PSU Vanguard Shield Icon

News Briefs

Violent response to peaceful protestWhen members of the Portland Peaceful Response Coalition met in Pioneer Courthouse Square last Friday for their weekly protest of Bush administration policies and the war in Iraq, they certainly didn’t expect to be broken up by a fight.

When the members showed up with drums and equipment, a number of “street kids” started heckling their protest. With a creative combination of old-school Republicanisms like “Why don’t you get a job?” and neo-pseudo-intellectual calls like “Did you drive your SUV here?” the group of onlookers confronted PPRC members and their politics. James Noggle, a local homeless man, attacked one of the protestors and applied a “choke hold.” Noggle and another man were both cited for Assault 4.

The would-be demonstration fizzled out as police and security cleared out the square. “So where’s this sushi place?” asked one PPRC member as they strolled away from the scene.

SMSU food court enters the 20th centuryThe Starbucks and Noah’s Bagels embedded in Aramark’s Smith Memorial Student Union cafeteria now accept Visa and Mastercard. Feed your corporate need and pay for it later.

President to brave mean streets of Little BeirutPresident George W. Bush will be gracing Portland with his presence on Aug. 21 in order to campaign for the 2004 elections, which he predicts he will win.

He will only stop by for one day, but the exact location of his visit has yet to be released as a security precaution.

Resignations abound for ASPSU Following the resignation of ASPSU Multicultural Affairs director Manisha Ganesh, the recently elected Rachel Searle has resigned from her at-large position on the student senate.

Searle decided to go to Idaho in the fall, so she will be unable to fulfill her duties as a senator.

As soon as her seat is officially declared vacant, the position can be filled by another student. Any interested parties should contact ASPSU President Amara Marino at 503-725-8389.

Top-notch facultyPaul Niebank, professor of Urban Studies and Planning at PSU from 1993-1999, was recently honored as the Distinguished Educator of 2003 by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

During his tenure at PSU, Niebank worked in Extended Studies, University Studies, and programs within the College of Urban and Public Affairs.