In the United States, the capitalist economy rests on the shoulders of big money corporations. I’m no economist, but I’ll wager that capitalism isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Food, fashion…
Intrinsic motivation as a lifestyle
In education and work settings, we are expected to work faster, harder and better when extrinsic factors such as material gains, money, status, increased salary or grades are on the…
The right kind of representation
Transgender individuals often face disenfranchisement and marginalization on a daily basis. This is not new information. And for some reason, any kind of representation in mainstream Hollywood is considered a…
Why are we still debating abortion?
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently created a Religious Liberty Task Force to ensure “[federal] employees know their duties to accommodate people of faith,” Sessions said. As Vox put…
It’s time to rethink veganism
For a movement that’s entire purpose is ending systematic oppression by welcoming empathy, it’s unfortunate how exclusionary the mainstream vegan community has become. Current attitudes surrounding contemporary veganism encourage the…
Viking Voices: Brandee Dudzic
Brandee Dudzic is a Portland State student in the Conflict Resolution Program. On Friday morning, June 29, at exactly 3:09 am, my phone rang. I sat up like an arrow…
Shark Week: the good and the bad
Perhaps instigated by the film Jaws with its iconic “dun dun, dun dun…” refrain, sharks spark fear, danger and drama in the public mind. Discovery Channel’s Shark Week originally set…
Choose your own book
Reading for pleasure Ok, first of all, I want to be as clear as possible that I’m not here to steal more of your attention. You’re starting your summer jobs…
‘I really do care, don’t you?’
America has a long-standing history of oppression, violence and injustice, but in all of the chaos, there are nonprofits, organizations and people willing to fight the bad with a little…
America the empire
While the British Empire is permanently in the background of Western imperialism, the United States has never admitted to such a legacy. This is not to say it has nothing…
The divide between art and science
Educational funding in this country has always come with a narrative: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) is in crisis, and that’s what we hear in order to push funding toward…