Portland State's weekly student newsletter for the week of October 13, 2025

Looking for a place that keeps you close to classes, friends, and all things PSU? University Housing has sleepers, studios, and one-bedroom apartments available right on campus for the 2025–26 academic year.

You’ll get convenience, built-in community, and the support of Housing staff who are here to help you succeed.

Submit your housing contract by Oct. 24 to secure your spot.
Tours available now.

Sunday, Oct. 19: Last day to withdraw with a 40% refund

Academic Calendar  | myPSU  | Registrar

Join in a campus-wide art collaboration and help paint a new community mural in the Engineering Building Atrium — no art experience needed, all supplies provided. (Mural pictured above)

Engineering Building (EB) Atrium - 1930 SW 4th Ave.
Drop in during Community Period (12:40–1:30 p.m.)

The finished mural will be unveiled at the Maseeh Exchange: Power & Energy Event on Nov. 12.

This Wednesday, PSU's Cultural Resource Centers are turning the South Park Blocks into an outdoor cinema! The Culture in Motion Short Film Festival is a vibrant, intentional campus experience that highlights diverse and captivating stories. Alongside the films, CRC students will be making fresh popcorn, spinning cotton candy, serving snow cones and more. With music, food, film, and hopefully even dancing, the event will have the energy and joy of a true block party.

Wednesday, Oct. 15
Park Blocks
4 - 7 p.m.
Snacks, drinks & swag!

Get ready for our next Pop-Up Play, this week featuring Ultimate Frisbee! Anyone can join us on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM in the Park Blocks by FMH. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, our Rec staff and Ultimate Frisbee Club members will walk you through the rules, throw you a disc, and get you moving! (Weather contingency: Pop-Ups may be canceled or relocated due to weather conditions.)

Enjoy more time outdoors with affordable gear of your own! The Outdoor Program is retiring a wide variety of used outdoor rental equipment to make space for new rental items.

Take advantage of great deals get ready for your next adventure! Limit of four of any type of item per customer. Buyers are encouraged to purchase items for personal use or as gifts, not for resale purposes. 

Saturday, Oct. 18
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Outdoor Program Office - 505 SW Harrison St.

With the Starbucks at Urban Center closed, not only are there locally owned coffee and tea options available nearby, Smith Memorial Student Union on campus has several alternatives that take Dining Dollars and are open weekdays:

Keep an eye out for new Wēpa (pronounced "wee-pah") kiosks, which have more locations, are easier to use, are mobile-device ready, with print from cloud capabilities.

Give yourself a few extra minutes the first time you need to print or download the app ahead of time to tap and go! For more details on these changes, check out the A new way to print is here! blog post.

Want to help shape tuition and fee decisions at PSU? The Tuition Review Advisory Committee (TRAC) gives students a direct voice in the process. TRAC members learn how university budgets are built, explore state funding for higher education, and make recommendations on tuition and mandatory fees for the next academic year. The committee also considers the impact of tuition rate changes on historically underserved students and the mission of PSU.

This is your chance to engage with university leadership, represent your peers, and influence real financial decisions that affect all students. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the TRAC Interest Form.

Annual Fire Evacuation Drills will take place in academic and administrative buildings across campus this week (Oct. 13-17) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Drills are unannounced and occur once per year. Each will last about 10-20 minutes.

What to do:

When the fire alarm sounds and the strobe lights flash, exit the building immediately and go to your designated evacuation assembly location.

If you need help using stairs during an evacuation, make sure you are listed in the Evacuation Assistance Registry.

Starting today (Monday, Oct. 13), the City of Portland will be performing tree maintenance work in the Park Blocks. This includes trimming branches, removing dead or hazardous limbs, and taking down trees that are unhealthy or unsafe.

For safety, sections of the Park Blocks will be roped off as crews move through campus. Work is expected to continue for several weeks.

PSU Facilities and Property Management is coordinating with Campus Events to notify groups with planned activities in the Park Blocks about any impacts.

To stay informed about campus projects and closers, visit the Impact Notices webpage and sign up for alerts about work that affects the areas you frequent.

The PSU Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) is excited to announce a new system for reporting non-emergency incidents: a convenient, secure online form.

This new resource is designed to provide the PSU community — including students, faculty and staff — with a simple, confidential way to report an event when there is no immediate threat to life or property.

Examples of Appropriate Non-Emergency Reports:

Got questions about studying abroad? Talk with Education Abroad staff about scholarships, applications and logistics.

Tuesdays & Thursdays through Dec. 2
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Zoom

Already assigned an advisor? Visit the Contact Page to schedule a specific appointment.

The University Career Center (UCC) provides unique resources and services to meet the career development and job search needs of all of our students and alumni.

Here are this week's events:

Support and mentor elementary school youth through a new Wednesday afternoon afterschool club focused on garden and STEM education, as well as social/emotional learning! Join our MAPS "Eco-Explorers" mentor team for the 2025-26 school year. Mentors will be trained in November 2024 and the garden club will start up in Winter Term 2025.

Apply by Monday, Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Join fellow PSU students this Fall Term in helping prep and serve lunch on Saturdays at the Blanchet House of Hospitality in the Old Town neighborhood of NW Portland.

The Student Community Engagement Center is excited to support the work of Blanchet House through this Serve Your City Series opportunity, where students will commit to a regular weekly shift throughout the term.

Make a difference, connect with others and enjoy a free lunch!

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.