News Briefs

FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE
Peter Bragdon, who currently serves as Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s chiefof staff, will be transitioning out of that position to become vicepresident and general counsel at Columbia Sportswear.

Bragdon previously served as senior counsel at Columbia beforetaking his post on Kulongoski’s staff.

“He has been a superb manager,” Kulongoski said in a statement,”as well as a sound political and policy advisor for me.”

Bragdon is expected to complete the transition during the firsthalf of the summer.

LAST CHANCE FOR LIBRARY BOOKS
Today is the last day of the PSU Library book sale. From 8:30 a.m.until 2 p.m. the library will be selling books and old magazines inthe Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom.

The books range in price from 25 cents to $1. Items for salehave been donated to library but not added to the collection andinclude duplicates, paperbacks and books in fields that the librarydoes not collect.

From noon to 2 p.m. you can also catch a major bargain and buybooks at $1 per bag or $2 per box.

HIGHER ED BOARD GETS NEW SECRETARY
The Oregon University System Board of Higher Education announcedyesterday that it has appointed a new secretary.

Brian Hagemann, a former Oregon assistant attorney general, willreplace Virginia Thompson, who is retiring.

“I’m excited to return to higher education, and look forward toserving as a resource to the Board as it works to supportreinvestment in Oregon’s public universities,” Hagemann said in apress release.

As Board secretary, Hagemann will act as official spokesman forthe Board, which oversees the entire Oregon University System.Hagemann will also manage Board staff and meeting preparation, aswell as act as a liaison between the board and members of thehigher education community, the government, and businesses.

PSU UNVEILS NEW BUSINESS ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM
An event yesterday examining the collapse of Enron kicked offPortland State’s School of Business Administration’s new Center forProfessional Integrity and Accountability, designed to examine theaccounting profession’s responsibility for acting in the publicinterest.

The program was launched through funding from Phil Bogue, aretired managing partner of Arthur Andersen, the accounting firmthat was found guilty of obstruction of justice for shreddingthousands of documents pertaining to Enron, one of the firm’sclients.

“The formation of a center such as this one is important becauseof the turmoil in the corporate world over the past couple ofyears,” Bogue said in a press release. “The center will be a placeto study what happened and what will prevent it from happeningagain in the future, as well as create a place where regulatoryissues can e debated and worked on.”