Author: Nicole Egland

Picture this: you wake up at 5:30 a.m. for a long commute to school from Tigard, Vancouver, wherever…. You wait in the cold for the bus, and then endure an almost hour-and-a-half ride with rude, somewhat smelly people. You drag yourself into class, half-cocked from the rancid coffee you picked up from Starbucks. And then, after you plunk down in a desk that was built for elementary school children, the teacher tells you that all the material you need for the course is online. (Insert expletive of your choice here.)

On Nov. 4, PSU students who vote in Washington will be making a choice: whether or not Measure 1000, allowing assisted suicide, should pass. Measure 1000 would permit terminally ill, mentally competent, adult Washington residents who are medically predicted to have six months or less to live, to voluntarily request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician.

Fifteen years ago, in a land not so far away, three men, Rob Wynia, David Amador and Peter Cornett, challenged the conventions of their time to develop a musical project that’s longevity has been impressive and that’s popularity only continues to rise. This trio is known as Floater. From the release of their demo, Sink, to their latest album, Stone by Stone, Floater has had a following that can only be described as devout.

The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing regulations to enforce conscience rights for healthcare workers. This sounds good, in theory. But what does it mean to you? It means that you can be denied service, or even a referral, for family planning services if it goes against the morals of the healthcare worker you approach.

Matthew Wayne Shepard was only 21 years old when he died. The murder of this vibrant, promising young man captured a nation with its senselessness. His life, full of optimism, intelligence and passion for equality, was ended by two men for a single reason: Shepard was gay.

Running on the assumption that, as a college student, you are not independently wealthy, you are probably feeling the pinch as your tuition bill comes due. For the 18.5 percent of the student body who qualify as non-residents, that pinch may feel more like armed robbery. The residency policy for the Oregon University System, found at www.pdx.edu/admissions/grad_residency.html, is strict. In simple terms, you are only considered a resident if you are financially independent, have lived in Oregon for 12 months and were not enrolled in school for more than eight credits during those months.

Have you found yourself dropped into unfamiliar territory? Miles away from everything you know or love? Strap on your ruby slippers, and fear not–here are some things you should know about your new school and home. One of the most economical pieces of advice I have to offer is to utilize public transportation. There are those who refuse to ride, stating reasons such as inconvenient schedule times and crowded, less than sanitary riding conditions.