Tag: residence life

  • Admitted Student Questions: Housing

    Admitted Student Questions: Housing

    Moving to college to live on campus is a great decision. It connects you to your university, encourages involvement and helps support your academic success (not to mention being affordable and convenient!) But for many, this will be the first time living away from home. It’s a big step and it can be intimidating. We…

  • Feeling Helpless in a Time of Great Need

    Feeling Helpless in a Time of Great Need

    By: Anna Sobczyk One of the cornerstones of my job as a Resident Academic Mentor —programming—came to a complete standstill with COVID-19. Throughout the term, I normally put on programs that promote holistic wellness in order to achieve academic success. With its absence, I honestly feel like the rewarding aspect of my job has been…

  • A purr-fect match: Tips for student pet-owners

    By: Brooke Horn When I moved here, I couldn’t bring Bandit with me. I knew that a 400sqft studio in the city is no place for an energetic Black Lab, and that I would be able to adopt after the move. Bandit was more than happy to stay home with family and escape the traumatic experience of…

  • You Don’t Know What You Got . . .

    You Don’t Know What You Got . . .

    By: Theo Burke As I graduate, besides memories and friends, I am leaving behind the awesome Portland State student health insurance. I’ve written about this before, now I’m experiencing the difference. Since I don’t know what job is coming down the pike or what kind of health insurance it might carry, I’ve applied for individual insurance…

  • Call Campus Security?  Maybe not.

    Call Campus Security? Maybe not.

    Over Christmas, as I returned to my car at 2 a.m., I was approached by four muscular campus security officers, in three patrol cars. It was a little scary. Someone had called in a complaint about a man “trying to break into the library, wearing a hoody.”  I had returned some books to the Millar Library dropbox,…

  • A live phone call — someone loves me

    A live phone call — someone loves me

    By: Theo Burke Not long ago, while working on a PSU Vanguard story, I received a return phone call, within 24 hours, from Scott Gallagher of the University Communications office. I nearly fell down from shock. I had not received a live phone call in months from anyone other than my mother. And it seemed as…

  • Rain, rain, go away and come back another day

    I was dreaming that I was sailing a small ship through a tremendous storm. The rain was heavy and dense, battering the ship and causing metallic thumps that scathed my ears. Then I awoke from my sleep and the sounds had not ceased. I cleared my eyes and sat up in my seat and saw…

  • When you become the interviewer

    Last week, I had the experience of being on the other end of the table for several interviews. As part of my job as a resident assistant, I am required to interview people for the positions that will be open for next year. I found it interesting to see the process through the eyes of…

  • Portland State is More Than a School.

    The first university I visited during my middle school years was Portland State. I vaguely remember seeing the Smith cafeteria and the Broadway computer lab. At the time, I was curious about attending college, but by my freshman year in high school, I knew I was going to college. I had no school in mind,…