Portland State Vanguard

02/05/2025

02/04/2025

LAST CHANCE: PSU Vanguard wants to hear your meet-ups, romantic flings and stories of romance for this year’s Love & S*x Guide! Submit a story detailing how you and your significant other met for a chance to be published in the paper. Guidelines: Word count should be approximately 250 and fit the theme. For any questions or comments, please email [email protected].

01/30/2025

“We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us” was a refrain I heard growing up—common amongst Mexican-Americans and Chicanos, spoken in my family by my mother as a reminder that no matter what the United States portrays Latinos to be, we belong here.



It’s a saying grounded in the historical truth that, as the 1800s marched onwards, so did the U.S. Trampling underfoot people that it did not want for land that it could abuse, the U.S. pressed deeper and deeper into what was then the “Western Frontier.” It used the fragility and instability of its neighbor, Mexico, as a tool to fill Indigenous and Mexican land with white, slave owning Texan settlers and redraw the border again and again.



Now they want to mark the border further south and rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”



This foundation of interventionism, occupation and annexation is the baseline on which American diplomacy towards Latin America is built. Donald Trump’s most recent threats to take over the Panama Canal, send troops into Mexico and occupy Greenland are the most bare manifestation of this common thread in American foreign policy.



Most of the coverage in the media has been focused on Trump’s rhetoric directed towards Greenland—currently a Danish territory governed by the pro-independence Community of the People party. Controlling Greenland has been Trump’s ambition since his first presidency—which he first vocalized around 2017.



The justification is that Greenland is strategically vital to control, with important military bases and the maritime sea lane known as the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap or GIUK Gap. Greenland also has critical natural resources. In fact, it has the largest deposits of rare-earth elements outside of China.

01/27/2025

In basketball, the danger of an early scoring lead resulting in a late game collapse is a situation that frustrates players, fans and coaches alike. A team comes out strong, seemingly unable to miss, locking up the opposing team on defense and putting up highlight-reel-worthy-blocks, but then, it all falls apart. Suddenly, a game that appeared to be an easy win has transformed into a nail-biter with coaches calling for their players to strategically foul and making last-minute substitutions.
Attempts have been made to calculate exactly when a lead in an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball game can be considered “safe.” In his 2011 article for Bleacher Report, Sam Fetchero analyzed years of NCAA game data and found that even with nine minutes remaining in a game, a team would need a 20 point lead to have a near 100% chance of winning.

01/27/2025

PSU Vanguard wants to hear your meet-ups, romantic flings and stories of romance for this year’s Love & S*x Guide! Submit a story detailing how you and your significant other met for a chance to be published in the paper. Guidelines: Word count should be approximately 250 and fit the theme. For any questions or comments, please email [email protected].

11/29/2024

Seeing Triples
A Phenomenon to watch as winter Approaches
By: Anish Arumugam & Vaishnavi Srinath

Seen mostly at sunrise or sunset, sundogs are like nature’s own light show, created through the interaction of sunlight with ice crystals high up in the atmosphere. Their appearance has captured human imagination for centuries, serving as symbols in art, myth, and even weather prediction.
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So, the next time you’re outside on a cold day, take a look toward the sun. If you’re lucky, you might see one or even two glowing patches of light—nature’s own dazzling display. Sundogs may look otherworldly, but they’re simply a result of sunlight interacting with ice crystals in just the right way.

“Sundogs are a sub-occurrence of halos, forming from the refraction of light through small ice crystals high in the atmosphere. They typically appear on the 22-degree arc, at horizontal positions, and are best seen when the sun is near the horizon.”—Dr. Andrew Rice—Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics at PSU



Slide 1: Illustration by Parker Patnode
Slide 2 & 3: Anish Arumugam/PSU Vanguard

11/28/2024

The Other Red Wave
Why progressive candidates won where Kamala Harris lost
By: J.J. Christensen

To many, the Election results on the fifth came as a shock. Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States of America. Not only did he sweep aside the democrats in every single swing state, he also won the popular vote by – at the time of writing – about three million.
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These numbers, however, leave out what I think are key parts of the story. Donald Trump did not expand his popular vote count very far beyond what he won in 2020. It seems like instead of voters breaking for Trump, many Democrats were undermotivated and stayed home. The Harris-Walz campaign ran one of the most right wing Democratic campaigns in recent memory.
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Donald Trump’s base did not get larger, Kamala Harris’ got smaller.

Let's be clear on what the lesson is here: retreating from popular progressive policies on the border, on trans issues, on protecting labor and on healthcare makes for a losing platform. By running the most conservative Democratic campaign in recent memory, Kamala Harris deflated her supporters and many of them simply decided to stay home. She reinforced the popular refrain that there is no fundamental difference between the Democrats and the Republicans



Slide 1: Illustration by Haley Hsu/PSU Vanguard
Slide 2: Born Isopod

11/27/2024

AI + Design
AI sparks interests, challenging design boundaries
By: Sarah Applin

Within the modern world, our technology evolves at an unprecedented pace. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as both a revolutionary tool and a polarizing force within the design world. As a society, it is essential to understand how these technologies impact our daily lives as more and more, they further infiltrate development of innovation and tradition.

“This course introduced students to the fundamental principles and techniques of AI as it pertains to the disciplines of art and design. Students explored topics related to the implementation, impact, ethics and collaborative opportunities of AI and its various forms.”—Isabel Bo-Linn, Assistant Professor of Art + Art History + Design



Slide 1: AI: Art + Emotion, by Chelle Parks, aims to show "how artists communicate their methodologies and solutions to the public at large." Briana Cieri/PSU Vanguard
Slide 2: A tv screen featuring some of the work at the exhibit. Briana Cieri/PSU Vanguard
Slide 3: The cookbook draws from Lnu's nostalgic tastes, aiming to evoke the theme of "home through taste." Briana Cieri/PSU Vanguard

11/26/2024

The surprising Greek life on the Park Blocks
PSU’s fraternities and sororities navigate being ‘Greek” at a commuter school
By: Noah Carandanis

While not having the same footprint on campus as those at University of Oregon or Oregon State University, PSU has a handful of fraternities and sororities on campus that provide a social outlet for students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Being situated in downtown Portland on a commuter campus presents unique challenges and opportunities to Greek organizations. PSU Vanguard spoke with the Theta Epsilon chapter of the fraternity Kappa Sigma along with the Delta Omicron chapter of the sorority Alpha Chi Omega.
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With PSU’s commuter school culture at times providing a chilling effect on socialization on campus, Greek organizations can provide a sense of community for students during their time downtown.

“We’re really big on just community. This is a commuter school, guys don’t come here to [party], we are trying to make it a community that will have your back. We try to invest our time and resources into programs that we believe they give back to the campus of our specific university.”—Antonio Veaudry—the PSU Kappa Sigma Chapter President



Slide 1 & 3: Members of Kappa Sigma fraternity pose for a picture. Courtesy of Antonio Veaudry

11/25/2024

The Hairy Situation by Arianna Thomas

11/25/2024

Daylight Savings by Abigail Green

11/25/2024

Then and Now by Devin Singh

11/25/2024

Find out what's happening on campus and the resources available to students and community members with our Community & Wellness Resources. Updated every week. Use the link in our bio for the full list, accessible version, and links to all the great resources.

11/25/2024

Check out our newest issue in print across campus or by clicking the link in our bio.

Cover design by Briana Cieri

11/24/2024

Cheers to Health?
Understanding the Science Behind Beer’s Benefits and Risks
By: Anish Arumugam & Vaishnavi Srinath

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption is linked to a range of health issues—from liver disease to increased cancer risk and cognitive impairment.
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Although beer isn’t likely to become a go-to workout drink, some research suggests that—in moderation—it might not be harmful to athletes. Certain compounds found in beer—such as polyphenols and antioxidants—can help combat the oxidative stress caused by intense exercise.

“There’s something to be said about the psychological benefits of moderate drinking, particularly in a communal setting. It helps people relax, de-stress and even bond with one another—which can improve mental well-being.”—John Wilson, an Assistant Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University



Slide 1: Two mugs full of beer, one light and one dark. Isaiah Burns/PSU Vanguard
Slide 2: Isaiah Burns/PSU Vanguard
Slide 3: Isaiah Burns/PSU Vanguard

11/23/2024

State Flags Should be Changed
Why redesigning boring flags is important
By: J.J. Christensen

In Maine, amongst all the local state ordinances being voted on, is “Question 5, State Flag Referendum.” This referendum is on changing their state flag from the standard “Seal on a Bedsheet” design to a flag more unique and representative of Maine as a whole.
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I am, broadly, in favor of states updating their flags. I think that the current flags that represent—say, Oregon—are indistinct and muddled into a vague mass of different blue shades when shown alongside each other. Creating new flags that not only better represent a state’s heritage and culture but are also more visually appealing would help people feel a deeper connection and pride with that state. Regional identities in the U.S. are hard to maintain as it is and are made all the more difficult to maintain when states and regions are devoid of good, interesting symbolism.



Slide 1: Illustration by Abby Raymundo/PSU Vanguard

11/22/2024

Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Association at PSU presents Brains on Crafts
Creativity and the Brain
By: Sarah Applin

The Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Association at PSU hosts Brains on Crafts every Wednesday, bringing the PSU community together to explore how the brain responds to creativity—complete with food! The Neuroscience Association connects students across the university and between research development.

“Using art as a way to engage people in science is a helpful way of understanding things that have been historically taught to us in really binary ways.”—Sam Mutschler-Aldine, Science Officer in the Neuroscience Association



Slide 1: Courtesy of Dan Jang, Alumni Advisor
Slide 2: Neuroscience club members at the NW Noggin Outreach event in Chicago, Oct. 7 2024. Courtesy of Dan Jang, Alumni Advisor
Slide 3:Neuroscience club members at the NW Noggin Outreach event in Chicago, Oct. 7 2024. Courtesy of Dan Jang, Alumni Advisor

11/21/2024

Practicing Self-Care at PSU
ASPSU hosts weekly Camellia Self-Care Group for students
By: Noah Carandanis and Isaiah Burns

Portland State University (PSU) community has undergone its fair share of tumultuous events in recent years. As a largely commuter campus, it can be difficult to find spaces where one can process hardships and trauma that occur at PSU. Mental health challenges and grief encountered downtown do not need to be faced alone.

The Associated Students of Portland State University’s (ASPSU) Mental Health Awareness Ad-Hoc Committee is holding the Camellia Self-Care Group from Nov. 6 to Nov. 27. The group is committed to providing a space for students to process any grief or mental health struggles they may be experiencing.

“We saw a strong need for spaces like these, where students can come together and feel free to share their feelings in a supportive, safe environment. Everyone has things going on in their daily lives that impact their well-being, and we wanted to create a place where students can address these feelings without judgment - letting them know that there are people who are willing to listen and care for them.”—Karen Agustin-Paz—an ASPSU Senator



Slide 1 & 3: Illustration by Parker Patnode/PSU Vanguard