The Beacon THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND SINCE 1935 February 19, 2015 • Volume 117 • Issue 17 • upbeacon.com
Feeling young and alone At UP and across the nation, first-year students are experiencing depression more than ever By Jacob Fuhrer THE BEACON Jasmyn, a sophomore at UP, grew up with a love for music. A pianist, violinist, guitar player and singer, she has always loved music. When her parents fought at home, it was music that she played through headphones to drown out the drama and protect her sister from hearing a fight unfold. Jasmyn grew up feeling alone, unable to find friends in large schools. The pressure to find friends in addition to a problematic home life took a toll on her mental health. “A lot of the times it ends up building up,” she said. “I used to have panic attacks a lot and end up in my closet crying.” When Jasmyn left for college, the problems only intensified. Away from her family and from her sister whom she grew very close to, she looked for an escape. The drama of freshmen year took over, and one night during her second semester, Jasmyn tried to take her own life. She is one of an increasing number of college students who reported feeling depressed during the past year. A study from the University
See Depression, page 5 Pixabay
Student sexually assaulted off campus By Jacob Fuhrer THE BEACON Public Safety is urging students to be cautious as they travel to and from campus after a reported sexual assault involving a UP student last Sunday. The 20-year-old female victim left a party to walk home Saturday night. She told police a man sexually assaulted her after she got into what she thought was a taxi cab near N. Columbia Blvd. Peter Simpson, public information officer for Portland Police, said the Sex Crimes Unit is now investigating the incident, which occurred
sometime before 4 a.m. on Sunday when police responded to the victim’s home after she was dropped off by the suspect. The victim did not require medical attention, police said. Gerry Gregg, director of Public Safety, said the initial call about the incident came to his office from a neighbor who was then referred to Portland Police. Gregg issued a mass email Monday to alert students and staff to the potential danger. While these incidents can be alarming, police say they’re uncommon. “The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind
LIVING • 8
community members that reports of this nature fortunately are a rare occurrence,” Simpson wrote in an email to The Beacon. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or Middle Eastern man in his 40s with black hair and an accent. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Sex Crimes Unit detectives at 503823-0400.
Contact Staff Writer Jacob Fuhrer at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @jacobfuhrer
Sexual assault resources
• Multnomah County Victims’ Assistance Program: Provides support during the reporting of sexual assaults and referrals to victim services and resources: (503) 988-3270. • Portland Women’s Crisis Line (PWCL): Provides access to advocacy services, including confidential peer support, information and referrals to community resources: 24 hour crisis line: (503) 235-5333, or 1-888-235-5333. • Project UNICA – (Proyecto UNICA): Provides access to advocacy services for Spanish-speaking survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 24 hour crisis line: (503) 232-4448, or 1-888-232-4448. • Additionally, the Portland Police Bureau WomenStrength, GirStrength and BoyStrength programs provide free self-defense classes and personal safety workshops to people around the Portland area. • To learn more information about these programs, call (503) 823-0260 or visit http://www.portlandonline.com/police/womenstrength.
SPORTS • 14
Take your parents to lunch
Get to know the lacrosse team
If your parents are in town for Junior Parents Weekend, here are some ideas of where to eat.
UP men’s lacrosse team is full of young talent.
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
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Student movement sheds light on racial inequality By Christine Menges THE BEACON Making its way onto protest signs and social media hashtags, the rallying cry “Black Lives Matter” has become a nationwide slogan protesting what many people see as police brutality against people of color. The shooting of Michael Brown, the choking of Eric Garner and the nonindictments of the officers involved in these events spurred the formation of a hashtag and the movement. Now, this refrain is the title of a newly-formed campus group, BlackLivesMatter@UP. The movement began with an email. Alexandra Hill, professor of German studies, and Lara Trout, professor of philosophy, are concerned about police brutality against people of color, and wanted to invite University and community members together for a discussion. They sent an email to student leaders, professors and other members of the community inviting them to a planning meeting.
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I think there’s this assumption that we live on this Bluff bubble, that these things don’t happen here, or they happen far away, and we tend not to discuss it.
Mikayla Posey senior
Mikayla Posey, secretary of Black Student Union, summarized the mission the group created during their first meeting three weeks ago. “We want to make sure that all people are respected, valued and celebrated on campus, and in our larger community,” Posey said. BlackLivesMatter@UP hopes to start conversations about race on a large scale at UP during Diversity Dialogues Week. Junior Jill Pham, who is starting an Asian American Student Union, said that at the beginning of the week, the group will set up booths in high-traffic areas with posters titled “Whose Lives Matter?” to educate students on diversity issues at UP. She hopes that by doing so, the issue will become more concrete to students. “This is really an effort to reach out to other people, and make it so that it’s everyone’s problem,” Pham said. In addition to the informational booths, the
group has planned to have a panel that will have a further dialogue about race issues. Several members of BlackLivesMatter@UP mentioned the recent tasing of a black student from Roosevelt High School by police as a controversial topic they wanted discussed. Many of them said they want a representative from Roosevelt, as well as an officer from the Portland Police Bureau on the panel to discuss the incident. For many students, this incident was one example of controversy happening close by that went unnoticed at UP. “I think there’s this assumption that we live on this Bluff bubble, that these things don’t happen here, or they happen far away, and we tend not to discuss it,” Posey said. Junior Grace Holmes, the director of the college readiness series at Roosevelt High School, has been aware of racial injustice since working for juvenile justice reform as a high school student in her home state of Nebraska. Holmes remembers seeing young black children enter the courtroom in wrist and arm shackles, accused of crimes such as truancy. This experience inspired her to further pursue social justice causes. When she received the professors’ email, she saw another chance to make a difference. Aside from her own efforts to promote awareness, Holmes hopes this movement will lead students to what she believes is another benefit of college: Learning about important topics outside of school. Both Holmes and Posey said that it is critical to engage in social justice issues since one of the foundational beliefs of UP is to serve others. “If we’re going to adopt that, we need to do a better job of empathizing with other people,” Holmes said. Michael Brown and Eric Garner died from their injuries, and Holmes thinks that fact mandates greater participation in social justice reform. Holmes hopes that BlackLivesMatter@ UP will accomplish something meaningful. “The least we can do is have a discussion and a dialogue about it,” Holmes said.
(Above) Junior Jill Pham, left, and senior Mikayla Posey meet to discuss activism through BlackLivesMatter@UP. The student-led club aims to raise awareness about race issues like police brutality. (Right) Junior Grace Holmes first became interested in social justice when she worked for juvenile justice reform in Nebraska.
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
Contact Staff Writer Christine Menges at menges15@up.edu. Twitter: @ChristineyBird
THE FORECAST:
CORRECTIONS
THE TIP LINE
In the Feb. 12 issue of The Beacon, Vice President for Student Affairs Fr. Gerry Olinger’s name was misspelled. The Beacon regrets the error.
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The Beacon wants story ideas from its readers. If you see something that should be covered, email News Editor Philip Ellefson at upbeacon@gmail.com
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
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Is your mom your best friend? By Alina Rosenkranz THE BEACON Parents will be arriving on campus in droves tomorrow for Junior Parents and Families Weekend. According to a recent study, that means the majority of juniors will spend the weekend hanging out with their best friend. According to a study conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group as part of the Fusion’s Massive Millennial Poll, 55 percent of 18-to 34-year-olds consider one of their parents their best friend. Sophomore Tyler Gustavson, finance and economics major, says he grew closer to his parents since he started college and moved out. “Since I’ve come to college it’s changed so that I’m not just like their son anymore,” Gustavson said. “I’m super good friends with my dad now. We hang out all the time.” Sociology professor Bryan Rookey is skeptical about the results of the Massive Millennial Poll because it was done via phone, and doesn’t specify whether cell phone calls were included. “We might be oversampling on kids or young adults who still live at home with their parents,” Rookey said. “So you are probably missing college students that are away from home.” Despite his surprise about
the outcomes of the survey, Rookey thinks a possible explanation for the majority of young adults to be best friends with their parents could be the economical living conditions. Economic challenges, he said, like the rising cost of housing, job scarcity and education costs, might make young people stay close to home longer. “They are in need of each other more,” Rookey said. This assumption ties in with the survey’s result that 46 percent of young adults still live at home with their parents and 40 percent say they receive financial support from their parents.
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Since I’ve come to college, it’s changed so that I’m not just like their son anymore. I’m super good friends with my dad now. We hang out all the time.
Tyler Gustavson sophomore
Sophomore Isaiah Ragasa, operations and technologies management major, doesn’t consider his parents his best friends, but thinks they are a support system for him. “Coming to college actually strengthened our relationship even more,” Ragasa said. “Being that they have to trust me more with the decisions that I make. Being that I’m
Courtesy of Isaiah Ragasa
Sophomore Isaiah Ragasa and his parents visit UP. Though Ragasa does not consider either of his parents a best friend, he said he became closer to them when he left home to come to UP. responsible for my own actions.” Findings of the poll also showed that 65 percent have the same political affiliation as either of their parents. Sophomore Markus Fuchs said that political beliefs do not define the parent-child
relationship. He thinks that one should never forget who raised them and uphold the relationship to parents. “Even if my parents don’t fully agree with a view, they might question it. But that doesn’t mean that they will ever support me less,” Fuchs
said. “Our relationship is something that is based in love and trust.”
Contact Staff Writer Alina Rosenkranz at rosenkra17@up.edu. Twitter: @RosenkranzAlina
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
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Students compete in regional theater competition By Karen Garcia THE BEACON At 12:05 a.m., most places on campus have grown quiet. But Mago Hunt is wideawake, filled with students lining the auditorium. For theater students preparing for the American College Theater Festival (ACTF), this is a typical Wednesday night. Hosted by Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, and sponsored by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., ACTF started on Tuesday and will run through Saturday. The ACTF groups participating universities into eight regions. UP is in Region VII, which consists of the Pacific Northwest and most of the Rocky Mountain states. UP theater students with a variety of interests in the theater are attending the festival. Professor Mindi Logan, a previous Region VII chair of the ACTF, coaches and advises the nine UP actors nominated this year for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. “They call it a scholarship, but it’s a competition,” Logan said. “What’s great, though, is how supportive everyone on our team is of each other. They’ll all come to my hotel room and we’ll push the furniture aside and practice.” Each regional scholarship winner is invited to the national festival at the Kennedy Center to compete for the national scholarship. Regional winners receive $500, and first-place national winners receive $5,000. Scholarship money can be used to fund undergraduate or graduate studies. Nominated students must prepare three pieces: a couple of two-person scenes and a monologue. “I encourage them to look for material where they are vulnerable, charming, and funny,” Logan said. “Each work is individual to each student, and suited to their strengths. You can tell a lot about a person by what material they choose.” Although seniors Amy Billroth-MacLurg and Shen Telles will be returning to the festival for the third time, this year marks their first time as nominees of the acting scholarship. In addition to competing in the Irene Ryan Acting
Scholarship, Telles is looking forward to entering her costume design for last year’s production of “Woyzeck” in the Design Technology and Management Competition. Telles first jumped on stage in a fifth grade production of “Dolly Holiday,” a Dolly Parton-themed Christmas show. “Thank god I didn’t know how embarrassing that was,” Telles said. By sophomore year of high school, Telles knew that she belonged in the world of theater. When she visited UP for the first time as a prospective student, she immediately felt drawn to the close-knit relationships she saw between the theater students.
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I got so sad without (theater), and it surprised the crap out of me. As much as I loved science, I didn’t know what to do with my life without theater, without that passion. I just can’t escape it.
Amy Billroth-MacLurg senior
“I was treated so well by them when I visited, they were just so gracious,” Telles said. “They let me step onto the stage–and to get to be up there as a lowly high school student was just like ‘Ah!’” The competitions at ACTF
this week are helping Telles enter the world she’s always felt devoted to. “[The festival] is a chance to show my peers and others in the theater work that I’m very proud of,” Telles said. “To show what I’m capable of doing.” While Telles found her calling early, Billroth-MacLurg hadn’t originally considered pursuing theater past her high school elective classes. She started her freshman year at UP as a biology major with hopes of becoming an epigeneticist, but soon found that her passion for the theater was overwhelming. “I got so sad without it, and it surprised the crap out of me,” Billroth-MacLurg said. “As much as I loved science I didn’t know what to do with my life without theater, without that passion. I just can’t escape it.” Now, Billroth-MacLurg plans to enter her stage management book from “1940’s Radio Hour” in the Design Technology and Management Competition, and sees the festival as an opportunity to develop her skills as an interdisciplinary artist. “In conjunction with all of the competitions, there are workshops, and a lot of other opportunities to learn a craft or a skill within our art that you normally wouldn’t get exposed
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
(Top) Junior Tyler Hunt and freshman Jen Bigoness perform a scene they will bring to the American College Theater Festiveal. The festival is at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. (Bottom) Freshman Beth Biggs and senior Michael Rexroat perform in preparation for the regional festival. Winners of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship win $500 and the chance to perform at a national competition at the Kennedy Center is Washington, D.C. to at UP,” Billroth-MacLurg said. “The festival lends diversity to our education.” After graduation, theater majors have several work options depending on their concentration, including acting, directing, costume and makeup design, stage management and dramaturgy (the theory and practice of dramatic composition). The ACTF provides opportunities for those working in the different realms of the theater to network, learn, audition and showcase their respective talents. In January, Telles and Billroth-MacLurg, along
CRIME LOG Junior Parents & Families Weekend Opening
Feb. 14, 10:48 p.m. Officers responded to a noise complaint on the 5300 block of N. Princeton. Residents were compliant when asked to shut down the party. No further action was taken.
Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mago Hunt Arts Center Recital Hall. $2 per person and $3 per pair. Doors open at 7:15 p.m.
FOR THE FULL REPORT upbeacon.com > News > UP Crime & Fire Log
Contact Staff Writer Karen Garcia at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @garciaka17
ON CAMPUS
Feb. 14, 8:44 p.m. Officers responded to a report of marijuana use in Mehling Hall. hOfficers were unable to locate any violation. No further action was taken.
Feb. 15, 12:40 a.m. Officers responded to a report of a large party on the 7300 block of N. Jordan. Residents were complaint when asked to shut the party down. No further action was taken.
with two other senior actors, traveled to New York City to audition for graduate schools. Their days and nights are filled with preparations for the festival, play rehearsals, work and homework on top of everything else. “The life of an actor is difficult,” Logan said. “But it’s thrilling to have these kids come in as freshmen and see how they grow year by year with all their training. They just have to keep working.”
Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bauccio Commons Cafe.
Bluffoons Improv Day Show
Pilots After Dark presents pop culture trivia
Friday, Feb. 20 from 10-11:30 p.m. in The Cove. This special trivia night will feature questions from our collective pop culture. Prizes after every round followed by original songs from Tony Smiley from 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
Friends of Trees planting
Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 a.m. in the Pilot House. Meet in the Pilot House and plant trees from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the University Park neighborhood.
Pilots After Dark Eric E. the Human Jukebox
Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. in The Cove. Eric E. the Human Jukebox will perform songs in a coffeehouse style, taking requests from any top 40 song from the past nine decades.
KDP Reading Fair
Sunday, Feb. 22: at 8 a.m. in the Chiles Center Arena.
NEWS
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Depression: Personal, academic stresses contribute to mental health issues Continued from page 1 of California, Los Angeles, looked at 150,000 college freshmen nationwide and found that 9.5 percent of those surveyed report frequently feeling depressed, up more than 3 percent from five years ago. It’s a problem that Will Meek, assistant director of counseling at the Health Center, wants to help solve.
“We had lots of freshman right at the beginning of school coming in,” Meek said. Meek said it’s normal for new college students to feel overwhelmed during their first year, but something else could explain the greater trend. Inexperience in dealing with the everyday problems of life could be a source of depression. Meek points to the broader cultural phenomenon of parents sheltering their
children from the hardships of life, such as a breakup with a significant other. “They end up being overwhelmed by stress,” Meek said. The result could be greater feelings of anxiety or depression. Meek says recently, more students have been coming in for help with anxiety than in years past. The UCLA study agrees. “With counseling centers
on campus reporting a record number of visits and increased wait times (Misner, 2014), it is clear that campuses have more work to do to assist students experiencing emotional health issues,” the report said. What’s more, academic pressures can weigh in on students’ stress levels. Kelly Carder, assistant director at the Shepard Freshman Resource Center, says it comes down to resilience. “Something you have to learn is resilience and being able to struggle through difficult things, whether it’s academics or a personal issue,” Carder said. Carder says it’s common for students to come into her office overwhelmed by school. “A lot of times, it's feeling like they don’t know how to keep up with the work,” Carder said. Carder tries to tease out exactly where the problem is and helps students develop a plan to get organized. She remains optimistic that students might just need better time management and organization to reduce their stress levels. On the bright side, Meek says students are generally feeling more comfortable opening up to counselors about their concerns as the stigma of speaking about mental health issues declines. Carder also says she refers students to get help from the Health Center in extreme cases. The Health Center has three full-time psychologists and three part-time resident counselors. In addition to
counseling, health staff can prescribe medication or provide referrals to other medical professionals for more serious cases. Meek says medication is usually an option used in combination with counseling for students who need immediate relief. Referrals to outside counseling are reserved for rare instances when students may require more attention or face other struggles like substance abuse. Recently, Meek partnered with Campus Ministry to introduce a program for mindfulness-based stress relief. It’s a dedicated time for students to reflect and think about their lives. The initial reviews look positive. “It sounded like it was very helpful and opened [students’] eyes to see their lives in a different way,” Meek said. Students are welcome to take part in the mindfulness sessions on Fridays at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. In addition to talking with friends and family, Jasmyn went to the Health Center freshmen year for help with her depression and recalled a positive experience. She says she is doing much better now. “Try to reach out,” Jasmyn said. “Nothing’s going to get better if you don’t try.” Editor’s note: The Beacon has chosen not to use Jasmyn’s last name out of concern for her privacy. Contact Staff Writer Jacob Fuhrer at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @jacobfuhrer
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Living
FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM Cassie Sheridan Living Editor sheridan15@up.edu
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Check out our website and app for more dates, articles and multimedia page.
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Elise Nyland and Kieran Jones dissect a sheep brain during their neurobiology lab in Swindells Hall. Last Thursday, students in neurobiology (BIO 342) got up close and personal with the anatomy of sheep brains to learn about anatomical brain structures.
Calling it: TV Review
Rachel Rippetoe• THE BEACON “SNL 40” ironically airing live from New York on a Sunday night, was a farce of nostalgia. The special gave snippets of screen time to anyone who was ever anyone in studio 8H at New York’s Rockefeller Center. Having grown up with “Saturday Night Live”, I instantly succumbed to the nostalgia. I pulled out my tissue box less than 10 minutes into the show when Paul Simon and Paul Mccartney sang, “I’ve Just Seen a Face.” There was no lack of star power or material in the threehour comedy tribute. Bradley Cooper joined the league of men who have made out with Betty White on the SNL stage. Jerry Seinfeld took questions from the audience. Bill Murray sang passionately about the sharks from “Jaws.” Also, (as per usual) Kanye West crucified and resurrected himself in a heated rap performance. I didn’t mind. I like my SNL with a little bit of sacrilegious excellence. The special blended new and upcoming talent with comedic veterans seamlessly. Young talent paid homage to the old in ways that called for laughs, goosebumps and even a tear here and there. My favorite example of this was Melissa McCarthy’s take on Chris Farley’s famous Matt
Quad Style
SNL 40 Foley impression. Chris Rock said later on in the show, “There will never be another Eddie Murphy.” I feel the same about Chris Farley. No one embodies comedy as a full force being the way that Farley did, but if anyone comes close, it’s McCarthy. Her spirit and energy mimics Farley’s in the best way possible. There was not a finer comedian worthy of paying tribute to the late and great actor: “Let the boy walk your dog!” Some scoffed at Miley Cyrus sharing the stage with other “Saturday Night Live” greats. Admittedly, I scoffed at first. However, Cyrus’s vocal range and inflection was in sync with Paul Simon’s classic “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” I have only one complaint with the show. Although I enjoyed the compilations of moments and skits from past shows-the audition clips were exceptional - I felt that the special relied too heavily on them. Yes, the point was to look back on all the good times of SNL, but NBC had an entire studio filled with celebrities and comedic legends that weren’t used to their full extent. I didn’t want to see a clip of Will Ferrell and Rachel Dratch’s hilarious hot tub skit when they were right there in
Chelsea Christensen • Junior • Communication studies the audience. I wanted to see that skit on stage. I wanted to see them give it new life. Chris Rock gave a beautiful speech about the influence Eddie Murphy has had on comedy and SNL’s success, only for him to have about a minute and a half on stage. He didn’t even crack a joke! What’s up with that? But despite it’s shortcomings, “SNL 40” reminded me why I stayed up late on countless Saturday nights to watch these actors do what they do best. I owe a lot to this 40year stretch of collaborative comedic effort. It never struck me that, as a woman, I could write and be funny until I watched Tina Fey on Weekend Update. Watching Fey, Amy Poehler and Jane Curtin give the fake news together one last time made me really consider how fortunate I am to have these women as role models. Ultimately, the point of the special was to show that SNL is family. Lorne Michaels and his team of comedic acrobats are there to tickle your funny bone and tuck you in bed on Saturday night after a tough week. As Paul Simon closed the show with “Still Crazy,” I felt nice, warm and tucked in (on a Sunday Night).
How would you describe your style? Usually I look like I just rolled out of bed, but in a put together way. Who is your celebrity fashion inspiration? I really like Miley Cyrus but I usually just do my own thing. Where do you like to shop? Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Nordstroms, Zumiez, wherever I can find the best deal.
LIVING
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
ReadUP: Alice McDermott Review
In the long and colorful story of American literature, which began many thousands of years Brian Doyle ago with stories around thousands of campfires, several Catholic writers stand in the very front rank of the best storytellers we have ever had. There is Flannery O’Connor, whose stories (novellas, really) are piercingly about bruised grace and the irrepressible miracle of belief in a world that belittles faith at every turn. There is J.F. Powers, whose stories (and wonderful novel “Morte d’Urban”) beautifully caught the rise of Catholicism from ostracized minority to established social pillar in the 20th century. There are Annie Dillard and Barry Lopez, who brought a fresh emphasis to attentiveness as a “necessary muscle for prayer,” as Simone
Weil wrote. There is Andre Dubus, renowned, and rightly so, for his stories, but also a wonderful essayist about grace, Eucharist, and faith – see his lovely collection “Meditations from a Moveable Chair,” the single best collection of Catholic essays I have ever read. And many more – Mary Gordon, Ron Hansen, the superb essayist Richard Rodriquez. But the finest Catholic writer in America today may well be a wry gentle woman who will be visiting the University of Portland on Feb. 26: the great novelist Alice McDermott. Seven novels, one of which (“Charming Billy”) won the National Book Award, and several of which were finalists for a bevy of other prizes. A gifted essayist and speaker, blunt and honest and penetrating about Catholic life in America especially as the Church morphs from powerful corporate entity back toward the alluring outsider idea it was at its inception. Mother, wife, Johns Hopkins professor, parishioner – Alice McDermott is many things,
but foremost she is, I think, a riveting novelist who owns Irish Catholic New York, from the 1930s through the 1970s, just as William Faulkner owned his slice of Mississippi, and Walker Percy owned his piece of Louisiana, and John Steinbeck owned the Salinas Valley, and Ken Kesey owned his rough wild burly chunk of Oregon. Three of her seven novels seem to me masterpieces: “Charming Billy”, the story of the tumultuous life and loves of Billy Lynch and his family; “After This”, which covers three decades in the life of the Keane family, from the Second World War to the Vietnam War; and her exquisite recent “Someone”, the story of Marie from Brooklyn – not especially lovely or dashing or charming, certainly not famous, just a quiet woman you would never even notice on the train; but McDermott brings her so wholly and resoundingly to life that you see her holiness and grace, her patience and endurance, and you will not easily be able to forget her after the book is closed.
In recent years I have read two novels that seemed to me as close to perfectly crafted as they could be by human hand. Both of them shimmered with attentiveness to the small, the ungainly, the easily-ignored; both were about quiet people who are the very antithesis of a culture in which would-be celebrities play the loud lewd clown for cash and acclaim; and both were written by American women who are eloquent and articulate about how their deep Christian faith informs their writing. One of those two books was Marilynne Robinson’s “Gilead”-the other is McDermott’s “Someone.”
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If you, like me, are absorbed by glorious literature, especially Catholic writing in headlong pursuit of love and hope and grace beyond our understanding, then you will join me Feb. 26
Brian Doyle
McDermott, I note with pride in the University of Portland’s remarkable Schoenfeldt Visiting Writers Series, will be reading from
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and talking about her work in the University’s Buckley Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, free and open to all. (I would get there early for seats, was I you.) If you, like me, are absorbed by glorious literature, especially Catholic writing in headlong pursuit of love and hope and grace beyond our understanding, then you will, I hope, join me at Oregon’s Catholic university when one of the great Catholic writers in our history steps to the lectern, and begins to tell a story. Our faith began with a Word, after all, uncountable years ago; every one of us tries to encapsulate and share the story of the Word made flesh, with every breath we draw; and when one of that story’s greatest artists comes to our village, how can we miss the chance to hear her spin a tale? Brian Doyle is the editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland. He is the author most recently of “A Book of Uncommon Prayer” (Ave Maria Press).
Adventure on: Weekend Review
Emily Neelon• THE BEACON
I’m consumed by utter darkness, the only things anchoring me to the world are the hand holding mine and the headlamp illuminating the ground stretching in front of me. I’m sitting on a lava rock, a panoramic view of Mt. St Helens hidden behind an expanse of scorched trees surrounding me on all sides. I’m lying in a hammock, the wind threatening to knock down the trees I’m swinging from, the cloudless sky peeking out from the canopy of trees above me. For the first time in a long time, I’m able to take a deep breath, enjoying the sensation of my lungs filling with fresh air, a sweet, burning sensation spreading from my chest through my entire body.
Camping at Mt. St. Helens This past Saturday I spent the day exploring Mt. St. Helens in Cougar, Washington. I hiked through Ape Cave, a two-mile lava tube located on the south side of the mountain. At night, I set up camp in the middle of the forest, successfully pitching a tent and avoiding getting eaten by a bear or Big Foot during the night. The dysfunctionalities of my trip only made it more memorable. At one moment I was crawling on my hands and knees, trapped between the increasingly narrow walls of the cave. At another moment, I was falling fast on to the forest floor, the strap anchoring my hammock to the tree having broken. And in another moment, I was using a
Gatorade cap to spread peanut butter onto the slice of bread balanced on my knee, having forgotten utensils, plates and napkins. My spontaneous camping trip was one of the best adventures I’ve had since moving to the Pacific Northwest. With the sun shining on my face and the breeze brushing against me, I was able to let go of all the worries that flutter through my head like an endless flurry of snow. My much-needed break from reality gave me clarity, smoothing over my anxieties like a blanket of calm. With the snapshot of a perfect weekend in my mind’s eye, I feel ready to take on whatever life throws at me, one moment at a time.
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THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
LIVING
Food Review: Jr. Parent’s Weekend Junior Parents and Families Weekend is fast approaching, and campus will soon be consumed by hangry (hungry/angry) and jet-lagged moms and dads looking for something to eat. As a (wise) junior, you know that The Commons is not an option. Although your house is only five minutes
away from Dominos, Taco Bell and the Twilight Room, your parents probably won’t enjoy greasy pizza and cheap beer as much as you do. Unsure of where to take your parents out to eat? We’ve got you covered: Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
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Want even more options? Check out the living section on The Beacon website upbeacon.com
Emily Neelon• THE BEACON
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Quick Bite: Blue Star Donuts 3753 N Mississippi Ave. 4.2 miles from campus Skip Voodoo’s cash-only long lines and head to Blue Star Donuts. The entire store is sparkling white and the donuts are classy to match. The flavors combine to make sure no donut is too saccharine. Particularly, the Matcha Green Tea is refreshingly sweet and guiltfree vegan. Just don’t forget to bring your jealous roommates a few.
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
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#Basic Brunch: Anna Bannanas Cafe 8716 N Lombard St. 2.2 miles from campus This eclectic cafe is a hidden gem of St. Johns. It serves breakfast all day with a massive assortment of bagels (including quinoa) and hearty sandwiches. Anything with their line-caught smoked salmon is delicious. Filled with mismatching furniture and quiet rock music, it has the ideal cafe noise level for finally telling your parents about that new tattoo.
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
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Sit Down: Girasol Restaurant and Bar 8438 N Lombard St. 2.03 miles from campus Tucked away in the St. Johns neighborhood, Girasol serves up wood-fired pizza, salads, sandwiches and pasta. With “fresh, natural, and simple flavors” and string lights and lanterns swaying from the ceiling, the restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for lunch or dinner with your parents. Girasol also has a full bar and live performances by local artists every Friday and Saturday night from 7 9 p.m. Share an Ample Pie and an order of Cinnamon Rolls.
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Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Dessert: Salt and Straw 2035 NE Alberta St 4.9 miles from campus Salt and Straw is so Portland #basic, but a classic part of the city’s quirky food culture. The long line trailing down the sidewalk during rain storms and snowpocalypses alike is telling of the shop’s successful take on classic ice cream flavors. Customer service at Salt and Straw is excellent - the servers are always more than willing to let you try as many samples as you want. The shop is currently featuring a “Chocolatier Series.” After an evening window shopping on Alberta Street, or catching some live music at one of the many restaurants or bars, stop in to get a late night dessert!
Emily Neelon• THE BEACON
LIVING
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Fashion in February
The day the clouds part and the sun begins to shine (thanks to the administration’s deal with the heavens for visitation days) arms and legs all over campus are revealed. Earthtoned rain jackets are shed and are replaced with unique spring-time fashion.
“She is an incredible woman.”
“Today was laundry day, so this is all I had.”
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
Taylor Hendricks
Junior • Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
Katie Michurski Senior • Nursing
“My style is classy comfort.”
“I would describe my style as Leslie Knope with a dash of homeless.” Hannah Baade• THE BEACON
Mara Midiere
Freshman • Organizational Communication & Environmental Ethics and Policy
Hannah Baade• THE BEACON
Jacque Nelson
Freshman • Organizational Communication
Visit upbeacon.com for more February (and sunny!) fashion.
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Faith & Fellowship
FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Emily Neelon Faith & Fellowship Editor neelon17@up.edu
Mindfulness: a narrative
Being mindful is not about finding the perfect zen moment. It’s about letting your thoughts and emotions Luke Loranger flow through Freshman you. I think the ultimate purpose of mindfulness is being okay with being completely internally focused and in tune with every thought. However, this is also the hardest part of being mindful. I attended two session of the “Mindfulness” clinic hosted by Campus Ministry, and I often found my thoughts drifting to other things, such as what I wanted to spend my paychecks on, or my weekend plans. “This is welcome and expected,” said Beth Barsotti,
assistant director of faith formation. I went to these sessions to find more peace in my life, because I often feel like I am stressed about the constant workload school brings. Mindfulness consists of focusing on one aspect of your body, like your breathing, and watching it for a set period of time. In the first session I did a full body scan that included feeling every aspect of my body with my eyes closed, and no talking. The second session included focusing on my breathing pattern, again in silence. It became clear that every instructor has a different interpretation of what mindfulness is to them. Mindfulness can be incredibly agitating and I often thought, “When will the session end?” I never thought before about how of my time
is spent externally until I have to channel that energy into
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Mindfulness is an opportunity to find a balance between internal thoughs and the white noise of the world around us.
Luke Loranger Freshman
internal though. I think this is partially because my mind can be scary place, where I often focus on the negatives of my li fe. During the sessions I found myself feeling more in tune to every twitch in my body, and constantly had to adjust my body when trying to be mindful. In this sense, mindfulness is the ability to be in tune with our internal reality as we ever will be. The structure of society emphasizes the external, the constant flashing lights and interactions that multiply every
day. Mindfulness feels like a visit to a simpler existence, like a child beginning to come to terms with reality. Mindfulness is less a state of mind than an idealized goal, which is to be in the moment. Where I spend all my time in the end though, is in the present. The present is a hard place to be because it requires 100 percent focus on the world around you. Even though an hour of mindfulness seems like a lot, it goes by rapidly because it is so easy to focus on the world inside. Mindfulness is an opportunity to find a balance between internal thoughts and the white noise of the world around us. I often find my thoughts help me distract from the world around me, and are a way to cope instead of facing what is in front of me. However, mindfulness
ultimately keeps me from “coping” with reality, and instead pushes me to actually deal with it. I think this is important to me, because I find it very easy to say things and not think about the ramifications of my actions. Being in the moment requires me to fully aware of these ramifications, which is often a scary task. If I am constantly aware of what I am doing, I think I will not be as quick to make comments that are hurtful or do not add positively to a given conversation. Mindfulness sessions are Friday at 3 p.m. in the Chapel. of Christ the Teacher.
Contact Sports Writer Luke Loranger at loranger18@up.edu. Twitter: @Loranger18
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Students and faculty celebrated the first day of the Lenten Season yesterday during Ash Wednesday Mass at Christ the Teacher Chapel. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 5.
SPEAK
UP!
14 Days to have your say about th e L i b r a r y .
Feb. 19 - Mar. 5 http://sites.up.edu/14days
>
Opinion
FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Lydia Laythe Opinion Editor layth16@up.edu
TV: The future of storytelling
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Let’s be clear
TV is the future of storytelling. It has become incredibly clear with each passing year that “The Golden Age of Television” is the era we
Luke Loranger Freshman
are living in. As U.S. box office profits fall across the board, many are returning to the small boxes they grew up on. Television draws upon the storytelling and creativity that dominated Hollywood in the Peter Forsyth • Wikimedia Commons
Oregon Department of Transportation
Former Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown became Oregon’s 38th Governor yesterday.
Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber resigned last week as details of his ethical scandal mounted.
Transparency from authority figures is important. We want our professors to be transparent when they create a syllabus. We want administrators in Waldschmidt Hall to be transparent as they make decisions about our academic experience and how they spend our tuition money. We want our government to be transparent when they make laws, spend our tax dollars, or interact with other countries. We want our news organizations to foster transparency when they cover controversial topics, to ensure the government is as open and honest as possible. We want transparency in almost every interaction we have with people. But we especially want transparency when there is a power imbalance between individuals or groups - because that’s where corruption or unethical conduct is most dangerous. On Feb.13, Oregon
he dodged questions from the media and did not provide the official documents when they were requested. Investigative reporter Nigel Jacques of Willamette Week uncovered a paper trail that showed Kitzhaber asked state officials to destroy emails connected with the scandal.
Governor John Kitzhaber announced his resignation as the details of an ethical scandal mounted. Kitzhaber’s resignation stemmed from conflict of interest allegations involving his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. Hayes acted as an unpaid adviser in Kitzhaber’s office and allegedly used office resources and personnel to further her own green energy consulting company in violation of ethics laws. On Feb. 6, Oregonian investigative reporter (and UP alumna) Laura Gunderson reported that emails sent by Hayes “directed state employees how to implement a new policy while she was being paid $25,000 by an advocacy group to promote it.” These are serious ethical issues. The Oregon attorney general’s office has opened a criminal investigation of Kitzhaber and Hayes. The FBI has also launched a probe. When Kitzhaber was asked about the allegations,
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But we especially want transparency when there is a power imbalance between individuals or groups - because that’s where corruption or unethical conduct is most dangerous.
The request happened at the same time the governor was promising to be open with Oregonians about the situation. Clearly, Kitzhaber is a poor example of transparency. But this scandal does showcase the important work of investigative journalism and the media’s role as a government “watchdog.”
Publications like Willamette Week and the Oregonian used public records laws to pressure Kitzhaber’s administration to provide documents the public has every right to see. Like the professional journalists covering the Kitzhaber scandal, The Beacon is always working to foster transparency on campus from administration and other people in positions of power. Our job is to encourage transparency and push for it when we meet resistance. When we do our job right, the public becomes informed of facts and situations they may not have known about otherwise. And that gives people the opportunity to make informed decisions and seek change if necessary. Inspired by Willamette Week, the Oregonian and the courageous journalism they practice, The Beacon promises to continue to push for honesty and transparency at UP.
SUBMISSION POLICY Letters and commentaries from readers are encouraged. All contributions must include the writer’s address and phone number for verification purposes. The Beacon does not accept submissions written by a group, although pieces written by an individual on behalf of a group are acceptable. Letters to the editor must not exceed 250 words. Those with longer opinions are encouraged to submit guest columns. The Beacon reserves the right to edit any contributions for length and style, and/or reject them without notification. University students must include their major and year in school. Non-students must include their affiliation to the University of Portland, if any.
Advertising in The Beacon For advertising information, contact Kim Kadomoto, business and advertising manager, at beaconads@up.edu.
Subscriptions Subscriptions are available at $30 for the year, covering 24 issues. Checks should be made payable to The University of Portland: The Beacon. For more information about subscriptions or billing questions, contact Business and Advertising Manager Kim Kadomoto at beaconads@up.edu.
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Storytelling is an important part of any culture, and the current face of that is television. Teleivison has taken up the mantle once occupied by film, presenting engaging ideas and exposing itself as the new face of pop culture.
Luke Loranger Freshman
70s and 80s. However, this storytelling does not exist in the current era of U.S. film. Of the top 10 highest grossing films in 2014, only five were not sequels or part of an existing franchise. None of those five films were original ideas and were adapted in some form from already existing media. It is easy to argue that sequels and franchises have always been a part of the Hollywood DNA. Yet the scale with which these films control the pop culture landscape is unprecedented. Many of the conversations around last year’s film “Interstellar” focused less on the film, and more on Christopher Nolan’s status
See TV page 13
THE BEACON Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Katie Dunn
Design Editor Rebekah Markillie
News Editor Philip Ellefson
Faith & Fellowship Editor Emily Neelon
Living Editor Cassie Sheridan
Asst. Design Editor Nina Chamlou
Opinion Editor Lydia Laythe
Copy Editor Nastacia Voisin
Sports Editor Malika Andrews
Photo Editor David DiLoreto
Staff Writers
Jacob Fuhrer, Maggie Hannon, Christine Menges, Molly McSweyn, Emily Neelon, Alina Rosenkranz, Karen Garcia, Molly Vincent, Luke Loranger, Rachel Rippetoe, Nastacia Voisin, Jimmy Sheldrup
Photographers Hannah Baade, Kristen Garcia, Parker Shoaff, Thomas Dempsey
Staff Members
Business & Ad Manager Web Content Manager Social Media Manager Cartoonist Circulation Director
UP Staff Members
Adviser Nancy Copic upbeacon.com • upbeacon@gmail.com • 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Portland OR
Kim Kadomoto Carl Lulay Christine Menges Nathan DeVaughn Allison Zimmerman Publisher Fr. Mark Poorman
OPINION
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
Come Follow Me ItJesus was the Lord calling us. Holy Cross Priests have been serving at the University of Portland since 1902. Currently, the Congregation of Holy Cross has over 59 men in formation. Are you called to join them? To learn more about what religious life has to offer, talk to Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C. or any Holy Cross priest or brother on campus, or visit us online:
holycrossvocations.org
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OPINION
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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TV: Changing the face of pop culture Continued from page 11 as one of the last mainstream directors making original, nonadapted work. In contrast to this lies the glowing bastion of television. Television is a media format bursting with new ideas and content, which has steadily increased in the last decade. HBO cemented this last year with the premiere of the show “True Detective.” “True Detective” featured strong performances from Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, two actors known primarily for their work in film. Their presence on a highly acclaimed television show only exemplifies what many in the world of broadcasting have known for years: the future of storytelling is in their hands. In many ways, the current era of television reflects the director-driven filmmaking that occurred in the early 70s. Both of these movements were a break from the “studio” system that existed for many years prior and were a reflection of controversial and complex themes that were stifled by censors in the previous years. In other words, the current state of television is one where showrunners such as Andrew Haigh are able to write about the experience of gay men in San Francisco, as is evident in his show “Looking.” This show would easily be considered too groundbreaking for mainstream film, which is obsessed with the bottom line and making films that are safe and easy for people from any background. Television is an important form of storytelling because premium cable such as HBO, and Showtime are more intent on providing a balance between TV that makes money and providing engrossing, engaging
When Joey Leonetti, a ‘91 graduate of the University of Portland, was arrested in 2013 for sexual abuse, it Jordan Paul Junior was hard to believe what was happening.
Nathan DeVaughn • THE BEACON
stories that makes audiences think. The biggest issue with television going forward is exposing more people to the “quiet” revolution that is occurring around them. For many, the entry fee to HBO is too high. Very few of my friends have a subscription, which keeps them from
seeing shows such as “True Detective.” If HBO wants to truly commit to a legacy of brilliant programming, they need to make their shows available to a wider audience. Signs of this have already occurred, with HBO announcing that it will launch a streaming service that will cost $15-20 a month.
This is still a far cry from the price of Netflix, which is only half of that. These services also quickly add up for the average consumer, who is only willing to purchase one or two a month. Storytelling is an important part of any culture, and the current face of that is television. Television has taken
Rebuilding a life When those charges were dismissed 18 months later, it came as a relief, although not a surprise, to everyone who knew him. Throughout those 18 months, the Leonetti family accumulated almost $600,000 in debt to fight a mishandled investigation, and ultimately proved Joey innocent. Although this ordeal is now over, the Leonetti family still
has work to do, not only to fix Joey’s reputation, but to pay off the money that they were forced to borrow. If this situation were not already bad enough, Joey’s wife, Holly (a fellow ‘91 graduate), is also suffering from metastasized breast cancer. The Leonetti’s are lucky to have incredibly caring friends and family who have since launched an online fundraising
campaign to help with their debts. Upon requesting that
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It is also in the best interest of justice to help this family in any way possible.
up the mantle once occupied by film, presenting engaging ideas and exposing itself as the new face of pop culture.
Luke Loranger is a writer for The Beacon and can be reached at loranger18@up.edu or @ loranger18.
It is also in the best interest of justice to help this family in any way possible. I urge the University of Portland community to do just that.
Jordan Paul Junior
Joey’s case be dropped, the prosecutor told the judge that it was in “in the best interest of justice” to drop the case.
Jordan Paul is a junior political science major and can be reached at paulj17@up.edu.
FACES ON THE BLUFF What’s your favorite local restaurant? What’s your favorite dish? Why?
Chelsea Baclaai Sophomore Elementary Education Major
Peter Rodriguez Junior Secondary Education and Math Major
Arran Fagan Freshman Biology and Psychology Major
“Thai Ginger. Fried rice, because I’m from Hawaii and I miss rice.”
“The Taqueria. Carne Asada, because why not?”
“Pine State Biscuits. The Reggie Deluxe. It’s a lot of food and good on pricing.”
Dominique Gilli Freshman Business Major “One of my teammates’ mom owns a Thai place. We try so many different things, cat fish, curry,rice, etc.
Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON
Sara Hernandez Junior Math Major “ Thai Cottage. Pad Thai, because I like it.”
SPORTS
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Lacrosse taking hold on The Bluff
By Molly McSweyn THE BEACON The Pilots are known for their D1 sports teams like soccer and cross country, to name just a few. But, in recent years, a new team has emerged onto the scene. This year, UP’s men’s D2 club lacrosse team saw the biggest number of freshmen they have ever had come out to play. Men’s lacrosse is a popular sport on the East Coast, where boys in high school are coached to play D1 or D2 at a collegiate level. Being a lacrosse player in New York or Massachusetts is on par (or higher for some high schools), with being a star football player. And yet, it has taken a while for lacrosse to take hold on the West Coast. “Lacrosse is played more on the East Coast because it was started by Native Americans there,” freshman lacrosse player Jefferson Lee said. “It just never really gained traction on the West Coast as much. There basically just wasn’t enough coaches out West for the longest time.” While popularity has slowly been mounting in the Pacific Northwest for young boys and high schoolers to play lacrosse, colleges here do not play at the same level as East Coast schools. The two farthest D1 lacrosse teams to the West are the University of Denver and the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Today, there are only a select few schools on the West Coast, such as USC and University of Oregon, that have lacrosse teams that play at a higher level than club. However, these teams are women’s teams, and there are still no NCAA D1 men’s lacrosse teams on the West Coast. In the U.S. there are currently 69 NCAA sanctioned men’s lacrosse teams. In order for the West Coast to have NCAA accredited teams, many schools would have to bump up their men’s lacrosse club teams at the same time, so that they could all play each other. If not, the select few West Coast teams in the NCAA would have to travel to the East Coast for games, which would cost time and money. Although there are no NCAA men’s lacrosse teams in Oregon, the West Coast does have club lacrosse for men. The Pilots compete in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MLCA) and is a member of the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL), which includes teams from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and British Columbia, Canada. The team has gotten a higher number of students coming out to play in recent years. “I think that we do a really great job as a program in order to target guys who are coming to UP for academics and
Photos Courtesy of Owen McNiff
Freshman Owen McNiff (bottom) runs after the ball in a game vs. University of Oregon. The lacrosse team chose to remain a D2 club in order to gain experience before making the jump to D1. everything else, but who have played lacrosse before and want to be involved in our program,” senior captain Nolan Ripple said. The team is hopeful for this season with the influx of new players. “Having more freshmen, more youth, they are getting their first taste of college lacrosse so it brings some struggles but at the same time they are excited about it. It’s more energy, it’s a lot of youth on the field, which bodes well for the future especially,” Ripple said. Lacrosse is an expensive sport so the team operates off of the highest amount of money
from ASUP for club sports. For the spring season the team received $7,000 from the ASUP. The rest of the team’s expenses are paid for through fundraising events and team dues, which are around $900 for this semester. “We have to pay to play pretty much,” freshman Nick Safka said. “There are no scholarships or anything.” The team played during the fall semester in a pre-season full of scrimmages. Their official season started last Saturday with a 14-6 win over Whitman. The team practices three times a week to prepare for their weekend games and tournaments, which continue throughout the semester. “This year we are trying to go to Nationals, which will be held in L.A. at Chapman,” Lee said. “To do that we need to win our league, which is the PNCLL.” Although lacrosse is not an NCAA sport at UP, it is still an important piece of this school for many students. “I played lacrosse most of my life. And actually lacrosse is a major reason why I attended
the University of Portland,” McNiff said. “I had lunch with the captains in February, and they were super nice and engaging, so that definitely swayed my opinion.” With the team’s growing popularity came a nod of recognition from the lacrosse community. This past year the team was asked to jump up to be a D1 club team. “It’s just not the right time for us, because if we went up to D1 right now we would be one of the bottom feeders. And we want to earn a certain resume before jumping up,” Ripple said. However, once they are ready, the team plans to make the commitment to play at the D1 level. “Actually our team, in a couple years, is going to try to go D1 as well,” Ripple said. “Once we have enough credibility, and have put together a number of seasons in a row where we have good seasons, so we can actually get up there and compete.” Contact Sports Writer Molly McSweyn at mcsweyn18@up.edu. Twitter: @MollyMcSweyn
THE BEACON • FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
SPORTS
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Pilot in the spotlight Michail Pervolarakis • Tennis • Freshman Interview by Jimmy Sheldrup
What’s life like in Cyprus? Life there is beautiful. It is a small island and I know everybody. It’s sunny every day. I would go to school and do training everyday.
How was judo? I liked it a lot, but had some injuries to my foot, so I couldn’t continue.
What is your favorite part about Portland? What has the adjustment been I can say that the people here are very like coming to UP? friendly. Back home not everybody says hi to you, The first few days were really tough, and I was so it was a big surprise when everybody was so all alone. And then my roommates and teammates nice to me. arrived and I made some friends, and now it is much better. How do you balance sports and academics? What made you choose UP? The first semester, it was my first semester The coach of the tennis team sent me a of college and it was a difficult adjustment, I message on Facebook and asked me if wanted to didn’t have so much free time. But in the free play college tennis. And that they had offered a time that I have, I am studying or trying to do my scholarship to me, so I said, “Why not?” homework. How long have you been playing tennis? I started playing tennis when I was four years old, so 14 years.
Kristen Garcia• THE BEACON
So did you play any other sports besides tennis growing up? Or just tennis? Well, when I was a kid I was playing tennis. And then judo, and swimming. So three sports.
What do you think you will do in the future? My first goal is to be a professional tennis player. I already got a few ATP points from a tennis match. Can you talk for a few moments on how the tour ranking system works, like how to get points? So, to get one point in the ATP rankings, you
need to pass three qualifying rounds, and it is high level, it is not juniors anymore. Plus, one round of the main row, and that’s how you get one point. How many points do you currently have? I have two points. How many points do you need to be a professional? I mean, to be in the top 100 you need at least 100, if not 200. So my ranking right now is 1,500, the more points I get though, the better my ranking will be. However, as the rankings go up, I will need more points. In the summer, I will play more tournaments. What is your favorite tennis memory? My favorite memory was when I won my first ATP point. I had been in about 10 tournaments before that. I had always lost in the third round of qualifying or first round of main row. This time I won my first match on main row, and I won my first ATP point. This is really important, because once you are ranked you can go straight to main row in the future.
SEASON IN REVIEW
Women’s basketball needs more time With only four games left the Pilots are 2-12 in WCC
The women’s basketball team entered the 2014-15 season with expectations of being a solid, dark horse team Jimmy Sheldrup in a crowded Freshman West Coast Conference. Returning most of last year’s team, the Pilots have a seasoned team, led by the core of five seniors. But with four games left in the season, the Pilots find themselves 2-12 in WCC play. Needless to say, it has been a frustrating year. This is basically the same team that finished with a 14-15 (8-11 in WCC play) record last year. The team returned 10 players from last year, including several starters. So what has gone wrong? What could have changed and caused such a drastic turnaround?
The answer is quite clear. This is the first year of Cheryl Sorenson’s career as a head coach here at Portland. Such a dramatic change at such an important level is sure to create struggle, especially from the get-go. Change within a program of any kind in any sport is very difficult at the college level. It takes time to adjust to a new head coach, to new schemes. This is simply a team that is struggling to find a groove. Sorenson was an assistant coach for the Pilots for three years prior to being named head coach. She specialized in coaching the defense. When she became head coach, Sorenson did not change the defense much. That being said, the experience the team has had with Sorenson enabled her to improve the defense even more. “We have grown, and added multiple layers to the defensive scheme that we hadn’t had in the past,” Sorenson said.
However, problems arose not from the defense, but from the offense. “This is the player’s fourth offense in four years,” Sorenson said. “They have had to learn a whole new offense, again.” Currently the team uses a motion offense, which means the team makes “reads,” or looks for cues from the defense. Then, players will make a move based on the read. It is a read-then-react offense, taking what the defense gives and capitalizing on it. This can be a hard offense to move into though. It takes time. When players gel well together, and have played within the system for a long time, the offense can become seamless. But while the women have played together a lot, they haven’t played with an offense like this. This is why when one looks at the team’s box scores, there
is a discrepancy from winning scores to losing scores. When the offense clicks it is going great. If it isn’t clicking though, the offense will struggle. Ashley Gray, a freshman on the team, has been very comfortable acclimating herself to the offense. “I used a motion in high school and club ball, so it wasn’t really that bad a transition at all,” Gray said. From the outside looking in, it is easy to blame the struggles of this year’s team on the coach. But in reality the coach is not the culprit. The issue stems from change within the program, change from one coach and his philosophies to another coach and her philosophies. When Sorenson was a head coach for Bellevue Community College, she won all of 5 games her first year. The next year, she won 22. It is simply not fair to blame her, or the players, for the team’s
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Women’s Basketball vs. Pacific
The Pilots look to end their seven-game losing streak as they take on Pacific at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 and Saint Mary’s on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Men’s Basketball at Saint Mary’s
Portland looks to improve on their fourgame winning streak as they visit No. 2 Saint Mary’s on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. and Pacific (Calif.) on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
Baseball at Sacramento State
The Pilots head to Sacramento for a fourgame series against Sacramento State Friday, Feb. 20 - Sunday, Feb. 22.
struggles this year. As the WCC championships are drawing closer, Sorenson has her eyes set on perfecting their current routine. “We are working every day to get better at what we are doing,” Sorenson said. “What we are doing, how we are doing it, and why. There are no changes.” The blueprint is in place, the foundation is set. It is only a matter of time until the team gels with the offense. The team has lost all of its last three games, but the team showed signs of life in each, never being outscored by more than nine points. It is not unrealistic to see the team pull off a few wins, and build some momentum before WCC tournament play. So is this a lost season? Hardly, this is just the beginning of something special. Contact Sports Writer Jimmy Sheldrup at sheldrup18@up.edu. Twitter: @CJSheldrup
SCOREBOARD
Rowing vs Gonzaga (Scrimmage)
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Tennis at Saint Mary’s
The men extended their winning streak to four beating Pepperdine 69-52 on Feb. 12 and Loyola Marymount 66-63 on Feb. 14.
Saturday, Oct. 4: Buses depart from Buckley Center for Pure Space event center in the Pearl Distrct. The dance will take place 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The 3-0 Pilots head to Seattle to take on No. 62 Washington State on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m before returning to The Bluff for their home opener against Montana on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.
Women’s Tennis at Brigham Young
The women’s tennis team opens WCC play against No. 65 BYU on Friday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m.in Provo, Utah.
The women suffered a 77-73 loss against Loyola Marymount on Feb 14 and in the Chiles Center.
Men’s Basketball
Baseball
The Pilots dropped all four games in their fourgame series against UC Riverside in California. They won their season home opener against Seattle U on Feb. 17.
Men’s Tennis
The Pilots swept Portland State 7-0 on Saturday Feb. 14 at the West Hills Racket Club.
Sports
FEB. 19, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Malika Andrews Sports Editor andrewsm17@up.edu
Pilots move to fifth in WCC The Sports From
DESK
Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON
Sophomore Alec Wintering stands at the line to shoot a free throw. The Pilots are on a four-game winning streak after beating Loyola Marymount 66-63 on Feb. 14 and Pepperdine 69-52 on Feb. 12. These wins move the Pilots into fifth place in the WCC with four games remaining, only a half a game behind fourth placed Pepperdine. The Pilots look for their fifth straight win against St. Mary’s at 8 p.m. today.
High hopes for new season By Molly Vincent THE BEACON The Pilots baseball team is working hard this season to make it to the WCC tournament and hopefully to the NCAA tournament after that. Between practices and breaking in the new field, they are finally ready to start the season. Coach Sperry had named his four captains this season as seniors Caleb Whalen, Travis Pederson, Kurt Yinger and junior Eric Sapp. Walen led the team last season offensively with four home runs, three triples and 12 doubles. Head coach Chris Sperry believes that pitching, hitting and defense are the key ingredients to having a successful season. “If we can get two of those going at the right time then we have a chance to win,” Sperry said. “If we get all three going we’re going to win. But we made too many mistakes last weekend. Of those three things we usually only played with one at a time. We need to eliminate defensive mistakes.” The Pilots failed to implement these points and dropped all four games in their season opener against UC Riverside Feb. 13-15. The Pilots then regrouped and focused more on implementing this strategy on Feb. 17, winning their home opener 9-0. The new AstroTurf and renovations to Joe Etzel Field have helped inspired a new outlook on the season. “Practice on the new turf is awesome,” senior infielder Cody Lenahan said. “The AstroTurf is a lot better, it allows us to practice everyday even if it’s raining out. We practice in the rain multiple
Kristen Garcia • THE BEACON
Senior Cody Lenahan swings at a pitch. The Pilots shut out Seattle U 9-0 on Feb. 17 at the newly renovated Joe Etzel Field. days and it hasn’t been a problem for us.” When asked about their goals for the new season, the players all seem to want the same outcome: Make it to the WCC tournament in order to get a bid in the NCAA
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I think we have a good opportunity once we figure out everyone’s roles on the team and work together to play our best.
Cody Lenahan Senior
tournament. As LMU is projected to win the WCC, Lenahan believes that they are the Pilots’ biggest competition in conference, but Pepperdine and USD may also pose as threats. Pepperdine led the WCC last season with a record of 18-9 in conference play where the Pilots finished 5-22. Lenahan has learned from
the past season how to deal with failure and how to stay positive for the upcoming season. “It’s going to be cliché, but working to get better as a team everyday, and trying to make the next day better than our last,” Lenahan said. “Focus on one game at a time.” The players also have high hopes for the five freshmen joining the team, especially outfielder Geoffrey Lee, who has started three games and played in all five this season. “I think we have a pretty good freshmen class,” Lenahan said. “I think we have a few guys who are going to be impactful and a few guys who are going to start for us.” The freshmen are ready to step up the plate to do whatever Coach Sperry needs, including playing various positions, in order to get to the WCC. “There’s definitely a
learning curve because the game’s so much faster, but I love it,” freshman Geoffrey Lee said. “It’s definitely a step up from what I’m used to.” The players are confident they can achieve their goal of winning the WCC as long as they continue with their keys to being successful. “I think we have a really good team,” Lenahan said. “I think we have a good opportunity once we figure out everyone’s roles on the team and work together to play our best. We have a pretty good chance.” The team heads to play Sacramento State Feb. 20-22 and will be home again Feb. 28 - March 1 taking on UC Davis.
Contact Sports Writer Molly Vincent at vincentm17@up.edu. Twitter: @mollyvincent19
There was no shortage of impressive dunks and improbable shots from beyond the arc as the West claimed a 163-158 victory over the East in the 64th NBA All-Star Game in New York City on Feb. 15. The 2015 All-Star game was the first held in Madison Square Garden since 1998, when 19-year-old Kobe Bryant challenged legend Michael Jordan. The NBA has made several changes to the All-Star format in recent years. 2012 marked the end of having a designated spot for a center. Instead, the league decided that fans would vote for three undefined “frontcourt” players instead of two forwards and a center. Gone are the days where players clear the lane for Kobe Bryant to go one-on-one vs. Carmelo Anthony. Now, big men shoot threes and guards dunk. Where fans used to go to see a single player show what they’ve got, now they go to see the Warriors or the Trail Blazers, as each team had multiple players represented in the game. On a court filled with the greatest stars in the world, the guards ran the show. James Harden had 29 points. After winning the 3-point contest on Saturday, Stephen Curry added 15 points. Russell Westbrook ran the game from the moment he came off the bench. Westbrook erupted scoring 41 points for the West, just shy of the All-Star record of 42 points set by Wilt Chamberlin in 1962. He played just 11 minutes in the first half, scored 27 points and was 11-for-15 shooting, an All-Star record. Westbrook earned his first All-Star game MVP award. Hometown hero to the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony scored a mere 14 points on 6-for-20 shooting. While LeBron put up 30 points for the East and Kyle Korver added 21 points, this game was just an exemplifier of what is going on during the regular season: The guards are running the show and the talent in the West is uncontested. At the halfway mark, it is difficult to predict who will end up in the finals, but if this trend continues, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the trophy stay in the West. Contact Sports Editor Malika Andrews at andrewsm17@up.edu. Twitter: @malika_andrews