitled heiress’ quotes about work ethic and the obsessive misogynist stalker behavior of her estranged ex.

I am being purposefully vague and yet, dear reader, you know exactly what and whom I am talking about in each of these instances.

It’s not surprising that celebrity gossip has long been front page news. The current capitalist system rewards all user interactions—in ratings and clicks—and requires constant controversy in order to turn the public’s attention into advertiser revenue.

Tristan Harris described the process in the 2020 documentary on social media The Social Dilemma.

“If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product,” Harris said.

None of this is probably new information to any of us.

Recent studies published in PsyPost and BMC Psychology indicate that obsession with celebrities leads to lower measures of cognitive ability. Concurrent studies also found that individuals who obsessed over celebrity happenings were more likely to struggle with “addictive and problematic social media use.” Troublingly, these individuals were also found to be highly susceptible to believing disinformation—especially from the mouths of their favorite celebrities.

The U.S. just had a president who rose to power largely because of his ability to manipulate status, media and attention. He had never held prior political office, demonstrated poor business acumen, held bigoted beliefs and values and had a total disdain for truthfulness. All it took for his ascent was a cult of followers primed for him by the aforementioned culture of celebrity obsession. A cult that still argues the last election was stolen in spite of evidence to

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com

the contrary—and attempted a coup spurred on by their leader.

This can be chalked up to the rugged individualism at the heart of the U.S capitalist mythos—and to some extent, that is part of it. We fetishize the self-made man—or girl boss. Belief in meritocracy is deeply entrenched in U.S culture, and is heavily propagandized to the public through the media. This delusion is a major obstacle stopping masses of workers from seizing the wealth they created for the landlords and bosses of society.

These cults of personality fuel the political authoritarianism of figures like the brutish head of state currently invading Ukraine and the many insecure strong-man dictators of the past. They all needed masses of people brainwashed to believe in their legitimacy by building themselves up into larger than life figures.

But I am not here merely to prognosticate and pontificate on the tragedy of our collective dumbing down. You can doomscroll or panic-watch any number of media outlets for that. We can turn this around.

First off, none of us have gotten where we are—or will get where we want and need to be—without the collective efforts and support of others around us. A good analogy is that of scientists who often say that they stand on the shoulders of all of the scientists who came before them. This idea comes from Sir Isaac Newton who said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

This is true of art, literature, philosophy, politics, music and at the individual level—our very own well-being. Nothing exists in a vacuum or without the influence and support of others.

While there are absolutely structural hurdles and classist levels of privilege that impact our travails, we all have benefited from the care and nurturing of family, friends, mentors, colleagues and the wider communities that we belong to.

So why do we platform other people who we will likely never know—and who seem to live lives just as messy, if not messier, than our own? There are plenty of massively talented people in all of our lives who never reach celebrity status. We also have the pleasure of witnessing the life adventures of our loved ones unfold all around us in real time,

not to mention that we are living through an epic journey throughout our own lives.

What do we actually get for our attentiveness to the cult of celebrity?

One might argue that they can inspire. That can certainly be true, but putting people on pedestals tends to end poorly.

Many of my favorite artists, musicians and writers have plenty of skeletons in their closets and are not generally people who I would model my personal life after.

Not to mention that there’s nothing wrong with a little distraction—as noted earlier, we all love some juicy gossip. The problem is that we are so attentive to these banal and vapid events broadcast to us from the vaulted lives of others that we are not attentive enough to those in our own proximity.

How many of us are actively engaged in local issues? How many of us have relationships with our neighbors, work and school colleagues? These are the people who materially influence our lives for better or worse.

It’s hard not to think about the negativity bias and the ways that this plays out for us beyond the media. There are legitimately terrifying events and problems all around us, from war, famine and gun violence to the pandemic, human-caused climate change and economic turmoil. We seem unable to look away—which is what the monetization of our attention feeds into.

However, nothing is predetermined. We can choose to look one another in the eyes and be present for one another. We can recognize that our lives are interdependent. As one of my favorite authors Robin Wall Kimmerer said, “All flourishing is mutual.”

Celebrity is not really bestowed through merit. If it was, then many hard-working and highly talented people would be more well-known. However, hard work doesn’t get you fame or money.

Playing the game—in all of its crookedness and incentivized exploitation of others—does.

Like most cults, when we wake up from the haze of the spell of delusion that it has cast upon us, we can see clearly again what really matters. It is you, and I—and the people on the human scale of your community—in actual proximity to your life.

OPINION

11

APPLE’S NEW SUBSCRIPTION MODEL SAVE OR SCAM FOR CONSUMERS? RYAN MCCONNELL Bloomberg first reported on March 24, 2022 that Apple Inc. was planning a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products. This will be a major shift away from hardware ownership into something more closely resembling an automatic lease on Apple services and products.

The impact of this plan on consumers will be different depending on usage. This new form of payment could fundamentally change the landscape for technology accessibility, as well as the future of right-to-repair laws.

Hardware law, at this point in time, has seen some steps forward—such as the introduction of the right-to-repair legislation on Feb. 3, 2022—but has also taken some steps backward, as seen in the recent case against Gary Bowser, who modified Nintendo consoles to play pirated content.

For those who wish to repair and modify any kind of electronic device, hardware and vehicles, things are looking positive in terms of legislation. However, Apple’s new, proposed subscription model may be a method to bypass such laws before they even come into existence.

For comparison, we are currently seeing similar issues within the housing market, as it relates to housing affordability.

According to a survey by Freddie Mac, housing affordability continued to drive purchase and rental decisions for homes, with new homeownership down from 31% in Jan. 2016 to just 16% in Aug. 2019.

Tenants typically are not allowed to clear their own clogged drain—even though they might still have to pay for it, depending on what is described in their lease agreement. If you rent a dorm or apartment, you may not have any options for how to fix it.

This might sound innocuous, until realizing that property managers—and the maintenance staff hired by the managers— will not operate outside of typical Monday–Friday office hours.

Even if a tenant calls their designated emergency maintenance hotline, there is no guarantee staff members will arrive until the following Monday.

If you own a home, however, you are responsible for its maintenance. While you are the one paying for any costs associated, maintenance can be done independently to cut costs, or called in immediately for repair. Homeownership also allows greater creativity and modification of one’s home, such as painting walls or installing different fixtures.

If hardware products, like cellphones, shift from ownership to rental subscription models, this could significantly change what kind of autonomy an individual has over repairing or modifying their own devices—much like a homeowner’s right to modify

12

SCIENCE & TECH

LEO CLARK

their own house.

Jailbreaking is a good example of this. Jailbreaking allows users to customize and modify their devices in such a way that Apple typically restricts, turning the device into more of a computer than a phone. Doing so would break the warranty on the device, and is strongly discouraged by Apple because of security concerns.

However, jailbreaking is often done with older iPhones, to change specific settings that Apple doesn’t allow users to do or to extend the mobile phone’s shelf life. Apple has a list of devices that no longer get security updates, making security concerns an unsubstantiated argument for older models.

In theory, this form of modification could easily violate the terms of a hardware lease. Since Apple is both distributing the subscription and the devices, it could have the power to indefinitely bar individuals from signing future contracts, preventing consumers from ever using an iPhone again.

The same level of punishment could be leveled at those who repair iPhone screens or replace iPhone batteries without the prior approval of Apple. Even for independent repair technicians, Apple has a stringent certification process—and any repairs made by individuals without Apple’s certificates are punishable by law.

While these are serious concerns, Apple’s hardware

subscription may turn out to significantly increase accessibility. As households are continuously forced into a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle, many simply can’t afford to save upwards of $1,000 for a new phone, let alone consistent upgrades.

If collaborated on with cellular companies, this project could reconfigure a household’s phone bill in such a way to allow consumers to affordably increase their monthly payment in exchange for the newest iPhone models that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Affordability is at the core of this payment model, and is a concern that accounts for more of the iPhone-user population than just those who repair them.

Apple’s subscription project is still under development, so it is unclear whether this would allow for more affordable hardware in the long run. Once it is released, it could be similar to payment plan models that cellular carriers provide, creating a fixed, monthly payment plan directly through Apple. It could also run in the form of a lease agreement where the subscription model rescinds ownership, but provides automatic free upgrades to the newest devices.

For now, it is up to the consumers to determine what is more important to them—ownership or affordability.

PSU Vanguard • APRIL 13, 2022 • psuvanguard.com