PSU Magazine Spring 1998

Breaking ground in June Construction of the University's Urban Center project will begin this summer thanks to the April 10 approval of $3.5 million by the Legislature's Emergency Board. This is the last portion of state fund– ing needed for the $33.3 million project, which includes a new building for the College of Urban and Public Affairs, a distance learning center, a transit center, a public plaza, and space for retai l stores. Construction of the Urban Center begins in June on the block bounded by SW Market and Montgomery streets, and SW Fifth and S ixth avenues. The building is sched– uled to open in late 1999. Under the agreement reached with the Emergency Board, PSU will receive Skid road, not skid row Shame, shame, shame. "Skid row" (page 22, Winter 1998) should, of course, be "skid road." The term originally referred to a route over which logs were skidded from the woods, and later came to refer to a section of town where loggers could enjoy various sorts of entertain· ment. The error is a disgraceful example of careless writing, but, to my deep regret, is not uncommon. Skid road is a useful term...we should honor and respect the source by rejecting the error. For the record, it should be noted that some dictionaries list both forms for the term. Mine refers to the corrupted form as "U.S. slang." Peter Neketin Hillsboro, Oregon Don't forget the O.T.s I was pleased to see that PSU is offering a class on the importance of what we do in our everyday lives, 2 PSU MAGAZINE SPRING 1998 $2.35 million in general funds monies. The remaining $1.15 million comes in the form of interest earnings in the state treasury's higher education account. The seven-story Urban Center is expected to serve a a catalyst for new retail development and housing in the neighborhood surrounding the University. Retail space will be provided along the building's ground floor, and an adjacent large plaza will serve as a public gathering place and a new gateway to campus. The Urban Center project is funded through a mix of city, state, and federal funds coupled with self support and private fundraising. In addition to the recently approved state emergency monies, the project includes $4.25 million in federal monies, $2.5 million entitled "The Purpose, Meaning, and Value of Work and Play" (page 4, Winter 1998). Occupation is the word to describe how we spend our time in work and leisure. When people are unable to perform their work and play due to a physical or mental impairment, occupational therapists help them explore ways to find purpose, meaning, and value in those activities again, or in alter· native activities. I hope that occupational therapy is mentioned in the class, as its presence in health care may be limited in the future because of changes in the health system. Alicia Kollmar Springfield, Massachusetts PSU Magazine wants to hear from you. Send your comments to PSU Magazine, Portl.and State University, P.O. Box 751, Portl.and, OR 97207-0751; or to e-mail address psumag@pdx.edu. We reserve the right to edit for space and cl.arity. from the Portland Development Commission, and $7.87 million in state-funded bonds. Private and self– support fundraising includes $5.6 million in revenue bonds generated from retail activity at the site, $4.5 million through a utility services contract, and $500,000 through a PSU street improvement bond. In addition, PSU already has received more than $1.7 million in donations, including $1 million from alumni Keren Brown Wilson and Michael DeShane. PSU is in the midst of raising another $2.85 million to furnish and equip the building. "We want to thank the hundreds of PSU alums and supporters who worked tirelessly on the project for the past four years, bringing it before the city counsel, congressional leaders, and state legislators," says Debbie Murdock, assistant to the PSU presi– dent for government relations. "They conveyed the message that this project is important to PSU and to the state." Thomas Hacker and Associates is serving as primary architects for the project. The sociology of health Portland State is working with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (CHR) to offer the Pacific Northwest's only doctoral degree with a specialization in medical sociology. PSU's Systems Science-Sociology Doctoral Program is the result of a new partnership with Kaiser's research center. Dr. Mary Durham, director of the CHR and a vice president for Kaiser/Group Health, believes the collaboration will make it possible for the two institutions to do research that would be "more difficult for each of us to do alone, and help us compete successfully for joint research funding." PSU faculty and CHR researchers will collaborate in teaching and train– ing graduate students in the social, cultural, and behavioral factors affect– ing health and disease.