Portland State Vanguard Volume 78 Issue 28

NEWS:

ARTS: PSU alum draws from Mennonite upbringing in her writing P. 5

OPINION: Those in power benefit from political apathy P. 6

PSU receives $10 million as an investment in the arts on campus P. 8-9

STAFF

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Josi Struck

Alley Henrici

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Aishwarya Suresh

COPY CHIEF

Isabel Zerr

CONTRIBUTORS

Darcy Williams

Diana DeGroot

Jessica Pelton

Milo Loza

Vaishnavi Srinath

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Briana Cieri

DESIGNERS

Arianna Thomas

Haley Hsu

Abby Raymundo

Parker Patnode

TECHNOLOGY & WEBSITE

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS

George Olson

Hongzu Pan

Sara Ray

ADVISING & ACCOUNTING

COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

Reaz Mahmood

SALP ACCOUNTANT

Maria Dominguez

TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR

STUDENT MEDIA

Rae Fickle

To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@psuvanguard.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Vanguard’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-on journalism education and a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market.

ABOUT Vanguard, established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com.

TECHNOLOGIES SAFEGUARDING PORTLAND’S BRIDGES

EXPLORING SAFETY OF PORTLAND BRIDGES POST-BALTIMORE-BRIDGE COLLAPSE

Known for its scenic beauty and vibrant culture, Portland is also home to a network of bridges crucial for its transportation infrastructure. In light of recent bridge collapses such as the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, there’s a growing interest in understanding the safety measures and technologies which protect Portland’s bridges.

Donald MacDonald is an architect who helped develop suspension bridge designs for the Tilikum Crossing, which spans the Willamette River in Portland. The crossing is intended for bikers, pedestrians and light-rail riders. MacDonald highlighted the significance of factors like clearance under these types of bridges.

“The bridges in Portland have a 60-foot clearance, making them less vulnerable to large vessels,” MacDonald said. This clearance minimizes the risk of collisions—an essential safety measure.

“The bridges are basically designed with a huge buttress below the tower legs that can take an impact,” MacDonald said. “There’s a big pyramid of rocks below the pile cap, which is the base of the tower. So they hit this pyramidshaped rock before they get to the tower base.”

“The big tankers or the big container ships are the real concerns,” MacDonald said. “Because we made them [container ships] so big nowadays. They have a tremendous amount of force if they’re moving and not controlled.”

Dr. Franz Rad—Professor Emeritus from the department of civil and environmental engineering at Portland State—emphasized the probabilistic nature of bridge design. “We can’t afford to design bridges to withstand impacts from ships which weigh millions of tons,” Rad said. “We have to look at the weight and the speed of travel instead. Bridges are designed with safety factors considering various loads, including dynamic forces like earthquakes, wind and ice.”

This approach attempts to balance ensuring structural integrity and avoiding excessive costs.

“We have a standard policy in various states on how we do the inspection and make sure that the deterioration of the metal, concrete or wood used is inspected and noted in the reports, and they are rectified,” Rad said. “Sometimes we have to change, revamp or retrofit them in some ways, which is done annually, except when some of the departments of transportation don’t have the person, power or the funding to do it every year... So they do it every other year or every three years.”

The age of the bridge also influences how

frequently it needs to be revamped or retrofitted. Newer bridges are more reliable, because they were built with more modern stability concerns in mind.

Patrick McLaughlin—a Professor teaching civil and environmental engineering at PSU— discussed advancements in bridge design for seismic resilience and flood mitigation. “Newer bridges incorporate features like enhanced seismic resistance and flood protection, reflecting evolving safety standards,” he said.

“We as an engineering community come up with standards that we think are reasonable to design, be it buildings or bridges or any element based on what’s likely to occur over the lifespan of that element,” McLaughlin said. “And typically most bridges have inherent in their design an idea that they’re probably gonna last for 50 to 100 years. The Baltimore bridge had exceeded that 50-year mark, and so it still was in its useful life, but it’s hard to forecast that far in the future to consider all the various possibilities of loads or risks that might occur over that time span.”

In many ways, our bridges would be at a similar risk. McLaughlin pointed out how older bridges—such as the Fremont Bridge, the Saint John’s Bridge and certainly any of the bridges along the Columbia Gorge, such as the Glenn Jackson Bridge—would be vulnerable to risk, as they are located in major shipping corridors. “Energy absorbers or exterior crash diverter structures that would absorb the damage and prevent the pier itself from taking the damage [are some] of the safety measures that can be adopted,” McLaughlin said. “Those types of technologies have been used in some more modern bridges where the risk from larger ships have taken on a higher probability.”

Regular inspections and maintenance are integral to ensuring the safety of bridges. Kacey Davey—Public Information Officer at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)—emphasized their meticulous inspection procedures. “All bridges are inspected every two years,” Davey stated. “Every year, ODOT publishes a detailed report about the condition of each of the 2,773 bridges across our state.” These inspections adhere to national standards and evaluate bridges based on condition ratings.

Only a few bridges in Oregon are vulnerable to the type of crash we witnessed in Baltimore, because Oregon sees few ships of this size.

Moreover, the piers of major bridges are typi-

cally protected by steel or timber piles driven into the riverbed known as dolphins. Many bridges are also built with fenders. The fenders protect the bridge from collisions with ships and debris in the water during storm events. The fender systems are built to handle these impacts. The Astoria-Megler Bridge is an example of a bridge with large fenders on its foundations.

Multnomah County Transportation Division Director Jon Henrichsen underscored the importance of disaster response plans for bridge maintenance. In the event of significant damage, the county staff and engineers inspect and evaluate the bridge’s safety before it can be repaired and reopened to the public.

“New bridges, like the Wapato, Sellwood, and the future Burnside Bridge are required to be

designed to not collapse after impact from the largest vessel that can operate on the river,” Henrichsen stated.

Looking ahead, computer modeling and material science advancements offer promising avenues for enhancing bridge safety. “Advances in analytical work and material properties will improve bridge design accuracy and longevity,” Rad said.

Through a blend of meticulous design, regular maintenance and ongoing innovation, these structures ensure the safety and well-being of our community. As we learn from recent incidents and embrace technological advancements, Portland continues to lead the way in bridge safety, setting an example for cities worldwide.

VAISHNAVI SRINATH AND ANISH ARUMUGAM

ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI/PSU VANGUARD The

ANISH ARUMUGAM/PSU VANGUARD

Tilikum Crossing spans the Willamette River in Portland and is the first new bridge built across the river in the Portland area since 1973

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: ROSANNA NAFZIGER

PSU CREATIVE WRITING ALUM AWARDED 2024 OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIP

Rosanna Nafziger—an alum of Portland State’s MFA in Creative Writing Program— has been awarded a 2024 Oregon Literary Fellowship. This fellowship is considered one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Pacific Northwest. It comes with a cash prize to support Oregon writers’ work and literary projects.

Nafziger—who grew up in Virginia and West Virginia in a rural Mennonite community—was selected for the Oregon Literary Fellowship for “a collection of essays about my growing up in this Mennonite community and uncovering my queerness,” Nafziger said.

Nafziger has published books in a range of genres. Alongside food historian Ken Albala, she authored two books celebrating traditional, thoughtful cooking from scratch: The Lost Art of Real Cooking and The Lost Arts of Hearth and Home.

Nafziger’s work extends to creative writing, poetry and essays which are published in various journals and magazines, including River Teeth, Gay Magazine, Fourth Genre and Tahoma Literary Review.

Nafziger is currently working on a novel which began as her MFA thesis project. She also teaches writing workshops through a local writing center called Corporeal Writing.

PSU Vanguard spoke with Nafziger to learn more about her background and current work.

VG: What inspires the subject matter of your writing?

Nafziger: I think a lot of my fiction is inspired by fairy-tale or surreal experiences and also by my childhood in this Mennonite community that was very wild and rural. And actually, I think that comes out in both my fiction and the nonfiction too, because, in some ways, it felt like I was growing up in this alternate reality. It was a very evangelical, tiny community, and so it was very isolated.

There was this sense that the people around me believed that there were forces at work that were controlling our lives, like demons and God.

And it felt like a creepy, fairy-tale kind of environment. And I think that comes out in both my fiction and my nonfiction.

A lot of the nonfiction is just immersive stories about my childhood, especially as a queer person in this community where I had absolutely no language to describe my experiences or my identity. And just feeling like a misfit in a community of misfits.

VG: Do you have a particular audience in mind for whom you’re writing or any particular message you’re trying to convey through your work?

Nafziger: I think there’s several things that I think as a writer—like an artist—I can’t not write about, and that would be queerness and class. And it’s not that I feel like I have a particular didactic message. I think it’s more about connecting, and I think all of my writing is like a bid for connection.

…I think a lot of it is imagining what I would have wanted to read growing up, lacking the language to even describe myself or to really understand the community I was in and writing the things that I wish I could have read then… I think it would have given me more confidence and freedom. And it’s trying to put into words the things that our society deems unspeakable… I think that’s my goal.

VG: How do you think your upbringing in a Mennonite community has shaped who you’ve become and the work you create?

Nafziger: There’s so much emphasis on community and mutual aid, which we were the beneficiaries of that, time and time again… Mennonites—like in my grandparent’s generation—were farmers. And even if they accumulated wealth, a lot of them would give so much of it to charity and live very modestly. [They’d] live in small houses and drive old cars and avoid flashiness or worldliness. This also meant that there was a lot of emphasis on purity culture… As a queer person growing up and figuring out my sexuality, it

Local A&C Events

KAT LEON

Indoor Pagan Market

7958 SW Barbur Blvd

April 15, 2 p.m.

Free entry

Come find all the goodies your little pagan heart desires. Jewelry, crystals, art, candles, even a tarot reader.

Salsa & Bachata Socials

Morrison Market (stage 722)

April 16, 7:15 p.m.

$10+

Learn the basics of salsa & bachata and join Portland’s hottest weekly Latin Dance Social

Drag Queen Bingo

The Knock Back

April 17, 7 p.m.

Free

A fabulous evening filled with laughter, excitement and unforgettable performances

History On Tap - Roll 20

Kiggins Theatre

April 18, 7 p.m.

Free

could be rigid, and you could feel like the community’s closeness also meant that there was a lot of judgment.

I feel like some of the values of that community I do really still hold to, like mutual aid and care for the environment. Definitely, some of them I have abandoned… The theology hasn’t worked for me for a very long time. But I think that there’s a lot of cultural values that I do really appreciate.

VG: Can you tell me about what you do as a workshop leader and how you got involved in teaching at Corporeal Writing?

Nafziger: Actually, my very first teaching experience was at PSU. I got to teach an Intro to Fiction Writing course right after I graduated, which was a wonderful experience. I found the students so curious and creative, and it really made me think I want to do more of this.

Writing can be really isolating, and leading workshops, I think, can create the community that I might be lacking otherwise sometimes… And so the workshop I decided to do was combining my food writing background and my creative writing. So I use food as a way to access character [and] world-building, like labor structures within either fiction or nonfiction.

VG: Do you have any advice for young writers?

Nafziger: I think one of the best things that happened to the development of my writing was finding a writing group—a group of people that I really trust—whose feedback I know is going to be honest and kind and clear. Just sharing work with that kind of group of people helps me just figure out my voice and the direction that I [want] to go in.

And I think that’s a wonderful thing that writing workshops can do… They can put you in contact with people, and when you identify your people, reach out to them… It doesn’t have to be a whole group of people, but [can] even just be one person—just one person that you trust.

Look back on 50 years of fantastical creatures and thrilling battles to reveal the game’s deeper significance as a powerful form of community storytelling

Steep in Words

Lan Su Chinese Garden

April 19, 1 p.m.

$14 admission to garden-free event

Poetry reading with local poets against the backdrop of the exquisite beauty of Lan Su in spring

The Art of Burning Man Encore OMSI

April 20, 5 p.m.

$20

A live digital image show that celebrates the explosive creativity of the Burning Man festival

Spring House Plant Swap

Cornell Farm-Cafe Pavilion

Mar. 21, 4 p.m.

No sales-trade and free plant swap only. Bring a few plants or cuttings to trade or give away. Any and all indoor plants are welcome at this free community event.

MACIE HARRELD

Nafziger’s writing is largely inspired by the rural Mennonite community that she grew up in

COURTESY OF ROSANNA NAFZIGER

POLITICIANS BENEFIT FROM VOTERS NOT VOTING

POLITICAL APATHY SERVES THE STATUS QUO

People in positions of power often prefer selective voting participation. This is evident from numerous instances of voter disenfranchisement, which often conveniently aligns with politicians’ avoidance of accountability and compliance with their lobbyist backers.

Following the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, lobbying became a constitutional right, which allowed super political action committees (PACs) to purchase political influence and sway elections with their campaign funds.

According to Al Jazeera, notable super PACs like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have recently gained significant notoriety given international events, prompting coalitions of around 20 advocacy groups to counter their political influence and lobbying efforts.

According to the Pew Research Center, many Americans express a desire for limitations on money in politics and support regulations. Yet, large interest groups still wield substantial power through financial influence.

Consequently, voter apathy emerges as a natural psychological response to the prevailing conditions surrounding voting and political engagement. However, this apathy doesn’t serve the populace’s interests; it benefits politicians and proponents of maintaining the status quo, shielding them from scrutiny and accountability.

Voter disenfranchisement stands out as a clear example of systemic voter suppression, manifesting as barriers which hinder people from participating in the voting process. This can be observed throughout the history of suffrage and by simply examining who is currently excluded from proper representation.

Historically, marginalized communities have often had the least voting power. In some cases, they resorted to activism to secure political representation when traditional avenues failed to provide it. This has been evident in suffrage movements, where people protested to gain the right to representation. The current surge in protests further highlights how people are often denied the opportunity to vote for the changes they want to see.

In Oregon, groups like Next Up advocate for lowering the voting age to 16. Individuals at this age are already contributing to

society through paying taxes and driving cars, yet they lack the ability to make political decisions which directly impact them. The push for this type of legislation is often met with resistance from those who fear progressive changes, as according to the Pew Research Center, since younger voters tend to lean towards more progressive ideologies.

Vivek Ramaswamy—former Republican presidential hopeful openly suggested either raising the voting age to 25 or implementing a voting test, reminiscent of the discriminatory voting conditions seen during the Jim Crow era.

Allegations of voting fraud have been used as a morally questionable method to disenfranchise numerous voters. Practices such as voter purges unjustly strip away legitimate votes and challenge valid registrations, and people of color and Democraticleaning individuals are often targeted.

In Oregon, we are fortunate to have the privilege of mail-in voting. However, many states still require in-person voting, which can entail waiting in long lines, particularly in Black communities. This poses significant challenges for individuals who work, have children, lack reliable transportation or are disabled.

Even in Oregon, there are limitations to mail-in voting. According to The Oregonian, Oregon has the third-largest unhoused population, so it’s understandable to be concerned about voting accessibility for someone who struggles with stable housing or lacks knowledge of voting resources.

Oregon representatives have repeatedly shown how their interests don’t actually align with the peoples’, and it is interesting to see how the people themselves know that and disengaged with politics for that reason.

While some individuals view voting as a patriotic duty, many others do not share this sentiment. They may perceive political participation as futile within our broken system. According to a Pew Research study, Americans commonly describe the current political state as divested, corrupt and messy.

According to a Pew study, voter turnout in the United States is only about 62.8% of the voting-age population. Voter apathy experiences are valid, with various reasons contributing to this

sentiment. The Good Party Politics Team identified underlying causes of voter apathy, ranging from disenfranchisement to feelings of cynicism and powerlessness. However, these are symptoms of a system that thrives on disengagement, and addressing them solely as individual issues will not resolve the underlying problem.

If voting is accessible for you—even if you think it doesn’t matter, or nothing would change—you should try to participate, if not for yourself, then for the people who cannot vote or have far more barriers to voting than you.

Those in power benefit from low participation, especially those critical of the government’s actions. Take back your power, politically show up where you deem appropriate, but do not disengage from the community you want to protect.

With the federal election approaching, many people are weary of the lesser-of-two-evils argument. Why should anyone have to settle for choices based on fear? This fear-based approach only serves to wear down communities time and time again.

As we face another election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, it’s evident that a majority of people don’t favor either candidate. CNBC reports that 60% of voters believe Trump should not run for reelection and 70% don’t want Biden to run again.

Yet, the trends in political campaigning suggest that these are the only options being presented. It’s no wonder that people feel apathetic toward politics as a whole. While other avenues for political participation exist, most institutions emphasize the importance of national politics as the only impactful vote.

The two-party system fosters ingroup-outgroup dynamics, prioritizing team loyalty over selecting the best option. Even if you feel your vote doesn’t matter or that nothing will change, you should still try to participate if voting is accessible to you.

Consider doing so for yourself as well as those who cannot vote or face more significant barriers to voting than you do. Those in power benefit from low participation rates, particularly among those critical of the government’s actions. Reclaim your political power by showing up where appropriate, but don’t disengage from the community you seek to protect.

CAMERON RODRIGUEZ

HALEY HSU

OUR LONELINESS IS KILLING US

The United States prides itself on being an independent society, championing individuals’ ability to carve out their own path and narrative in life. However, while we espouse the rhetoric of self-actualization, are we truly fostering it or are we merely romanticizing a hyper-individualistic society which is increasingly dysfunctional?

The pandemic has heightened awareness of isolation. However, according to an article published by Social Science & Medicine Population Health (SSM Population Health) , socialization has decreased steadily even outside of how the pandemic affected our interactions.

Socialization in the U.S. has declined since the 1950s, as highlighted in the research captured in Robert D. Putnam’s 2000 book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, which describes the phenomenon through bowling.

At the time, more people were bowling but fewer were participating in leagues. Despite continued engagement in shared activities, they are pursued in increasingly fragmented ways. Moreover, the diminishing availability of communal spaces exacerbates the perception of isolation. It seems there are fewer places where one can simply exist and connect with others. As social beings, humans naturally crave connection. Insufficient community and a sense of belonging can have tangible neurological effects, contributing to elevated rates of depression and anxiety, as Newsweek reported. SSM Population Health indicates that social isolation affects mental health and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and infectious illnesses.

According to Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, our understanding of ourselves is deeply intertwined with how others perceive us. Disconnection from social networks can lead to a loss of validation of our identities and a decrease in self-esteem and confidence.

Unfortunately, some individuals capitalize on this vulnerability and target those most susceptible to hyper-individualism. According to research published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior , men are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of individualism, perpetuating the myth of the lone wolf which is glorified in mainstream narratives. In our patriarchal society, men are often pressured to embody strength and dominance, leaving little room for vulnerability or communal support. Research published by Frontiers in Psychiatry suggests that societies and individuals embracing individualistic beliefs are more prone to suicidal tendencies, aligning with the higher rates of suicide among men.

Hyper-individualism thrives in a capitalist landscape where individuals are encouraged to fend for themselves and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. In the absence of community support, individuals often feel compelled to accept toxic and menial employment opportunities out of sheer necessity.

Similarly, this dynamic extends to those who exploit others for gain. Empathy can create moral dilemmas for individuals involved in modes of production reliant on exploitation. According to an article by Rachel Dalrymple—a wealth and real estate writer for Leaders Media—wealth often correlates with diminished empathy, as the powerful may prioritize their interests over the well-being of others.

As income inequality worsens, the disparity in concerns between different socioeconomic brackets becomes stark. While some focus on asset management, others struggle to meet basic needs such as food and shelter.

Empathetic individuals may find it challenging to witness the suffering of others, potentially leading them to perceive empathy as a weakness. Consequently, blaming individuals for their circumstances becomes easier than seeking ways to alleviate their suffering.

Socially, lower empathy is evident in the discourse surrounding masking and vaccination. The focus on personal freedoms and weak assertions of bodily autonomy has marginalized the most vulnerable members of society, leaving them with reduced access to protection and heightened fears of exposure.

Even within spaces which advocate for activism and collectivism, the pervasive environment of isolation has distorted our understanding of justice and activism.

Take, for instance, cancel culture— not as reactionary critics portray it, but as a phenomenon which often excludes individuals without offering a path to redemption or forgiveness. While not everyone on the internet subscribes to this extreme standard, it reflects the deep-seated individualism that pervades our society.

Even in spaces which aim to reject individualism, actions such as cutting off relationships and avoiding conflict perpetuate its values.

Hyper-individualism is deeply ingrained in modern society, influencing the thoughts and interactions of all who inhabit it. We must actively work to reject individualism and create space for the communities and collectives we aspire to build. While this journey is challenging, the connections we forge ultimately enrich our lives and make them worth living.

CAMERON RODRIGUEZ

ABBY RAYMUNDO

PSU ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION DONATION TO ARTS EDUCATION

SCHNITZER INVESTMENT ENSURES NEW ART

BUILDING AND MORE

On

A press conference was held at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State (JSMA at PSU) on April 2, where PSU announced a $10 million gift from Portland Real Estate Developer and Philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer to the School of Art + Design

$5 million of the donation will support the construction of a brand new arts building, scheduled to open in 2026 at the southern edge of the park blocks near the Native American Student and Community Center.

Additionally, $4 million of the donation will help continue operations of the JSMA at PSU and ensure free access to Schnitzer’s and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation’s art collections. The remaining $1 million will provide additional lighting, signage and outdoor art throughout campus.

The art school will be renamed the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design in recognition of Schnitzer’s contribution to PSU.

“The building will allow PSU to enhance student experiences, strengthen and expand key programs and provide maker spaces and galleries to the public, the community and our students,” PSU President Ann Cudd said.

Cudd continued to explain how this donation will help advance PSU’s role as a downtown arts and culture destination and enhance campus spaces in ways which will impact the lives of students, faculty, visitors and the life of Portland itself.

“We’ll rank as the largest and most diverse public art school in our region,” Cudd said.

To ensure that everyone feels welcome in this new space, a

group of BIPOC student leaders from the schools of art, art history, architecture and design created the Spatial Aspirations Document to guide the building’s design process using a critical race-theory approach.

In the fall of 2022, the BIPOC Student Cohort developed a set of spatial aspirations for inclusion which reflect ideas generated from stories shared by communities who were most impacted by educational inequities. The ideas presented in this document offer an action-oriented guide to design the building in service of racial equity and social justice.

According to Lis Charman—Director of the Schnitzer School— the architects have mapped the spatial aspirations onto the building’s design and will be using it as a guide by incorporating all the recommended elements into the design of the new building.

The cohort that created this guide aimed to create a decolonized space for access to art and community by centering BIPOC and marginalized perspectives at PSU and the Portland metro area. It also aimed to provide innovation and leadership in equity-based approaches to contemporary art practice, elevate and enhance the student experience, provide an anchor for the arts in our community and more.

“Not only will this building allow these incredible teachers, professors and staff to help people follow their dreams of becoming an artist, but the majority of the students in the 1,200-student program here will help learn how to think creatively,” Schnitzer said. “If we think about the job needs of all the companies, they need people who will think outside the box. And what a better education, even if you’re a business major, chemistry, science, biotech or whatever. Take a few art classes so that you can learn how to think a little bit differently.”

Schnitzer has longstanding ties to the PSU community. His grandfather came to Portland from Ukraine in 1905 and lived two blocks away from what is now the PSU campus.

Schnitzer’s grandparents raised seven children, all of whom went to Shattuck Grade School and Lincoln High School, now Shattuck Hall and Lincoln Hall. Schnitzer said this donation was largely motivated by his desire to uphold the legacy of his parents, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer, who were longtime supporters of the arts in Portland and at PSU.

Schnitzer added that education is important in upholding his family’s legacy and creating a stronger community.

“In terms of the family, it was education that made the difference in all their lives,” Schnitzer said. “It is critical. Portland State—I think your figure is like 80% of students are first-time college attendees. And yes, we've got challenges funding-wise. Every other state does, too. But for each one of you to get a better job, it creates a basis for a richer and fuller life.”

Governor Tina Kotek, who announced the Portland Central City Task Force last summer with the goal of revitalizing downtown, explained how Schnitzer’s donation will help elevate this city’s future opportunities.

“Anyone who wants Portland to succeed also knows that means the success of Portland State University,” Kotek said. “This is a combination of events that we know will be incredibly important for the future of this city... A commitment to arts education at Portland State will maintain and enhance the university’s status as a downtown arts destination for years to come.”

Mayor Ted Wheeler described Schnitzer’s investment as transformational, a marker of positive change for the community and a prime example of the city’s comeback from the pandemic.

ALYSSA ANDERSON

April 2, Jordan Schnitzer and others announced a $10 million gift from Schnitzer to support art programs at PSU

ALYSSA ANDERSON/PSU VANGUARD

“Portland State University is foundational to this community,” Wheeler said. “It provides educational opportunities, of course. It provides cultural opportunities, like this art gallery and school we’re here to celebrate… It’s also about economics and economic prosperity for this city and for the wider community.”

Both the new Schnitzer School and the already-established JSMA at PSU make education more accessible to everybody, Wheeler explained.

“You don’t even have to be a student,” Schnitzer said. “This is available to anybody in our community. Cities have now transformed, and the assets that we have prior to this transformation are no longer adequate to the future that we’re seeking. You can no longer count on people having to be located in cities. Instead, you have to make people want to be located in cities. And I am a strong proponent of arts, culture, education and commerce being the kinds of things that make people want to be in a thriving city.”

Currently, the Schnitzer School is spread across five buildings on campus. According to the project’s website, the new building will bring students, faculty, industry and the community together for the first time.

“With light-filled studios and classrooms, sufficient space for materials storage and flexible locations for exhibition and collaboration, the center will foster belonging, innovation and success,” the website stated.

Charman explained in an email that the new spaces in the building will provide areas for a wide variety of activities. The building will purportedly have spaces for quiet study and research areas, as well as active, hands-on workspaces for textiles, weaving, video production, printmaking, publication, emerging creative technologies, design, art and social practice, drawing, painting, photography and more.

Additionally, there will be a student-run gallery and work yard among the new, exciting learning environments.

“Jordan Schnitzer and the Schnitzer family have long been invested in our work and in our students,” Charman stated. “They champion the practice and study of art and [d]esign as a powerful means of changing lives and changing the world.”

In an announcement made to the college of the arts, Dean Leroy Bynum said this new building will create an important space for artists to gather and collaborate.

“Together, we are creating an important place for artists, designers, performers and makers from all backgrounds and lived experiences to question, reflect and create,” Bynum said. “Together, we believe in the talents of our faculty and students, in the importance of artistic expression as a means to work for social justice and in the PSU campus as an arts and culture destination for all.”

Oregon government officials—including Congressman Blumenauer, Governor Kotek and Mayor Wheeler—attended the unveiling of this donation, demonstrating their support for the arts and the future artists who will benefit from the new Schnitzer School

ALYSSA ANDERSON/PSU VANGUARD

ALYSSA ANDERSON/PSU VANGUARD

ARIANNA THOMAS

VANGUARD CROSSWORD

Answers in stories

MILO LOZA

4/15/24

Answers from 3/14

1) Redmond, 2) TriMet, 3) Monroe, 4) embargo, 5) Boeing, 6) documentary, 7) GC-MS, 8) Cop City 9) CPSO, 10) theremin, 11) fentanyl 12) Weelaunee

Across:

Across

An Oregon voting method, offering a more accessible form of participation.

3. An Oregon voting method, offering a more accessible form of participation

Last name of the Portland real estate developer and philanthropist who donated $10 million to PSU's School of Art + Design.

5. Last name of the Portland real estate developer and philanthropist who donated $10 million to PSU's School of Art + Design

7. Political organizations that can significantly influence elections, plural acronym

Political organizations that can significantly influence elections. Acronym.

10. A space for exhibiting art

A space for exhibiting art.

11. The broader impact of Schnitzer's donation enhances this area's status as an arts and culture destination

The broader impact of Schnitzer's donation enhances this area's status as an arts and culture destination.

Down:

Down

1. Nafziger was awarded the 2024 Oregon Literary Fellowship for a collection of these, exploring her upbringing and sexuality

1. Nafziger was awarded the 2024 Oregon Literary Fellowship for a collection of these, exploring her upbringing and sexuality.

2. Steel or timber structures driven into the riverbed to protect bridge piers from collisions

2. Steel or timber structures driven into the riverbed to protect bridge piers from collisions.

4. An identity Nafziger explores through her writing, reflecting on her experiences growing up in a conservative community

4. An identity Nafziger explores through her writing, reflecting on her experiences growing up in a conservative community

6. "Wealth often correlates with diminished _____."

6. "Wealth often correlates with diminished _____."

8. Sport used metaphorically by Robert D. Putnam to discuss the decline of American socialization since the 1950s

8. Sport used metaphorically by Robert D. Putnam to discuss the decline of American socialization since the 1950s.

9. Name of a bridge in Portland identified as potentially vulnerable

9. Name of a bridge in Portland identified as potentially vulnerable.

Community & Wellness Resources

UPDATED WEEKLY

By Kat Leon

Happening Soon

Craft, Connect, Contribute:

Volunteer Social & Open House

Women’s Resource Center

April 17, 12 p.m.

Free for students

Learn more about the WRC and the various volunteer opportunities they offer

How Do I Make a Career Decision?

Online

April 17, 12 p.m.

Free for students

Help to explore career options for choosing your major in this virtual workshop

Job Search Party!

FMH 342H

April 19, 1 p.m.

Free for students

Join the job search party for support in refining applications, exploring jobs and reflecting on career goals

PSU student research symposium workshops

Online

April 19, 3 p.m.

Free for students

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to showcase their research and creative works at the symposium

Board Game Night

SMSU Cafeteria

April 19, 3 p.m.

Free for students

Weekly board game night, hang out and play some games

The Merry Widow

LH 175

April 19, 7:30 p.m.

Free for students

Indulge in the elegance, romance and comedic brilliance of Franz Lehar’s lighthearted operetta

Resources

PSU Basic Needs Hub

SMSU Suite 435

Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free for students

Helps students access resources such as funds, food, housing, employment, childcare and health support.

PSU Food Pantry

1704 SW Broadway (temporary location)

Tues–Thur, 12–4 p.m.

Free for students

Access to free groceries in a welcoming, equitable, trauma-informed way. Must be enrolled in at least one credit for summer or fall.

SMART recovery meetings

University Center Building 340 E

Times vary

Free

In peer recovery, students with shared experiences connect to reduce stigma and build a campus recovery community.

SHAC weekly online parent support group

Online

Thursdays 11 a.m.

Free

Come together as parents in a relaxed setting to support each other, share ideas, collaborate and commiserate

Women’s Resource Center

Online

Mon–Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free

Confidential advocacy services to students who have experienced sexual harassment, assault, violence and stalking

Oregon Energy Fund

Varying Locations

Mon–Fri, hours vary

Free

Provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians to support household stability

Wellness

SHAC Mind Spa

UCB Suite 310

Mon–Fri (by appointment)

Free for students

Solo space to experience biofeedback, light therapy, meditation, massages, relaxation and more. Must be enrolled in at least five credits for summer or fall.

Opioid Overdose Reversal Training

SHAC, Suite 340E

Mon 10–12 p.m. & Fri 2–3 p.m.

Free for students

Pick up free opioid overdose reversal medication and get a 10-minute training on how to use it

Mindful Meanderings

Listen on Spotify

Available 24/7

Free

PSU-produced podcast about being mindful while outside, practicing gratitude, finding joy and being in the moment

Telus Health Student Support

Download on App Store or Google Play

Available 24/7

Free

Connecting students with free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support

Outdoor Workshop Wednesdays

Watch on Youtube

Available 24/7

Free

PSU Campus Recreation Center staff videos about topics ranging from Leave No Trace and plant identification to hiking spots and land acknowledgments

BORP online fitness studio

Watch on Zoom

Mon–Sat, hours vary

Free

Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program’s (BORP) virtual exercise classes for people with physical disabilities