PSU Magazine Winter 1998

$5 million for teaching math and science Faculty from Oregon's public and pri vate co lleges will develop new ways of teaching math and science, and improve access to math, science, engi– neering, and technology program for a broader range of students, with the support f a new five-year, $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The project, entitled the Oregon Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers (OCEPT) , is designed to improve the collegiate math and science preparation of future teach– ers of kindergarten through grade 12. The proj ect is based at PSU through the Math Leaming Center, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing profes ional deve lopment fo r teachers in math, computers, language arts, science, and teaching trategies. Project director i Marj orie Enneking, professor of mathematica l sciences. New women's degree It is now possible to earn an under– graduate degree in Women's Studies at Portland State. This fa ll, the University became the first campus in the Oregon tate system to offer a major in women's studies. The new major represents a significant achievement for facu lty and students who rebuilt the program from its near-demise in 1981, when budget cuts slashed pos itions, says Johanna Brenner, a sociolog ist and the coordi– nator of PSU's women's studies program. Today, nearly 40 facu lty from aero s campus teach in the program, although Brenner is the only full-time faculty member. The new major combine a core curriculum, community internships, and indi vidualized study tailored to tudent ' academi c interests. "Women's Studies began as the academic arm of the women's libera– tion movement, but the scholarship and the curriculum have evolved from what they were when PSU first offered an undergraduate certificate in 1976," she says. Chiquita R llin , domestic violence coordinator for Multnomah County, has a unique perspective on the program's benefi ts to the community. For almost 20 y ars Rollins has worked on issues relating to violence aga inst women. "Women's Studies curricula provide students and local agencies with opportunities to work together," she ays. "They give student work- and community-experience, while agencies get enthusiastic help and fresh outlooks. "In addition , I know many peop le who took women's studies classes 10 or 15 years ago who are better manage rs, better emp loyers and employees, better mothers, better health care prov ider , or better teachers because of the in for– mation they received in those classes. " It's all in their name A school and a bu ilding on campus were renamed this fall in honor of long time supporters of the University. The School of Government is now the Mark 0 . Hatfield School of Govern– ment, and the Health and Physical Education Building has become the Peter W. Stott Center. The Hatfield School of Government marks the first time a PSU academic di vision has been named in honor of an individual. This is a particularly apt recognition for the former senator, says Nohad Toulan, dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs, in which the school is housed. "The school's faculty will carry the name of the Mark 0. Hatfield School of Government to international conferences, and publications will bear it name and his around the globe." Hatfield has been a guest lecturer at the University and bear the title Distinguished Professor of Government. ln June, alumnus Peter Stott presented the Department of Ath letics with a $1 mill ion challenge grant– the largest individual gift in the University's history. The d nation and matching fund s are going toward the refurbishing of the tott Center, a well as toward athletic scholarships, the creation of a practice fie ld adj a– cent to the building, and fo r capital improvements to Duniway track. Stott, president and chief executive offi cer of Crown Pacifi c in Portland , has been a major c ntributor to P U' athletic programs fo r many years. He is an original PSU Big Sky founder-one of everal individual who pledged long-term financial support when the University moved up from NCAA Division II leve l to Division I in the Big Sky Conference. In Ben Padrow's memory Ben Padrow would be proud . After a 20-year hiatus, a winning forensic team is back at Portland State and hosting a Ben Padrow Memorial Forensics Tournament Feb. 13 and 14. Padrow was a professor of speech communicati on at Portland State from 1955 until hi death in 1986. He wa responsible fo r many successful foren– sic teams and also the GE College Bowl national champions in 1965. O utside the Univer ity, he had a long career as a broadcast commentator and political c mmuni cations consultant. P U 's curren t forensic team is coached by Amanda Feller. "l never knew Ben, but I fee l that I know him. My colleagues talk of him with so much respect and admiration," says Feller. In November, the PSU team placed first and third at two Northwest tour– naments. They beat such schools as Stanfo rd University, Linfield Co llege, Lewis & C lark Co llege, and University of Alaska. The team only started competing last schoo l year, but under Feller's tutelage has racked up some impress ive wins. Feller was a forensics coach at community co lleges in the Northwest for seven years. She now teaches fo rensics and public speaking at PSU. The entire program is running on a shoestring budget, say Feller. Any former students of Padrow's who would like to help with tournament resource are encouraged to call her at 725-53 58. In addition to the Padrow tourna– ment, the team is also hosting the State High School Speech Tournament, fo r the second year in a row, the weekend of April 17. D WINTER 1998 PSU MAGAZINE 5