New director has high hopes for housing

ASPSU appointed Breonna Winfield, 19, as the new university affairs director. She brings with her not only plenty of experience in student leadership programs, but also a bubbling personality and a can-do spirit. She speaks with enthusiasm and drive, and her passion for her mission is palpable.

Born in West Linn, Winfield describes herself as “a typical suburban girl.” She plans on going abroad soon, but she isn’t sure when she’s leaving or where she’s going. This is also her first year at Portland State, and she isn’t sure whether to major in International Studies or Child and Family Development.

But what she is sure of is her place within the structure of ASPSU.

“I’m a communicator between the students and ASPSU,” Winfield said. She is responsible for bringing the needs of students to light.

Her main duties require her to maintain contact with the many different student groups, and try to gain an idea of what their needs are. She communicates this information to the rest of the student government in meetings—a job that provides ASPSU with valuable student input.

However, the system can leave the voice of unaffiliated students unheard, but Winfield hopes to hear “all voices from all walks of life” and will try to get the opinion of the average college student.

She helps the interests of such students by campaigning for certain objectives and reforms.
“Housing will be my main focus of this year,” Winfield said.

Winfield plans to campaign for more low-income and gender-neutral housing, two things she feels that PSU lacks.

Winfield will meet with student groups from PSU, as well as with representatives from other colleges, to try and get a wider viewpoint on the issue of gender-neutral and low-income housing, in an effort to further her own campaigning efforts.

With the insight that she hopes to gain from the other schools, Winfield wants to “fight for everyone’s rights,” in an effort to make the housing at PSU not only more plentiful, but also more inclusive.

Winfield is enthusiastic about the experience of being the university affairs director.

“I’m really excited about learning more about the position,” she said.

She plans to attend the Oregon Students of Color leadership conference at Lane Community College next weekend. She hopes that the conference will help her focus on her leadership abilities.

While she has been involved in school leadership programs for the past 11 years, Winfield thinks her new position will provide more experience than many of the others that she’s held.