Opinion

Writing a good book takes a lot of work. But during National Novel Writing Month, many literature enthusiasts devote themselves to writing a novel—all in November.

The focus is the word count. With the goal of 50,000 words in mind (or sometimes another goal of the participant’s choice), participants often spend every spare moment writing. Although there are loopholes, such as getting an extra word every time a main character is mentioned by giving the main character a two-part name, it takes a lot of effort to get 50,000 words written.

While some participants spend a month dedicated to writing an entire novel just for fun, others deem their literary work worthy of publication after the month is over.

“My highest hope as a public servant is that people judge me on what I do, in office,” said ASPSU President Adam Rahmlow in May, after details of his arrest months earlier surfaced. “I’ll do the best job that anybody could, and I promise to be open to criticism—you have to be. That’s just healthy.”

Rahmlow, who had also faced allegations of breaking campaign rules, was already on the receiving end of some intense criticism. Some people were unsure whether he could adequately represent them or if he could be taken seriously. Others shrugged it off as a mistake. But they took him at his word: they would judge him by his actions.

Six months later, Rahmlow has shown himself to be a less-than-ideal student body president. He’s more for parties than policy. ASPSU has voted to give itself a raise.

On May 11, 1970, the Vanguard became a part of its own story when a PSU student strike and protest against the invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State Massacre…

The Portland State Honors Program was founded in 1969. Now, 42 years later, it’s getting a facelift.

The Honors Program was created for students who are high achievers and are interested in pursuing graduate or professional school for research in their field of study.

In the old program, students weren’t held to university graduation requirements and were instead able to develop their own plan for a major. Working closely with faculty advisors all the while, this culminated in a thesis in the final year.

Even if you don’t know his name, you almost certainly know his face.

Somewhere along the line—on the news, on the Internet, at the Occupy Wall Street camp —you’ve seen that broad smirk, stretching mischievously from cheek to rosy cheek. You’ve seen those dark eye slits, squinted contentedly in mute self-satisfaction. You’ve seen that razor-thin mustache. That dark, glistening hair. That towering captain hat.

When war fails, diplomacy begins.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots network of students that seeks to end the criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs but do not harm others