Get with the program

The Programming Board, one of Portland State’s newest campus organizations, is a student-run group that will work to build student pride and a stronger sense of community on campus through the planning of social, cultural and educational events.

The board was created this year after a series of conversations during the 2008–09 academic year, led by co-chair Christian Aniciete. Meetings between Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) and student representatives were held throughout the summer, and the board was created through SALP at the beginning of this year.

“[The board] is clearly a need on campus,” said Aimee Shattuck, SALP director.

Shattuck has been involved with the board in an administrative capacity, helping to flesh out the original concept and offer her supervision.

The Programming Board’s presence on campus is widespread. The group is involved with the Go Green! campaign and is now organizing midnight breakfast events, which previously fell under the scope of SALP.
Midnight breakfasts are events that provide students with free food and entertainment during dead week, or the week before finals, each term.

Programming Board members held a presentation for university administrators and other stakeholders on Thursday, Nov. 12, to outline their objectives.

The group hopes to continue with monthly stakeholder meetings, so as to keep other campus organizations involved with board activities.

“We invited these administrators and individuals that we felt had a stake in the Programming Board,” Aniciete said. “It’s going to take all of these groups and individuals to make it happen.”

The board also wants outside involvement to help create a mission statement, bylaws and job descriptions for members.

Board member Cody Bakken was involved with the original Midnight Breakfast Committee last year. He made the transition to the Programming Board because he feels it has the potential to greatly benefit Portland State as a whole.

“I wanted to set up something that would allow students who didn’t have a specific affiliation—beyond being a student at PSU—to come together and have fun,” Bakken said.

Three other current board members were also Midnight Breakfast Committee members last year.

For now, there is no set process for becoming a member of the board, so anyone who can commit to meetings and other responsibilities can get involved, Aniciete said.

The board will host its first midnight breakfast of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 9 p.m. to midnight. The theme for that event is “The Portland State County Fair.”

Members will continue to meet Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the remainder of fall term, and will decide on a new schedule once winter term begins.

Programming Board meetings
Thursdays
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Smith Memorial Student Union, room 230

Midnight Breakfast
Wednesday, Dec. 2
9 p.m. to midnight
Theme: “The Portland State County Fair”