The Beacon THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND SINCE 1935 February 26, 2015 • Volume 117 • Issue 18 • upbeacon.com
Where does your trash go? Portland is a city known for being green. So how does recycling at UP work?
By Nastacia Voisin THE BEACON Knocking back the final dregs of coffee, you look around for a bin to chuck the empty cup in. But which bin? According to Sean Smith, the head of UP’s three-person recycling department, where that coffee cup lands affects the system he oversees. “It kind of handicaps us when things end up in the wrong bin,” Smith said. “You might only get one person dumping the wrong item into a container, but the spills and messes slow us down.” Coffee cups are in fact one of the items destined for the landfill. But a slew of other materials – thousands of pounds of glass, plastic, tin, paper, wood, cardboard, electronics, heavy metals and even Styrofoam – are annually sorted and recycled by Smith and his crew. Despite the sheer amount of material cycling through this system, the process is mostly invisible.
“
We want the recycling department to provide a green service to the community, but you don’t notice it, or know how it works. We’ll take care of it.
Sean Smith director of recycling
“That’s the goal,” Smith said. “We want the recycling
department to provide a green service to the community, but you don’t notice it, or know how it works. We’ll take care of it.” Before he was hired in 1997 as UP’s first full-time recycler, Smith said the University recycled about 5,000 pounds of paper per year. Everything else was tossed in the garbage. Over the years, Smith has worked with Eckert Sanitary, a disposal contractor, and the University to implement a strong recycling program. Now, almost 100 tons of material are recycled at UP each year. Part of that involves strategically arranging an assortment of recycling containers across campus. The department works to saturate the campus as much as they can aesthetically, and tries to squeeze bins into the corners and nooks of buildings. Since the program is ultimately run by students and their choices, Smith said the rule of thumb in college is to have a recycling container by every garbage can. “It may not be next to you when you want to get rid of your Coke can,” he said. “But if you look around, you’ll find a recycling bin.” Overall, Smith said there’s a fairly high rate of compliance when it comes to people choosing which bin to dispose items in. But
See Recyle page 4
TIN
3,000-4,000 LBS
GLASS
4,000-5,000 LBS
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
64,000 lbs
56,000 lbs
48,000 lbs
Materials recycled at UP
40,000 lbs
Sean Smith, who heads UP’s recycling department, provided these estimates of amounts of materials recycled each year at UP. The lighter shades show the lower and upper limits of recycling weight per material per year. In all, almost 100 tons of materials are recycled each year.
32,000 lbs
24,000 lbs
16,000 lbs
8,000 lbs
PLASTIC
5,000-7,000 LBS
PAPER
35,000-50,000 LBS
CARDBOARD 50,000-60,000 LBS
WOOD
60,000-70,000 LBS
HEAVY METALS ELECTRONICS 35,000-45,000 LBS
4,000-5,000 LBS
Rebekah Markillie • THE BEACON
LIVING • 6 How to ace your midterms It’s going to be a stressful week, but our tips for exam success can help.
SPORTS • 16 Are LGBTQ athletes welcome at UP? Some student athletes find a welcoming environment, while others suggest there may be problems of acceptance.
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
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New club aims to celebrate Asian-American identities By Karen Garcia THE BEACON
Although it’s still in the process of being declared an official club, the newly formed Asian Student Union (ASU) looks to create an environment where people of all Asian ethnicities can unite and feel represented. Even though the club won’t officially contribute to Diversity Dialogues Week, founding members of ASU will attend events throughout the week to share their points of view as Asian-American students. At ASU’s first meeting on Feb. 18, students discussed the vision for what the ASU’s mission could be. “We are separate individuals who just so happen to be Asian,” junior Danielle Villanueva, one of the ASU’s founders, said. “We all have all different opinions about UP’s community, about social justice
“
I don’t think people realize the extent to which other communities have been marginalized by dominant society. Focusing on black vs. white relations doesn’t invite other to the conversation.
Jill Pham Junior
issues, and you can’t really have a successful club that’s homogenized.” According to Institutional Research, 11.8 percent of the 3,608 undergraduate students at UP identify as Asian or Pacific Islander.
Villanueva said that although the University’s Filipino Club, Hawaii Club, and Guam Club have provided a communities for some students, there is a need for an all-encompassing Asian culture club that addresses the larger issue of being an Asian student at UP. Junior Jill Pham, who first came up with the idea of establishing ASU, wants the new club to honor AsianAmerican student voices on campus. “As an Asian-American, I don’t feel valued on this campus. I feel like I’m used as a token, perhaps,” Pham said. “Professors assume we don’t need help because we’re the “model minority,” and our perspectives as Asian students often get swept under the rug.” Pham also looks forward to ASU starting a discussion about what diversity on campus means, and noted that racial discussions often make diversity a literally black and white topic of discussion. “I don’t think people realize the extent to which other communities of color have been marginalized by dominant society,” Pham said. “Focusing on black vs. white relations doesn’t invite others to the conversation.” One of Pham’s main goals for the club is to encourage Asian-American students to talk about their experiences in campus where they are minorities. Pham said that discussing these subjects
Parker Shoaff • THE BEACON
Members of the newly formed Asian Student Union meet to discuss a vision for the club. The club, which recently submitted paperwork to become an official club on campus, aims to celebrate the experiences of Asian-American students at UP. within the Asian-American community is complicated, because Asian-Americans are traditionally one of the least politically active minority groups. As a social work major, Pham’s main intention is to make the ASU a platform from which to address social justice issues such as racial oppression and mental illness within the Asian-American community. Freshman Christina Kim first came to UP hoping to find an Asian-American community larger than that in
her hometown of Hillsboro, Oregon. Kim decided to attend ASU’s first meeting in order to get more involved on campus, but doubts whether the club will be able to make students unite or raise awareness of issues. “It’s a really cool and interesting idea,” Kim said. “But I think that a lot of the problems are too deeply ingrained to be solved, and that a lot of the unfortunate experiences I’ve had have taught me to be stronger.” Villanueva believes that
above all, ASU should serve as a place for students’ input to be heard, whatever it may be. “If we are trying to attempt social justice within UP or anywhere else, we have to start with understanding ourselves,” Villanueva said. “I want to see other outlooks, I feed off of that. I can’t wait to see how dynamic we can be.”
Contact Staff Writer Karen Garcia at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @garciaka17
Moceri appointed new nursing dean Joane Moceri will be the School of Nursing’s new dean, University President Fr. Mark Poorman announced Wednesday. Moceri arrived on The Bluff in 2012 to serve as a professor and became the associate dean for the undergraduate nursing program in spring 2013. The Provost began a search for a new dean after Joanne Warner, who has been a professor and administrator at UP, announced last semester she would retire. Moceri will begin her new job in July when Warner steps down.
Photo courtesy of UP Marketing
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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. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
3
UP goes mobile By Jacob Fuhrer THE BEACON After years of planning and numerous requests, UP will launch its own mobile app for students and staff. Working with a third party development company, Information Services helped design an app that flaunts the unique Pilot feel with a purple-and-white color scheme. The app will allow users
News: News and informational releases will be pulled straight from the RSS feed on the homepage of up.edu.
Admissions: Learn about the admissions process, contact counselors with questions and check out FAQ about UP admissions.
Bulletin: The campus catalogue allows you to browse different courses and information about majors offered at UP.
Emergency #: In a pinch, tap this icon to find emergency contact information provided by Public Safety. Find out if there’s a snow day or if classes are canceled.
to get UP news updates, check grades and get directions to buildings on campus, among other things. Although it’s still in beta and there is no set release date, the app is expected to be available for download in March. It will first be available on iOS and Android, with a Windows Phone version slated for a later release.
Maps: Zoom in or spin around to see the different pins that mark each building on campus. Tapping a pin will activate the GPS and guide you to class.
Events: Here you can find UP’s master calendar, which until now has been accessible primarily through PilotsUP. Tapping on an event will add it to your calendar in Google or on Outlook for easing viewing later on.
The Beacon: Tapping The Beacon will prompt you to download or open the recently launched Beacon mobile app. From there, find all the news, sports, living stories and opinions that you normally find in The Beacon’s print edition.
ASUP: Jump straight to the newly launched ASUP website by tapping ASUP and find information about student government.
Bus: Tapping the bus icon will direct you to Public Safety’s website containing information about public transportation to let you know the bus schedule.
Dining: Find out what’s for dinner by visiting Bon Appétit’s website directly from the app. Portland Pilots: Download or open the Pilot’s Athletics app to get game times and results and learn about players and coaches.
Library: Download or open the UP library app to get information about the catalog, request a book, or talk to a librarian. Contact Staff Writer Jacob Fuhrer at fuhrer17@up.edu. Twitter: @jacobfuhrer
Res Life moves into new home
Fr. Wheeler to return to teaching full-time Fr. Art Wheeler, director of Studies Abroad and assistant to the provost, will leave his position to return to the history faculty full-time, University President Fr. Mark Poorman announced Wednesday. Although Wheeler has remained a member of the history department, he has not taught full-time since 1995, when he took the helm of the Office of Studies Abroad. Under his leadership, the Office of Studies Abroad has added many programs, and about one third of graduating UP students have studied abroad. The Provost’s office will
David DiLoreto • THE BEACON
Office of Residence Life employees celebrate the first day for the new Associate Director for Housing, Sarah Meiser, in their new office. Last weekend, Residence Life moved from their office in Buckley Center to 123 Tyson Hall.
Photo courtesy of UP Marketing
undertake a national search to find someone to fill his role.
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THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
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Reading fair opens up a ‘universe’ of possibilities for local children By Rachel Rippetoe THE BEACON More than 100 kids and their parents gathered Sunday in the Chiles Center to knock over bowling pins and jump through hula hoops, eat cookies, talk to author Raymond Macalino, and most importantly, read. Members of Kappa Delta Phi, the School of Education’s honor society, put on their annual reading fair for elementary-aged students in the neighborhood. The event was geared towards children in grades ranging from preschool to 6th grade, and the point was to get kids involved in reading. The fair allowed the children, especially those with low-income families, to take home books for free. “I guess the best part is getting the kids excited about something,” sophomore, Matthew Nelson, a Kappa Delta Phi officer and reading fair co-chair said. “When they find these books and get excited to go home and open them up, that’s what is really rewarding for me.” The reading fair has been an annual tradition at UP for more than 20 years, making it an anticipated family event for many UP neighboring households. “A lot of people come in and say, ‘This has been my 5th time coming. We love coming here every year.’” Nelson said. “It’s just a great experience for everyone.” Although Kappa Delta Phi gave away books for free,
Photo courtesy of Shellie Adams
Author Raymond Macalino reads to children at a reading fair in the Chiles Center on Sunday. The reading fair was put on by Kappa Delta Phi, the School of Education's honors society. participants did have to go through a series of activities in order to gain their book. This year’s theme was “space,” so each child was given a “space exploration log” in which they would collect stamps from each activity they completed. Five stamps would earn them a free book. Sophomore Abby Neville, who worked alongside Nelson to coordinate the event, says a lot of work goes into planning an activity like the reading fair. “We spent a lot of time on
Pinterest trying to find spacerelated crafts and activities,” Neville said. “And then just figuring out logistically what we needed for supplies and what we already had. And kind of what is developmentally appropriate for different ages.” One of the most difficult challenges Neville and Nelson faced was trying to find an author to come to the event and talk with the kids. Nelson said in the last few years, the honor society was not able to find an author to
participate in the event. But Neville and Nelson were determined, and got author Raymond Macalino to attend this year. According to Nelson, Macalino, author of children’s books such as “What if an Alligator Ate an Avalanche?” comes from a family of authors. His wife – and even his children in the 2nd and 4th grade – have had their work published. Neville says that the eight months of heavy preparation
for the event were worth it to see the reaction of all the participants. “I think whenever you can get a kid really engaged and really excited about something,” Neville said. “There’s something that’s so magical about that.”
Contact Staff Writer Rachel Rippetoe at rippetoe18@up.edu. Twitter: @rachelrippz
Recycle: around 100 tons recycled each year Continued from page 1 both he and the department’s student worker, senior Bryan O’Dowd, who helps pick up the paper recycling, said there are occasional mix-ups, which can cause delays in the pick-up process. “It’s pretty good for the most part,” O’Dowd said. “But
it would be nice if people would think before throwing their pizza boxes in the paper bin.” Something like a juice container or a half-full coffee cup can seriously slow down the department’s pace, because an entire bin might get soaked, meaning time is wasted cleaning it out. Since Smith, O’Dowd, and the other full-time worker, Nicholas
Forrester, try to work their way across the entire campus every few days, that’s a meaningful setback. At the end of the day, however, the recycling department runs smoothly. And although Eckert doesn’t have records from 15 years ago when the program was expanding, they’ve reported a sharp drop off in garbage
disposal cost. In the future, more bins may be added to empty stretches of campus, but Smith said most won’t even notice – and that’s the goal. He and his small department will keep making their rounds quietly, keeping the program rolling along. “It’s a fun job,” Smith said. “I’m one of the strange people in this world who actually likes
CRIME LOG Feb. 20, 1:19 p.m. Student living off campus, reported that their vehicle, that was parked in the area of the 5300 block of Syracuse, was vandalized. Someone had thrown a rock into the passenger side window. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle. A voluntary statement was taken and the student was referred to Portland Police. Feb. 21, 12:55 a.m. Officers responded to a report of unlawful noise on the 7300 block of N. Van Houten. The party was shutdown, and renters were cited for being in violation of Portland Noise Ordinance. Feb. 23, 5:52 p.m. Student came into Public Safety to report that their bike had been stolen. The person lives in the area of the 7400 block of Hodge Ave. A voluntary statement was taken and the person was referred to Portland Police to make a report.
FOR THE FULL REPORT upbeacon.com > News > UP Crime & Fire Log
doing this, because I know I’m doing something good. It’s always nice walking around campus, meeting different people.”
Contact Copy Editor Nastacia Voisin at nastacia.voisin@gamil.com. Twitter: @nastaciavoisin
ON CAMPUS Alice McDermott Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series Thursday, Feb. 26: Renowned novelist and essayist, Alice McDermott speaks in the Buckley Center Auditorium at 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. BYU Thursday, Feb. 26: 7 p.m. in the Chiles Center.
Full Circle
Thursday, Feb. 26: The theater department presents a comedy about the events surrounding the removal of the divide between East and West Berlin. 7:30 p.m. in the Mago Hunt Arts Center Theather. $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Shows again Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m.
Pilots After Dark
Friday, Feb. 27: 10 p.m. at the Pilot House in the Cove, learn Indian dance moves and listen to DJ Prashant’s Indian-inspired electronic dance music followed by a live performance from funk band, Secret Sauce, at 11:30 p.m.
Bluffoons Late Night
Friday, Feb. 27: 10:30 p.m. at the Mago Hunt Arts Center Recital Hall watch late night improv comedy. $2 per person and $3 per pair. Doors open at 10:15 p.m.
Pilots After Dark Student Group Event
Saturday, Feb. 28: 10 p.m. at the Pilot House in The Cove play late night bingo and win prizes.
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
NEWS
Diversity Dialogues Week to celebrate culture next week
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Who Am I?
“Black Girl in Suburbia” Documentary Screening
Latino Student Struggle
6-8 p.m. Shiley 123
6-9 p.m. Shiley 309
Christie Hall
International Student Services
Autism: An Insider’s Perspective
Movie Screening of “Dear White People”
Campus Connector Monday Madness: International Diversity Dialogue
6-7 p.m. Christie Basement Latin Dance Club
8-9 p.m. Christie Basement Gay Straight Partnership
CPB
8-10 p.m. BC Auditorium
THURSDAY
#blacklivesmatter @UP
Black Lives Matter Panel
Hope & Change: Celebrating Gay Pride Every Day
6-8 p.m. St. Mary’s Lounge
WEDNESDAY
6-8 p.m. St. Mary’s Lounge
Student Diveristy Coordinators
Learn How to Latin Dance 7:15-8:15 p.m. BC 163 TransActive Workshop
5:30-6:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Lounge
International Club
All Around the Islands
4-5 p.m. St. Mary’s Lounge
Feminist Discussion CPB Group Movie Screening of “Dear
Understanding Gender & Sexuality
6-7:20 p.m. BC 163
Accounting team heads to New York for national competition
ASUP
7-8 p.m. St. Mary’s Lounge
Black Student Union MEChA
5
White People”
8-10 p.m. BC Auditorium
My Life in Holy Cross A Conversation with Holy Cross Religious about their Life and Ministry
Features
Fr. Claude Pomerleau, CSC Fr. Pat Hannon, CSC and Fr. Mark DeMott, CSC Tuesday, March 3 at 7:15 PM Executive Boardroom (Commons) Everyone is welcome to attend
An Event in Association with Pope Francis’s Declaration of 2015 as a Year of Consecrated Life For ADA accommodations or questions, contact Fr. Jeff Allison, CSC, at allisonj@up.edu
Photo courtesy of Erika Schlotfeldt
Erika Schlotfeldt (from left), Courtney Lemon, Emily Glaser and Jessie Robinson celebrate their win at the regional KPMG Accounting Competition in Chicago. The team is competing in New York Feb. 26-27 in the KPMG National Case Competition. UP's KPMG Accounting team is in New York today and tomorrow competing in the national KPMG National Case Competition. The team, which comprises of seniors Erika Schlotfeldt and Jessie Robinson and juniors Emily Glaser and Courtney Lemon, took first place at the regional competition in Chicago last month against teams from large schools
such as the University of Washington. If the team wins the national competition, they will advance to the KPMG International Case Competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in April. In KPMG case competitions, teams are given hypothetical problems and asked to present a solution to judges. -Philip Ellefson
Living
FEB. 26, 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.
How to ace your midterms (with science) By Rebekah Markillie THE BEACON Here’s how you can ace your midterms (using science)... The brain likes creating and recognizing patterns. This is a good thing. Patterns allow our brains to package away familiar information which frees up more space to think about other things and to be more efficient with energy. This is why we can think about our weekend plans while doing the laundry. These patterns also indicate a learned behavior. What is learning exactly? Learning occurs when patterns are broken. Learning happens as we try to process something new. When you can successfully predict or anticipate the outcome of a pattern - trying to understand a new concept - that means you’ve learned it. When someone shows you a faster way to fold clothes, the new technique is unexpected. As you practice this new method, it no longer becomes “new.” When the new method becomes just as easy as the old method, it’s learned. Most fundamental learning comes down to a phenomenon called the spacing effect. The spacing effect means that things are learned better if they occur once over many days instead of many times in one day.
Here’s scientific proof that cramming isn’t effective. What’s happening in the brain? All information gathered from your senses triggers communication between neurons. This communication isn’t static - it can be manipulated and changed. At a cellular level, learning is a change in how neurons interact. Through learning, they become better at communicating after a specific stimulus. When a stimulus is repeated over time, the neurons are able to make longer lasting changes that create more effective communication across that pathway. This means something new has been learned. How does this apply to studying? The spacing effect combined with creating unexpected stimuli. Quizzing yourself is an unexpected stimulus. It serves as a learning gauge - how many ways can you understand a concept? The more ways you can access a concept the better it will stick. By studying early, that allows more time for processing - more time to improve communication between neurons. Only when you can successfully predict the right answer, on repeated trials, can you say you’ve learned it.
Rebekah Markillie• THE BEACON
Study Tips:
1. Create multiple points of entry to a new concept by using different methods of
processing. Try drawing pictures, explaining it to your roommate or making a flow chart.
2. Go over class notes at the end of every day - refreshing your memory. The first response to a new stimulus is the strongest. By riding that drift, you’ll remember more of the lecture the next time you come back to study.
3. Kill two birds with one stone: Make practice tests. This creates more unexpected stimuli and it also provides another way to think about the material.
KDUP DJ: Henry Hark ‘10 ,000 lakes’ By Emily Neelon THE BEACON
Q: What was the inspiration behind the name “10,000 Lakes?”
A: I’m from Minnesota,
so I wanted to relate it back to Minnesota. I thought it sounded cool.
Q: How did you get involved with KDUP?
A: I wanted to do a show
when I came to college and I saw KDUP when I first got here. And I said, ‘I’m going to get a show there.’ And I did.
Q: What’s your favorite part about working for KDUP and hosting “10,000 Lakes?”
A: Especially since all the
freshmen are in triples this year, having a whole room to yourself just feels really incredible. Being able to just play music as loud as you can in that room is so nice. It’s therapeutic and energizing at the same time.
Q: What kind of music do you play?
A: I play a lot of hip-hop, a
lot of folk, some rock. I play whatever, literally all the
genres and then one Minnesota band or artist an hour.
Q: What are some of the
Minnesotan artists you play?
A: There’s a new group
called The Standard which are pretty good. They’re a hip-hop collective from Minneapolis. I play obviously a lot of Bob Dylan, because you have to. Any of the artists under the Rhymesayers.”
Q: Why should students tune in to “10,000 Lakes?”
A: It’s awesome. It’s an hour
of good music. I promise. They should listen to all of the KDUP shows because they’re hilarious and awesome in their own right. Every single one of them is fun to listen to.
Q: What’s your favorite
concert you’ve ever been to?
A: When I was 16, [I saw] the Wu-Tang Clan in Minneapolis and that was insane.
Q: Who’s your favorite band or artist?
A: Right now I’m listening to
The Hold Steady a lot which is a rap band from St. Paul, Minnesota. I also found a Queen Latifa CD that I’ve been playing a lot. THE BEACON
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
LIVING
Calling it:
Leslie Knope: Hero
TV review
Rachel Rippetoe• THE BEACON
“We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work, or waffles, friends, and work, but work is third.” I was gifted these words by a dear fictional friend of mine, one I had to say goodbye to last Tuesday: Leslie Knope. For those unfortunate souls that are ignorant to the masterpiece that is “Parks and Recreation,” Leslie Knope is an extremely exuberant government employee in Pawnee, Indiana, played by Amy Poehler. Knope isn’t just a quirky character on a TV show. She’s not just a Carrie Bradshaw or a Monica Geller. In a time where cynicism and apathy is becoming the norm, Leslie Knope is a beacon of light. Today we often perceive a cultural divide pertaining to the government. There are those who have little hope for the U.S. government because of its deep-rooted flaws. And then there are those who are blind to those flaws, determined to keep things the way they are. As a show about optimism, friendship and determination comes to a close, it’s only fair to pay tribute to the biggest exception to this rift. She’s short, she’s blonde, she puts sugar on pasta, and she finds turtles very condescending: Leslie Knope. We are all at a stage now where adulthood is rearing its ugly head and the expectation for our generation to clean up the mess of previous generations is getting heavier and heavier. As we look to the future, Leslie Knope, despite her fictionality, despite her avid
Harry Potter obsession, even despite her unhealthy love of Joe Biden, is the person to look to. Knope has lots of weird quirks but it’s her unconditional love of Pawnee
“
It is Knope’s unconditional love, which on the surface seems irrational, unrealistic, and strange, that makes Knope the hero our generation needs right now.
Rachel Rippetoe freshman
that makes her who she is. It is this unconditional love, which on the surface seems irrational, unrealistic, and strange, that makes Knope the hero our generation needs right now. Pawnee isn’t just a town, it’s an accumulation of everything wrong with this country. This tiny armpit town of Indiana has it all: obesity, ignorance, sexism, racism and racoon infestations. Knope would have to be a nutjob or maybe a Fox News anchor to love a place like Pawnee, but she’s not. She believes strongly in female empowerment, in improving the health and wellbeing of citizens and in saving the environment. It makes you wonder why she doesn’t just move to Portland. Yet, Knope doesn’t love Pawnee because it agrees with her all the time. In fact, people inside and outside City Hall fight her every step of the way. Just like a parent, she gets tired and frustrated when the town is giving her hell, but she takes a deep breath and keeps fighting. Over the course of the show,
I’ve watched Knope come to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with her, not everyone is going to like her, and there is nothing she can do about it. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not impenetrable. She’s stubborn and she wants people to like her just like we all do. The difference is that even when they don’t, even when they recall her out of office, protest her policies, spread vicious lies about her, and humiliate her, she doesn’t give up. We can all take a colorcoded binder full of pointers from Knope. Being a young and starry-eyed American isn’t easy. Absolutism is growing and people in government especially are getting harder to relate to and even harder to listen to. Yet Knope has love and hope for Pawnee because it’s her home. She shows us that we can have that too. So thank you, Leslie Knope. Thank you for showing me how important it is to have supportive female friendships. Thank you giving me someone - with a waffle affinity equal to mine- to look up to. Thank you for showing me that I can be informed and aware, yet still face challenges in life with optimism. Most importantly, thank you for teaching me to never give up on the people or places I call home. As you once said to Ann Perkins, Leslie, “You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, and powerful musk ox.” We love you and we like you. Goodbye.
In 140 characters or less:
Leslie Knope is LITERALLY the greatest hero of our generation.
7
Heart Beat conversations about relationships with Cassie Sheridan
When I left for Salzburg my sophomore year I couldn’t wait to start what people continuously told me would be the best year of my life. It was, but it also was one of the most challenging, difficult and introspective years I’ve ever experienced. Going into my study abroad experience I thought I’d dance ‘til dawn, have no worries and live with ease. I had no idea that my relationship with myself would change. Even while having “the best time of my life” surrounded by amazing people, incredible food and awe-inspiring experiences, I couldn’t escape myself. My time abroad forced me to recognize that no matter how far I traveled, no matter what I experienced, I would still go to bed and wake up every night with only my thoughts. I can’t tell you a pictureperfect story of suddenly “knowing’ myself after a lone walk. That’s never what happens. It was instead a steady increase in my ability to be not only physically but also mentally alone, and still be okay. Not just okay, but to actually enjoy my own company. Previous to this, I wasn’t good at being alone. I used to fill the cracks of my selfhood in with other people and spent years of my life being terrified of creeping thoughts at 2 a.m. The best thing I did for every relationship in my life was to spend more time with myself. And that is the truest sentence I’ve ever written. Last Saturday, I had a conversation under a starlit sky on a swing-set while eating Heavenly Doughnuts about taking breaks from incredibly intimate and intense and everything relationships. About how scary it can be to say goodbye, but also how necessary it is for both individuals to learn who they are outside of that emotional bond. Growing apart and coming back together is the foundation
on which I have built some of the most incredible relationships in my life. Taking a break and growing apart has also been a dagger in a few I thought I wanted forever. “Taking a break” often gets a bad rap (thanks Ross and Rachel). If your concept of “taking a break” is to treat your newfound freedom like an all-you-can-sample sex buffet, great! Just don’t ignore your thoughts when you realize the options are becoming stale and mundane. That’s the moment for self-reflection. The other side of the “taking a break” dichotomy is the oft cliched “taking a break to find yourself” – which can be a powerful prospect when done correctly. Either way you want to live it (sometimes it’s a cocktail of both) it has the potential to be the most positive thing for yourself. Sometimes you realize your ex was terrible for you, and sometimes you realize they were everything you want. If you don’t make the effort to learn the sounds of your own mind, how are you truly ever going to understand what it’s telling you to do? I’m unsure if I actually know my wants and my desires better than I did before Salzburg, but I know that I am no longer afraid to listen. Saying goodbye to the person you thought was everything in an effort to learn more about yourself can be the most terrifying gut busting experience, but it can also be the most gratifying. Self-reflection doesn’t have to happen through meditation or yoga or long moonlit walks – all things I am personally terrible at. Just choosing to lay in bed with yourself, instead of with Netflix or the Internet or your cellphone or a person whispering in your ear, will force you to listen. Try it sometime. It may change your most important relationship – the one with yourself – for the better.
African American Read-In
Last Thursday, multicultural services, the English department and the Office of Student Activities hosted the seventh annual African American Read-in. The readin is a celebration of reading, listening and sharing-both food and words. During the ReadIn, students and faculty shared their favorite pieces of AfricanAmerican poetry and prose over cultural food. The featured speaker, Avel Gordly, is an activist, community organizer and former Oregon politician. The first African American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996, Gordly
read from her memoir “Remembering the Power of Words.” Gordly is currently a black studies professor at PSU. Fittingly, words and their power were the central message of Gordly. A line from her novel that she slowly read: “Words carry so much feeling, history, meaning. “Words carry the power to inspire. They can also inflict great pain.” Although the audience was disappointingly small, the writings were exceptionally powerful and a beautiful celebration of AfricanAmerican liturature. -Lydia Laythe
For a full review of this event visit: www.upbeacon.com
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
LIVING
8
Students go cosmic! (tubing) Last Thursday, the Campus Program Board (CPB) took students on an adventure to Mt. Hood Skibowl for an evening of cosmic tubing, complete with laser lights and DJ. Despite less-than -stellar snow conditions all season on Mt. Hood, the mountain still had enough snow for the event to go on without a hitch. According to CPB director Sarah Berger, the attendance was estimated at about 300 students. From top left: Ashley Peterson, Janina Dukart, Nancy Walsh, Keegan Dillon, Madison Caley, Jillian Blanchette, Molly McSweyn and Renae Perry.
Molly McSweyn• THE BEACON
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND GARAVENTA CENTER
Women of the Bible Concert
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30PM Chapel of Christ the Teacher Free and open to the public
New works by Cynthia
Gerdes and David DeLyser Sopranos Nicole Hanig and Rebecca Hays Pianists Jeffrey Peterson and Susan McDaniel
ADA accommodations or information: Karen Eifler at eifler@up.edu or (503)943-8014
Image: Ruth and Naomi. Donald Jackson, Copyright 2006, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN, USA.
LIVING
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Junior Parents and Families Weekend
All photos courtesy of Bob Kearns
This past weekend campus was packed with parents, families and friends of junior students. There were many events, mostly involving food, to honor and celebrate the families of the junior class, while congratulating juniors for making it this far in their college careers. Besides events on campus, many juniors showed their families around Portland their Instagram feeds, using the slogan #JPW, were full of family and friends eating Salt & Straw and looking at sunsets.
As per Junior Parent’s and Families Weekend tradition, many juniors hosted bougie house parties where they taught their parents to play drinking games against their housemate’s parents. Some ofage-juniors even took their parents to have the typical Twilight Room experience. -Cassie Sheridan
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Faith & Fellowship
feb. 26, 2015 • UPbeacon.com
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Emily Neelon Faith & Fellowship Editor neelon17@up.edu
“A Given Life” New series gives life to University Archives
By Rachel Rippetoe The Beacon There is sign between Waldschmidt Hall and Christie Hall that several students may walk by every day but never notice. The sign is inscripted with the words “Rigley Field” along with a dedication to Fr. Maurice Rigley and a Shakespeare quote. The sign, like many things on this campus, has a story. Fr. Jeff Schneibel, University archivist, is determined to tell it. Schneibel and Carolyn Piatz Connolly, the museum coordinator, are working on the University Archives’ new Wordpress series called “A Given Life.” It focuses on religious figures in the University of Portland’s history, such as Fr. Rigley, who affected UP in a positive way. “We want to tell stories about people who were here, but because they were here, there were these ripples that happened elsewhere,”
Schneibel said. Both Schneibel and Connolly started working on the University Archives’ blog last January. They both enjoy making a digitalized and more accessible outlet for the museum to share its most interesting findings. While Schneibel sees the blog posts as small feature articles about the most interesting tidbits he and Connolly find in their work, Connolly sees the blog as an opportunity to digitalize the archives. “The University Museum sets up historical displays in the Museum and in display cases on campus,” Connolly said. “The blog is another way of doing that.” There have been three installments of the series thus far. The first article focused on Rigley, an English teacher at UP back in the 1940s and 1950s. According Schneibel, Rigley was very involved in
the University outside of the classroom. He was the sponsor of numerous clubs and was one of the founders of The Blanchet House of Hospitality in downtown Portland. Through all his involvement, Rigley faced one minor problem: He didn’t have an office. Eventually, Rigley set up an outdoor office on a bench in between Christie Hall and Waldschmidt Hall where students could find him if they wanted to talk about class or various clubs. His students affectionately named the patch of grass containing Rigley’s office “Rigley Field.” Fr. Schneibel says that this is ultimately the point of the “A Given Life” series, pointing out the interesting history behind many things that go unnoticed around campus. “We ask ourselves, how can we make people see something that they see every day but don’t actually see?”Schneibel said. “What we don’t want
to do is tell stories that just say ‘Wow, aren’t we great.’ We’re trying to tell stories that incorporate or illustrate the values of the university.” Schneibel and Connelly have both seen an increase in interest for the a rchives and museum since the blog’s launch. The blog is especially useful for reaching out to alumni. According to Connelly, UP alumni often comment on posts with additional research questions or with details to add to the stories. Schneibel says this expanded outreach is why he enjoys working on the blog. He wants to continue to focus segments of “A Given Life” on the University’s long-standing relationship with Holy Cross. The University has had 417 Holy Cross priests work on campus through its history. Schneibel wants to center the series on the personal side of this relationship. This is why he chose to
highlight Holy Cross priests Rev. George L. Dum and Arthur M. Schoenfeldt for the next two segments of “A Given Life.” Schneibel says that these men embody the purpose of the series: To shed light on the people who have spent the majority of their lives at UP working to make a difference in the community. “We understand that the school is more than a series of classrooms,” Schneibel said. “We want to put some of the pictures and the flesh from yesterday into people’s consciousness today.” Contact Staff Writer Rachel Rippetoe at rippetoe18@up.edu. Twitter: @rachelrippz
Check out “A Given Life” at https:// wordpress.up.edu/ museum/category/agiven-life/
The Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series presents ALICE MCDERMOTT Author of Charming Billy Thursday, February 26, 2015 7:00 p.m. Buckley Center Auditorium Free and open to all up.edu/schoenfeldtwriters Alice McDermott comes to UP as the 2015 Spring Schoenfeldt Visiting Writer. Her book, Charming Billy, won the National Book Award in 1998 and
was chosen as the inaugural book for ReadUP.
READING TONIGHT For more information contact bdoyle@up.edu 503.943.8225
Sponsored by
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Opinion
FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Lydia Laythe Opinion Editor layth16@up.edu
An atheist on The Bluff
FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Maintaining a free and open Internet
Because we’ve grown up with the Internet, we often take for granted how easy it is to access the Web. When you get on the Internet today, you can access Netflix, YouTube, the New York Times, Facebook, or your cousin’s blog with equal ease. Even if campus Wi-Fi is a little slow at times, we can count on making it to any site we choose relatively quickly. This is because website data is processed equally. But this convenience we take for granted is not guaranteed. To put it simply, here’s how the Internet works: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) move information across the Internet so you can access it on your computer or any device. Right now, these ISPs view all data the same. This is called net neutrality. Net neutrality means there are no toll roads or “fast lanes” for Internet access. But this could change. The open and censor-free Internet we rely on everyday is at risk. Your Internet company may soon have federally supported power to slow access to any website - thereby giving ISPs the power to block or censor what content they think you should see.
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates things like radio, TV, and the Internet, is voting on redefining Internet providers which could change this equal access to all websites. If they were to be redefined, ISPs could slow access to certain websites or provide a “fast lane” for companies
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The internet is the last platform for uncensored communication free from political agendas and economic bias. As people who use the Internet every day, we should consier how this issue affects our daily lives and how our lives could change if net neutrality didn’t exist.
that can pay more. This means that bigger, more powerful businesses could buy “fast lane” access, forcing small startups into the “slow lane.” In doing so, they’d censor certain content while promoting others. Popular websites like Facebook and YouTube were once small startups. This polarization of the Internet, this creation of a
metaphorical “slow” and “fast lane,” would privilege the already-established companies, allow political agendas to influence Internet access and could inhibit the innovation that the Internet is so famous for fostering. How could this happen? In 2010 the FCC issued the Open Internet order to enforce net neutrality. But in January a federal court rejected most of the order because (for various reasons) the FCC lacks the authority to enforce the order. That means the FCC may not be able to protect and maintain net neutrality. Because of this ruling, the threat of losing our free Internet is very real and very dangerous. If the FCC votes for the reclassification of ISPs, they will become telecommunication services rather than information services. As telecommunication services, ISPs would be public utilities like telephone services or the radio. Then the FCC would have the authority to regulate ISPs and net neutrality could be protected. Without net neutrality, established companies paying
I felt uncomfortable and insecure. My hands fidgeted restlessly as I tried to keep my eyes trained forward. “I’ve made Molly McSweyn Freshman a mistake,” my mind kept repeating. “A stupid and immature mistake.” My breath hitched as I took my next step forward, crossed my arms over my chest, and dropped my gaze. A prayer was whispered, my forehead was traced with a light touch, and it was over.
for the “fast lane” or those affiliated with an ISP would have an unfair advantage online. The Beacon, or any other website, could be slowed or blocked to make room for the “fast lane” access or to censor conflicting opinions. While the reclassification of ISPs does not solve all net neutrality issues, it is an important and necessary step in maintaining a free and open Internet. The Internet is the last platform for uncensored communication, free from political agendas and economic bias. As people who use the Internet every day, we should consider how this issue affects us and how our lives could change if net neutrality didn’t exist. If we want to protect net neutrality, and all it allows, we must speak up. Whether it’s calling Congress, writing an email to an important decisionmaker, or just talking to your friends - raising awareness and educating yourself about net neutrality is the first step towards keeping the Internet censor-free.
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I am not defined by what I believe or do not believe. And this school is not dfined by its religious affiliation. I have a place here that allows me to continue to foster my own opinions and beliefs, without being forced into someone else’s mindset.
Molly McSweyn Freshman
The discomfort of being an atheist at a Catholic university at times can be almost unbearable. I was raised in a household that taught me to search for my own opinions and to own what I believe in. Although my dad is a staunch atheist and my mom is what I like to call “a quiet Catholic,” I never felt forced to believe in something. My mom is not a weekly church-goer, but she has kept her Catholic beliefs throughout her life. She shared these beliefs with me as I grew, taking me to some Masses and discussing her upbringing in a Catholic home and school system. My dad also shared his
See ATHEIST page 13 Lydia Laythe • THE BEACON
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THE BEACON Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Katie Dunn
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OPINION
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Pilots vs. BYU
Tonight at 7:00 PM
Student Appreciation Night!!! Giveaways Includes: 47 in.LG Smart TV 3 Kindle Fires Snowboard 4 Beats Headphones PlayStation 4 2 Skateboards ... And Much More *All Prizes will be raffled off. Make sure to pick up a raffle ticket at the student entrance. Must be present at the game to win.
Pilots vs. San Diego Saturday at 1:00 pm
Senior Day for 6 Pilots! Plus Win a trip for two to Hawai’i in Halftime Paper Airplane Toss and a Shoot for Cash - $1,050 Final Regular Season Game of the Year!!
OPINION
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Atheist: One student’s reflection on faith Continued from page 11
opinions with me. I began to understand what religion meant to him and why he had never found God. I did not start to think about my own opinion on religion until I entered high school. I struggled with it. I was unsure about everything that had to do with spirituality. Because of my hesitation and confusion, I decided to say that I was agnostic. But I wasn’t agnostic, I had simply been scared to admit that I did not believe in a higher power. I wanted to, I really did, but I knew deep down that I didn’t believe in God. When I began to look at colleges, religion did not even cross my mind. For some reason, I figured the religious side of a college would not impact me at all. It wasn’t until I attended the Mass at the Chiles Center during orientation weekend that struck me that I had decided to attend a Holy Cross University. That Mass shook me. I had no idea what to do with myself as I stood among the hundreds of new students and parents. I did not know what to say, where to look, or how to act. I felt completely and utterly out of place. And I felt wrong. It was an odd feeling that is hard to explain, but I felt almost as if I shouldn’t have been there because the people around me believed so deeply in something that literally had no place in my life. I left feeling like I had made
Nathan DeVaughn • THE BEACON
a mistake choosing a religious school. How could I attend a school that was so focused on something that I did not believe in? The semester started and I settled into college life, without thinking much about my experience at that Mass. I successfully pushed the spirituality of our school out of
my mind. Second semester began and a few of my friends asked me to attend a Sunday night service with them. Again, I did not know what to do with myself at all. I had to ask for help throughout the entire service. However, I left the Chapel of Christ the Teacher feeling different than I had at that first
Mass at the Chiles Center. I wasn’t angry or uncomfortable. I felt fine. And that is when I realized that it was okay for me to attend the University of Portland, to feel at home here, and to also be an atheist. I am not defined by what I believe or do not believe. And this school is not defined by
its religious affiliation. I have a place here that allows me to continue to foster my own opinions and beliefs, without being forced into someone else’s mindset. Molly McSweyn is a freshman communication studies major and can be reached at mcsweyn18@ up.edu.
FACES ON THE BLUFF What do you like to do when it’s nice outside?
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
Sky Nelson Junior Biology Major
Luke Kemp Junior Environmental Studies Major
Michaela Anderson Senior Finance Major
Ashley Asahina Junior English Major
Josh Kachmarik Freshman Elementary Education Major
“Ride my bike.”
“Play frisbee.”
“Do my homework outdoors.”
“Lie on the grass.”
“Be active.”
SPORTS
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Acceptance: Team attitudes towards sexuality vary Continued from page 16
returning players who establish a team culture, team goals and the locker room atmosphere. “At the beginning (of the year), coaches and players really try to set the stage for what it means to be a (UP sports) player,” Knoedler said. “Upperclassmen pass the tradition down. As underclassmen get older, they carry it on or change it if needed.” If someone came out on the soccer team, van der Velde said the team would respond positively. “If someone were to come out, we wouldn't treat him any differently.” van der Velde said. “We have a very good group of guys.” Eric Reveno, head coach of men’s basketball, said if someone came out on the basketball team, he’d try to support them, while consulting with the University and taking advantage of campus resources. “I think it could be an opportunity for growth for everybody, because I believe that’s the first part of helping players grow to become the best they can be,” Reveno said. “The truer [a player] is to himself and the closer he is to his teammates, the greater the potential for that team to be strong.” But not every team or every
player has the same mindset and culture. If someone came out on the baseball team, Michael Lucarelli, a senior baseball player, said the team would be uncomfortable. “Honestly, I don't feel like it'd be a safe spot,” Lucarelli said. “(But) nobody on our team is even close to being homosexual. I think that it would never even happen.” Lucarelli said he doesn’t judge people, but he still did not want to make it a comfortable space. “I think that everybody should be accepted,” Lucarelli said. “I just don't think there's any way (homosexuality) can be accepted… If you're going to come out, you're going to understand what the repercussions are.” Despite some athletes’ discomfort in addressing LGBTQ issues, others expressed a desire to make their team a comfortable atmosphere for everyone. Sydne Jacoby, a women’s rower, said she thinks every team should be inclusive. “If someone is uncomfortable (with a gay teammate) they should fix their problem with it because everyone deserves to feel welcome on campus especially in sports,” Jacoby said.
Changing Team Culture Many athletes said talking about sexual orientation can create a more inclusive athletic environment. “Raising awareness helps people understand the pain behind what has been created by society,” van der Velde said. “It helps people realize that and it gives people the opportunity to make a change.” According to Spencer, raising awareness also means changing the language people use. She intentionally asks her rowers about their “partners” instead of about their “boyfriends,” because she knows some people might identify as something other than straight. She also recognizes the possibility of making mistakes and the importance of being accountable. “If you do make a mistake or make a joke - because people still say 'Oh that's gay' - so if you say that, then have awareness and make a point to say you’re sorry. Like 'Oh man, that was just a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean to offend anybody. I'll find a better word to use,’” Spencer said. van der Velde also sees the importance of teammates holding each other accountable.
“Let’s say, when a gay joke does get thrown out, maybe (someone can say), 'Hey, that's not funny. Come on, that can really hurt someone,'” van der Velde said.(“...become the best they can be.”)
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Acceptance is a pride in being with your friends regardless of their sexuality and working towards a common goal.
Griffin Hay Junior
Having a cohesive, successful team means having teammates who feel comfortable around each other. Without mutual respect and acceptance, teamwork can suffer. “When you have daily experiences where people are subtly telling you that you're lesser or you're abnormal,” Hay said. “That can start to affect your performance. That can start to affect your ability to work as a teammate in a cohesive group to accomplish a goal.” Reveno said although he’s never addressed sexuality as a coach, he believes helping his players develop their personal identities is part of his job. “The reason I coach is to help players become the best they can be, to build a championship team and [help them] get a great education,” Reveno said.
“That first [reason] involves a lot of learning about yourself, learning about who you are. I’ve never thought about it in terms of someone’s sexuality – but it’s the whole process of figuring out who you are. You’re helping someone become...the truest person to themselves.” In the end, it’s all about finishing the race, winning the match, or making that last shot – and some athletes acknowledged that a person’s sexual orientation doesn’t change how well they’ll compete. “I think what people should focus on is the sport itself and the athletes competing, and trying to be the best that they are at their sport,” Lucarelli said. For Hay, the ideal world would operate under the mantra: Acceptance not tolerance. “Tolerance is a willingness to work beside somebody even though you have some obvious questions, you have some obvious doubts in their abilities,” Hay said. “Whereas, acceptance is a pride in being with your friends regardless of their sexuality and working towards a common goal.” Contact Opinions Editor Lydia Laythe at laythe16@up.edu. Twitter: @Lydia Laythe
SCOREBOARD Womens Basketball
The Pilots suffered back-to-back losses against Pacific 80-78 and St. Mary’s 62-58.
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Men’s Basketball
The Pilots winning streak was snapped as they fell to St. Mary’s 68-51 on Feb. 19 and to Pacific 79-77 in overtime on Feb. 21.
Baseball : at Sacramento State
The Pilots were 1-3 in their four game series against Sacramento State in Sacramento, Calif. on Feb. 20-22.
Men’s Tennis: at Washington
No. 53 UW handed the Pilots their first loss of the season. The Pilots fell to UW 2-7 on Friday, Feb 20. They came back to beat Montana 7-0 on Sunday, Feb. 22.
THE BEACON • FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
SPORTS
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Pilot in the spotlight Devin Kopas • Catcher • Sophomore By Molly McSweyn
How did you get started playing baseball? I got started in baseball because of my brother, he’s always been kind of my role model. I started when I was probably about six years old. Did you play any other sports growing up? I played basketball, football and I played water polo too. I played football a little bit in high school and then water polo my freshman year in high school. And then after that my baseball coach told me I should stick to baseball. Did you always know you wanted to play in college? When I was young I kind of just started off playing for fun. Then when I got into probably 6th and 7th grade my brother was getting looked at by a bunch of schools, and that got me really excited. So I decided I wanted to play too, further than just high school. How did you decide to come to UP? I got introduced to UP because one of the coaches saw me at a big tryout. They came up to me afterward and offered me a scholarship, and then said they’d like me to come visit. So I came up here and I loved everything about it, just the small school. And then I fell in love.
on it are extremely nice and there’s great chemistry. And that’s probably the main reason I just love playing baseball now. What is your favorite memory as a Portland Pilot? It was my walk off hit against Pacific last year. What are your hopes for this season, both personally and for the whole team? For me, just doing whatever I can to contribute to the team’s goal of trying to make the WCC tournament this year. As a team, our goal is to make the WCC tournament and see how far we can go. Have you been able to explore Portland very much? Yeah actually, every single baseball season my parents come up so we always go out whenever there’s not baseball. We go downtown and to Beaverton and all over. I love downtown the best so far. If your best friend had to describe you in 3 words, what would he or she say? Probably humorous, kind of crazy and down-to-earth.
What is your favorite part about playing here? My favorite part is probably just the team. I love the team. All the guys Courtesy of Devin Kopas
Villa dominates Derby Villa defeats Christie in 10-0 in annual Derby
By Jimmy Sheldrup THE BEACON The fabled Villa-Christie Derby took place on Feb. 21 on Merlo Field. It was a beautiful day, without a cloud in the sky. It was a perfect day for Villa Maria Hall and Christie Hall to compete in a friendly soccer match. Villa won the game 10-0, controlling the game about as well as a team could. Christie played hard, but to no avail. This was the fourth straight victory for Villa Maria. Derby winners take home the derby trophy, which debuted last year, and holds on
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There’s a lot of testosterone, we like to go after each other.
Connor Snashall Senior
to it until the next match the following year. The game was fairly physical, with both teams utilizing slide tackles and generally aggressive play styles. Saturday marked the fourth official year of the derby, as well as the second year it was played on Merlo Field. However, the rivalry goes back further than that. It was
about 25 years ago that the first competition between the two residence halls took place. Connor Snashall, a fouryear resident of Villa Maria, was also the head organizer of the Derby. He credits the fact that Villa Maria and Christie are the only all-male residence halls on campus for starting the tradition of the Derby. “There’s a lot of testosterone, we like to go after each other,” Snashall said. “It’s good, it’s fun. Lighthearted, for the most part.” When the Derby first began, it was a much more informal game. Sometimes football was played (as opposed to soccer) and it was never played on a the prestigious Merlo Field. But thanks to Villa Maria and Christie’s participation at offical UP soccer games, the Derby has an official home. “It’s a partnership with athletics really, we go to a lot of their games and we have a really good relationship with them,” Snashall said. “Villa and Christie are the two that are really known for going to the games. It’s a part of the relationship between the two of us.” This year the two residence
Hannah Baade • THE BEACON
Villa Maria forward manuvers the ball around Ca hristie defender in the Derby on Feb. 21. Villa defeated Christie 10-0. This is the fourth consecutive win for Villa. halls showed off their pride through tifos, or large sports banners. They were used to illustrate the dorms different logos. They could be seen on the eastern wall of Merlo, hanging next to the goal. Villa Maria also bought team jerseys, courtesy of Snashall, while Christie wore their green
dorm shirts. Despite the prevalent theme of aggressiveness and competition, there was an undertone of light-heartedness and sportsmanship. At the end of the day, the game is for fun. For every slide tackle, there is someone waiting to help up the fallen player.
As Snashall put it: “The goal of the game is always to just have fun.”
Contact Sports Writer Jimmy Sheldrup at sheldrup18@up.edu. Twitter: @CJSheldrup
Follow @UPBeaconSports on Twitter for live updates of games THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Womens Basketball at Brigham Young
The Pilots look to end the season on a high note as they visit BYU at 7 p.m. today and San Diego at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Mens Basketball vs Brigham Young
The men look to finish the season strong taking on BYU at home today at 7 p.m.and San Diego for senior day at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Women’s Tennis at Oregon
The women’s tennis team heads down to Eugene to take on Oregon on Friday, Feb. 27.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
The Pilots head to Seattle for the MPSF Championship Feb. 27-28, time TBA.
Baseball vs UC Davis The Pilots take on UC Davis at home at 2 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Sports
FEB. 26, 2015 • UPBEACON.COM
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Malika Andrews Sports Editor andrewsm17@up.edu
Seeking acceptance not tolerance LGBTQ athletes face unique challenges
By Lydia Laythe THE BEACON It was the spring of his senior year of high school and Griffin Hay was training for track season. “I was running and somebody from the shadows...yelled at me: ‘Hey Griffin!’” Hay said. “So I looked over and [waved] because that’s pretty typical, and then they just yelled, ‘Faggot!’ at me.” Hay was many things: track team captain, president of the choir and a straight-A student. He wrote poetry, went backpacking and skiing. He was comfortable with himself, but the slur still stung. “It broke me down,” Hay said. “I’m in the middle of this awful workout, I was having a hard enough time. And then all of a sudden I have this awful slur thrown at me…That was a rough day.” Now a junior at UP, Hay runs cross country for the Pilots.
The Problem Like many LGBTQ athletes, Hay encounters subtle homophobia every day in the form of stereotypes, slurs and assumptions. Many UP athletes acknowledge there are stereotypes about athletes regarding gender and sexual orientation. Alyssa Soete, a women’s rower, sees it frequently. “Being on the rowing team, a lot of people assume that 'Oh, the rowing team is full of lesbians,’ and some of the girls get offended, like, 'We're not all lesbians!'” Soete said. Hay sees stereotypes projected on the cross country team. “We're assumed to be the feminine sport,” Hay said. “So I definitely think, even within the teams, we're assumed to be gay.”
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In an accepting environment someone will make a slip up and then they’ll immediately apologize, they’ll recognize and be aware. Whereas, in a hostile environment, they’ll just blow off and make gay jokes and not realize they’re huring anyone’s feelings or putting someone on the fringe.
Pasha Spencer Women’s Rowing Head Coach
Hay believes stereotyping harms all athletes, regardless of sexual orientation. “It’s a very damaging stereotype because it reduces straight guys to this label of being the stupid muscle-head and it reduces gay guys to being the feminine wimp,” Hay said. Less subtle than the stereotypes is the common tendency for some athletes to use the word “gay” as a slur. One student athlete who agreed to share his team’s culture when it comes to LGBTQ issues, but requested anonymity, says his team makes gay jokes regularly. (For the purposes of this story, he will be called John.) “An example would be someone not getting their way, and [saying], ‘Oh, don’t
Thomas Dempsey • THE BEACON
Griffin Hay, a member of the cross country team, goes for a run on campus. Hay, who identifies as gay says he encounters subtle homophobia on a daily basis. be gay,’ or ‘Don’t be a fag,’” John said. “They’re not being serious about it, but listening to it makes you feel like, ‘Woah, maybe you shouldn’t do that anymore.’” Dirk van der Velde, a men’s soccer player, admitted he has heard teammates make gay jokes, and believes a lack of awareness is the root of the problem. “In a perfect world, I'd say no, (gay jokes) don't (get made) because we realize how much it can really hurt someone,” van der Velde said. “But to be honest, it's not a perfect world. I don't think the awareness is really there that that could hurt someone so much.” Pasha Spencer, the women’s rowing head coach, believes that insensitivity, a lack of awareness, and sometimes homophobia are the key differences between an inclusive environment and a hostile environment. “In an accepting environment, someone will make a slip and then they'll immediately apologize, they'll recognize and be aware,” Spencer said. “Whereas, in a hostile environment they'll just blow off and make gay jokes and not realize that they're hurting anyone's feelings or putting someone on the fringe.” Hay agreed that language can marginalize teammates. “One of the biggest barriers, honestly, is language because it leads to stereotypes,” Hay said. “If you have any team talking about how ‘That's so gay’ - that prevents people on your team, your teammates, from being themselves around you.” While Hay said he knows slurs are not intended to be hurtful, the slurs hurt because they equate “gay” to “stupid” or “lesser.”
“It prevents people from being comfortable in athletics and from coming out to their teammates, who are their best friends,” Hay said. John said people make these jokes and aren’t thinking it through. “I know people who are gay,” John said. “Hearing (gay jokes made me think): How would they feel? You obviously have to watch your words if you say it a lot when you’re around someone who happens to be gay and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. “I feel like sometimes people don’t know that. And that’s how feelings are hurt, and that’s why people don’t want to come out.”
Coming Out Many athletes acknowledged that coming out to teammates and coaches can be stressful. But they also pointed out variations in team atmospheres, from high school to college, or from sport to sport. According to Alison Knoedler, director of academic and student athlete development, most teams are open and want to be supportive of all students. However, when it comes to talking about sexuality and sexual orientation teams vary on their comfort levels. “Every team and every set of coaches, and some of the times it’s the sport that plays a role to create these different cultures in general,” Knoedler said. “I think that changes year to year, even. All those things play a role in how comfortable people are (about coming out.)” Knoedler said it is the coaches and
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