2008 Woodie Awards
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Abortion display draws eyes
Traveling anti-abortion display that uses shocking images comes to campus
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Yesterday, bright-colored signs bearing the words "Warning Genocide Photos Ahead" were the first indication that the scene in the South Park Blocks would be different than a typical day.
An eye-catching display showing the effects of abortion with pictures of aborted fetuses, dead bodies and representations of genocide, including photos depicting the Holocaust, was erected in between the Branford P. Millar Library and Neuberger Hall Tuesday.
The search for access
Some students with disabilities say historically inadequate access to classrooms, textbooks and technology hinders their experiences on campus
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Jim Jackson is a Portland State student with degenerative eye disease, a condition that progressively worsens his eyesight as time goes by. Because of his condition, he needs to use special technology and adapted textbooks in order to keep up with his class work--technology that is often scarce around campus, he said, and books that require extra steps to order.
PSU Presidential candidate Whitmore out of the running
After campus visit last week, Texas Tech president says PSU not a good fit
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Dr. Jon Whitmore, one of three candidates vying to be PSU president, has withdrawn from the selection process.
According to an Oregon University System press release sent today, Whitmore, who is currently President of Texas Tech University, has determined that being PSU president would not be a good fit for him after last week's visit to campus.
AAUP declares impasse in contract negotiations
Announcement puts PSU full-time faculty one step closer to strike
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The Portland State chapter of the American Association of University Professors has declared an impasse in its ongoing salary dispute with the PSU administration, a move that puts full-time faculty one step closer to a potential strike.
The PSU-AAUP Executive Council met with its collective bargaining team Thursday amid stalled negotiations to declare the impasse. Now, both the AAUP and the PSU administration have seven days to submit their final offers to a state mediator who will then make the offers public. After a 30-day "cooling off" period, the university can submit its final offer if no resolution is reached. The faculty would then have the right to strike.
Students struggle in strained job market
With rising unemployment, jobs previously occupied by students are decreasing
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Katrina Griffiths, a 20-year-old PCC student, was laid off unexpectedly when the company she worked for cut back jobs. As a result, she was forced to drop a required math class in order to make her schedule more appealing to businesses.
The biology major says she now fills that time looking for work. "That's part of my little daily ritual now, is once I'm done [for the day] with school, I just go on Craigslist and look."
Griffiths is not alone in her search. Every day, several thousand Oregonians, many of them students, compete for jobs.
Stalled contract negotiations lead AAUP into impasse
Inability to agree on pay, moves faculty union closer to possible strike
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Portland State's full-time faculty union is inching closer to a possible strike, after stalled contract negotiations with university administrators, over what they see as unfair pay, reached a state of impasse Friday.
But administrators say that the union's previous contract has been extended until the end of the school year, which could prevent the union from striking until June 30.
A goal of 'Empowerment'
Christian Aniciete and Karla Hernandez want to give PSU students a voice
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At a recent Big Sky Conference Tournament PSU men's basketball game last month at the Rose Garden, student body presidential candidate Christian Aniciete noticed something as he looked at the crowd. He thought, "Where's the school pride? The great turnouts to cheer on the team?"
What Aniciete observed that night echoed a change he wants to see around PSU--to bring students into a greater involvement with their campus community.
National debate championships at PSU this weekend
PSU Debate Team hosts 64-team competition to crown best in the country
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The PSU Debate Team is hosting the 2008 U.S. National Debate Championships this weekend, drawing in teams from as far away as Hawaii and New York, with 64 teams each looking to take home a trophy.
John Kroger's goal: to clean up Oregon
Attorney General candidate wants to deal with meth issues with a stern hand
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The May 20 Oregon primaries are expected to be significant, particularly for democrats.
Not only will the Democratic presidential nominee be decided, but the Oregon Attorney General should be chosen as well, as there is no Republican Party member running for the position.
John Kroger is one of the candidates running for state attorney general, and wants to bring what he sees as a heavy-handed approach to some of Oregon's largest "problem areas."
To make community a priority
Jon Whitmore said if hired he would work to engage PSU students and faculty
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Jon Whitmore believes in being an engaging president by focusing on the needs of students and faculty.
Dr. Whitmore, one of three candidates vying to be the next PSU president, said if chosen he would concentrate on putting people first, by working to retain quality faculty and making sure highly qualified students were admitted to the university.
Water you drinking?
Experts say bottled water is not sustainable, and may also be unhealthy
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Portland State is commonly seen as being environmentally friendly, whether it is because of the university's many sustainable projects or the numerous environmentally conscious bikers that commute to campus.
But when it comes to bottled water, the PSU Sustainability Office thinks university staff and students could be doing more to help reduce the number of plastic bottles littering the university--either by making a more conscious effort to recycle, or by just not drinking bottled water at all.
Discovering life without God
Jason Baidenmann created group to represent PSU's non-religious community
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Last year, Jason Baidenmann was walking through the Park Blocks at night when he heard songs of worship coming from the Smith Memorial Student Union. Baidenmann, who is non-religious, was inspired by the music.
The songs did not inspire him religiously, but instead inspired him to create a group that would represent the non-religious community of Portland State.
Hungry to end starvation? Meet Taylor Johnson
PSU student hosts forum that discusses ways to fight hunger issues in Oregon
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When Taylor Johnson first read a fact sheet about hunger in Oregon, he began talking with state agencies and local groups that work to eradicate the problem.
On Monday night, he got a chance to take action.
E-mail scammers target PSU with 'spear-phishing'
Multiple students fall prey to e-mail scams that purport to be from PSU
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In the final weeks of winter term, several thousand Portland State students and faculty received e-mails claiming to be from User Support Services and other IT departments within the university.
PSU greenhouses awarded LEED
Research greenhouses first of their kind to receive sustainable certification
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On the south side of campus, tucked away behind the Peter W. Scott Center, sit two structures that are so unique they are the first of their kind to be awarded the LEED benchmark in the United States.
A passion for politics
Rachel Richardson looks to make a difference by promoting Barack Obama
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Rachel Richardson has worked for the Barack Obama campaign, founded Portland State Students for Obama and is a Student Fee Committee member. Despite her political involvement, Richardson is only 19 years old and has never voted before.
PSU scientists receive NASA grant
Grant to aid in study of understanding links to potential life on Mars
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A team of scientists from Portland State and two Montana-based universities have been awarded a $142,000 grant from NASA to study how life on other planets could live in extreme environments, such as a volcano on Mars.
Answered! Barack Obama edition - Irrelevant information that you need to know
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Obama knows how to get his boogie on. For proof, just watch clips of him on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (searchable on www.youtube.com) where he shakes his booty to the funky beat. Actually, it's more like an unsure twelve-year-old rocking back and forth at a middle school dance.
ASPSU candidates in the park
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Yesterday in the South Park Blocks, the leaders of both slates for the upcoming ASPSU elections spoke to over 50 students in a debate on the merits of their platforms.
In short
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Campus Public Safety Chief Michael Soto will hold the first of his "Meet the Chief Forums" today at 10 a.m. in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 258.
ASPSU presidential debates in Smith today
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Debates featuring candidates running for student body president and vice president will be held today, kicking off a debate series with ASPSU candidates that will last until next week.
In short
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Author Ned Sublette will discuss his new book, The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, today on campus as part of the Portland State Library Artists and Writers Series.
In short
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Today is the deadline to file tax returns for employees who earned income during 2007. Failure to file will result in a late fee that is based on the employee's 2007 earnings.
In short
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Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, will visit campus this Saturday to give a talk and promote her mother's campaign.
Crime Blotter
Useless criminal act of the week: stealing a motorcycle's windshield
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Michael Kosiba, arrested for alleged trespassing in the building, was found in the bathroom. Kosiba was intoxicated and lying in his own urine, with a can of beer next to him.
