PSU Magazine Winter 2004

~ETTERS The loss of a great friend When l opened up my fall 2003 PSU Magazine and read about Lhe death of Gordon Dodds, fond memories came to mind, and I realized many of us had losL a great friend. ln 1966, I took my first hisLOry class from Dr. Dodds. He always gave his students his full atLenLion, taughL Gordon Dodds history in a way thaL made Lhings come alive, and his narraLives broughL exciLemenL and dimension in such a way LhaL time melted. He always walked proudly but never arrogantly, his diction filled with pride of his craft, and his mind never falLered when answering questions concerning area hisLory and the hisLOrical importance of events concerning this naLion. Over the years, having had Lhe opportunity Lo serve on committees around campus, l came to rely on his opinion and criticism. Nol only did he serve PSU well, he was also available to the communiLy and government leaders who corresponded with him and his staff. If PSU is today a world-class university, iL is because of the efforts of men and women in the classroom like Gordon Dodds. Lindsay Slone Retired PSU employee 1970-98 Cazenovia, N.Y. Prof. Dodds shut me up Even as a mature student (1 graduated at age 32), I was prone to asking questions in class to convey my own knowledge, to disprove a teacher's point or opinion, or Lo simply hear my own voice. One week inLo Lhe late Professor Dodds's Oregon History class, I was left speechless. By Lhe final month every– one in class seemed spellbound. Such was his command of his subject and Lhe concise eloquence of his message. My one sincere and enduring regret from six years spent at four different insLiLutions earning my degree is thaL 1 didn'L sLand and applaud his final lecture to my class at PSU. l believe Lhe SO-plus students in that class would've joined me then, and 1'11 bet hundreds of other students feel a similar sense of gratitude now. Steve Gunter Portland Michael Moore, an appalling speaker choice The PSU Continuing EducaLion pro– gram sponsorship of Michael Moore's speaking engagement al the Memorial Coliseum is appalling at besL ("Bowling for Columbine DirecLor Lo Speak," fall 2003 PSU Magazine). l am constantly in amazement as to why PSU continues Lo invite individu– als wiLh such bad characLer. Perhaps Mr. Moore's inLention is purely philan– thropic in raising funds for PSU. How– ever, someone who produces films, such as Bowlingfor Columbine, in such bad taste isn't wonhy of anyone's atlention. Mr. Moore only tells one side and LhaL side is very tainted. He Lakes nearly everyLhing ouL of context, cut– Ling and splicing, making his points Lhrough negaLive aLtacks and innuen– does. His treatment of the Columbine issue and the former head of the NRA, CharlLon Heston , is furLher proof that he has an agenda to push: it's only an agenda LhaL doesn't exisL. This type of sponsorship by the University of an individual so vehe– menLly repugnant calls inLo quesLion Lhe motive of sponsoring Mr. Moore's engagemenl. If it is Lo raise funds this is one alumnus who will not con– tribute another dime to any activity at PSU. Mr. Moore is morally wrong and a vicious characLer that should not be given any respective venue to preach his haLred. Lance C. Lane '87 Portland Helping Somali Bantu not PSU's charge PSU administration staff supervising faculty members Dan Van Lehman and Omar Eno should try to keep in mind Lhat projects sponsored by PSU and paid for by Oregon and U.S. taxpayers should ultimately be intended to carry benefit for the people of the United States and Oregon. I believe that any objective consid– eration will find that relocating 12,000 Somali Bantu to the United States ("Finding Refuge," fall 2003 PSU Mag– azine) can have only markedly negative quality of life and financial effecLs for U.S. and Oregon citizens, with huge long-term ongoing costs Lo subsidize and support a group of people who with few exceptions will require tax– payer support for many years. The U.S. had no pan in creating any difficulties they may be experiencing in Somalia. PSU is charged with providing edu– cational opportunities Lo Oregon citi– zens or to noncitizens ready Lo pay Lhe full cost of LhaL education. IL is not intended Lo provide worldwide charitable services. Richard Barnard '84 Sherwood PSU Magazine wants to hear from you. Send your comments to PSU Magazine, Portland State University, PO Box 757, Portland OR 97207-0757; or to email address psumag@pdx.edu . We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. 4 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 2004