PSU Magazine Winter 1999

Therapy by e-mail It's not unusual to find students using their computers to access research, professors, and other students. But now, when it all gets to be too much, their computers can provide a link to mental health counseling. "Therapymail" is e-mail communi– cation between students and licensed clinical social workers Susan Platt Captein and Ttm Hagge of Counseling and Psychological Services. "There is something really thera– peutic about writing out your prob– lems," says Captein. "Just the fact of writing an e-mail helps people organize their thinking." "Most of the e-mail letters we receive are about relationship issues, transitions, and leaving home," says Hagge. "A lot of times I just allow someone to ventilate, to let them feel like there is someone listening. The feedback I get is that it's very helpful to these students." Even though the service is called Therapymail, Hagge is quick to explain that it isn't real therapy but is more like an advice service. "True therapy involves a long, ongoing rela– tionship," explains Hagge, "and part of that client-patient relationship is being in the same room with someone and feeling each other's presence. On a computer you simply can't do that." Hagge says he doesn't give a lot of advice when he sees people in his office but he does over the computer. Hagge says the average exchange of letters is only five. More serious situations, such as threats of suicide, are extremely rare , says Hagge. "If I received an e-mail with one I would contact them personally, and suggest that he or she come up to visit me in my office." "People are pretty good about self– selecting," says Captein. "If they are in serious trouble they aren't going to pull our e-mail address off a flyer." In addition to Therapymail, Captein and Hagge also write a monthly column in the on-campus housing newsletter and produce a weekly program on PSU's own radio station, 1450 AM. All three serv ices are called Shrinkrap. Enrollment steps up An increase in freshmen and sopho– more students this fa ll has helped push enrollment 2.5 percent beyond last year's numbers. A total headcount of 15,230 students was reported during the fourth week of classes. This compares to 14,863 in fall 1997. This is the fourth consecutive year that PSU has reported an enrollment increase. The numbers reflect 9.5 percent more freshmen than last year, and 7. l percent more sophomores. This includes an 11.5 percent increase in newly admitted students who have come directly from high school. Engineers get the scores Recent graduates of the School of Engineering and Applied Science once again passed the national Funda– mentals of Engineering (FE) examina– tion at a rate significantly higher than the national average. PSU graduates, who succeeded at a rate of 95 percent passing compared to the national average of 78 percent, consistently outperform students from other engineering schools on the national exam. During the past five years, an average of 90 percent of PSU graduates passed the FE exam-a pass rate 25 percent higher than the five– year national average of 71 percent. The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is taken as the first step toward professional engineering licensing. It is generally taken shortly after receiving a bachelor's degree. The new Media Arts Center in Neuberger Hall received awards for innovative design this fall. The International Interior Design Association's Portland chapter gave the center its Rags to Riches Award and a merit award for trans· forming a "mundane" classroom into a digital design instruction laboratory. One month later, the American Institute of Architects/Portland 1998 Design Awards gave the center its Craftsmanship Award for a "beautiful transforma– tion of space." The center, which is used by art students, was designed by SRG Partnership. Execution of the design was carried out by campus carpenters and electricians. WINTER 1999 PSU MAGAZINE 3 (