Author: Lindsay Bing

As Jan. 20 approaches and the country prepares to usher in a new era of American history, many Portlanders wait in excitement and anticipation for the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

All week long, Portland honors King’s legacy.

Oregon rang in the new year with a crackdown on indoor tobacco smoking, amending an older state law that let business owners decide the smoking rules in certain establishments, such as bars, restaurants and hotels.

Many Portland State students can probably relate to stories of running across campus after learning that a class was moved at the last minute, staying up late with their Odin accounts open waiting for a seat to open in a full class, or simply finding a seat in a crowded classroom.

The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation is expecting nearly 5,000 attendees to pack the Ballroom of Portland State’s Smith Memorial Student Union for ScanFair, the foundation’s annual Scandinavian Christmas festival, which features food, dancing and shopping.

Monday morning hundreds of students and community members assembled at the intersection of Southwest 13t Avenue and Market Street to witness or counter an anti-gay rights protest held by members of the Westboro Baptist Church.

PSU’s Queer Resource Center will be holding a counter-protest rally Monday morning against the Westboro Baptist Church, who plan to march on campus the same day in protest of the existence of the QRC.

Now that Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th U.S. president, the debate and discussion about what he will do while in office can officially begin. Yesterday a group of Portland State faculty members helped kick off this dialogue. Dr. David Horowitz, history professor, Dr. John Damis of the Middle Eastern studies department and Dr. Grant Farr, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, paneled a discussion on the major diplomacy changes expected from President-elect Obama in regards to Iran, Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine.

Visiting Portland State professor Luke Bertus and his students are challenging PSU administrators to match fundraising money raised for a national charity outfit that provides clean water to underdeveloped nations. Bertus and his class are issuing the challenge to PSU administrators to match money they hope to raise through fundraising, which will be donated to Charity Water, a New York-based nonprofit organization.

Oregon unemployment rates soar, Multnomah county deputies banned from the Internet.

Napkins folded into miniature Titanic-like vessels filled 800 coffee cups in the Hilton Executive Ballroom Wednesday. Decadent desserts circled tables covered with flawless linens. Over 800 alumni, donors, staff, nuns and community members filed into the underground ballroom fit with 30-foot ceilings and nearly a dozen shimmering chandeliers for the 15th annual St. Mary’s Academy scholarship fundraiser luncheon.