Portland State Magazine, Spring 2021

Standing 50 feet tall and overlooking the Native American Student and Community Center, the Salmon Cycle Marker rests at the intersection of Southwest Broadway and Jackson streets. Made by Ken MacKintosh and Lillian Pitt and installed in 2005, the sculpture was designed to symbolize ’s Native American, Alaskan Native and Pacifc Islander students while also pointing toward the future.Te wood and metal marker depicts the salmon cycle from birth to spawning and features the likeness of She Who Watches, also known as Tsagaglalal, a mythical fgure petroglyph in the Colum- Pitt speculates the log, found foating in water on Mount St. Helens, had been there since the 1980 “We thought that by using it we would not be destroying any living Pitt said in her recounting of “and at the same time, we would be honoring all of the creatures and plant life that once lived on that —KATY SWORDFISK PIECES OF HISTORY Thinking Very, 15 Very Small When Professor Jun Jiao decided to purchase a transmission electron microscope for Portland State in the early 2000s, she encountered more barriers than just the hefty $1.5 million price tag. Ultimately, it took more than a dozen letters from companies based in Portland’s Silicon Forest to prove Jiao’s eforts had the backing of the local science community. In 2001, PSU became the frst university in the Pacifc North- west to secure such state-of-the-art nanotechnology. After adding a scanning electron microscope in 2003, Jiao and a group of PSU researchers celebrated the opening of the $3 million Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrica- tion. Housed in Science Building 1, the facility serves students, faculty, the public, other universities and local semiconductor companies that can’t aford their own electron microscope, providing more than 5,000 user hours annually to Portland’s microscopy community. Jiao and the center’s new manager, Greg Baty, recently purchased a dual electron beam plasma focused ion beam microscope. Once again, it is the only of its kind at an Oregon university and puts PSU at the forefront of the microscopy community. —KATY SWORDFISK The Clock at 16 PSU’s Front Door Marking Above the clang of passing streetcars and chatter of students drinking cofee atop the Urban Center Plaza’s fountain parapets stands the 17 Traditions Debbie Murdock Memorial Clock Tower. Named for a lobbyist, adviser and mentor who advocated tirelessly for Portland State for 14 years, the clock was added in 2008—seven years after the Urban Plaza was created by closing of Southwest Montgomery Street to trafc between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Murdock was a true public servant, known for encouraging students along their academic and professional paths. In 1993, she joined Portland State as a special assistant for government relations to President Judith Ramaley. Murdock’s intellect, passion and powers of persuasion led to tens of millions of dollars in funding— making possible, among other accomplishments, the plaza itself. While she was known as an outspoken crusader for Portland State, Murdock the cultural traditions of PSU famously eschewed the spotlight. Placement of the majestic clock tower right at PSU’s front door assured that her presence would always be felt, and her years of service would never be forgotten. Murdock died of cancer at the age of 52 in 2007. —ERIN SUTHERLAND found in a bia Gorge. eruption. thing,” the project, mountain.” 30 // PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE NASHCO