—2— President’s Message LARRY SAWYER On March 24 the School of Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) offered RAPS members a hard-hat tour of the Lincoln Hall remodel. This was a wonderful experience for me, because I was around for the first remodel and took PE classes in the Old Main gym. Thank you, Clarence Hein and MiMi Bernal-Graves, for setting it up with the School of Fine and Performing Arts. The tour was led by Dean Barbara Sestak, of FPA. I learned the number of majors in the FPA programs is rapidly expanding beyond expectations. I knew about the architecture program in the remodeled Shattuck Hall but didn’t know they are also teaching film production. You will find areas in the remodel that look similar to the old building, but many improvements have been made. There are also changes that reflect the building’s original design, such as the use of natural light and retaining the old stairways for historical purposes. I was also surprised to learn that the building is expected to receive an LEED rating of gold and is just short of the platinum rating. To seismically upgrade a 100-year-old building to these green standards within budget is quite an accomplishment by FPA, the architects, and contractors. Also, most of the demolition materials were recycled. Almost everything on the wish list was accomplished except for the three-story glass tower planned for the Broadway side—and the University hopes to raise the money to build the tower soon. It would provide a striking architectural element for Portlanders traveling up Broadway. It would include a first-class green room for the internationally known performers PSU invites to perform and teach here as well as a dance classroom, enabling FPA to bring back the dance program. FPA has a seat campaign for the four main performance areas. Depending on the area, you can name a seat for either $500 or $250 through the “Take a Seat” campaign. FPA is also offering rooms for naming. Contact Judith Minton, FPA’s director of development, for more details. You can reach her at 503-725-3396 or by e-mail at jminton@pdx.edu. FPA expects to be in the building by fall term. Look for grand opening announcements. MiMi has posted some pictures taken on the tour on our Web site, www.pdx.edu/raps. President Wim Wiewel is the speaker at the April edition of RAPS Program/Speaker Series. The annual President’s Luncheon kicks off at noon on Thursday, April 22, at University Place, 310 SW Lincoln St. RAPS awards will be announced and results of the recent RAPS election revealed. This meeting is an opportunity for every RAPS member and a guest to catch up on the latest news about the University and to meet old friends and colleagues. Members will receive an invitation by U.S. mail in early April. Wiewel is expected to discuss current University programs and planning. He became president of Portland State in August 2008 after serving as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at the University of Baltimore. Wiewel spent the bulk of his career—from 1979 to 2004—at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He holds degrees in sociology and urban planning from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University. Photo by Larry Sawyer WimWiewel RAPS awards announced, Wiewel featured at April 22 luncheon AVAILABLE AT: PSU Bookstore University Market in Smith Union Annie Bloom’s Books Oregon Historical Society Powell’s City of Books PORTLAND STATE: A History in Pictures It’s taken three years, but the wait was worth it. Portland State: A History in Pictures, is a handsome, large-format book that documents PSU’s history in more than 300 photos and text spread over 180 pages.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz