Portland State Magazine Spring 2015

SPRING 2015 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 3 Portland State Magazine wants to hear from you. Email your comments to psumag@pdx.edu or send them to Portland State Magazine , Office of University Communications, PO Box 751, Portland OR 97207-0751. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. Inspired by RFK Your last issue with the cover photo of Robert Kennedy at PSU for the article in Portland State Magazine [“The Lost Tapes,” Fall 2014] brought back many happy and sad memories. I attended PSU from 1967 through the school year of 1970, which were probably the most exciting and historical years in the history of the school. The list of speakers in your article is proof of just how incredible the times were back then. I remember attending those speeches of many of the speakers at PSU, which can now again be heard on tape. I especially recall waiting in line for over an hour to get into the PSU gym to hear Bobby Kennedy speak and becoming so inspired by him that I went downtown to his campaign office for the presidency to volunteer. Only weeks later, however, RFK was tragically shot dead in Los Angeles like his brother, JFK, five years before. America has never recovered from the loss of these great leaders. Cris Paschild is to be heartily thanked and commended for her sharp and dogged determination to discover exactly what she had found by accident in these invaluable recordings of history. Doug Weiskopf ’70 Recalling brother’s contributions I read with interest your story about the lost tapes, especially the section about Robert Kennedy. My brother, James Blue, did the voice over narrative for some of Robert Kennedy’s campaign advertisements. Jim was a filmmaker. He had a background in radio and the- ater at Jefferson High School in Portland and the University of Oregon. His Portland State connection was by way of voting in favor of a proposal before the National Endowment for the Arts by Oregonian Sheldon Renan to establish regional media centers. Portland State was one of four in the USA that was established with NEA support. Jim also was a frequent speaker at PSU and may well be on some of your tapes. Richard Blue ’62 Praise for the archivist Archivist and head of the PSU Library Special Collections Cris Paschild provided an outstanding service that will bring enduring benefits for generations. She discovered and facilitated the recov- ery of recorded political speeches from tremulous times in the late ’60s. Now you can hear Bobby Kennedy address thousands in the PSU gym in 1968 just weeks before his assassination. Paschild’s gift of discovery may be listened to at pdxscholar.libary.pdx.edu/orspeakers. Ron Campbell ’69, MAT ’70 A football legacy I thoroughly enjoyed your tribute to former Portland State football coach Pokey Allen in the fall issue of Portland State Magazine [“Looking Back,” Fall 2014]. Having been in the college coaching profession for most of my professional career, I knew Pokey well. A coach is often measured simply by wins and losses. I prefer to measure success by the legacy that is left, as your article so appropriately stated. As a Portland State alumnus and former Viking football player, I hope that Pokey’s legacy is never forgotten! I agree that Pokey would have led a Pac-12 program to a Rose Bowl victory. Robin Pflugrad ’81 Former head football coach, University of Montana Letters FALL 2014 A strong Foundation/17 Skyways to science/18 Talesofgrit& inspiration/20 movable feast/26 Voices fromourpast/10 the lost tapes Fall14_Mag-FINAL.indd 1 9/15/14 4:19PM HIGHLIGHTS: Oct. 23 PDXTalks Oct. 23 Portland State of Mind Concert Oct. 24 Portland Farmers Market PSU Booth Oct. 25 PSU Alumni Night with the Portland Timbers Oct. 28 Panel discussion: Portland Area 2016 Economic Forecast Oct. 29 Simon Benson Awards Dinner: Arianna Huffington to Speak Oct. 31 Homecoming Football Game & Tailgate Information on discounted hotel accommodations available at pdx.edu/insidepsu. October 22–31 COME BACK TO CAMPUS FOR: Arianna Huffington