news brief

Broadcast legend Walter Cronkite to speak at Simon Benson award dinner

Broadcast news legend Walter Cronkite will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Portland State Simon Benson Awards dinner. The Simon Benson Awards dinner, set to take place on Oct. 6, honors Oregonians who advocate philanthropy.

Cronkite’s journalism career spans over 65 years, starting as a was correspondent for United Press during World War II and ending as lead anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. Cronkite spent 54 years of his 65-year career with CBS.

Tickets and tables are available for the Oct. 6 dinner. For more information, contact Leslie Grasa at 503-725-8212.

Speaker points to Portland as a model

Author and Harvard University political scientist Robert D. Putnam will speak tomorrow in the Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom at 4 p.m. Putnam will discuss his books “Bowling Alone: The Collape and Revival of American Community” and “Better Together: Restoring the American Community”.

A chapter of “Better Together” focuses on the city of Portland and how it has buck national trends in terms of civic engagement. The chapter also features faculty from PSU’s School of Urban Studies and Planning.

The PSU Center for Academic Excellence, the College of Urban and Public Affairs and the Corporation for National and Community Service are sponsoring the event.