PSU Magazine Fall 1992

The School of Health and Human Performance closed this past spring, but its accomplishments, community ties, alumni, and even some of its programs remain. By Brian White stay on n May 30 of this year, more than 200 PSU facul– ty member , alumni, and well-wishers said a long, thoughtful good-bye to the School of Health and Human Per– formance (HHP). The School officially closed June 30, the victim of an early round of univer– sity-wide budget cuts emanating from Ballot Measure 5, the property tax limitation measure. "There's a lot of history here," said Robert Scruggs, longtime facu lty mem- Physical activity classes will continue to be offered in the HPE Building. ber of the School and master of ceremonies for the farewell banquet. "I even thought about going out with a crew cut," Scruggs joked, referring to the popular hair style at the time he joined PSU in 1960. The School went through the same quirky name, logistics, and organiza– tional changes that have marked PSU since its birth as the Vanport Extension Center in 1946. The School started as a smattering of health science and physical educa– tion courses, and although it had no home base for many years, it had many homes. But through all its transforma– tions, HHP grew and became a mean– ingful part of the Portland State experience. Many graduates continued in the health and phys ical education profes– sions, earning impressive awards at Pacific Northwest schools and corpora– tions. And numerous students from the early years met and eventually married. So, the farewell banquet that took place this past spring not only feted the School's community-wide accomplish– ments, but also celebrated the human relationships that were molded through the School's courses, programs, and athletic teams. Alice Lehman, professor emerita, recalled the School's growing pains. "Swimming classes were offered at the downtown YMCA," she said. "This PSU 7