PSU Magazine Fall 2003

Professor Gordon Dodds , 'Mister History, ' passes away Gordon Dodds-University archivist, professor emeritus of history, and "Mis– ter History" in the pages of PSU Maga– zine-died August 30 after a long battle with respiratory dis– ease. He was 71. A faculty member since 1966, Dodds was the Univer– sity and the region's foremost historian of the westward movement, the Pacific orthwest, and the state of Oregon. He was the author, co-author, or editor of 10 books, including The College That Would Not Die: The First Fifty Years of Portland State University (2000), the University's official history. His book, The Anmican Northwest: A History of Oregon and Washington (1986) , remains a standard reference for college courses on the region. Dodds was also a beloved teacher and colleague. He received the first Branford P Millar Award for Faculty Excellence in 1979 and won the PSU Alumni Association Distinguished Fac– ulty Service Award in 1998. He was chair of the History Department from 1996 to 1999 and the department's graduate coordinator for 16 years. He was also a founder and a board mem– ber of Friends of History, a support group of the department. "'Open handed , open hearted ,' was a quaint phrase Gordon often used to describe someone," says Craig Wollner, acting director of PSU's Institute for Portland Metropolitan Studies and Poles circle a Place of Honor on the roof of Portland State's new Native American Student and Community Cent~r at SW Jackson between Broadway and Park. A public opening for the unique building is scheduled for October 24 at 11 a.m. As the only facility of its kind in the region, the center will provide a place for Native Americans to gather, share their culture and traditions, and to discuss issues they face today. 2 PSU MAGAZ! E FALL 2003 Dodds's colleague for more than 35 years. "But it better characterized his own behavior. " Early in Dodds's career, says Wollner, even though he was responsible for a young family and not particularly well compensated, he passed paid speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, and extra classes on to struggling adjuncts. He also pleaded their cases for retention when their contracts expired, remembers Wollner, an adjunct profes– sor himself for many years. Retirement and eventual illness did not slow Dodds down. After retirement he started a Civil War roundtable and a history book club. He was also appointed University archivist in 2002 , a position left vacant by his death. His latest book, a history of the Oregon State Bar, awaits publication. Bowling for Columbine director to speak Portland State's Continuing Education program is bringing the Academy– Award-winning director of Bowlingfor Columbine, Michael Moore, to Port– land's Memorial Coliseum on October 23 at 7 p.m. Moore has been challenging eco– nomic and political giants for more than two decades through film and books. He recently won an Academy Award for Bowlingfor Columbine and was unanimous winner of the special Cannes 55th Anniversary Prize. Moore's latest book, Stupid White Men .. .and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation, was at the top of the New York Times best-seller list for more than a year and is still in the top five today Tickets for "An Evening with Michael Moore" are $29, $20 and $15; a limited number of tickets are avail– able to students for $5 with valid stu– dent ID. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, including the PSU Box Office, 1825 SW Broadway, 503-224-4400.