WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 49
Event of the day Interested in auditioning for an upcoming theater festival? E-mail parkme@pdx.edu to RSVP and get a chance to perform as part of the Theater Arts Department’s Festival of Short Plays.
When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: RSVP for location info
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INSIDE NEWS Population Research Center moves up PRC moves floors and combines numerous services into one loation PAGE 2 PSU to host Portland civic organization Iaccarino and Heinz to discuss City Club’s goals PAGE 3
Party Near the Park tomorrow
ARTS
Outdoors goes in: Scenes from the outdoor version of this Thursday’s Party Near the Park in SMSU, a biannual event put on by SALP and Campus Recreation to connect students with student groups.
Remeber the falcons Thornridge provides an example of beating the odds and coming up on top PAGE 4
Casting off the cookbook When digital reigns supreme, can the old cookbook survive? PAGE 5
OPINION
Students have another change to check out campus opportunities Zoe Kellett Vanguard staff
The winter months may keep students tucked away indoors, but student clubs and activities are still going strong. Similar to the annual Party In the Park event held every September, Party Near the Park will be held on the second floor of the Smith Memorial Student Union from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Party Near the Park shares the goal of promoting student involvement in school organizations and activities with Party In the Park. Specifically, the events aim to gather and encourage students to get involved with leadership programs, student activities and
campus recreation. They serve as a reminder to students that clubs and organizations can be joined at any time throughout the year. The key difference between the two events is that Party Near the Park includes only on-campus opportunities. According to Schuyler Asman, Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) graduate assistant, not only is the event a great opportunity for students to find groups to become involved with, but also “a chance for groups to be exposed to other student organizations for future or potential collaborations.” Over 75 clubs and organizations will attend to provide students with information and opportunities to join. Being a part of a student organization or club is a great way to connect to the university and network for career opportunities. “There are many benefits to
being an involved student,” Asman said. “Student organizations give you the opportunity to find other students with similar interests as you. Students become more invested in the university and are more likely to fully attain their academic and professional goals.” Entertainment for the event will be provided by Portland State’s radio station KPSU, which will have different DJs providing a variety of music throughout the day. Zab Thai will provide free food for all attendees. The event will focus on student involvement, though all community members are welcome as the event will provide many opportunities for community networking. “Party Near the Park has been successful each year and continues to grow,” said Aimee Shattuck, SALP director. “How can you go wrong with free food, music, and great people?”
All photos by Rodrigo Melgarejo/Portland State Vanguard
Students teaching students well Jumping to conclusions Looking at different sides of the upcoming tax vote PAGE 6 Since when does free mean fee? Television companies are unfairly taking advantage of consumers PAGE 6
Chiron Studies thriving under new funding and oversight structure Tamara K. Kennedy Vanguard staff
Chiron Studies has faced financial and structural challenges since it began 41 years ago, but the program is thriving in its unconventional mission of allowing students to teach their peers. “Chiron Studies is in a make or break position,” said Eddie Hallman, program director and student government administrative director. The program began in 1968 to help qualified students and others in the Portland State community establish courses and pursue academic interests not provided for in the existing curriculum, according to its Web site. In 2005, the program fell apart.
Originally, Chiron Studies was funded through student fees and was constructed as a student group. However, when Chiron Studies was revived in 2008, it abandoned its student-group formation for an independent organizational structure under the supervision of the Office of Academic Affairs, according to its Web site. The program’s classes did not receive course reference numbers for winter term classes until week 10 of fall term, just before finals. But student instructor stipends are on the rise and classes had only a few slots left open by the first week of winter term, said Hallman, who is serving a one-year term as director and will soon be taking applications for next year’s director. According to Hallman, the program used to receive as much as $40,000 per year from the Student Fee Committee but now receives only $12,000 per year via the Office of Academic Affairs.
Before he served as director and before the funding source changed, student instructors were paid $2,100 per term, Hallman said. When he took over, student instructors were being paid $700 per term, which Hallman helped raise to $1,000 per term for current student instructors. He is now working to recruit instructors to create sustainability classes as part of a grant from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation for a maximum of $10,000, Hallman said. Hallman expects the program to perform better than ever because the funding is coming from the Office of Academic Affairs, which reevaluates the program every term, Hallman said. Taiwanese began as a Chiron Studies class and is now on the regular course list under the foreign language department, Hallman said. “It’s all about sharing knowledge and knowledge is valid regardless of age or grade level,” Hallman said.
Currently available Chiron Studies courses: Alternative Energy Design Workshop (CRN 46337) Zachary Springer, instructor Harrell Fletcher, advisor Tools for Academic Development and Success (CRN 46339) Teresa Shank, instructor Dr. Christine M. Cress, advisor (in her absence—Dr. Janine Allen) To teach a Chiron Studies course, submit an informal course abstract to chironstudies@gmail.com Tentative deadline for spring term is Jan. 25, 2010.