Portland State Vanguard

PORTLAND STATE VANGUARD

International News Arts & Culture Opinion

Volume 70 | Issue 26 | February 23, 2016

AFRICAN FILMS DEBUT IN PDX THEATERS p. 4 WEIGHING IN ON THE LEAD DEBATE p. 8 LITTMAN KEEPS THEIR HOME p. 10 THE RED MENACE ISN’T THAT MENACING p. 14

JUST WOKE UP AND CAN’T GET OUT OF BED BECAUSE YOUR MOM IS THERE AND YOU JUST REALLY DONT WANT TO TALK TO HER BECAUSE OMG MOM YOU’RE EMBARRASSING ME NO I DON’T WANT TO CLEAN MY ROOM I LIKE IT AS IT IS? Follow us online at psuvanguard.com

INTERNATIONAL

4

ARTS & CULTURE

10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

15

NEWS

7

OPINION

EVENT CALENDAR

12 Back

COVER BY SHANNON KIDD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Colleen Leary

MANAGING EDITOR MANAGINGEDITOR@PSUVANGUARD.COM Tim Sullivan

NEWS EDITOR NEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Jeoffry Ray

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ARTS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Aislinn Renninson

OPINION EDITOR OPINION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Brie Barbee

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

Alexis Woodcock Cora Wigen Kellie Doherty

MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Turner Lobey

ADVERTISING MANAGER NEUB@PDX.EDU Stuart Neuberger

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Sam Hicks

ADVISER

Reaz Mahmood

ADVERTISING ADVISER Ann Roman

INTERNATIONAL@PSUVANGUARD.COM Molly Ozier

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ASSOCIATENEWS@PSUVANGUARD.COM Ellie Bradley

PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION@PSUVANGUARD.COM Nimi Einstein

PHOTO EDITOR PHOTO@PSUVANGUARD.COM Silvia Cardullo

COPY CHIEF

ONLINE EDITOR ONLINE@PSUVANGUARD.COM Andrew Fleming

Last weekend, the Vanguard staff and several other members of the Portland State community received letters of concern from PSU students regarding a printed advertisement for Spyce Gentleman’s Club in our publication. The advertisement seeks entertainers for the club, located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown.

Turn to page 15 to read these student concerns and the Vanguard’s response.

DESIGNERS

Terra DeHart Elise Furlan Rachel Goldstein Shannon Kidd Peter Le

CONTRIBUTORS

Yuni Choi, Catherine Johnson, Turner Lobey, Jennee Martinez, John Pinney, Sebastion Richardson, Adriana Stein,

COPY@PSUVANGUARD.COM Maeko Bradshaw

Note from the Editor:

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Roosevelt Sowka

ADVERTISING SALES Eva Spencer Becca Propper Dennis Caceres Kayla Clemens

The Vanguard 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 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 subscription issues may incur a 25 cent charge.

THE VANGUARD IS PRINTED ON 40 PERCENT POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER.

THE PSU VANGUARD IS SEEKING AN ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR AND ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR JOB DESCRIPTION

The Arts & Culture Editor is responsible for maintaining the Arts & Culture and Etc. portions of the newspaper.

The position pays $1600 per term and requires a time commitment of 15-20 hours/week.

Job Duties: • Generating A&C content • Remaining actively aware of campus & community Arts & Culture topics and events • Hiring, training, and maintaining consistent staff of A&C writers • Demonstrating strong skills in editing and journalistic writing

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR JOB DESCRIPTION

The Associate News Editor works directly with the News Editor. The position pays $1600 per term and requires a time commitment of 15-20 hours/week.

Job Duties: • Assistance in generating news content • Remaining actively aware of campus & community issues • Hiring, training, and maintaining consistent staff of news writers • Demonstrating strong skills in editing and news writing

APPLY FOR BOTH POSITIONS AT PSUVANGUARD.COM/JOBS BY 5 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1.

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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INTERNATIONAL

CASCADE AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO PORTLAND

YUNI CHOI

Inspired by four Portland Community College faculty members, the Cascade Festival of African Films was founded in 1991 in Portland, Oregon.

“The purpose of the festival is for Africans to promote their culture and tell their own stories,” commented Tracy Francis, the lead coordinator of the festival.

Francis has a background in cultural diplomacy. She has an interest in works from international artists and cultural experiences through the arts. Drawn by the festival’s mission, Francis joined the organizing commitee.

Francis pointed out that in current times Africa has little to no representation at all.

“Film is a captured realism of a place and time [where] you can share your ideas with more people,” Francis said.

“Its a very different way of presenting important ideas.

All of the films [participating

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A SCREENSHOT OF THE FILM ROOFTOPS, DIRECTED BY MERZAK ALLOUACHE SHOWN AT THE CASCADE FILM FESTIVAL . BAYA FILMS/2013

“The purpose of the festival is for Africans to promote their culture and tell their own stories.” in the festival] are relatable to the human experience.”

By using means such as film to provide an opportunity to empathize with different people, “it is a small step towards creating peace in the world,” Francis said.

Amongst the four founders, Dr. Joseph Smith-Buani is a faculty member of Portland State in the the Black Studies Department. He is an adjunct instructor and teaches courses on Africa, African immigration to Oregon/the United States, and African cinema. SmithBuani’s profound interest in African studies is what let him to take part in the festival.

Recently, Smith-Buani’s worked at the PSU Popula-

tion Research Center. SmithBuani’s research focuses on population studies involving school enrollment and other demographic changes. He has worked with the young African immigrant population in Portland through the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization.

Initially, the festival program featured four films.

Today, the festival is a five weekend-long event with 20-24 features and documentary films. This year there are 18 films and 19 directors participating in the festival. Organized and run primarily by volunteers, the event is offered to the public free of charge. In the first

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year approximately 400 people attended the festival.

This number has grown to an attendance rate of over 5,000 people.

The films are drawn from a pool of submitted and invited films. A committee selects interested films; guided by the originating country of the film and their genres.

The festival is organized into different sub-categories including Opening Night, The Thursday Evening Documentary series, Family Film Day, Student Fest, and Women Filmmakers Weekend, in honor of the Women’s History Month in the first week of March.

The Thursday evening documentary series show-

case films that explore the theme of music, arts and social change.

For example, the opening night film, “Rooftops”, is a cinematic analysis of its own society from Algeria. Similarly, other films in the event deal with social and political issues specific to the country of the film, including disfranchised youth and feminism.

Family film nights highlight films that are friendly for all family members to watch.

These films span a wide range of genres including romantic comedies as well as animated African films. This event includes coloring for kids, family social night, and live music.

Open to all ages.

PCC’s library of African film collection holds all videos and DVDs purchased by the festival. This provides a rare opportunity for students, faculty and staff–and the public–to gain access to one of largest collections in the Pacific Northwest.

Celebrating Black History month, the annual Cascade Festival of African Films is an on-going annual film festival that takes place from Feb. 5 to March 5. This event is sponsored in part by the PSU Black Studies Department as well as the PSU Middle East Studies Center.

Visit the website for film information and showtimes: africanfilmfestival.org *Smith-Buani is no longer on the faculty at PCC.

INTERNATIONAL

CHINA RETHINKS ONE-CHILD POLICY; BABY BOOM ENSUES

CHINA TERMINATES ONE-CHILD POLICY ADRIANA STEIN

After a four day debate amongst the Chinese Communist Party, a conclusion was drawn: As of Oct. 29, China ended its infamous “onechild policy.”

In an effort to balance gender demographics, provide for the increasing number of retired elderly, and improve the economy, the Chinese Communist Party now allows families to have two children instead of one.

Since 1978, the policy’s original intent was to slow China’s massive population increase.

According to the Epoch Times, some believe the Chinese government’s continual fertility control to be a human rights violation. “[L]imiting families to two children will still require the kinds of enforcement policies that have been criticized in the past,” said Dr. Sharon Carstens.

Carstens is a professor of anthropology and associate professor for the Institute of Asian Studies at Portland State. Her ethnographic research traces the multiple changes in China over the past 30 years, with a focus on population issues and the one-child policy.

Experts believe the new policy won’t change prior problems because many families can’t afford more children.

“It is unlikely that the two-child policy will have an appreciable effect on the Chinese birthrate,” stated Epoch Times China news reporter, Leo Timm. According to Timm, modern economic demands such as “lengthy secondary education, alienation from traditional nodes of social support, and a brutally competitive job market” make maintaining large families in this day and age impossible.

IL LUSTRATIO N BY PE TE R LE

NPR’s “Fresh Air” showcased an interview with Mei Fong, a leading journalist who wrote a book on the one child policy, “One Child: The Story of China’s Most Radical Experiment.”

Carrying on the patrilineal name is an important part in Chinese tradition and the one-child policy made this nearly impossible. Unmarried young men have been given the name, “guang guan” which means broken branches.

These men are the “biological dead ends of their family” Fong said.

The National Bureau of Statistics put China’s population clock just over 1.3 billion people; the largest of any country in the world.

“The demographic issues that China currently faces with both an increasingly aging population and a gender imbalance may be eased by allowing couples to have 2 children, but this will take time,” Carstens stated.

“By 2050, over 36 percent of China’s population—now nearly 1.4 billion—will be over the age of 60,” according to Epoch Times.

“The entire population of retirees in China would be the third largest nation in this world, if they were to form their own country,” Fong stated. While currently the working adult to elder ratio is about 5 to 1, by 2050 it will decrease to around 1.6 to 1, a major factor in China’s lagging economy.

For some families having only one child is all they can manage financially. The children are the “pension plan,” stated Fong and are required to take care of their elders.

Parents who lose their only children are called “shidu” and find it extremely difficult to manage issues like nurs-

ing homes and funerals when they don’t have anyone they can identify as responsible for their affairs.

“Studies have shown that as an economy develops and more people live in urban areas that many families chose to limit their offspring so that they can invest their resources in education and other material goods that their children need to be successful,” Carstens said.

The one child policy is also responsible for many forced abortions, infanticide and the creation of orphans. Because there is such an emphasis on the family son carrying on the legacy, many female babies were cast aside in order to comply with the one child policy.

When the policy was first put into place, the technology wasn’t available to decipher the gender before birth. “…there are about 7 million abortions in China per year, 70 percent of which are estimated to be of females,” wrote the New York Times. The rest end up in orphanages.

As for the females of the family, “Urban women born after 1980 achieved way more than any other generation before them” because if they were kept as female, single children, all of the family resources went to making them as successful as possible.

Fortunately, many of these children have been adopted in Western countries. “American citizens adopted 6,493 children from China in 2006,” reported the New York Times.

“I have an adopted daughter from China, one of the many girls whose lives were changed irrevocably by the one child policy,” Carstens said. “Allowing unlimited births if infants die of disease or starvation is not tenable.”

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INTERNATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL LEADERS OF TOMORROW ATTEND PSU

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE COMES TO PSU FOR IT'S FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MOLLY OZIER

Representing over 100 languages and countries from around the world, English as a Second Language students gathered at the International Youth Leadership Conference on Friday, Feb 19. Assembled by students, the Conference was created to give a voice to ESL students in the Portland Public Schools.

Following an initial conference four years ago, the board of ESL directors for PPS wanted to find out, “What is it about the schools in Portland public’s that have helped you—as a student— and have helped your transition into the newness of this educational experience and what’s missing?” Asked Senior Director of ESL Department for PPS, Veronica Magallanes.

What evolved from thatquestion are the 31 workshops that took place in Smith Memorial Student Union on Friday. Comprised of students and speakers promoting leadership and student empowerment. Many of the ideas are formulated by the planning

and thoughtful thinking of students who claim the conference for the benefits.

Once the board spoke with the students about their experiences and wants, a youth council was developed. The council includes a voice from every Portland public high school.

Oregon is the only state in the U.S. that hosts IYLC. According to Magallanes, the immersion experience for ESL students is highly dependent on the educators at public schools. Being a minority in a school can lead students to the overwhelming feeling of isolation. Students who don’t identify as ESL students may not understand and make assumptions about who they are. The need for support from educators is imperative.

Educators can bridge the gap for ESL students to feel included and apart of middle and high school experiences.

Because the language barrier between educators and students can be so jarring, the underestimation of knowledge is deducted because the

SILVIA CARDULLO/ PSU VANGUARD PHOTO

language proficiency is not there. In reality, some schools just aren’t prepared with

classes and educators who can pay attention to the needs of ESL students.

On the contrary, educators who went out of their way to help students immerse themselves within the school led to positive experiences. Those educators who went out of their way to take the time to explain things and provide extra support, led students to excel in their new found education.

Magallanes mentioned the lack of consistency throughout the school system that leads to a positive experience.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TAMAM WARITU

INTERACTIVE THEATER AT THE INTERNATIONAL Youth Leadership Conference addressing issues of racism, part of the illumination project. SILVIA CARDULLO/PSU VANGUARD

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VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

“Being an ESL student is not a deficit but rather an opportunity.”

Motivational youth speaker, Tamam Waritu, shared his

message and stories with the students who attended IYLC. Coming from the impoverished town of Ethiopia, East Africa, Waritu is not only able to relate to the students of the conference, but knows just what it means to face the same obstacles and challenges they are facing today. Waritu was hired to train the youth council in leadership.

Waritu’s sessions focus on leadership, “[to help them…] understand what leadership is all about…really for them to see themselves as not just the leaders of tomorrow…but rather see themselves as leaders of today,” he said. “What can they do today to make change[s] in themselves and also help others?”

A graduate of Jefferson High School in North Portland,

Waritu knows first-hand what it means to be an ESL student in the PPS system.

Continuing his education at Portland State for his bachelors then onto Harvard for his masters, Waritu is considered an inspiration to the ESL youth.

“I wish this initiative, this program was replicated throughout the country to empower low income and first generation and ELL [English-language learners] students within all public schools,” Waritu said.

Impressed by the encouragement PPS initiates, Waritu feels honored to be apart of IYLC. To find out more about PPS ESL programs, checkout their site at pps.net/esl.

NEWS

BLACK LIVES MATTER FOUNDERS CHALLENGE COMMUNITIES TO STAND UP FOR CHANGE ELLIE BRADLEY

As Black Lives Matters founders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi prepared to speak on Tuesday evening, chants of “Disarm PSU” erupted in the audience.

Tometi and Garza spoke at the Stott Center as part of Portland State’s “Living the Legacy” event series, a collection of campus and community events honoring the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The women have been touring the country to cultivate discussions about race relations in America, encouraging individuals to unite against police violence and social injustices.

Along with Patrisse Cullors, Garza and Tometi helped launch Black Lives Matter, a national organization seeking to rebuild the black liberation movement.

BLM began in 2012 following the high-profile acquittal of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman who shot and killed 17-yearold Trayvon Martin, an African-American high school student.

Zimmerman’s acquittal prompted Garza to compose a love letter to the black community. Tometi recalled the letter’s content during a media session Tuesday evening.

“Despite this verdict, we know that our lives matter and that we have a duty in this period to rise up and defend black life.” The letter concluded with, “Our lives matter. Black lives matter.”

Garza’s letter was the genesis of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, which spread organically through social media outlets and eventually led to organized groups mobilizing

the movement to the streets.

“What we saw with the hashtag was that folks were willing and able, and we as organizers took it to the streets,” Tometi said.

The connection of people online and in communities led to the mobilization of 500 black people to Ferguson following the shooting of Mike Brown, a black teenager killed by a white Ferguson police officer.

The arming of campus police officers continues to be a contentious topic within the PSU community. DisarmPSU and the PSU Student Union have both voiced opposition to the administration’s decision to arm officers. The arming of campus police was recently discussed as a student concern during a Black Caucus event held by the Black Student Union.

“[Campus Public Safety] has been a hot-button topic for quite a while now,” said Jasmine Westmoreland, programming director for the Black Student Union, in an interview earlier this month.

“The black students feel that the campus has no regard for them or their safety in general. . . Our concerns should be taken more seriously.”

Tometi and Garza discussed some of the ways that police reform could be approached, though they both alluded to the need for more comprehensive change in favor of surface-level solutions. ==Tometi recalled a study conducted by UCLA in which law enforcement was found to see black youth as much older than their non-black peers.

“I think that these types of implicit biases that play out are really impacting,” Tometi said. “I know that they’re impacting our communities and

OPAL TOMETI AND ALICIA GAUZA, TWO FOUNDERS OF BLACK LIVES MATTER, MEET WITH THE MEDIA BEFORE SPEAKING AT AN MLK TRIBUTE AT STOTT CENTER. ROOSEVELT SOWKA/PSU VANGUARD

the outcomes when there are solutely dependent on the these interactions with peo- support and participation of ple of color—black folks in all groups, whether marginalparticular—and law enforce- ized or not. ment.”

“It doesn’t benefit any of us The demilitarization and re- to have certain segments of form of police is a priority for our population have privileges the organization, echoed by and benefits at the expense of audience members Tuesday other populations,” Garza said. night. The group has a list of “There’s something deeply emguiding principles—including bedded in the fabric of this collective value, restorative nation that does actually privijustice and loving engage- lege the experiences of some ment—through which they folks over others.” hope to inspire “an ideological When asked what non-black and political intervention in community members could do a world where Black lives are to contribute to the movement, systematically and intention- Garza and Tometi stressed ally targeted for demise.” working where you are to disWalidah Imarisha, associate mantle structural racism and professor of Black Studies at challenge anti-black racism.

PSU, took her Oregon African “That’s bigger than diverAmerican History class to the sity,” Garza said. “That’s bigevent. ger than multiculturalism.

“I thought it was important That’s certainly about a deep to take them, so that we can listening to the experiences connect what has happened of people of color and other here in the Black community marginalized groups.” in Oregon with the ongoing The women suggested culinequalities Black commu- tivating spaces where groups nities here and nationally can exercise their leadership continue to experience,” and help shape alternatives Imarisha said in an email. to structural racism. They Imarisha pointed to PSU also emphasized supporting professor Karen Gibson, groups who are organizing, who talks about a “continu- whether by providing a space, ous thread of resistance” generating resources or just throughout Oregon black listening in a non-defensive history, and how it is vital way and placing yourself to show that that thread re- within their experience and mains unbroken today. relating differently in order to “[That thread] is part of a web better be a support and ally. of Black communities resistGarza explained that people ing oppression nationally and are often paralyzed by a fear of globally, and it was powerful to doing something wrong, which see those threads of resistance keeps them from taking a risk are also very much alive and or standing up in support of vital right here on PSU’s cam- their marginalized neighbors. pus, where student organizers She discouraged this way of are courageously connecting thinking, acknowledging that movements for justice on cam- mistakes are inevitable, but pus to national and interna- that’s understood. tional movements like Black “It’s better for you to do Lives Matter,” Imarisha said. something wrong than to do Garza and Tometi em- nothing at all . . . It’s really imphasized that the success of portant to take as many risks the BLM movement is ab- as your black counterparts.”

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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NEWS

TAKING THE LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ALUM TAKES ON PSU DRINKING WATER POLICY TO REDUCE HEAVY METALS BENEATH EPA STANDARDS JEOFFRY RAY

ROOSEVELT SOWKA/PSU VANGUARD

Recent reporting about water quality on campus and concerning analyses finding lead in some water sources can be attributed to an ongoing debate about the particulars: how much lead is too much?

At the heart of the debate are contentions between Portland State’s Environmental Health and Safety Office, and recent environmental science graduate, Emma Prichard. The EHS sticks by the Environmental Protection Agency standard of 15 parts per billion.

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Prichard, who currently works on pollution prevention for the City of Portland, argues against allowing any lead traces in water.

“It’s not a health-based standard,” Prichard said.

“Seeing levels of lead even above five ppb is really concerning, because that means there’s lead in the building somewhere, and that means lead can spike.”

Prichard’s results stem from studies conducted as part of her thesis project for her environmental science

degree. Prichard tested sinks and fountains in Cramer Hall and the Extended Studies Building for several metals after hearing stories about foul-tasting water. Metals tested over two rounds of analysis included lead, copper, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, zinc, nickel, iron and manganese.

“I tested for all these metals because plumbing deteriorates over time,” Prichard said.

“Through all of history until now we’ve used lead plumbing for pipes.”

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After turning up levels above the EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion, Prichard reached out to the EHS about the issue. She claimed that an independent consultant conducted additional testing and found inconsistent results, with some individual samples ranging several times above the EPA standard.

Heather Randol, director of EHS at PSU acknowledged Prichard’s claim that EHS found lead levels as high as 96 ppb in various water outputs.

She also pointed out several of these results were pulled from sources that weren’t used for drinking, such as lab sinks.

“Some of these aren’t publicly accessible, they’re not in locations people will be drinking from,” Randol said.

Prichard said that EHS took steps to address the issues by shutting down taps and replaced fixtures in other locations.

“They did that, which was awesome, and exactly what they were supposed to do,” she said.

The new fixtures continued to produce testing results over 15 ppb in the sociology office, prompting department administrators to invest in water coolers.

The sociology department said that lead was detected six months ago and that they installed the water cooler between November and December of 2014.

As noted in the Vanguard’s initial reporting, all sites currently in use as drinking locations test below the 15 ppb standard, with filtered sites

NEWS testing as low as 2 ppb. But Prichard contends that there is no safe level of lead, arguing that recent science has refined our understanding of lead’s potential dangers at even low levels.

“Prior to the creation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, we didn’t realize that lead was really harmful, and over the years we’ve learned that lead is more harmful,” Prichard said. “And now we realize that there really is no safe level of lead at all.”

The Center for Disease Control website says that no action is needed for a tap that tests below 15 ppb, but it also notes that risk varies based on the individual and other factors, such as amount of water consumed. The Center for Disease Control also states that there is no safe blood level of lead in children.

Prichard cited work by Virginia Tech civil engineering professor Marc Edwards, a driving force behind efforts to curtail lead problems in Flint, MI and Washington, D.C. Edwards has publicly questioned the current EPA standards of 15 ppm in drinking water.

To reduce taps to the lowest achievable level, Prichard recommended installation of filtration systems wherever lead is found. She also called for the hiring of a consultant specifically dedicated to water safety to ensure robust testing based on the age of buildings.

Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1986, which prohibited the use of lead in plumbing fixtures.

Prichard seeks to institute a plan at PSU that would facilitate regular monitoring of drinking water sources in all campus buildings built before that date.

“That’s an innovative policy,” Prichard said. “No one in the world does that.”

As for newer buildings, both Prichard and university officials said that the lack of lead in fixtures nullified any need for testing. Vice President of Administration and Finance Kevin Reynolds also asserted that the university currently conducts tests, but that the administration is willing to keep its ears open to ideas for improvement.

“From our perspective, we will test the water rou-

tinely in the older buildings,” Reynolds said. “There’s no need to check it in the newer buildings. We’re interested in any dialogue that makes sense to the people involved.”

Prichard expressed skepticism toward administration claims about being open to discussion in a subsequent email. She claimed that Reynolds and Randol have been keeping relevant information from her, instead working directly with the Portland Water Bureau and the Oregon Health Authority.

“If they want to move forward, they should be sharing everything they have been doing with me, in addition to the university,” she said in the email. “I am severely disappointed with the increasing lack of communication between university officials and myself.”

Prichard, who started the Take Back the Tap campaign while studying at PSU, argued against policies utilizing water coolers as a solution, citing cost and environmental impact. She pointed out that departments currently spend roughly $30,000 per year on water coolers, and claimed

that filtration could be implemented for half that cost.

“I was wondering why the heck are we spending so much money on water coolers,” Prichard said during the Feb. 17 Associated Students of PSU meeting. “I’m not paying tuition to have my money go to bottled water that’s privatizing public water sources.

In Portland, these water coolers that they’re purchasing are over 300 times the price of tap water for a five gallon cooler.”

A 2012 report released by the PSU Campus Sustainability Office estimated that departments spend over $40,000 on water products.

Sierra Springs, one of PSU’s primary distributors of water coolers, currently charges $7.49 for a five-gallon rental, or roughly $1.49 per gallon, compared to current estimates by the Portland Water Bureau of 1.9 gallons per penny at the tap.

Reynolds acknowledged that Prichard’s goals were in line with PSU’s sustainability mission, and pointed to the university’s previous sustainability successes, including the hydration stations.

“The idea is that we use the water Portland provides for us to drink from,” Reynolds said. “She talks about the privatization of water. Many years ago you would see these disposable plastic bottles everywhere.”

During the senate meeting, Prichard recommended that ASPSU access Student Fee Committee infrastructure grant to pay $3448 for replacement hydration station filters for the next five years, as well as $8560 for environmental education and location monitoring for 20 years.

She said that the university could hire her or another consultant to conduct tests.

Prichard said that she submitted a Student Building Fee app lication with Take Back the Tap. Building fees are determined by the SFC and can be applied to a range of infrastructure projects.

“The response from ASPSU was positive and I got words of encouragement from several senators directly,” Prichard said later in an email. “I believe that there is no reason for these fees not to be used for this. We used over $12,000 of [Student Build-

ing Fees] last year to buy hydration stations and water bottle fill necks.”

Reynolds cautioned against hasty action, but encouraged ongoing conversation to address any issues. He also contested any action that would utilize student incidental fees.

“It’s the responsibility of the university to check [water sources and filters],” Reynolds said. “We shouldn’t be putting that responsibility on the Student Fee Committee.”

Reynolds said that it was unrealistic to put filters on every tap in the university, but stressed the importance of water quality at PSU. He pointed to experts on campus in environmental science and other interested parties such as resources to continue the discussion. But he said it would take time to piece together how exactly to proceed.

“Our water quality in every aspect is a university issue,” Reynolds said. “We are responding, we are looking, we will put filters in if the data determines that’s necessary.

What format that takes, it’s not immediately clear to me.

But we’re happy to have a dialogue.”

JEOFFRY RAY/PSU VANGUARD

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ARTS & CULTURE

EDITOR PICK OF THE WEEK:

A WIN-WIN FOR PSU’S ARTS AND CULTURE STUDENTS AND STAFF WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN LITTMAN GALLERY’S 35-YEAR HOME CATHERINE JOHNSON

Three weeks ago, the Portland State student staff of the Littman Gallery in Smith Memorial Student Union didn’t know if they would have a space on campus next fall; PSU is creating two new resource centers for African American and Asian/Pacific Islander students and the gallery’s current location on the second floor of SMSU was being considered as an option.

Creating these centers is in response to student demands for more cultural support.

Part of the university’s ongoing goals is to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. Therefore, having these two new centers located in accessible and visible locations on campus is very important.

Nonetheless, relocation was an alarming possibility for the gallery, which has existed for 35 years, and has already scheduled programs through 2017, promising this specific space to their artists.

Sasha Jones, Littman Gallery director and PSU art history major, met with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, John Fraire, on Feb. 3. Jones presented him with letters from the community that illustrated the community value of the gallery.

“We have so many testimonies about how the gallery has been really influential,” Jones said.

After the meeting, Jones was confident Fraire would advocate for them but there was still a lot of anxiety because no one knew who would be making this decision and when. However, even while their future was uncertain, Jones was hopeful.

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“In the end, I think there’s going to be more room for culture and the arts,” Jones said. “It will be a win-win for students.”

Fortunately, it looks like Jones was right. Fraire has assured Jones that the Littman Gallery is no longer being considered as an option for the two new centers.

Angela Hamilton, coordinator of Student-Operated Services and the gallery’s advisor, attributes much of this success to how the situation was handled, on all sides.

“They could have just gone out and printed posters about how the administration was doing things behind closed doors,” Hamilton said. “They could have done a smear campaign.”

“They could have protested,” she continued. “But they sat down with [Fraire] and presented him with an amazing case that let him see, not only that what they were

doing is important, but that they’re doing important social justice work themselves.”

Hamilton explained that art also looks at intersectionalities and violence—many of the same issues these cultural centers are designed to address. The arts are able to contribute to the conversation through a different lens and possibly reach a different audience.

“For a university to be truly committed to diversity and equity and social justice, it can’t just be within one department,” Hamilton said.

Assistant Dean of Student Life, Aimee Shattuck, also thought the students handled the situation well as they made it clear they wanted to be a part of a solution that benefited everyone.

“They were civil in the face of controversy, which is one of the leadership skills we emphasize in SALP, so it was inspiring to see how that worked

in their favor,” Shattuck said.

“Overall, the students were models in how to problemsolve and advocate for themselves.”

Hamilton was also pleased with how the administration responded to the students.

Hamilton said Fraire seems committed to how projects specifically benefit students.

Perhaps this is because Fraire himself is an artist and served as Arts Commissioner in Washington state for six years; he wants to encourage art on campus.

Regardless, it seems as if everyone involved is pleased with how this situation was resolved. the Littman Gallery will stay in SMSU 250 and the two new cultural centers will still have prominent places on campus, though exactly where is yet to be determined.

“The only way we really create change is building relationships and doing something together,” Hamilton said.

“DEADPOOL” Aislinn Rennison

20TH CENTURY FOX/2016 I absolutely love seeing Marvel/DC movies; my favorite is “X-men” or “Batman”. But I wasn’t too thrilled to see “Deadpool”. One, because it looked like too much of a corny comedy to be a good super-hero action movie; and two, because despite Ryan Reynolds’s gorgeous physique, he flat-out sucked in “Green Lantern”.

But after “Deadpool” grossed $163 million in less than a week—topping my favorites by a landslide—and everyone and their dog was telling me to go see it, I convened and dragged myself on over to Cinetopia; and holy shit, I’m so glad that I did.

“Deadpool” was not only hilarious (and not your cheesy comic book humor either) but it had the drama elements I expect from a super-hero movie, too. But mostly, hilarious.

Yes, for the most part I think super-hero movies should be light on the humor and heavy on the action and drama but Tim Miller (director) meshed the raunchy with the surprising with the unequivocal wit to create a comedic tri-fecta that kept me genuinely laughing the entire time; the best parts where when “Deadpool” crossed the fourth wall, which happened many times.

Although I’m sure Miller deserves most of the credit, Reynolds does an incredible job captivating the audience with his quick and clever lines that brilliantly encompass the sharply shrewd character of Deadpool.

If you’re an idiot like I was and still haven’t seen “Deadpool” for whatever reason, chuck that reason out the window and head straight to a theater to redeem yourself!

Do not wait for Redbox on this one.

F.Y.I.

Cheapest theater option: WHERE:

The Cinemagic Theatre 2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

(They serve alcohol here with concessions!)

Feb. 19 to 25 Weekdays: 5:30, 7:45, 10 Saturday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10 Sunday: 1, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10 WHEN:

PRICE:

Students with valid ID, $5 Tuesdays, $4

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VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

ROOSEVELT SOWKA/PSU VANGUARD VANGUARD

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ARTS & CULTURE

DEPRESSINGLY HOPEFUL: SOFIA COPPOLA’S “SOMEWHERE” COPPOLA KEEPS IT SLOW AND PROVOKING

TURNER LOBEY

Johnny Marco is in the middle of a major life crisis.

His life seems directionless.

Maybe it’s depression. Or maybe it’s anhedonia or soulcrushing ennui. Whatever it is, he doesn’t seem to feel much of anything, and he’s looking for a fix anywhere he can.

He sits on the couch and takes a few swigs from his beer. He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep. He pops a handful of pills. He bounces around work events but isn’t the exciting centerpiece everybody wants him to be. He drives his Ferrari in circles, literally and figuratively spinning his wheels.

Some nights he hires women to pole dance to Foo Fighters songs for him, creating his own private motel-room shows.

This is Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere,” and it’s screening this week at Portland State’s 5th Avenue Cinema.

Stephen Dorff plays Marco, an action star recently elevated to fame. Recovering from an injury that goes oddly unexplained, he holes up in the Chateau Marmont, a famous retreat for Hollywood celebrities.

In the safety of the famous hotel, he is accountable only to himself while he struggles through his existential crisis.

But things change when his ex-wife unexpectedly leaves him with his 11-year-old daughter Cleo, played by Elle Fanning. It’s probably clear by now that he’s not a great or reliable father.

Like Coppola’s previous works, especially “Lost in Translation,” “Somewhere” is a masterful story told through a melancholy lens.

Those unfamiliar with the feeling of living under the blanket of depression might have difficulty relating to or decoding some of the what

the film has to offer—it might come across as a snooze fest.

Watching Marco suffer through emptiness evokes similar sensations of pain.

And because of it, “Somewhere” appears to be boring and uneventful on the surface. The film seems to inch along at a snail’s pace nearly without going anywhere. And that’s kind of the point; it all feels uncomfortably real.

Have you experienced that feeling when the seconds painfully bleed into minutes and you’re consciously aware of how slowly you’re advancing into the future? It’s like that. You get sick of the damn thing and want to get up and shut it off, but you can’t. You’re stuck with it. In many ways it’s not so much a film as it is a case study of depression.

“Somewhere” is a distressing film, sure, but it’s not a completely bleak experience. Exposure to his daughter forces

SOMEWHERE PLAYING AT the 5th Avenue Cinema.

Marco to open up and feel emotions again for the first time since we can only imagine how long. Depending on your perspective, it can be something of a hopeful film. If this guy can get

FOCUS FEATURES/2011

through it, maybe I can too; and maybe I can do it without the Ferrari and the Foo Fighters.

5th Avenue Cinema is free for Portland State students, $3 for other students and seniors,

$4 general admission. Digital screenings are free for all attendees. For more information about 5th Avenue Cinema and upcoming showings, visit www.5thavecinema.com.

AUTHENTICITY OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN’S NEW EXPANSION

CATHERINE JOHNSON

The Portland Japanese that will be used to build a Garden is holding an exhibi- castle wall. You can sit on a tion at the Center for Archi- bench made of silky, bundled tecture to showcase new plans Port Orford cedar, reminisfor the Japanese Garden’s Cul- cent of a machiai in a Japanese tural Crossing expansion from tea garden. And you can hear Feb. 4 to 29. It is a $33.5 million the tranquil sounds of water project scheduled to open next gently falling as you follow an year, designed to create a cul- intentionally winding path tural connection with Japan. through the display.

“The purpose of this exhibit Dickson explained that is to show you what they’re when you go into a Japanese doing and what some of the home, garden or temple, you materials are. It’s a hands-on don’t go straight in the way exhibit; you can touch any- you might in America, bething,” said Mary Dickson, cause it’s a different layout. volunteer guide and 14-year “Things are seldom done in Portland Japanese Garden a straight line,” Dickson said. staff member. “You’re wel- “That’s done very specifically come to touch and get a sense because it takes you away of how your senses are going from the crazy street life to be used.” and the crazy world we live The exhibit is a multi-sen- in and puts you in a different sory experience. You can touch space, literally.” a mossy, 400-pound block of There are sudare bamboo Baker Blue granite, the stone screens hanging from the

ceiling and tatami mats. A tea platform also hosts periodic tea ceremony demonstrations, an exercise in simplicity and ma, positive emptiness.

There are projected images, construction drawings and 3D models that illustrate the new LEED-certified buildings constituting the International Institute for Japanese Garden Arts and Culture, all designed by the world-famous architect Kengo Kuma, who was just selected to design Japan’s National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This is Kuma’s first public commission in the United States, a venture that started eight years ago when Steve Bloom, the Japanese Garden’s CEO, invited him to give a lecture in hopes that he’d agree to take on the project.

Exhibit of the Japanese Garden extension.

This exhibit emphasizes Kuma’s philosophy: continuity between nature, natural materials and Japanese tradition.

“His architecture has always been incorporating the outside and building buildings that melded with the outside, built with nature, so they flowed into nature,” said Aphra Katzev, another volunteer guide.

Balazs Bognar is the design director at Kengo KumaAssociates and the exhibit’s curator.

CATHERINE JOHNSON/PSU VANGUARD

“Kengo Kuma is known for connective spaces, often putting nature and the human experience first,” Bognar said in the Japanese Garden’s press release.

The theme of tsunagu and connection refers not only to our relationship with the natural world but to our relationship with Japan. The expansion is called a cultural crossing to represent the intersection of our culture with Japan’s, and more

specifically with our sister city, Sapporo.

The Japanese Garden strives to create a space that honors Japanese tradition. Many of its gardeners are trained in Japan, and the Journal for Japanese Gardening recently rated it one of the best in North America.

“They’re really trying to keep it authentic, keep it cultural and keep it meaningful,” Dickson said.

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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OPINION

GARBAGE PROBLEMS? PORTLAND COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM SWEDEN

INCINERATION PLANT IN MALMÖ, SWEDEN. COURTESY OF USER JORCHR THROUGH WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Earthly Insights

by Adriana Stein

“The average person generates over 4 pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year,” reported dosomething.org in their campaign focused on recycling programs in the U.S. While around 70 percent of our waste is recyclable, only about 30 percent actually makes it to the recycling bin, making the U.S. a leading contributor to the world’s waste issues. Most of this waste ends up in one of two places: landfills that pollute air and water and give off toxic fumes or in the ocean, where it’s ingested by birds, turtles and other sea creatures.

“There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean,” wrote National Geographic. Most of it is plastic. Around 85 percent of the world’s plastic ends up in the ocean.

Fortunately, Sweden may have an answer to the problem: converting it to energy through incineration plants.

According to the Swedish government, the first Swedish garbage incineration plant was built in 1904 in Stockholm.

Over the last 100 years, Sweden has dramatically improved recycling initiatives. There are now 32 incineration plants in Sweden and citizens recycle up to 99 percent of individual household waste.

These incineration plants produce heat for 810,000 households and electricity for 250,000 private houses, making Sweden the world leader on sustainable recycling and garbage even Portland isn’t doing enough. A report from Al Jazeera News waste disposal. Sweden began making strict recycling initia- cites the U.S. as the top contributor to the garbage problem, protives back in the ’70s; now they are paying out big. But they ducing over 29 million tons per year. Although I don’t see the U.S. taking measures to export their garbage anytime soon, we could aren’t stopping there.

The local recycling programs are so successful that Sweden learn some valuable techniques in waste disposal from Sweden.

Most of the U.S. doesn’t have sufficient recycling protocols. doesn’t produce enough garbage to fully operate their incinerators. As a result, they now import around 700,000 tons of “In the U.S. only ten states—including California, Maine, waste from other countries in the EU and would like to import Massachusetts, and Connecticut—have enacted container deposit laws,” wrote National Geographic. from the U.S. as well.

The return rates for those who do have them is low, leaving Sweden has all their bases covered. Their garbage incinerators are 99.9 percent non-toxic; the fumes only contain carbon people little motivation to take the extra step to recycle somedioxide and water. To be completely safe, the fumes are filtered thing versus just tossing it out. We need to make our culture through water which is then used to refill abandoned mines. more recycle-friendly and give greater incentives to recycle, The ash created from the burning is separated into metals such as increasing the bottle deposit return.

Sweden makes recycling convenient and cheap. Recycling used for porcelain and tile and sifted ash for gravel for road stations are placed no more than 300 meters away from resiconstruction.

While I enjoy the availability of recycling in Portland, we are an dential areas. They separate various items in bins by their exception in the U.S. Compared to Sweden’s sustainable efforts, house that are later picked up or drop them off at a recycling

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facility. Everything from newspapers, glass and light bulbs, to batteries and food waste, is recycled in separate containers.

Furthermore, the countries who export garbage to Sweden see the benefits as well. According to The Huffington Post, “European nations don’t have the capacity to incinerate garbage themselves due to various taxes and bans across the EU that prevent landfill waste.” Sweden is willing to help solve this problem.

There are some drawbacks to Sweden’s recycling program. Incineration plants are expensive to start and some researchers believe that even though gas emissions are improved compared to open-air burning facilities, dioxins are still an environmental pollutant. The Swedish EPA is focusing on minimizing these emissions.

Furthermore, there are still some items that can’t be recycled, so the program will never reach 100 percent.

While this may be the case, Sweden is a prime example of how to sustainably handle garbage and to improve future recycling policies.

OPINION

TINDER REALLY ISN’T THAT BAD SWIPE RIGHT FOR HAPPINESS

All That Isn’t

by Jennee Martinez I first downloaded Tinder after walking away from a long-term relationship. In the beginning, I was ashamed and embarrassed that my loneliness led me to download the app.

My friends occasionally talk about “swiping right” and my Twitter feed sometimes highlights ridiculous messages or pickup lines, but besides the basics, I knew nothing about Tinder. I did, however, know all about the stigmas that went along with it, which is why the app stayed hidden on the third screen of my phone, tucked in between Google Maps and Safari.

It wasn’t just the disapproving looks or the eye rolls I received when Tinder was brought up in a conversation that made me feel bad about using it, it was also the negativity plastered all over social media. If I didn’t hear somebody gasp or sigh when I brought up Tinder in a conversation, I saw disapproving comments and articles all over Facebook or Twitter.

So, I stopped bringing it up and I stopped telling people how I met these boys. Not only did I begin avoiding it altogether, I began searching for alternative stories depicting how the two of us may have met.

I’ve been using Tinder off-and-on for an entire year. Although I do have a love/hate relationship with the app based on personal frustrations and acts of desperation, I’ve never jumped on the bandwagon of shaming Tinder and demeaning its users or its purpose. In all honesty, Tinder really isn’t that bad.

I was warned from the very beginning that everyone on Tinder only wanted to hook-up; people told me the app was designed for one night stands and nothing more than a fling or friends with benefits. They also told me being on the app said bad things about me; boys would expect me to put out and they

IL LUSTRATIO N BY RACHE L G OL DSTE IN

would never treat me as an actual person to date, but instead a person to sleep with.

It was almost as if using Tinder had given me a bad reputation despite the fact that I was the same person with the same morals I held before downloading it.

Although some of these statements are true—I have indeed matched with people who start the conversation off with nothing but a “DTF?” message—not everyone who uses the app is simply looking for sex or a one night stand. Some people even specifically state what they’re looking for and want in their biography.

Don’t want to hook up? Swipe left. If you happen to match with someone who’s only interested in that, simply un-match and say no more.

Unlike popular opinion, people do use Tinder for dating. In fact, that’s the only way I’ve ever used the app. I owe half of my coffee dates, hikes, and short-time “things” to Tinder, and believe it or not, I’ve walked away with some amazing experiences.

Real people really do use the app, and these real people are down for real dates. It all comes down to honesty; if you can be honest about you want, you’ll find someone who is honest about what they want as well.

That’s one of the best things about Tinder; you can get whatever you want out of it. If you’re looking for a quick hookup, you can use it to find others who want that same thing. If you want someone to talk with over dinner, you can find people who are looking for that, too. Tinder doesn’t require specific behavior and it doesn’t force you to want certain things. It’s time we stop acting like it does.

Other Tinder-shamers claim the app focuses too much on physical appearance. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve heard the classic “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover” argument. The harsh truth is that when meeting people in person rather than a screen, you determine who you want to approach based off of physical appearance. Tinder may even have a little more going for it when it comes to first impressions; at least there’s a bio under that person’s picture.

Not only does Tinder have some serious potential for real dating experiences, it’s also one of the easiest and fastest ways to meet new people. Moving to a new area is always nervewracking and is filled with a lot of loneliness and confusion.

Connecting on Tinder allows you to meet tons of new people in any area you come to; even if the dates go nowhere. At least you’ve been introduced to new restaurants and cool hidden gems within the city.

Despite the critiques of what Tinder’s true purpose may be, the app’s stereotypes don’t reflect the actual truth. Here’s an app where the user gets to decide what it’s used for. So why are we letting other people tell us how to feel about it?

Tinder isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. It’s time society stops telling us how to feel when we decide to swipe.

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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OPINION

RUSSIAN STRAIGHT TO RHETORIC INCREASED POLITICAL TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA

ILLUSTR ATION BY TER R A D EHART

Against the Current

by Sebastian Richardson International relations between the United States and Russia have come a long way since the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis when threats of full retaliatory responses were being thrown out on national television. These relations have even come a long way since the days of former U.S. President George W. Bush, when he hosted the Russian President at his family home in Maine for a weekend of talking and fishing.

Having spent the past few years studying Russian at Portland State, the tension between America and Russia has always loomed over my studies. It has shaped how I approach conflicts and international crises. Maybe it’s due to a large selfdeceiving confirmation bias brought upon by piroshki, kvass and my own romantic sentiments towards the country, but lately I find myself in the position of a Russian apologist, trying to dismantle negative conceptions about the Russian people and Russia’s role in the world.

I must admit I am not a student of international relations, global politics or economics; everything I know about Eastern Europe has been diffused through the study of language, culture and first-hand experience in the country. With that said, I can’t help but scoff when I see headlines and reports acting as though Russia is the monster under every liberal democracy’s bed.

Just recently, the United States Intelligence Agencies began an investigation of Russian intervention in European politics.

Russia is being accused of clandestine funding of certain political parties in order to undermine European unity and NATO, as well as to discourage closer ties with Ukraine. Apparently Russian influence has been felt in countless countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, France and even Britain.

While a part of me doesn’t doubt such accusations, I’m particularly turned off by the apparent insistence that this is a black and white issue, one in which the United States and its Western allies are depicted as a knight in shining armor against the wild Russian bear. No international conflict is that simple and such an approach is naïve.

In fact, it fails to recognize that, despite America’s insistence, its war hawk policies help promote justice and equality. According to international polls, the United States is seen as the biggest threat to world peace.

Which quite frankly, is not surprising considering the United States has almost 800 military bases in over 70 foreign countries and spends more money on defense than China, Russia, the UK, France, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Australia and Canada combined. All in all, it seems this would make any country nervous, especially one such as Russia who has been gridlocked in various forms of international competition for the last 80 years.

On Feb. 12, during the Munich Security conference, the Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, claimed that NATO, not Russia, is at fault for creating a “new cold war” through military maneuvers and deployments to countries surrounding Russia. Medvedev also said that NATO policies are “unfriendly and opaque” and only lead to increased tension.

14

Following this, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, said that the United States will continue to “stand up to Russia’s aggression.”

It’s rhetoric like this that makes me worried. Even the NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, claimed they had no choice but to aggravate tensions, as though Russia forced their hand.

For me, such a simple excuse fails to recognize the fact that the United States acts according to its own interests and often presents them like some sort of mission for justice and egalitarianism. One has to wonder why Russia and Iran are such evil places while countries like China and Saudi Arabia are just peachy.

Even Vladimir Putin, during a speech last summer, insisted that the United States doesn’t want Europe to have good relations with Russia because they need to have an “external threat.” Putin also went on to say only an insane person would think Russia would attack NATO and that Western powers are taking advantage of people’s fears regarding Russia.

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

Whether or not this was simply a masterfully prepared political statement, Putin does make a point. Increased tensions are a two way street and Western powers have not shown much grace.

As the American presidential election approaches, I’ve been careful to watch what candidates say about Russia and not surprisingly, regardless of political party, every candidate embodies the same trope about standing up to Putin and supporting European allies against Russian aggression. Interestingly enough, Hillary Clinton seemed to have the most intense policy claiming she’ll go “toe to toe with Putin.”

As long as this rhetoric continues, I can’t imagine tensions will get any better, which is disappointing. Is it absolutely crazy to imagine that Russia has been provoked slightly? Maybe this is just a classic case of being attracted to the bad boy, but really, it’s time to stop acting like Russia is a threat.

EDITORIAL

Last weekend, the Vanguard staff and several other members of the PSU community received letters of concern from PSU students regarding a printed advertisement for Spyce Gentleman’s Club in our publication. The advertisement seeks entertainers for the club, located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown.

Included below are two letters of concern the Vanguard received and a response from Colleen Leary, PSU Vanguard Editor In Chief.

For further input on this issue, email editor@psuvanguard.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR From Camelia Verduzco, Feb. 21, 2016

From Shauna Colleen Murphy, Feb. 21, 2016 Note: Edits to reader-provided letters are exclusively for correct spelling of proper nouns and print formatting.

While the Vanguard staff makes efforts to verify facts and statistics, any of these included are provided by the authors, not the organization.

My name is Camelia Verduzco, a current undergraduate “We are a group of students at PSU who are disturbed by the Business Student at PSU. I am writing to express my recent up- content exhibited by the Portland State Vanguard. setting and offensive experience while reading PSU’s “Vanguard” In the recent February 16th issue it was broadcasted on Issue 25, highlighting $750,000 of Federal Funds awarded to Vanguard’s front page that $ 750,000 would be awarded to a Sexual Assault Prevention at our school. professor Kaufman in an effort to prevent sexual assault. An Although this award represents progress in decreasing ironic article considering the first page of the newspaper pressexual assault of PSU students, I find it contradictory and self ents an advertisement from a [Spyce] Gentleman’s Club–spedefeating to find a first page advertisement from a [Spyce] cifically soliciting the attention of young, underage students Gentleman’s Club. Which, specifically solicits the attention of to seek employment at their topless club. The advertisement young women students to seek employment at their topless baits students with money in exchange for sexual voyeurism. club. Additionally, this advertisement specifically targets the This is not a matter of moralistic variability or differences in vulnerability of inexperienced young college women with little viewing women’s sexuality. Any true scholar or writer who had financial means who are unaware of the sexual assault and hu- reviewed the statistics would know that 98 percent of women man trafficking that occur to females contracted at strip clubs. who enter into employment contracts with ‘gentleman’s’ clubs As a student with 3 years experience advocating, speaking, or any place where sexual voyeurism is present end up victims interning and volunteering in the fight against human traffick- of sexual assault or victims of the sex trafficking industry aling I can assure you there is a strong connection between these together. It would be naïve for the Portland State students to strip club workers falling victim to a life of being sold for sex, a accept without question a manipulative advertisement of this life of constant rape and sexual assault. nature among the greater student body, especially considering [Included Huffington Post article “Where Strip Clubs Thrive professor Kaufman’s new funding from the Federal government. in Portland, So Does Child Sex Trafficking” with information We are disturbed that the ad is designed to specifically target on this connection and human trafficking in Portland] young, poor, desperate, and “unexperienced” women. If this Lastly, I write in urgency on behalf of the respected female does not ring of a sexual barter, we are unsure what would. scholars at Portland State University that this advertisement does Our request on behalf of our friends, the dozens of young not uphold the safety of myself and my fellow students from sex- women who attend class with us, and the greater Portland ual assault but indeed increases the vulnerability of victimization. State student body, is that advertising in Portland State Therefore, I ask the respected Vanguard staff and Portland Vanguard might present material more appropriate to an acaState University officials to promptly address these concerns demic setting – moreover, at least one that would not throw by removal of this advertisement in Vanguard issues for the our young, bright girls into a bath of sexual predators, and incurrent and future safety of PSU’s female students. stead, keep them in school.”

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Last week, the Vanguard published a news piece covering a $750,000 grant awarded to a Portland State professor for the development of sexual assault prevention programs.

This coverage coincided with a paid advertisement from Spyce Gentleman’s Club–an ad campaign to which we currently uphold our contractual obligation. The ad appeared on an entirely separate page and section of the print issue–a conscious and ongoing standard we maintain in order to keep our news coverage separate from the messages of our paid advertisers.

As with nearly all media publications, The Vanguard relies on revenue from paid advertisements in order to keep the organization afloat. Without this revenue, we would not function to fulfill our mission of providing the PSU community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards.

As always, the opinions of our paid advertisers are not those of the Vanguard’s editorial staff and the Vanguard’s content does not represent the opinions of advertisers.

That said, we recognize the Vanguard’s role and responsibility to be accountable for the messages we deliver to our readers.

As a member of an editorial staff comprised mostly of women, I can assure the authors of these letters and our overall com-

munity of readers that the Vanguard staff prioritizes women’s issues–including the safety and security of the community of which we are all active participants.

Regardless of gender representation within our staff, we uphold a responsibility to our students and community to keep their best interests in mind. This includes being inclusive and refraining from stifling opinions and perspectives on all sides.

We have historically and consistently published content related to the safety of our community in regard to sexual assault, victimization and access to resources.

I think it’s very important to give credit to, respect and empower the women of the community we represent. I strongly believe in the intelligence, self-control and autonomy of women to make decisions regarding their own bodies. The decision to work within various aspects of the sex industry can and should be one that is free of shame, abuse, coercion or guilt.

Many organizations within Portland work toward the mission of sex positivity and the mission to remove negative stigmas associated with sex workers. While I cannot personally speak to the working environment at this specific establishment, the ad in question does, in fact, emphasize the safety of its workers on two separate occasions.

If any readers are aware of Portland establishments demonstrating troubling behavior regarding safety or abuse, the Vanguard team is happy to open an investigative door to the matter.

Concerns for the safety and empowerment of our community of women is of utmost importance. I am proud to be part of a community that actively advocates for this.

This is not a cut and dry issue. I will always welcome input from our readers regarding our content and messages conveyed by this student-run and student-representing publication. I want to use this as an opportunity to open a dialogue with our community of readers. We welcome any further input on this subject.

Colleen Leary PSU Vanguard Editor In Chief

VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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FEB. 24-2

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24

BLACK VIOLIN

ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $22 to $32 Classically trained violist Wil B and violinist Kev [Marcus] match the classically trained sounds of their stringed instruments with turntables, drum kits, hip-hop and R & B. This contemporary experience focuses on having a positive and socially conscious message.

INNERSCAPE/OUTERSCAPE

GALLERY 135 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free This exhibit was made by a local, queer oil painter, Shawn Demarest. The art focuses on exploration of the Foster/ Powell neighborhood. Abstract, but grounded in reality.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25

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JOHN PINNEY

FRIDAY, FEB. 26

SUNDAY, FEB. 28

AFRICA BRASS ENSEMBLE

NEWMARK THEATRE 7 p.m.

Fee: $30 to $55 The focus of this ensemble is a half-century-old work that receives a revitalizing coat of musical paint, thanks to Portland’s own Charles Gray and special guest Ravi Coltrane.

EDGE EFFECTS: DANCE, FILM, SOUND

STUDIO 2 AT ZOOMTOPIA 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $15 students Explore the dynamic space between the different media of the body and mind. Clash along with the rhythms and vibes of the borders between these artistic worlds.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27

SMSU 236 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A free lunch is provided for all student-parents looking to unload a little bit of stress. There will be assistance in finding childcare if you RSVP; this event is ultimately for you and not for your kiddo. Yoga, massage, tea and manicures will be part of the highlights of this event.

SHOW & TELL: KATHY FRY

BRICKSANITY 2016

ART BLDG, ROOM 320 Noon to 1 p.m.

Kathy Fry is part of the art program’s “Show and Tell” series. Fry’s work uses her organizational skills to inspire graphic design and branding in different public and private spaces, both locally and outside the city.

OREGON CONVENTION CENTER 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $9 It’s a Lego-convention weekend officially called Bricks Cascade 2016. You’ll have a chance to purchase Legos, enjoy displays and hopefully talk shop with other brick aficionados like yourself.

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HOTEL EASTLUND 3 p.m.

Fee: $30 to $35 This is your last chance of the year to hear the voices, theologies and melodies of saxophone virtuosos working out the talented repertoire of John Coltrane. The Orrin Evans Trio will also make a triumphant appearance.

•FEATURED EVENT• “REVENGE OF THE 47 LOYAL SAMURAI” Thursday, Feb. 25 to March 5 Sunday matinee: 2 p.m.

Most shows: 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $15 general, $8 students

Not one North American university has ever tackled a play of this magnitude. From the lavish beauty of the sets to the exquisite work of the actors and singers, this English Kabuki promises to thrill and enchant in ways you didn’t believe would be possible in theater.

Come experience a play supported by local Japanese groups and directed by professor Laurence Kominz, who frames this iconic and timeless story of tradition and rebirth.

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JAZZ SUMMIT SUPREME

TWIN LAKES SNOWSHOE

OUTDOOR PROGRAM OFFICE 8 a.m.

Rec Center member: $35, non member: $70 There’s not a huge learning curve to snowshoeing this five-mile adventure trail. The pre-trip meeting is on Feb. 24, which is also the last day to register. The peak of Mt. Hood will be on full display during this shoeing experience. No shoeing experience necessary.

PARENTS LUNCHEON

ROMEO AND JULIET MATINEE

KELLER AUDITORIUM 2 p.m.

Fee: $25 to $160 This beautiful and tragic life lesson about not falling in love with someone you met once at a party and who has a lifetime feud going with your family is beautifully danced by the Oregon Ballet Theatre, as made possible by James Canfield’s return.

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VANGUARD • FEBRUARY 23, 2016 • PSUVANGUARD.COM

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