News Briefs

Simon Benson Awards event raises over half a million for PSU

Virginia Vickery

Vanguard Staff

The 11th annual Portland State Simon Benson Awards dinner was held Tuesday at the Oregon Convention Center Ballroom in honor of Portland philanthropists Shirley and Jim Rippey and Ann and Mark Elden. Sponsorship of the event raised about $530,00 for the general PSU fund and scholarships, which is $230,00 more than what was raised last year.

The evenings’ keynote speaker was long-time ABC news anchor Charles Gibson, who stressed the importance of philanthropy in this time of lacking state support for higher education. PSU student Jarrell Townsend also spoke at the event and expressed his appreciation for the university, as it has provided him so many leadership and real-world learning opportunities.

Nearly 1,150 alumni, donors and community members were present at the dinner, a higher attendance than last year by over 300. The evening’s primary sponsor was Rick Miller, who graduated with his MBA from PSU and is the founder and chairman of the Avamere Group.

Simon Benson, the event’s namesake, is known in Oregon history for his philanthropic and civic leadership. He donated Portland’s famous “Benson Bubbler” water fountains and built the Simon Benson house at the turn of the 20th century, which has since been restored and currently houses the PSU Alumni Association.

 

Student Legal Services offers immigration consultation

Joe Mantecon

Vanguard Staff

Portland State’s Student Legal Services will begin providing free confidential immigration consultation to eligible fee-paying students this fall. Consultation will address questions such as adjustment of status, marital issues, criminal convictions and immediate-family issues as they relate to immigration.

Lissa Kaufman, coordinating attorney for the office of SLS, identified the foremost goal of the free immigration consultation as further encouragement “to promote student retention.”

As a department, SLS’ goals are to encourage students “to participate in and complete their academic endeavors by helping to alleviate legal obstacles to degree or program completion,” according to its website.

There is no correlation between this new initiative —which began yesterday—and the recent failure of the DREAM Act, Kaufman said. Rather, the idea of free immigration consultation provided by SLS predates the DREAM Act.

Kaufman predicts a sizable turnout over the coming months. In fact, the first day of operations is almost completely booked, as well as the subsequent session. The clinic operates by appointment only; interested students need to contact the office directly for a consultation.

When asked why SLS sought to provide such a service to PSU students, Kaufman cited the difficulties students have had

in the past regarding questionable immigration status and the inability to attain counsel. Previously, the cost of a consultation sometimes defeated the purpose of seeking aid.

“Immigration is a…very complex and specialized area of law,” she said. “This is something we came up with as an office. Students can have their questions answered without losing money.