Portland State's weekly student newsletter for the week of January 26, 2026

PSU Men’s Basketball is off to the best start in program history, maintaining a perfect 5-0 Big Sky Conference record and a five-game winning streak. Watch the Vikings take on Montana at home this week. Admission is free for students, and includes access to a build-your-own dirty soda bar. Sip your custom, free drink while you experience history in the making! To get your ticket, long into your PSU tickets account. From there, you will be able to add your ticket to the cart for free.  

Thursday, Jan. 29
7 p.m. 
Viking Pavilion

Sunday, Feb. 1: Last day to withdraw with a 20% refund

Monday, Feb. 2: Schedule of spring classes available online

Academic Calendar  | myPSU  | Registrar

Have you met a best friend or significant other at PSU? Or maybe you found a stray animal on campus that is now a beloved pet? Heck, do you have a vending machine or food cart you just LOVE. If so, we'd like to share your story with our community. We can’t wait to hear your stories of love! Deadline for submissions is Thursday, Feb. 12.

The Career Center is hosting a variety of workshops to help you succeed in your job search. This week, at Prepare for the Fair Workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn effective strategies for interacting with employers – before you attend the Portland State Winter All Majors & Business Fair happening on Feb. 9. 

Wednesday, Jan. 28 
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fariborz Masseh Hall (FMH) 101

Register

The International Student Mentor Program (ISMP) is recruiting mentors for the 2026-27 academic year. As a peer mentor, you can help new students during their transition to Portland State, serving as a cultural bridge and resource as they adjust during their first term. Students from any cultural background, department or educational level can apply. Applications are open now, and the deadline is Sunday, Feb. 8. An info session about the program is being held next week, Monday, Feb. 2.

Info Session: 
Monday, Feb. 2
3 - 3:30 p.m. 
Karl Miller Center (KMC) 650 lounge

PSU’s Millar Library invites you to craft for Portland seniors and learn about how Meals on Wheels supports community elders. Draw, paint or write a letter – create anything you feel inspired to make. These crafts will be greatly appreciated by local seniors. Art supplies will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own. Meet at the library in The Sandbox near the first floor printing lab.

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
4 p.m. 
Millar Library

Do you love organizing? PSU's Student Community Engagement Center needs your help. Once every other Thursday, help sort and organize gently used, community-donated school supplies, which will later be distributed to under-resourced students and classrooms in the Portland Public School district. A typical volunteer session includes a welcome, introductions, an overview of our task, sorting donated supplies and a closing reflection.

From Jan. 27-Feb. 5, the Vietnamese Coffee Pop-Up will be in Karl Miller Center atrium daily from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Enjoy bold, smooth and authentic Vietnamese coffee brewed the traditional way through the phin filter. Each cup celebrates culture, community and connection. Don’t miss the fun specials for Lunar New Year! Sip, connect and experience Vietnamese coffee crafted with heart.

Karl Miller Center (KMC)

The PSU community is invited to attend the Where We Goin? Power of Place Roadshow, an evening featuring two short films that explore home, displacement and Black identity. Dear Young Black Portland reflects on the loss of a family home to eminent domain and the ongoing pursuit of justice. Where We Goin?: The Power of Place follows a young Black Portland filmmaker examining migration, identity and belonging alongside artist Intisar Abioto and leaders from Albina Vision Trust. The screening concludes with a fireside chat moderated by Executive Producer Donovan Scribes.

Tuesday, Feb. 10
5 p.m.
SMSU Ballroom

Campus Rec members can buy $15 tickets to watch the 11th annual Night at the Blazers as they take on the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center. Tickets are sold in person at the Campus Rec Member Services desk – purchase up to two tickets while supplies last. The game is next week, on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.

Get together with women, non-binary and trans folks for a fun community hour playing a different sport each week. Drop-in to Campus Rec on Wednesdays from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. for volleyball, basketball, indoor soccer and pickleball. This is a nonbinary and trans-inclusive space where everyone is welcome. The event is free for all students and Rec Center members, and $9 for guests, faculty and staff. 

Last spring, enrolled students at PSU were asked to participate in a Campus Climate Survey. The survey gathered perceptions, beliefs and experiences related to the overall campus culture and climate, with some questions tailored to respondents based on identity. The results of the survey are now published on the webpage, University Campus Climate Surveys. The interpretation of these findings and the development of a strategic response will be led by the incoming Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). PSU President Ann Cudd reflected on the results in a recent blog post.

Biology Seminar Series | Deep dive into Ancient Marine Venoms

Destress with HKSA

January PSU Technical Communication Meetup: Dr. Read Reads!

Lecture-Recital on Brazilian Repertoire for Solo Trumpet

Oregon Tribal Language Speaker Series | Coquille 

Ye Olde Study Social

WASA Game Night 

Live @ Lunch - Juno Driver 

Lecture: The Effects of Physical Training and Lumbopelvic Stabilization on Solo Trumpet Performance

Music @ Midday: Winds and Reeds 

5th Avenue Cinema Presents: We Grown Now

Somali Night

PSU Opera Scholarship Competition 2026

Virtual Viking is Portland State University's student newsletter, published weekly by University Communications. To submit a news item or event, email virtualv@pdx.edu.

Visit Virtual Viking for submission guidelines and deadlines.