Past Tense VIKINGS OUTLAST DUCKS Those of us retirees well remember the difficult times Portland State faced in its early days, much of it because the University of Oregon was constantly blocking our progress. In the first years of Portland State, progress was often stymied by an imperative that seems almost unbelievable today: any new course PSU faculty wished to offer required the permission of the like department or school at the University of Oregon. Obviously that institution fought hard not to allow Portland State College to grow beyond the size it was when it was known as Vanport Extension Center. Through some miracle two omnibus numbers made it through the Oregon State Board of Higher Education: 150 (lower division) and 350 (upper division). Although the University of Oregon never allowed new numbers to be added to our catalog, it was now possible to add courses through these two numbers. The catch: they had to be called “Special Studies.” The Music Department, for example, now could add very necessary courses such as Mus 350 Special Studies: Arranging, Mus 350 Special Studies: Counterpoint, and Mus 350 Special Studies: Composition (the colon was always necessary). The dean of the school of music at UO was furious, but there was nothing he could do about what the state board had dictated. As the years went on, Eugene was forced to relax its grip on PSC and new numbers were allowed, eliminating the “Special Studies” notation. For more about the early growing pains, please refer to Gordon Dodd’s history, The College That Would Not Die. —Gordon Solie Past Tense features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea for one), e-mail the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu.
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