PSU Magazine Winter 1997

Convoluted thinking The fall 1996 PSU Magazine articles clearly demonstrate the convoluted thinking in PSU's planning processes. In "Wanted: Engineers," the article points out that whi le industry demands more engineers, the engineeri ng fund– ing has been reduced. The article "Bouncing Back" shows that PSU can find all the funding it needs for reintroducing a ba ketball program. Does Portland really need yet another basketball team? And does PSU need yet another deficit-producing sports program? Furthermore, the article points out that the program's "standouts" are Californians. At a time when funding may be further reduced, doesn't it make sense to fund programs which carry greater promise of careers? Or has PSU become a playground for "out-of-state" athletes? It seems obvious that "common sense" real ly isn't all that common! 0. W. Cockrell MBA '95 Beaverton, Oregon Athletic Director Jim Sterk replies: When we went to Division I, i.t was required that we have a men's basketball team. In two years the team will be self-sufficient. The revenue shares PSU receives from the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and TV contract, along with ticket sales, game guarantees, and corporate sponsor– ships should quickly surpass expenses for the /Jrogram. The biggest cost we're incur– ring is the additional scholarships we must provide [a Division I requirement] for all student athletes, most of whom are from the Pacific Northwest. Basketball never left! Basketball is not back at PSU. It never left. As a PSU graduate, a a local high school teacher, as a mother of two daughters heavily involved in athletics, and as a citizen well aware of the provi– sions of Title IX, I am deeply offended by your implication that the only real basketball is men's basketball. 2 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 1997 For many years I have thoroughly enjoyed coming to the PSU gym to watch the PSU basketball team compete on a very h igh level. It was not relevant whether it was women or men playing. It was good, exciting basketball, and the players and coaches demon trated high competitive spirit, exceptional talent and skills, and good sportsman hip. I wa delighted to encourage both my students and my daughter to attend these games. Now what do I tell these young citizens? How do I explain your cover? How do I exp lain that the schedule printed on the back cover only includes men's basketball ? For the premier public university in the city of Portland to adopt such an attitude is embarrassing. Judith Holmboe '68 Portland, Oregon An exhibit of sexism The cover of your fa ll 1996 PSU Magazine is incred ibly insulting to the players, coaches, and fans of the consistently top-rated PSU women's basketball teams of the past 15 year . "Basketball is back!" refers to the fact that there is once aga in men's ba ket– ball at PSU. That caption says in not too subtle tones that what has been here all along was not the rea l thing, but only a cheap imitation for a sub ti– tute while we waited for the genuine article to return. Not only did the magazine run this absu rd cover caption, but the same message also came to my husband from the athletic department in the form of a solicita– tion for season tickets. True fans know that ba ketba ll has been al ive and thriving at PSU for all these years, and the recent h iring of former PSU coach Greg Bruce by the Portland Power of the ABL only serves to reinforce how h ighly the program is regarded by those in the basketball community. I am amazed that both the Office of Alumni Relations and the PSU Ath letic Department would exhibit uch sexism. I wa always proud of PSU's decision to keep the women's program alive; I ee now that my pride was misplaced. Kati Fantz McKee '88 Tigard, Oregon For sport fans out of state I have been receiving PSU Magazine for some years now. I really do enj y the efforts of you and your taff. Your magazine highlights the growing relationships between P U and the surrounding community and makes me proud to identify myself as a member of the PSU alumni. One concern continues to bother me greatly. In every issue, the maga– zine identifies some sports activ ity for the appropriate coming season. This i very exciting news for readers such as myself, who are av id college sporrs fans, especially as PSU begins to take its programs to the higher leve ls. But, l am at a total loss to explain, since the magaz ine has nationa l distribution, why only the home game schedu les are identified. Several reasons for this decision come to my mind. One, PSU Magazine cannot comprehend that some alumni might live out of the state of Oregon. Two, PSU Magazine does not believe that there are visitors at porting events. Or three, PSU Magazine does not understand the difficulty of obtain– ing schedules for Division 11 college team . To illustrate this fact, log on to the PSU home page on the Internet and check out the Ath letics Department information. Richard Turner '75 Alta Loma, California P U Magazine wants to hear from you. Send your comments to PSU Magazine, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751; or to e-mail address psumag@pdx.edu . We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity .