SCIENCE:
Community science helps bridge gaps of traditional science P. 6–7
SPORTS:
PSU running team focuses on whole team wellness P. 8–9
OPINION:
Former ‘Crime Blotter’ writer speaks on column removal P. 10
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• send thoughts, stories and opinions to editor@psuvanguard.com
COVER DESIGN BY WHITNEY McPHIE PHOTO COURTESY OF PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
EDITORIAL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Kat Leon
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Brad Le
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Macie Harreld
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Cameron Rodriguez
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Laura Kowall
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Nick Gatlin
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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.
The Portland State community welcomed new President Ann Cudd at the beginning of the summer. With the start of the academic year fast approaching, Cudd spoke with Portland State Vanguard to address the issues affecting the PSU community.
As her first official act as president via an email sent to the PSU employees over the summer term, Cudd announced a change in her leadership team.
“In order to build a new leadership team, I have asked Susan Jeffords to step down as Provost, effective August 1,” the email stated. “Vice Provost for Academic Personnel and Dean of Interdisciplinary General Education Shelly Carbon will assume the role of Interim Provost and Vice President
of Academic Affairs.”
Cudd’s email hailed Jeffords for her highly-valued, five-year career at PSU—specifically her role in negotiating transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cudd explained how it’s common practice for new presidents to establish their own leadership team, which led to her decision to replace Jeffords.
“The most important thing is a cohesive leadership team, because no executive can carry out all of the responsibilities they have for a large institution like this alone,” Cudd said. “They need to have a team that will work well together. It was my judgment that in order to build that cohesive leadership team I needed to make some changes.”
In her email, Cudd explained how Chabon’s former position as a trusted liaison to PSU’s union partners made her an asset to her new role as interim provost.
Portland State Faculty Association (PSUFA) has continued bargaining for a cost of living increase (COLA). As Vanguard previously reported, PSUFA indicated its readiness to take collective action if they do not reach an agreement. However, Cudd said she is confident in their ability to reach a solution and thinks a strike is unlikely.
“We’re very optimistic that a solution will be found,” Cudd explained. “We have called for mediation, but we still have another bargaining session before that would take place, and we hope that we come to a solution before that time.”
On their bargaining recap blog, PSUFA expressed concern over the administration’s decision to seek mediation.
“We hope that it is motivated by a commitment to continue bargaining in good faith and in a democratic spirit and not an
attempt at unilateral implementation of their vision of ‘fairness’ and ‘equity’ upon our unit,” the blog stated.
However, Cudd explained how she thinks mediation could help to bring this months-long bargaining to a close.
“[Mediation is] a mechanism in bargaining with unions that is often employed that we think could be helpful to bring it to a close,” she said. “We’re very committed to a cost of living raise for our adjuncts and don’t believe a strike would be possible or within the rules at the beginning of the term.”
With safety on our urban campus being a high priority for most, Cudd said she is making it a priority to ensure the safety of all students and faculty here at PSU. Cudd said she would engage in strategic planning and community conversation to identify how the campus can be safer for all.
“My highest priority is public safety and the safety of the students and faculty and so forth,” Cudd said. “Everything from keeping the campus clean and populated to having a presence of student ambassadors to help with that presence and engage [in] the campus conversation about public safety as well. We’re going to be doing strategic planning, which I hope will be very energizing as well as an opportunity for students and the whole campus to meet together in person as well to build a strategic plan that really helps us to reaffirm our mission, our values and our vision going forward in a sort of big, overarching way.”
Cudd explained how these plans will consist of detailed objectives based on an analysis of what PSU is doing well, what the students want, what employers need from students and how to connect those aspects effectively.
One significant change accompanying Cudd’s first year of presidency is her decision to become a part of Governor Tina Kotek’s Central City Task Force
“I was very pleased to be invited to be on Governor Kotek’s task force,” Cudd said. “I think it’s natural that the PSU president would be there because of the close inner connection between Portland State University and [the city of] Portland—especially in the downtown area, which is what we’re really focused on. Clearly, the biggest issues for the Central City Task Force are homelessness, safety, retail vacancy and other office vacancies. I want PSU to be part of the solution to these things.”
Some members of the community have expressed concerns over the task force’s closed-door meeting policy. Street Roots reported that Kotek’s new policy will shut out members of the public, the media and long-time public service providers.
Despite Oregon’s public meetings law which requires all advisory council and governing body meetings to be open to the public, Kotek’s office has argued a technicality allows the task force to operate outside transparency requirements.
However, as a newly appointed member of the task force, Cudd said she has begun conversations about how student homelessness can contribute to the city’s overall problem and how to address that best.
Cudd explained that she is planning to work with CPSO Chief Willie Halliburton and the University Public Safety Oversight Committee (UPSOC) to address concerns about her predecessor, Stephen Percy’s, decision to rearm CPSO officers.
“I’m very concerned about the safety for all of our campus community,” Cudd said. “It’s a complicated issue, and it’s one where we need to work together. I’ve spoken with Chief Halliburton [on] his views about safety on campus and the decision to rearm the police, and I think he is very committed to finding solutions, so that all of our students and faculty and staff can feel safe and feel that they belong as well... I see this as an ongoing community conversation and a very important one.”
Cudd said the widespread threat of gun violence across the country was a significant aspect of Halliburton’s decision to rearm campus police last year, as well as the reason behind his more recent decision to secure campus buildings. However, some students
are worried PSU’s efforts to secure campus buildings will lead to more issues.
A flier posted in one of PSU’s academic buildings explained that the Educational Policy Committee passed a policy change which will no longer allow PSU students to access buildings after hours.
“They are trying to limit student access to buildings after hours, which will most likely lead to profiling,” said Jay Butler, a graduate student at PSU.
Other students have indicated concerns about CPSO’s treatment of unhoused people on campus. Dory Hammersley, a graduate student at PSU, said she hopes campus police will “stop harassing homeless people who are… not doing drugs or causing trouble.”
Cudd explained how safety on campus is a complicated issue, but she is actively looking for solutions to ensure the safety and comfortability of all members of the PSU community.
A previous “Letter to the Editor” responded to an Opinion article about University Housing & Residence Life’s (UHRL) cooling policy. It described how the intense heat over summer term caused many students living in PSU housing to struggle to stay cool.
.“PSU needs to take this heat wave to an emergency level as the rest of the city has, where heat has gravely affected those without homes,” the letter stated. “Heat also affects the wellbeing of our students who are paying—literally and figuratively—to live in the dorms at Portland State.”
Both the letter and the Opinion article argued that UHRL must change the cooling policy which forbids students to use air conditioning units.
Cudd explained how this climate change of high temperatures is rapidly overtaking the infrastructure at PSU.
“We are continually evaluating and reevaluating how buildings need to be upgraded in order to meet our standards,” Cudd said. “Another aspect of wellness is making sure that students are well aware of things like places you can go to keep cool when it’s incredibly hot like that, and also the measures like drinking enough water and taking it easy on days like that.”
Despite the many challenges facing the PSU community, Cudd said she is overall optimistic about her first year as President.
“I am thrilled to be here,” Cudd said. “I’ve just found it to be a really beautiful and exciting place to be. So many people are excited for the future, and so am I. It feels like a good rhythm is starting.”
Community scientists involve the public in engaging with the development of science. The increased care and observation of our environment has several practical benefits for the development of science and the improvement of the environment. A method of this observation is through investigative data collection along streams to monitor species and water conditions.
Participants can engage as community scientists without the help of a facilitator. For example, individuals can utilize websites like iNaturalist and gather data through a picture database. Community science is more known as citizen science, but the term has evolved out of the same principles.
“I like the word community science rather than citizen science, because it doesn’t matter if you’re a citizen or not,” said Rick Reynolds, manager at The River Mile network (TRM). “I think it can be all of us all participating. I’ve even learned from our native partners that it doesn’t even have to be just humans. We have our other-than-human community members that can be part of this. When we’re out in the field, we really stress with the students—stepping lightly on the earth, and being careful of the waters, and the fact that the living things that are there are also part of
our community—and we’re all working together to have a better understanding of the environment… Once you have this better understanding, that’s when you really want to protect it too.”
TRM participants can interact with the environment around them by monitoring stream ecosystems through observing species and conditions, such as crayfish and water quality. “It really leads to a deeper understanding of the place and our role in keeping the environment healthy,” Reynolds said. Moreover, learning in our natural environment can be a beneficial and meaningful way to learn, as Reynolds further explained.
Individuals might not view the crayfish as necessary. However, water systems can quickly encounter the spread of invasive species—such as the red swamp crayfish—which differ from the native species in Oregon.
“On the southern Oregon coast near Coos Bay, [community scientists] found invasive red swamp crayfish there [and] were able to report that data… Then wildlife managers here in Oregon could get down there and try to stop that invasion before it really caused trouble,” Reynolds said.
These invasive species don’t just disrupt the food web by outcompeting like other invasive species, but also
deteriorate the water quality through their activity, which harms the whole ecosystem.
Inclusive involvement in this issue allows the community to connect with their environment beyond just a scientific connection. “In the process, you’ll learn about the different species, the collection techniques and how to minimize your impacts at the site,” Reynolds said. “For example, ways to get down to the creek without causing a lot of erosion.” Students not only learn to identify species, but also to better interact with the environment around them.
Because this involves people of different backgrounds and age demographics, creating involvement standards for collecting data is essential to ensure quality. “I developed a field guide that is focused on what you can see in the field with the naked eye to identify the critters,” said Dr. Patrick Edwards, director of the Environmental Professional Program at Portland State. “That was one of the first things I did over 20 years ago, because that material wasn’t there. We have to modify these metrics that we use to indicate the condition of the stream, because they were all developed for professional data.”
This field guide developed guidelines for observing the
creek’s conditions without needing a lab and professional resources, which would make observation inaccessible for community scientists.
Reynolds similarly spoke on TRM’s crayfish project. “We used safeguards that are as reliable as possible,” he said. “Things like training. You need to follow our protocols. You need to use our forms, which have [been] created in consultation with PhD scientists so that we have more reliable data. We provide that training to ensure that folks know how to do it. And so then, we just feel like that data is more reliable.”
TRM project offers scientific permits after training which allows people to interact with the environment in ways they might not have been able to otherwise.
While removing a professional environment changes the observation of these ecosystems, there is much added benefit to including the community in science. “If you’re just one scientist or [a] scientist and a couple of PhD students, there’s only so much you can do,” Reynolds said. “You’re just limited in your reach.”
Some people may be skeptical about the quality of this data, but with the added workforce and increased sample size, any
mistakes community scientists might make are rendered insignificant. “We have so many collectors around the Northwest and beyond [that] even if we have a lot of second graders and people who are just learning how to do this, what happens is the data really gets averaged out,” Reynolds said. Additionally, community scientists’ consistent observation of an area allows for the development of pre-data. This database allows scientists to understand the conditions of an area before restoration or other projects occur. Pre-data collection fills an often existing hole in scientific studies. It allows for a more complete picture of the development of an area, and the benefit of any given project.
“We work really hard to ensure the quality of the data,” Edwards said. “We have a paper coming out right now that shows that at a certain level our data is just as good as professional scientists.”
In the cases where there is a discovery or an alarming find, additional support can come from more specialized scientists. “When the community scientists observe something different than professionals can take over, it can be a signal that maybe specialists should take a closer look at this stream,” Reynolds said. Without community scientists,
there wouldn’t be anyone to signal to a professional that there might be a problem.
Participants who contribute to the body of science can be recognized for their participation in scientific advancements within the media, giving reach to the community and the subject. According to Reynolds, past media coverage has led to recognition for the group and further engagement from the community.
Edwards has done more work within the academic publishing community. “I had to fight with the journals to get published 20 years ago because the idea of community science ha d not really gained traction in the scientific field,” he said. Edwards publishes both community science research and more traditional research, but getting community science published has additional difficulties.
Though getting this work recognized in the academic field is a struggle, the value it adds to the body of knowledge and the normalization of this practice is vital. “I think the more we legitimize community science by publishing in academic journals the more that it will be accepted as we move forward and that’s one of the reasons why I work so hard to publish these,” Edwards said.
The 2023 season heralds a transformative phase for Portland State’s cross country team. There’s evidence of a significant shift in team dynamics and approach. Bolstered by new coaching leadership and a renewed dedication to unity, this team of athletes is gearing up to make a splash at the Big Sky Conference.
Abi Swain—one of the standout runners for PSU’s cross country team—shed some light on the team’s fresh approach to the season. “We’re doing a new team focus this year,” they said. “We’ve got the green wave going, [and we’re] trying to figure out how to work as a team in those races.”
This green wave strategy emphasizes teamwork and cohesion. The athletes learn to run as both individuals racing against the clock and as a unified force pushing towards a common goal. Swain described how the team’s initial strategy involved running together at the same pace to practice racing as a unit.
Teamwork is the cornerstone of the new, aptly named strategy. Swain explained how the familiarity among teammates played a crucial role in their performance at the Linfield Harrier Classic. “We’ve all been training together last year and this year, so we’re all pretty familiar with each other’s running styles,” they said. “It was really just about holding each other accountable and being supportive.”
During the Linfield Harrier Classic on Sept. 1, the PSU team implemented their new strategy by starting conservatively and gradually picking up the pace. Swain shared their thoughts on this tactical decision. “It is kind of like letting it fly after holding back for a little bit is always a fun feeling in a race,” they said. The decision to hold back initially was not just a tactical move but a test of their unity. They embraced racing as a team rather than focusing solely on individual success. Swain expressed how this approach allowed them to relax and enjoy the race, free from the pressure of immediate results. The team’s emphasis on unity has shifted its perspective from personal achievements to collective victories.
Under the guidance of new Head Coach Jonathan Marcus, the PSU cross country team has experienced significant changes. Swain spoke positively about this transition. “I think we’re see-
ing a lot of effort being put into everybody on the team creating a culture, which has been really fun,” they said.
Marcus’ emphasis on collective culture resonated with the athletes. Their newfound sense of camaraderie has become their secret weapon on the cross country course, and they continue to adapt and evolve under his leadership.
One of the distinctive team-building initiatives—coined Bite to Portland by the coach—involves the collective exploration of Portland’s diverse culinary offerings. “I think shared meals are always a fantastic means of connection,” Swain said. “Having a designated time where it’s solely focused on this purpose is intentional. It provides an external setting that facilitates getting to know each other.”
While we are on the discussion of food, Marcus has introduced a new focus on nutrition and recovery, recognizing them as crucial X-factors for success.
Swain acknowledged that these changes have had a positive impact on their daily routine. “It’s just helping supplement maybe the time in between getting done with practice and then having to cook a meal every time,” they said. “It’s a good way to make sure we’re getting something quick that’s fueling us.”
Incorporating the coach’s makeshift smoothie bar and snack shack has significantly transformed the team’s nutrition and re-
covery strategies, guaranteeing they are adequately nourished and primed for their demanding training regimens. Marcus dedicated considerable effort to secure its inclusion within the program’s financial framework.
Zach Salcido echoed his teammates’ sentiments about the impact of nutrition and recovery on their training regimen. He praised Marcus’ approach, bringing a new level of awareness to the importance of proper nutrition.
“We’ve always known food and nutrition is like a huge part of running but… Coach Marcus has really broken it down into little sections,” Salcido said. “[Like] how having our protein shakes and our smoothies and food and snacks… can aid recovery and also make us feel better during workouts, like eating at the right time before [running] and stuff like that.”
The rigorous training regimen—which includes four workouts and four weight sessions per week—demands proper nutrition and recovery. The team is committed to ensuring they are well-fueled and recovered, highlighting their dedication to unity and performance.
Salcido also shed some light on the team’s evolving approach to race preparation, emphasizing the benefits of structured plans. He highlighted the advantage of not having to fully race all the time and having a clear strategy for each competition.
When asked about his role in contributing to the cohesive team
atmosphere, Salcido emphasized the importance of unity and support, especially in the face of upcoming challenges.
“There’s gonna be a lot of challenges that come along our way, so just being there for each other and supporting each other in our own challenges, whether it’s in running or outside of running,” Salcido said.
As a fifth-year athlete, Salcido is cognizant of the need to mentor and prepare the next generation of runners. He said he wanted to “set up the guys who are going to be here next year with leadership skills and… help shape that image.”
Salcido spoke about the role of adversity in personal growth and the value of supportive coaches in his cross country journey.
“I think that what I’ve gotten through my years here at PSU… it makes you who you are, and having supportive coaches throughout the way has really helped that as well,” he said.
His reflections on adversity highlight how challenges can shape character and foster resilience, strengthening every athlete on the team, both as individuals and as a collective force.
In a world where individual achievements often steal the spotlight, the PSU cross country team proves that running as one can lead to greatness. Their journey is a testament to the power of unity, and as the 2023 season unfolds, they aim to make a lasting impact in the world of cross country running.
The perspectives and opinions printed in this Letter to the Editor are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the positions of Portland State Vanguard or its editorial staff.
During my time as a student writer for the Vanguard, I accepted an assignment to write the “Crime Blotter” column for a few months. As I understood it, this column’s purpose was to share instances of crime or potential safety issues with the PSU community.
At the time, I imagined it could be helpful for students or other community members to be informed about things like theft or violence that happened on campus. Perhaps it was in some way, but I am guessing that in this regard at most it encouraged people to get a good bike lock.
As far as practical use or importance, I don’t think the Crime Blotter was a key aspect of anyone’s safety on campus. At some of its worst—and this is what I’m primarily concerned with now—it negatively and unfairly impacted individuals who were included in these articles.
My issues with the Crime Blotter column are related to both my own personal actions and the column overall. Recently, I randomly re-read one of the Crime Blotter columns I wrote in 2014, and saw that someone had left a comment on the page. The comment, made by someone I mentioned by name in the column, requested that their name be removed. This suggests that my naming them had caused them harm, which is clearly not something I had considered when I was doing my job as a writer and included names in the column, but that I absolutely should have.
I put more thought into the arrangement of words than to their effects and failed in my responsibility to those about whom I write. The comment spurred me to write to the current Vanguard editors to request they remove the columns I wrote, because I had named individuals.
To write this column, I (or anyone else writing these) had access to the PSU Campus Security log, from which I would decide what to pull into print. In this access and decision-making I had quite a bit of power and responsibility, and I regret I didn’t use these with the awareness or thoughtfulness about the long-term
impacts of printing the names of non-students who had been stopped by campus security in connection with some alleged action or just for mere suspicion.
I can’t speak to the characteristics of other Crime Blotter articles through the years, but looking back at the columns I wrote, I also realized that much of what I included was unnecessary, even for the purpose of sharing issues related to safety with the campus community.
Many things I included really wouldn’t have a bearing on any community member’s safety or wellbeing and I didn’t think critically about that. And, most regrettably, I completely overlooked the way that sharing information through this platform could impact those involved, particularly non-students in the Portland community who were approached by campus security. (Students were never named—their privacy was protected.)
And, considering the way any edition of a column can set a precedent of further iterations of that column, it’s also possible that my own choices in producing this column set or perpetuated harmful precedents like those I’ve mentioned.
Now I feel myself in a similar situation as the commenter— worried about what others will think when they search for me online and this comes up. Will they think less of me for my mistake? Will I lose opportunities? There’s some poetic justice that I now feel something of what I have made others feel.
A significant difference, though, remaining between myself and those I named in the column, is that I have the power of self representation, that I can choose and am choosing what picture to present. This is something those in the Crime Blotter articles, whether named or not, were not able to do.
And now in a broader sense, even setting aside the use of names and the problem of privacy, and the choices of what issues were presented, as I face and take account for my own mistakes, I also question the fairness and usefulness of the Crime Blotter itself. Ultimately, does this kind of column favor a power dynamic wherein the policing function of a community sets the narrative? It literally takes a page out of that book. Does an emphasis on “crime”—whether actual or its perceived potential—only serve to justify further policing, as well as a culture of fear and a perspective of “us” vs “them”?
Might it further an oppressive narrative that only sees safety as something to be achieved through more policing instead of through manifestations of an ethic of solidarity and care, which are the foundation of a lasting safety that is accessible to everyone? Ultimately, the column is tied to these systemic issues and larger conversations in the PSU community and beyond.
I also know, as someone who has been in encounters with police, and someone who lives in this society, that what gets told or put down in the records of these encounters is not always what really happened, and maybe never the whole of it.
Statements of law enforcement authorities have a documented pattern of being misleading, perhaps most strikingly where it involves police violence. And, when what gets put down isn’t what really happened, the story tends to favor the existing power dynamics of the society–in our case, one of capitalist, heterosexist, patriarchal, white supremacy.
Events can be framed in a way that serves the purpose of explaining or justifying the actions of those in power, or expressed in a way that reinforces the world view of those who set or enforce the rules. I regret both that I furthered this kind of narrative and that I did so in such a way that it directly harmed people.
What I say here isn’t an accusation toward PSU campus security of presenting things falsely, but it is a recognition that they do have the power to create a narrative with the force of law and authority behind it, and that it remains our choice, just as it was mine, how to read and what to do with that narrative.
I acknowledge and regret my mistakes related to this column and their effects and I wish I could go back and do things differently. I move forward with a purpose to continue reflecting, understanding, and repairing.
And I wholeheartedly and humbly apologize to those fellow community members who were negatively impacted. My gratitude overflows to the person who commented on the column–it was in their action to speak up that opened up the possibility to address this.
And, I’m grateful for the care and responsiveness of the current Vanguard team to move in a different direction by removing and discontinuing these columns. I can imagine the community as a whole will benefit.
When Portland-based artist Forest Wolf Kell was asked what inspired his work, he answered everything.
“It’s hard to explain because I don’t know if inspired is the right word,” Kell said. “It’s kind of like compelled. It’s like throwing up or something—it’s putting myself there, and then you interpret it as you do.”
Kell renders this sentiment in illustration. Canvases are brimming with seemingly arbitrary subjects, layered and interwoven into intricate collages—a weeping statue, an emaciated dog, a faceless pregnant woman, a shattered skull.
“I work with a large collection of imagery,” Kell said. “I kind of free-associate through that body of imagery and use that as reference.”
One Grand Gallery is currently exhibiting Kell’s illustrations under the title Mirrors . The viewer’s relative perception of the works centers on the show’s title, wherein interpreting the art requires introspection.
“I’m not trying to project any sort of narrative,” Kell said. “I don’t want to have an overt perspective on anything… Anything that I create is a self-portrait in a way, but also anyone that’s viewing that artwork—the narrative that they glean from it is a reflection of them.”
The collection is made entirely with black china marker— a wax pencil named as such because of its traditional use in marking porcelain china during manufacturing.
Kell explained his choice of medium as a means of conveying a certain authenticity and impressionism. “I leave the smudges of my hand and the smudges of my fingers,” he said. “I wanted some of that rawness and imperfection.”
Mirrors showcases a dream-like visual intricacy—surreal and abstract, yet intimately familiar.
The city of Portland is no stranger to Kell’s work either. The artist is an iconic fixture of Portland’s local art scene. With pub-
lic murals all over Portland—from cafes and barbershops to bars and underpasses—the artist’s work has truly colored the city.
Kell explained how his practice originated as public street art and evolved into the multidisciplinary practice it is today. “I began my art practice in the realm of graffiti,” he said. “I did that for quite some time up here [in Portland], ended up getting caught, going to jail, and I had to pursue other things obviously after that.”
Kell moved to Portland after graduating high school, originally from a small town in southern Oregon called Rogue River. “It was kind of the only logical, doable place I could go,” he said. “I wanted to leave where I came from, and Portland was the exciting place to be.”
After graduating from Portland State in 2017 with a Bachelor of Art degree, Kell co-founded an artist-centered streetwear brand called Last Bus Club. The company functioned as a collaborative of artists, with proceeds funding local art events and exhibitions curated by Kell. Kell said the intention behind the company was “to foster that community within Portland. So that was kind of a means to an end.”
Today, Kell works as a graphic and color designer at Nike. “I got very lucky to work in the design realm—to survive, so to speak—which has allowed my personal art practice to be what it is,” he said. “It’s incredibly hard to be a surviving studio artist.”
From a fashion collective which fostered a community for local artists, to the bold and colorful murals which adorn our streets, and now a solo exhibition in the heart of downtown—Kell has made a name for himself in the Portland art community.
“This was a big goal for quite a while—a couple years—doing a solo exhibition,” Kell said. “This is a milestone, so I’m trying to figure out what comes next. I’m not all too sure what that is.”
The closing exhibition for Mirrors will be held at One Grand Gallery on Sept. 22 from 6–9 p.m.
UPDATED WEEKLY
By Kat LeonPSU PERKS ‘N THINGS
Online
Sept. 21, 12 p.m.
Free
Learn what’s covered in your student tuition and fees, including access to campus services and resources, and other free and discounted extra benefits to the student experience and living in Portland
TOUR
FMH 342
Sept. 22, 10 a.m.
Free
Join the Transfer & Returning Student Resource Center (TRSRC) for a special Viking Days tour of key departments and campus resources. Visit academic and social hotspots on campus, as well as essential stops to start your transfer journey at PSU.
Epler Hall
Sept. 22, 1 p.m.
Free
Kids can enjoy crafts, games and ice cream. Parents can meet the Little Vikings and Baby Vikings staff, tour the facility and register for care.
SMSU Gardens in the Park Blocks
Sept. 22, 11:00 a.m.
Free
Beginning of a series of events establishing a new garden and greenspace on campus
South Park Blocks
Sept. 22, 5:30 p.m.
Free
Welcoming party to find out more about some of the events that will be held on campus. Enjoy free food and live music.
Smith Ballroom
Sept. 23, 6:00 p.m.
Free (tips encouraged)
Kick off the school year at the annual Viking Days Drag Show. Featuring Portland treasure—Poison Waters—and other amazing drag artists.
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
SOBER SOCIAL HOUR
University Center Building 340 E Fridays 1 p.m.
Free
Grab a coffee, talk recovery or just enjoy creating new sober friendships. Not a formal recovery support meeting, but a peer recovery specialist is available to share resources and support
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
730 SW 10th Ave. Suite 111 (entrance on SW 9th Ave.)
Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Free
Multnomah County official cooling center with access to free technology, internet, limited books and events
Varying Locations
Mon–Fri, hours vary Free
Provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians to support household stability
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.
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
WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY VIDEO SERIES
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
COSMIC KIDS YOGA
Watch on Youtube
Available 24/7
Free
Using fun and popular stories to get kids engaged in a calm, relaxing, mindful workout