Enlisted for Portland State change

Just days after coming home from a brutal 15-month stint in Iraq, Jonathan Sanford left his life in the Army behind him and was back in classes at Mt. Hood Community College.

“I got deployed in February 2005 and came home in April of 2006,” Sanford said. “I got home on a Saturday and was back in classes that Monday.”

It was “major” culture shock for Sanford, who finished up his associate’s degree at MHCC and arrived at Portland State in late 2006. Sanford, an ASPSU presidential candidate who entered the race after reading an article in the Rearguard criticizing the lack of candidates that had applied for the upcoming election, is running on platform that aims to create a multicultural coalition.

Along with his running mate, Rebekah Chitsaz, Sanford said that if elected he will find space for two student groups currently without a home: the Muslim Student Association and the Student Veterans Association.

“He’s pretty genuine,” Chitsaz said. “That’s a huge factor for me. I know he’s very dedicated and determined.”

Sanford has worked with Rep. Earl Blumenauer and former Rep. Darlene Hooley, and has also advised Sen. Jeff Merkley on veterans issues.

Sanford said that another tangible goal of his campaign is to create a support space or co-op area for childcare completely separate from what is currently available.

“We can’t depend on the government to support us any longer,” he said. “We have to do it for ourselves. I intend to support PSU through co-op programs and exchange programs en masse.”

An example of a program that Sanford has already started through the Portland State chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity is a food bank to support students who may otherwise go hungry, which Sanford said is an example of a grassroots way to combat rising tuition costs and the poor economy.

“It’s worthwhile to do regardless of the campaign and regardless of politics,” Sanford said. “We can change the environment of Portland State to where we are more supportive of the life of faculty and students. It may not be easy to give them more money, but we can make the environment better.”

Sanford, as well as other presidential campaigns this year, is also focused on revamping the student fee allocation process. While other campaigns have focused on a perceived lack of transparency within the Student Fee Committee, Sanford said he hopes to eliminate certain sexist and racist comments that came up during this year’s hearing process.

“The SFC—that process—the best way of putting it is that it pissed me off,” he said. “Never again will there be a sexist or racist comment.”

Sanford, 26, grew up in Boring, Ore., in a house in the woods. He said he got his first pair of shoes when he was 5 or 6 years old.

Sanford said he struggled in school when he was younger, often getting into fights and trouble with teachers. He was kicked out of school while in middle school and ended up being home-schooled for a period of time by a Vietnam War veteran.

“It was an odd situation, to say lightly,” Sanford said. “But it really taught me that I didn’t know everything and I shouldn’t fight the world, because I wasn’t going to win.”

Sanford got involved with a Scottish Civil War re-enactment group, which helped open his eyes to the world beyond teenage angst and frustration. With the help of the group, a nonprofit aimed at helping troubled kids, Sanford eventually enrolled at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, where he swam, ran track and played on the football team. He graduated in 2000.

“I was a totally different person [by then],” he said. “I was horrible at almost everything I did, but I did it because I liked being around the people.”

He enlisted in the Army at age 17, despite the fact that his mother was firmly against the idea. Coming from the Army to Portland State was difficult at first, he said.

“Being a veteran coming to a liberal university has been hard,” Sanford said. “A lot of teachers are outspoken against the war.”

At Portland State, Sanford has developed a relationship with MSA President Erica Charves after meeting her in an Arabic class two years ago, and last year was a driving force behind coordinating a dinner between the MSA and the student veterans.

“It’s important for Jonathan to have dialogue with people,” Charves said. “He enjoys talking with people he agrees with but especially with people who he disagrees with. Jonathan brings people together in a way where we realize our similarities, not our differences.”