PSU Recognizes Dr. Aminé
Rapper Aminé to Receive Honorary Degree
News: Portland State’s Community Counseling Clinic O ers Therapy for $20 or Less
A&C: Arabian Night Returns to PSU Opinion: Simping for the Symphony
Noah Carandanis MANAGING
Tasha Sayre
Adyan Hussein OPINION
SOCIAL
COPY
ONLINE
Quinn Willett
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Vacant
CONTRIBUTORS
Samantha Hope Boulgarides
Ariella Kellett
Abigail Moore
Riley Sharps
Sandra Stevens
PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Briana Cieri
DESIGNERS
Abigail Green
Abby Raymundo
Parker Patnode
Arianna Thomas
Haley Hsu
Devin Singh
VADVISING & ACCOUNTING
COORDINATOR
Reaz Mahmood
SALP ACCOUNTANT
Maria Dominguez
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STUDENT
Kaylee Hynes
WEB DESIGNER
Owen Cook
To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@psuvanguard.com.
MISSION STATEMENT
PSU 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 online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com.
Portland-Born Rapper, Aminé, receives Honorary Degree
From PSU drop-out to honorary grad, Aminé comes home
NASH BENNETT
Portland State University has announced that it will be awarding Portland-born Rapper and Singer, Aminé, an honorary degree at this year’s commencement ceremony.
Aminé originally attended PSU as a marketing major, before dropping out to follow his burgeoning music career. With a brand new album having been released a few weeks ago (see page 9 for our full review), Summer 2025 is looking to be a big one for Aminé—not only with a hot new album but a diploma in hand.
The rapper will be taking the stage for a speech at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement on June 15 at the Viking Pavilion. His attendance was announced via PSU’s official instagram, featuring a cheeky video of Aminé in a cap and gown with a voiceover remarking, “Portland State’s 2025 commencement speaker is… Dr. Aminé.”
Aminé first garnered widespread notoriety with his hit song “Caroline,” of which he wrote while attending PSU, then skyrocketed to full on rap stardom from there.
Since “Caroline” debuted, he’s dropped 3 studio albums, 2 mixtapes and a collab album with Music Producer and Rapper, Kaytranada. Throughout his career thus far, he’s collaborated with such names as Young Thug, Vince Staples and even Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who’s also spent significant time in Portland.
Growing up in NE Portland’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Aminé has consistently repped the city in his image and his lyrics. Showcased clearly in the music video for the 2020 track, “Riri,” which depicts Aminé amongst various iconic Portland landmarks like the Oregon Convention Center and the Old Town sign. He also sports an ornate “Rip City” tattoo on his back featured on the cover of the deluxe-edition of his 2020 album, Limbo Aminé graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School, located in Portland’s Central Eastside. He recently donated $25,000 of college funds to students in Benson’s KBPS student radio program, of which Aminé was a participant during his time there. In a video announcing the donation, he cited KBPS as a key player
in his development as a musician.
“My love for making music started at Benson High School.” Aminé is joined by two other honorary degree recipients this year. One being prominent local Drag Queen, Poison Waters. Waters is the co-host of the globally beloved Portland drag show, Darcelle XV Showplace. She’s known for her extensive non-profit work for organizations like the Trevor Project and the Oregon Humane Society. Waters has also been a long time PSU collaborator, hosting various events on campus and consistently engaging with the PSU Queer Resource Center.
David Evans and Associates, Inc. CEO, Al Barkouli, will also be receiving an honorary degree this Spring. His company deals primarily in transportation and land management, with its origins being in Portland.
“At Portland State, honorary degrees are more than a tradition — they’re a tribute to those who’ve inspired through intellect, artistry or public service,” PSU said in the official press release announcing this year’s recipients.
ARIANNA THOMAS/PSU VANGUARD
Portland State’s Community Counseling Clinic Offers Therapy for $20 or Less
The clinic provides affordable care and hands-on training for student-counselors
RILEY SHARPS
Students at Portland State University who may be navigating mental health problems do not need to look far for support. Portland State’s College of Education houses the university’s Community Counseling Clinic, which offers affordable costs for services provided by pre-licensed counselors under the guidance and supervision of licensed professionals.
This dynamic not only allows more people in need to access crucial services, but also allows establishing therapists to garner the critical experience of working with real clients, an essential step in becoming fully licensed.
“I wish I could somehow help the clients to understand that you’re not in just one counselor’s hands you’re in like, three counselors’ hands, and all of us are really good at our job, and we’re constantly making sure you’re cared for,” said April DodsonFerris, the Director of Portland State’s Counseling Clinic.
According to Dodson-Ferris, the clinic is made up of between 30 and 40 student-counselors. All of these counselors have completed relevant educational requirements for their positions, though their exact experience level varies.
“They’re graduate students, and they’ve received one to two years of training before they move into the clinic to start seeing clients,” Dodson-Ferris said. “[They’re all in] pre-licensure. Some of them are interns in their third year, and then some of them are practicum students in their second year of the program.”
Even as student-counselors, many workers at the clinic are operating with people who may experience serious or overlapping mental health issues.
“We’re teaching all of these students to be counselors,” DodsonFerris said. “From their first year, they’re learning what it looks like to work with complex mental health issues and co-occurring diagnoses. And everyone who works with the students is either a doctoral-level faculty member or a working clinician.”
The result is a real life training environment that is support-
ive while providing quality care. Students are never left without professional oversight, and learn the skills to adapt to a wide variety of mental health needs.
“My peer supervisor, when I served in practicum, is currently working with couples and doing, like, Sex Therapy,” said Virginia Hicks, a Second Year Rehabilitation Counselor at the clinic. “For instance, I’m studying rehabilitation counseling. So, [I’m] working with people [on their] professional and vocational goals.”
As well as general support, many of the student counselors pursue more specific areas of practice. Counselors within the clinic focused on sex therapy, trauma modality, rehabilitation and school counseling. Others may work with clients from the LGBTQIA+ community, or participate in therapy integrated with nature as a mental health treatment, which is supported by a partnership the clinic has with the Queer Resource Center (QRC). According to Dodson-Ferris, the organizations partner up to offer run support groups for LGBTQIA+ students.
Despite all it does, the clinic’s day to day operations—and the broader availability of mental health support in Oregon—is facing a new uncertainty. Starting in July, the state of Oregon will no longer allow pre-licensed counselors to bill Oregon Health Plan (OHP)—the state’s version of Medicaid and a prominent source of medical coverage for low-income Oregonians.
“[This] will create a devastating gap in mental health care access—particularly for freelancers and lower-income residents who rely on the state insurance plan,” said Katy Swordfisk, PSU Media Relations Manager.
Dodson-Ferris provided us some insight when we asked about the changes.
“I wish that we weren’t putting mental health care in a place where it’s even less accessible when people seem to be needing it more and more, so I feel grateful that places like this exist so
that we can try to bridge that gap,” Dodson-Ferris said. We then asked Dodson-Ferris if increased demand for these services could cause issues like waitlists.
“I’m always happy to bring on more counselors to make sure that we minimize waitlists…” Dodson-Ferris said. “We have a lot of students who are willing to come in and support the community. I don’t foresee a waitlist problem in the future.”
In beginning therapy, many are at least slightly apprehensive about starting the journey. Dodson-Ferris acknowledges that the hesitation is normal.
“I’d be surprised if someone was not just a little apprehensive about starting,” Dodson-Ferris said. “You’re essentially meeting someone and saying, ‘Let me tell you the most vulnerable parts of who I am.’”
Despite the natural nerves, Dodson-Ferris said she still strongly believes in the support it creates.
“Therapy is magic,” Dodson-Ferris said. “It’s the space in this world that belongs entirely to you. Your therapist is there to hold your grief, your sadness and your joy.”
The model the clinic has may also help break down the barriers for those who are intimidated by other more traditional approaches. Many of the student counselors are merely a few years older than the students they serve. This closeness may help in fostering comfort and relatability that is hard to find elsewhere.
“We’re here to just walk in and say, ‘We’ve had experience with this—how can we support you?’” Dodson-Ferris said.
Staff at the clinic cite a need for larger awareness and support—especially in times where state-level changes may threaten funding and access. However, those working at the clinic remain hopeful that the word will spread.
“It’s okay,” Dodson-Ferris said. “Eventually, we’ll get the word out there.”
April Dodson-Ferris, the Director of Portland State’s Counseling Clinic gives a tour of the space.
ISAIAH BURNS/PSU VANGUARD
Arabian Nights returns to PSU for an Unforgettable Celebration
The Arab Student Association hosts its seventh annual Arabian Nights.
Portland State has been lost in a trance of another Arabian Night… minus Will Smith.
On the night of May 10 in Smith Memorial Student Center’s Ballroom, the Arab Student Association (ASA) collaborated with Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU), Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian (MENASA) Student Center and Iraqi Student Association (ISA), for its annual Arabian Nights event.
This event was advertised as a special night with drinks, henna, Dabke and a space to celebrate and dress in cultural clothing with friends and community members.
ASA’s Vice President Malak ElManhawy is a PSU student from Egypt who played a crucial role in planning and carrying out the event.
“We started off with ordering decor and things for the tables, we wanted to go with a green Arab theme,” explained ElManhawy. “We have a bunch of fun stuff planned. We have a good lecture coming up, a musician comes to sing; who is one of MENASA’s leaders, [...] we also have Dabke at the end for a nice Palestinian dance. I think Dabke is the best part because we
end the night with a bang. We have a full team coming, and everyone gets up and dances and it’s always a good time so it’s always a good way to end the event.”
Dabke is a traditional Levantine dance where participants are in a line and often hold hands while aligning shoulders and moving together to Arabic music. The dance is a symbol that represents Palestinian culture, unity, resistance and is often performed during events, weddings and celebrations.
Abdulkader Tayba is a Lebanese PSU Student and the Outreach Chair for ASA, where his main role is to reach out to other clubs and organizations to help with events and finances.
“I’ve been going [to the Arabian Nights event] ever since I was a kid, it’s basically an opportunity for us to showcase Middle Eastern culture at Portland State with food, music and a variety of fun events,” Tayba said. “ASA means a lot—it’s more of a representation thing than anything else, I feel like within the last few years we’ve gotten more Arabs than we have in the past. I feel like if we go back a decade, [Arabs] were a very big minority over here [...] so it’s about
representing the culture and making people more aware of it.”
Tayba played the role of Steve Harvey in Family Feud, and coordinated the two teams of four in competing against each other in Arab trivia.
“[Planning] was a little stressful but it was really fun, I always looked forward to this event since I was a kid, it used to be for going to it, but this year it’s for planning it, and I feel like overall it felt rewarding,” Tayba said.
Aside from the group Dabke, the cultural walk was the most popular section of the event—with the most cheers and audience engagement. Two people walked for Arab countries like Yemen, Palestine, Libya and more while they held up their flag as the crowd clapped.
Hanae Ejjamri, a Moroccan PSU Student pursuing a degree in Preclinical Public Health, currently serves as Event Coordinator, where she plays the role of one of the lead creative minds in organizing ASA’s regular events.
“[Arabian Night] takes much longer than all our other events—we already have it preplanned because it’s an ongoing event that hap-
pens yearly, so a lot of it isn’t creative planning and is more of monetary planning,” Ejjamri said. “We have to figure out where the money is going to come from, and where it’s going to go, and also plan food and food costs—a lot of it is planning logistics.”
ASA has proudly planned and organized the annual Arabian Nights for the past seven years. This event is not only this student group’s most anticipated event, but also the largest and gathers the most community members around Portland. It serves as a powerful showcase of Arab heritage, joy, cultural pride and is overall a space where students and community members can come together and enjoy themselves.
“My favorite part is the fashion walk where all the cultures get to represent their flags and clothing… and my favorite country is Morocco, hello?” Ejjamri said. “We have a relatively small Arab community in Oregon overall, and most of the people who are Arab are around the Portland area. Being part of ASA allows the community to come together and celebrate our culture in a place where it otherwise wouldn’t be celebrated because there aren’t many Arabs.”
ADYAN HUSSEIN
Seattle Dabke begins performing from the stage.
Two teams against each other for Arab Family Feud.
ADYAN HUSSEIN/PSU VANGUARD
PSU Philosophy Club Presents: What the PHL!?
ABIGAIL MOORE
“The Situationship”
What the PHL?! is Philosophy Club’s answer to your moral dilemmas! Once a month, our club meets to discuss and evaluate real-life ethical problems, submitted by you, our fellow students. In our meeting, we will examine your issue from all angles and have a thoughtful discussion on how to move forward in an ethical manner. After our meeting, our club members will write and publish a summary of our findings, including any advice we may have for you. All questions are welcome, but keep in mind that the more context provided, the more specific our advice can be. Students can anonymously submit any and all questions by visiting the Philosophy Club’s bulletin board located outside the philosophy department in Cramer 241.
“THE
SITUATIONSHIP”
(Names have been changed for anonymity.)
“My friend Jenny has been spending time with a guy who my friend group and I dislike. This guy, Paul, is not abusive or anything, but he and Jenny are generally incompatible. Jenny knows that they’re not compatible and has admitted to me that she only wants to keep things casual between them. However, I can tell that she is getting more attached to Paul and is continually engaging in behaviors that are more indicative of a serious relationship (spending increasing time with him, inviting him to more intimate events with family/ friends, etc). I am trying to decide how to intervene, if at all.” — Anonymous submission to the Philosophy Club
specifics of this will depend on your friendship and respective personalities. Additionally, be sure to listen to what Jenny’s boundaries are, and put your own relationship preferences aside. Using “I” statements and asking questions will be useful to make sure you are not dictating her behavior.
During this conversation, honesty will be an important topic. Jenny has told you that she thinks she and Paul are incompatible, but has she told Paul this? Does Paul know that Jenny says she wants to keep things casual? Honesty within any relationship is crucial. It’s wrong for Jenny to mislead Paul into thinking that their relationship is serious. She may be unintentionally doing so, which makes your conversion with her all the more important as it might allow her to reflect on what she wants and how she is behaving.
And while Jenny has an obligation to be honest with Paul, it might also be the case that you have an obligation to Jenny—to tell her how you feel about the situation and how your friends feel about Paul. Given the often significant role that romantic partners play in our lives and the apparent integration of Paul in your social circles, sharing your opinion with Jenny is warranted.
Though it may feel unkind at times, voicing our true feelings can demonstrate our genuine respect for other people and our trust in their maturity.
The Student Sustainability Center
NASH BENNETT
In discussing the above situation, our primary concern was in maintaining support for your friend. Throughout our group’s conversation, we continually kept this in mind and let it inform how you should proceed.
The first issue we identified was a disconnect between Jenny’s words and actions. She says that she is only casually interested in Paul, and she seems aware of their incompatibilities, yet their relationship seems to be functioning more seriously than Jenny says she wants.
The specifics or severity of their incompatibilities will matter a lot. Maybe they have different goals in life or don’t share many interests, but their sexual chemistry is amazing. In that case, moving away from a romantic relationship into a more clearly defined sexual one might be appropriate. But if their incompatibility really stems from the fact that Paul is just a total asshole, then whatever benefits this relationship provides Jenny might not be worth the potential stress or emotional harm.
Because of this apparent disconnect, you should ask Jenny for more clarification on what she likes about him, why she is in this relationship and what it is she really wants. It can be hard sometimes to understand what we actually want, especially when it comes to love. You should be patient with Jenny in figuring this out, but you may be able to provide a much-needed perspective as someone outside the relationship who cares about and knows Jenny.
We all have our blind spots, and our friends can play an important role in helping us see things about ourselves and our partners that we might otherwise have trouble seeing. However, you should ensure that your understanding of Paul and Jenny is based on what they actually say and do, and not your own personal assumptions or biases.
When it comes to approaching Jenny about your concerns, there are a few things you should keep in mind for the two of you to have an honest and productive conversation.
First, a conversation like this might understandably make Jenny feel defensive, so keeping support as a guiding value will be helpful. You should also ensure that you’re approaching Jenny at the right place and time. You should have the conversation in a space where the two of you are comfortable and able to speak freely, and you don’t want to approach her when she is stressed or busy. You should find a time when both of you are in the right headspace to talk about a difficult, and possibly quite emotional situation. The
When it comes to interacting with Paul, it’s important to keep in mind that open hostility is likely to make Jenny feel uncomfortable. No matter what you and your friends think of Paul or of Jenny’s relationship with him, your central concern should be in supporting Jenny and being a good friend to her. You don’t want to do something that makes Jenny feel alienated from the friend group and this will impact how you relate to the people in her life. You should suspend judgment about Paul as much as possible. Try to see what it is that Jenny likes about him, and give him an honest chance in the friend group. As one of our members put it, you should “give him the room to succeed or fail.”
However, this doesn’t mean that you should withhold your feelings. If the reason that you and your friends dislike Paul is because he’s just an asshole, then you should call him out in the moment. It is likely the case that Jenny has similar values to the rest of the friend group, and pointing out Paul’s differences in this regard might help Jenny see the extent of their incompatibility. Hopefully this is not the case, but regardless, responding to the situation with Paul as it comes will be helpful in ensuring that the concerns you communicate to Jenny aren’t coming out of left field.
If you have tried all of the above, and Jenny continues to engage in an increasingly serious relationship with Paul, and your friend group’s dislike of Paul continues to deepen, you may be faced with a tough situation. If this is the case, you can and should continue to voice your concerns about the relationship and you might have to set boundaries of your own within the friend group.
If Paul is causing genuine problems in the group dynamic, it might be best to tell Jenny that you all are no longer comfortable including him in your gatherings. You and your friends’ comfort is important too. It can be quite difficult to be involved with someone who your friends dislike, but as much as possible you should avoid making Jenny feel alienated. If Jenny chooses to stay in a relationship that is in conflict with her desires, values and possibly her overall wellbeing, she will need her friends to uplift her more than ever.
Leaving relationships can be difficult, and this is made even more challenging when we don’t have strong support systems outside of our relationship. At the end of the day, despite how you feel about Paul, you should respect Jenny’s autonomy and support her. We aren’t always going to like our friend’s partners, but we shouldn’t let this stop us from loving, supporting and uplifting our friends.
The Student Sustainability Center (SSC) is a student-led community organization that connects students with environmentally focused volunteering opportunities. The group tackles topics like green living, environmental justice and community building. They maintain the Smith Garden and assist students interested in developing their gardening skills. Each term the SSC offers various sustainability related events like community cleanups and agricultural workshops.
“The Student Sustainability Center engages students in becoming intersectional sustainability leaders by providing experiential learning opportunities,” according to the SSC website.
From May 12–16, the SSC held their first Sustainable Fashion Week—a multifaceted event showcasing the importance of environmentally friendly fashion. The four part event followed a unique format each day, consisting of a film screening, panels, an art gallery and a runway fashion show.
“I’m excited for people to have this opportunity to connect with each other, but also maybe be inspired that their creativity could lead them to a larger purpose,” said Luna Rivera, the Lead Organizer of Sustainable Fashion Week and Environmental Justice Coordinator at the SSC.
The SSC collaborated with various other student groups and programs to bring Sustainable Fashion Week together. Including PSU’s Textile Arts program, of which many of its students had work featured in the fashion show. The event also follows the recent introduction of the Sustainable Fashion minor at PSU—which tabled at the event. Another point of collaboration came through the Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) certificate program, with the show being held outside the ITECK Center and its Oak Savanna space.
The runway fashion show titled, Eco_Edit, was the icing on the cake for the event and acted as a closing ceremony for the week as a whole. It featured five student designers, with all pieces produced in sustainable ways. Models strutted down the Walk of Heroines path, showcasing expansive motions of self expression and ecological statements. With a huge turnout, PSU students showed their love for fashion and our planet.
“Environmentalism can be connected to anything, any interest you have no matter how far it seems, there’s a way to intersect the two,” Rivera said.
Simping for the Symphony
Why YOU should take advantage of discounted student tickets
We all may have a certain image in our heads when it comes to attending the symphony: one of stuffy foyers, elegantly dressed elders and a sprawling orchestra primed to play classical (aka BORING) music. But is that the reality? Not according to the Oregon Symphony. Sure, when yours truly attended Impressions of the Sea: A Night of Debussy, about 70% of patrons were over the age of 75, and all very well dressed. But the venue for this particular performance—none other than the opulent Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, a mere eight blocks from campus—was anything but stuffy. And the music, along with the guest solo violinist, was nothing if not lively, rendering the night worthy of praise and recommendation. In short, if you’re looking for something to do on a free night, try the symphony and let the music move you.
“But the symphony is so boring!” I hear you say. “It’s too expensive!”
Au contraire, my friends, it is anything but. In order to convince you, fellow students, I have composed a few reasons why you, yes you, should attend a night at the symphony. First off: it’s only $10 per ticket—instead of upwards of $100—thanks to
the Oregon Symphony’s generous student discount. In order to obtain said discount, apply ahead of time on their website , where you will be able to view all eligible concerts. It takes a few business days for them to confirm your student status, and once they do, you will receive an email with a discount code which you can use to book your tickets online with the reduced rate.
If you are feeling brave, you can call the box office and ask about where the best seating is. Before I went, I talked to the very helpful Dante, who suggested I sit in the lower mezzanine for the perform bance, specifically because of the violin soloist. The seat was valued at $105, and the view was incredible. I was able to see every single instrument in the game that night, including an oversized tuba sporting a domed mute, looking like THE Zendaya hat
Now that you know how to secure the student discount (and are hopefully securing it right now!), let’s talk about the why of it all. Simply put, not all classical music is boring—I promise. The Oregon Symphony regularly puts on concerts inspired
by popular film scores, performing everything from the music of Harry Potter to Pirates of the Caribbean. They also put on 80’s nights for all the nostalgia heads, and even the music of David Lynch for all the Twin Peaks fans out there, confirming there truly is something for everyone at the symphony. (There’s something to be said for the stuffy stuff, too.)
Another reason to class it up at the symphony: it makes for a great non-basic date night, girls, boys, or theys night out, or simply a night (or Sunday matinee) on the town by yourself (sooo cool and artsy of you). For less than the price of seeing a movie at Fox Tower, you can support experienced, local musicians at the top of their game and get #cultured.
The main point: you don’t have to know anything at all about classical music to go to the symphony, or to enjoy yourself while you’re there. The goal of these student discounts is to make the symphony more accessible to young people—and if you’re reading this, that (probably) means you! So put down the phone and put on that dressy ensemble you never get to wear, grab a program at the door, and let the music move you.
ARIELLA KELLETT
BRIANA CIERI/PSU VANGUARD
Change the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit College Rule So Students Can Live
College students need low-income housing, too
According to an article published in 2021 by the NPRsponsored radio program KLCC, Oregon’s Affordable Housing Crisis Impacts College Students
Oregon received $200 million dollars to build low-income housing in 2019. Not a dollar of that figure was budgeted for college students or young adults experiencing homelessness who could only dream of attending college one day. There are too many barriers for low-income students seeking an apartment. Non-refundable application fees, security deposits and the ability to show you earn three times your rent sets up a Catch-22 for those just starting out in life. How is a student supposed to earn three times their rent without a college degree required to attain living-wage employment? The laws prohibiting low-income college students from renting an affordable unit in subsidized housing need to change.
The motto of the company that owns my low-income apartment complex is: “Everyone deserves a place to call home.” I live in one of 90 units in a building that, despite being zoned for LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit), allows me to attend college full-time. Over the past few years, I have tried to encourage my neighbors to go back to school but none have done so. The sad reality is, many of my neighbors are drug addicts and/or alcoholics; cheap rent enables them to continue the activities which made them homeless in the first place.
California, New York, Hawaii, Vermont and Oregon have the highest rates of homelessness among college students. LIHTC has always had a “student rule” in place to ensure affordable housing is portioned out to the most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly and those with disabilities. According to preferredcompliance.com are “more about providing program benefits to those most in need instead of funds and resources going to students who end up paying little-to-no rent and are adult dependents of wealthy parents.”
That rule is dated from a decades’ old assumption that all students are put through college by their parents. The U.S. government’s assumption that all young adults pursuing higher education are mollycoddled by their families until graduation day needs to go.
When I experienced homelessness in 2015, I was trapped in noisy, women’s shelters for nine months in downtown Portland. Reading a book, or concentrating on anything besides protecting myself from being harassed or robbed, was impossible. I read in coffee shops, shopping malls and parks. The Central Library on SW 10 th Avenue is a de facto warehouse for the down and out. I haven’t been
an emergency shelter called The Landing for housinginsecure students. While that is commendable, so much more needs to change—especially the LIHTC college rule blocking students’ access to low-income housing.
13 Months of Sunshine came out and suddenly it feels like Summer in Portland. Aminé’s third album comes at the perfect time, its danceable beats and breezy textures pair well with the increasingly sunnier days as we transition out of Spring and into Summer. The Portland rapper’s sound continues to draw from an eclectic array of genres, with echoes of dance hall, EDM and reggaeton. While many of the songs may usher you into a dancing fit, diving into the lyrics may send you into deep self reflection.
While the album surfs quite the spectrum of topics and themes, we see Aminé share a rare breakup ballad in the track, “History.” Chronicling the slow descent of a relationship from a mature stance of heartfelt appreciation, albeit approaching its demise. This may be his most heartstring tugging song to date, particularly with the shimmering vocal accompaniment from Waxahatchee, showing a vulnerable side to Aminé.
“And after all that Portland rain is combined, all I need is 13 months of sunshine,” Aminé said on the title track, “13 MOS.”
While Amine always reps Portland, he expressed a need to get away and enjoy a break from the overcast drab of the Northwest. That’s surely something I think those of us who grew up in the area can relate too.
The name of the album, 13 Months of Sunshine, is a reference to Ethiopia’s 13 month calendar year. Aminé celebrates his Ethiopian heritage frequently throughout the album, both lyrically and sonically. For instance, the track “13 MOS” samples the song “Nafkot” from popular Ethiopian Singer-songwriter, Aster Aweke.
The album cover shows Aminé himself sitting on a couch next to a very chillaxed sloth wearing headphones, presumably jamming out to the new album with a poster behind them bearing the album’s title. The album art was designed by local Portland Graphic Designer, Bijan Berahimi, a frequent collaborator with Aminé.
Aminé continues to make his city proud, bringing us another soundtrack to the next era, in this case a summer spent sunbathing and busting a move—with the occasional and much needed moment of self reflection.
NASH BENNETT
SANDRA STEVENS
ABBY RAYMUNDO /PSU VANGUARD
DEVIN SINGH/PSU VANGUARD
DEVIN SINGH/PSU VANGUARD
Community & Wellness Resources Updated weekly
BY NOAH CARANDANIS
Happening Soon
Student Sustainability Fest
Montgomery Plaza
May 30, 12 – 2 p.m.
Free
Connect with and learn about the Student Sustainability Center and other sustainability organizations.
Kabbalah Lunch and Learn
SMSU M112
May 30, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Free
The Jewish Student Union and PDX Hillel host a lunch to learn about the Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism.
Plant Crafts Workshop
VSC 215
May 30, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Free, RSVP
Learn about dying things with plants and making seed bombs at this workshop. Fill out this Google Form on the PDX Connect page to RSVP.
SUPER Spring Fest
1501–1561 SW Park Ave, South Park Blocks
June 3, 12 – 3 p.m.
Free
Connect with SUPER at an event with food and activities.
University Band Spring Concert
Lincoln Performance Hall
June 3, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Free with PSU ID, $10 – $15 general admission
The University Band performs its spring concert in collaboration with the Portland Metro Concert Band.
Dead Week After Dark: Ride Into the 80s
Smith Ballroom
June 4, 7 – 9 p.m.
Free
A variety of events are offered in the Smith Ballroom, from a mechanical bull to arcade games. Food such as cotton candy and ice cream is provided.
Resources
PSU Basic Needs Hub
SMSU Suite 435
Mon–Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Free for students
Helps students access resources such as funds, food, housing, employment, childcare and health support.
PSU Food Pantry
1704 SW Broadway (temporary location)
Tues–Thur, 12 – 4 p.m.
Free for students
Access to free groceries in a welcoming, equitable, trauma-informed way. Must be enrolled in at least one credit for Summer or Fall.
SMART Recovery Meetings
University Center Building 340 E Times vary Free
In peer recovery, students with shared experiences connect to reduce stigma and build a campus recovery community.
Cinema Therapy for Grief and Loss
SHAC Group Room
Mondays 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Free
Identifies grief through film in a group setting that builds community and relationships.
Community Technology Space
730 SW 10th Ave. Suite 111 (entrance on SW 9th Ave.)
Mon–Fri, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free
Multnomah County official cooling center with access to free technology, internet, limited books and events.
Oregon Energy Fund
Varying Locations
Mon–Fri, hours vary Free
Provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians to support household stability.
Wellness
SHAC Mind Spa
UCB Suite 310
Mon–Fri (by appointment)
Free for students
Solo space to experience biofeedback, light therapy, meditation, massages, relaxation and more. Must be enrolled in at least five credits for Summer or Fall.
Student-Athlete Support Group
Morrow Room, Stott 138
Weds, 4 p.m.
Free for student athletes
Weekly meeting designed for PSU athletes to have a space to build community and develop healthy coping strategies.
Mindful Meanderings
Listen on Spotify
Available 24/7
Free
PSU-produced podcast about being mindful while outside, practicing gratitude, finding joy and being in the moment.
SHAC Nap Rooms
UBC 340
Available first come first serve
Free for PSU students
Provides a space for PSU Students to nap in a safe and comfortable environment.
Outdoor Workshop Wednesdays
Watch on Youtube
Available 24/7
Free
PSU Campus Recreation Center staff videos about topics ranging from Leave No Trace and plant identification to hiking spots and land acknowledgments.
BORP Online Fitness Studio
Watch on Zoom
Mon–Sat, hours vary
Free
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program’s (BORP) virtual exercise classes for people with physical disabilities.
