VANGUARD EDITORIAL: Remembering Vanport

Yesterday, people across the U.S. took time to honor all those who have ever donned a military uniform and served their country both in times of war and peace.

From its beginning as Armistice Day, Nov. 11 has been intended to be a day of reflection and acknowledgment. Originally celebrating the armistice agreement signed in 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, it was a day reserved to recognize the thousands that died in the Great War. However, since the first anniversary of the end of World War I, this day has been one to remember all veterans.

Today, we reflect on Portland State University’s storied history and acknowledge the ties it has to veterans past and present. We also recognize the connection that our newspaper has to military service members. We have changed the nameplate of today’s edition of the Vanguard to Vet’s Extended, the publication’s original title in 1946 under founding editor and military veteran Don Carlo.  

PSU’s roots are buried deep in the soil of military service. Long before it earned university status or was even known as Portland State, it was created as a center of higher learning for returning war veterans.

Founded in 1946 by U.S. Navy veteran Stephen E. Epler, the college began as the Vanport Extension Center, formed with the specific purpose of educating those returning from World War II.

Even the institution’s original location was tied to military service. The location of Vanport College, as it was more commonly known, was originally a government housing project for shipyard workers during the war. After the Memorial Day flood of 1948 destroyed the city of Vanport—formerly located on the shores of the Columbia River in what is now north Portland—the college moved to a shipyard that once created the warships of World War II.

Portland State has a rich heritage of serving those who have served, and that tradition continues today. PSU has an adviser dedicated to working with veterans and a student group committed to working on behalf of former military members. PSU’s Student Veteran Association has assisted former service members in claiming available benefits, moderated public forums to discuss the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and is currently advocating the creation of a veteran’s memorial and a veteran’s resource center on campus.

As an increasing number of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines return from duty and come to PSU to advance their educations, we must acknowledge that this institution was founded with their needs in mind. We must also remember their contributions to Portland State.

Virginia Vickery Editor-in-Chief Corie Charnley News Editor   

Nicholas Kula Arts & Culture Editor  Richard Oxley Opinion Editor  

Robert Britt Sports Editor