Days before Portland State President Wim Wiewel announced “the biggest news in Portland State history,” rumors about what that news could be flew around the South Park Blocks at warp speed. While it turned out that all the fuss was over a $25 million grant for sustainability, for a week there was enough supposition and palace intrigue to make your head spin. Everyone from low-level staffers, coaches and students had their own take on what Wiewel could possibly have up his sleeve.
Hearsay!
Days before Portland State President Wim Wiewel announced “the biggest news in Portland State history,” rumors about what that news could be flew around the South Park Blocks at warp speed.
While it turned out that all the fuss was over a $25 million grant for sustainability, for a week there was enough supposition and palace intrigue to make your head spin. Everyone from low-level staffers, coaches and students had their own take on what Wiewel could possibly have up his sleeve.
The Vanguard collected some of the best rumors from staffers and students and presents them here for posterity, in all their ridiculous glory.
Portland State merging with OHSUThe rumor that gained the most traction was a proposed merger between PSU and Oregon Health and Science University. At first, it seemed plausible and had many people convinced it was really happening. However, there were several logical holes, including the sheer amount of legislation required to make such a merger happen and the enormous ramifications such a decision would have on both institutions. Wiewel said during the ceremony announcing the $25 million grant that if it really had been a merger with OHSU and no one knew about it, he would probably be fired.
Bobby Knight gets hiredSome optimistic Vikings fans believed that Bobby Knight, the legendary basketball coach, was going to bring his brand of arguably controversial coaching to the Vikings. It didn’t make much sense considering that Vikings head coach Ken Bone had just led his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in PSU history.
Portland State mascot changes to honor WiewelAnother sports-related rumor centered on changing Portland State’s mascot from the Vikings to the Flying Dutchmen in honor of our new president. Another version of that rumor had the mascot changing to the “Wikings,” which certainly gets points for style, if not plausibility.
University switching to Geico While the country is certainly going through tough financial times, switching to Geico probably isn’t the answer. Besides, Geico’s spokesman is a caveman, not a Viking. Close, but no cigar.
PSU moving campus to Northwest industrial areaThis rumor started because many felt that Portland State wanted to expand to become a more traditional campus and needed room to do so. It’s ridiculous on many levels, not the least of which is the amount of money PSU has invested in constructing new buildings and renovating the ones that already exist.
Paul Allen University? Does Paul Allen want his own university? One rumor had the billionaire donating enough money to privatize Portland State. It kind of made sense–for a microsecond.
Something wicked this way comesSome paranoid members of the community felt that the disaster could only be bad news. After all, the previous “biggest news” in Portland State history was the Vanport flood back in the 1940s when PSU was known as the Vanport Extension Center. If that were true, why would there be a celebration planned?
