the beacon - issue 22 - march 31

THE STUDENT VO ICE OF THE UN IVERS I TY OF PORTLAND S INCE 1935The Beacon

March 31, 2016 • Volume 119 • Issue 22 • upbeacon.com

RIVERA AND APENYOELECTED

ASUP PRESIDENT AND VICE

PRESIDENT FOR 2016-17

ophomores Brandon Rivera and Tsikata Apenyo have been elected next year’s ASUP president and vice president after a runoff election this week.

Stephanie Tucker was also elected ASUP communications director in the runoff.

It was a close race as Rivera and Apenyo came in just 16 votes ahead of opponents Krizchelle Magtoto and Anthony Ng. With a 26.19 percent voter turnout to the election, Rivera and Apenyo received 50.66 percent of the vote while Magtoto and Ng received 48.49 percent.

Apenyo said that the pair campaigned right up until 7:59 p.m. Wednesday night, when the election ended. Rivera said he was expecting Magtoto and Ng to win the election, with endorsements from clubs like the College Ecology Club.

“All day today, I was in class shaking,” Rivera said. “I was nervous the whole time thinking, ‘We’re behind, we have to keep pushing.’ (Magtoto and Ng) did a hell of a job. Their campaign really put us on our toes the whole time.”

Rivera and Apenyo both credit the win to their friends. Apenyo said it was hard to get friends who had never cared about ASUP in the past to vote in two consecutive elections.

The newly elected ASUP leaders say that they’ve already started work on their platform of “food and parking.” Apenyo said that he and Rivera are planning to work with Kirk

Mustain, general manager of Bon Appetit, this summer to find food carts willing to set up in the academic quad.

According to Apenyo, although Portland’s weather conditions make it so that weekly food carts on campus are not a feasible option, Mustain will allow food carts from other businesses on the quad every couple of months, particularly when the weather is nice.

Despite their specific platform, Rivera and Apenyo stress that other issues the campus has faced will be treated with equal importance.

“I know mental health is a big thing here — a lot of people have said it’s a big thing,” Rivera said. “Just because we were campaigning on food carts and parking doesn’t mean we don’t care about that.”

Apenyo said he and Rivera want to work closely with the Black Student Union and Active Minds next year to make improvements on campus on racial and mental health issues.

Apenyo said that they’re also open to working with Magtoto and Ng next year on their campaign ideas: transparency, health and sustainability.

“Just because we compete against them doesn’t mean that we don’t like them,” Apenyo said. “I have a class with Krizchelle and she’s like the nicest person ever.”

S

Rachel Rippetoe • THE BEACON

Brandon Rivera and Tsikata Apenyo won Wednesday night with 50.66 percent of the vote after a runoff election for ASUP president and vice president.

ASUP MEMBERS 2016-17Stephanie Tucker: Communications Director

Angela Hudson: Finance Director

Jacque Nelson: Campus Program Board Director

Kathleen Burks & Alex Peterson: Sophomore Class Senators

John Akres & Natalie Buchholz: Junior Class Senators

Kevin Truong: Senior Class Senator

Amanda Perez & Katelyn Coughlin: CAS Senators

Molly Rausch: School of Business Senators

Jonathan Donkers & Mohammed Bakhsh: School of Engineering Senators

Alana Pham: School of Nursing Senator

Photo cou r tesy o f Ts i ka ta Apenyo .

T H E B E A C O N • M A R . 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 • U P B E A C O N . C O MNEWS 2

CORRECTIONS THE TIP LINEThe Beacon wants story ideas from its readers. If you see something that

should be covered, email News Editor

Clare Duffy [email protected]

There are no corrections this week.

THE FORECAST:

Monday Tuesday

Today Friday

Wednesday

Saturday Sunday73º 75º 69º 70º

64º 63º 67ºWeathe r cou r tesy o f weathe r . com

Understanding grad requirements and finances key to maintaining

financial aid

Registration is always a stressful time of year, and swirling rumors about losing financial aid before you’ve quite finished college only complicate things further. Each student’s case is different, so it is important to know where you stand and make sure your academic plans match up with your financial ones.

Financial aid may come in the form of institutional aid, federal loans, federal grants and a number of other sources. The purpose of financial aid is to help students obtain the required credits for degree completion. Often students who complete a degree early are not aware of the potential to lose their aid for future semesters

Janet Turner, director of Financial Aid, pointed out that confusion around loss of financial aid often occurs for students pursuing multiple degrees.

“Once the student has earned their first baccalaureate degree, they are no longer eligible for federal grant aid,” Turner said. “That’s why if they complete both their degrees at the same time, then

they can continue receiving federal grant aid.”

Turner said that while students can lose federal grant aid, it is important to know that this is different from federal loans and institutional aid. Only a handful of students at UP are eligible for federal grants like the Pell Grant, and these students can make adjustments to their class schedule in order to consistently receive aid.

Things are different when it comes to institutional aid and federal loan aid. Institutional aid can be used by students for eight semesters, as long as they remain degree-seeking. While a student’s federal loan eligibility depends on if a student met their loan aggregates (the limit of how much a student can borrow per year and throughout the entirety of their college career) or not.

Turner said the financial aid office works with the

associate deans of each school to communicate the different circumstances of students so that students can plan their academic schedule well and not lose their aid.

“I work closely with the associate deans so I think that they are pretty familiar with the requirements,” Turner said. “They are pretty knowledgeable and know when a student needs to talk to financial aid.”

Financial aid is often seen as being complex and a little scary, but it’s an important part of getting students to graduation day. Being knowledgeable about one’s financial situation can help students prevent any unwanted surprises and Turner says stopping by the financial aid office is a great way to stay informed about your financial situation.

“If a student is working on two majors or two degrees they should stop by financial aid,” Turner said. “Every student’s financial aid is unique to their own situation and we can see if they will need to save any core requirements to the end.”

Photo cou r tesy o f Wik imed ia CommonsRumors about losing financial aid can complicate registration time. Financial Aid Director Janet Turner assured that there are few circumstances in which this would occur, and that she works with associate deans to avoid this.

By Alana LaanuiT H E B E A C O N

Contact Staff Writer Alana Laanui at [email protected].

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

INSTITUTIONAL AID:

UP has several institutional scholarships that are awarded to students based on certain academic criteria. Students are notified of these scholarships by the Office of Admissions. These scholarships are available for four years of academic study and will be distributed evenly over eight semesters (fall and spring, excluding summer). To renew institutional scholarships students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (full-time enrollment each term and a 2.0 GPA) throughout their enrollment.

FEDERAL LOANS:An education loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. Education loans come in three major categories: student loans (e.g., Direct and Perkins loans), parent loans (e.g., Direct PLUS loans) and private student loans (also called alternative student loans). A fourth type of education loan, the consolidation loan, allows the borrower to lump all of their loans into one loan for simplified payment.

FEDERAL GRANTS:Grants are a form of financial aid, based on need, which you do not have to repay. Federal grants are based on financial need as determined by completion of the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA application. To apply for all federal grants, you need to complete the FAFSA as close to January 1 as possible. Funding for FAFSAs received after March 1 is not guaranteed.

Once the student has earned their first baccalaureate degree, they are no longer eligible for federal grant aid.

“Janet TurnerDirector of Financial Aid

Portland minimum wage to reach $14.75

by 2022Minimum wage in Portland will gradually increase 59.5

percent over the next six years after Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a historic bill to raise the minimum wage in Oregon earlier this month.

The minimum wage will reach $14.75 within the Portland Urban Growth Boundary, $13.50 in midsize counties and $12.50 in rural areas by 2022.

The bill gives Oregon the highest statewide minimum wage in the nation, which was lauded by President Barack Obama soon after it was signed.

The Statesman Journal reports that 100,000 workers earn minimum wage in Oregon, whom supporters of the bill have said often struggle to avoid basic necessitites like food and housing.

Brown said the law will help working Oregonians “get a little closer to the American dream.”

Clare Duffy • THE BEACON

THE BREAKDOWN

REGION 1 REGION 2 REGION 3

2016

2022

$9.75

$14.75

$9.75

$13.50

$9.50

$12.50

AT PORTLAND’S MINIMUM WAGE FOR 2016, IT WOULD TAKE 53.6 WEEKS WORKING FULL-TIME TO AFFORD ONE SEMESTER AT UP ($20,922) - THAT’S MORE THAN A YEAR OF WORK.

THE DIFFERENCE IN HOURLY EARNINGS BETWEEN THE 2022 AND 2016 MINIMUM WAGES COULD BUY YOU HALF A DOMINO’S PIZZA.

ONE MONTH OF FULL-TIME WORK AT THE 2016 MIN-IMUM WAGE WOULD NET ABOUT $1,500. AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT FOR A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN PORTLAND IS $1,275.


Q&A: Understanding the evolving relationship between the U.S. and Cuba

On March 20, Obama became the first U.S. President to visit Cuba in 88 years. This historic visit follows the easing of tensions between the two countries that began when they reinstated diplomatic ties at the end of 2014 with prodding from Pope Francis. The Beacon spoke with history professor and Cuba expert Blair Woodard to get a better understanding of the situation.

Where do you see Cuba moving to long-term in regards to politics?

That’s a good question because they are not making any statements that will fundamentally change their system. Right now, Raul Castro is president, and they have already picked out their next president, essentially, as well (Miguel Díaz-Canel). He is considered to have hardline (political views) and he is the current vice president of the country. Raul Castro has said he will step down at the end of his term in 2018. They are not saying they will change anything...(The question is), will they move toward a representative democracy?

As far as everything else, they are desperately trying to

maintain the tenants of the revolution, (which include) housing and education for everybody. They want to maintain this equal system, but that is being challenged by the economic realities that are happening on the ground. You have the convertible or “CUC” economy, and you have the Cuban peso, which is worth a lot less (30/1). Government employees and professionals who have used the education system, such as lawyers, and doctors, their brains belong to the Cuban state. They get paid in national currency. Anyone in the tourism industry, such as independent contractors, taxi drivers or people renting rooms earn money in “CUC”. Doctors earn roughly 40 CUP (Cuban Peso) a month, and taxi drivers earn that in a day. That is a problem, and nobody has a solution for it, but it has to happen for it to be OK.

If that didn’t happen, what would be the outcome?

It is bad to have two currencies running at the same moment. You have the service industry profiting far more than the professional industry. That is wrong because it does not encourage people to go into (professional sectors). Why

would you go to medical school if all you had to do was get a driver’s license and make more money? Do you think, in the short term, Obama’s visit has changed anything?

Obama has already changed things. The main thing with Obama is December 17, 2014. The Cubans refer to this as D-17. D-17 is when the Cubans and U.S. announced they had already gone through negotiations brokered by Pope Francis in Canada the year before. On December 17, they announced jointly that they would renew diplomatic relations. Diplomatic relations were broken by Eisenhower in January 1961. We have reopened embassies, which were in Cuba the whole time. However, it does not have an ambassador yet, so it will be interesting to see when that happens, because it will have to be confirmed by Congress.

The U.S. is also easing travel restrictions in a massive way. Any person in the U.S. can travel to Cuba for educational reasons, but it does not have to be on an organized tour. Therefore, anyone can go to Cuba, because you are saying you are going to get educated. They are also allowing U.S.

companies to negotiate contracts, such as airlines and Marriott. However, this still flies in the face of the law right now, which is the embargo, which is still in effect. Obama cannot lift that by decree because, in 1994, Congress sought to prevent that by instituting the Helms Burton Act, which makes it so that lifting the embargo must be by Congress. If a Republican is elected, the question is whether that president would

roll back everything that has taken place. However, I think that would be vastly unpopular because the majority of the U.S. population now views the embargo as totally outdated and effective. People want to travel there.

By Luke LorangerT H E B E A C O N

Contact Staff Writer Luke Loranger at [email protected]: @Loranger18

The Obama family arrives in Havana, Cuba on March 20. The president’s made history with this trip.

Photo cou r tesy o f the Wh i te House

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLINE


CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENTUPBEACON.COM

Baseball vs. BYU // Sports

Filipino Cultural Night // News

Founder’s Day Calendar // News

Kristen Garcia • THE BEACON

Photo cou r tesy o f UP Market ing .

THE BEACON

Black Lives Matter posters vandalizedBlack Lives Matter

posters were torn down from Buckley Center Tuesday night, according to an email professors received from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Michael Andrews. The email from the dean said that the person committing the vandalism was a student, but did not mention a name.

Students at the racial inclusion panel on March 22 also reported hearing from professors that similar posters were torn down on another recent occasion.

Public Safety officers responded to a reported incident of vandalism in

Buckley Center on Tuesday around 9 p.m, according to the Crime Log. Officers made contact with the suspect, who the Crime Log says was not a member of the university community and was escorted off campus. Wednesday night, Public Safety was unavailable to confirm whether the incident in the crime log was the same as the incident in Andrews’ email.

According to Michael McNerney, communications and technical coordinator for Public Safety, the incident cited in the Crime Log involved the removal of personal property in a public area.

McNerney said the case is still under investigation and would not release further

information.Sociology professor Ashley

Mikulyuk said Andrews also sent out an email to all CAS faculty the week of March 13, alerting them to another incident of Black Lives Matter posters being torn down earlier in the school year and vandalism in a Buckley Center bathroom in December. The email encouraged staff to be vigilant.

The incident in the Buckley Center bathroom was listed in the Crime Log in December 2015.

In that case, a professor discovered a swastika had been carved into the door of one of the male bathroom stalls on the second floor. It was removed by Physical Plant shortly after.

This incident is required to be included as a hate crime in the University’s Clery report, a federal law that requires all colleges receiving federal

funding to share information about crime on campus, according to McNerney.

Since other Black Lives Matter posters were torn down in Buckley Center, these posters have been put back up in their place.

CRIME LOG

FOR THE FULL REPORT

ON CAMPUS

Officers responded to a call of vandalism at Buckley Center. Officers made contact with the suspect and it was found that the person was not part of the university community. The person was escorted off campus and the case remains open.

Officers responded to a noise complaint near the 4900 block of N. Fiske. Officers arrived in the area but could not locate the source for the disturbance. No other complaints were received.

A student reported receiving threatening messages from another student. Officers spoke with the accused and warned that this behavior is to be discontinued.

March 29, 8:59 p.m.

March 27, 12:46 a.m.

March 26, 1:33 p.m.

upbeacon.com > News > UP Crime & Fire Log

Monday, April 4 at 7:15 p.m. in Franz Hall Room 120. Her talk is free and open to the public. Eve Hooker is a professor of English and writer in residence at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Her Notes for Survival in the Wilderness, profoundly influenced by Lake Superior and Madeline Island, was published in 2011.

Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots take on WCC rival BYU.

Godwit Poetry Reading

BaseballWednesday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pilot House Bookstore. Her reading is part of the English department’s Reading and Lecture Series and is free and open to the public.

Jae Choi Poetry Presentation

Men’s Tennis Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at the Lousiana Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots take on the University of San Francisco Dons.

By Melissa Aguilar & Clare DuffyT H E B E A C O N

Contact Copy Editor Melissa Aguilar at [email protected] and News Editor Clare Duffy at [email protected].

Katie Dunn • THE BEACON

Everyone’s brain, on occasion, will deliver a random thought whose content can be quite disturbing, bizarre and completely out of

character for the person. Most people can brush these thoughts off and forget them. For some people, though, these thoughts trigger a stress response, and in order to quell that anxiety, the person must a) try to resist the thought or b) perform some kind of action that will prevent the outcomes of those thoughts. But these thoughts only keep recurring, and every time they do they trigger more and more intense anxiety.

Examples of such thoughts, or obsessions, range from the distressing, “You have germs on you and you’re going to get sick,” and, “You left your dorm room open and it’s going to be robbed,” to the truly debilitating, “You have a sin you didn’t confess so you’re going to hell,” “Those germs are going to kill you,” and “You’re a psychopath and a murderer.”

Faced with a barrage of such thoughts that can only be temporarily held at bay, a person may start to perform rituals (compulsions) that relieve the anxiety. Such activities may be excessive hand-washing, quadruple-checking a door lock, repetition of calming phrases such as prayer, and constant seeking of reassurance about one’s morality.

However, the relief brought about by these actions fades quickly, and the person may have to create more elaborate compulsions in an attempt to control the ever-increasing anxiety. The emotional distress and time dedicated to compulsions begin to interfere with the person’s daily life. The interferences can be

Opinion 9M A R . 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 • U P B E A C O N . C O M

Lydia Laythe Opinion [email protected]

FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD

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Letters to the editor must not exceed 250 words. Those with longer opinions are encouraged to submit guest columns. The Beacon reserves the right to edit any contributions for length and style, and/or reject them without notification. University students must include their major and year in school. Non-students must include their affiliation to the University of Portland, if any.

Please send submission to [email protected].

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Let’s Talk: OCD

Madeline BoyleSenior

See OCD page 10

Last Tuesday, the Mehling Ballroom was packed with students, faculty, and administrators, gathered around tables to talk about racial inclusion.

The energy and enthusiasm about this event was palpable, especially at my discussion table. A former student of mine, sitting next to me, was quite literally jumping with excitement, hope and promise. We were there together to discuss openly how we all can improve our campus to be more inclusive and welcoming to present and future students, faculty and administrators and other leaders of color.

This event was a groundbreaking and very well-intentioned step. Issues of diversity and inclusion on college campuses are difficult for (white) folks to

address explicitly, especially at historically white-serving institutions. So, the fact that the event was entitled the Community Engagement on Racial Inclusion was a victory in itself (emphasis added). And it is significant the Presidential Advisory Committee on Inclusion co-directors — Dr. Joane Moceri and Fr. Gerry Olinger — emphasized that the Racial Inclusion event on Tuesday, March 22, was only a first step in an on-going conversation about racial inclusion at UP.

I am writing this piece to continue the conversation and to issue a loving invitation to a deeply needed follow-up event, which will showcase the voices of students of color who would like a chance at the microphone.

Let me describe some perspectives not fully voiced in The Beacon’s piece, “Racial

inclusion discussion pulls large crowd” from its March 24, 2016, issue.

“This was the event students of color have been waiting for,” a first-year student of color expressed to me the day after the event, about the promise the Community Engagement event held for her. “Students, faculty, administrators, the president’s ear. And a microphone.”

Yet many left the event discouraged, in pain and frustrated.

Throughout the evening, table discussions were punctuated by a series of nine panelists — speaking about race and racism. They were all white. And, little by little, the excitement and enthusiasm, was deflated. By the sixth speaker, the mood in the room, which was originally full of hope and enthusiasm, had changed to

one of disappointment and frustration.

At an event purported to be an open conversation to share experiences about racial inclusion, no one from the audience was given an opportunity at the microphone. This meant that students of color who had attended expecting just such an opportunity, were denied a voice.

To highlight the problem more clearly, I ask you to imagine a similar event with the topic of conversation being women’s rights and representation, and all the panelists asked to speak were men. Do you see what I mean? Implicitly (or explicitly) racist speech and microaggressions, which go unnoticed and unrecognized by most whites, are everyday realities for people of color. These uncomfortable

See Race page 10

What we want from ASUPIn the midst of ASUP’s

internal struggles this year and continuing into this election cycle, there has been much talk of “making ASUP relevant again.” On the surface, it’s clear what this would mean providing visible and tangible support and action for the student body, and making it clear what this is and how to access it. But beyond the basics, increasing ASUP’s relevance is a rather amorphous desire with no obvious, singular solution. The Beacon Editorial Board would also like to see a more relevant ASUP, and we have considered several steps we hope to see next year’s Executive Board take in advancing this goal:

The first step to being relevant to students is basic communication. ASUP needs to find a way to have better back-and-forth communication with the student body and that means meeting students where they are. Office hours are great, but students don’t normally congregate or even pass by the ASUP office in St. Mary’s, which means they have to go out of their way to communicate with ASUP.

Communication should be convenient. Students are already on social media, so ASUP should be more active on social media. Having an up-to-date website and an engaging social media presence would be solid first steps.

Communicating with students means being open to their concerns on platforms that are accessible to them, but it also means actively reaching out and keeping the student body informed of ASUP activity. Several ASUP members have written opinion submissions into The Beacon, and that’s the kind of communication we want to see from ASUP to the student body.

After ASUP communicates more effectively with students, their next job is to communicate more effectively with administration. This year, a lot of problems on campus have stemmed from a communication gap between students and administration. ASUP is supposed to bridge that gap. As the student liaisons on campus, ASUP already has unique lines of communication with administrators that the

rest of the student body doesn’t have access to.

As Beacon staff members, oftentimes we only communicate with administration in the midst of some problem. But ASUP is talking with administration all the time (or should be), which gives them the opportunity to build rapport and develop stronger relationships. And that relationship and rapport should be used to make sure the administration hears the concerns of the students. One way that ASUP can have administration listen is by passing resolutions. There were no resolutions passed this year, which is a huge missed opportunity for ASUP and the student body. Whether it’s talking about race or mental health or advocating for professors’ salaries, ASUP has the power and the responsibility to keep administration informed of student concerns and vice versa.

Ultimately, ASUP shouldn’t have to make major changes to increase communication between students because ASUP is students. But

sometimes we treat ASUP members as outside the student body, but they’re not. At the same time, as student leaders, members of ASUP have a responsibility to represent the student body and set a good example for the rest of the students. One way ASUP could become a better example for the rest of the school is to have their members attend multicultural events. Lack of attendance at multicultural events was an issue that came up at the racial inclusion discussion last week. ASUP members could help boost attendance and set an example for the student body by regularly attending important multicultural events on campus.

We would love to see ASUP work with students more. We would love to see ASUP working with Beacon staff members in the opinion section or engaging students on social media. We are all leaders on campus in some capacity - whether we’re co-captain of our intramural team or secretary for the anime club. And we can work together!

Racial Inclusion: Continuing the ConversationBy Ashley Mikulyuk

S O C I O L O G Y P R O F E S S O R

10OPINION T H E B E A C O N • M A R . 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 • U P B E A C O N . C O M

realities needed to be featured at the inaugural racial inclusion event at the University of Portland, especially since there is no way white people can ever know how it feels to live the daily experiences of people of color in the United States.

Ultimately, one of the students of color at our table decided to speak up. She recalled to me the next day that she courageously approached the event organizers to ask for the opportunity to take the microphone and speak her truth. She was denied that opportunity, and told to express her views on the piece of paper at her table, which would be turned in to the committee. All she wanted was to be heard. She was silenced. Myself and Dr. Lara Trout also approached the organizers, asking that the microphone

be opened up — at least for the last 15 minutes or so — to invite audience members to share. We were painfully aware that there is so much that words on a page cannot fully capture.

I’d like to frame my remaining comments in the form of answers to modified versions of the questions asked at the racial inclusion event last Tuesday.

What has the PACOI done right?

I respect and honor the Presidential Advisory Committee on Inclusion’s incredible efforts in organizing and publicizing this event, in the interest of figuring out the steps required for positive change at the individual and institutional level of this community. Without institutional support, this would not have been possible. I am grateful that

the administration recognizes racism on campus as an issue worthy of real discussion and action.

What could have been done better?

Another student of color, expressing frustration about the fact that all of the panelists asked to speak were white, told me: “What was the point of this?” I couldn’t answer him. His voice and experience could not be fully expressed on paper. And his feelings — which I can’t say for certain, but I’m confident are shared by others — are worthy of recognition and respect. He left the event feeling the opposite. I sensed deeply the profound tension, pain and fear of many of the students of color during and after this event, feelings which translate into the disconnection and lack of sense of belonging felt on campus in general.

Reflecting on her experience as a panel participant, Lara Trout says, “When I was asked to participate, I was honored. I also assumed students of color and others from the audience would be invited to speak as well. Arriving at the event and learning that this spoken-voice participation was not part of the plan, I felt shocked and deeply worried about the emotional impact this could have on students of color in attendance.”

What is a next step we can take now? We can pass the microphone — and soon.

Concerned students, in conjunction with Black Lives Matter@UP, have scheduled a loving follow-up event, which complements PACOI’s efforts, as its title indicates: “Racial Inclusion: Continuing the conversation,” scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 2016, from 7-9 p.m. in St. Mary’s. This

event will feature an open microphone opportunity for those who wanted to speak at the March 22 racial inclusion event — an opportunity to take the stage and speak their truth with respect, dignity, and humility.

All are invited, with a special shout out to those on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Inclusion. This event is a continuation of your efforts: one of the next steps you asked for and one that many have come together to create. Please come join us in continuing the conversation you so courageously started, a conversation that would be incomplete without your thoughts and feedback as well. We really hope you can join us.

Ashley Mikulyuk is a sociology professor and can be reached at [email protected].

subtle (missing moments of class while performing mental compulsions) to outright debilitating (taking 20 showers a day).

Depression is frequently comorbid with anxiety disorders, and the same is true for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD

preys on a person’s sense of conscience, burdening the person with the sense of responsibility for what would happen if the compulsions were not carried out. Distressing obsessions can cripple a person’s sense of self-worth. The feelings of fear and guilt might eventually grow into full-fledged depression. For some, the feelings of despair

and depression can lead to suicidal ideation.

OCD is a disorder that we’ve jokingly relegated to TV detectives and tidy people. On the contrary, it causes many ordinary people a tremendous deal of unwarranted suffering.

Left undiagnosed and untreated, it may become worse. I should know — mine went undiagnosed for seven

years, and it almost killed me. It was (and sometimes still is) absolute hell.

If any of these symptoms seem familiar to you, make an appointment with a counselor or at least do some research because this is not an exhaustive list. There’s a very good chance that one of you reading this article has OCD that has not yet been

diagnosed. Fortunately, it can be very effectively treated. There is no need to be ruled by anxieties that have nothing to do with who you truly are.

We all struggle. Let’s struggle together.

Madeline Boyle is a senior philosophy major. She can be reached at [email protected].

Continued from page 9


OCD: Student reflects on daily struggles and asking for help

Race: Professor sees event shortcomings and solutions

11SPORTS T H E B E A C O N • M A R . 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 • U P B E A C O N . C O M

training to 400 training.”With her short month of

preparation in the books it was time.

In the tunnel at the Convention Center, Francisco saw a sign that asked one simple question. ‘Ready to see the world?’ Ready or not, she was about to take the track as a representative of Guam, lined up next to runners from all over the world, with a crowd of 4,000 people looking on.

Once she was on the track her job was simple: run.

“I can’t remember what I was feeling while I was running,” Francisco said. “All I know is I couldn’t have run any faster otherwise I would have.”

She did run fast, finishing the 400-meter race in 1:00.08, which was enough to set a Guam national record in that event. Still, Francisco still felt like she left with unfinished business.

“I was actually hoping to run a faster time (and) break 59:00,” Francisco said.

Out of all of the athletes who finished the race, Francisco had the slowest time. But because of her national record, she is being considered to represent Guam at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One male and one female will run for Guam in Rio this summer and Francisco is one of only a few women being considered for the spot.

“They’re going to be looking

at times that I run,” Francisco said. “So this season that I’m in right now is important because the times that I run are what is going to be considered.”

The uncertainty surrounding a trip to the Olympics could be unnerving to some, but Francisco sees it as an opportunity to make herself better.

“My next step would be training as if I were going,” Francisco said. “So I’m gonna continue to train every day and go hard.”

If she is chosen for the Olympics she will find herself in a familiar spot — with very little time to prepare for a big event. If she is chosen, she has the full support of the UP track & field.

“If she gets selected in June then her race will be in early August,” Colwell said. “So then we have to modify training, keep her healthy, and then work on training all the way through August.”

Francisco and her coaches plan on investing a lot of time

into the training process, but in the end they all know that for a 19-year-old at the Olympics it’s about more than just numbers.

“To represent your country at the Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Colwell said. “That is way more significant than the time or the performance that she will have there, she’ll always get to be an Olympian from that point forward.”

Francisco couldn’t help but smile as she imagined receiving the news that she would be representing Guam at the Olympics. After breaking the Guam national record, she has her eyes set on bigger things for the Olympic stage.

“Records are only meant to be broken,” she said. “Breaking a record isn’t what you want to do, you want to run your fastest time and break your own PR.”

Olympics: Francisco sets Guam record

Guam

Mangilao


The University of Portland men’s basketball team is in a state of uncertainty as they wait for the announcement of who will be their new head coach.

Eric Reveno was relieved of his coaching duties on March 15 following a disappointing first round exit in the West Coast Conference tournament. The Athletic Department announced that a nationwide search would begin immediately in search of his replacement. Two weeks later, no decision has been reached.

The next basketball coach must be able to bring the Pilots over the hump that has made it so that no coach in the last 50 years has gone on to find another coaching job after leaving The Bluff.

The Athletic Department expects results. In the University’s most recent strategic plan, it stated that the University wanted to “develop a program of national excellence similar to women’s soccer” by 2016. The plan says that goal would be measured by consistent top two finishes in the WCC and consistent participation in post-season tournaments while maintaining NCAA academic standards.

The next coach needs to deliver those results while also being able to thrive in an environment where basketball is not the school’s highest priority.

It is not easy to man Portland’s ship. Reveno’s successor will be tasked with changing Portland’s luck.

So the question remains, who should be the new head coach?

1. Terry PorterA ‘Pied Piper’ would be

a good fit for the job. As an ex-NBA guy, Porter could attract high-level talent which is something Portland will need if they want a dog in the

WCC fight. The top seeds in the conference have found their recruiting niche. Saint Mary’s has a steady stream of Australian players while Gonzaga has consistently attracted high profile transfers such as Kyle Wiltjer from Kentucky and Nigel Williams-Goss from the University of Washington.

Porter could be the Pilots’ ticket to a strong recruiting class which would transfer into wins.

Ten of Porter’s 17 NBA seasons were with the Portland Trail Blazers. Although he has no college coaching experience, he has had two NBA head coaching stints (two seasons in Milwaukee, half of a season in Phoenix). He led the Bucks to the Playoffs in 2004.

It remains to be seen if Porter is interested in UP’s coaching vacancy, but there is no question that he would be a good fit on the court.

Telling a recruit you had success playing and coaching in the NBA is a huge plus.

2. Randy RaheBringing Weber State men’s

basketball coach to the Chiles Center would be a long shot, but his resume is exactly what the Pilots need. He has a 64 percent winning percentage in a decade with the Wildcats.

Rahe led Weber State to NCAA tournament berths in 2007, 2014 and 2016. Not to mention, he coached Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard Damian Lillard in college. Lillard, an unranked recruit in high school, was a two time Big Sky conference player of the year for the Wildcats and became a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

Who’s to say Rahe can’t replicate similar success stories with Pilot players?

He has 208 wins at the mid-major level and three Big Dance appearances under his belt.

He should be on Scott Leykam’s call list.

3. Donny DanielsDon’t let Donny Daniels’

age fool you. Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few has kept him on the sideline as an assistant coach for the past six years for a reason. The Zags have been in the NCAA 19 straight seasons and have proven to be the team to beat.

Daniels has a reputation of being a top-notch recruiter, a skill that would help revolutionize Portland basketball. Rivals.com rated him one of college basketball’s top 25 recruiters in 2004. He helped bring Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday to UCLA when he served as an assistant for the Bruins. All three have gone on to become NBA All-Stars.

Daniels has served most of his 38 seasons of coaching as an assistant, but he does have head coaching experience at the mid-major level. He coached Cal State Fullerton for two seasons.

Who should replace Reveno?

By Ben Arthur & Malika AndrewsT H E B E A C O N

Contact Sports Editor Malika @malika_andrews. Contact Sports Writer Ben Arthur @King_Arthur425

Photo courtesy of Christina Francisco

Christina Francisco celebrates with a teammate after a race.

Contact Sports Writer Hunter Jacobson at [email protected]: @huntre23

Commentary:

12M A R . 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 • U P B E A C O N . C O MSports Malika Andrews Sports [email protected]

Online exclusive: Catch an all new episode of Arthur and Andrews on Sunday!

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There was no cake for Tina Francisco’s 19th birthday. No party, no presents. Francisco traded in her birthday hat for cleats and a chance to compete against some of the fastest runners in the world at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)World Championships in Portland March 18. And now she’s being considered to represent her native Guam at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Francisco, a freshman biology major at the University of Portland, represented Guam in the 400-meter race. She was the youngest of the 19 athletes competing in her event.

“Sitting there, already I was just shaking and sweating,” Francisco said of the seemingly endless wait for the start of the race.

Francisco admitted that she had nearly forgotten that the day of the race was also her birthday.

“I just remember going in being really, really focused,” Francisco said. “(I focused on) controlling my breathing and making sure I didn’t deplete

my adrenaline before the actual race.”

She kept her concentration the way she would before any other race, she put her headphones on and drowned out the distractions. But this wasn’t any other race.

While most of her competitors had been training for this event for years, Francisco didn’t know that she would be running track at UP until just before the 2015-16 school year, let alone know that she would be going to Worlds.

An email from her high school track coach took Francisco from a college track athlete, to a track athlete with a chance to do what few 19 year olds get to do. She had a chance to represent her country doing what she loves — running. Shortly after, her spot in Worlds was set.

Guam has a population of only 165,000. It’s small, but running there is anything but.

“Running is a very important sport in Guam,” Francisco said. “(There are) 5K’s all the time, you see marathons, and track in Guam is such a friendly sport.”

Over the years Francisco has represented her middle school,

high school and the University of Portland, but now she finds herself representing something much bigger.

With her ticket to Worlds punched, Francisco would only have one month to prepare for the 400-meter race.

“I was definitely caught off guard,” Francisco said. “I just went in with the shape that I’m in now, just seeing what I could do.”

This trip to worlds came as a surprise to Francisco’s coaches as well, who would now have just a month to get one of their athletes ready for a competition that they didn’t have on their schedule to start the season. Not only was time short, but indoor season for UP track was over and they had transitioned to training for the outdoor season. Francisco would run indoors at Worlds, so she had to juggle her indoor and outdoor training in the month before the event.

“In the outdoor season she’s a 400-meter hurdler, which is a different training than what she was doing for the 400,” sprints coach Chad Colwell said. “So we had to alter back and forth from 400 hurdle

Possible Olympic berth for UP freshman

See Olympics page 11

Photo courtesy of Christina Francisco

By Hunter JacobsonT H E B E A C O N

Christina Franciscso races in a college meet. Francisco beat the national Guam record at Worlds.

the beacon - issue 22 - march 31

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