Last week, Portland State’s Board of Trustees voted to raise tuition unanimously despite loud, disruptive protests from students. In a move that surprised no one, an administration that enjoys some…
In defense of clipboarders
I never thought I’d say this, but here it goes: The canvassers and clipboard activists on campus get a bad rap. I hate it just as much as the next…
The legacy of Kitzhaber
After a long month of speculation, investigations and possible cover-ups, Governor John Kitzhaber has finally resigned. I was born in 1993, and Kitzhaber has been governor for the majority of…
Fusion voting is good for Oregon
This legislative session, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 555 will be pushing a bill to restore fusion voting in Oregon, an elections model that was common in America…
The rise of the tiny houses
Tiny houses are having a moment right now. They’re small, generally in the range of 150–800 square feet. They make the most of the space, and you might end up…
Not all protests are equal
Last summer I walked through Pioneer Square and dodged a bunch of chubby white guys with red paint splashed on the crotches of their shorts to protest circumcision. Right across…
The 9-to-5 campus: PSU needs more than just housing
Portland State has been marketing itself as being “different” for a long time, but as the new construction around campus proves, the administration has realized that becoming a more traditional campus has its benefits.
Say goodbye to the Internet as you know it
The year 2012 saw a series of fights for the freedom and openness of the Internet. SOPA, PIPA, CISPA and the WCIT treaty all failed. But it’s a new year, and the fight will never be over.
Hagel is the right choice
President Barack Obama’s nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense has generated a bewildering amount of controversy, but it seems to be a sure thing anyway. This is good.
The Clean Air Corridor is pointless
It’s been a month with the new Clean Air Corridor in effect, and I feel pretty safe in saying it’s accomplished nothing. First, can we drop any pretense of it being about emissions as well as smoking? The only people who ever drive in the Park Blocks are cops and university staff. They definitely haven’t stopped driving in the Park Blocks, and didn’t do it frequently enough to warrant any kind of action. Also, what about the big, diesel-guzzling delivery trucks that park next to the loading dock at Smith Memorial Student Union and leave their engines running?
No, you turn off the lights
Every time I leave my room, I see the little green sticker that PSU Housing placed on my light switch. It says, “Lights off before leaving—Campus Sustainability Office.” This sticker never ceases to annoy me, because it’s one of the most hypocritical things at Portland State.