News

The economy is down. The media, headhunters and the government espouse the advantages of having a college degree. Out-of-state students find Oregon attractive. These are some of the speculations as to the cause of increased student enrollment in Oregon universities. But whatever the reason, due to the increase in student enrollment in 2011 and decisions made by Oregon legislature, the seven public universities in the Oregon University System are sitting on a healthy-sized cash cushion.

The goal of Portland State’s capstone courses, required for all undergraduates, is to integrate learning with local community involvement. Bringing students out into the community is the foundation of PSU’s motto: “Let knowledge serve the city.”

Interpersonal relationships play a large role in university life and life in general. While some relationships are relatively uneventful, others can generate a lot of stress and anxiety. Others may even escalate to levels of hostility and antagonism. Portland State students who find themselves in difficult positions with friends or fellow peers may want to seek assistance—but where do they go?

Some deeds cannot be undone. Taking steps to rectify past injustices is a move in the right direction, but for some, nothing can be done to make full amends. Japanese Americans were forcibly detained during WWII. While the internment order of 1942 was officially rescinded in 1945, it took more than 40 years for the government to take action in rectifying the injustice—an action in itself that had significant effects, both positive and negative.

Many Oregonians are calling for stricter gun control laws, especially with respect to banning guns from school areas. Senate Bill 1550, if passed, would do just that. However, during a Feb. 8 Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, the question of whether guns should be allowed on school grounds was pushed to the back burner, leaving current gun control laws unchanged. The committee decided that the bill would be revisited at a later date, but until then, students and faculty with concealed gun permits are still allowed to bring their guns to school.

As Oregon continues to weather economic transitions, the trade relationship between Oregon and China is receiving some extra attention. Business leaders, economic experts and government officials in China and Oregon are eager to explore new economic partnerships.

In the wake of several highly publicized assaults, the spotlight has been focused on TriMet and to the questions of crime, safety and security on Portland’s public transit system. Footage from a late-December assault of a 14-year-old girl made the rounds on YouTube and in local schools, and local media has highlighted assaults on passengers and TriMet operators.

It takes more than half a million lives each year, according to the World Health Organization. It impacts the fate of most third world countries, with highest concentrations in Africa. It is named malaria, and Portland State professor of chemistry David Peyton and his team are setting out to change its destructive course.

The shaking could last for up to five minutes. Bridges, roads and buildings could crumble. Schools and businesses could close indefinitely. Much needed infrastructure—power, water, sewage and phone lines—could be down for months. The Interstate 5 corridor could be in ruins, wreaking havoc on supply chains as it becomes increasingly difficult to distribute food, medicine and other critical resources. A major earthquake could forever change lives.