News briefs

Jackie Balzer appointed VP of new student- success post

Jackie Balzer, former PSU vice provost for Student Affairs, has been appointed as vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, a new position created to energize the recruitment and retention of students.

“Jackie has proven to be a creative leader with a strong record as a tireless advocate for students,” said PSU President Wim Wiewel, who Balzer will report to. “She has overseen significant advances in the student experience and improvements in our campus life. She’ll be able to accomplish even more with new expanded responsibilities.”

As head of PSU’s Enrollment Management andStudent Affairs division, Balzer will administrate residence life, campus recreation, admissions, financial aid, new student programs, academic and career services, student health services, student life programs and diversity and multicultural student services.

“At PSU, we are committed to student success,” Balzer said. “Creating the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs division will ensure all of our services for students are coordinated and help us achieve our goals.”??

Balzer served as vice provost for three years, and during her 27-year career in student affairs, she’s supported programs related to residence life, new students, the first-year experience, pre-college programs, diversity development, student leadership development and student conduct.

Prior to her time at PSU, Balzer served as dean of student life at Oregon State University.

Portland Police Bureau faces less-lethal shotgun controversy

Portland Police Chief Michael Reese issued a public apology last Thursday, June 30, after an officer mistakenly deployed a less-lethal shotgun containing fatal rounds the morning before.

A caller dialed 911 at about 9:55 a.m. complaining that a man was harassing children at Lairville Park, allegedly with a pocket knife.

Police chased the man up a slope towards Southwest Barbur Boulevard and confronted him, shooting him in the hip area with a beanbag shotgun and then realizing that the pellets were lethal.

The twenty-year-old white male subject, William Kyle Monroe, is in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

“We have carried [non-lethal guns] since the mid-’90s, and this kind of incident has never occurred in the Portland Police Bureau before yesterday,” Reese said. “I want to be very clear about this—using lethal rounds in a less-lethal shotgun was a terrible mistake. We don’t know how it occurred yet. We have an investigation in process that will answer those questions, but we know it should not have happened. I spoke with the officer involved last night. He certainly feels horrible about this.”

Senate Bill 242 passes final hurdle

The influential SB 242 completed its passage Wednesday, June 29 through the Oregon Legislature. Passed by the Senate on June 17 and by the House on June 27, the bill received Senate concurrence Wednesday.

“It is a new beginning,” said Paul Kelly, president of the State Board of Higher Education. “On behalf of my fellow board members and the entire Oregon University System, I extend my sincere and enthusiastic thanks to our legislators for their historic action.”

The bill redefines the OUS as a public entity rather than a state agency and establishes the Higher Education Coordinating Committee, allowing universities to better control costs and revenues.

 New Avenues for Youth Ben & Jerry’s opens at PSU this Thursday

The Portland nonprofit New Avenues for Youth inaugurates a second Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop in PSU’s Urban Center Plaza this Thursday, July 7. Show up for free cones from noon to 2 p.m.

This Ben & Jerry’s location, like the other PartnerShop facing Pioneer Square on Southwest Yamhill Street, will offer employment to over 100 local homeless youth every year.

New Avenues for Youth, founded in 1997, provides at-risk youths the education and support necessary to avoid chronic homelessness.

 “It’s not just about the ice cream,” says Mark Gregory, PSU’s interim vice president of finance and administration. “We’re very excited to have a Ben & Jerry’s on campus.”

Live music will be featured in addition to free ice cream from noon to 2 p.m. as part of the grand opening ceremony. ?