PSU Magazine Fall 1996

Researcher appointed to presidential commission What are the consequences of testing new drugs on people with schizophre– nia? ls hope for a better treatment reason enough for one individual to lose touch with reality as current medication is withdrawn? These ethical questions have both personal and professional meaning for Patricia Backlar, a senior re earch associate in the Philosophy Department. Backlar has been appointed to a presidential commission concerned with finding a balance between the needs of researchers and the rights of human research subjects. As a member of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, she will help guide federal agencies on ethical conduct during human biologi– cal and behavioral research. Harold Shapiro, president of Princeton University, is heading the commission. Backlar specializes in the concerns of individuals with severe and persis– tent mental disorders. Her career choice was heavily influenced by her son, who was diagnosed with schizo– phrenia in 1981. She wrote about her experience in the book, The Family Face of Schizophrenia, published in 1994 by Putnam Books. In addition to serving on the faculty at Portland State, Backlar is a senior scholar at the Center for Ethics in Health Care at Oregon Health Sciences University. She is also the editor of the ethics section for the Community Mental Health Journal. Grad student count up Graduate student applications and admissions for the 1996-97 academic year are up significantly from a year ago, according to figures compiled by 6 PSU MAGAZINE FALL 1996 the PSU Office of Graduate Studies and Research. The figures point to a nearly 20 percent increase over fall 1995, says Roy Koch, PSU vice provost for research and dean of graduate studies. Applications are at 3,077 compared to 2,516 in 1995, and admission is 1,327 compared to 1,072 last fall. The increases appear across the board but are most evident in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Urban and Public Affairs, and School of Business Administration. "It appears we have the ability to address the additional students we're expecting this year, but we couldn't continue to do so if this kind of trend continues," says Koch. Portland State grants more master's degrees than any other state university in Oregon. An enrollment boost is also expected in undergraduate programs. The number of undergraduate applica– tions for 1996-97 is up 9.5 percent over fall 1995, and undergraduate admis– sions is up 3 percent from a year ago. Casino Night fills in It will be an "ultimate" event but different from the one PSU supporters have come to know for the past seven years. Ultimate Casino Night i filling in this fall for the usual Ultimate Tailgate fund-raiser. Sponsored by the Viking Club, the event will include food, drink, and even an auction. This year's big attraction is blackjack, roulette, craps, and speed bingo. The Ultimate Tailgate is scheduled to return in 1997 as a bi-annual event. Events run from 7 to 11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, at Montgomery Park. Cost is $50 per person and includes food and casino cript. Proceeds go toward student scholarships. Sue Remy, sales associate with the Hasson Company Realtors and past president of the Viking Club board, is chairing the event. Jack Garrison, co-owner of Nautilus Plus fitness centers, is this year's board president. For Ultimate Casino Night reserva– tions call the Viking Club at 725-5639. Students offer low-cost economic forecasts Area businesses, government agencies, and other organizations that have had difficulty getting reliable local economic data and economic forecasts now have a new source to turn to: the Department of Economics' Applied Economics Research Group. Graduate students, under the super– vision of four economics professors, will focus on low-cost, small- to medium-size projects that larger economic consulting firms may not typically handle. Local economic fore– casts and data will be supplied with the cooperation of the PSU-based Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies. "There are small businesses and government agencies that need work done, but it's too much for them to pay a large amount to a large consult– ing firm. We're trying to fill that niche," says Tom Potiowsky, professor of economics and coordinator of the research group. Last fall, the group completed an economic analysis of Australia for PacifiCorp, which was considering purchasing the Australian utility Powercorp. PacifiCorp did eventually buy Melbourne-based Powercorp, based in part on information provided by the PSU economics students. The PSU group is scheduled to conduct a two-part economic impact analysis for the Portland-based 1998 Nike World Masters Games organiza– tion, which is arranging the 1998 Nike World Masters Games in Portland and other locations in Oregon and outh– west Washington in August of that year. The event is expected to draw 25,000 athletes age 30 and over. Thi is more than double the amount that participated in the recent Olympic Games. The study will include surveys of visitors and participating athlete during the event. The research group ha its own lab and local computer network connected to the University's computer ystem. It also has its own home page. Internet access is available via the World Wide Web at http://eclab.econ.pdx.edu/eclab/. D .