MEAT OR POTATOS? The fruitless conflict between vegetarians and omnivores
OPINION: PAGE 4
Softball kicks off conference play at home Portland State hosts division-rival Utah Valley for four games over two days
SPORTS: PAGE 12
INDEX NEWS OPINION ARTS SPORTS
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The Vanguard is published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
ESTABLISHED 1946
FRIDAY, APRIL 8TH, 2011
VOL. 65 NO. 48
PSUVANGUARD.COM
PSU-TV accepted as publication
OBC streamlines allocations process
Television production program gains official university support through Publications Board
The Organization Budget Council, a funding board of the Student Fee Committee, is implementing a new system for allocating student fee dollars to student organizations to streamline the process. In the past, student groups usually applied for funding a year in advance by submitting a budget request outlining future spending to either the OBC or SFC. According to Sean Green, one of the coordinators for the OBC, the new system has all student
Organization Budget Council divides student groups into tiers for efficiency Vinh Tran Vanguard staff
Katrina Petrovich Vanguard staff
T
he Publications Board has officially recognized PSU-TV, a student-run television production program, as a publication after the group went two years without institutional support. Student Activities and Leadership Programs disqualified the group in 2009. Becoming a campus publication grants PSU-TV the same support given to other student-run programs like the Vanguard, the Rearguard and KPSU. PSU-TV's first requested recognition as a student publication in January 2010, but was initially rejected by the Pubs Board. Last month, PSU-TV requested recognition by the board for the second time. At the time, the board voted unanimously to provisionally accept the group; the period ended on Monday, April 4, thus making PSU-TV a permanent student publication.
PSU-TV ON PAGE 3
OBC ON PAGE 3
PAWS pushes for on-campus dog park Student group is circulating a petition to generate support for dog park Erin McIntyre Vanguard staff
Success: Program Manager Lucila Epple was instrumental in making PSU-TV a student publication.
ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
Privacy violation complaint filed against professor German professor accused of violating privacy and changing the syllabus mid-term Alison Barnwell Vanguard staff
After adjunct philosophy and German Professor Brian Elliott made grades visible to the entire class and introduced a new syllabus in the middle of winter term, a student in his German 441 course filed a complaint with the administration. The complaint, filed by graduate student Jeffrey Van Dien, outlines fourteen grievances against Elliott. “He constantly insults students,” Van Dien wrote in his complaint. “[Elliot] labeled students who complained to the administration as ‘…people who are hell-bent on being a pain in the ass.’” According to Van Dien, in early March Elliot posted the final winter term grades on Blackboard so that each students’ grade was visible to all. Scott Gallagher, director of communications for Portland State, spoke on behalf of Elliott and the administration. “Elliott made a mistake,” Gallagher said. “He apologized to the class; we are informing him of
the privacy laws and making sure it doesn’t happen again. He was unaware and we made sure he understood.” The initial concern about grades being visible has been dealt with, Gallagher said, but other complaints are still being investigated. “We take all student complaints seriously,” he said. Elliott said that he was advised by the Office of University Communications not to speak about the incident. “The statement is out there. I’m not going to elaborate,” Elliott said. Van Dien’s contact with the administration began on Feb. 12 when he met with Jennifer Perlmutter, chair of the Department of World Languages, after Elliott introduced a new syllabus on Feb. 4. In addition, Van Dien took screenshots of the Blackboard message and submitted the images to Perlmutter and Melody Rose, vice provost for Academic Affairs and Instruction. According to Van Dien, Perlmutter’s e-mailed response was “not serious.” She said that Elliott, originally from the United Kingdom, was unaware of United States privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which holds that educational records cannot be released without consent.
Attorney Kevin Brague of Tigard, Ore., whom Van Dien consulted, said that FERPA violations are not grounds for litigation and that PSU took the proper course. “Under FERPA, there is not private right of action,” he said. “You can’t sue a public school for a FERPA violation. It’s what we sometimes refer to as a law with no teeth.” After further meetings with administrators and faculty—including College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Grant Farr, Professor William Fischer, CLAS Assistant Dean Robert Mercer and CLAS Dean Marvin Kaiser—Van Dien brought a statement of formal grievances to a spring break summit that included Rose and Carol Mack, vice provost for Academic Personnel and Leadership Development. All administrators mentioned declined to comment. Student August Benzon also presented at the meeting. Benzon claimed that Elliott baited him with a better grade on the final exam if Benzon didn’t complain to administration about the initial course assignment, which was negated after it was graded. “I’ve never heard of a grade disappearing off the syllabus,” Benzon said. “[Elliott] said he’d ELLIOTT ON PAGE 3
Facilities and Planning employee Mike Brody was working on campus three weeks ago when a poodle bit him on the leg. The dog’s owner was allowing her dog to wander around off-leash near the PSU putting green when the incident occurred. According to Brody, the woman explained that there was nowhere on campus for her dog to be off-leash. On his way to the hospital to have his injured leg treated, Brody realized there was an DOG PARK ON PAGE 7
Sigma to host research symposium Students will present research with creative posters Peter Browning Vanguard staff
For the seventh year in a row, Portland State’s Sigma Xi chapter is presenting its research symposium, which is open to all undergraduate and graduate students in the Portland metro area. PSU, Oregon Health and Science University, Concordia University, University of Portland and Willamette University will all participate. Sigma Xi is a scientific research society with a goal to develop a science community. Its symposium has seen close to a hundred entries in the past; this year it expects 65. Unique to this quasi science fair is the implementation of the projects. Students create posters that tell the story of what they are working SIGMA ON PAGE 7