Author: Melinda Bardon

Portland’s gaudiest tiki bar. Let your inner Cyndi Lauper out amid grass skirts and cocktail umbrellas.

After 13 years of drum circles, lunar rituals and quiet cups of tea, the women-only sanctuary, the Full Circle Temple, held its last ritual circle on Sunday. The vibrantly-colored house on East Burnside was closed because of budget reasons. The closing, as well as talks of opening up a new feminist collective that may include men, are signs of a new era of feminism in Portland, for some associated with the Full Circle Temple.

Eight women, including some PSU students, from various branches of the military, came together with the Student Veteran’s Association on campus yesterday in a panel discussion to talk about the experiences and difficulties unique to women serving in the military.

U.S. Independent senatorial candidate John Frohnmayer spoke Wednesday at PSU on the subject of freedom of speech, hosted by PSU’s Pre-Law Society. Frohnmayer started his talk with a brief look at what the First Amendment covers–as well as what it does not–before opening the floor for questions and answers.

The OLCC held a public hearing last Friday to receive comments from the public regarding changes to a proposed rule that would allow minors to attend some venues where alcohol is consumed.

The new-to-PSU online course program, Blackboard Campus Edition 6, is almost here and to help PSU get used to the technology, tutorial labs for professors and sneak peaks at the program for students are being offered.

Noelle Studer, the new head of Portland State’s sustainability department, has big plans for PSU’s future. Green plans.

Student Fee Committee Chair Amanda Newberg said Wednesday that she decided to drop the case to remove member Hyung Cho from the committee, a decision that almost entirely quashes the possibility of forcing Cho’s departure.

At least four students fell victim to the latest e-mail scam sent in the guise of a message from PSU, prompting the IT Help Desk to release an e-mail alert to all students and faculty in January.

The Oregon Student Association has lost access to Portland State money next year until it agrees to a proposal that would drastically alter the organization, the Student Fee Committee told OSA Thursday. The proposal would give greater power to Oregon’s largest universities–including PSU–and diminish smaller schools’ power within the organization. The proposal, which was drafted last week by PSU student body President Rudy Soto and his senior policy adviser Ryan Klute, would add a new board to OSA. Klute is also OSA vice-chair.

“Shit man. That sucks,” Cheerful Tortoise regular Jamie Gladden utters while staring at the pint of beer in front of her early Sunday evening. The 21-year-old environmental studies major has just been delivered some bad news: Within the next few months her standard pints may cost her much more, thanks to a hops shortage affecting breweries all over the world.