Portland State Magazine Winter 1991

• • 1, and 61 percent li ved in the Portland metropolitan area. • More than half the homeless families have one or more ch ildren, the average age being six years old. Of the school age children, 70 percent are enrolled in school. • A majority of the adults graduated from high school or received the ir G.E.D. Their average age was 31. • The average monthly income of those families with an income was $5 11 ; 32 percent reported no current income, but only 30 percent receive food stamps and welfare benefits. • Families were homeless a median of 3.5 weeks before entering the program, but 50 percent of the adults had been homeless in the past. • Twenty-nine percent of the adults said they used drugs in the past and 14 percent acknowledged a heavy amount of alcohol use. Lecture series features women leaders Women discussing leadership in the '90s is the theme of the 1991 University Lecture-Luncheon Series planned for spring. PSU President Judith A. Ramaley will be the first speaker on April 4 for the series, sponsored by PSU Women ' s Association and University Special Events. On April 18 a five woman panel is scheduled, moderated by Orcilia Forbes, vice president for Student Affairs at University of New Mexico and former PSU administrator. Speakers include Kathy DeGree, vice pres i.dent of marketing for Mt. Bache lor; Sherry Sheng, director for the Washington Park Zoo; Kay Stepp, pres ident of Portland General Electric; and Carol Whipple, rancher from Southern Oregon. The 1991 series will conclude on May 2 with speaker Susan Helms, a NASA astronaut from Oregon. Information and reservations may be made through University Special Events, 725-4910. Prof's poetry awarded This fall English professor Primus St. John received the 1990 Oregon Book Award for Poetry for his book Dreamer. Published by Carnegie Mellon Un iversity Press in 1990, Dreamer is St. John' s third book of poetry and explores his Barbadian roots and looks hi storically at the black experience. (The book was reviewed in the Summer 1990 issue of PSU Currently.) Dreamer also has been nominated for the 1991 American Book Award. ~ A small observer gets a boost for a com– puter demonstration during the student design contests. A feat of engineering A mousetrap-powered car, a wind-pow– ered lift and a gravi ty-powered (dropped) nonbreaking egg- are all student engineering design contests sponsored by PSU 's School of Engineeri ng and Applied Sciences. The contests, open to metro-area j unior high, high school, community college, college and uni versity students, will take place Friday, Feb. 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. in various locations in and around Science Building II. The purpose of the contests is to challenge students to master complex engineering principles, says Richard Morris, electrical engineering fac ulty and assistant dean . " In addition, we hope to interest young people in careers in engineering and computer sc ience." Last year, over 200 contestants took part in the competitions in front of an audience of almost 300. There is no admission fee for spectators. For times and locations of specific contest events, contact PSU Engineering and Applied Sciences at 725-4631. Leaming a Chinese way to health PSU Taiji Association and the Northwest Reg ional China Council will present a half-day fes ti val of Chinese internal arts on March 3, from 1 to 5 p.m., in the PSU gymnas ium. A hands-on intro– duction will be given in ta iji, qigong, bagua, and xingy i, exercises which the Chinese have used for centuries to promote health and well-bei ng for both the young and old. A $3 donation will be requested at the door. Day care will be provided, and workshops for children are included. For more information contact the Northwest Regional China Council , a non-profit educational organization with offices on campus, 725-4567. New engineering management Ph.D. A new doctorate is offered in the PSU Systems Science Ph.D. program. The degree, Systems Science/Engineering Management, addresses the needs of engineers and scienti sts pursuing technical management positions and research-based careers. The Engineering Management Program was establi shed at PSU in 1987. In its three years of ex istence as a masters degree program, enrollment has reached 130. The new Ph.D. option already has six students and applications are being received from PSU 5