PSU Magazine Winter 2003

AROUND THE PARK BLOCKS New press and program in book publishing Learning about the day-to-day man– agement of a working press became a new option for writing students this fall. PSU's own Ooligan Press is allow– ing students to exp lore the gamut of issues surrounding the book publish– ing industry-from manuscript acquisition to editing to production. The publishing courses can lead to a master's degree in writing with a concentration in publishing. The pro– gram-part of the Center for Excel– lence in Writing-is run by Dennis Stovall , former owner and publisher of Blue Heron Publishing. Students are learning about the history of the book publishing industry, as well as market– ing, finance , and legal issues; book design; and ethical issues facing today's publisher. Many classes are offered evenings and are taught by working professionals and academic faculty. Ooligan Press is a general trade press that will honor the cultural and natural diversity of the Pacific North– west through the books it publishes, says Stovall. Ooligan is an ancient name given by area Native Americans to the smelt found in abundance. L E T T E I wonder no more! In 1946 I began my first American Job at the Karafotias Grocery located on the corner of SW 11th and Columbia just a few blocks from PSU. At first I sorted pop bottles, and shortly thereafter I began mak– ing deliveries throughout the neigh– borhood. Located a block away from the store was the Simon Benson House where periodically I made deliveries. The architecture of the house intrigued me, and l wondered what it had looked like in its glory. Now, 56 years later, l wonder no morel 4 PSU MAGAZI E WINTER 2003 While several universities offer summer programs in publishing, most are geared toward funneling graduates into New York's publishing industry and are restricted to graduate-level students. According to Stovall , the PSU program, open to undergradu– ates, is unique in its integration of a working small press into the curricu– lum and coursework. Ooligan Press is open to book proposals from outside the University. Special editorial interests include writing and the teaching of writing, editing, publishing, and book arts; new or rediscovered works with a social or literary impact and a Pacific onhwest connection; cookbooks with an unusual focus , particularly those done in a narrative style; and occasional volumes of poetry, special broadsides, and works of art. Ooligan also serves as a resource for other publishing efforts both within the Uni– versity and in the general community. For more information on the publishing program at Portland State or Ooligan Press, visit the Web site www.publishing.pdx.edu or call 503-725-9410. R S Congratulations to all for saving such a beautiful structure and plac– ing it so very close to PSU's heart. I'm certain Mr. Benson is smiling down on us from above! William S. Kallimanis '62 Bend, Oregon PSU Magazine wants to hear from you. Send your comments to PSU Magazine, Portland Stale University, PO Box 751, Portland OR 97207- 0751; or to email address psumag@ pdx.edu . We reserve the right lo edit for space and clarity. Engineering and science receive $6. 7 million More than $6. 7 million in private donations-the latest a $1 million anonymous gift-are enrichin g the engineering and science programs at Portland State. The money was pledged this past year, much of it going toward the proposed North– west Center for Engineering, Science and Technology facility. ln October a prominent Portland philanthropist, who wishes to remain anonymous, made a $1 million com– mitment toward construction of the new center. The faci lity will serve as home to the College of Engineering and Computer Science, furthering the college's longstanding commit– ment to make quality engineering education accessib le throughout the community. The $1 million gift will allow the college to expand and enhance facilities for the Math, Engi– neering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program, which promotes pre-college preparation. MESA will get a new computer laboratory, a stu– dent lounge, offices, an auditorium, and a classroom, which will enable students involved in MESA to inter– act directly with PSU engineeri ng students and faculty. During the past year, the Univer– sity received a pledge of $3 million from James f Miller for the North– west Center. Credence Systems Corporation and Electroglas, Inc. , contributed equipment valued at more than $1.5 million. A grant of $750,000 from the WM. Keck Foun– dation will benefit the Center for Life in Extreme Environments, and a $475,000 grant from the M.j. Mur– dock Charitable Trust will support the University's acquisition of a high– resolution digital scanning electron microscope. The gifts to engineering and science are part of a 28.5 percent increase in private contributions to the University totaling $17 million for 2001-2002 , a new record.