News briefs

Raffle to benefit ASPSU Children’s Center

This week the Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) Children’s Center is holding a raffle to raise funds for supplies, through Oct. 31.

Proceeds for the raffle will go to purchase art supplies and books, said Student Affairs Office Manager Shiree Gilmore. A bake sale was originally scheduled for Oct. 31, but was cancelled due to a lack of parent participation, said Gilmore.

Raffle tickets are available individually or in groups of six, priced at $1 per ticket or $5 for six. Tickets are available at the Children’s Center, located in room 126 of Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU), and will be sold at the raffle event until 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Raffle prizes include an iPod and a year’s supply of bread from Grand Central Baker, among others.

The Children’s Center is funded by student fees and an hourly rate charged to parents. They offer daycare services to Portland State students, faculty, and staff.

The raffle will take place Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the food court of SMSU.

–Talmage Garn

Blood drive to be held in SMSU ballroom Wednesday

The American Red Cross and the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) will hold a blood drive at Portland State Oct. 31.

To donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, and have acceptable identification. The Red Cross asks that you set aside an hour to give blood, though the process itself usually lasts only seven to 10 minutes.

According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds and, in the Northwest alone, nearly 5,000 blood donations must be made each week to satisfy patient needs.

Gwyn Ashcom, outreach coordinator for SHAC, said that while the blood drive is no longer taking names for donations, students are welcome to stop by the blood drive in case any previously scheduled appointments are not kept.

The drive will be held Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 294 of Smith Memorial Student Union.

–Eamon ffitch

Michael Shellenberger to promote book at PSU

Author and environmentalist Michael Shellenberger will speak at Portland State about environmental issues Nov. 1.

Shellenberger will be speaking about the new book Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility. Shellenberger co-authored the book with Ted Nordhaus, the chairman of the environmental think-tank that published the book.

Shellenberger and Nordhaus previously collaborated on a controversial essay entitled “The Death of Environmentalism,” which suggests current environmental policies are not broad enough to be successful.

The lecture is sponsored by the College of Urban and Public Affairs. Lawrence Wallack, the dean of urban and public affairs, said Shellenberger will be speaking to students about the need to rethink environmentalist practices in order to properly address the problem of global warming. The lecture will include a 45-minute discussion and a question and answer session.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and will be held this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on the third floor of Smith Memorial Student Union.

–Talmage Garn