Oh, Halloween. It’s that time of year when our spooky friends and neighbors delight in the wondrous Halloween season: bats, pumpkin heads, skeletons, and most importantly, the black cat. But…
Picking the perfect pumpkin
Portland Pumpkin Patches It’s officially fall! We all know that that means: it’s time for pumpkin everything. But before you can adorn your porch (or dorm hallway) with fall, you…
By the lore of the moon
The moon mystifies many with its arcane powers. When roads are full of inept drivers or pets start to act weird, the phrase, “It’s a full moon” is often uttered….
10 Cool facts about black cats!
Black Cat Facts & Trivia Egyptian Royalty In ancient Egypt, black cats were considered royalty due to an official deity in the 22nd Dynasty, Bast, commonly portrayed in hieroglyphics as…
Why are these costumes sexy? Who cares! Wear them!
Is your costume not sexy enough? Don’t worry! We got you! Here at Portland State Vanguard, our motto is “Whatever, do whatever.” It has served us well all these years, and…
Origins of Halloween in the U.S.
Given current popular belief, modern scholarly theories on the origins of Halloween may be a little surprising. The origins of Halloween as we know it began with Samhain, a traditional…
Afros, sombreros, and racial stereotypes? Hell no!
During the last few years, cultural appropriation has jumped into the spotlight as a problematic trend white people don’t seem to want to give up. Halloween is rapidly approaching, and…
Things that damn-well shouldn’t be pumpkin spice
As counterculture Portland as you think you want to be, it’s pumpkin-freakin-spice season. Washington Post wrote a great expose on why pumpkin spice became America’s go-to fall flavor. The mix…
The list of Pacific Northwest serial killers you’ve been dying for
Look to your left. Look to your right. Seven out of every million of you beanie-toting Oregonians will be murdered by a serial killer. Terrifying, right? Though Oregon ranks number…
On-campus events calendar: Oct. 17–23
FEATURED EVENT FILM The Devil Probably (1977) Oct. 20–21, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 3 p.m. 5th Avenue Cinema $4–5 (free w/PSU ID), all ages From the copy:…