VANGUARD EDITORIAL: 2010: The year in review

As we move into a new year and decade it’s important to keep in mind the ways in which Portland State has changed and impacted its surrounding community, for better or for worse. The Vanguard has compiled several of the biggest news stories it covered at PSU in 2010.

Story: New Academic and Recreation Center opens

Date published: Jan. 5

On Jan. 3, 2010, PSU’s new Rec Center opened in the Urban Plaza. The initial proposal for a new recreation center was first made in 1987, making this building a long-awaited and much-needed resource for Portland State students, according to the article. The new facility features a swimming pool, a climbing wall, intramural sports programs, outdoor program trips and equipment rentals.

Story: Professor accuses student of being FBI agent

Date published: Feb. 3

Tenured economics professor John Hall was suspended from teaching after publicly accusing student Zaki Bucharest during class of being an FBI informant and of trying to sell guns to students. Bucharest was a member of ASPSU and a veteran of the Israeli army. Several students claimed to have seen him on campus with a gun and to have heard him make violent threats. Others defended him as an exemplary student-leader and friend. Hall has since been reinstated as a professor and a PSU disciplinary committee exonerated Bucharest of any wrongdoing last spring.

Story: PSU students join in national protest against

higher tuition

Date published: March 5

A few hundred students gathered in the South Park Blocks for the National Day of Action to Defend Education, which promoted the affordability of higher education. Students at hundreds of other campuses across the country participated in the day of action in some way as well. At PSU, 11 groups sponsored the student walkout including the ASPSU Executive Branch, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights, Students for Unity and Northwest Student Coalition.

Story: Women’s Basketball advances to NCAA tournament

Date published: March 30

The Portland State women’s basketball team earned its first-

ever appearance in the Division-I NCAA Tournament in March, which was historic as much as it was exciting to cover. Led by head coach Sherri Murrell, the Vikings earned their postseason appearance by becoming the lowest-seeded team to ever win the Big Sky Championship (they entered as the No. 5 seed), then followed that up with an impressive showing in the women’s “March Madness” tournament.

Story: Very low turnout for ASPSU election

Date published: April 27

Katie Markey and Selina Poulsen were announced as ASPSU president and vice president, respectively, winning a total of 432 votes out of 701 valid votes collected during the election. The total number of votes received was 99 less than the number received in the previous year—an election already considered to have had a low turnout.

Story: KPSU loses AM signal

Date published: June 30

After airing for over 15 years, KPSU, Portland State’s student-run radio station, had its signal permanently revoked from KBPS 1450 AM after a controversial on-air incident. However, prior to the incident, Portland Public Schools—the owner of KBPS—had already decided that it would not renew its contract with the college station. The incident occurred at around 10:55 p.m., when panelists on KPSU’s “Debate Hour” briefly entered into a discussion about sodomy. At the end of the conversation, one of the guests said, “I think we can all agree that sodomy is great, and we want to do anything we can to encourage it.” In addition, one of the panelists said, “I’ve decided that you can do anything you want as long as you can pay FCC fines.”

Story: Lincoln Hall reopens after extensive renovations

Date published: Sept. 28

On the eve of its 100th anniversary, Lincoln Hall was officially re-opened after being closed for nearly two years while undergoing renovation. Though merely one of many construction projects in progress at Portland State, the restoration of the historic hub for theater and fine arts is a proud achievement .

Story: PSU and OHSU form strategic partnership 

Date published: Nov. 5

Oregon Health and Science University and PSU developed a formal alliance to meet the growing demands of the Portland region. PSU President Wim Wiewel and OHSU President Joe Robertson formed the Strategic Partnership Task Force, which heard testimony on its recommendations for partnership from faculty, students, elected officials and community members.

 

Virginia Vickery Editor-in-Chief Corie Charnley News Editor   

Nicholas Kula Arts & Culture Editor  Richard Oxley Opinion Editor  

Robert Britt Sports Editor