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Articles by Madison Cecil
PSU claims no changes are necessary to comply with federal DEI ban
Portland State University’s Global Diversity & Inclusion (GDI) Vice President, Ame Lambert, ensures that no changes will need to be made to comply with the ban. “We have reviewed our institutional polices and practices, scholarships, programming…” said Lambert in an interview with PSU Vanguard. “We’ve reviewed all of that to ensure we are compliant with the law.” On Jan.
Player Spotlight: Tre Taylor
Tre Taylor is a 20-year-old junior from Majuro, Marshall Islands, who plays the position of safety for the Portland State Vikings. This remarkable athlete arrived at PSU this year from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. At Saint Louis School in Majuro, he was a standout in football, wrestling and track, contributing to his team’s two state championships.
PSU food pantry serves 2,000 students daily
These days, it is typical to see a line out the door and down the block when walking past the Portland State Food Pantry. The pantry temporarily moved from its old location in the Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU) basement and into Green Zebra’s old space at 1704 SW Broadway. As they await the remodel of their previous space, the number of students served has increased exponentially. Last year, approximately 70 students served per day.
Sports for success - Vanguard
Balancing the demands of sports and academics can be challenging, but Portland State student athletes seem to have all the tools they need to succeed. Success stories often begin with unique journeys, and the path to becoming a student-athlete at PSU is no exception. Libby Bissen—the director of academic services here at PSU—shared her journey as a former student athlete at Lewis & Clark College and her passion for helping student-athletes achieve their academic goals.
From backpacking to building better AI
Dr. Christof Teuscher is a professor of engineering and computer science at Portland State. His research pulls from many different fields to address societal problems. His approach applies unassuming techniques to pervasive issues in fields of study ranging from medicine to artificial intelligence (AI).
Don’t repeal Measure 110
Most Oregon voters ruled in favor of Measure 110 in the 2020 election, which deals with addiction, drug rehabilitation and drug charges. According to The Oregonian, a coalition has recently begun to seek to unwind certain portions of the measure. The coalition seeks to recriminalize minor drug possession of a controlled substance—such as meth or heroin—as a misdemeanor crime.
Science for the community
Down a grass path and hidden away on the side of a highway, Clackamas High School enjoyed a field trip at Rock Creek. Students spread out down the stream to collect data for their class and a master sheet of data which spanned multiple years collected continuously by thousands of students. Students immersed in their environment could see living, moving samples rather than the sterile still pictures of river invertebrates.
Heat survival guide
Summers in Portland are becoming increasingly hotter, and many people living in areas with the highest heat risk have no air conditioning—including Portland State housing. I live in one of the hottest parts of the city without air conditioning this summer, so I have focused on finding ways to survive in the heat. Here are a few of the solutions I’ve been able to come up with, ranked from most to least effective.
Reflecting on the Womens World Cup - Vanguard
Fans at the Sports Bra watching USA vs Portugal. Alberto Alonso Pujazon Bogani/PSU Vanguard The FIFA Women’s World Cup not only showcases the talent and skills of women athletes on a global scale, but has been able to transcend its role as a mere sports tournament by emerging as a powerful platform for promoting and empowering women in sports—igniting a sense of unity and community.
PSU’s mental health support demands evidence
The ongoing mental health crisis is affecting students at universities nationwide, and Portland State is no exception. Mental illness seriously impacts the lives of countless students, and the college they attend is usually the first line of support. It’s time for PSU to recognize how serving students’ mental and emotional health is partly their responsibility and take a more proactive approach to addressing mental health needs among the student body.
Be prepared, not scared
The term “the Big One” commonly describes the anticipated seismic event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is well-known among Portland residents. While feeling apprehensive about this future threat is natural, it might be reassuring to know that many people are actively preparing for it. Several resources and support systems are available and working to prepare for this future crisis, potentially exceeding what one might initially expect.
Why won’t PSU accept food stamps?
A walk through the ground floor of the Smith Memorial Student Union can really work up an appetite: scents of sesame seed and toasted bread waft out from Bowery Bagels, and the sizzling of burgers on the grill and fries cooking in oil can be heard from the cafeteria. A half dozen menus offer a variety of foods to choose from that accommodate diverse diets.
Jo Ann Hardesty is the only politician in Portland that I trust
I know, I know—we are all getting sick and tired of the election talk. Election season has been in full swing and seems to grow longer each cycle as more money and more vitriol seep into the already toxic process. Here in Portland, the city council race between incumbent Jo Ann Hardesty and Rene Gonzalez has garnered quite a bit of attention.
Video: Sunrise PDX
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PSU Food Pantry set to expand food intake
This week, Portland State’s Food Pantry is set to double their food intake. Thanks to a renewed partnership with Urban Gleaners, the pantry’s weekly 1,000 pound intake of food is set to increase to nearly 2,000 pounds. Trenna Wilson—the Food Pantry’s general manager—expressed excitement at this development. “We’re hoping that the huge influx in food goes to people who need it and that we continue this trend of growth,” she said.
Australia’s #MeToo movement indicts mining industry
In the past 18 months, Australia has seen thousands of women coming together to expose a culture of bullying and abuse in mining—the country’s economic engine—among other workplaces. Provocation of intense public outrage as well as pledges of decisive action have come from executives and politicians. Mining and political leaders faced the reckoning of sexual harrasment scandals, which stretch from the outback to the Parliament House.
Russian invasion continues to devastate Ukraine
Many civilians, including children, are still trapped inside Mariupol in Ukraine after Russia declared the city captured on April 21, following a long siege. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a prolonged halt and ceasefire is needed to ensure a safe and effective evacuation as Russian troops continue the assault.
Complacency, apathy and the failure to act
You see it on the news with increasing consistency—the highest recorded global temperatures on record for June, followed the next month by the highest recorded global temperatures ever recorded for July. We watch as fire seasons are starting earlier and with increasing numbers and intensity. Hurricane seasons intensifying and record breaking flooding happening throughout the world as winter storms shut down entire power grids for sustained periods of time.
Macron defeats Le Pen
President of France Emmanuel Macron at the European Parliament in Jan. 2022. Courtesy of the European Parliament On April 24, the French people voted in a runoff election between current president Emmanuel Macron and political opponent Marine Le Pen, as reported by Reuters. The polls opened at 8 a.m. Sunday and closed at 8 p.m. the same day—with Macron winning reelection. The outcome of the election could be highly decisive for what the future of France will look like.
This Week Around the World
April 12, Cairo, Egypt: The Egyptian state-appointed human rights council urged prosecutors on Tuesday to investigate the death of economic researcher and member of the liberal Reform and Development Party Ayman Hadhoud in a psychiatric hospital.
Five dead in clashes between Peruvian citizens and police
Though not directly involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Peru is not immune to being affected by the ramifications of global conflict. Peru has faced rising fuel and fertilizer prices, so much so that March 2022 marked Peru’s highest inflation rate in over two decades. Prices rose 1.48% throughout March—the highest seen since a 1.53% increase recorded in February 1996, according to data provided by the Peruvian central bank.
This Week Around the World
March 22 Geneva, Switzerland: A survey of 6,475 cities on Tuesday displayed that not a single country managed to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standard in 2021, according to Reuters. Smog was shown to have rebounded in some areas following a dip due to COVID-19. The recommendations from WHO stated that the average annual reading for small and hazardous airborne particles—known as PM2.5—should not be any higher than five micrograms per cubic meter.
Ukraine receives backlash for blocking African citizens from refuge
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s televised address on Tuesday, Feb. 22, the war between Russia and Ukraine has continued to rage on through this current week, and seems as if it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The war has already accounted for hundreds of lives lost, including Ukrainian civilians and Russian soldiers, as reported by Reuters.
A timeline of Kazakhstan’s year of protests
Widespread protests at the beginning of 2022 have rocked Kazakhstan. In 2019, former Soviet party leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who became the country’s first president, stepped down from the presidency and handed leadership over to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. However, since 1991—when Kazakhstan gained its independence amidst the Soviet Union’s collapse—Nazarbayev had been president.
Russia launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, detailing a warped account of history which painted Ukraine as an illegitimate nation without a tradition of statehood, according to Reuters. Putin claimed both NATO and the Ukrainian government were threats to freedom, and portrayed them in a light similar to Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
This Week Around The World Feb. 13-19
Feb. 14 Beijing, China: The Winter Olympics is a rush of events spanning a couple of weeks, but for the Chinese workforce, the so-called closed loop of COVID-19 prevention measures, their work lasts far longer, per an AP News report. Each day, hundreds of staff clean and disinfect surfaces, while doctors take mandatory oral swabs for all participants. Police and security count people that come in and out of venues, ensuring that none go unaccounted for.
Canadian truck drivers block roads to protest anti-vaccine mandates - Vanguard
A convoy of truckers in Canada, self-proclaimed as the Freedom Convoy, have been on a mission to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates in both Canada and the United States since Jan. 2022. Mandates in Canada required drivers from the United States to show proof of vaccinations upon entering Canada, starting Jan. 15, 2022—and the U.S. required Canadian drivers entering the country to show proof of vaccination starting a week later, on Jan. 22.
Kamila Valieva’s olympic eligibility in jeopardy following drug test
15-year-old Russian skating prodigy Kamila Valieva brought a gold medal to the Russian Olympic team on Monday Feb. 7, after being the first woman to land two quadruple jumps at the Olympics, according to The New York Times. Valieva won both of her skates in the team event, and nearly set a world record for points in the women’s short program on Sunday, finishing more than 15 points ahead of the next competitor.
IRS will require facial recognition for tax filing
It was announced on Jan. 28 that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will soon require taxpayers to use facial recognition software to verify their identity. This comes as part of a partnership between the IRS and ID.me—a facial recognition company which has existed for around a decade—in hopes to cut down on the amount of fraudulent claims for state and federal benefits that surged during the pandemic.
This Week Around The World Jan. 23-39
Jan. 27 Mumbai, India / Toronto, Canada: Indian police are cracking down on undocumented immigration after a tragedy took the lives of four people attempting to enter the United States from Canada, according to Reuters. The family of four were identified as 39-year-old Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 37-year-old Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 11-year-old Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel and 3-year-old Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel. The family were found frozen to death near the U.S.-Canada border last week.
Tonga receives aid after volcanic eruption
Multiple volcanic eruptions occurred on the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic region on Jan. 14 and 15, producing a tsunami that traversed the Pacific Ocean and rocked the country of Tonga, as reported by Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Early eruptions destroyed approximately a third of the island, and were followed by an even stronger eruption two hours later, causing the tsunami in the Pacific.
This Week Around The World Jan. 9-16
Jan. 10 Tigray, Ethiopia: During a call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Jan. 10, United States President Joe Biden raised concerns about human rights issues and air strikes in the conflict ongoing within the northern region of Ethiopia. War broke out in the region between Ahmed’s Federal Forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the former ruling party of Ethiopia. On Jan.
This Week Around The World Jan. 3-7
Jan. 3–4 Panama: During a stopover of a flight from Jamaica to Colombia, Panama authorities detained Mario Antonio Palacios, a former Colombian military member who was wanted for questioning in connection with the assasination of the late Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, according to Reuters. The 42-year-old man was in the process of being deported to Colombia from Jamaica after being detained in October.
What we know about the Omicron Variant
A troubling new COVID-19 variant—dubbed Omicron—was first identified and then reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by South Africa on Nov. 24, 2021. This variant has been named a variant of concern, after reports from the WHO suggest an increased risk of reinfection and more adaptability at evading public health measures.
COVID-19 vaccines extending to children
When the COVID-19 pandemic started—and quarantine was originally announced in 2020 as a two-week shutdown—people patiently waited for the world to reopen. As time went on and that reality changed, the race for a vaccine started. Across the international community, there are seven major vaccines currently leading the fight against COVID-19: Pfizer & BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca and Gamelya.
Takeaways from ETH Portland and the future of the internet
ETH Portland kicked off its conference Oct. 28, 2021, showcasing the latest projects and startups within the blockchain communities and the development of what is known as web 3.0. Blockchain technology and web 3.0 are still widely unknown, with many events and news within the community shared exclusively in hard-to-find digital spaces.
Accessing Portland State University’s Food Pantry
When it comes to current rates of food insecurity, a report by Oregon State University found that one in four Oregonians is affected, while those under the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) umbrella face a 30% chance of experiencing food instability. In 2020, many people accessed food pantries for the first time—unfortunately, food pantries around the country were not prepared for the level of demand.
This Week Around The World August 1-7
August 1 Brazil: Thousands gathered in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia to show their support for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s call to change the country’s electronic voting system. Bolsonaro claimed without evidence that the current voting system is fraudulent, and insisted that the country adopt a mixed system of voting, according to Reuters.
Divided opinion on Tunisian president’s power grab
Tunisian President Kais Saied announced on July 25 that he would assume executive authority, after suspending Tunisia’s Parliament for 30 days, and with a new prime minister, after dismissing Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, according to Al Jazeera. “We have taken these decisions…until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state,” Saied said. The controversial decisions came after protests about the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic took place in several cities.
Air conditioning in a world on fire
On July 13, Multnomah County officials released a preliminary report on the effects of the extreme heat event that took place in late June, which resulted in over 100 deaths across the state. According to the report, the majority of fatalities were people who did not have access to air conditioning. “More people died from the June 2021 heat wave in Multnomah County than died from heat in the entire state of Oregon in the past 20 years,” the report stated.
Notable players to watch in the Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Olympics—though hosted in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic—begin Friday, July 23 and will last until Sunday, Aug. 8. Held in Tokyo, Japan, the games will have a total of 46 sports, including new sports like skateboarding, and, for the first time in 12 years, baseball and softball. Something different about this Olympics is that there will be no fans in attendance, as Japan is still experiencing the lasting effects of COVID-19, having declared a state of emergency.
Haiti’s future uncertain after president assassinated
Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was killed in his home by a squad of gunmen on July 7, according to AP News. “Haiti has lost a true statesman,” said Claude Joseph, Haiti’s interim Prime Minister. “We will ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice.” “The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the assasination of President Moïse of the Republic of Haiti,” wrote António Guterres, the Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General.
UAPs and the limits of our technology
Unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) have long existed in the popular imagination, and they have been a hot topic for many conspiracists. Now, the United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has published an official report concerning UAP, though it does little to debunk many of the conspiracies about these otherworldly phenomena.
Portland’s heatwave is a consequence of climate change
Over the past week, Portland, Oregon has seen summer like never before. Both the unprecedented heat and a sudden urge to spend time inside are strange for a city that’s known for its proximity to the outdoors. This heat wave has challenged Portland’s nature and its spirit. The truth is, summer here isn’t supposed to be like this. It’s supposed to be mild temperatures, not 112°F of sweltering heat. It’s days at the river, not attempts to boil an egg on the pavement.
Pride parades return as the fight for LGBTQ+ rights continues
Each June in the United States, LGBTQ+ pride month is recognized and celebrated to commemorate the Stonewall riots. Pride has since grown internationally as cities across the world come together for festivities and parades in celebration of the event. Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of many in-person events both last year and this year, some cities were still able to come together this year to celebrate, honor and continue the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
The science behind climate change and our weather extremes
Portland made national headlines this weekend over the rare heat wave weather event, causing temperatures to rise above 110°F, with night temperatures remaining as high as 90°F. Cooling shelters have been set up around Portland to provide refuge from the triple digit heat. Many are citing this event as an example of climate change and the greenhouse effect; however, little is understood about how exactly climate change is affecting this already unusual weather event.
This Week Around the World
May 24 New South Wales, Australia: Tasmanian devils were born on the Australian mainland for the first time in 3,000 years, according to the NGO Aussie Ark on Instagram. Born at the 988-acre Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in New South Wales, the seven joeys were identified in their mothers’ pouches, being the size of “shelled peanuts.” “We’ve been able to historically, albeit in its infancy, return the devil to [the] mainland,” said Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner.
Chile begins drafting new constitution
In Chile, the elections for the candidacy of the Constitutional Convention, a panel of 155 delegates of equal gender parity, were chosen over the weekend from multiple political parties across the spectrum to draft the new constitution, according to Al Jazeera. The decision for the rewrite comes after the city of Santiago saw approximately two million citizens take to the streets in 2019 to protest a hike in subway fare—and the entire structure of their economy.
20 years later, Shrek is definitely still a movie
Shrek. Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons I’ll never forget the first time I saw Shrek. Not because it’s my favorite movie of all time or whatever, but because for children born in the early-to-mid 1990s it’s something of a cultural signpost. I remember being with my aunt and cousins in Indianola, Iowa, coming from the theater, listening to “Island in the Sun” by Weezer on the radio—off the band’s Green Album, which, coincidentally, came out three days before Shrek’s official theatrical release.
2021 sees the most anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation in recent US history
An estimated 250 anti-LGBTQ+ state legislative bills have been proposed nationwide since January 2021, and at least 17 bills have been signed into state law. This easily breaks the 2015 yearly total of 15 such laws, with 11 or more currently awaiting a governor’s signature, according to a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) report.
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