PSU Magazine Winter 2001

Co NT ENT s FEATURES page 12 In Search of Cathlapotle 6 Finding ancien t remnan ts of a rich Northwest culture. Kid Power 9 Young readers- and th e authors who love them-are shaking up the book world. Amazon Mission 12 A professor tells of his trip up the Amazon to bring medical care to isolated peop les. Greetings, American Style 16 Love 'em or hate 'em, holiday letters are an American trad ition . Eyes to the Skies 18 A strong focus launches Michelle Collin '85 on a stellar career. DEPARTMENTS Around the Park Blocks 2 Opera Takes Honors , Rocket Club Launch, Student Numbers at All-time High, Student Ad Campaign ECHOgood, Lab Opening Frenzy Letters 4 Could It Be Alien DNA?, To Burn Manure or Not Off the Shelf 5 Wild Life; Seven Comes Eleven; Renegade Kids , Suburban Outlaws Philanthropy in Action 15 New Library Research Center Funded, Simon Benson Awards Dinner Alumni Association News 20 Alumni Tour of China, Nominate an Outstanding Alum or Faculty Member, Buy a Brick Alum Notes 22 Elected to State Office , Paving the Way at POE Stadium, Unlikely Creator of a Kids' Cartoon Show, Taking a Bronze Medal Sports 29 Fall Sports Wrap-up, Looking Ahead to Basketball and Wrestling Cover page 20 Ancient cultures thrived along the Columbia. See story on pages 6-8. Photo of the Columbia River by Bruce Forster. Photo of "Anthropomorphic Figure, Columbia River, AD 1000 to 1700," courtesy of the Portland Art Museum. EDITOR Kathryn Kirkland CONTRIBUTORS Mary Coniglio, Myrna Duray, Nicole Ramsey, Pat Squire MPA '95, Douglas Swanson, Jean Tuomi DESIGN CONSULTANT Terry Daline EDITORIAL OFFICE 325 Cramer Hall P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 503-725-4451, FAX: 503-725-4465 E-MAIL: psumag@pdx.edu ADDRESS CHANGES PSU Foundation Demographics P.O. Box 243 Portland, OR 97207-0243 503-725-4911 E-MAIL: psuupdates@yahoo.com ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Pat Squire MPA '95, Director Mary Coniglio, Events Coordinator Myrna Duray, Administrative Assistant Simon Benson House P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 503-725-4948 E-MAIL: psualum@pdx.edu ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pamela Gesme Miller '84, President Roger Capps '60 Gerry Craig '66 Patsie Dant '77 David Fitzpatrick '75, MS '77 Ann Gardner '77 Craig Gilbert '89 Michelle Girts '83 Ken Hart '90 Laila Hirr MS '94 Tamara Kelley '69 Eva Kripalani '83 Bill Lemrnan, Vanport Carolyn Leonard '77, MS '79 Jack Ohman '99 Brian Ray '85 Don Riggs '83 Gary Salyers '57 Rosanna Schewerda '91, MT '93 Eric Stromquist '81 Cathy Williams '56 ALUMNI AMBASSADORS Jon Jalali '67, MBA '71, Medford Mary Mertens James '78, Salem Dennis Olson '68, MS '80, Pendleton Cathy Williams '56, Bend PSU Magazine is published three times a year during fall, winter, and spring terms for alumni and friends of Portland State University. Contents may be reprinted only by permission of the editor. The magazine is printed on recycled paper. PSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. WINTER 2001 PSU MAGAZINE 1