Today’s News Briefs

Newspapers available for students

USA Today has launched a new initiative to promote a nationwide readership program for America’s colleges and universities. The Newspaper Readership Program has three objectives: enhance the learning environment on campus; increase students’ knowledge of community, national and world events; and encourage a lifelong daily newspaper readership habit.

The program allows students living in residence halls to choose from a selection of newspapers chosen by the university. PSU and College Housing Northwest are sponsoring a month-long pilot program in Blackstone, Goose Hollow, Ondine and West Hall. The newspapers available will include USA Today, the New York Times and The Oregonian.

The newspapers will be available each weekday morning in the lobbies of each building.

Volunteers needed for habitat cleanup

The Nature Conservancy of Oregon will sponsor a volunteer work party Saturday, April 21, to help restore habitat in the Blind Slough Swamp Preserve, which is12 miles east of Astoria and provides habitat for many native species. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species.

Volunteers should bring work gloves, food, water, appropriate clothing and are welcome to bring canoes if they have them. Registration is required, please contact Molly Dougherty at (503) 230-1221, [email protected].

Retirement party set for engineering’s Donna Koch

Donna Koch, executive assistant to the dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, will retire after 35 years with the engineering program and the department of athletics. A party will be held Wednesday, April 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Smith Center Vanport Room.

Koch has worked full time in the engineering department while devoting much volunteer time to the athletics department. Since August 2000 she has worked part time, but her volunteer time has not subsided. She currently serves on the Viking Backers Council and the Streetcar Planning Committee.

Koch has watched the engineering program grew from a few courses to a department, a school and a college.

Koch also served on numerous committees, many of which she chaired. These include the Administrative Council, the PSU Charitable Fund Drive, Ultimate Tailgate, the 50th Anniversary Committee, Staff Appreciation, the Holiday Tree Lighting Committee and the Casino Night fundraiser for Athletics.

A scholarship fund has been started in Koch’s name with an interesting provision – it will go to PSU engineering majors who are competing in a sport.

For more information on the scholarship, contact Carrie Lee Carlascio at (503) 725-4906.

–Katie Leonard