WOMEN TAKE ON LUMBERJACKS
IT's RAINING GOLDEN MEN
Women's basketball hosts 'Pink Zone' day
Who do you think will win on the 27th?
SPORTS: PAGE 12
OPINION: PAGE 10
INDEX NEWS OPINION ARTS SPORTS
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ESTABLISHED 1946
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2011
VOL. 65 NO. 39
PSUVANGUARD.COM
Geology Department chair honored for research Andrew Fountain becomes fellow of prestigious organization Miranda Schmidt Vanguard staff
P
rofessor Andrew Fountain, chair of Portland State’s Geology Department, will be appointed a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) tomorrow at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The AAAS is a prestigious organization dedicated to the advancement of science around the world. It publishes the journal “Science,” which, according to Fountain, is one of the most difficult journals for scientists to have work accepted into because the paper must be noteworthy across all scientific disciplines. “To be a fellow of that society is kind of a treat,” Fountain said. The AAAS accepts fellowship applications once every year. According to the AAAS website, fellows are recognized for their efforts to “advance science or its applications.” A fellow must be nominated by current AAAS members and must be a member of the AAAS at the time of nomination. After a fellow is nominated, the organization collects letters of support from the nominee’s colleagues. According to Fountain, he was nominated by Barry Lyons, a professor of geological science
and the director of the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University. Fountain has been a member of the AAAS since 2001. He said he is also believed to be the first professor from PSU to become a fellow of the AAAS. Fountain has been teaching at PSU for about 16 years. His current research is centered around the Dry Valleys in Antarctica and the western U.S. glacial response to global warming. The Dry Valleys are a polar desert ecosystem SARIA DY/VANGUARD STAFF and are important to Nationally recognized: Professor Andrew Fountain will be study because they are recognized for his research tomorrow in Washington D.C. the last ecosystem before everything becomes frozen over, according glaciers it can melt into them, forming a small to Fountain. During the summer, the tempera- pool of water, which is then frozen over. This ture in the Dry Valleys can get up to zero degrees creates a pocket of water beneath several inches Celsius, allowing some water to begin to flow. of ice. Algae grow in the sediment at the bottom One of the most interesting scientific discov- of the pool, according to Fountain. eries in the Dry Valleys is that there is life inside the glaciers. When dust blows onto the ice of the FOUNTAIN ON PAGE 3
Local seed bank moves to campus Berry Botanic Garden’s Plant Conservation Program to be relocated to PSU campus
“40-40-20” bill seeks to radically boost Oregon’s education levels by 2025 Erick Bengel Vanguard staff
The Oregon Senate passed the “40-40-20” bill (Senate Bill 253) on Feb. 10 by a vote of 28-2, thereby enshrining in state law an ambitious education goal for 2025, one that has been part of Oregon’s policy talk for several years. The goal of SB253 is that by 2025, 40 percent of Oregonians will be earning a four-year degree or higher, 40 percent will be earning an associate’s degree or a gainful post-high school certificate, and 20 percent will be earning a high school diploma. SB253 ON PAGE 7
George Takei headlines campus civil rights event “Star Trek” star to share his story of lifelong prosperity in spite of discrimination Joshua Hunt Vanguard staff
George Takei, best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu on television’s “Star Trek,” will be at Portland State this Sunday to speak about civil rights and his own experiences of facing discrimination. The event, called “Fighting for Civil Rights: The Japanese-American and LGBT experience,” is organized by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) as part of the day of remembrance tradition honoring those affected by Executive Order 9066, which forced the removal TAKEI ON PAGE 7
Erin McIntyre Vanguard staff
After more than 30 years, the Berry Botanic Garden will be moving to Portland State’s campus this year. To help with the transition costs, the garden’s board chair presented the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a check for $325,000. According to Conservation Director Ed Guerrant, the garden has been experiencing financial issues in the past few years and struggled to find funding after the economic recession in 2008. The garden’s board believed that the seed bank was critically important to the long-term survival of threatened and endangered plant species in the Pacific Northwest, and therefore sought out entities that could take on the garden’s functions in the future. After interviewing several educational institutions, the board elected to work with PSU. Guerrant will oversee the transfer of the Conservation Program and the seed bank to PSU, and will continue as conservation director after the move. The seed bank will be part
Oregon Senate upgrades educational objectives
Professor addresses water shortage in South Korea Heejun Chang says growing population and agriculture have created a demand for water Brenda Yahm Vanguard staff
said that the move provides a platform for student programs, including the opportunity for graduate and undergraduate projects and student internships.
Portland State geography Professor Heejun Chang and a visiting scholar Il-won Jung gave a lecture Wednesday night to raise awareness about South Korea’s water shortage. According to Jung, South Korea has a very strong and prosperous economy, which is rapidly growing.
SEED BANK ON PAGE 3
SOUTH KOREA ON PAGE 7
KARL KUCHS/VANGUARD STAFF
Seed security: Seeds such as the Mirabilis Macfarlanei (otherwise known as "MacFarlane's four-o'clock") are among the over 300 species preserved in the seed bank.
of PSU’s Environmental Sciences and Management Department. According to Board Member Jim Sjulin, the department appears to be a very good fit due to its applied science approach to natural resource protection and management. She also