In short

Free food at Party in the Parkway Thursday

More than 70 student groups will have informational booths set up and free food will be served in the Smith Memorial Student Union for Party in the Parkway this Thursday.

Campus Recreation and Student Activities and Leadership Programs are putting on the student-group awareness event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m in Parkway North (SMSU 101) and the Smith Center cafeteria.

Eric Sanelle, Campus Rec peer adviser, who helped plan this term’s party, said there will be a DJ from KPSU playing music, as well as free sandwiches and soup. Unlike previous Party in the Park events, which take place fall term, there will be no punch card to fill out to get the free food, he said.

No matter what a student’s interests are, Sanelle said, there will be a group at the party that will interest them.

“There’s a lot of students doing a lot of cool things on campus,” he said.

–Stover E. Harger III

HPV vaccine question and answer session

An expert on obstetrics and gynecology will present information on the benefits of the HPV vaccine, tell who should take the vaccine and answer other questions during an hour-long session at noon Thursday in the Multicultural Center, room 228 of Smith Memorial Student Union.

The vaccine helps prevents human papilloma virus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that, if left untreated, is known to cause cervical cancer, and possibly other forms of vulvar and vaginal cancer. The HPV vaccine was released nationally at the beginning of 2007, and is administered at multiple institutions around Portland. The vaccine, called Gardasil, is not considered a substitute for regular cervical cancer screenings, commonly known as pap smears, because it does not prevent all types of HPV.

Michelle Berlin, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University, will give the presentation and question and answer session as part of the “Speaking of Women” lecture series, put on by the OHSU Center for Women’s Health and the PSU Women’s Resource Center.

–David Holley

OHSU board cuts $30 million from budget

PORTLAND, Ore.-The board of directors for Oregon Health and Science University approved a financial plan Tuesday that cuts $30 million per year out of the budget to cover higher insurance bills and liability claims following an Oregon Supreme Court ruling.

The court last month cleared the way for the family of a brain-damaged child to pursue malpractice damages from the university, effectively eliminating a liability cap of $200,000 designed to protect state agencies from major damage awards.

OHSU, which warned of cutbacks last week, says 200 to 300 jobs will be eliminated through program reduction, attrition, voluntary departures and transfers. OHSU also plans to reduce the number of medical students it accepts and restructure or close clinical, research and education programs.

The cuts were revealed just weeks before the Legislature returns for a February session. OHSU hopes lawmakers establish a higher cap on damages that will pass court muster.

OHSU is Portland’s largest private employer with about 12,000 staff members.

–Associated Press