Portland State Magazine

Park Blocks Research Arts Al The Class of COVID-19 From Portland State to Public Ofice Hands-on History Filled with handwritten notes and hidden marks, a 500-year-old witch-hunters’ manual gives students an unusual glimpse into the past. umni Life Fall 2020 // The magazine for alumni and contents friends of Portland State University Their backgrounds and political beliefs may difer, but alumni on the November ballot all want a chance to “Let Knowledge Serve.” FEATURES // 14 // 22 Defined by the pandemic that surprised the world, this spring’s resilient graduates ofer a window into extraordinary times. 28 Cameron Whitten has raised more than $1.9 million in emergency assistance for Black Portlanders IN EVERY ISSUE: 3 From the President 4 Inbox 31 Bookshelf 32 Looking Back DEPARTMENTS 6 Public health in action; smart trees; new leadership for Campus Public Safety Ofice 10 PSU is pioneering a new field in robotics inspired by the adaptability of animals 12 The Center for Public Interest Design’s inventive mobile structures put services on wheels ON THE COVER // Class of 2020 graduate Joseph Blake Jr. photographed months of Portland’s Black Lives Matter protests. See his story on page 18. Portrait by NASHCO. SPRING 2020 // // 12 // 26 1