Tucked away in a closet-like space on Smith Memorial Student Union’s third floor is a unique charity operation known as the food pantry. Organized and facilitated by the Associated Students of Portland State University, the pantry is stocked with items ranging from foodstuffs to clothing to hygiene products, all from donations.
As TriMet’s town-hall style public forums and meetings regarding its $17 million budget deficit and subsequent systemic changes come to an end, Portland-area communities could soon see how their input factors into TriMet’s proposed changes.
Globally minded Portland State students take part in the changing global perspective by participating as PSU delegates in the collegiate Model United Nations. Together, they examine world issues, and meet with students from other universities at MUN summits to debate issues.
It’s commonly understood that most college students have little to no money. Most live on financial aid, several part-time jobs at minimum wage or a combination of both. At a school like Portland State—an urban campus with a large student population—students have various housing options, both on- and off-campus. There’s no tried-and-true rule that living on-campus is better than living off-campus, or vice versa. Everyone has unique preferences. For many college students, the dilemma isn’t what classes to take next term or deciding between majors, the real dilemma is choosing where to live.
Portland State’s enrollment is growing: as of October 2011, total enrollment had increased by 50 percent in 10 years. And with it, so has the demand for both on- and off-campus housing. As a predominantly commuter campus, approximately 6 percent of all enrolled students actually live on the college campus. According to statistics released by University Housing and Residence Life, as of fall 2011, on-campus housing had a total of 2,047 housing beds at an occupancy of 93 percent. This means that more than 27,000 PSU students live off-campus. And some of those students would like to change that.
The price of college tuition is higher than ever, and an increase is on the horizon. This, coupled with increasing costs of living, means that more and more students are seeking employment. But where can students go to look for employment?