In short

‘Everybody Reads’ at Portland State in Feb.

Portland State faculty are holding lectures and public forums about literacy during February as part of Multnomah County’s “Everybody Reads” project.

The project, which is in its sixth year, focuses on one book that is closely examined and discussed at project events, in addition to workshops and events held on subjects involved in reading and writing.

The project will feature more than 80 events across Portland in February, including nine at PSU.

PSU professors Janice Haaken, Susan Reese and Debra Gwartney, of the psychology and English departments, respectively, are scheduled to hold lectures during the project.

Portland State has been involved with the project for the last three years.

The events of this year’s project will focus on Ishmael Beah’s memoir A Long Way Gone, an account of his experience in Sierra Leone during its Civil War. Beah’s memoir is currently steeped in controversy, said Terrilyn Chun, programming coordinator for the Multnomah County Library, because dates in the book may not be factual.

Debra Gwartney’s lecture on memoir writing will be held Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in room 328 of Smith Memorial Student Union.

-Robert Seitzinger

Oregon Transfer Days in Portland next week

For students interested in transferring to a public university, Oregon Transfer Days, a statewide, month-long community college tour will be held at all four Portland Community College campuses early February.

The tour’s events are designed to help community college students transition to a four-year school, said Michelle Schwartz, Portland State’s Assistant Director of New Student Programs.

“Universities traditionally attract more students when they go to the two-year programs they recruit from, and this year there’s a much larger undertaking happening statewide,” Schwartz said.

This year marks the first time the events have been organized in a statewide tour, Schwartz said.

Among PSU staff attending at least one of the PCC events are Schwartz, Melissa Trifiletti, director of New Student Programs, and Becki Ingersoll, a liason for PSU’s Undergraduate Academic and Support Center.

Oregon Transfer Days began Jan. 24 at Klamath Community College. Events at PCC will be held Feb. 4 and Feb. 6.

–Robert Seitzinger

State of the Union hits on economy, war

WASHINGTON-President Bush, standing before Congress one last time Monday night, urged the nation to persevere against gnawing fears of recession and to stay patient with the long, grinding war in Iraq.

In his final State of the Union address, Bush pressed Congress to quickly pass a plan to rescue the economy.

“We can all see that growth is slowing,” he said.

He called on lawmakers to urgently approve a $150 billion plan-worked out with House leaders-to avoid or soften any recession through tax rebates for families and incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment.

Bush also cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that would jeopardize progress achieved over the past year. He said plans already are set for 20,000 troops to come home.

The speech lasted 53 minutes, interrupted frequently by applause, most often by Republican lawmakers.

–Associated Press